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    Pho Ao Sen

    3.8 (1k reviews)
    ModerateVietnamese, Noodles
    Closed 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order Pho Ao Sen Takeout or Delivery

    Pho Ao Sen Photos

    PHO AO SEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Pho Ao Sen

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    Pho
    Yoomi C.

    Love that the portions are huge and they give a hearty serving of meat not just the noodles in the pho. We ordered the medium bowl and we were all stuffed. Solid pho in the Richmond/Albany area. The broth is delicious but there seems to be a good amount of msg. I would probably not order the nem neuong nha trang again. The spring roll wrapper was very tough and the sauce was okay. The egg rolls however were tasty, crispy and freshly made.

    20.. 牛腩麵包 / Bánh Mì Bò Kho
    Edie N.

    Wow.. I'm still thinking about this place!! It is THAT good. The broth is out of this world. It's insanely fresh and aromatic, I suggest trying it before adding your hoisin, chili and toppings cause it deserves its own moment! Service is quick, friendly and attentive. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Location at first looks a little iffy but there's parking next to the building and the inside is new, updated and clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] For three bowls of pho and two appetizers it was around $80 plus tip! Not bad. Will be back for sure!

    Pho w/brisket and beef balls
    Billy L.

    I used to live in San Jose and if you know San Jose, you know there is no shortage of amazing pho spots. My go to places back then were Pho Dao and Pho San Jose. After moving to the East Bay almost two years ago, I have mainly stuck with Pho Auntie 7 in Castro Valley or Pho Huong Que in Oakland. Both are solid and Pho Huong Que even has its own parking lot with very reasonable prices, which is rare. Pho Ao Sen was never really on my radar, probably because of the prices. That changed when my coworker kept raving about it and sent me a picture that looked too good to ignore. I went during lunch and was surprised to see they also have a big parking lot. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The first thing I noticed when walking in was how clean and presentable the place looked.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It immediately stood out since that is not always the case with pho restaurants. The service was also impressive. They checked in often and refilled my water without me even asking. I ordered a bowl of pho with brisket and beef balls along with the nem nuong rolls. Whenever I see nem nuong rolls on a menu, I have to order them so I can compare them to the famous ones from Brodard in SoCal. These rolls were excellent and honestly on par with Brodard, which says a lot. I also appreciated that each table had freshly chopped Thai chilies. Most places only offer sriracha or sambal, but I like my food extra spicy, so being able to add fresh chilies to the nem nuong dipping sauce was a big win. The pho itself really impressed me. Their brisket is hands down the best I have had anywhere, even compared to San Jose spots. It was meaty, super tender, and sliced differently than the usual thin cuts you find elsewhere. They also give very generous portions of meat. Between the quality and the quantity, the price absolutely makes sense. After this visit, I can confidently say Pho Ao Sen is my new go to spot in Oakland. I cannot wait to go back and try more from their menu.

    Shrimp Spring Roll (Gỏi Cuốn) with their special house sauce
    Sherilyn R.

    Now my Go-To in the area! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Came here with a group of friends (~8 people) after an event nearby (around 4:45PM Saturday), they seated us to the long tables where it's easy to chat and have our own space. I appreciate that mindfulness.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They are quick to give us menu and help us with any questions we have. I order the Shrimp Spring Roll (Gỏi Cuốn) with their house sauce and it was delicious! The shrimp was a nice size, not like those small ones. I love the overall portion and the way they stacked the spring roll (see picture). This is now my go-to in the area for a well sized group. My friends enjoyed their pho, which undoubtedly looks great and have generous portions! I think you can't ever go wrong ask the server what do they recommend or is most popular too if you're ever stuck. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place gives me those classic southeast Asian family space with modern touches.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service: 5/5; quick to respond and answered our question, and quick to serve [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance: 5/5; Not loud close to dinner time Saturday. Good amount of space for kids.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Bathroom: Yes; it's on the shorter side which is great if you have smaller stature or little ones that only need a bit of an assistance. They do have wheelchair friendly bars but is on the lower side.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Parking: Yes; there's a FREE parking lot next to it.

    Cơm Gà Rôti | Vietnamese Rotisserie Chicken  with Red Rice

    My husband and I went here for the first time for lunch with my sister and brother in law. The staff were friendly and the food was truly delicious! The dishes were so fresh, flavorful, and plentiful! It was a great experience and I'm already thinking about the next trip back to experience more! Love love love it!!!! Cảm ơn chị Yến!

    Number 1  Best pho I had in Oakland someone can't prove me wrong!  Better than all the places in Sacramento!
    Jack H.

    Best pho in Oakland unless someone can prove me wrong! Service was great! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Restaurant looks great![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Bathrooms are great![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Came from Sacramento to come eat here every week

    Nem nuong
    Jimmy S.

    This is a nostalgic place for my family up in NorCal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The staff is super nice and they renovated the place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It looks very modern. Parking is somewhat difficult given it's popularity. I got the nem nuong as the appetizer which was great and the pho dac biet was great as well. The broth was very good and the noodles and meat portion was good. I was so full from the meal.

    36. .辣粉 / Bún Bò Huế
    Amy V.

    My family and I have been going to Ao Sen since their location was on International Blvd! The food quality and service has never waver My favorite is their Bun Bo Hue- super flavorful broth and great choice of meat My parents love their Pho Tai- the broth has the perfect amount of oil and seasoning, tender slabs of beef They have a parking lot- dont leave anything in the car! No one is responsible for your stuff but YOU (Just like anywhere you park) Food prices increase due to many reasons and it clearly states on their menu if you pay with a certain method, theres a surcharge To-go boxes are 50 cent because its their own plastic container that theyre giving to you- its pretty common now Whats important is that Ao Sen is consistent with their food and service [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is very nice, each table has its own little light on top which gives off a warm vibe[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Music choice is very settled and bathroom super clean[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] One of my favorites to visit in Oakland, highly recommended!

    36. .辣粉 / Bún Bò Huế

    I love this place. They have the best BBH. I love the flavor of their wings and how crispy it is. Although. Sometimes they are inconsistent in how they make it and it lacked a bit flavor the other day when I went. But it is still very good.

    Jennifer R.

    What do you think about this old and moldy chili jar that is being served to customers? Everything in this ao Sen restaurant is very very expensive compared restaurant in San Jose. broken rice of thiên huong in San Jose much much better than here and cheaper than ao Sen.

    #38
    Veronica L.

    Prices went way up since we were last here but service and the food are still good. Parking lot was full so their business is good! Got the #38 bun entree and two pho tai #16 bowls. They were good about cleaning the tables and bringing shared bowls and plastic forks and spoons for my kids. They give hot tea for adults and water for kids which is nice also. You pay at the back when you are done. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a nice redone space after Covid.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Still one of our favorite pho spots in the Bay.

    Stephanie T.

    Pho Ao Sen came highly recommended to me by some friends, and I'm glad to say it met the hype! I decided to get pho, and while the bowl was smaller and more expensive than I'm used to, it was super flavorful! It's one of the best bowls of pho I've ever had. The quality of the meat was good. I especially liked the tendon and tripe. The service was also super friendly, although it helps to have someone with you who speaks Vietnamese. My future mother-in-law brought me here for this visit, and she's familiar with the staff, which helped a lot. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior of the restaurant looks super modern.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I don't visit Oakland often due to safety concerns, but the food there is just too good! Another plus is that Pho Ao Sen has its own parking lot, so you don't need to deal with street parking. And a small tip, if you pay with cash, you can avoid their surcharge!

    Thai Tea

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    Ask the Community - Pho Ao Sen

    Do they have any gluten free options?

    Rice is gluten free so i am going to say yes since most of their dishes are rice noodles or rice plates. They have others too but I'd suggest you stick with picking items that revolves around those two ingredients. The safest best I would recommend… 

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    Soba Ichi

    Soba Ichi

    4.1
    (623 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$$

    Unassuming Soba Ichi is such a delicious place for a casual meal…read more I have been to soba Ichi twice at this point. This most recent visit I was able to try the duck breast soba. The duck was juicy and tender and I love the broth they make. The flavor is deep yet the meal is light. Each spoonful of broth is like a savory umami bomb. I love it! This is the type of place where you order at the counter and wait for your meal. I appreciate that they ask if you'd like to sit inside and if so, they will make sure there is a table open for you. My only critique of this place is I tend to still be hungry after finishing a bowl. I wish the portions were a little larger.

    I'm very torn about this restaurant. On the one hand, the food is decent but not standout. While I…read morecan agree that the quality is good, the quality and taste are insufficient to justify the price. Service is good and love the ambiance though! Food (6/10) - The food and quality of ingredients here is definitely good. We got 3 items and a slice of the soba-cha cake. Let's start with the Kamo Yaki. I thought the duck meatballs were unique but perhaps a little on the dry side. The duck breast itself was tasty and I loved the caramelized onion topping. Pasteurized egg is always a delicious dipping sauce. Now, onto the main course of the soba. We order the Ten Seiro and the Kamo Nanban. All I can really say for both is... average? I definitely enjoyed the savory dipping sauce of the Ten Seiro with that hit of refreshing wasabi. But it wasn't anything spectacular that I would crave again. The same thing for the Kamo Nanban. Duck-based broths are relatively uncommon so I was excited to try it. It also wholly falls into the category of average. The broth was clear and a slightly rich flavor but also isn't something that I would try again. Lastly, and the biggest disappointment of the night, were the noodles. Soba Ichi prides themselves on high-quality, hand-pulled noodles. But as someone who is a noodle lover through and through, if you served me this and told me it was store-bought, I doubt I'd bat an eye. There was just nothing standout. There was no particularly springy texture nor was there a different flavor profile. To finish off the meal, we were somewhat convinced and ordered the soba-cha cake. I really liked it! (big dessert fan) It had a super creamy and rich texture and the soba-cha dusting reminded me faintly of cinnamon sugar with a slightly more earthy undertone. Also, the price is quite high but one slice is enough to be shared by 2-3 people (it's a VERY rich cake). Price (2/10) - I struggled to find a justification for the price here. It's crazy expensive... over $100 for two people and the food is just not up to standard to be charging these prices. I am a firm believer that delicious food that is high quality can charge a premium but this place checks neither of these of boxes for me. Service (6/10) - Service is EXTREMELY slow here. Takes over 30 minutes to get out dishes. Servers are nice though and give good recs (shoutout for the soba-cha cake). Overall, not a restaurant I would go to again nor would I recommend it. It's so expensive for food that doesn't meet the expectations. I would say save your $100 and pick a different high-end restaurant...

    Photos
    Ordering station
    Ordering station
    Vegetable karaage
    Vegetable karaage
    Yamagata dashi tofu

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    Yamagata dashi tofu
    Mensho

    Mensho

    4.5
    (658 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    Mensho is a very popular restaurant. This was my first time visiting, and I had a great experience…read more The food was delicious! The standout dishes for me were the Calamari, Karaage, and Daikon Salad. The Calamari was perfectly fried, and the seasoning was well-balanced. The Karaage was also perfectly fried, and the sauce was flavorful. The Daikon Salad was light and refreshing. I would like to thank our server, Noah, for his helpfulness in choosing our dishes and for the prompt service. I highly recommend it!

    Unfortunately no photos as we devoured the food! However here is my review otherwise:…read more 1. Location- easily accesible in off Piedmont Ave, found parking alongside an adjacent neighborhood street that was free. I went around 430pm on a weekday. 2. Staff/Vibe- very friendly and throughout the service so many stopped by to check-in. Waters were constantly topped off and food was delivered very promptly. The restaurant itself is very intimate and tabletop dividers are largely used to shared tables. It was a really nice approach. I wasn't a major fan of the chairs for the tall tables. I was hoping for some more ergonomically friendly. Food- SIGNATURE RAMEN- 5/5. So good. The broth was so good I think I drank it all before eating any ramen and toppings. It was a wonderfully hearty ramen with a balance of fresh and simple ingredients. This was perfect and allowed the delicious broth to really be the star. LAMB RAMEN. 5/5. If you like south indian curries then this is a must. The dense cumin taste, fresh onions and lamb made this ramen feel very familiar. The flavours were so wonderfully constructed on this. VEGAN KAARAGE MUSHROOM. Made to be reminiscent of fried chicken, these were very pleasant and paired with our broth. I would order this again. I am interested in knowing the preparation method for this as the inside was piping hot while the outside was just warm- almost like it was reheated. I would like these to be crispier with a bit more light seasoning. Overall looking forward to the next visit!

    Photos
    Waiting area
    Waiting area
    Spicy garlic karaage fried chicken
    Spicy garlic karaage fried chicken
    Hokkaido Uni Mini Rice Bowl

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    Hokkaido Uni Mini Rice Bowl
    Me Va Con Vietnamese Kitchen

    Me Va Con Vietnamese Kitchen

    4.5
    (268 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    Was in the mood for pho and decided we'd try someplace I haven't been before. I've had enough pho…read morealong the west coast to know what great pho should taste like and I haven't had the best luck in the Bay. So, the verdict? Extremely impressed. This is already on my top five list in a single visit. Went for the basics: beef pho, and salad roll with tofu. I was initially put off by the short menu and few options to add toppings (I didn't see any tendon or tripe for example), and worried it would be too bland or too sweet--but it was not. The broth was deeply flavorful and more savory. Meats were generous and meatballs were exceptional, maybe the best I've had. The basil and sprouts were garden fresh, and unusually, the rice noodles were exceptional, not at all soft or pressed together. I could genuinely taste the love here. It extended to the salad rolls which were generously portioned and used lightly fried tofu which I prefer. One additional note about the broth. It's a richer style than I normally like so I couldn't drink it to the last drop, but I can't fault its great flavor. The service was above average, with a spirited vibe. Loved everything, will be back to try more on the menu.

    Stepping into Me Va Con felt like entering a slightly more upscale Vietnamese restaurant. They've…read moreclearly put more thought into the decor and menu than you typically see at a traditional pho spot. We ordered the beef pho ($20), crispy spring rolls ($11), and beef carpaccio ($18). The pho was solid, with a clear, deeply flavored broth and noodles that were slightly al dente, which I personally enjoyed. That said, for $20, it didn't feel especially memorable. The crispy spring rolls were fine, but I prefer the ones I make at home, so I'd probably skip them next time. I was especially excited to try the Vietnamese beef carpaccio, and the presentation was beautiful. The beef was fresh, evenly sliced, and topped with baby greens, onions, crispy fried onions, and edible flowers. Unfortunately, the sauce leaned far too citrusy for my taste and overpowered the flavors I wanted to come through, such as fish sauce, vinegar, and sugar. I also think a little more fried onion and garlic would have made the dish more flavorful and satisfying. Overall, we had a decent meal with both highlights and misses. They also offer dishes like bánh khọt and bò lúc lắc, which may be worth trying on a future visit.

    Photos
    Counter
    Counter
    Mini pancakes
    Mini pancakes
    Bò Tái Chanh: Beef Carpaccio w/ Thai basil, fried shallot, house tangerine sauce  ($18)

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    Bò Tái Chanh: Beef Carpaccio w/ Thai basil, fried shallot, house tangerine sauce ($18)

    Pho Ao Sen - vietnamese - Updated July 2026

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