V-Roll will open in the former Golden Dinosaurs space at 2930 Beach Boulevard South in Gulfport | Golden Dinos

V-Roll Vietnamese Rolls & Bowls, a fast-casual Vietnamese restaurant offering customizable spring rolls, rice bowls, and more, is set to open in mid-July at 2930 Beach Boulevard South, the former home of vegan favorite Golden Dinosaurs.

V-Roll is the vision of Stephanie Nghiem, a proud Vietnamese American whose parents immigrated to the United States after the Vietnam War.

“In traditional Vietnamese culture, cooking and sharing meals isn't just about nourishment; it's a way of showing care, ensuring that everyone feels valued and content,” said Nghiem.

Many of the dishes on V-Roll’s menu are based on recipes she grew up eating and were developed in collaboration with her mother.

V-Roll's Rice Bowl with Lemongrass Beef

V-Roll's Steamed Bao Buns

V-Roll's Bánh Mì Sandwich

V-Roll's Shrimp Spring Rolls

Designed with convenience and freshness in mind, V-Roll follows a build-your-own model similar to Chipotle. Guests will first choose between a bowl, spring rolls, steamed bao buns, or bánh mì (a Vietnamese baguette sandwich).

Next, they select a base—jasmine rice, vermicelli rice noodles, or mixed greens—followed by one of six proteins: lemongrass pork, chicken, beef, simmered shrimp, or five-spice tofu.

Diners can then customize their meal with vegetables such as lettuce, cucumber, chives, tomato, mint, and basil; choose from ten toppings including roasted peanuts, fried onions, and green onion–infused oil; and finish with one of six house-made sauces like peanut, citrus garlic, tangy soy, and sesame.

The build-your-own spring rolls are expected to be a customer favorite, alongside signature bánh mì sandwiches.

Stephanie Nghiem, owner of V-Roll Vietnamese Rolls & Bowls | V-Roll

The restaurant plans to offer rotating specials, including a creative twist on the spicy Vietnamese beef noodle soup bún bò Huế, reimagined as a dip-style bánh mì sandwich.

Beverage options will include boba tea, Vietnamese coffee, and Thai tea.

Opening a restaurant wasn’t always part of Nghiem’s plan. After working for years in a steakhouse to put herself through college, she earned a degree in Information Technology. She later became a detective in Aurora, Colorado, but eventually found herself longing for something more fulfilling.

“I just got really burnt out,” Nghiem said. “I wanted to do something that I love, and that’s food.”

Stephanie and her fiancé relocated to St. Petersburg after frequent visits to see her sister, who worked at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. “We were sick of the snow in Colorado,” she said. “Living in St. Pete is just a huge difference. We love it so much.”

Over the past year, Nghiem has worked with the Small Business Development Center in both Colorado and Florida to bring her restaurant to life.

Now, with the opening just weeks away, V-Roll is nearly ready to make its debut in Gulfport.

Be sure to follow V-Roll on Instagram to stay up to date on grand opening plans and food specials.