OUR VIETNAMESE FOOD PHILOSOPHY
At Rice & Noodles and Sprout, we believe that food should be fresh, flavorful, satisfying, uncomplicated, and should convey the chef’s love of cooking. Our chefs prepare authentic Vietnamese foods such as fresh spring rolls, French bread sandwiches, entrée salads, soups, rice platters, and a variety of noodle dishes. We also offer a large selection of homemade desserts, including French macarons, che and flan. We are a 3rd generation Vietnamese eatery that uses fresh and local ingredients. Our mission is to be Lancaster’s choice for simple Vietnamese cuisine for our guests and their families. We are proud to provide a casual, relaxing and fun atmosphere. Fresh food, high energy, and honest, friendly service are the keys to our success. We want to be the pioneer and the catalyst that opens the taste palates of those who have never experienced authentic Vietnamese cuisine at reasonable prices.
OUR HISTORY
Rice & Noodles opened in July of 2006, almost a year after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the successful Vietnamese restaurant chain of owners Vy Banh, her husband Ninh, her sister Alys Truong, Alys’ husband Bernard, and their brother Khoa Cao. Due to the storm and devastating flood, their entire family was forced to evacuate from New Orleans and seek refuge with an aunt, Nga Buu, in Lancaster, PA. In April of 2016, Rice & Noodles opened a second location, Sprout of Rice & Noodles, in the historic downtown of Lancaster City.
The history of their successful restaurants began in the 1960s, when their grandfather opened 13 restaurants in Vietnam under the name of Pho Tau Bay. Following the fall of Saigon in 1975, the family was forced to flee to the United States in search of a better life and a new beginning. In 1982, Khoa, Vy & Alys’ parents, Chau and Anh Thu Cao, along with a brother-in-law, opened the first Vietnamese restaurant in New Orleans, LA. They chose the same name that Anh Thu’s father used in Vietnam, Pho Tau Bay, simply meaning “Flying Soup Boat.” It was an immediate success due to the thriving Vietnamese population in New Orleans.
By 2001, Ninh, Vy, and her mother opened the second Pho Tau Bay Restaurant in Metairie, LA. In 2004, with their marketing and business degrees, Bernard and Alys decided to join the family business in order to build a bigger and better empire. By 2005, the family ran 3 of the 4 most successful Vietnamese restaurants in the Greater New Orleans area. All of their restaurants suffered substantial damage due to Hurricane Katrina. It was so hard for the family to believe that in one day their lives would change forever.
With the continued support of their parents, family, friends, and wonderful customers, both Rice & Noodles and Sprout Vietnamese Eatery made a lasting mark on the dining scene of Lancaster, PA. In 2026, on the 10th anniversary of Sprout, the family made the thoughtful decision to close its doors to consolidate their team and focus on elevating the quality and experience at their original Rice & Noodles location.
Today, that same passion, resilience, and love for sharing Vietnamese culture through food continues to drive everything they do. The family warmly invites you to join them at Rice & Noodles, where every bowl tells a story, every meal feels like home, and the next chapter is just getting started.