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    Pho Ao Sen

    3.8 (1k reviews)
    ModerateVietnamese, Noodles
    Closed Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Pho Ao Sen Takeout or Delivery

    Pho Ao Sen Photos

    PHO AO SEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Pho Ao Sen

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    20.. 牛腩麵包 / Bánh Mì Bò Kho
    Edie N.

    Wow.. I'm still thinking about this place!! It is THAT good. The broth is out of this world. It's insanely fresh and aromatic, I suggest trying it before adding your hoisin, chili and toppings cause it deserves its own moment! Service is quick, friendly and attentive. Location at first looks a little iffy but there's parking next to the building and the inside is new, updated and clean. For three bowls of pho and two appetizers it was around $80 plus tip! Not bad. Will be back for sure!

    Soft tendon pho
    Tania D.

    So glad I found this spot! It's the only place on Uber Eats or DoorDash that lets you order tendon pho on its own everywhere else either mixes in other meats or charges extra just to add tendon. I've been wanting to try a spicy tendon pho for the longest, and this definitely delivered. The broth was rich and flavorful with the perfect level of spice, the noodles had great texture, and they were generous with the tendon portions. If you're a tendon lover and like your pho with a kick, this spot is a must try.

    Pho w/brisket and beef balls
    Billy L.

    I used to live in San Jose and if you know San Jose, you know there is no shortage of amazing pho spots. My go to places back then were Pho Dao and Pho San Jose. After moving to the East Bay almost two years ago, I have mainly stuck with Pho Auntie 7 in Castro Valley or Pho Huong Que in Oakland. Both are solid and Pho Huong Que even has its own parking lot with very reasonable prices, which is rare. Pho Ao Sen was never really on my radar, probably because of the prices. That changed when my coworker kept raving about it and sent me a picture that looked too good to ignore. I went during lunch and was surprised to see they also have a big parking lot. The first thing I noticed when walking in was how clean and presentable the place looked. It immediately stood out since that is not always the case with pho restaurants. The service was also impressive. They checked in often and refilled my water without me even asking. I ordered a bowl of pho with brisket and beef balls along with the nem nuong rolls. Whenever I see nem nuong rolls on a menu, I have to order them so I can compare them to the famous ones from Brodard in SoCal. These rolls were excellent and honestly on par with Brodard, which says a lot. I also appreciated that each table had freshly chopped Thai chilies. Most places only offer sriracha or sambal, but I like my food extra spicy, so being able to add fresh chilies to the nem nuong dipping sauce was a big win. The pho itself really impressed me. Their brisket is hands down the best I have had anywhere, even compared to San Jose spots. It was meaty, super tender, and sliced differently than the usual thin cuts you find elsewhere. They also give very generous portions of meat. Between the quality and the quantity, the price absolutely makes sense. After this visit, I can confidently say Pho Ao Sen is my new go to spot in Oakland. I cannot wait to go back and try more from their menu.

    Shrimp Spring Roll (Gỏi Cuốn) with their special house sauce
    Sherilyn R.

    Now my Go-To in the area! Came here with a group of friends (~8 people) after an event nearby (around 4:45PM Saturday), they seated us to the long tables where it's easy to chat and have our own space. I appreciate that mindfulness. They are quick to give us menu and help us with any questions we have. I order the Shrimp Spring Roll (Gỏi Cuốn) with their house sauce and it was delicious! The shrimp was a nice size, not like those small ones. I love the overall portion and the way they stacked the spring roll (see picture). This is now my go-to in the area for a well sized group. My friends enjoyed their pho, which undoubtedly looks great and have generous portions! I think you can't ever go wrong ask the server what do they recommend or is most popular too if you're ever stuck. This place gives me those classic southeast Asian family space with modern touches. Service: 5/5; quick to respond and answered our question, and quick to serve Ambiance: 5/5; Not loud close to dinner time Saturday. Good amount of space for kids. Bathroom: Yes; it's on the shorter side which is great if you have smaller stature or little ones that only need a bit of an assistance. They do have wheelchair friendly bars but is on the lower side. Parking: Yes; there's a FREE parking lot next to it.

    Nem nuong
    Jimmy S.

    This is a nostalgic place for my family up in NorCal. The staff is super nice and they renovated the place. It looks very modern. Parking is somewhat difficult given it's popularity. I got the nem nuong as the appetizer which was great and the pho dac biet was great as well. The broth was very good and the noodles and meat portion was good. I was so full from the meal.

    36. .辣粉 / Bún Bò Huế
    Amy V.

    My family and I have been going to Ao Sen since their location was on International Blvd! The food quality and service has never waver My favorite is their Bun Bo Hue- super flavorful broth and great choice of meat My parents love their Pho Tai- the broth has the perfect amount of oil and seasoning, tender slabs of beef They have a parking lot- dont leave anything in the car! No one is responsible for your stuff but YOU (Just like anywhere you park) Food prices increase due to many reasons and it clearly states on their menu if you pay with a certain method, theres a surcharge To-go boxes are 50 cent because its their own plastic container that theyre giving to you- its pretty common now Whats important is that Ao Sen is consistent with their food and service The ambiance is very nice, each table has its own little light on top which gives off a warm vibe Music choice is very settled and bathroom super clean One of my favorites to visit in Oakland, highly recommended!

    Jennifer R.

    What do you think about this old and moldy chili jar that is being served to customers? Everything in this ao Sen restaurant is very very expensive compared restaurant in San Jose. broken rice of thiên huong in San Jose much much better than here and cheaper than ao Sen.

    #38
    Veronica L.

    Prices went way up since we were last here but service and the food are still good. Parking lot was full so their business is good! Got the #38 bun entree and two pho tai #16 bowls. They were good about cleaning the tables and bringing shared bowls and plastic forks and spoons for my kids. They give hot tea for adults and water for kids which is nice also. You pay at the back when you are done. It's a nice redone space after Covid. Still one of our favorite pho spots in the Bay.

    Stephanie T.

    Pho Ao Sen came highly recommended to me by some friends, and I'm glad to say it met the hype! I decided to get pho, and while the bowl was smaller and more expensive than I'm used to, it was super flavorful! It's one of the best bowls of pho I've ever had. The quality of the meat was good. I especially liked the tendon and tripe. The service was also super friendly, although it helps to have someone with you who speaks Vietnamese. My future mother-in-law brought me here for this visit, and she's familiar with the staff, which helped a lot. The interior of the restaurant looks super modern. I don't visit Oakland often due to safety concerns, but the food there is just too good! Another plus is that Pho Ao Sen has its own parking lot, so you don't need to deal with street parking. And a small tip, if you pay with cash, you can avoid their surcharge!

    Thai Tea
    Alyssa Mae L.

    Came in with a friend on a Sunday morning after a night of drinking. We were seated immediately and checked back in on when we needed more time to order. I ended up going with the #11 which was a bowl of beef pho with different types of cooked beef and no tendons/meatballs. I later ordered a Thai tea as a sweet treat after the meal. Food came out promptly. In my opinion, it was a pretty substantial bowl with a good amount of meat. The broth was very light but still flavorful! Nothing really stood out, just a good bowl of soup. Also, as a cilantro hater, I was pretty happy to see that the bowl did not come with it. Service was okay. We had to wave down the waitress a couple times to refill water and order additional menu items. We also had to figure out on our own that you go up to the register to pay for the meal. The parking lot is a plus but definitely be wary of the area - don't leave anything valuable behind. Overall, pho here hit the spot for someone in need of a hangover cure!

    Barry C.

    solid bowl of pho, great flavor and richness that is not seen in many pho restaurants. highly recommended.

    36. .辣粉 / Bún Bò Huế and 17 drink

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    I love a clean restaurant. Cleanliness is a sign the food is being respected. The service here is fast and easy.

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    Pho Ao Sen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pho Ao Sen

    Do they have any gluten free options?

    Rice is gluten free so i am going to say yes since most of their dishes are rice noodles or rice plates. They have others too but I'd suggest you stick with picking items that revolves around those two ingredients. The safest best I would recommend… Read more

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    Shan Dong - Sesame Paste Noodles

    Shan Dong

    4.2(4k reviews)
    1.3 miOakland Chinatown
    $$

    My friends and I decided to order delivery from Shan Dong, which is one of my favorite places in…read moreOakland Chinatown. This time, we ordered a few dishes to try - the classic sesame paste noodles, Shan Dong chicken, the fried rice with shrimp, and the hot spicy eggplant. Since we did order delivery on a busy Saturday night, it took a little over an hour for our food to arrive. The food was expertly packed and we were given plenty of utensils and napkins. The sesame paste noodles are one of my favorite dishes here, there's a balance of sweet and salty offered in the creamy sesame paste sauce that's so addicting. I've always been a big fan of the hand-pulled noodles which are thick, bouncy and chewy. The Shan Dong chicken is deep fried and coated in a delicious sauce. It is more of the sweeter side if you're looking for something that's spicy. I appreciate that we were given large pieces as well! The fried rice with shrimp is amazing - I love the crunch of the green onion, the softness of the fried egg, and the texture of the rice and veggies which weren't soggy and still held a nice bite. Last but not least, the hot spicy eggplant was a great choice because it's usually the trickier dish to cook as eggplant can turn really soft and mushy. I was delighted that with the way it was prepared, the large eggplant pieces still held a tender texture that did not fall apart. I also enjoyed the sauce that was paired with the eggplant, which is oyster-sauce based and added a pleasant sweetness as well. I'm always looking forward to my next visit and I love supporting Shan Dong!

    This place is just as un-fancy as it is delicious! Come mentally prepared to be kind of cramped and…read moreto eat in a somewhat chaotic atmosphere. Who cares though, because once you get your food, nothing else matters. The service is fast and efficient. The prices are super reasonable and portion sizes, generous. The noodles, dumplings and everything else we ordered was incredibly tasty and had that wok-infused flavor. This place is no frills and all taste. We ordered noodles, dumplings, some cold dishes and omitted egg in the veg dishes for the vegans. Everyone had something to eat and honestly for how much we ordered, it's tough to say there's anything you might not want to order. Just go with your gut! We came here after running the Oakland Marathon and left very happy and satisfied. (apologies for not being specific on what we ordered. I'll have to update later once I dig up the photos to post here.) Just come eat here, you'll be glad you did! My only gripe is that I don't live closer!!

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    Shan Dong - Dinning area

    Dinning area

    Shan Dong - Shan Dong Chicken

    Shan Dong Chicken

    Shan Dong - Wonton with Spicy Sauce

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    Wonton with Spicy Sauce

    Mensho - Signature Smoked Toripaitan Ramen

    Mensho

    4.5(642 reviews)
    2.6 miPiedmont Ave, North Oakland
    $$

    Stumbled upon this ramen place that happened to have a michelin star/ guide for the last three…read moreyears! The wait was about 30-45 mins for a party of two at 7:30pm on a Saturday. Considering other reviews, I don't think we waited too long. We ordered two of their top ramens, although the matcha duck one was enticing, I did like the Garlic overload on my ramen. The fried enoki mushrooms were also good, I just wish the portions were a bit bigger for both dishes. Staff was also quick and helpful going through the menu with us first timers. We sat at a shared table but I like how they had a divider to separate the spaces. Pretty small restaurant and they only have street parking so if you want to try, I recommend going early! We were lucky to snag a spot right in the front!

    Yummy ramen would recommend the chain…read more I've tried this ramen chain at their Houston location as well. This time I ordered the signature smoked & Black Vinegar Karaage. The noodles are the highlight for me. They're bouncy and have a nice texture. The bowl is packed with flavor. The Karaage was good, crispy, absorbed the sauce well, there were also pieces of soft eggplant as well. I would go lighter on the sauce or have the excess on the side. The sauce became overpowering the more chicken I ate. I think the Houston location had better service. This location felt cramped, loud and cold. There is only street parking at this location, there is Fentons a few doors down but there's more parking in the surrounding neighborhoods. The Chicken ramen at Mensho is the best I've tried in the U.S thus far

    Photos
    Mensho - Waiting area

    Waiting area

    Mensho - Spicy garlic karaage fried chicken

    Spicy garlic karaage fried chicken

    Mensho - Hokkaido Uni Mini Rice Bowl

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    Hokkaido Uni Mini Rice Bowl

    Elephant Trunk Hill Guilin Rice Noodle - A4- takeout bowl, Beef and crispy Pork

    Elephant Trunk Hill Guilin Rice Noodle

    4.5(19 reviews)
    1.5 miOakland Chinatown, Jack London Square

    I LOVE Guilin noodles and this place was a gem! Luckily, I found parking right in front of the…read moreentrance. We were quickly served and enjoyed the tasty Noods and all the tasty spicy toppings! Will be back soo soon!

    I wanted to grab lunch somewhere near my hotel. I wanted something easy, and this place popped up…read moreas a suggestion, so I walked over. First of all, this place is sparse. The restaurant maybe had 8-10 tables, but had the space to add 3 or 4 more tables. But it was clean, and that's more important to me. I ordered the A1 House Special. It came out in minutes. The crisp pork was exactly that - thinly cut and very crispy. The rest of the topping were fairly typical, as were the noodles and the soup. It was what I wanted - something similar and not too heavy. Service was a lackluster. Friendly enough, but once my food was delivered, I never saw the server again for at least 20 minutes. While I ate, a customer came in, waited 5 minutes and left because no one was there to seat him or take his order. After I finished my meal, I waited to see if the server would come out to give me the bill, but it didn't happen. I had to go to the front counter and get her attention to get the bill. She was busy in the kitchen eating her lunch, I suppose. Overall, a decent visit. I was happy with my meal. I wasn't in a hurry, so I didn't mind the disappearance of the server. But I wonder how much business they lose when no on is around to serve customers.

    Photos
    Elephant Trunk Hill Guilin Rice Noodle - Self service on table

    Self service on table

    Elephant Trunk Hill Guilin Rice Noodle - #2 on the menus.

    #2 on the menus.

    Elephant Trunk Hill Guilin Rice Noodle - Menu (Part 2)

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    Menu (Part 2)

    Me Va Con Vietnamese Kitchen - Beef carpaccio

    Me Va Con Vietnamese Kitchen

    4.5(259 reviews)
    4.0 miRockridge, North Oakland
    $$

    Mini Pancakes Bahn Khot -- super fresh, fragrant and flavorful. I love the basil and mint that came…read morewith the roll. Every mouthful had a nice hint of buttery flavor from the pancake and then a hint of freshness from the veggies. Spicy Shaken Beef Pho -- flavorful beef broth, perfect amount of saltiness, lots of fresh beef slices. Super filling and warm! The food was delicious and fresh! Would come back and try their other dishes, their standard pho was yummy and flavorful!

    We were in the area figuring out where to eat when a lady eating Bánh Khọt in the her freakin' car…read morecame up on my feed. Eating anything with nước chấm in the car is diabolical. With my luck, my car would smell like hello kitty for weeks. Anyhow, I found Mẹ Và Con on yelp, a mother-daughter owned resto that opened in 2024. They serve bánh khọt and have outdoor seating so we headed over. Thankfully, we arrived before the Sunday dinner rush (~5:45 pm) and before the parking lot was filled. Rezzies are accepted (via phone). M E N U Viet Cuisine with some elevated, modern twists (no specific regional specialty). Smaller menu than your typical hole-in-the-wall with 25-30 items including AZN fusion items like shrimp ceviche, kimchi pasta and tom yum pasta. Beer, wine, and soju cocktails available. F O O D * Bò Tái Chanh: Beef Carpaccio w/ Thai basil, fried shallot, house tangerine sauce ($18): https://tinyurl.com/nhcn9kxw - Served at dinner only Fresh, tender slices of beef carpaccio with a sweetness from the tangerine sauce and white onions. I appreciate their twist (tangerine sauce instead of nước chấm) but it was too one note for me...IMO, it needed acid and herbs. Plus, I miss the texture of peanuts. * Bánh Khọt: Viet Mini Pancakes w/ shrimp, coconut milk batter, herbs, pickles ($24): https://tinyurl.com/34nx7sat - Served at dinner only Fav dish of the night, the savory bánh khọt was delicately crispy and slightly custardy in the center with a snappy shrimp drizzled with fragrant scallion oil. It came with romaine, mint, and perilla leaves neatly layered for easy wrapping. The lettuce was a bit soft and soggy tho, and I think they forgot the pickled veggies. Served with a tiny portion of tangy sweet nước chấm. * Bò Lúc Lắc: Shaking Beef w/ soy, garlic, onion, cherry tomato, arugula ($26): https://tinyurl.com/3rkpukct Meltingly tender cubes of filet mignon but light on the seasoning and aromatics so it was bland. Also, was hoping for more smoky wok hei flavor. * Thịt Kho Tàu: Braised Pork Belly w/ hard boiled eggs, rice ($21): https://tinyurl.com/mr2evryw - Includes bowl of rice A traditional dish served during Lunar New Year, it symbolizes prosperity, warmth, and stability. Chunks of pork belly are caramelized in sugar and braised in coconut soda and fish sauce - rich, savory with a good ratio of lean meat to fat (4 pieces). Wish they used more braising liquid when warming up, as some pieces were a bit dry. S E R V I C E Warm, friendly hospitality. Food does take awhile tho...our first dish took about 30 minutes to arrive. A M B I A N C E Casual, no-frills indoor area with about 10-12 tables. Cute covered patio in the parking lot with 5 tables and fairy lights. Overall, Mẹ Và Con is a great place to introduce people that are new to Viet cuisine and/or you're looking for Viet dishes with different twist.

    Photos
    Me Va Con Vietnamese Kitchen - Counter

    Counter

    Me Va Con Vietnamese Kitchen - Bò Tái Chanh: Beef Carpaccio w/ Thai basil, fried shallot, house tangerine sauce  ($18)

    Bò Tái Chanh: Beef Carpaccio w/ Thai basil, fried shallot, house tangerine sauce ($18)

    Me Va Con Vietnamese Kitchen - Mini pancakes

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    Mini pancakes

    Pho Ao Sen - vietnamese - Updated June 2026

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