Nem Restaurant: Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine in San Jose

Excellent food, service and atmosphere! The waitress recommended a very good and fun hot pot type dish and also gave everyone in our group a free dessert drink or Vietnamese iced coffee! This is by far the best Vietnamese restaurant I’ve ever been to with a very extensive menu that isn’t anywhere else!

It was took us 40mins from where we live. She so friendly and flexible. No doubt the restaurant was open till 5pm, but since we got there she just let all of us in. All food that we had very fresh and love it very much and we definitely recommend to all our friends and family. We will go back more often. Thank you for being open for us. Even on Labor’s day.

I tried Nếm Restaurant today and the cơm tấm plate completely exceeded my expectations! The presentation alone was beautiful served on a traditional bamboo tray with fresh veggies and all the classic sides. The grilled pork chop was the highlight: flavorful, tender, and perfectly charred. The broken rice was fluffy and topped with fragrant scallion oil that tied everything together. The chả trứng (steamed egg loaf) was soft and savory, and the pickled veggies added the perfect balance. Even the soup on the side was light and comforting. Everything tasted fresh, authentic, and clearly made with care. The portion size was generous, and the dipping fish sauce had just the right sweetness and tang. Nếm Restaurant is definitely a spot I’ll be coming back to. Highly recommended if you’re craving delicious, authentic Vietnamese comfort food!

We wanted a home-style food. We ordered a catfish with sour soup, very tasty, nice vegetable textures. We ordered fried noodles, two kinds of egg roll, a kho with pork and rau mung(sp?). Service was nice, our friends enjoyed the selection.

Nếm Restaurant has an amazingly wide variety of menu items, from noodle soups like phở, authentic traditional family-style meals and hotpots, fresh seafood appetizers like scallops and razor clams, specialty entrees like goat curry, colorful salads,….. the list is almost endless. Taste test: authentic Vietnamese with a modern twist, pleasing to the eye. The restaurant’s owner Dương is a delight and her staff are sweet and attentive to customers, focusing on great service. The restaurant is clean and inviting, perfect for banquet gatherings and even has a secret garden patio with a Zen atmosphere. I hosted my son’s high school graduation here and our family dines here once every couple weeks. We even rely on Nếm Restaurant for party trays. They are truly a reliable 1-stop restaurant with delicious food!!!

Ném Restaurant delivers bold flavors and fast service, but diners should be cautious with spice levels—some dishes pack unexpected heat that can trigger stomach discomfort if you're sensitive. The grilled nem and dipping sauces are standouts, but menu labeling could be clearer, especially for spice and dietary restrictions. Staff are friendly and responsive, though the space feels tight during peak hours. Vegetarian options are limited and mostly side-based, so plant-based diners may feel boxed in. The small on-site lot fills quickly, and most rely on street parking or nearby public lots—none officially tied to the restaurant. Accessibility is mixed: entry is flat, but the interior layout may challenge wheelchair users due to narrow spacing. Overall, Ném is a solid choice for a casual meal with friends, especially if you’re familiar with Vietnamese flavors and can handle the heat. Just plan ahead for parking and ask questions if you have dietary needs.

This charming restaurant offers an aesthetically pleasing ambiance, particularly in a specific corner. The reasonably priced menu offers dishes that are served promptly. Surprisingly, it is relatively empty in the mornings, suggesting that it is more suitable for evening dining. I have had positive experiences ordering from this restaurant through Doordash, and I highly recommend it!

Nem has variety of foods choice starting from escagot, grilled seafoods, rice lkate, beef rib pho, family combo meal especially popular with HOT POTS.