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    Bua Luang

    3.8 (361 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Asian Fusion
    Closed 12:00 pm - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Bua Luang Takeout or Delivery

    Bua Luang Photos

    Business Info

    BUA LUANG ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Bua Luang

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    Reviews With Photos

    Mango + Sticky Rice
    Trixie L.

    Such a lovely little spot in Albany! Was looking for a nice bite after a beach day and I couldn't have picked better. Outdoor parklette was spacious and comfy, the service was very nice, and the food was delish! They brought my dog a dog bowl of ice water, and we chatted about dogs and how much love (and mischief) they bring to your life I got one of the specials and the chicken melted off the bone into a delectable curry sauce with crispy egg noodles. I also had to get the mango + sticky rice and it did NOT disappoint! Highly recommend this spot, an absolute gem.

    Pra Ram with grilled chicken & prawn rolls w/dipping sauce

    Our first time having lunch here, with a recommendation from a 'friend'. I had the Pra Ram with chicken lunch with crispy fried shrimp rolls with dipping sauce. My lunch buddy had another lunch dish, that looked scrumptious and a lil' spicy. With both were served a mini crisp lettuce with a smidge of corn salad that was served cold, it was a refreshing start the meal. Wanda and the other server checked in on us from time to time. As we caught up with another and totally enjoyed the Thai lunch. We were amongst other diners as we admired the art pieces among us. We'll be back to engage with other items on the menu. Bonus: off street parking, 90 minutes. Also, there's plenty of local shops to browse upon.

    Pad Thai with Chicken
    Kyra K.

    I've lived in the neighborhood my entire life but never tried Bua Luang! Each time I've passed by it's been jamming so I was excited to try this spot for a girl's night out. The restaurant is simple and modest with indoor and outdoor seating. The interior has natural elements with a calming environment surrounded by Thai decor. The workers are all kind and constantly check in while dishes come out promptly. Whenever I go to a Thai restaurant I order Pad Thai as a basic standard dish. Their Pad Thai with Chicken was everything you look for in Pad Thai--sweet, savory, and slightly nutty. I liked how it also came with tofu! My friend enjoyed her Duck Noodle Soup. For the price, portions were plentiful and a take-out box was needed for both myself and my friend. Bua Luang is a popular destination in Albany for Thai cuisine. Find them off Solano Ave. with street and neighborhood parking. I wouldn't mind coming back to try their other dishes!

    Inside dining area
    Donovan H.

    I am quite passionate about Thai food since much of it is delicious. However, since much of their food is on the spicier side, I tend not to eat a lot of it. Which takes me to the city of Albany where I had the opportunity in trying out "Bua Luang". Located in the heart of downtown Albany directly on Solano Ave and just a couple blocks east of San Pablo Ave, this place has been dishing out delicious South Asian Thai food dating way back to 1990. Which means locals and residents of surrounding areas have eaten here at least one time or another. As far as their menu goes, this place is fairly standard with a wide variety of Thai offerings. This includes noodles, curry dishes, seafood specialties, soups, fried rice, and salads. I came here with my significant other during the evening of Saturday 4/20/2024 at around 8:00pm. Luckily they were open until 9:00pm which gave us ample time to dine-in, order, and enjoy our food. As far as the interior layout, this place has a very classic cozy feel to it with wooden accents and unique Thai-inspired displays throughout. It isn't the biggest place but still enough to accommodate at least 30 customers. They do have a very nice wooden outdoor deck (which I am guessing was built during the pandemic) to enjoy the more comfortable days and evenings. The hours are also quite generous as they are open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30am-2:30pm (for lunch) and 5:00-9:00pm (for dinner) while they are closed for business on Monday. Once seated, we were given two iced water. I knew exactly what I wanted prior to coming here and that was none other than one of their main signature dishes, their "Panang Beef". This dish used thick red 'Panang' curry with tender beef, lime leaves, ground peanuts, bell peppers, sweet basil, and coconut milk while served with broccoli. My lady went with their "Pad See-Ewe" (with chicken) which is pan-fried rice noodles with traditional broccoli, Chinese broccoli, carrots, eggs and bean sauce. We also opted for a side of Jasmine rice and I chose their Thai Iced tea as my beverage of choice. Both of our dishes arrived in roughly 10 minutes and everything was piping hot. As for my beef dish, it has the perfect amount of sweet and spicy with a distinctive and noticeable coconut/curry flavor to it. Even though I am not the biggest fan of spicy food, I could tolerate this. I sampled some of her Pad See-Ewe and this was cooked to perfection as there was a very generous serving of chicken inside. Overall, its safe to say that the food in general was above average and delicious. Not jaw dropping amazing but a smart choice if you're looking for a family-owned Thai restaurant in the East Bay. All in all, "Bua Luang" was the perfect comfort food for our Saturday evening. And if you can't dine-in or even pickup your order, they offer online ordering & delivery through all the major food apps; DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, and Postmates. As for the restaurant itself, the service that our female waitress provided was excellent as she made sure our waters were filled up and that everything tasted delicious. The atmosphere, ambiance, price, and most importantly, the food was good. My rating for Bua Luang, an above average four stars.

    Ambiance
    Anna W.

    I love the food, service, and ambiance here. The pumpkin curry is my favorite. Pad Thai, drunken noodles, eggplant, chicken satay, everything is good. No complaints.

    Meang Kum
    Esther H.

    My husband saw Miang Kham on the menu and said, "We have to eat here. I never see this on restaurant menus because it's not very popular." It was delightfully refreshing and I could've eaten many more! We also ordered Tom Yum & Tod Mun and they were as expected (tasty). Even though we tend to eat at 'weird' hours where we might be the only patrons dining outside, I'm happy this spot was open and the food was definitely fresh.

    Cashew chicken & tom yum soup lunch combo
    Alice L.

    Best bang for the buck is the lunch combo. Ordered the cashew chicken & tom yum soup. Food is flavorful, fresh & no skimping on the ingredients. The menu is quite extensive & service was attentive. Was a bit skeptical about the green tea since the description had watermelon & rose in it, but surprisingly, it was the right flavor combo without any specific one overpowering it; multiple refills were enjoyed.

    Solano Stroll today
    Kris B.

    My friends and I came here on Solano Stroll afternoon and they almost turned us away. We didn't know they were closing early due to Solano Stroll but luckily they let us in! We had a delicious meal of pumpkin curry, shrimp pad thai and tofu satay. I was so great to catch up with old friends. This place is as amazing as we remember.

    Gaeng Hung Lay - 4 stars. The most interesting/unique dish. Sun takeout 2023-03-19
    Ziyan C.

    We ordered lunch for pick-up at BuaLuang. The earliest pick-up time on a Sunday was 12:35pm (they open at noon), but the food was ready about 12 minutes early, which we appreciated. We didn't see parking immediately outside but there was a place for me to pull over while my partner went in to pick up the food. Everything was good, note they package the soup & noodles separately for the Kao Soi, and the most unique dish was the Gaeng Hung Lay! Pad Thai - 4 stars Pad See-Ewe (beef) - 4 stars Kao Soi - 3.5 stars. While good, just a little less going on than the other dishes. The curry is tasty but it's just a plain soft tofu in there. There are crispy noodles to add some texture. Gaeng Hung Lay - 4 stars The cost: $62.47 total including tax & fees. We also got a jasmine rice.

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    2 years ago

    They have a lunch special that is a great value, and a terrific patio for outdoor seating!

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    3 years ago

    They don't answer their phones. It is impossible to place takeout orders. Pity, because the food is quite good.

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    4 years ago

    Great food, lovely staff, tables set far enough apart to have a quiet conversation and to feel safe eating out!

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    4 years ago

    Yummy! Love this Thai place. Their fish is super tasty and everything is very flavorful. Good quality, good prices.

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    3 years ago

    Delicious food. My favorite Thai restaurant. I posted in September and my opinion is the same.

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    Page 2 of 10

    Ask the Community - Bua Luang

    Do they have any online lunch specials?

    Yes, we have. Please visit our website at bualuangalbany.com for lunch combination menu.

    View All 2 Questions

    310 Eatery - The "Detour" 405 Traffic Jam Burger!

    310 Eatery

    4.6(1.3k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    I think the owners of this place are amazing. They are so sweet and friendly from the moment you…read morewant into the door. Great options, burgers with an Asia twist, as well as some dimsum. It's never been busy whenever I go, even on the weekends. We usually are seated within seconds of walking in. The food is delicious! One thing I would note - anything you add obviously adds onto your bill, but sometimes you don't even notice you're adding stuff cause they're so smooth in upselling your burger don't get me wrong - they are the sweetest people ever! Just surprising seeing an additional 10 bucks being added for like an egg, or side sauce for fries. Will continue going here whenever visiting the area!

    The food we ate at 310 Eatery really hit the spot. It's an Asian fusion restaurant that has an…read moreextensive menu! Everything we ordered was flavorful and the ingredients were so fresh. The owner and staff members were so personable. They made sure we were taken cared of. You just don't get that level of customer service very often! It's a casual space with tons of seating. My absolute fav part of the meal was the dessert. WOW. The peach and strawberry cobbler was so fresh. You can even smell the butter before taking a bite. The vanilla ice cream brought everything together. A bit pricey, but definitely worth the splurge!

    Photos
    310 Eatery - The "Detour" Tokyo Po'Boy Sandwich!

    The "Detour" Tokyo Po'Boy Sandwich!

    310 Eatery - Mothers Day 2022 could easily look like this again - Accepting RSVPs by phone, text or email at 310eatery@gmail.com. Open by 10A Sun, May 8

    Mothers Day 2022 could easily look like this again - Accepting RSVPs by phone, text or email at 310eatery@gmail.com. Open by 10A Sun, May 8

    310 Eatery - Larger groups find The 310's space highly amenable at Brunch time or any time-One of Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat, in America - call to RSVP

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    Larger groups find The 310's space highly amenable at Brunch time or any time-One of Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat, in America - call to RSVP

    One House Bistro - Braised Short Rib (THE STAR!)

    One House Bistro

    4.5(364 reviews)
    19.3 mi
    $$

    Good, Service, Ambiance : All great!…read more We came here for lunch to celebrate one of my close friend's birthdays, and it definitely did not disappoint! The place was packed, but the service was still great. Everything we ordered tasted wonderful, and the food presentation was spot on. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with such a fun, aesthetic atmosphere--definitely Instagram-worthy! Great food, great service, and beautiful ambiance. We had such a nice birthday lunch and I will definitely be coming back!

    Service was good. Associates were welcoming, attentive, and friendly…read more Ambiance was nice, well decorated with vintage florals and chandeliers. Clean and well maintained. Food was good, see pictures attached. Flavors and qualify excellent. A little more bland than my usual Vietnamese experience. I had to ask for salt which was not offered or readily available. Overall great place and I would highly recommend this place. Unfortunately I am taking away one star due to the below mentioned. They offered wine, my friend wanted another glass and they had run out. The flavors of the garlic prawns were good, however I did not know the heads of the prawns were going to be on as well as half of the shell on the body. Deep fried "great" but made it a task to take off while having a nice conversation.

    Photos
    One House Bistro - Elegant floral interior at One House Bistro in San Ramon--a beautiful setting for breakfast, brunch, and Thai cuisine.

    Elegant floral interior at One House Bistro in San Ramon--a beautiful setting for breakfast, brunch, and Thai cuisine.

    One House Bistro - Norwegian eggs benedict

    Norwegian eggs benedict

    One House Bistro - Espresso Martini

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    Espresso Martini

    Vanessa's Bistro - Chicken lettuce wraps, so good!

    Vanessa's Bistro

    4.1(553 reviews)
    0.8 miBerkeley Hills
    $$

    Update: I tried two more items last night: Duck confit bao and Clay pot. Both were very good. The…read morebao were soft, flavorful and had a nice combination of duck and (enoki?) mushrooms among other things. The clay pot rice was great! The delicious crispy bottom of the pot rice, delectable chicken and shrimp in a delicious sauce. My only complaint would be that there wasn't enough bok choy, I love bok choy! I can't believe Vanessa's has been around for 20 years, and I just tried it for the first time. I recently moved back to Albany, right off Solano, from North Berkeley, and decided to try all the restaurants I haven't yet tried. In a word, fabulous. The food, vibe, and staff are all amazing. I was there on a Wednesday night (Wine Wednesday, 1/2 off bottles of wine), by myself, about 45 minutes before closing. It was a slow night, with about 6 people at the bar and maybe 2 or 3 other active tables in the dining area. They have a wonderful vibe in there; every member of the staff was über-friendly, accommodating, and patient. I ordered a house-made lemonade, which the bartender brought to me himself with a big smile as I perused the menu. I purposely ordered extra food since my entire kitchen was still in boxes, and I only had access to my new microwave. I had mentioned to my server that I had just moved, and during my meal, Vi (co-owner and daughter of THE Vanessa) came to introduce herself and welcome me to the neighborhood, a very nice gesture, and one that brought me back with friends two nights later, with Vi remembering my name. Anyway, on to the food. French onion soup; nice, was it the best FOS I've had? No, but still solid. The crouton was more like a slice of baguette. Salt & Pepper Calamari; really good! An amazingly light and crispy batter encased calamari strips, loaded with flavor, super tender, delicious dipping sauce, and a very large portion for a "small plate". Vanessa's Spicy Sautéed Lemongrass with garlic, onions & green beans topped with roasted peanuts: I chose chicken for my protein. Again, the meat was extremely tender, the dish very flavorful, much more lemongrass-forward than at other restaurants, which I loved. The staff and Vi kept insisting I take my time and not to worry about the 8:30 closing time. People were still lingering in the bar area, and I did as I was told, relaxed, and enjoyed my meal (thoroughly). Bottom line, I loved it and plan on being a regular fixture :)

    Loved my time in Walnut Creek! We tried to eat at Lita but the wait was 90 minutes with no…read morereservation. We put our name down and walked around, then stumbled on Vanessa's Bistro!!! Much better choice!!! Hostess greeted us right away and got us a table. Service was amazing, the margarita was strong and tasty, and those chicken wings with the peanut sauce...So good!! Highly recommend they have TVs you can watch the game. They also have a good selection on the menu . Great food, great vibe, great service. I'm definitely going back and telling friends and family to check it out.

    Photos
    Vanessa's Bistro
    Vanessa's Bistro - Chartreuse!!! Green label

    Chartreuse!!! Green label

    Vanessa's Bistro - Chicken lettuce wraps!!!

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    Chicken lettuce wraps!!!

    Top Hatters Kitchen and Bar - Meat Platter

    Top Hatters Kitchen and Bar

    4.2(813 reviews)
    13.5 mi
    $$$

    Such a gem in this city. Was in love with their oxtail grits…read morewhen they were only a food truck. So glad I found them again and see them grow into a restaurant. Nice environment, decent service, high quality food. A must try place if you're a true foodie.

    Came here for a lunch date with hubby. We dont come to San Leandro often so not sure how was the…read moreparking situation. We saw a street parking as soon as we turn, and just parked even though it was 1000 ft away. The drink/cocktail list is vast, but we are not much of a cocktail drinker and not usually drink during lunch, but I saw Matcha Sharka being ordered a lot and the other seemingly popular drink was this lavender drink. If you are a cocktail drinker during lunch, do check them out. We ordered 4 shareable items: * Savoy Donuts - 5 stars - fluffy and yummy, not greasy at all * Focaccia w/ Meyer Lemon and Garlic Confit - 4.5 stars - wonderful texture, did not taste the garlic much but the lemon was really good add. * Grilled Beef and Pork Chipolata - 4 stars - I think the star was the dressing. The meat itself was just okay. * Rice Vermicelli Bowl - 4.5 stars - not sure why it is called a bowl when it was served more in a plate. This is the fusion take on the Vietnamese dish with different dressing. We selected the Galangal Pork, which I did not like as much compared to the usual Vietnamese ones with Lemon Grass. There is a choice to select Lemongrass chicken instead, so you might want to try that. The pork tasted "porky" despite it was thinly cut. I was hoping to try dessert, but we were full so we did not do that. Next time. The restaurant is nicely set, and you can select indoor or outdoor seating. We did make a reservation, but when we arrived there were plenty of tables available. Service was fine, we did not get the "is this your first time" greeting as I heard other tables got. But it was our first time.

    Photos
    Top Hatters Kitchen and Bar - The bar area

    The bar area

    Top Hatters Kitchen and Bar - Pork belly

    Pork belly

    Top Hatters Kitchen and Bar - Sweet chili Baked oysters

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    Sweet chili Baked oysters

    Bua Luang - thai - Updated September 2026

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