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Food here is delicious! Everything I ordered and tried here was packed with flavor and had wonderful texture. I haven't had sakoo before, and it was delicious! I liked that there are diff options for what you wrap them with (cilantro or mint with the lettuce leaves). Not pictured, but the pad see ew was some of the best I've had. The crab khao pad was packed with crab (although there were a few shell bits inside) and wonderful flavors. The tom yum soup was just the right balance of seasonings, and had a lot of "toppings" inside. Service was decent! The servers are pretty attentive and the wait for food isn't too long. The decor inside is dark wood tables with benches and chairs, with nice looking lamps hanging in the middle of the room. Honestly, can't wait to come back!
Another amazing meal and decor is great. Came at lunch without the crowd. Tried eggplant this time which was different. First time I noticed tried tofu in the pad see eww. Gotta love the phatty special! Great place to go often!
Very friendly service, delicious/authentic food, reasonable prices. I like the lamps inside too - it's a vibe! I came with two friends on Saturday night for dinner around 7. They were able to accommodate us, walk-in, but it was poppin'! Everyone loved their food. Standouts were papaya salad, egg rolls, nam khao, drunken noodles. Wish I could eat more lol to try more but portions were great too. Gotta come back and try more of the menu! I have nothing bad to say besides there's only one bathroom stall per gender. Highly recommend if you're in the area craving Lao/Thai food.
Wow, i heard the rumors but finally got to try this place out!! If you eat around the Bay Area, everybody knows of Bhan Mae Vane! Only took me so long to finally try it out! The inside is busy busy busy! Lots of people like to come by for lunch and it can get pretty loud inside. It's not really big inside, but luckily we were able to grab a table when we came by. Not sure how busy they get at night time, but I came during a Sunday lunch time and was able to be seated and there were plenty of seats. Parking isn't the easiest to find though, it's only street parking from what I could see and not too much of it. I had the chance to try out the Tom Yum, Green Curry, Laab Seen, Mok Pla, Pad Kee Mao, and Lao Sausages. I felt a bit split about the food, i think some dishes were VERY good but a few could have been a bit better flavor wise for the price point. -The Tom yum soup was good but a little on the saltier side, the bowl was sizable emougj for about 5 people with seconds for all. -Green Curry was pretty good! Hot and yummy, I really likes the veggie variety inside -Laab Seen was pretttyy good, i definitely don't think many places have the different beef cuts in the same laab -Mok Pla was very good! I wish there was more vegetable variety, the amount of veggies you get kind of overwhelm the amount of fish you get. It was very good but it can be hard to ratio the meat to veggies -Pad Kee Mao(Drunken Noodles) yummyyyy!! I honestly think this was probably my favorite kf the dishes i got. I think the serving size was smaller than I had hoped for but it tasted really good nonetheless. -Lao Sausages were really packed on the plate!! You get a lot for what you pay for, most places only give you a few pieces and charge you an entree price. I wish there was more tomato sauce (jaew) but the flavor of the sausages were decent, i think they could have been more savory Overall, the food was all great! Alameda has a lot of great food options but even with all those options, Bhan Mae Vane dominates the food list! Even outside of Alameda, it is one of the more popular Thai/Lao places for a reason. The service is good, most of the food came out relatively fast like 10-15 minutes. The Mok Pla took the longest, probably around 30 minutes but not sure if that is standard. Anyways, for the most part I really enjoyed the experience here. I think anyone who is a hardcore Thai/Laotian food fan would be satisfied coming here :)
August 2026 Wow even before they opened there were people waiting outside. On this strip of abandoned and sad restaurants this is a gem. Really good Thai food with good service. Really enjoyed my eggplant calamari and my coworker liked their garlic noodles. FYI: Thai Iced Tea etc is expensive at $6 for a small glass, and there's a list to write your name to check in. Seems like a big place, but they fill up quickly.
Good food and service as usual! The curry was a tad saltier than I remember so next time I will ask them to make it with no or less salt. The papaya salad delicious as usual. The chicken wings are my favorite. They are so crispy!
For my birthday dinner, I requested Bhan Mae Vane. I had heard wonderful things, and as a fan of Laotian food, I wanted to come with my family to see the hype. We came on a weekday evening, and it was packed! The sound travels here so that it can get really loud and busy. The inside is super casual with seating for large or smaller groups. The service by the staff was good. Our food came out quickly, and everyone was friendly and checked in on us. We ordered the Tom Kha, Nam Khao, Fried Clear Rice Paper Roll Wraps, Pineapple Khao Pad, and Geng Ka Ree. Everything was fabulous! Lots of great flavors and spices. The portion sizes were spot on. My favorite was the Nam Khao and the Fried Clear Rice Paper Roll Wraps. I love the bite-sized and sharing family-style. My companion and family also enjoyed it. If you like Laotian food, Bhan Mae Vane is a must-try in the East Bay! Find them off Webster Street with street and neighborhood parking. I look forward to going back!
My daughter suggested this place that I would be interested as having served in southeast states during the Vietnam war. I love the food over there and I had the advantage of tasting it homemade so when I go to restaurants here I have a little bit more of an educated pallet. The menu is offering quite a few things that I would've liked to have tried, but there will be more visits in the future. So I got my order. I looked at it. The presentation was very nice. Everyone at the table shared with they were eating and I really enjoyed my experience here. I recommend this place to all who appreciate food from this part of the world. I'd like to return here soon.
I dined at Bhan Mae Vane with a group of 8 and had the opportunity to try out a large variety of dishes. Between our group, we got Sakoo, Nam Khao, Fried Clear Rice Roll Wraps, Sai Oua (Lao Sausages), Crispy Pork Belly, Pad Kee Mao, and a large side of Sticky Rice. Of the dishes, the Nam Khao was a standout favorite for me. I loved how crispy and crunchy the fried rice was in the dish. There were so many layers of flavors and textures from the fish sauce, the peanuts, and the fermented sour pork. If there's one dish you must order when you stop by here, it's this one. Another dish I really enjoyed was the Sai Oua; I get this dish whenever I see it at restaurants. Although I've had Lao sausages which were very heavy in lemongrass flavor, the ones here did not have the same flavor profile. Instead, the ones here leaned more towards the spicy side. The crispy pork belly was another standout dish for me. If you enjoy Filipino lechon or Cantonese siu yuk, this is another must-order dish. The pork is well seasoned and has the perfect ratio of lean to fatty parts. Overall, I had wonderfully delicious meal. I would certainly recommend coming as a large group so you're able to order a wide variety of dishes. If you're looking for something to really excite your taste buds, head over to Bhan Mae Vane.
Very friendly staff! The ambiance is nice, I tried to take a picture of it without people in it as it was near closing at the time anyways to show the open/clean space. First time having the egg rolls where you can wrap it with rice noodles and lettuce. It was delicious! Would recommend trying it, it doesn't feel or taste like a normal egg-roll appetizer dish. Veggies were so fresh too!
It is a spacious restaurant with a loud atmosphere. The tables are spaced closely together so it feels a little tight, but the high ceilings help. Nam khao - the flavors are nice and doesn't feel too heavy. The fermented pork is light and the peanuts and rice make up a lot of the texture. the rice is crispy, but it is the type of crispy where it sticks together. - pork rinds were fluffy crispy - juicy wings - fresh flavorful sausage - crispy and juicy pork belly Service:3.8 Ambiance:3.5 Food:4.5 The food came out quickly, but the service was slow. They were slow to refill waters.
Khao Piek 3/10 - no taste of ginger or chicken broth, missing a lot of flavor, pretty bland. The chicken was dry and overcooked but the noodles were great. Pad see ew pork 8.5/10 - delicious flavor but would prefer more char on the noodles. Green curry chicken 9/10 - great, Chicken wasn't overcooked, flavor was great. Thicker than I've usually had it Sakoo 10/10 - first time having it and it's delicious. Tasted like a Vietnamese bun bowl in one bite. Sticky rice 10/10 - small portion was big enough for 2, perfect stickiness & cooked perfectly. Overall, this might be my go to Thai restaurant. Pros the portions are great & worth the price point, the food is delicious to the point I'm gonna have to try everything on the menu & I'm the type that usually sticks to the same dish when I like it. Servers are attentive for how busy they are, great alcohol options. Cons - very loud, you cannot hear each other at your own table, food comes out dish by dish & can take a span of almost 30 mins for all food to come out. Got my sticky rice like 10 mins after my curry. It's hot in there & very busy so it's def hard to get the server's attn. Sitting by the door also sucks bc they're so busy so the door is always opening & there's not much space for folks to wait so they're kinda standing by you waiting lol. Not a romantic spot per se but can be if you can block out all the noise and ppl
I've been on a tear lately. I've been finding really good eats. This is only my 2nd-3rd time eating Laotian food so I'm still getting used to it. I like how this place also serves Thai. Here's my take and my favorites: Food (5 stars) + Laos sausage is excellent. It has a hint of sweetness and lots of interesting spices that I cannot make out. Herby in a good way. + Nam Khao is a crispy coconut rice dish. It takes some getting used to as I was just meh the first time having it, but I'm loving it now. I likened this dish to a coconut fried rice with bits of meat. + Chicken curry is a typical Thai dish. I love how it stays piping hot even at the end of our meal. ~ Chicken wings are standard here. I can skip it next time. ~ Seen Lod is a dried beef dish that I thought was just mid. ~ Larb is a Thai salad with lots of meat. It has a hint of sour flavors likely from fish sauce and lime. It's OK for my buds, but not a favorite. Service/Ambiance (4+ stars) + We were a party of 6 and we were seated promptly on a Sunday evening + Storefront is welcoming with its bright double doors with contrasting gray walls + No problem parking in the back since the spa next door is already closed by dinner time
1 month ago
This place was lively at 7pm on a Sunday! The staff was very kind and helpful by giving us recommendations. We order the Nam Khao and it tastes amazing! We order the papaya salad platter and you have choices of types of proteins. We got pork belly, Lao sausage and chicken wings. Everything was very delicious! This is a nice place for family dinner or just to enjoy good food! Portions are big so it's worth going with a group! read more
The portions are big, easily share with 2people per 6 men 5 dishes I wanted to try some Laotian food Fatty combo, didnt get a picture Red Curry was standard with chicken People liked the Broken rice Pineapple fried rice Soup noodle khao poon gal Service was regular, seated 14 of us fairly quickly Ambiance is lots of tables, and booths on the side and 4 people seater tables Good for family and big parties read more
Food here is delicious! Everything I ordered and tried here was packed with flavor and had wonderful texture. I haven't had sakoo before, and it was delicious! I liked that there are diff options for what you wrap them with (cilantro or mint with the lettuce leaves). Not pictured, but the pad see ew was some of the best I've had. The crab khao pad was packed with crab (although there were a few shell bits inside) and wonderful flavors. The tom yum soup was just the right balance of seasonings, and had a lot of "toppings" inside. Service was decent! The servers are pretty attentive and the wait for food isn't too long. The decor inside is dark wood tables with benches and chairs, with nice looking lamps hanging in the middle of the room. Honestly, can't wait to come back! read more
Another amazing meal and decor is great. Came at lunch without the crowd. Tried eggplant this time which was different. First time I noticed tried tofu in the pad see eww. Gotta love the phatty special! Great place to go often! read more
Very friendly service, delicious/authentic food, reasonable prices. I like the lamps inside too - it's a vibe! I came with two friends on Saturday night for dinner around 7. They were able to accommodate us, walk-in, but it was poppin'! Everyone loved their food. Standouts were papaya salad, egg rolls, nam khao, drunken noodles. Wish I could eat more lol to try more but portions were great too. Gotta come back and try more of the menu! I have nothing bad to say besides there's only one bathroom stall per gender. Highly recommend if you're in the area craving Lao/Thai food. read more
Wow, i heard the rumors but finally got to try this place out!! If you eat around the Bay Area, everybody knows of Bhan Mae Vane! Only took me so long to finally try it out! The inside is busy busy busy! Lots of people like to come by for lunch and it can get pretty loud inside. It's not really big inside, but luckily we were able to grab a table when we came by. Not sure how busy they get at night time, but I came during a Sunday lunch time and was able to be seated and there were plenty of seats. Parking isn't the easiest to find though, it's only street parking from what I could see and not too much of it. I had the chance to try out the Tom Yum, Green Curry, Laab Seen, Mok Pla, Pad Kee Mao, and Lao Sausages. I felt a bit split about the food, i think some dishes were VERY good but a few could have been a bit better flavor wise for the price point. -The Tom yum soup was good but a little on the saltier side, the bowl was sizable emougj for about 5 people with seconds for all. -Green Curry was pretty good! Hot and yummy, I really likes the veggie variety inside -Laab Seen was pretttyy good, i definitely don't think many places have the different beef cuts in the same laab -Mok Pla was very good! I wish there was more vegetable variety, the amount of veggies you get kind of overwhelm the amount of fish you get. It was very good but it can be hard to ratio the meat to veggies -Pad Kee Mao(Drunken Noodles) yummyyyy!! I honestly think this was probably my favorite kf the dishes i got. I think the serving size was smaller than I had hoped for but it tasted really good nonetheless. -Lao Sausages were really packed on the plate!! You get a lot for what you pay for, most places only give you a few pieces and charge you an entree price. I wish there was more tomato sauce (jaew) but the flavor of the sausages were decent, i think they could have been more savory Overall, the food was all great! Alameda has a lot of great food options but even with all those options, Bhan Mae Vane dominates the food list! Even outside of Alameda, it is one of the more popular Thai/Lao places for a reason. The service is good, most of the food came out relatively fast like 10-15 minutes. The Mok Pla took the longest, probably around 30 minutes but not sure if that is standard. Anyways, for the most part I really enjoyed the experience here. I think anyone who is a hardcore Thai/Laotian food fan would be satisfied coming here :) read more
August 2026 Wow even before they opened there were people waiting outside. On this strip of abandoned and sad restaurants this is a gem. Really good Thai food with good service. Really enjoyed my eggplant calamari and my coworker liked their garlic noodles. FYI: Thai Iced Tea etc is expensive at $6 for a small glass, and there's a list to write your name to check in. Seems like a big place, but they fill up quickly. read more
Good food and service as usual! The curry was a tad saltier than I remember so next time I will ask them to make it with no or less salt. The papaya salad delicious as usual. The chicken wings are my favorite. They are so crispy! read more
For my birthday dinner, I requested Bhan Mae Vane. I had heard wonderful things, and as a fan of Laotian food, I wanted to come with my family to see the hype. We came on a weekday evening, and it was packed! The sound travels here so that it can get really loud and busy. The inside is super casual with seating for large or smaller groups. The service by the staff was good. Our food came out quickly, and everyone was friendly and checked in on us. We ordered the Tom Kha, Nam Khao, Fried Clear Rice Paper Roll Wraps, Pineapple Khao Pad, and Geng Ka Ree. Everything was fabulous! Lots of great flavors and spices. The portion sizes were spot on. My favorite was the Nam Khao and the Fried Clear Rice Paper Roll Wraps. I love the bite-sized and sharing family-style. My companion and family also enjoyed it. If you like Laotian food, Bhan Mae Vane is a must-try in the East Bay! Find them off Webster Street with street and neighborhood parking. I look forward to going back! read more
My daughter suggested this place that I would be interested as having served in southeast states during the Vietnam war. I love the food over there and I had the advantage of tasting it homemade so when I go to restaurants here I have a little bit more of an educated pallet. The menu is offering quite a few things that I would've liked to have tried, but there will be more visits in the future. So I got my order. I looked at it. The presentation was very nice. Everyone at the table shared with they were eating and I really enjoyed my experience here. I recommend this place to all who appreciate food from this part of the world. I'd like to return here soon. read more
10 days ago
3 hours ago
I dined at Bhan Mae Vane with a group of 8 and had the opportunity to try out a large variety of dishes. Between our group, we got Sakoo, Nam Khao, Fried Clear Rice Roll Wraps, Sai Oua (Lao Sausages), Crispy Pork Belly, Pad Kee Mao, and a large side of Sticky Rice. Of the dishes, the Nam Khao was a standout favorite for me. I loved how crispy and crunchy the fried rice was in the dish. There were so many layers of flavors and textures from the fish sauce, the peanuts, and the fermented sour pork. If there's one dish you must order when you stop by here, it's this one. Another dish I really enjoyed was the Sai Oua; I get this dish whenever I see it at restaurants. Although I've had Lao sausages which were very heavy in lemongrass flavor, the ones here did not have the same flavor profile. Instead, the ones here leaned more towards the spicy side. The crispy pork belly was another standout dish for me. If you enjoy Filipino lechon or Cantonese siu yuk, this is another must-order dish. The pork is well seasoned and has the perfect ratio of lean to fatty parts. Overall, I had wonderfully delicious meal. I would certainly recommend coming as a large group so you're able to order a wide variety of dishes. If you're looking for something to really excite your taste buds, head over to Bhan Mae Vane. read more
13 days ago
Very friendly staff! The ambiance is nice, I tried to take a picture of it without people in it as it was near closing at the time anyways to show the open/clean space. First time having the egg rolls where you can wrap it with rice noodles and lettuce. It was delicious! Would recommend trying it, it doesn't feel or taste like a normal egg-roll appetizer dish. Veggies were so fresh too! read more
It is a spacious restaurant with a loud atmosphere. The tables are spaced closely together so it feels a little tight, but the high ceilings help. Nam khao - the flavors are nice and doesn't feel too heavy. The fermented pork is light and the peanuts and rice make up a lot of the texture. the rice is crispy, but it is the type of crispy where it sticks together. - pork rinds were fluffy crispy - juicy wings - fresh flavorful sausage - crispy and juicy pork belly Service:3.8 Ambiance:3.5 Food:4.5 The food came out quickly, but the service was slow. They were slow to refill waters. read more
Khao Piek 3/10 - no taste of ginger or chicken broth, missing a lot of flavor, pretty bland. The chicken was dry and overcooked but the noodles were great. Pad see ew pork 8.5/10 - delicious flavor but would prefer more char on the noodles. Green curry chicken 9/10 - great, Chicken wasn't overcooked, flavor was great. Thicker than I've usually had it Sakoo 10/10 - first time having it and it's delicious. Tasted like a Vietnamese bun bowl in one bite. Sticky rice 10/10 - small portion was big enough for 2, perfect stickiness & cooked perfectly. Overall, this might be my go to Thai restaurant. Pros the portions are great & worth the price point, the food is delicious to the point I'm gonna have to try everything on the menu & I'm the type that usually sticks to the same dish when I like it. Servers are attentive for how busy they are, great alcohol options. Cons - very loud, you cannot hear each other at your own table, food comes out dish by dish & can take a span of almost 30 mins for all food to come out. Got my sticky rice like 10 mins after my curry. It's hot in there & very busy so it's def hard to get the server's attn. Sitting by the door also sucks bc they're so busy so the door is always opening & there's not much space for folks to wait so they're kinda standing by you waiting lol. Not a romantic spot per se but can be if you can block out all the noise and ppl read more
I've been on a tear lately. I've been finding really good eats. This is only my 2nd-3rd time eating Laotian food so I'm still getting used to it. I like how this place also serves Thai. Here's my take and my favorites: Food (5 stars) + Laos sausage is excellent. It has a hint of sweetness and lots of interesting spices that I cannot make out. Herby in a good way. + Nam Khao is a crispy coconut rice dish. It takes some getting used to as I was just meh the first time having it, but I'm loving it now. I likened this dish to a coconut fried rice with bits of meat. + Chicken curry is a typical Thai dish. I love how it stays piping hot even at the end of our meal. ~ Chicken wings are standard here. I can skip it next time. ~ Seen Lod is a dried beef dish that I thought was just mid. ~ Larb is a Thai salad with lots of meat. It has a hint of sour flavors likely from fish sauce and lime. It's OK for my buds, but not a favorite. Service/Ambiance (4+ stars) + We were a party of 6 and we were seated promptly on a Sunday evening + Storefront is welcoming with its bright double doors with contrasting gray walls + No problem parking in the back since the spa next door is already closed by dinner time read more
Do you like the funk? Our server explained to us the Lao version is more funky and fermented, while the Thai version is more mellow. We went with the Lao version. The Thai iced coffee was delicious and strong! As it should be. It did give me the jitters though because I'm a weak sauce. We were a party of ten and I was able to make rezzies via phone for a Friday evening at 6:30pm no problem about a week beforehand. The kiddos ordered à la carte, and five of us adults had the following: - BMV ultimate papaya platter with Lao sausage, angel wings and crispy pork. Crispy pork was legit, papaya salad definitely had that extra funk. The angel wings were crispy and meaty and my friends loved the Lao sausage. One even said "it's like tom yum soup in a sausage". It was very lemongrass forward which is not my thing, but that's my problem. I feel we could have ordered à la carte and that would have been a better deal than $75 for the platter. Some of it was fluff like the cabbage, rice and pork rinds. - Khao soy soup: Fiancé thought it would be creamy and coconut-y like the Thai version but it wasn't. I did enjoy the flat noodles but they were all stuck together. - Pia pla ka pow (fish with basil): Good one. The fish was moist and flavorful. The veggies were al dente and delicious too. - Sakoo: Unique! I enjoyed the chewy mochi exterior and the savory ground pork filling. It needed a sauce. I just used the chili sauce that was on the party platter. - Laab Gai: This fell flat for me. I'm not a huge fan of organs though. - Nam khao fried rice: One of our favorites! The crispy pieces really made this dish. Would definitely order this again. - Mango sticky rice: Served warm. Very sweet mango! - Purple rice with egg custard: Also served warm. This was ok. - Side of rice: HUGE serving! Unfortunately it was clumpy and hard, which means old. Street parking only. Get the nam khao and mango sticky rice! read more
5 days ago
My favorite dish when I go back home is khao piak so I had to try it here. Broth was flavored well, but it did not have too much noodles with chicken slices. It was mainly all soup. Thai iced coffee tasted similar to Vietnamese iced coffee. The crispy pork belly was yums and I usually have it with sticky rice and Thai chili pepper. Loved that they had a Thai chili pepper mixed fish sauce option. Parking is street parking so a little difficult. No wifi and clean bathroom that looks like a stock room. Will be back to try saku sai moo :) Thanks! read more
4 months ago
Previously a Chinese restaurant, now serves dishes with options in Laotian or Thai style. The food was delicious and portions hearty. Food came out quick too! On the main drag in Alameda. read more
Really enjoyed the well-executed and authentic food here! The portions are also so huge! 10/10: green curry 10/10: crispy rice entree Would definitely come back to try the rest of their entrees and appetizers. Everything looks delicious. read more
11 days ago
Staff greets you promptly and courteously. Space is very open with small accents and tables and chairs feel sturdy, polished , and clean. Each dish is well-presented. Flavors and textures are balanced. Tried the Sakoo because it seemed very unique and was impressed. The tapioca balls are soft and chewy. They have ground pork and are topped with chili. The chili is a great addition as it adds a spice fragrance to the dish but does not make the dish "spicy." The Khao Poon Gai has so much going on. A rich spiced broth, tender noodles, an array of veggies (cabbage, carrots, shoots), quail egg, pork blood cubes, chicken, etc. What more can you ask for? The Sai Oua is a coarse-ground spicy sausage with a tomato-based vinergary sauce. The sausage is on the leaner side and very filling. The Crispy Pork Belly is super crunchy with very tender meat and served with sweet chili like sauce. The portions are generous and so we were lucky enough to have to take some of the meat dishes to be enjoyed later! This restaurant is a fantastic choice in the West End of Alameda. read more
Bhan Mae Vane is a top-tier Lao/Mien restaurant in Alameda. My mom is from Laos and says the food here is very authentic. I usually come with friends and order family-style. I visited last Friday, so this review is based on that experience. We arrived around 6:15 PM and only waited about 5-10 minutes for a table, which is quicker than usual. They're typically very busy during dinner hours. We ordered five dishes for four people: the appetizer sampler, sakoo, nam khao, beef red curry, and chicken with eggplant. The appetizer sampler includes fried tofu, shrimp in a blanket, and egg rolls (pork or vegetable). The fried tofu was a bit plain... even with the peanut and sweet-and-sour sauces, it lacked flavor. This is probably something I'd skip next time. The sakoo is a tapioca dumpling stuffed with pork. If you've never had it before, I'd recommend trying it at least once. I personally wish it had more filling, but it was still enjoyable. My favorite dish by far is the nam khao. It's a crispy rice salad with Lao sausage, peanuts, and crunchy rice bits, served with lettuce. It's easily the best thing on the menu--sour and salty with great texture. The combination of crunchy and soft elements, along with spicy, tangy, savory flavors, really shines. The beef red curry and chicken with eggplant were solid but unremarkable--around a B-. Overall, I'd highly recommend Bhan Mae Vane if you're looking for authentic, flavorful Lao/Thai food. read more
Little parking/street parking and will be a bit of a challenge Interior is minimalistic but clean and organized Went on Dec 23rd, yes it's busy but it will always be busy Very popular and very well worth the wait We walked in being the first 5 tables and after we finished ordering, the whole restaurant is filled and people outside waiting already Food and service is just wonderful I will say, unless you book ahead of time, just come in as soon as they open because there will be a long waitlist With the December rush, we didn't wait much and everything came out hot, fresh and delicious. My family loved everything and had so much leftovers. read more
10 months ago
First time coming in. Two of us went on a Sunday night around 7 PM. It was quite busy which was a good sign that people really like this place as it's the night before going back to work. We also noticed a variety of people from different backgrounds eating there. They have a pretty large space so we were sat within 10 minutes. We noticed that the workers are extremely friendly and efficient in the way that the restaurant is run. They took our order very quick and because it seems like lots of people are ordering different plates, there seems to be a big flow in the kitchen. We received our food pretty fast. We ordered the crispy pork belly, pad, Thai with shrimp and the khao soy, everything was super flavorful. I do think that the pork belly crispy skin was a little too crispy where it took a little bit more time to chew. However, the flavor was super good. We enjoyed the flavors of the soup with the pork balls and really liked their side chili and vinegar. I definitely think this restaurant is meant for bigger groups because the plates are big so I'm excited to go with more people so we can try more food. read more
Highly recommend this place. So many delicious options of food! The place is clean and nicely decorated. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. They made some great suggestions, and everything was exceptional! Looks forward to going back. read more
Went for Mother's Day and was not disappointed! The restaurant is cute with good customer service. The food was delicious and portion sizes are quite large. We ordered pad se ew, pad thai, green curry, egg roles, rice ball salad, and the spicy fried chicken wings. Everything was flavorful and would order every item again. read more
We came here for an afterwork dinner gathering with a group of 12, and made a reservation ahead of time. When we arrived, we were seated quickly. We ordered a bunch of dishes, so I'll review the ones that I remember. I had the Pad Se Ew, Pad Thai, Angel Wings, Spicy Wings, Tom Kha, and the BMV Ultimate Papaya Platter. Pad Se Ew, the fried flat wide rice noodles with black soy sauce, broccoli, and eggs. I really liked the flavor, and the noodle texture was to my liking. Pad Thai, the fried thin rice noodles with tamarind sauce, tofu, eggs, and bean sprouts. Unlike Pad Se Ew, this dish felt a bit mediocre, the flavor was pretty bland. Both Angel Wings and Spicy Wings tasted great; the crunch and seasoning were spot on. Tom Kha, a coconut soup with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and fresh mushrooms, chicken or shrimp. Really creamy and delicious. The BMV Ultimate Papaya Platter came with papaya salad, pork rinds, noodles, cabbage, and sticky rice. You can choose up to 3 proteins and a type of papaya salad, like Thai or Lao. We had the Thai Papaya salad with 2 crispy pork and angel wings. The papaya salad was really fragrant and paired well with the crispy pork, which helped cleanse the palate. The crispy pork had a strong umami flavor, with the rich fattiness of the meat itself. You could smell the roasted meat and rendered fat. aroma. Also, their Thai Iced Green Tea and Beerlao are worth a try! read more
Been looking forward to trying this lao place, especially their specialty dishes. Restaurant is clean and aesthetic. Staff was attentive. Surprisingly there was no wait and plenty of open tables on a Sunday at 12:30pm, but was packed by the time we were done at 1:30. Sakoo consisted of 12 glutinous tapioca ball filled with savory minced meat, veggie and crushed peanuts. The laap see salad consists of ground beef with a small head of lettuce. I like that the beef was not seasoned with too much salt or msg because I didnt feel thirsty after eating the meal like I would from other places. Portions were decent for size, ranging around $18-20 per dish, also considering some dishes are not available at all Lao places. Hoping to come back to try the 3 meat platter and the other lao specialties read more
1 year ago
An absolute gem in Alameda! We had a table for two and the wait wasn't long at all. Service was quick and friendly, food didn't take long to come out and it was high quality and fresh. Inside can get loud but that's because it's usually very busy. The spring rolls were massive and well worth it as an appetizer, definitely recommend! Papaya platter is the way to go if you have 2-3. We got the pork belly, wings, and short ribs (a little extra $ but was WORTH). Everything was delicious, absolutely zero complaints. There is a reason this place has amazing reviews and is usually packed no matter what day of the week. Pictures speak for themselves. We will be going back very soon! read more
This place has had exception reviews from everywhere and on every list of places to visit when it came to Laotian/Thai food. However, I was a bit underwhelmed after all the hyped that was built up for this place. While everything was good, it wasn't particularly special. The sakoo was a bit disappointing as the flavors we not as complex as some other places I have been to before. The noodles were very standard Thai noodles and nothing particularly different than your typical Thai place. The Thai Green Tea was very sweet. There were some dishes we did enjoy. I would highlight their Tom Kha soup. Great combination of creamy and punchy. Soup was delicious. The quality of the tofu could be improved, but the soup itself was great. The papaya salad was pretty good and enjoyed the addition of the noodles. We went on a Friday night around 6:30PM and had a short wait. There isn't much street parking so be prepared to park a couple blocks away and walk over. The restaurant itself is big and clean. The staff were very nice and attentive. Overall, the hype of this place raised expectations for me that was not met, but the food is decent. read more
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More info about Bhan Mae Vane
1511 Webster St
Alameda, CA 94501
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(510) 227-5197
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https://www.bhanmaevane.com
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Ask the Community - Bhan Mae Vane
Do you accept reservations for lunch?
We only take reservations for groups of 8 or more. Please contact the restaurant for reservations. Thank you.
Is there an outdoor area?
Nope, only indoor seating. It's spacious though and can definitely accommodate groups. Maybe call ahead?
Do you guys have vegan dishes?
How many people does the BMV Papaya Platter serve?
If you’re a big eaters I would assume it will feed 2-3. Average eaters I would say it will serve 4-5 people.
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