This is my go to place to take my parents to because they're such picky eaters! It's a mixture of classic Vietnamese food and Vietnamese drinking food. The place is pretty spacious but fills up quick during dinner time so be prepared to wait. I'd suggest going before or after dinner time for a quicker seating time. There's parking in the plaza and the Citi bank plaza after business hours too. The service is quick and friendly! We ordered catfish with mango salad, morning glory with escargot, razor clams with tamarind sauce, and fried chicken feet. Everything was so good and the highlights were the catfish and escargot salad, the fish was crispy and juicy on the inside and the salad was the refreshing and had a good crunch. Razor clams in tamarind sauce were okay but I'd opt for the garlic and butter sauce! The fried chicken feet is something I wouldn't usually order but if you want to try something new, it tastes like crispy chicken skin. I didn't drink this time around but their prices on beer and hard liquor are fairly priced! Bottles of hard liquor are available too and cheaper than other places I've been to. read more

See all

Ever since moving to the Bay, several people have recommended Dong Que restaurant to me for authentic Vietnamese street food focused on seafood - two years later I finally get to try it with a bunch of friends! For our first time we ordered quite a few dishes - though what I really wanted were the razor clams which they were sold out of :( Snails with Lemongrass (2/5): This is partially may fault, but I thought I had ordered the grilled snails so I was pretty surprised when they showed up with boiled snails. The soup itself was pretty clean tasting with the lemongrass, ginger, and spices negating most of the "muddiness" associated with snails, But since it was not grilled, the meat itself still had a bit of funk that I do not prefer. But this is purely personal preference so others may like this dish more. Shrimp and Pork Belly Claypot (3/5): Flavors here were good, but we were not expecting such a small portion for $18. This dish did not even come with rice. Grilled Blood Clams (3/5): Blood clams are not for everyone either but I personally love them. While the flavors were all there, my main complaint was that the clams were a bit overcooked so they ended up being a bit tough to chew. Grilled Scallops (4/5): These were delicious and large with four scallops in an order. Nothing beats good ole butter garlic and scallops. Personally would have preferred a bit less butter - but to each their own! Beef Rolled in Leaves (5/5): Ironically this non-seafood dish was my favorite one here - the beef was juicy, well seasoned, and this was paired with a plethora of fresh leafy greens to wrap it all! Crispy Seafood Noodle (3/5): Similar to the Cantonese dish, I always like how the gravy softens the crispy noodle just a bit. But like with the claypot, the portions of actual seafood were pretty limited. Black Bean with Clams (4/5): Also similar to the Cantonese dish as well, no major complaints here - though several shells were empty. Chicken Wings (5/5): Another favorite non-seafood item! Incredibly crispy and marinated in nuoc mam sauce, these were piping hot on the inside so be careful not to burn yourself! Overall an average experience but would still recommend if you are looking for an authentic Vietnamese street food spot and are open to trying all kinds of seafood! read more

See all

I have no idea what happened to my last review, but I'll put this out there again. If you want authentic Vietnamese hole-in-the-wall food, this is your place. Amazing flavors and huge variety of dishes outside of pho and vermicelli. This place is in a dodgy area of town and is not the cleanest of establishments, but the food makes up for it. The service is spotty, and you may have to wait a little bit for a table and food if it's busy, but again it's worth it. I loved the sausage rice pancake, hot and sour hot pot, and banana blossom salad. The flavors! Omg the flavors! Bursting at the seams! So delicious. Infused with such a deep palette of taste. It's amazing. It's like you really are in Vietnam. There's so much more outside of Pho and Bun for Vietnamese food. Try this place and you may not want to go back to them. read more

See all

I took my parents to the restaurant on a Friday night with the expectation of a delightful dinner, but our experience was subpar. While the food itself was satisfactory, the service left much to be desired. Initially, one of my ordered dishes, fried chicken feet, never arrived, and I later learned it got mixed up due to the kitchen being back ordered with too many fried dishes. This became frustrating as it was challenging to get the attention of the servers. Additionally, the portion size for the snap peas was disappointingly small. When we came in around 7pm, we were seated right away, but more and more customers came in and filled the restaurant. I think this is definitely a place where you get a drink and order more dishes as you eat. read more

See all

"Nhậu" is becoming quite popular these days, "the art of drinking and eating with no particular purpose". This is the second place I've been to try this outside my own home and it wasn't bad. The customer service was quick -- To say the least. They take your order and it's immediately sent to the kitchen. We almost couldn't change our order within a minute after placing it (despite us coming on a Tuesday with relatively no people in the restaurant). They were quick to bring chilis, more water, utensils, etc. Very attentive and kind. I try not to speak in my native tongue and with my curls, it's not a dead giveaway. It's in order to assess how they treat all customers and I'm happy with the result. Food was tasty, portions were small -- Again, comparing to the last place I went to, the clams seemed to be half the size at a more expensive price. Coconut Clams - I love these, you don't need any utensils. Just got to make momma proud and suck Baked scallops - another dish that is quite tasty, reminds me of Thai Tom Yum flavoring or Di Di instant noodles Sweet & Sour Sturgeon Hot Pot - now this was flavor town, basically in a Thai Tom Yum broth! The veggies they bring are authentic to Vietnamese lau too. Hands down best item on menu. Overall, tasty spot. A bit too far for me but I'd love to try again when I visit San Jose. read more

Dong Que Restaurant - Sturgeon Hotpot - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

Spacious restaurant with a good amount of parking space. When you walk in, it looks small but there is actually another dinning area to the left which can be used for a private/large party. The service was ok, they were busy so I get it. Most of the food we ordered was very delicious. read more

See all

Dong Que is the only restaurant in NorCal my family comes when we want to have Vietnamese style seafood dishes . Service is always quick and I've never have to wait for table . read more

See all

As a Viet who grew up in an area where the only Viet restaurants around were only pho and banh mi spots, Dong Que was a real treat. Lots of viet style bar food and seafood to choose from. The place was packed for a Thursday night!! FOOD: 2 dishes ordered by someone else in our party that I didn't expect to like AT ALL but turned out to be my FAVORITE were the Crispy Fried Chicken Feet/Chan Ga Chien Gion and the Ong Choy Salad w Escargot/Goi Oc Rau Muon. Tamarind balut was excellent. The tamarind glaze was perfectly sweet, savory, and sour and the balut itself still had a nice crispy outside texture to it. Grilled scallops with masago were delicious. Tip is to eat any of the dishes served on the cast iron fajita plate thing right away, bc if you wait too long it becomes over cooked and dry. Bo tai chanh/beef carpaccio was the thing I was looking forward to the most but ended up being disappointed with. The beef was cut too think and the dressing was just missing something. SERVICE: Typical Vietnamese restaurant service. Straight to the point and efficient. PARKING: The lot is small and shared with other businesses and the restaurant can get super busy. We were lucky we got a spot right away but watched others circle around the lot. read more

See all

Great place for Vietnamese drinking foods Me and my friends stopped by Dong Que on Monday night after work. The restaurant was almost packed wow... it's Monday but so busy Dong Que is my go to restaurant for drinking foods. We got few pitchers of beer and some signature dishes. I love the sautéed frog legs, snails and balut. Everything was fresh, super hot and yummy. Bloody clams were my least favorite dish since it's a little overcooked. Other dishes were packed of flavors. Service was fast and friendly. Parking was easy. Be ready to wash your hair after since all the sizzling dishes smell heavenly and stay on your hair lol read more

See all

Every dish was beautifully presented and full of flavor -- clearly made with fresh ingredients and care. The portions were generous without being overwhelming, and the timing between courses was perfect. read more

YUM! I was pleasantly surprised when I tried Dong Que! The outside of the restaurant isn't that promising looking but I swear, the food is great! I feel like $10 for 2 baluts is criminal, but I am a guilty consumer and I enjoyed my overpriced balut regardless. The rau muong was good, but I loved the oc len cao dua was soo good.... I will eat the sauce with rice alone! We also got frog legs and friend tofu, and we enjoyed it all! Service was really good too. We were checked in on multiple times and everything came out quickly! I really can't wait to come back... and hopefully they'll have razor clams in! read more

See all

Dong Que in San Jose is a fantastic spot for those looking to dive into authentic Vietnamese seafood and snail dishes. Their snail collection is a must-try, offering a variety of preparations that highlight the fresh, tender texture of the snails. The garlic butter snails are particularly delicious, perfectly cooked with a rich, garlicky sauce that's both savory and aromatic. Their seafood collection, which includes options like grilled shrimp, clams, and crab, is equally impressive--each item is fresh and cooked to perfection, bursting with natural flavors. The seafood is expertly seasoned, and the use of herbs and spices elevates every dish. The service is relatively fast. Ambience is a bit more on noisy side due to crowded customers. read more

Dong Que Restaurant - chicken feet, seafood hotpot, snail and salad - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

The Parking lot are full of potholes. Not great. The food is hit and miss. Shrimp with tangerine sauce. It was just a bit too sour for my taste. The snails were too chewy. Service... what service? None. Zilch! Nada! read more

See all

IYKYK when the ratings are between 3 & 4 but it's always packed, then service is rough but the food it's gonna be very authentic. From beginning to end the meal was one piece de resistance after another. Starting out we had the coconut sea snails, which delicately balanced the rich sauce with subtle pieces of snail meat. The scallops were lip smackin' good, they were so good we ordered them twice, make you wanna slap your mama The lao will bring you back to your mama's cooking like in Ratatouille. read more

See all

I was really craving clams, and a friend recommended this place. The teppan-style razor clams totally hit the spot -- super satisfying! I also ordered the blood oysters and sturgeon hotpot. The hotpot broth was tangy and spicy, which I liked, though it was a bit on the salty side. Still, I think it's definitely worth a try, especially if you're in the mood for clams and shellfish! read more

See all

The food is very good and the portion is fair for the price. Some places give you very little food for the same amount of money. But the wait is too long. read more

This been my go to spot for Vietnamese food. Majority of the time I go during 6-7pm and it gets quite busy but worth the wait. The vibe is chill and it's causal dress code. The food is great! Any friends who come from out of town or wants some good Vietnamese food, I take them here. The menu has a very good variety ! The seafood is fresh and delicious here. So far every single dish was great! They do serve alcohol here as well. Twice I dropped my chopsticks and the workers gave me a new one without asking. read more

See all

I came here with my family at night and parking was little difficult since the place is popular. There isnt as much parking, lots of people just created their own parking space. I came here with a party of 14 and they were able to prepare us a table in a short amount of time. But i love their fried rice, their wings, chow fun, and their stir fried veggies. Super flavorful. My family also ordered some sea snails with coconut but I didnt try it, but from what Ive heard they liked it. the portions here are on the smaller side so we had to order more. This place is slightly expensive compared to other places but their food is really good, so I would recommend to try here. This place closed around 11. Their bathroom is also really clean. The restaurant itself is clean too. The food did come out one by one and was slow. read more

Hands down my most favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the South Bay. The food and flavors are always consistent and we love that there is a huge seafood selection on their menu. These are our go-to dishes that we love having at Dong Que: - Grilled beef rolls in lop leaves - Japanese imperial clams served in their original shell on a sizzling hot plate, $18 expensive for only two servings but I love how this is prepared especially the sauce - Steamed clams with basil leaves - Canh chua ca bong lau (catfish sour soup) - Ca bong lau kho (braised catfish in caramelized sauce) read more

See all

A real authentic Vietnamese experience from the moment you walk in. You can tell the locals love this place. The waitlist was long on a Saturday night and the ambiance was really lively. It seems like people bring their families here to celebrate birthdays or just to get together. For good reason! The food here is delicious. I couldn't make heads or tails of the menu so I ordered based on pictures and the waiter's recommendations. The razor clams and bbq qual were definitely the highlights of the night, but everything was really good. Spicy, umami, and smoky flavors paired really well with their sweet/tangy sauces. I give Don Que 5 stars because we would go out of our way to come back. Looks can be deceiving with this place because it really offers a unique range of dishes. Adventurous eaters will truly be rewarded here. read more

See all

They changed. Service is pretty bad now. Also when ordering Togo, it is no longer convenient, as for Togo "you are considered to be in a rush", but they force you to pay first before you can even go pick up. How would it work for other people who pays cash? :( sigh. Also over priced now.. read more

I decided to come here for dinner since someone recommended this place to my room and Glad we came here. Although the outside of the restaurant isn't the greatest looking, but when you come inside, its really clean and modern. Since it was our first time coming and they have a extensive list of food, we asked the waitress for her recommendatios. All the food that we ordered was good. Its something that I don't eat often at home. They don't have regular menu book. Their menu is from their qr code that is on the napkin dispenser. The service is decent but the food did come out at reasonable time. The price is slightly above average. Here are rhe food that my parents and i ordered: 1. Saute catfish in claypot (#25). This has plenty of flavor but might be on saltier side. 2. Ong choy salad with escargot (#59) 3. Steamed clam with basil (#77) 4. Grilled scallops with fish eggs(#86) 5. Grilled sea sweet snails with onion (#97) 6. Sweet and sour catfish fire pot - small pot (#131) - i like how this hot pot has a well balance of sweetness and sour. Will definitely come back here again in bear future read more

See all

We came for Fathers Day dinner and the restaurant was bustling. Luckily, we only had to wait about 15 minutes before getting a table for 6. The staff was friendly, very patient, and helped guide us through the different options while making suggestions. The drinks and food arrives quickly and hot. Although some of the food did not fit my palette, I was happy everyone else enjoyed the food. I'm not a big seafood person but I appreciated the new flavors and aromas I've never had before. My favorite dishes were the papaya salad and the crispy rice with Chinese sausage! read more

See all

Love the food here! The Thai hot pot with fish is delicious as well as the seafood dishes like the scallops, razor clams, and surf clams grilled with fish roe and green onions. I love ordering the burnt rice appetizer, it's nice and savory with pork floss, Chinese sausage, with a nice crunchy crusted rice. Coconut snails and French fries for dipping are a really good combo as well! Their fish sauce chicken wings come out nice and crispy as well. If you're looking for something fresh order mango/papaya salad with seafood, I love how they use baby dried shrimps for the extra umami flavor! The dipping sauce options are so good too, I love the green sauce and the sweet fish sauce ginger sauce, they are so good to dip anything in! The service is good here there is always someone ready to help with whatever you need! read more

I've been going for years so I came back with my friends and wife. My wife got the fish sauce frog legs which tasted like chicken. Well everything tastes like chicken. I got the catfish and pork belly with a side of white rice. This place has the best catfish so flavorful and tender. I would come back just for this. The service is fast and quick in and out. The decor is nice and clean with a unique ceiling lighting. Their menu is pretty extensive so look throughly and you'll find some gems. read more

Dong Que Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

I've been there once with my husband. I'm surprised that they are quite busy even though they are out of the way in this area not many VN restaurants around. Their prices are pretty normal compared to other places. However their dishes are on the saltier side which I don't like so maybe next time I'll request less salty. I'll try here again next time I'm in the area. read more

The food is great. Beautiful decor. Clean I like the seafood hotpot. Helpful staff and management. read more

Food here was superb! So flavorful and fresh tasting. We got the Oc Len Xao Dua/Coconut Snails, Canh Chua Ca/Sweet and Sour Catfish soup, and Goi Oc Rau Muong/Ong Choy Salad with Escargot. All three dishes were on the sweeter side but the other flavors still shine through very well. The okra in soup was a bit undercooked but texture wise everything else was amazing. A bit on the higher price point but I would definitely come back to try other dishes. This place was not too crowded but there was a line at peak dinner time and we waited 30min to get seated. Our table was only attended to once throughout the entire dinner but not something we minded since the place is quite busy. Ambiance wise, this is a very lively place that plays Vietnamese music, a bit on the louder side with lots of Vietnamese speaking and cheering :) read more

Dong Que Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

Went there a weekend afternoon around 4pm. I thought we would be served quickly but apparently very few of the staff there spoke English and since we were not Vietnamese so they barely came to check on us. The food was fine, I generally like the Vietnamese dishes and the flavors. The clams were good, the saucy snails were also pretty good, just kinda hard to eat. The fried intestine was ok but the pickles on the side was good. I also liked their tea. But the service was just really really disappointing and I was starving waiting to order or waiting for food. They served other ppl that came later than we did. So I wouldn't come here again. read more

Dong Que Restaurant - Fried intestine - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

Came here to celebrate our couple friends mutual belated birthdays. Arrived around 5:30pm. Parking lot is small and dark. At this time, the restaurant was a little less half full. Given a table for 5 in the other room. High chair for our toddler. They don't offer toddler utensils or water cup but some nice waiter was going around giving away hot wheels which is a really nice touch. Razor clams - okay and spicy. Raw beef salad - surprisingly good. my husband ate up most of the dish. Egg noodles - can be crispy or soft. we got the soft for our toddler. perfectly cooked with good chewiness. A LOT of toppings from veggies to beef. Cat fish - not our favorite but my friends liked it crispy rice, pork floss and Chinese sausage - I can eat this every day. Sweet and sour soup - this was good. my toddler didn't like it. spicy quail - looks thin We enjoyed our meal and had a good time. Would return. I thought the service was better than expected. Water was refilled. We asked for an extra pair of chopsticks as well. read more

Amazing food, fresh seafood, and great service! We got reservations for a group of 9. They gave us a semi private room and recommended some great dishes. My family was super impressed with the dishes. Surprisingly, one of the biggest hits was the fried tofu cubes. Everything was devoured by everyone of all ages and we all left very satisfied. read more

Y'all this place is amazing! First off, the overpowering smell of fish sauce is a bit much but soon you'll get used to it. When we arrived the place was heaving, but we were able to get a table for six people. The menu it huuuuuge. It's a good thing we had some Vietnamese friends who have been to this place e fire and knew what to order. Else we would've been blindly ordering. 5/5 Shaking beef - very well seasoned and cooked just right and nice and tender. Loved it. 5/5 Fried chicken feet - I'm used to the dim sum style but this was amazing! The seasoning was sooo good, and although there isn't much meat on chicken feet you can gnaw on this for a bit and enjoy the nice flavors. 5/5 Salted shrimp - one of the best that I've ever had. Better than the Chinese style too. I eat the whole shrimp, head, body, and tail. 5/5 Rare beef salad - this is so good with the fermented fish dipping sauce. So good! 5/5 Fish soup - flavoring was so nice and noodles added a nice touch. The veggie toppings cooking in the broth was very tasty! Would I recommend? Would I come back even though it's about an hour drive? Yes and yes! read more

See all

Great place to get authentic Vietnamese drinking food. Seafood is fresh and absolutely to die for!!! Expect to have a wait on weekend nights because the restaurant is packed to the brim... I recommend having a few beers while enjoying these delicious dishes. Atmosphere and service are great!! read more

See all

After having Oc & Lau from Socal, I was craving something similar here in SJ. Despite the ratings on YELP, this spot is very popular among the Vietnamese crowd. You'll see groups of all ages dining here. Every dish we got here was really good and definitely hit the spot. When you're here, be sure to order the tamarind & peanut drink with club soda on the side! It sounds odd but after seeing the next table order it, we were curious so decided to give it a try. WOW! So good!! read more

Dong Que Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

First time here after hearing about it, meeting up for holiday gathering with other yelp elites. We got to try their scallop, blood clams, snails, calms, crispy noodles with seafood, but razor clams is out. service is good and attentive. Ambiance is causal, Christmas tree is up for the holidays! Food is ok, not much flavors, nothing special except really enjoy the sizzling scallops. Wish that we get to try their popular razor clams! read more

See all

Dong Que is my favorite place to get seafood and various delicious food! The deep-fried tofu is a crispy revelation--like bites of joy. The fish sauce adds just the right flavors. Now, the deep-fried chicken feet might sound adventurous, but trust me, they're a crunchy delight. The deep-fried squid were not my favorite - they're not the crunchy and juicy type that you typically get in a US restaurant. Moving on to the oceanic wonders, the oysters are a slippery, savory dance, and the snails are a garlicky affair that shouldn't be missed. Now, the sausage with crispy rice and pork shreds is soo delicious you just can't stop eating it. As for service, its normally pretty fast although always packed. Dong Que nails the trifecta of food, service, and vibe. Go, eat, and thank me later! read more

See all

If you're craving authentic Vietnamese dishes, Dong Que is the place to be! We always enjoy a very authentic Vietnamese dinner here, and the food never disappoints. The service is friendly, and it could be very busy on the weekend. Highly recommend it for anyone looking to enjoy traditional Vietnamese cuisine! read more

Dong Que Restaurant - Bo Luc Lac - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

This is one of my family's favorite restaurants for Vietnamese seafood or "nhậu" for all my viets. The service is kind of hit or miss. It got better now after they expanded the restaurant though. Food comes out fast. The snails are a must order!! Love the seafood green sauce. Pro tip: ask for fresh chopped chilies. All their shellfish are good quality. I also love their grilled squid and crispy rice. Their lẩu (hotpot) is also popular to order here. Gets pretty busy on the weekends! More parking available in the lot behind Chase. read more

Dong Que Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

I love everything Vietnamese seafood and this place definitely delivers on flavor. The snails in curry was quite literally one of my favorite flavor bombs I've experienced in a while and although it can get quite messy, every slurp was worth it. The fried pork intestines are crispy and not as gamey as most from other Chinese restaurants and the garlic butter snails were the stars of the show. Will definitely make my way back! read more

See all

Food has always been the BOMB! But service must be one of the worst i've ever experienced! Came at 10:00pm- 1hr before their closing, our server was rushing us to order and 2 minutes after the final dish came at 10:20pm they threw the check at us with a thud as if they were trying to get us out of the place. We did not see a single smile from them during our visit. We had decided to join them because there was another group of guys drinking in the middle of their meal when we came, or if they were in such a rush do not seat people after 10pm! read more