Simmer Vietnamese Kitchen: A Taste of Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine in Petaluma

This place is super good! Totally recommended. The food was great, delicious, fresh and fast. The service was great, Malik helped answer our questions and provided some great recommendations, he was very kind.

Soooo good! We don't dine here often enough especially considering it's one of our favorite restaurants IN THE WORLD!!! (...and for context, we do dine all over the world, are food and travel writers, food and drink tour guides, and international food and drink judges.) The quality of the meat is amazing especially considering the prices (some of the best filet anywhere), the food is always quick and delicious, and the staff is great. I wish they had a nicer location and more comfortable seats, but they are still easily in our Top 10 list of favorite and realistically are probably in our TOP 5. (Sorry but our Mains photos aren't great because we already started devouring the food.)

My partner just moved to Petaluma, and we love good pho more than just about anything, so we were SO excited to discover this place! Very flavorful broth, tender meats, beautiful decor, and quick, kind, attentive service. Our waiter even noticed be trying and failing to Shazam a song playing over the radio and came up and told me the artist and the name of the song. If that’s not great service, I don’t know what is!

Portions are decent in size and very tasty. We had lemongrass chicken and lemongrass tofu. They were both very good. I liked the fresh greens that they came with. Essentially, a salad with your meal. The bill included tip suggestions, which is normal, but they were based on the cost after tax, which is not ok.

I don’t usually gush about casual spots, but Simmer Vietnamese Kitchen in Petaluma deserves a little quiet applause. Tucked along N McDowell Boulevard, this family‑run gem isn’t flashy - it’s the sort of place you discover and then quietly become loyal to. The atmosphere feels relaxed and welcoming, like you’ve wandered into a neighborhood favorite rather than a tourist stop.  The pho here! Oh my! Especially their rare steak or shrimp noodle bowls - strikes a perfect balance: rich broth with bright aromatics, generous noodles, and herbs that make each spoonful feel thoughtful and fresh. The spring rolls are crisp with fresh vegetables, and dishes like lemongrass chicken or prawn fried rice land with satisfying warmth and flavor that invites conversation rather than distraction. Portions are generous, prices reasonable, and there’s even a nice draft beer selection if you’re in the mood to linger.  What I appreciate most is how Simmer hits that beautiful sweet spot between comfort and authenticity. It’s not trying to be a sleek, high‑end destination, it’s simply committed to good Vietnamese food served with genuine friendliness. Whether you’re stopping by for lunch after a morning stroll through Petaluma or ending a day of wandering with a bowl of pho and quiet conversation, Simmer feels like a cozy pause in the rhythm of the day. Definitely a place worth returning to and recommending.

What a treat to have Simmer in town! Their food is excellent and so is their staff! Seriously I’ll fan girl all day for all of their locations! I think it really speaks volumes to how they operate their business! Thank you so much!

I’ve always enjoyed Simmer. But this evening, I had such great customer service and food that I had to post a review. The restaurant is full of customers (which is always a good sign) but it’s still serene. All of the portions are huge, delicious, and well worth the price.

By chance, the restaurant was right across from where we parked. It was clearly a popular spot, with people still enjoying lunch well past noon. We went for the chicken curry and prawn fried rice – both were piping hot, flavorful, and satisfying! The portions were generous, and the prices were reasonable. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes next time!