Veggie Pho was amazing. Super fresh, bright vegetables. Tasty broth. I would definitely come back here again. Vietnamese coffee was good too. read more

Dined here for lunch during a weekday right before noon and was seated quickly. However, by 12:30pm, there wasn't any empty tables left, including the few tables outside. There was 1 waitress taking orders and bringing food. Kudos to her for providing service to everyone. I ordered the veggie pho, which isn't my usual at similar restaurats. The bowl was definitely filled with veggies, but something in the broth left me very thirsty afterwards and eventually sluggish. Could the culprit be MSG?! Lots of parking in this plaza. Prices are competitive for the area. I'm open to trying them again, but probably not get the same entree. read more

Mintleaf Vietnamese Restaurant - Inside - Vietnamese Near Me - Alameda, California

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Food came quickly. Nice waitress. Portion was a little in the small size but it did its job. Can actually hear a conversation and appears to be a neighborhood spot. read more

It warms my heart to see that Mintleaf is still a popular staple after all these years. As an Alameda native, I have good memories of eating here when I was younger, and whenever I visit, I love bringing my husband here too. I wouldn't call this an authentic Vietnamese restaurant per se, more so an Asian fusion place, but Mintleaf holds its own in terms of flavor, freshness, and variety. Service has always been attentive, and while small, the restaurant is clean, cozy, and modern. There is also outdoor seating if you are bringing a dog. I have dined with my well-behaved, well-trained Siberian in the past. Recently, we were in Alameda to do my dog's birthday photoshoot in honor of my previous dog, and I wanted to go to Mintleaf again. It was later in the evening, and I saw that they close at 8 pm. We arrived around 7:20 and while the staff were starting to clean up since the restaurant was empty, they still greeted us with a smile and seated us promptly. Not long after we arrived, a small group of people also came to sit down, and they were also seated. Another individual arrived to place a to-go order. My husband went with the scallops and prawns over garlic noodles, and I went with their version of bun rieu. We did not have to wait long for our food to be brought to the table. My husband's noodles arrived first, served with their classic plating of slices of tomato and cucumber on the corners of the plate (they have done this as long as I can remember). Soon, my bun rieu arrived, including a small side of herbs. My broth was piping hot and delicious. The noodles were perfectly cooked, and while they were thinner than the usual bun rieu noodles, they still absorbed the flavor of the broth well. The cha was thinly-sliced, and there was a good amount of tofu in the bowl as well. Even though the bowl might look small, it was a perfect dinner portion, and with plenty of broth. I was definitely full after savoring each last drop of broth. My husband loved his garlic noodle dish. There was a good helping of both scallops and prawns, and the noodles were deliciously garlicky. I had a sample of the noodles and they were so good. There are other dishes I've tried in the past, such as the pad Thai and sizzling spicy lemongrass chicken, and they have both been excellent as well (sorry I have no recent photos). Mintleaf is not your usual Vietnamese restaurant, especially with its classier touch, but personally I enjoy their dishes, and will definitely return when I want an Asian fusion wrinkle to my Vietnamese food. read more

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I was Rolling Around Alameda!!!! When I Realized I Was Hungry!!! So I rolled to Mint Leaf Vietnamese!!! I perused the menu !!! I Ordered a Lemon Grass Roll with Grilled Shrimp and a Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce and Salt and Pepper Calamari with String Beans !!! I ordered a Glass of Water for my Beverage!!! 15 Minutes my Order Arrived!!! It was very Delicious and filled with Flavor!!! Service was Great and Friendly!!! The Ambiance is Clean , Spartan and Small !!! They have a Multi Purpose Restroom both Genders Friendly!!! For the Above Reasons This Is A Baller On A Budget Approved Establishment!!! I also Ordered a Fried Banana Dessert ! With Green Tea Ice Cream!!! I keep my Pimp Hand Strong !!!! read more

Always the right place for lunch when we're in town.Consistently fresh and delicious. Attentive service! read more

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Friendly service, delicious food and fair prices. I'm SO glad I stumbled in to Mint Leaf! every thing was served with such warmth by professional staff. I'll be coming back often! read more

Very good food! We got the chicken salad and coconut rice paella. It's not too salty, but still has a lot of flavor. The waitress is very welcoming and nice. Food also comes out quick! Would definitely come back again. read more

I've door dashed this place twice in two weeks- both times I've gotten the bun (bbq chicken) and the seafood "paella" Clay pot with coconut rice. The bun is good- standard, nothing to write home about (one thing to note is that the second time it seems like they skimped on the chicken). BUT, the seafood Clay pot with coconut rice is unlike ANYTHING I've ever had at a Vietnamese restaurant. The coconut rice was mild in coconut flavor but still very present. And the seafood + chicken and veg paired with it was AMAZING!! I will most definitely be adding this seafood clay pot into the regular rotation! read more

First time going to Mint Leaf! There was no wait on a Sunday afternoon. There were two staff members helping with tables. Seating is available inside and outside. I ordered the rice plate and was not disappointed. The rice itself wasn't broken, but it was roughly $16.50. Their beef and pork are both good options. My table of three received our food within 15 minutes. There is one restroom and it was clean. There is plenty of parking and the inside of the restaurant was clean too. I'd go again. read more

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My brother's recommendation when I asked him for the best pho spot in Alameda since my favorite - Pho King, was closed. I came here on MLK and the waitress was pretty nice. I ordered the Pho Dac Biet ($15.95) and it wasn't bad. The broth was adequate, not too savory or tasteful, or where you would need to drink a lot of water. It has sufficient meat portions and I liked their selection of meats. The portions were decent as well. I don't think they are too attentive as it seems they're always working on something; I had to grab my own chopsticks and napkin, but once you have their attention, they are very kind. One of waitresses really went out of her way for me when I packing up my leftovers; She offered to pack things up for me. Would come back! read more

Great food and service. Friendly and attentive staff. I had the shaken beef with coconut rice and salt and pepper calimari. The Vietnamese drip coffee was also good. Will be back! read more

Came here right when they opened to kill time and eat while I waited one day and I was blown away by the food and the service. Everything was delicious, came out fast and hot, and the fresh young coconut was amazing! They even split it open for me after so I could eat the coconut inside. It was quiet here and there was outdoor seating, which was really nice on a warm sunny day. I am looking forward to going back and trying more read more

We've been here at least 4 times and we always come for their bahn mi sandwiches. The service is always great and the servers are very attentive. Food comes fast. The bahn mi combo plate comes with your choice of salad or a bowl of broth (chicken, beef or veggie option) and an imperial roll (meat or veggie option). I ordered the tofu bahn mi and my partner ordered the miso slaw sandwich w/ coconut prawns with a side of sweet potato fries. Everything is delicious and full of flavors. The broth is lovey and pairs well with the sandwich and egg roll. The miso slaw with coconut prawns is something you've never had before. It goes well with the sweet potatoes fries w/ house curry aioli dip. We've also had their vermicelli bowl and the eggplant and tofu claypot as well in the past. The food is always good and the staff are super friendly. It's one of our go to's. read more

Mintleaf Vietnamese Restaurant - Sandwich Combo Small Bowl Of Broth Side Imperial Roll (1) - Vietnamese Near Me - Alameda, California

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I've ordered from this restaurant a few times now, never disappointing and always filling. Usually get 2 + meals out of an order when ordering for myself. My favorite would be the ginger lemonade, tastes made from scratch or at least there seems to be a lot of fresh ginger soaked into it without a bunch of ginger tidbits floating around and getting in the way. Veggie broth has a good flavor and love getting a batch too good for my own noodles at home, so maybe I get 3 meals out of an order! Veggie egg rolls are good as well and come packed with lots of additional veggie sides, fantastic snack. Steamed broccoli and bok choy are great solo out added to a soup. The garlic noodles were probably my least favorite. There was a lot of added stuff to it which made it more like a garlic chow mein than a straight up garlic noodles to my taste buds. Wouldn't order that one again without changes. All in all there is something for everyone on the menu and you can get creative if you think ahead for a few meals as well or combine things in from your pantry! read more

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Service was excellent, professional and courteous. Prices are bit high but hopefully will be worth the wait and price.

Our neighbor told us to try out Mint Leaf for their Bahn Mi a while back but haven't gotten the chance. I got sick recently and was craving a warm bowl of pho noodle soup to open up my sinuses. The broth really hit the spot. My boyfriend love their combo pho with 3 kinds of meat. IMO, the chicken in my pho was over cooked: boiled, steamed, or whatever and it tasted a bit hard. We sat outside to get fresh air and keep our distance from others and a wasp was coming around our table and the others so that was scary. The ambiance inside was okay and outside was clean. Servers here were very attentive. We got like 8 check-ins by different servers within the hour we were there. I still would recommend and would comeback myself to try out their other dishes that looked good on Yelp like..Pad Thai Shrimp & Tofu, Garlic Noodles, Shaken Beef, Vermicelli or Broken Rice Bowl with Shrimp & Egg Rolls, Cold Fresh Spring Rolls, or Crispy Pork Egg Rolls just to name a few. Combo Pho 5/5 Chicken Pho 4.5/5 read more

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First time trying this place and glad I did. What a great find. Really delicious Vietnamese food. My only complaint is it's a bit pricy for the small portions you get. What we ordered: + Shaking beef - tender and flavorful with lots of onions. Slightly pink on the inside, which is how I like it. + Pineapple curry fried rice - didn't taste any curry flavor, but still really yummy pineapple fried rice. + Vegetarian egg rolls - yummy but they only gave us 1 piece of lettuce. The side of cold vermicelli was a nice touch. + Prawn and scallop garlic noodles - really good garlic noodles. Kinda small serving though. read more

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For a local Vietnamese place in Alameda where it's safe and there's plenty of parking, not bad at all! It isn't San Jose, but for a quick bite, I'm okay with it. It's a little snug on the inside in my opinion, and conversation definitely carry, but let's call it character. It can get loud but it's comfortable. Pho is ok but I did adore the grilled pork spring rolls here. It's fairly priced with good portions as well. read more

Mintleaf Vietnamese Restaurant - Spring roll - Vietnamese Near Me - Alameda, California

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A day in the office means time to go out for lunch with fun coworkers! This was in the plaza next to the Lucky's in Alameda. You may miss it so be on the lookout for a very pink boba shop next to it. Had the Saigon Vermicelli Bowl "Duc Dac Biet" with beef. A lil' costly, but good portion and yummy! Easy and free parking, lots of menu items to choose from, and it will make you full. read more

Mintleaf Vietnamese Restaurant - Saigon Vermicelli Bowl "Duc Dac Biet" w/beef. - Vietnamese Near Me - Alameda, California

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This place was a surprise! My regular Pho restaurant was closed down the street, so the group suggested Mint Leaf down the street. To my surprise, I now have a new regular Pho go to spot in Alameda. Even though the restaurant size was a tad small, we sat outside and moved the makeshift tables around to make enough room for 10 people. The waiter and waitress were very attentive and never seemed overwhelmed. (Which seems the norm in smaller restaurants) I ordered the Beef Steak Salad, and Beef Broth Soup Bowl. The portions for the salad were pretty good, as the lettuce and meat were perfectly matched. The broth made me feel warm in the cold weather and hot the right spot. All in all, this place is not bad. See ya next time! read more

Mintleaf Vietnamese Restaurant - Beef Steak Salad - Vietnamese Near Me - Alameda, California

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Food is Amazing ! I always get the Bhan Mi w sweet potatoes fries ! There are plenty of options and delicious food in here - service is always great ! I like how thy have indoor and out door seating . The inside has enough tables to serve the hungry lunch rush - although it's a bit outdated - but the food conquers all ! Over all I would recommend ! Oh did I mention too. Thai iced tea is so good read more

Mintleaf Vietnamese Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Alameda, California

We went to the Mint Leaf because of its ease of parking, distance from home and congenial staff. We just didn't want to be SOL on the parking. He ordered won ton soup, I ordered the Imperial Roll and we were both happy with what we ate. Motivated by parking frustration we give it high marks. When I discovered the Mint Leaf Roll it was then I got very excited that I could eat a salad that was rolled up in a very good way. I like that one because it has no noodle in it. It's just the jicama, the carrot and papaya all raw and some beef. I like their veggie broth too. I also like sitting outside on warm days. They have tables in front of the shop. read more

Absolutely amazing, good clean broth, good chicken, great flavor, I was so impressed and not disappointed, they are my new fave. Pho Huong Que is closed Wednesday so I came here, I work close by and will definitely be back. Why not 5* , the cost $16.50 after tax, pricy but you get a big portion and it was delicious so you could swallow the cost better. My other place is around $14 with the cash discount. The waitress and the other guy there were nice and let me eat inside even though they were closing in 20 minutes for their 3pm til 430pm daily break, common in alot of Vietnamese/Thai restaurants I've noticed ( I see them eating during this time). We all need a break read more

Mintleaf Vietnamese Restaurant - PHO GA ( CHICKEN SOUP) - Vietnamese Near Me - Alameda, California

I feel like this restaurant is a tucked away gem. We came little bit before closing for dinner service, but the waitress was so kind and didn't give off the vibe like we were an inconvenience. She accommodated us to sit outside and was very attentive right until the end. The spring rolls we had were bright and delicious. Crispy pork rolls were piping hot and worked well with the salty/sweet dipping sauce it came with. Shaking beef was super tender, but my only wish is that it had some texture or caramelization. Green beans were a perfect addition to go with the beef and hot white rice. A surprising find was the garlic sweet potato fries. Maybe I was missing more of the garlic, but it seemed like a regular plate of sweet potato fries. The dipping sauce was creamy, had a hint of curry, and was full of flavor. I am interested to try more of the dishes another time. The service alone was enough for me to come back again. read more

Been here several times pre-Covid and was able to get take out a couple times during quarantine as well. Food was always fresh and delicious. I typically just get a bowl of pho or pad Thai here. I would say their pad Thai is one of the best in my book. I've also come to like their vermicelli plates as well! This restaurant is within a strip mall so there's plenty of parking and you don't need to worry about that! read more

Mintleaf Vietnamese Restaurant - a variety of food items - Vietnamese Near Me - Alameda, California

Overall: 3.5/5 (wish Yelp allows half stars) Pork Saigon Vermicelli Bowl ($12): Nothing special about this dish and is a bit overpriced. You can get better vermicelli bowls for cheaper in the Bay Area. Banh Hoi Special Platter ($17.25): For this high of a price, I expected something amazing but it was very underwhelming. There were only a few pieces of the banh Hoi too. Crispy Vermicelli Roll ($8): This was probably the best item of the 3 but also a bit overpriced. read more

Mintleaf Vietnamese Restaurant - Pork Saigon Vermicelli Bowl ($12), Banh Hoi Special Platter ($17.25), Crispy Vermicelli Roll ($8) - Vietnamese Near Me - Alameda, California

Not a traditional Vietnamese restaurant so had some good choices. We ordered the fried tofu with green beans. The tofu was good but the green beans completely raw. It should either be fried or blanched then fried. Would not order again. My shrimp and scallop garlic noodles was really good. read more

service was great attentive and helpful food was good. not amazingly fabulous. lots of parking read more

Usually I'm a foodie photographer but today, the food was grabbed by the kids too fast. Their rolls are so good. Love the different options they have for picky eaters and vegan options. We even have a peanut allergy and they made sure it was safe. Everything was so good. They were consistently busy even after 2pm! read more

I've been going to mint leaf for awhile. I don't like their pho but I've always enjoyed their noodle bowls! (Saigon bowl)Literally the best I've had in the Bay Area. I also love the lemongrass spring roll. The food at this place tastes like it's right out of a family's kitchen. I have been on a quest to taste all the bun rieu soups across the bay in Vietnamese restaurants. Mint leaf has the best crab noodle soup I've had out of a restaurant!!!! read more

I happened to randomly stumble across this place with my family. Originally, we had planned to try a different restaurant, but that restaurant turned out to be closed for Chinese New Years, so we ended up giving Mint Leaf a try instead. This restaurant did not disappoint. It's a fairly small, family-owned, restaurant - probably only about ~15 tables max, including outdoor seating. When I arrived with my family (in total 3 people) around 12:45, there wasn't any large tables left, so we took a table outside instead. It wasn't the most comfortable seating. The table was unstable and the chairs dipped too low for me to sit comfortably, but we just had to make the most out of the situation right? We were seated without much wait. The service was a little slow because it was lunch hour and there were only three floor staffs - two servers + one pregnant lady working - so it was understandable. I felt like they were doing their best to service people in the nicest way possible already despite it being pretty busy. We were given menus to look over and started with hot water upon request. I asked the waitress which salad is the most popular and she suggested the Green Papaya Salad with Prawns or the Mango Salad with Prawns. I opted for the Green Papaya Salad since that's 1) a typical Vietnamese menu item and 2) an item I can compare with other places. Their Mango Salad with Prawns did sound appetizing though! I also ordered a Summer Roll for my family to share. My brother ordered their Bun Bo Hue and my mom got the Special Pho - "Pho Dac Biet". After ordering the waitress repeated our order to make sure it's correct. I don't really see this done much anymore, so it was something that stood out to me. During our wait for food, the tables inside started clearing up, so we asked if we could switch from outdoor seating to indoor seating, and they were totally cool with it. This was when I took the time to look around the restaurant. Interior wise, it's very simplistic. No wall decorations, but it gave off a cozy vibe because of the warm brown color scheme they chose. Also, their choice of pendant lights adds a nice, semi-modern touch to the interior. Another 5-10 mins wait later, our Summer Rolls arrived first. I think this summer roll might be one of the tastiest I've had so far! The Summer Rolls come with breaded coconut prawns, avocado, homemade pickled carrots, vermicelli and lettuce. Served with a vinaigrette (probably a fish sauce mix). The star of the roll is of course the breaded coconut prawns! I never had breaded coconut prawns in my rolls before, but this was a great first experience. It certainly had a hint of a coco-nutty flavor to it and it added a nice crunch to the overall roll. On the other hand, the avocado is creamy and mushy, so lots of different textures going on all at once! For two rolls (split into three pieces), it's kind of pricey, but I do recommend giving it a try. Next, my Papaya salad and the rest of the dishes arrived. I had requested for the peanuts to be given on the side, and they didn't forget! My papaya salad was good and unique in the sense that it came with jicama, which doesn't seem to be commonly used from what I experienced in other Vietnamese restaurants. The jicama not only adds a refreshing, mild crunch to the salad, but also helps to break the one dimensional texture of an otherwise normal papaya salad. They also gave a good amount of prawns. I appreciate that the prawns were thoroughly cleaned of the guts and stuff! Portion size was large too! Enough to be a satisfying meal. Although, it wasn't the best papaya salad I had so far, I would say it's a pretty good one. I can't say much about the other dishes my family tried because I wasn't the one who ate it, but my brother had said that the Bun Bo Hue was pretty good compared to the other ones he had before. I had a sip of his soup and it was flavorful! read more

Mintleaf Vietnamese Restaurant - Tom Cuon (Summer Roll) - Vietnamese Near Me - Alameda, California

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Why is this my first time here?! This little tiny Vietnamese restaurant tucked away in the dated MV shopping center is delicious! That wonton soup- oh my! Super flavorful, huge portions, had the noodles that the pho had AND they added nice size prawns in the soup. Also devoured some fresh spring rolls- great peanut sauce. Customer service was attentive and very welcoming after we sat down. This place was poppin for weekday lunch time, wish there was more seating and that the tables were spread more apart. I was impressed and can't wait to get my hands on another bowl of soup this week. read more

Mintleaf Vietnamese Restaurant - Wonton soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Alameda, California

This is one of my favorite places to go for lunch. The food and service are consistently good. I especially enjoy the papaya salad with shrimp. read more

My go-to is their Bun Bo Hue and beef spring rolls. I crave it from time to time and usually order to go. My favorite Viet spot here in Alameda. read more

Great place to get a yummy bowl of pho. I've tried alot of different dishes on the menu and they do not disappoint. My go to are a bowl of chicken pho, crispy imperial roll, rice plate with beef or chicken, vermicelli bowl with tofu. read more

Ordered takeout today by telephone and it took FOREVER to get inside to pick up my food. It was supposed to be ready at 12:15 which is the time I got there. However, when I walked in they said I had to wait outside even though I said I was picking up to go. That's fine, I get it because they have customers eating inside. However, when people start walking out, the waitress still tells me I still can't come in and yet she never comes out to help me. After 20 frustrating minutes I finally get in to pick up my lukewarm food. read more

Mintleaf Vietnamese Restaurant - Filling enough for lunch. - Vietnamese Near Me - Alameda, California

My sister is a pho junky so takeout/delivery from Vietnamese places is practically a daily routine in our household. After being overwhelmed by the abundance of pho places in Oakland, we decided to order pho and spring rolls from Mint Leaf. And, wow, it turned out to be a great decision! To start off, their appetizers were pretty decent. I loved their chicken wings. Well seasoned and marinated in the sweet and savory sauce. Could taste the fish sauce, honey, and chili from the chili flakes, but considering that I'm a spice addict, I'm a bit disappointed that it did not live up to the "Firecracker" reputation. (8/10) Spring rolls here were also a solid effort. Can't complain, was packed with veggies, shrimp, etc. Loved their peanut dipping sauce but sister was somehow not a fan. (8/10) Now moving on to the main courses.... I usually stay away from beef due to health reasons, but I'm a sucker for Bun Bo Hue. After trying numerous bowls of Bun Bo Hue in the Bay, I can say that this place is legit; Mint Leaf is in my top 5 for all time Bun Bo Hue rankings. It truly tastes authentic and homemade, with no MSG, like something your mom or grandma would make for you- as if they've spent countless hours boiling and simmering the broth. Truly the perfect combination of tender beef, a handful of spices in the broth, and al dente noodles. Throw in some Vietnamese basil, bean sprouts, jalapenos, lime, etc., and omg, it's heaven in a bowl. (10/10) Chicken pho (pho ga) was solid, prices and portion was average. But it didn't blow me away like the Bun Bo Hue did. Great effort but it tastes like any other chicken pho that you would get a traditional, typical Viet restaurant. (8/10) Average rating for everything is 8.67... which is slightly above four stars. Hence 4/5 stars for now... Will have to order more from this place and try their other items such as their banh mi and other main courses to see if it is deserving of an extra star! read more

Mintleaf Vietnamese Restaurant - 27. Spicy Spiced Beef Noodle Soup Bun Bo Hue - Vietnamese Near Me - Alameda, California

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5/5 Food 5/5 Service 4.5 Cleanliness My go-to place when I'm at work! Coworkers enjoy this place too, as it never miss. I usually get either Beef Saigon Vermicelli bowl or the Spicy Spiced Beef Noodle Soup (Bun Bo Hue) with Thai Tea. The food always is so good. Service is really good too, as workers there are always understanding and provide good hospitable service. I recommend this place if you want Vietnamese food :) read more

Delicious! Speedy! Pandemic observant! Delicious! So good had to say it twice! The spring rolls are generous and flavorful. Something maybe gently seasoning the vermicelli! Fresh and crispy lettuce. Too good. The vermicelli entree was generous and fresh and delicious. I really enjoyed this takeout. And mostly I am disappointed with takeout. I was not so let down here. I was inspired and pleasantly surprised. I was SO inspired I broke my Yelp silence to tell YOU about this great local restaurant. Take out is inspiring again and yummy and fulfilling. Order. Support Mint Leaf!! Oh! And reasonably priced too. Not the cheapest. Not the most dear. Just right and good servings for your dollar! PS: the sweet handwritten inspirational note attached to my receipt was a precious touch. I am so craving human interaction I teared up a little. Thank you, ML! read more

Mintleaf Vietnamese Restaurant - Inspire! & Be You! - Vietnamese Near Me - Alameda, California