Vietnamese restaurant expands with new northeast Cedar Rapids location

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Vietnamese restaurant based in southwest Cedar Rapids is expanding for the first time to the northeast side.

Mai Pho House held its grand opening Nov. 1 in The Fountains development at 5300 Fountains Drive NE, Suite 108. Owners of the restaurant started their first Cedar Rapids restaurant, Mai Pho, over 10 years ago at 2315 Edgewood Rd. SW.

Both restaurants offer the same authentic menus, including Vietnamese pho soup, dumplings and vermicelli noodles. Like its original location, Mai Pho House will offer dine-in, carryout and delivery.

The restaurant’s second location is currently the only Vietnamese restaurant in northeast Cedar Rapids, and the third in the city after Mai Pho and Phong Lan — the city’s oldest at 216 Eighth St. SE.

Mai Pho House’s space was previously home to Billy Sims Barbecue, which closed in January. The franchise’s namesake, a 1978 Heisman Trophy winner, helped open the restaurant in May 2017 as the chain’s 59th location.

Comments: (319) 398-8340; elijah.decious@thegazette.com