Eat in Oakland: Tay Ho Oakland Restaurant & Bar

Hue Dumplings (Bánh Bột Lọc): tapioca dumplings made with caramelized shrimp, pork belly, and fried shallots, served with spicy sweet chili fish sauce

Bourdain Vermicelli Bowl (Bún Đặc Biệt) made with grilled prawns, grilled lemongrass pork, grilled lemongrass chicken, and fried crispy rolls, served with house nuoc mam

In mid-September, I visited Tay Ho Oakland Restaurant & Bar, an upscale Vietnamese restaurant on the corner of 12th Street and Webster in Oakland Chinatown, for the first time with friends. I had never heard of this restaurant until said friends raved about it, so I was eager to stop by.

To start, we shared the Hue Dumplings (Bánh Bột Lọc) — tapioca dumplings made with caramelized shrimp, pork belly, and fried shallots, served with spicy sweet chili fish sauce. They were unlike anything I've had before and quite a treat. These dumplings were thicker than I'm used to and since they're made with tapioca, you can see the filling within. Beyond being photogenic, they were incredibly tasty. (This bird's eye view of the dish might be helpful.) For my main course, I ordered a variation of my go-to vermicelli bowl: the Bourdain Vermicelli Bowl (Bún Đặc Biệt) made with grilled prawns, grilled lemongrass pork, grilled lemongrass chicken, and fried crispy rolls, and served with house nuoc mam. As is the theme at Tay Ho, they turn classic Vietnamese dishes into something that is truly their own. I'm used to choosing one or maybe two meat options with my vermicelli bowls; here they gave me shrimp, pork, chicken, and rolls to boot! Not only that, everything was delicious and good-looking. (Here's another overhead shot for your convenience.)

Tay Ho Oakland Restaurant & Bar is the perfect spot for elevated Vietnamese classics and new favorites prepared with their signature twist. They will leave you in awe of how delicious and, dare I say, beautiful dishes can be. They also have exceptional service that makes you feel at home. Next time I stop by, I will definitely order the dumplings again, another entree like the Shrimp and Crab Tapioca Noodle Soup (Bánh Canh Riêu Cua) or the "Shaken" Beef, and one of their very intriguing cocktails. Damn, now I want more tapioca dumplings...

Tay Ho Oakland Restaurant & Bar

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344 12th St., Oakland, CA 94607

Open: Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 9pm

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Eat in San Francisco: Thanh Tam II

Grilled Chicken Noodle (Bún Gà Nướng) vermicelli noodle bowl with salad, bean sprouts, mint, and peanuts

I never really share the places I frequent the most. (Maybe I want to keep them a secret; maybe I don't bring my camera. Excuses.) Thanh Tam II, a Vietnamese restaurant located on Valencia between 16th and 17th in the Mission, is one of those places. I've been eating there almost monthly since at least 2012. My culinary journey at Thanh Tam II started with their soups, perhaps a classic noodle soup with beef balls (Phở Bò Viên) or a hot and spicy beef noodle soup (Bún Bò Huế). It then led me to the vermicelli noodle page of the menu, featuring bowls of vermicelli noodles over salad with either grilled pork (Bún Thịt Nướng) or grilled chicken (Bún Gà Nướng). In recent years, I've pretty much stuck with the grilled chicken noodle bowl shown here.

It has everything I want in a meal: dynamic flavors, great textures, and it's filling and well-priced to boot. In terms of flavor, the perfectly grilled chicken is complemented by the dipping sauce you pour over the dish, the crunchy peanuts, and the fresh salad of cucumbers, lettuce, and bean sprouts under the noodles. The contrast between the cooked noodles and meat with the raw vegetables provides the texture I like. The whole bowl is layers deep, making it quite a filling meal at about ten bucks. (I've recently come to accept that it's hard to come by a meal in San Francisco and the parts of the East Bay I frequent for less than $10. *sigh*)

I will be visiting Thanh Tam II in the future and I'll most likely be ordering this bowl again. If I'm feeling adventurous, I'll try... the grilled beef. If you've visited Thanh Tam II recently, what do you recommend trying?

Thanh Tam II
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577 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94110
Open: Daily 12pm - 10pm

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Eat in San Francisco: Banh Mi Crunch

Meatball (Xiu Mai) Banh Mi

Last May I stopped by Banh Mi Crunch, a casual Vietnamese spot on Irving and 8th in the Inner Sunset, for the first time. In search of an affordable lunch option, I was pleasantly surprised to find this eatery that serves banh mi sandwiches, barbecue rice plates, and vermicelli bowls.

I ordered the Meatball (Xiu Mai) Banh Mi, which came with the usual mayonnaise, pickled carrots and daikon, cucumber, cilantro, and jalapeño. Although it's been a while, I remember really enjoying the sandwich and thinking the meatball flavor was everything I hoped for.

Next time I stop by, I may order another meatball sandwich or try a vermicelli bowl. 

Banh Mi Crunch

Yelp

646 Irving St., San Francisco, CA 94122

Open: Wednesday - Monday 9:30am - 7pm

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Eat in Oakland: Pho King

Chicken Noodle Soup

Grilled Beef with Egg Rolls and Vermicelli noodles

I tried Pho King, a Vietnamese spot right next to Tasty Bowl on East 18th Street and 2nd Avenue, for the first time last week. 

I had the Chicken Noodle Soup, which was the perfect comfort food. The ingredients were fresh and the chicken broth provided that homey feeling I was looking for. My dining companion had the Grilled Beef with Egg Rolls and Vermicelli noodles, which he seemed to enjoy as well.

If you've visited Pho King, what do you recommend trying?

Pho King

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207 E. 18th St., Oakland, CA 94606

Open: Monday & Wednesday - Saturday 9am - 8pm, Sunday 9am - 6pm

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Eat in San Francisco: Sunflower Potrero Hill

Left: Vermicelli with BBQ Pork and Imperial Rolls, served with greens, roasted ground peanuts, and fish sauce
Right: Shaken Beef

I visited Sunflower Potrero Hill for the first time this weekend and I think I'm in love. This Vietnamese restaurant sits on the top of Potrero Hill on Connecticut between Mariposa and 18th Streets. It is worth the trek.

Since it was a hot day, I tried to cool down with a bowl of vermicelli noodles served with BBQ pork, Imperial Rolls, greens, roasted ground peanuts, and fish sauce. The perfectly seasoned pork was complemented by the noodles, carrots, peanuts, and fish sauce well. The deep-fried rice paper rolls, stuffed with pork, taro root, and carrots, had a crunchy skin and flavorful filling I liked. I also tried a bit of my friend's Shaken Beef, which was cooked and flavored to perfection and the reason we made our way up the hill.

I would definitely return to Sunflower Potrero Hill in the future... if not, next week. If you've visited this restaurant recently, what do you recommend trying?

Sunflower Potrero Hill
Website | Yelp

288 Connecticut St., San Francisco, CA 94107
Open: Monday - Thursday 11:30 - 2:30 & 5 - 9:30, Friday 11:30 - 2:30 & 5 - 10, Saturday 12 - 3 & 5 - 10, Sunday 12 - 3 & 5 - 9:30

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Eat in San Francisco: Mau

Spring rolls with poached pork and shrimp, vermicelli, mint, and peanut dipping sauce


Eel and Banana Blossom salad


Hủ Tiếu with xa-xiu pork, chicken, shrimp, ground pork, and garlic chicken broth

A few days ago, I had the pleasure of trying Mau for the second time. Located on Valencia near 18th Street in the heart of the Mission, Mau serves solid Vietnamese food in an even cooler atmosphere. Patrons have the option of enjoying their meals at standard-height tables, high tables, or counters. We opted to sit at the counter along the storefront window, both because of the excellent view of the street and the hooks underneath that kept our backpacks from getting dirty.

On my most recent visit, I tried a few different dishes: the spring rolls, the Eel and Banana Blossom salad, and the Hủ Tiếu noodle soup. The spring rolls were everything you want in the Vietnamese staple. Every ingredient was fresh and the flavors were harmoniously united by the peanut sauce. I'd definitely recommend trying the Eel and Banana Blossom salad as well. Although I only tried a couple of bites, it had a dynamic taste while still feeling pretty light. (Read: You'll crave more.)

For the main event, I had the Hủ Tiếu. While I've tried a few types of phở in the past and have a special place in my heart for Bún Bò Huế, whether traditional or vegetarian, I've never had Hủ Tiếu before. Like the other dishes, it was quite a delight. It had a seafood essence that complemented the flavors of the various types of meat and the garlicky broth rather nicely. With a friend knowledgeable of Vietnamese cuisine at my table, I can confirm that Mau's version is authentic.

If you're looking for a warm bowl of soup in the Mission, I'd suggest stopping by Mau for a little piece of Vietnamese heaven. As one Yelper exclaimed, "Oh. Mau. Goodness."

Mau
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665 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94110
Open: Monday - Saturday for lunch 12 - 3, dinner 5:30 - 10

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Eat in Oakland: Monster Phở

Vietnamese Crepe made with shrimp, pork, onions, and bean sprouts

Beef Pho with meatballs

Monster Phở — a popular Vietnamese restaurant on 40th and Manila in Temescal — is another one of those places I've heard about for years, but hadn't tried myself. Fortunately I was able to visit with a friend in late May.

Being the creature of habit I am, I ordered the Beef Pho with meatballs, while my friend ordered the Vietnamese Crepe for us to share. I remember enjoying the soup and especially the spongey meatballs I love. I don't believe I've had a Vietnamese crepe before, but it definitely won't be my last. It was clear that it was freshly made and was filled with shrimp, pork, onions, and bean sprouts. It was so good I kept taking bites of it long after I was full.

Next time I stop by, I might try a vermicelli noodle bowl or rice plate. If you've been to Monster Phở, what would you recommend trying?

Monster Phở

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360 40th St., Oakland, CA 94609

Open: Wednesday - Sunday 11am - 8pm

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