I haven't been here in ages. I've been wanting to go so bad. I finally got some peeps to go with me. The staff was super friendly. We didn't want for anything. They filled our water glasses without asking and checked in on us to ensure a good experience. They have a wine menu too. It was so hard to choose! We started with two apps to share-summer rolls and spring rolls. They come with pickled veggies and dipping sauces. The summer rolls were fresh and fat! The spring rolls had a little different coating but they were good and crunchy. I had the grilled chicken with crushed peanuts and vermicelli. The chicken was a nice big charbroiled chicken breast perfectly cooked! The presentation was so colorful! Enough for a few meals. They do have a fruit fly problem. That was a bit annoying. Other than that it was a great experience and a good meal! Apps, drinks and meals for three was under $140. read more

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I finally had a sit down meal at Vans and it was delish. The place was crowded. The crowd was mostly young. They looked like savvy college students who knew where to eat without breaking the bank. Vans is not pricey. The food tastes fresh. We ordered Spring Rolls and spicy beef noodle soup called Bun Bo Hue. The decor is very simple. The restaurant is rather large. We got our meal quickly and it was wonderful. The only thing I had an issue with is that the restaurant is incredibly understaffed. Somehow, the small team of servers make it work despite having to navigate a large space. A few times, a middle aged server actually ran across the floor in order to get meals to customers in a timely manner. That was a little troubling to watch but for the staff, it seemed to be all in a days work. read more

Van's Vietnamese Restaurant - Spicy mussels - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, New York

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Was driving past Albany to go upstairs and came across Van's. We were in a rush so we got take out. Got the fried spring roll and it was delicious! Highly recommend it. If a viet restaurants spring rolls are good, that means their food is obviously good as well! The skin was crispy and more doughy so I really like it! My partner got the grilled beef slices over rice and he really enjoyed it as well. He usually doesn't like Vietnamese food but he gave this a thumbs up! Van's also very generous with the portion! I got the Bun Bo Hue. I like how they wrapped the beef separately when they gave the takeout. The noodles were the perfect thicc noodles that I like. The soup was good however it's not as spicy as other BBH's are. But still good! read more

Van's... so nice I'm reviewing it twice. I've been back a few times since my initial review 2+ years ago. The food is still amazing. I tried the pork this time and found it to be superb. My brother tried the duck which was a real crowd pleaser. There were no leftovers for him. We also split the spring rolls (not shown) and while they were good, I wouldn't mind skipping them next time. The ambiance is still "whole in the wall". The decor is old and that's part of the charm. The focus isn't on Instagram-worthy wall art. It's been the same for 2 years and was probably there 8 years before the . Service is impeccable. Our waitress was attentive without hovering. She packed us up and even took a picture of me & my brother for me. I don't get over to Van's as often as I wish I could, but knowing it's there is comforting. I'll be back read more

Van's Vietnamese Restaurant - Duck - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, New York

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The servers were super nice, and our food came out quickly since it wasn't too busy. The summer rolls were fine and the sauce was tasty, but I wish it had more veggies. The bun bo hue was huge! I wasn't able to finish all the noodles because there was so much meat. Also, we were able to find street parking, but it wasn't the safest area. read more

Van's Vietnamese Restaurant - Bun Bo Hue - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, New York

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Ordered the chicken pho recently. Generous portions of chicken, broth had a generous helping of black peppercorns. I noticed the lady at the front desk could speak Mandarin with Mandarin-dominant customers on top of her native Vietnamese and English. read more

Van's Vietnamese Restaurant - Pho ga (chicken pho) - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, New York

Loved the food here!! This is an authentic and awesome place to try. We'll be back next time we're in Albany!!

I have eaten Vietnamese food all over the world and this is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. The service was outstanding. We had summer rolls, shrimp salad, and a combination plate. Delicious. Would highly recommend. sometimes you can get parking out front but there's a public parking lot just a few stores down. read more

Van's Vietnamese Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, New York

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Authentic Vietnamese food. Large dining room with minimal decorations but makes up for in the food. Seemed to me like a family operation. Service was good and food was delicious. Will definitely be back to try the Pho (which other diners raved about as they paid their bill). read more

I have never dined in, but I always get the take out pho. The food is always hot and gets prepared quickly. I wish there were more meats like beef tendon and beef tripe, but otherwise it's a great spot! read more

Be prepared this is not your typical Viet restaurant. We were visiting for college move in. I don't know... my son recommended this place bc he had good pho here... but we didn't end up getting pho, but instead we got rice entrees... We tried their spring rolls - skip it - it's not what you think it is.. it's like fried chicken batter thick. We didn't like it. The lemongrass pork chop - way too thick - not what we imagined... we miss the thin pork chop, bc this version was too dry. The grilled slice beef is ok - again, some pieces are very tough to chew. Good flavor tho. The crispy roast chicken was a huge disappointment. Really really dry AF... even drown in the sauce wouldn't revive it. My kids didn't like this one at all... Portion was big enough to share for a family of 4. The space is big, lots of room and owner speaks Cantonese, Viet and English... multi talented. The total bill was about $72, added 18% (the owner will ask you what % tip you want to give). read more

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This place was amazing I got the summer spring rolls and the vegetarian egg rolls and they were amazing then I got the chicken pho and the chicken was tender and juicy they broth was flavorful and make sure to use the stuff they bring out and if your feeling it use some of the chile oil on the table all and all it was an amazing place 5 stars read more

Van's Vietnamese Restaurant - This is the chicken pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, New York

This is one of our frequent spots to stop on a long drive whenever we drive through Albany! We usually have a large party (this time 10 people) and they've always had seats for us and have been accommodating. They do take credit card, and usually the receipt is handwritten and not itemized well. Every time I go, I always get the pho which is delicious and warms me up, especially in the winter. The spring rolls are also yummy. I'd also highly recommend the shakes- mango and avocado are our favorite flavors that we've tried so far. read more

Van's Vietnamese Restaurant - pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, New York

Would not recommend there a roach in my pho. They took to ale our order and I had to get waiter attention to get served read more

Van's Vietnamese Restaurant - Roach - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, New York

When I lived in Albany, I used to visit Van's frequently. The deliciousness and great service has not changed one bit! I was able to treat a guest from Spain to his first Vietnamese dish. I think he enjoyed it. I highly recommend Vans! read more

Van's Vietnamese Restaurant - Com Bo Nuong (beef slices) - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, New York

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I love the place - no frills, but food is spectacular- it makes me happy to see Vietnamese patrons- I am not gonna lie, I miss boneless 1/2 duck - it was amazing, still same flavor on bone in, but harder to eat read more

Food was amazing and authentic. Highly recommend. Great neighborhood restaurant, also has beer and wine. read more

Van's Vietnamese Restaurant - Amazing beef combination pho! - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, New York

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Nice service, well presented meals, reasonable price. Many native peoples in for their meal. No negatives. Parking in a nearby lot across from the mosque.... read more

Pho was phenomenal. Service was great and price was perfect. I had the tofu pho, and my friend had the chicken pho. The chicken was unbelievably tender and juicy, and the tofu was cooked perfect; crispy outside, soft center. There was plenty to take home so I had lunch the next day as well. Can't wait to go back. read more

I came in alone so it took awhile for me to be serviced since the restaurant was full. I enjoyed my meal and was able to pay quickly. I loved the broth it was so flavorful and there was a lot of meat in my dish. I would definitely come back read more

Vans is delicious. Service is spotty. Service isn't the typical American dining standards. Generally there is only 1 or 2 people working the entire dining room and the way they do it is all orders have to go through the one person. We arrived on an early Sunday night for dinner. Sat at the table with menus for over 20 minutes after being ready to order but not being acknowledged and they weren't yet full. Don't go if you are in a rush but not to be missed for some of the best pho and Vietnamese food I've had and certainly Albany's best. When we finished eating, we again had to wait an additional 20 minutes after they saw we were finished for person to come for the bill. It's strange but the fresh and flavorful food makes it worth it. read more

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Authentic vietnamese food. My Vietnamese friend and I go this place and highly recommended by her. Food is so good but my I like the pho and the pork with vermicelli. ... so yummy. Service is always at par. Our server is nice. The place is clean and can accomodate big groups. read more

Van's Vietnamese Restaurant - Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, New York

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I dined in and the lady there told me that I HAD to pay the 15% tip suggestion. She tried adding it in initially and I told her no. I paid half of the suggested (2 dollars out of 4 dollars) and I was told that if I didn't pay it in the full amount, I wouldn't be served in the future. She began trying to guilt trip me into tipping the full SUGGESTED amount. Beware of this! read more

Iconic venue in Albany capital region. Best Pho in the area. Excellent price and service. Highly recommend!

Mt favorite phó restaurant in the area. I always get the rare steak phó. Staff is great, service is fast, and food is tasty. I will be back!

Authentic Vietnamese cooking it's been a staple for years. It continues to have excellent food and very excellent service. Please give it a try or return if you haven't been there in a while thank you read more

AUTHEN. TIC. Being in Albany, it's been hard to find a really good Vietnamese restaurant. That is, until I found Van's. Food: 5/5 This hole in the wall restaurant provides some of the most tasty Vietnamese food of my life. Every time we go, we get the same thing: Pho Đặc Biệt and Cơm Thịt Nướng. The only thing I can complain is that it's a little pricey. Service: 5/5 The staff is very kind and speaks Viet and English. They're very attentive to us and love talking to students. Vibes: 4/5 like I said, it's a more hole-in-the-wall place so not too fancy. That's when you know the food is good though. read more

The service is slow but that's because there was one waiter for all the tables. But the food itself was great and humongous portions. The spring rolls are battered and fried and come with extra large size pickled veg. Almost everyone had pho for lunch and the meat and noodles in each bowl match the price for the meal. Friendly service, just ensure you have extra time because they do get busy, even on a Tuesday afternoon. read more

Probably the most authentic Vietnamese restaurant we have been to on the east coast. The family owned business care about the quality and quantity of the dishes. Do not be put off by the area.. it is safe read more

Do not judge this place by its decor. The food is simple but oh so tasty. From the fried spring rolls to their Pho and boneless duck, there is not one thing on the menu that they do poorly. Eat in or take out....the neighborhood is sketchy so park close to the restaurant. read more

Got: Vegetarian Bun Price: ~$13 (slightly more expensive than a classic bowl of pho but the portion size justifies it! - see my hand in the pic below) Value: 9/10 Never had bun like this before! Normally I'm used to having this dish with the noodles on a bed of lettuce, bean sprouts with a little bowl of sweetened fish sauce on the side. INSTEAD, no fish sauce but broth underneath the noodles? It wasn't fish sauce but rather a savory almost beefy broth/gravy. The spring rolls were on the heavier side, starchy and peppery (filled with a bean paste or taro mixture since I chose the vegetarian option). They could've been slightly less fried but were delicious nevertheless. The restaurant was crowded and new customers constantly rolled in as tables were vacated. Seemed like a popular local spot especially for RPI students. Overall, a gem of Vietnamese restaurant in upstate NY! Would recommend. read more

Van's Vietnamese Restaurant - Bun vegetarian spring rolls (giant portions with hand to scale) - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, New York

2024 Dec 14. Two pho with flank steak. Summer roll - 2 pork and 2 tofu. We forgot we have been here five years ago. We parked at the public parking lot that still charges $1 for Saturday parking. Summer roll has great sauce and is skillfully packed and taste great. The pho is very authentic and the bean sprouts are fresh. Great meal! read more

Van's Vietnamese Restaurant - Tai Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, New York

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We drove over an hour to meet friends who love this hole in the wall-- the street has a sketchy Shaft vibe but maybe we're not used to Albany. Just one kind waitress handled the room, which was half full. Service was pretty quick, and we all ordered different dishes-- spring rolls were nice, beef pho was okay, bbq chicken got highest marks.Pricey for lunch but portions are ginormous. Good place for big eaters who live locally. read more

3.5 stars but I'm rounding up because Van's is one of the few Vietnamese restaurants in the Albany area. If you live in the Albany area and have a craving for pho, Van's is your go-to stop. They serve all the traditional Vietnamese food that you find at popular pho places in more metropolitan cities. However, they aren't as efficient or as flavorful as other successful pho restaurants in other areas. Pho- the serving proportions have a bit more soup to noodles for my preference. The soup broth is a bit on the oily side. The price is a bit higher for pho too. Service- on the slower side. Try to know what you want to order before coming here to speed up your waiting time. The service is pleasant, just not very efficient. Overall, Van's will meet your pho cravings but it won't be the best pho you've ever had. read more

I've been here many times. Honestly the pho is amazing. The flavor is really good. And the staff that works there are always very friendly to me. I highly recommend this place if you are in the area. read more

I was passing by Albany and gave this place a go as it was the most highly yelp-rated vietnamese restaurant around Albany. I ordered cha gio as appetizer and got pho chin (beef pho with brisket) as my entree. I was very satisfied with my pho. Broth was clean yet beefy, meat was moist and fresh, and the noodle was very well cooked and had no stale taste. I really enjoyed the pho and will definitely revisit if I ever pass by Albany again. Highly recommend! read more

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I've been going to Van's for over a decade for pho. It's always consistently delicious. Best in the capital region. The service is great and chef van and lady van are wonderful people. The restaurant itself has a big dining room and is average looking. The food is anything but though. I've had the Pho with flank steak, beef meatballs, well-done beef brisket, and plain noodle soup. Last night I had the white boneless chicken breast for the first time, great stuff!! I prefer the flank, noodle, and chicken the best. I've enjoyed the fresh summer rolls with pork and shrimp. I really like the fried pork and shrimp spring rolls too. If you want the best Pho, Van's is the spot. read more

A plain green awning welcomed us on a sunny day in Albany as we drove out on Central Avenue in search of good Vietnamese food. And we found it at Van's. First, the fresh spring rolls - layers of lettuce and greens with thick, plump shrimp wrapped in a clear rice paper. Crunchy and sweet all at once, definitely worth it. Then the fried spring rolls, crispy on the outside, meaty on the inside. I'm more of a fresh spring roll person, but these were yummy. Then the pho - I had a special combination, a huge bowl of savory broth with a huge ball of tangled noodles covered with tai (flank steak) and chin (brisket) and two beef meatballs thrown in for good measure. Plenty of bean sprouts and jalapeños to keep me happy, too! If you want authentic Vietnamese eats, give Van's a try! read more

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Service slow But food worth the wait We had two different dishes . Both were very good . read more

We've been wanting to try Van's pho for a while now given the rave reviews, but we were admittedly apprehensive to order because soup and takeout don't seem to mix.... We were wrong. We ordered the pork summer rolls and an order of chicken pho and the spicy beef lemongrass soup... the soup was packaged SO amazingly. For each soup there was one big plastic container of broth, one small takeout container with noodles, scallions, cilantro and onions, and the meat. The last container was a plastic baggie with the condiments-- two cute containers of hoisin and sriracha, nice big stalks of basil, a big wedge of lime, and jalapeño pepper slices. Then you assemble accordingly! It was so fun and delicious. The broth of both soups were complex and had a wonderful sweetness. Also the beef broth wasn't overly spicy, but it came with another condiment of straight up pepper seed mash (I'm not sure what it's called...) which my boyfriend elected to use for dipping. Also so cool-- the steak for the beef soup comes raw as it would in the restaurant and it cooks as you pour broth on top. The summer rolls were great, is just wish the dipping sauce had more dimensions (it was basically fish sauce and sugar water). Portion sizes were enormous-- definitely worth the money. We will be back! PS Ann was working in the front and was really doing a great job of running the show-- it's nice to see a place like this getting a lot of business!! We hope to come here to experience it dining in post-pandemic! read more

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