I have been coming here for years. Everything on the menu is delicious. It feels like home style cooking. The servers are very efficient. You can be in n out as long as their isn't a line. I recommend the Bo Kho. read more

Ao Sen - Bo Kho with Bread + Thai Tea - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, California

Last lunch of 2018! Finally got around to trying Pho Ao Sen. Haven't been here since it changed from my childhood Sizzler Restaurant. We were seated in a booth and brought water. We decided to get the fresh spring roll and fried egg rolls for appetizers and then I ordered the #18 Beef Ball Pho. The fried spring rolls came in an order of 3 with a dipping sauce. The fried egg rolls were dense but worked well with the dipping sauce. They were fried very nicely. The fresh spring rolls came in an order of 2 but they were cut in half so there were four pieces. The majority of the spring roll was vermicelli and bean sprouts so I wasn't that impressed given that this was $7. This was pricey for what you got. I'd get the egg rolls over these. The Beef Ball Pho was very filling. They make big beef balls and cut them into pieces. For less than $9, this was a good deal. The only downside was that I felt so thirsty after eating this and I hardly drank any of the broth. Everyone in my party felt the same. The service was excellent and the restaurant was very clean. Frequented by many students since it's off the 72 bus line. read more

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Wonderful server and food. Especially love how spacious the place was. Spring eggroll and their pho were all done well. Definitely will return. read more

They have their own website for contactless ordering https://www.albanyaosen.com. We ordered by calling in and paying at the restaurant but their website link was on a banner outside and they had QR code's posted in their windows for orders/payments. Quality and taste are exactly as they were pre-covid. Enter the restaurant to pick up food at their kitchen entrance by the registers in the center of the restaurant. Super nice folks over the phone and in person!! We love their broth, their tendon, and the easy parking. Don't forget to ask for their housemade lemongrass chili condiment-- they call it sate! read more

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I've been wondering if this was a Lyon's once because it has that unique 1960's-era rooftop and floor plan that I remember from my high school days when I first got my driver's license and thought I was mature for ordering a plate of fries and a Tab. No fries here as it's a huge Vietnamese restaurant now with a pretty standard menu of dishes to which I responded with my standard order. I started with the $5.95 Goi Cuon (Fresh Spring Rolls) which was artfully presented but no better or worse than spring rolls made at any other Vietnamese eatery. I just didn't need to gnaw on a scallion stalk to get to it. What was really disappointing though was the watery peanut sauce that came with it (photo: http://bit.ly/2Oj0iTV). My main dish should come as no surprise as it was the $9.45 Com Ga Hai Nam (Hai Nam Style Chicken Rice). It came with laksa leaves and pickled vegetables which were unique touches to an otherwise ordinary plate with a somewhat paltry portion of steamed chicken, a cup of hot broth, and a large scoop of the chicken rice (photo: http://bit.ly/2NMNzcs). Yeah, I was underwhelmed by the execution of a favorite dish. Other dishes looked more promising like Korean style short ribs and obviously bowls of pho. FOOD - 3 stars...middling Vietnamese food for all the presentation touches AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...certainly spacious and plenty of parking SERVICE - 3 stars...not very personal TOTAL - 3 stars...gee, I could go for some fries now RELATED - If you're looking for other dining options in Albany and Berkeley, here's a list of places I've tried and reviewed: bit.ly/2N4anQA read more

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Good food! Had the beef stew and summer rolls. Stew was tasty and summer rolls were fresh. Lots of people but seated quickly.

Omg. My new favorite! As a vegetarian I was excited to see so many options on a Vietnamese menu, and the value was incredible. I would go back again and again. read more

Absolutely loved this Vietnamese restaurant! The food was delicious, the place was clean, and the seating area was spacious. The service was outstanding--they even provided kids' utensils and small scissors without us asking. Such thoughtful touches! Highly recommend! read more

My husband loves this Vietnamese restaurant in Albany. I was craving rice and he said this place have the best rice dish. When I tasted the grilled pork, it was magical. The meat is very thin and each bite can taste its flavor. Everything that was on the plate was delicious! read more

Ao Sen - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, California

Everything is 100% on point! From food presentation to service! I've basically tried everything on menu till now, and there's not even 1 item missed my expectations! My go to place for my pho fix in the whole Bay Area! read more

Ao Sen - #42 - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, California

This is my go to vietnamese place. The pho is what dreams are made of, but I still rarely order it because everything else is so good.

We normally just order to go from here. It's always ready with 10 mins. Pho broth is on point. Bun Bo hue is on point. Bun thit nuong is in point. The com tam rice plate is on point. It's our favorite Vietnamese spot in Berkeley/Albany. I'm Vietnamese and my mom has cooked Vietnamese food since before I was born. This place definitely competes with my mom's recipes. We get Ao Sen about once a week. Going to order for dinner tonight! read more

Soup was light and flavorful. I loved how soft the brisket was, so easy to chew. I don't usually finish all of my food when eating out but this was an exception. It was so delicious. The service was exceptional too. We were seated and served so quickly and always had a full cup of water :) read more

Ao Sen - #12 eye round steak and brisket pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, California

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Ao Sen is one of my favorite Vietnamese spots in the Bay. Their vegetarian options are all delicious: - (22C) Vegetable Noodle Soup - (45) Bún Bò Xào Chay (soy protein lemongrass beef) - (46) Cá Chiên Sôt Chua Ngot (soy protein fish filet) I've also recently tried their (22A) Seafood Noodle Soup. Regardless if you are vegetarian or not, I highly recommend you try the (45) Bún Bò Xào Chay. The flavor and texture are not only very meat-like, but the seasoning itself is great. Plus, the serving size is generous. Overall, the service is good, the food comes out quickly, and it always tastes great. Highly recommend! read more

The best pho in the East Bay! The staff are always friendly and it's really nice to just sit down in the restaurant!

Been here multiple times throughout the year and I have to say the pho really hours the spot when you're craving a good warm meal. While the prices are on the higher side the portions match the price, being super large and filling. Service is also great and super quick definitely would recommend you try the place out. read more

Ao Sen - Number 1 - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, California

I love Pho Ao-Sen! What delicious pho. Everything is so fresh. The summer rolls are just perfect. I don't know if there are a lot of amazing pho places in Albany/Berkeley, but as a visiting New Yorker I would come here at least once a week. I usually just order the largest bowl of pho and summer rolls. the pork chop is juicy and flavorful. I eat the pork chop with shredded pork over rice so fast I end up with hiccups. The pho meets all the milestones Broth. Rich. Fragrant. Not overly salty. I think there's no msg. I forgot to check Noodles. Nice bite. Not overly soggy Meats. Very fresh and tender. Sprouts. Fresh. No brown spoiled ones. Verdict. My go-to for pho when I'm in the Albany/Berkeley area. read more

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TLDR: Hands down my favorite pho place in the bay! I wrote a review for the sister store in Oakland and my sentiments are mirrored at this location as well! I usually get #2 and ask for fresh noodles (an extra $1). Food: 8/10 This is my go to pho place! It's a little far from the UC Berkeley campus, but trust me when I say the trek is worth it. The broth is flavorful and their portions of meat are generous! I usually pay an extra $1 for fresh noodles, which I definitely recommend. Price & Portion: 8/10 The prices are pretty standard at about $10 for a bowl of pho. Personally, it feels like the portions have gotten slightly smaller since I first started coming here. But, the portions are still a very healthy size. I'm usually barely able to finish a medium sized pho. Service: 7/10 Service is usually pretty fast! No complaints here. Ambience: 7/10 It's a homey environment! Definitely great for a casual outing. read more

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We always love good Vietnamese food, and when our friends brought us here, we knew it would be good. It was. You expect good Asian food in the Bay Area, and this place definitely hit the mark. As good or better than our favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Arizona. The rice plates were cooked perfectly, the pork was succulent and tender, the Korean style short ribs were also excellent. The prices are very reasonable too, especially for California. read more

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This place is a solid 3.5 stars. I've been here 3 times and gotten the (#2) Combination Pho twice and (#36) Bun Bo Hue once. The portions are good and I always leave the restaurant feeling really satisfied with the warm broth especially in the cold weather. I wasn't blown away with the taste of the broth and dishes, which is why I couldn't give it a higher rating - however, I do want to mention that it is good enough that I do (and will) come back again. In terms of price, I think they're average for the area. Appetizers are about $9-10 and a regular dish will sit around $13-15 (unless you get a XL). Extras: The staff have always been really friendly and very quick with service! The restaurant also has private parking, which is always a plus and is large enough for groups of people. read more

This has got to be the quickest Vietnamese restaurant I've ever been to. You get seated, order, and within 5 minutes are given your dessert and main dishes! I'm obsessed with their Che Thai ($3.95) since it comes with all my favorite toppings (jackfruit, coconut jelly, toddy palm, green jelly, and coconut milk). There have been many a time when I come here to order two for myself to-go. My husband prefers the classic Che Ba Mau ($3.95), so you can't go wrong with any of their desserts here. Their Seafood Noodle Soup ($10.75) is standard with carrots and lots of noodles. For those of you who like a bit more of a spicy kick, be sure to add in their housemade lemongrass chili oil. It's one of the most addicting sauces, so much so that we ordered a container of it to-go for $5! I love how spacious and modern it is here. Tons of greenery and modern plating, definitely not your standard Vietnamese joint! read more

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The best pho Noodle soup in town very friendly service the best beef stew in Bay Area very delicious. Try the Beef stew you won't regret it. Fried chicken wing delicious read more

Ao Sen - Eating area nice and clean even the restroom - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, California

Not only did they get my take out order completely wrong, they told me point blank they would rather not have me as a customer than refund the $10-$15 they owed me for the mistake. The food they did give us was pretty mediocre. I would go another direction. read more

This is my usual go-to Vietnamese restaurant. I usually order the pork chops with grilled shrimp and broken rice. It's a huge meal and leaves me feeling full and satisfied. At other VN restaurants, the pork chops can often be fatty. Here they are lean and thin and cooked to perfection. Lately, I've been getting the bun cha Hanoi. Having just returned from Hanoi where I tried the real thing, I can say their bun cha stacks up and in some cases is even better than what I had in Hanoi - especially the sweet and sour broth that the pork comes in - here it is deliciously flavorful. Another huge meal - you could probably split this with someone and get some spring rolls or an appetizer. read more

Was craving some Pho today so the gf recommended Pho Ao Sen nearby. One of the great things about Pho Ao Sen is that they are located on a large plot of real estate, which provides for a very spacious parking lot. In addition, upon walking in, the interior is very modern, clean, with plenty of seating available. We were seated immediately and service was very prompt in taking our orders. Literally a minute after handing in our menus, our orders literally arrived. We were both shocked by their efficiency! We both ordered Pho (#1 and #2), which was pretty decent, with a nice clean broth. Price point is affordable, and our two pho's came out to be $21.95 after tax. Pay at the register. read more

My new go-to Vietnamese restaurant in the area! Thank goodness because a good place for a yummy bowl of pho and vermicelli has been lacking in this area for the past few years. First off, great location with plentiful parking ! A beautiful modern decorated interior with lots of seating arrangements for all types of parties. I've been here at least twice and both the food and customer service has been great ! The pho has great flavor, although I do have to point out that upgrading your bowl to a large only seemed like they added more noodles and not anymore meat (? I'll retest this speculation the next time I go with my boyfriend). My vermicelli cravings have definitely been satisfied by Pho Ao Sen ! #39 is my choice of vermicelli because it has everything I want - pork & my CRUNCHY egg rolls ! MmmmMm. There are other vermicelli choices that include shrimp as well. I really enjoy how the vermicelli here has a bed of chopped cucumbers hidden under the bed of vermicelli noodles ! With rising food prices nowadays, Pho Ao Sen still manages to keep their prices at a reasonable price, well-sized proportions, and not skimping out on quality ingredients either :) An extensive menu that includes Bun Bo Hue as well! ANYWAY, can't recommend this place enough as a go-to Vietnamese restaurant in the area. I'll be back soon! read more

Ao Sen - #39 !! - $9.75 - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, California

Such great vegan options! Both of their vegetarian options are actually vegan and are some of the best vegan Vietnamese food I've had. They also come in large portions which is nice! Definitely going to be coming back often. read more

Ao Sen - Vegan Bun Bo Xao Xa - Lemongrass Beef Vermicelli - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, California

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This place is very spacious inside and our food came out quickly. I love how they have some vegetarian options for the vermacelli as not all viet places do. My friend enjoyed her pho ga - was not the best she's had but decent. They do give a big portion! Only complaint was the service was not the best - our server only came to our table to get our orders and bring us our food..they didn't really check on us and it didn't seem that busy. I would come back for the food though just not at a busy time! read more

Ao Sen - Pho Ga- Chicken Noodle Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, California

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Came here because I was craving Pho and I was sooo happy! I ordered veggie pho, the rest of my group had Chicken Bun, Chicken Pho and Spring Rolls. We all really loved our food! All of the restaurant staff was super nice as well. We will DEF go back to try many other items on the menu. read more

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I think Pho Ao Sen is probably one of the better places to get Vietnamese food in the Berkeley-Albany area! Every time I go, I'm super satisfied and looking forward to my next visit. AMBIANCE: It's pretty clean inside and there are a plentiful number of tables and booths to sit at. Nothing particularly special or super aesthetic -- the food and service are the true shining points of this restaurant. SERVICE: The last time I came here, we had the sweetest servers! One was very friendly and attentive, and she was really good about refilling our water when we needed it. The other one helped us split our bill, which wasn't really an easy task, so I definitely appreciate that she went out of her way to split it for us. FOOD: Definitely one the best places to get pho in the Berkeley vicinity! I got #12 - Pho Tai Chin, and the broth was REALLY good. The beef was also really tender + lean and didn't have a ton of fat, which I appreciated. I got my pho without onions and paid $2.00 to get steamed vegetables on the side, and it felt like I could've gotten a little more for $2.00. I still think it was worth it though, since it made me feel a little better about myself ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I've also gotten Bun Bo Hue there, and it was delicious as well. I like how they had chili paste as a condiment, since I feel like a lot of pho spots usually only have Sriracha and hoisin sauce. Their Vietnamese Iced Coffee is also really good! Nice balance of sweetness + coffee flavor. Can't wait to come back !! read more

Ao Sen - Pho Tai Chin before putting the noodles on top (+ without onions) and steamed veggies! - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, California

years ago when pho ao sen first opened, I was probably one of the first customers, I remember I was not very impressed. However I recently moved back to Albany and decided to try this place again, after all everyone deserves a 2nd shot, and I now understand the difference between a brand new business and one that has some time to establish themselves. I was rewarded, as the service was quick and polite, food was delicious, space was comfortable and felt safe and spaced out. The interior has wonderful fungshui. I ordered the charbroiled chicken over rice plate #35, and my wife ordered the #12 pho (with lean meats), and we shared the chicken wing appetizer. The chicken wings really impressed me, 90% of the time I really dislike chicken wing appetizers, but this place was on point. better than many places that only serve wings, seriously, give it a try. the rice plate was very nice, great meat texture, healthy portion, came with side pho broth. the pho was good, my wife dislikes those fatty chewy piece of meat and we simply told that to our server and he said he recommended #12, it is clear the service knows their menu inside and out. The parking lot is spacious and easy to park, a little bit of a rarity here in albany, so that is great, the seats are very comfortable, and there is no feeling of being cramped. the decor is very natural with a stone wall with ivy growing on it, as well as plants placed on every other booth table, spacing you out from other guests (for social distancing while eating). read more

Soup always seved hot and quickly! Fresh noodles and delicious broth. the thai iced tea is refreshing and has an equal amount of tea and milk. read more

This place is so good! There is so much seating so i'm sure the wait would not be long if you went during rush hours. I went at 4pm on a Saturday and there was no wait. This restaurant feels like very family like, it has good service, good foods, and it's very clean. Both the chicken and beef pho are delicious and the spring rolls are a must try! This is going to be my new go to restaurant for the good food and affordable prices. read more

Really delicious food!! Great, friendly and fast service every time! Relaxing and pretty ambiance with some tv's.

Quite disappointed with the portions lately considering the substantial price hike. I ordered a large and a regular bowl of pho (for pick up). When I got home and unpacked...they looked exactly like the same amount of noodles (skimpy even for a regular). With that said, everything was still tasty. Recommendation to the owner to pay more attention to the portions. read more

My friend has been saying this is her favorite pho place so my bf and I came here a couple times. We love the spring roll as the peanut sauce is warm and filled with flavor. This is one of the few places where I've been that serves you warm peanut sauce. It makes a difference. We also shared a pho which hits the spot. This place has a parking lot right behind it so you can almost always find parking. I love the pho as well, comes out very fast and efficient. Large restaurant and your almost always seated immediately. They also present the spring roll with some nice plating skills. read more

Ao Sen - Vietnamese Near Me - Albany, California

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Generous portions, fresh ingredients, wonderful selection of Vietnamese food. We love everything on the menu so far......this time we had the Hanoi pork and vermicelli and the spring rolls and the pork spring rolls.........so delicious ! And the amazing amount of fresh herbs! Lots of off-street parking, large pleasant space, wonderful welcoming waitstaff.....especially Ashley! read more

This is first time here. we got Spring rolls and spicy chicken wing. The rolls come out artistically pleasing to the eye, it look good as it taste. Fresh crunch from veggie and the rice noodle skin was elastic enough to held them in place even after many nimble from me. I love that peanut sauce was warm to dip my roll in. 10/10, so far the best spring roll I had. my companion enjoy the wings, he said that were the bomb. I didn't try because I can't handle spicy tonight. I ordered Pho #2 on the menu. Request rare beef on the side to cook at my preference. The courtesy waiter said the soup is hot enough to cook those meat slices. The soup was lighter and cleaner ( less oil) than other I have. I can drink like soup without getting thirsty. The meat was nice and tender. And the complementary side ( basil, pepper, bean sprouts, lime) was a nice touch. Basil is My FAV add on to my soup at all PHO place. The basil is Soo fresh! I request another round of it. read more

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My review of this place comes from the perspective of someone who regularly watches Chopped and realizes her tongue would probably only describe dishes in three ways: "That was almost as bad as eating black jelly beans," "That was good," and "Wow, that was REALLY good." Having said that, here's what I liked: - The spring rolls! So delicious and flavorful, with great texture. - The pho, definitely. I love flavorful broth and adequate meat in the soup. - The ambience! I don't mind messy hole-in-the-wall places, but this restaurant is the opposite of that. The restaurant is spacious and clean. - The service we've received here has always been prompt and pleasant. - A parking lot! After moving to the bay area, I'm always happy to visit restaurants with easy parking. - Bathrooms within the restaurant! I never realize how important that is until I'm in a restaurant that hands me a key to a bathroom that ends up being located in a confusing hallway with multiple card-reader entrances that make me feel like I'm entering a high-security area (want to know if I'm joking? Visit Gum Kuo in Oakland with a full bladder). I also usually like ordering charbroiled pork over rice vermicelli, but the day I ordered that from this location I received one piece of pork and very little shredded lettuce and pickled carrots & daikon. I was essentially eating a bowl of cold noodles, which ends up being pretty mediocre. Everything else about the experience was great, so I would definitely come back and try to order the dish again. I'll be back and ready to point at my order again until someone can teach me to say the names properly, Pho Ao Sen. Thanks for two great experiences so far. read more

Came here for Valentine's day because I was battling a cold, and this place really sounded perfect for my sickness. The beef pho is always consistent and good for around Berkeley area. Not phenomenal or close to home, but enjoyable and satisfying. My boyfriend ordered the bun thit nuong (vermicelli noodles with grilled pork, veggies and fish sauce). His dish was not pretty presentation wise and they definitely skimped out on the meat, however, whatever meat was there was delicious in his opinion, and I trust his judgement. He's from Vietnam and he's an even bigger critic than I am, which says a lot, haha! They also didn't include egg rolls in it, which is usually what comes with that dish. So they don't follow traditional rules with their recipes but their flavors are there for the most part. As a Vietnamese person living north of SJ, I trust this place. However if you order anything other than pho, you are gambling, which is the reason for my 3 stars. Pho is consistently good, but overall consistency is absent. The prices are great! A bowl of pho is less than $10 and they serve large portions! Love that about this place. Vietnamese shouldn't be overpriced ever! It's supposed to be comforting, delicious and cheap (the holy trinity)! Overall, I'm a regular and I like it and I definitely recommend but be careful what you order! read more

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