Checked out this place after attending the Cape & Cowl comic con in Alameda last weekend. Lao dishes seem to be stronger than the Thai ones, but overall everything was very solid. Would probably skip the chicken satay next time, but definitely come back for the nam khao, sakoo, and amok. Tip: You'll have to ask for their version of nuoc cham/fish sauce for the nam khao and sakoo because it doesn't automatically come with it read more

See all

Let me start off with all the good things: 1. Interior was beautiful, the sunlight filtering in through the windows gave it a bright clean energy 2. My thai tea and pork egg rolls were delicious- I could have eaten an entire platter of them lol 3. The texture of the laap gai looked really good and my brother said it was nice and spicy (he ordered it 'medium') 4. The Phatty Combo was a good size!! Easily shareable for 2-3 people 5. The mango sticky rice was sooooo good!! My reason for taking away 2 stars was that I walked away from the experience stressed tf out. I had ordered the Khao Poon Gai and the menu stated it was vermicelli noodles. I'm expecting the noodles in Vietnamese cuisine since that's where I get vermicelli noodle dishes. The noodles that came out were really thick and not what I was expecting or wanting. I asked the server if she could take it back and she was confrontational about it. The way she approached the conversation literally made everyone at the table uncomfortable and she must have said something bc the manager or lead person came to the table to explain that the noodles were the Laotian version of vermicelli noodles, which is absolutely fine but I didn't want them and explained I didn't mind paying for them but I just didn't want them. So not only was my stress up from the first time but then I had to continue explaining why I didn't want something. TLDR: food was good, but when asked to remove something from the table, I felt like I was a bad person for having a preference read more

See all

I've only been to Bhan Mae Vane maybe a dozen times. I try to avoid weekend nights because it's so busy. I've come at lunch. I've come at dinner. I love everything I've ordered. The flavors of the Laotian dishes are incredible and you have to keep returning to satisfy the cravings of the Nom Khao and Sakoo and other specialties dishes -- I love these two because I love eating them in lettuce wraps. I also love their pork belly and their Phatty special or Papaya platter to get this and angel wings and a few other items is a great way to get a sampling and share with others in your party. Everyone I have brought to Bhan Mae Vane is hooked. And you will be too. read more

See all

I've been finding a restaurant that has authentic Lao food. So happy I came across this place online. My friend is Lao so I've had her aunty's homemade food and this place tastes like it came out of her aunt's kitchen!! I had to get the Lao papaya salad. I like that it comes with vermicelli noodles. Got medium for spice level. I was spicy but not burning yet. Also got the sakoo. I've never seen this in restaurants. I love the chewy outside and filled with savory ground meat. Also ordered the khao piek, lao sausage, sticky rice and short ribs. Everything was 10/10. read more

See all

We were touring around Alameda and needed a break for sustenance. What a cute local place for delicious Thai food! We ordered pad kee mow with fried tofu and pad see ew with soft tofu. I asked our kind server if I could get it with soft tofu and she was able to accommodate my request. The portions are generous so one dish would've easily satisfied us both but we wanted to try both dishes. The servers are so nice and the food is so good! read more

Bhan Mae Vane - Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) - Thai Near Me - Alameda, California

See all

We went here today about 12:30, no wait and seat right away, always great food with nice staff, had a pleasant lunchtime :) read more

See all

We arrived here on a Saturday around 12:30 for lunch. There was a slight wait for party of 2. It was packed. It had nice ambiance. Very big and and plenty of seating. It was also very clean. We were excited to try this place as my bf is Thai and Lao. Overall pretty close to being authentic and home made but it was more modern tasting. Would come back to eat and try more dishes. Got a nice selection of chilis and hot sauces which included sambal oelek, prik nam pla and chili flakes/oil. Ordered the Thai green tea. It was unique, I thought it was matcha but it was a different kind of green tea. The sakoo was unique and something I've never tried before. It was too much tapioca. I wish there was more meat. Pad see ew was classic and very good. Not super overly sweet with too much oyster sauce in Americanized restaurants. Vegetables were more like that of drunken noodle though and didn't have Chinese broccoli. The fried clear rice roll wraps were my favorite! So light and crispy. The fried rice rolls had great flavor and was so refreshing wrapped with the lettuce and mint. The mok pla was delicious. It was very strong in lemongrass flavor and spicy too. Fish was cooked perfectly and so soft. The spicy wings was okay. A little bit too much sauce for me. read more

See all

From a takeout perspective, I'm rating 5 stars. I haven't had the chance to dine in yet but I can't wait! I was out with a friend looking for something to eat and thankfully they were still open in the area. They close at 9. Last chance to dine in is 30 minutes before closing and we missed that window, but we were still able to order takeout as last call to place a takeout order is 15mins before closing. I ordered the garlic noodles with beef and a side of white rice. My friend ordered the pad se ew and we both grabbed Thai tea for drinks. The flavors were immaculate and the Thai tea was really refreshing. We were able to wait inside the restaurant until our food was ready. The interior decor is bright and beautiful. They have these beautiful hanging lamps that I could not stop staring at. read more

See all

Still good. Still noisy. Still busy. Favorites are: - Crab Fried Rice (nice crab taste) - Crispy Rice Salad (crunchy rice, lop Cheung, peanuts, that you eat on a lettuce leaf with mint) - Lao Beef Spring Roll (3 sauces, rice wrap surrounding grilled beef, lettuce and cucumber) And the one place that serves a Thai Iced Matcha Green Tea - sweet. read more

See all

===TL;DR=== - Papaya platter w/ bbq pork ribs, spicy wings, and crispy pork belly - Thai iced coffee ===TMI=== Excited to try this Thai and Laos eatery! They were a full house on a Friday night! The moment we got seated, we knew what we wanted. Shared a papaya platter with just the 2 of us even though it serves 3-4 people. Of course, their Thai iced coffee was delicious. Strong in a sweet way. As for the platter, they were generous with the meats. I feel like most places when it comes to platters, they give a lot more unnecessary sides to fill you up instead - but not this place. On the center, we got the papaya salad, Laos style (aka shrimp paste). Omg this was amazingggggggg. We got medium spicy (thank goodness the lady there talked us out of highest spicy level) and ooooowheeee, it kicked my butt in the best way possible. It's that type of spiciness where it's so good, you don't want to stop.... But you're also sucking your teeth and blowing your nose due to the heat. Otherwise, we loved the bbq pork ribs. At that point, I couldn't tell how spicy was the spicy wings cause my mouth was already lit. But, the wings were juice tho. Our least favorite was the crispy pork belly. It was actually not crispy... and kind of hard and dry - would skip. Pro tip (or maybe I'm just late in the game): toss the cabbage and pork grinds into the papaya salad and let it soak up the sauces. The pork grind alone was soooooooo hard but after soaking, it was the right texture. I also poured the papaya salad sauce onto my vermicelli and sticky rice cause it was that good!! read more

See all

WHEN: Fri @7:30pm It's my second time here since Dec and I will talk about both times. Clearly it's a really good spot which is why I came back here when I have friends visiting from out of town who wanted to do dinner. Street Parking is free after 6pm and it will be difficult to find any in front on Webster. You have a better bet on finding a spot at the nearby lot which is treated like street parking. Across the street behind the Pinball Museum. The first time I went there was a bit of a wait on Sunday evening around 6pm, but my 2nd time on a Friday evening around bit after 7pm was no wait. I was able to get a table even before my friends arrived! I feel Bhan Mae Vane is one of those types of establishments where no matter what you order, it will be good. Here's what I was able to try with friends: PAPAYA SALAD - $18 Lao style - Hand shredded green papaya mixed with fresh Thai chili, tomatoes, lime juice, shrimp paste and anchovy dressing. If you are a shrimp paste fan then definitely get this! I really enjoyed this salad even though I'm not a huge fan of the shrimp paste, the flavors were so good. We asked for mild and it's a bit spicier than the mild level I'm used to. The huge wedge of cabbage was odd and we have to chop it ourselves but it okay. Or maybe it was meant to be garnish. But I enjoyed the range in textures and all the fibers I know my body is getting! TOM KHA - $18 + $2 for SHIRMP. Coconut soup with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and fresh mushrooms. This soup was SO good. And it helps if your other dish is so spicy cuz this soup will help you. It's creamy, and has every single veggie listed. Instantly a favorite. SAKOO - $18 Steamed savory tapioca balls stuffed with ground pork, peanuts, sweet radishes and shallots. Served with lettuce, fried chili peppers, fried garlic, and fresh herbs. How fun was this unique dish! The meat stuffed tapioca balls was so soft and tender! I loved that it came with greens to eat it with. Sadly the peanuts is mixed into the ground pork inside so if you have a peanut allergy, you can't have this. FRIED CLEAR RICE ROLL WRAPS - $18 Our signature fried rice paper egg rolls with pork. Served with our sweet fish sauce, lettuce, herbs, and vermicelli noodles. This reminds me of a Vietnamese dish where they deep fry spring rolls and you wrap it in lettuce with herbs and vermicelli noodles. How nice of them to also provide the fish sauce without peanuts for my friend with the peanut allergy. This dish was SO good and refreshing. BMV ULTIMATE PAPAYA PLATTER - $70 Papaya Salad (Lao or Thai style), pork rinds, vermicelli noodles, cabbage and rice (steamed or sticky). Out of the meat options, we went for: CRISPY PORK BELLY - Yeah I've decided I'm not a fan of this style meat. It's just so hard and chewy so to me it tastes dry. LAO SAUSAGE - This I enjoyed! BBQ PORK RIBS - Flavors are good but tough. I really enjoyed the noodles, the papaya salad and sticky rice though! Overall, I personally don't recommend this dish. I rather order 3 other dishes and it would come out to be cheaper than this crazy platter. Nice presentation though! CRAB KAHO PAD - $25 Wok fried rice with crab, eggs, tomatoes and onions. Not much of a looker, but boy is it jam packed with crab flavor--and meat of course! This was pretty dang good and I was quite impressed and pleased. I appreciate how knowledgeable the staff is in helping with our orders. I see a lot of people do take out and heads up that the ambiance is quite noisy at this lively restaurant. I can't wait to go again to try both dishes old and new. read more

See all

Absolutely enjoyed dining here for lunch. Parking was a little tough, parked in the residential area about four blocks away. As for the entrees, I had the usual -- PAD SEE EEW and SPRING ROLL WRAP. Portions are generous; the food is delicious. The service here is wonderful. The staff is very kind and polite. Very patient and attentive. Will return in the near future; I am looking forward to trying something new. read more

See all

First time trying Laotian food and color me impressed! We ordered: - Thai green tea: omg I can't believe I've never had this before I'm obsessed. It's not matcha - it's floral, not grassy, and enveloped in a rich cream. Honestly this eats molly tea's lunch - aou nuer: beef with eggplants and two different types of mushrooms. A comforting stew balanced by bright herbs (dill?). Need to order rice separately! - sakoo: tapioca balls stuffed with pork and peanuts, served with lettuce and herbs. Such a fun texture - best for sharing, not as an individual meal - seen lod: beef jerkey that is moister and way more flavorful than grocery store jerky but similar texture with a tomato fish sauce and steamed veggies. The veggies were pretty bland but I couldn't stop thinking about the beef! - purple rice with egg custard: idk how they made this custard not taste like egg but it's the perfect soft texture to the soft rice and silky coconut milk. Second dessert stomach coming in clutch here Logistics: - indoor seating only with big tables suited for groups - limited street parking nearby. There's one public lot around the corner but it was already full for weekend lunches read more

See all

Was craving some spicy Lao food and Bhan Mae Vane was able to satisfy my urges. We shared the BMV Ultimate Papaya Platter (Lao style) for two people, which was defo enough food. You get to choose 3 options for proteins; we selected crispy pork belly, fried wings, and beef short ribs (extra charge). The least flavorful out of the 3 were the chicken wings, which I'd probably get something else next time. For our papaya salad we got medium spice, which my husband thought was incredibly spicy, but for me, I think I could have went the next level up. I feel like when you eat papaya salad, no pain, no gain? xD I did also feel like it was on the sweeter side even though we got Lao style and would have preferred it to be more stanky; but maybe that's just my personal preference. I liked how the platter comes with vermicelli noodles, pork rinds, and sticky rice altogether. Overall, I'd come back. There aren't a lot of South East asian restaurants that serve authentic Lao food. There was a bit of a wait as well, but nothing too egregious. read more

Bhan Mae Vane - BMV Ultimate Papaya Platter - Thai Near Me - Alameda, California

Mid and expensive. Meat in the Khao Soy was tough and kinda going bad? Tom Kha was overpriced -- what do you mean it's $20 without meat and $4 to add chicken? Took longer to get appetizer than the entrees Pork egg rolls were basically meatless read more

Bhan Mae Vane - Appetizer Platter - Thai Near Me - Alameda, California

See all

Large portions!!! Love this place. They have the best combo plate loaded with everything you'll need to get you salivating! The tapioca balls with minced meat are the best! read more

Super delicious Lao/Thai food here. Got the special sakoo and the papaya platter with three meats. At first i thought the platter ($70) would be cheap in portion sizes but my god was I actually impressed with the amount of food and quality. With two $5 drinks our total was about $100 pre-tip. We had leftovrrs to take home that could serve another 2 meals to be honest. Super worth. 9/10, would def come again and def recommend to a friend. read more

See all

Always solid meal. Tried the green beans this time which was ok but my least favorite. Pad see eww and garlic noodles always top and angel wings are delicious. Friendly staff and nice atmosphere. Lunch not as crowded as dinner read more

See all

Authentic cuisine of Southeast Asian nations of Laos and Thailand meld perfectly together when prepared as lovingly as they are at Bhan Mae Vane. Located on Webster Street in the heart of the island city of Alameda, which serves as one of two main thoroughfares in this coastal city, Bhan Mae Vane opened about five years ago in a location which for years hosted Kapok Chinese Seafood Restaurant. Much of the interior received a freshened look, especially the beautiful light fixtures that hang from the ceiling in the center of the restaurant, which helps give Bhan Mae Vane a lighter airier feel but lends to the authenticity of the cuisine being presented by their kitchen. Bhan Mae Vane is a family affair, as co-owners and sisters Bebe Lach, who also serves as head chef, and Thip Tran, take their mother's recipes from their homeland and wisely use local and seasonal ingredients to create a unique and modern twist on traditional dishes that they loved to eat while growing up. I had my eye on dining at Bhan Mae Vane ever since they opened their location, but only recently got the chance to when a friend who lives in Alameda, suggested we meet up here for a lunch time meal. Parking could be the biggest challenge when dining at Bhan Mae Vane, as along Webster Street it is metered parking, but I managed to get lucky as there was a local neighborhood spot along nearby Santa Clara Avenue. Bhan Mae Vane wasn't super busy with customers as we met up after 1 p.m. so getting a table for the three of us was easily accessible. The menu at Bhan Mae Vane is separated into categories including Appetizers, Salads, Soups, their signature Papaya Platter, Speciality Dishes, Meats & BBQ, Entrées, Fried Rice & Noodles, Noodle Soups, Curries, Side, Desserts and a decent beverage menu that features a variety of Wine, Beers, coffees and teas. To start our meal we ordered their Papaya Salad of which we had two options to order Lao style or Thai style, as we opted for Lao style, which was hand shredded green papaya mixed with fresh chili peppers, cherry tomatoes, lime juice, shrimp paste, and fermented anchovy sauce. We were initially hesitant to order something that we felt would be too salty thanks to the fermented anchovy sauce, so our server suggested that they could add in less sauce, which would make it less salty. We also opted to order this version mildly spicy with one chili, as their menu designated it as such. For my entrée, I ordered their Pad Kee Mao, which translates into the term Drunken Noodles, which were wok fried flat wide rice noodles mixed with sambal chili sauce, onions, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, and Thai basil. Others ordered their Fresh Lao Spring Rolls with their choice of protein, in this case fried tofu, which were wrapped in rice paper along with lettuce, cilantro, mint, cucumber, and vermicelli noodles. This dish was also served with three sauce options, peanut sauce, pineapple anchovy sauce, and sweet fish sauce. And another ordered their Khao Soy from their Noodle Soup section of their menu which had flat wide rice noodles with fermented bean and ground pork paste, beef meatballs, sliced beef, and was topped with shredded cabbage, carrots, beansprouts, green onions, cilantro, and fried garlic. The order of our lunch meal would be suspect as my Pad Kee Mao would come out before our Papaya Salad and our fellow diners' Fresh Lao Spring Rolls, of which we would later learn takes roughly a half an hour to create from scratch, of which had we known, we may not have considered ordering them, as it was awkward to dine on my meal before everyone else's. I really liked my Pad Kee Mao, as the quantity of the dish was huge, thanks to plenty of noodles, my protein choice of pork and freshly stir-fried vegetables. I was able to try my dining mate's soup, and it was a combination of rich broth, meat, and fresh vegetables. My dining mate said these types of dishes brought him back to when they briefly lived in Thailand, so I took that as a high compliment. The other two dishes were not as enjoyable as the previous too, as the Papaya Salad was spicy with every bite, and Fresh Lao Spring Rolls were so beautifully prepared and plated but didn't seem to be my dining mates preferred version of this classic dish. We had a wonderful time at Bhan Mae Vane enjoying their bold full-flavored dishes that had a lot of spice and personality. Our total bill was $84.17, which was on the pricier side of a meal of four entrées, as they didn't have a lunch menu with smaller portions at lower prices. At Bhan Mae Vane the food shows off a link to who the owners and chefs are, and how we're proudly evolving, cooking and dining as one. read more

See all

Tasty and good prices! There was no wait around 6pm on a Sunday but it did get more crowded around 6:30-7pm. There are a lot of tables inside and also a big tv in the corner. They were showing the NBA finals, which was cool to see. Fried clear rice roll wraps, Sakoo, crispy pork belly, and sticky rice with mango were all great. I like how the rice roll wraps were all cut and easy to share. Sakoo was an interesting dish with a tasty inside - fun to eat and pairs well with the greens. Crispy pork belly was also very crispy and had a good mix of meat and fat. Sticky rice was also good as the mango was sweet. Would come back and try some of the other dishes! The red curry was good but not the best compared to the other dishes. It paired well with the large side of sticky rice that we got. read more

See all

Came here on a rainy day with my family to enjoy an anniversary lunch. The place is small, but it has high ceilings, and the tables were somewhat close together. They were not so close that you could hear other diners' conversations. The restaurant appeared clean and modern. Parking can be difficult. It's street-side parking, and we had to drive around a bit to find a spot, but when we did, it was worth the short walk. Customer service was good. We got there right at opening, were seated immediately, and over the course of about an hour, the restaurant began filling up. We weren't always checked on, but that didn't bother me. Now for the food. We ordered nam khao rice, crispy pork belly, papaya salad Lao style, fried wings, sticky rice, and steamed rice. The nam khao rice was our favorite dish. It was incredibly flavorful and seasoned well, and the herbs and lettuce served alongside the rice were both crunchy and refreshing. They complemented the rice very well. I still think about this dish often. 5/5, would recommend. The crispy pork belly was my son's favorite. We also thought it was good, especially the dipping sauce that accompanied the protein. One downside is that it doesn't come with rice, which I find odd because most Asian dishes are traditionally served with rice. This is the main reason why we purchased a side of sticky rice and steamed rice. This is also the second Thai/Laos restaurant I've been to on the West Coast that sells rice separately from an entree. I find that odd. While it was delicious and had a nice crunch, it also left something to be desired. 3.5/5. The papaya salad Lao style ranked second for favorite dish of the day. I haven't had papaya salad in decades, and this took me straight back to Hmong New Year and my childhood. I respect and appreciate that Bhan Mae Vane delivers on authentic flavors unique to Laos food without holding back. It was served with cabbage, noodles, and pork rinds. 5/5, highly recommend. The chicken wings were mainly for my daughters, as they are picky eaters, but from a small bite, I would say they're good. I would skip them if you can help it, though, because there are other dishes worth exploring and trying. My daughters enjoyed them and had no complaints. They were crunchy, flavorful, and cooked well. With that said, because I only had a small bite, it doesn't seem fair to give them a rating. Overall, 4.5/5. I would return and explore their menu. Because the flavors are explosive in the nam khao rice and papaya salad, I'm excited to try more from them. read more

Came to visit my wife's family who frequents this place fairly often, and there isn't really any Lao food where I live, so they took me here and I was thoroughly impressed! She's half Laotian (from her dad's side who is 100% Laotian) so they know they know good vs bad Lao food, and it's approved by them which is already a good sign. We arrived around 5:30pm on a Saturday which is only a bit after it opens and there was already a bit of line with the inside being completely filled, which is another good sign. After getting seated, my wife's family ordered a bunch of things which I didn't keep track of until large plates of delicious looking tasty smelling food started arriving in a flurry. Most of it was Lao food staples, all freshly prepared with great balances of flavors. The egg rolls were super crispy with a meaty flavorful inside, paired well with the lettuce wraps and were very reminiscent of Vietnamese style egg rolls. Laab (also spelled larb) chicken was well seasoned, spicy and citrusy from the lime with a rich toasted rice powder flacor. Mok pla (fish steamed in a banana leaf) - big portion compared to a lot of other places, surprisingly soft and creamy with lots of dill and herby flavor, went nice with the steamed vegetables on the side Papaya platter - at $70 it's a great deal for a big combo of spicy papaya salad, rice noodles, and your choices of three proteins which all come with nice sized portions. We got the pork ribs which were cooked perfectly until tender but with just a bit of a bit and still very juicy, savory with a hint of spice and sweetness. The pork belly was crispy and juicy, light on the seasonings so you can dip it in the delicious sweet spicy tangy fish sauce mixture it comes with. The lao sausage is meaty, fatty, packs a kick, and again has a big portion of already sliced sausages compared to all of the Lao restaurants we have in the east coast where you might only get 2-3 smaller size sausages. The papaya salad was crisp and acidic with a strong kick, even the medium spicy had me sweating and stopping for breaks. Overall, the best deal on food to order and all impeccably done. Nam khao - crispy rice salad made from deep frying balls of curry seasoned rice that's studded with bits of a pink preserved vinegary pork called "nam" (or "nem" in Vietnamese), then breaking up those deep fried rice balls into a delicious crispy rice salad eaten with fresh lettuce and veggie wraps. It sounds very extra but the flavors are fantastic, with the savory rice and mild but rich and spicy curry flavor balanced by the tanginess of the pork bits, a delicious deep fried flavor of the crispy bits which give a great texture, and the refreshing lettuce wraps. If you've never had Lao food before, I highly recommend this dish in addition to whatever other meats and salads you get. Overall, everything was on point, delicious, well priced, and authentic. Wish I lived closer so I could come and try the rest of the menu! read more

See all

This was our second time & food was great as always. Big servings so we enjoyed more the next day. Reasonably priced & good selection in menu. Nice Laotian place in Alameda. read more

Bhan Mae Vane - Thai Near Me - Alameda, California

Soooo delicious. Nam Khao has become one of my staples now and this place does it really well. From the presentation to the actual taste, crunch, and flavor. It his it all with the crunchy bits of rice flavorful pieces of meat all wrapped by fresh herbs, lettuce and a splash of lime. This is hands down my favorite dish. We also ordered the eggplant and pumpkin curry. Both very tasty and flavorful as well. I liked how saucy the beef and eggplant was, and that the curry was more on the coconutty savory side with a good amount of heat. The place indoors is very bright and welcoming! It was packed as we arrived and continued to get more crowded as the night went on for a Thursday dinner. Highly recommend for a nice dinner out. Our total came out to be around $80ish including tip for 3 dishes. read more

Bhan Mae Vane - Nam Khao (Crispy Rice Salad) - Thai Near Me - Alameda, California

Had wanted to come here for a while now and finally understand the hype. We got the Lao Style Papaya Salad, Sakoo, Nam Kao, Khao Poon Gai, and Shrimp Lao Spring Rolls. Everything was great, especially the sauces in each dish (e.g., fermented anchovy sauce in the papaya salad or the peanut sauce in the spring rolls). Pretty significant portion sizes too! One drawback was the Khao Poon Gai, whose flavor we felt was diluted read more

Bhan Mae Vane - Menu (1/2) as of 12/26/25 - Thai Near Me - Alameda, California

See all

My favorite Laotian restaurant in the Bay Area. Some of their dishes have a fusion taste of Thai and Vietnamese which are all of my fav Asian flavors. The restuarant is family owned and operated so they put pride and care into their accommodating service. Each dish is sizable and great to share family style. The bright and pretty lights add a happy atmosphere. read more

See all

We walked in on a Sunday at 6:30pm and they were pretty packed, but we got a table for 2 as someone had just left. Parking was rough but we luckily found something within a block. Cost was $50.95 total for 2 entrees. Sakoo - 4.5 stars. Love the sticky mochi, the crunchy peanut, but meat filling wasn't too flavorful. This would be better as an appetizer, it's a lot of carbs & meat for an entree. Khao Poon Gai - 4 stars. Great flavor, lots going on. It is a very thin slippery noodle. In retrospect I was in the mood for something crunchy and should have gone with the Nam Khao (fried rice) I'd originally been eyeing. read more

My party had the Pumpkin curry with chicken, Sakoo, Nam Kao and BBQ pork ribs. All delicious. This place did not disappoint. We enjoyed every entree. The Nam Kao and the BBQ lemongrass ribs gotta be their best sellers. Those BBQ ribs have flavor and perfect char... it'll soon be my go to. Saturday night is busy. Be prepared to wait. The servers work quickly and efficient. They filled our water glasses regularly. The only downside was the noise. It felt like two large parties at different tables having a ball. I could barely hear my tables conversation. Overall: 4 solid stars -well worth it! read more

100% authentic Lao food in the bay area. As a Lao person myself, I'd give this place 10/10! The Lao papaya salad is to die for~~ Since I've seen many comments said they're kinda expensive, but I think their portions are humongous and worth your money. Highly recommended for someone who misses real Lao food like me :) read more

See all

This was my first time having Lao food at a restaurant and everything was delicious. We got nam kao, Lao style papaya salad, pad kee mao, and crispy pork belly and they were all hits. I liked the fresh greens offered with the nam kao and my favorite dish was the papaya salad. I liked that it was more pungent and strong in flavor. Wasn't too busy on a Saturday night either. read more

Me and the lady came here cause it was on our Check Please! list. Got here not long after it opened. Quiet. Clean. Chill. Whatever they had cooking in the back smelling HELLA GOOD! We got a few dishes. The chicken Pad Thai was good. Got a little curry chicken dish. My lady dug it, but thought Champa Garden is better. The shrimp fried rice was cool. I wish the tail was off, though. Nah'mean!?? We got a bowl of brown rice which was flavorful. To wash it down, I got this green tea coconut milk something or another. I forgot the name of it but it was hecka good and refreshing after the meal. We'd more than likely go back. Was a cool little spot for a lunch date. Aiight then! read more

See all

Excellent option, very large serving. My first time having Laotian food and this was amazing. I cannot wait to share with friends. read more

Bhan Mae Vane - Nam Khao - Thai Near Me - Alameda, California

As a first generation Lao person who craves authentic Lao food, BMV is one of the few go - to's. Their thum mak hoong is my fave - get that extra sticky with a side of pork belly or fried chicken and you're set! For dishes that you can't get most places, the nam kao or the aou neur will not disappoint. You'll get all the flavors and spice of Lao cuisine. The aou is so good that my family from San Diego text me all the time telling me that they want to come visit just for that! read more

I came back twice in one month! That's how you know it's good! The first time I got these three dishes. The second time I came ordered the papaya salad, eggrolls, crab fried rice and mango sticky rice! Everything was just well seasoned and all full of flavor! I would say the crab fried rice and sakoo are my favorite from my 2nd visit there. Their speciality dishes like the crispy fried rice spot on bomb! The papaya salad we ordered as mild but it was still on the spicy side so beware! But they know how to do papaya salad for sure and are not afraid of really showcasing authentic flavors of Thai and Laos cuisine. The place itself is so cute and I love the hanging baskets for lighting! The servers were all very nice both time I came! Also they don't rush you out and give you space to eat at your own pace! I really appreciate that when it comes to dining out. read more

See all

Last Wednesday night was "Fun Night" for League players and guests at the Pacific Pinball Museum, across the street from Bhan Mae Vane. We usually try to bring a vegetarian dish so everyone can partake of our potluck contribution. For this event, we ordered three orders of Tofu Garlic Noodles. I called the order in about a hour before pick-up time. All that I was asked for was my name and a phone number. When we arrived, the order was ready to go and all we had to do was pay for it. To serve, we had brought an aluminum 1/2 pan with us to pour the noodles into. For service, we had also brought several dozen paper food trays and plastic forks. Yes, we know plastic forks are bad but we've had them for several years and have to use them up before making the switch to wooden sporks. And, as usual, the Garlic Noodles were scrumptious! read more

fam lunch of 7. got too much food but got to enjoy a wide variety. not much for veg/vegans. everything comes out piping hot from the kitchen. ask for their chili condiment tray - minced Thai chilies in fish sauce, smokey chopped chilies, and a tangy smooth chili sauce like rooster sauce but with more vinegary kick. food is properly funky (tho still held back). Good sized dining room, we walked in without any problems at peak lunch on a Saturday (tho it was a crazy rain day) read more

Bhan Mae Vane - rad na with lots of wok charred rice noods below that lake of gravy. - Thai Near Me - Alameda, California

Good Thai food. The phatty combo came with amazing garlic noodles. The nam kao is good too. Service was friendly. The restaurant is on the loud side. I would come back read more

See all

Really nice waitstaff let us in at exactly 229pm, 1 min before they stop serving dine in eating. Ordered quickly with 10 min of sitting and the food was made to order. We enjoyed the rice ball noodle salad, sakoo tapioca balls, and the chicken noodle soup. Kids really enjoyed the noodle soup, especially because we asked for the garlic, cilantro and green onions on the side. The sakoo tapioca balls and rice ball salad are wrapped in lettuce and come with cilantro and mint. Both were very good. The chewy tapioca outside goes well with the meat filling and fresh lettuce. The portion of the rice ball salad was generous. The mango sticky rice was fresh and delicious. Saw them cleaning all the tables and the bathrooms were clean as well. Will come back to try their papaya salad and tom yum soup. read more

See all

I stopped by Bhan Mae Vane on a whim and was absolutely blown away. From the moment I walked in, the vibe was warm and inviting--family-run feel, friendly staff, and a calm, no-frills atmosphere that let the food shine. I ordered the crispy pork, fried chicken wings, sticky rice, and a special dish (whose name escapes me, but I still think about it days later). Every dish was incredible. The crispy pork had that perfect balance of tender meat and crunchy skin, bursting with flavor. The fried chicken wings were addictive--well-seasoned, juicy, and fried to golden perfection. Even the sticky rice was exceptional, with just the right texture and a hint of sweetness that paired perfectly with the meats. That mystery special dish? Whatever it was, it was rich, savory, and clearly made with love. It felt like something straight out of a home kitchen--comforting and complex at the same time. This place deserves more recognition. I'll definitely be coming back and bringing friends next time. Phnom Penh House is a must-visit if you're into bold flavors, hearty portions, and authentic Laotian cooking. read more

See all

** Insane in the membrane, insane at Bhan Mae Vane! ** People often overlook Alameda when it comes to Bay Area eats, but that's just because they haven't experienced BMV's freshness or flavor. Their Laotian special menu has all my favorites: - sakoo (tapioca balls stuffed with warm ground peanuts, pork, herbs, and mushrooms) - nam khao (crispy rice with pork, peanuts, herbs and served with lots of fresh greens & herbs) - mok pla (my comfort food: catfish poached in a coconut curry sauce in a banana leaf) Portions are generous, service is speedy, ambiance is chaotic but warm, as the restaurant is lively at all hours. Do yourself a favor and eat your heart out here! read more