East Bidwell just picked up a serious comfort food upgrade. Tran Kitchen, a new family-run Vietnamese restaurant, quietly opened earlier this month in Folsom, serving pho, bo kho and other home-style staples in a stretch of town that has comparatively few Vietnamese options. Owner Henry Tran runs the shop with his mother, Son Che, in the kitchen and his wife, Tram Huynh, at the front counter. The casual counter-service spot turns out soups, rice plates and sandwiches and is aiming to be a walkable lunch and dinner stop for nearby shoppers and lake-bound regulars.
Tran Kitchen is the family’s first foray into the restaurant world. The owners moved to the United States in 2016, and the shop officially opened earlier in April, according to The Sacramento Bee.
What’s on the menu
The menu keeps things focused and familiar: pho, rice plates, vermicelli bowls and sandwiches, with a couple of house specials that lean into comfort territory, including bo kho (a house-made beef stew) and bun bo hue (spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup). Entrees generally run between $8.99 and $20.99, appetizers are listed around $8.99 to $13.95, and drinks such as Thai iced tea and Vietnamese coffee come in at $2.99 to $8, according to the restaurant’s online menu on Toast. There is also a short list of fried and fresh appetizers, including egg rolls and fish-sauce wings, for anyone who just wants a quick snack or a shareable plate.
Family and flavors
In the kitchen, Son Che takes the lead as head chef, cooking from family recipes that trace back to Vietnam. Huynh told The Sacramento Bee that Che’s bo kho ranks among her top picks, calling it “the perfect balance between sweet and savory.” The family, who lives in south Sacramento, says they are intent on keeping their mother’s restaurant experience alive while introducing more Folsom residents to Vietnamese cooking.
Local reaction
Word is already starting to spread. A discussion thread on r/Folsom recently flagged the opening and traded early reports, with diners giving shout-outs to the quick bowls and sandwiches. That kind of online buzz is giving the newcomer an early jolt of word-of-mouth as it settles into the neighborhood.
Practical details
Tran Kitchen is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The family runs counter service with both dine-in seating and takeout, which are available through the restaurant’s online ordering page. For a full look at the menu and to double-check current hours, see the listing on Toast.
