I'm so happy and full! Nem Nuong Fried Spring Rolls #24 combo rice plate with grilled pork chop, shredded pork and egg cake #27 combo rice plate with grilled pork chop, grilled shrimp and a fried egg Bun Bo Hue with egg noodles Everything was so tasty. What makes the food special here is all the "extras", such as the fried pork rind bits and onion oil on the chops. Let's not forget the owner's secret spicy sauce condiment! She's really got something here (& she's super sweet). Love. read more

Pho Ao Sen - Nem Nuong - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Great food but unsafe area. There needs to be an attendant in the parking lot as well as camera surveillance

Where do we start? Ambient was welcoming, decorated in a pleasant way. Parking was easy  and safe since two patrol cars were in the parking lot that day. I even left my windows  down because it was so hot that day. Service was good, the only eyebrow raise was when this girl went into the place in tiny bootie shorts and No shoes. A bit of a weird moment while sitting and having to glance at that view. Yet I didn't noticed the no shoes, no shirt, no service. sign. So you can't enforce what you don't post. Now the food, Lots of flavor and taste was fresh and delicious. Did not venture far since my craving was basically their soup. If they were to mess that up it would have been my last. All in all it was good and will definitely recommend and be back again. read more

Pho Ao Sen - Flavor on point - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

I like the fresh noodles option for $1 more. The rice dishes are ok. They too increased $3-$5 on each dish. and since last year they charge an extra #% if you choose to pay by Credit Card. I am boycotting this restaurant. read more

Hot with great combos and Pho. The staff is curtious and attentive. I have never actually eaten the place so I can only speak on the ambiance based on my walk to the cashier to pick up takeout. read more

Alright really, the food is 4 stars, but they have their own chili mix and it has lemongrass in it. Pretty good... You should try it. On the real though, the pho broth was a little too fatty, but that's just how I like my pho. I also think I might have a bias cause it's just what I ate with my friends... and the people are nice! You can't discount that. read more

Came here today (Sunday) around 1:15pm, and it was poppin'. There's a little parking lot to the right of it when you're facing the restaurant, but it was so crowded that we had to drive down a couple streets and find street parking (not super difficult). The restaurant looks like it's in a sketch area (meaning there's what looks like drug/trap houses while you walk from the street to the restaurant lol) but don't let that deter you from walking in - it's pretty nice inside. We had to wait about 20-25 mins, make sure you put your name on the wait list inside! I got the classic #16 pho tai, I don't think they have different sizes like other pho places. We also got the spring rolls. Honestly, everything tasted like it was supposed to, and they give you the essentials on your table - sriracha, hoisin sauce, and the chili sauce that has the anchovies in it (if you're into that). I appreciate that with the plate of extras they give you (the one with limes, bean sprouts, mint, and what looked like fried onions??) they are pretty generous. Service was what you would expect at a pho restaurant - "if you don't leave a pho restaurant feeling emotionally abused, was it even a good restaurant?" - Ali Wong (I'M SORRY I KEEP USING THIS QUOTE FOR ALL MY PHO REVIEWS BUT IT'S TRUE RIGHT???) Overall, not a bad place, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here if you have other pho options that are closer or have shorter wait times. read more

Pho Ao Sen - #16 pho tai - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

I have been here before and forgot how good it was . I used to love Le Cheval in downtown Oakland . I usually get the Bun Thit Nuong char Gio , Vermicelli with grilled pork , salad , sprouts , carrot shavings and cucumbers in a bowl ... 2 imperial rolls and fish sauce . I loved how Le Cheval would serve the pork in ribbons with a bamboo spear holding the pork . It would get that char that made the pork so good . Well I have been searching high and low . And even though Pho Ao Sen maybe be a bit more for the dish . The size of the imperial ( rolls good size ) and they fact there are 2 rolls is great . Biut the star of the show is the pork and I had it today and it was charred and so tasty . Others may serve tasty Bun Thit Nuong but the quality shines at Pho Ao Sen and the traffic they were doing on a Monday lunch confirms it . It`s a established restaurant for a reason . Big safe parking lot . Highly Recomend . read more

My IT guru invited me to his favorite Vietnamese eatery. Nothing like a home boy to do the ordering! The store is right off the IB in a block of Vietnamese shops. Parking was ample in the lot, it was packed inside. My experience has always been Pho, so the Com Tam Thit Nuong Tom was a hit. Pork chops with Tiger shrimp with Broken rice was heavenly. My pal enjoyed Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio and I'm ordering next time. Marinated charbroiled pork and pork eggrolls over rice vermicelli, shredded lettuce, cucumber, mint, and bean sprouts. For dessert we shared Thach Che, Mung bean paste with jelly and coconut milk served with crushed ice. Wow! The neighboring guests had Bun Bo Hue- Hue Style Spicy Beef Noodle Soup. A large bowl of beef broth cooked with essence of lemongrass, dried chili and variety of different vegetables. Damn! It's a bit out out of the way of my grid, however they opened up a store in El Cerrito in the former Sizzler. On my list to visit! read more

Pho Ao Sen - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

I DO NOT RECOMMEND dining at the Ao Sen restaurant due to their lack of security measures and apathetic attitude in regard to vehicle break-ins in their parking lot. About one week ago, after exiting the restaurant for a quick to-go lunch pickup that was ordered in advance, I immediately noticed the driver's side of my vehicle had been smashed in their lot. Cash, credit cards, and phone were all stolen despite being hidden away. I re-entered the restaurant and requested security camera footage from the cashier employee. The employee said the cameras are not working. This is not true because I could see their security camera monitor in plain view. I head home to deactivate my cards and track my phone via the Find My Phone app and then return to the restaurant parking lot only see that another vehicle now had their window smashed. Someone else had been victimized after I left. I enter the restaurant and inform the owner. She immediately tells her employee to check the cameras. I request, once again, to see the camera footage to provide the police and she becomes hesitant. She asks if I'll be calling the police. She tells me, "This is Oakland. This happens all the time..." She points out the signs in the parking lot stating that customers are responsible for their own personal belongings. Then she instructs me to not call the police at her business, go back home, and that she will text me the camera footage after work. I never ended up receiving a text. I return to the restaurant within a few days to check for a status update and she says the camera isn't working, the camera footage is too blurry etc. I am extremely disappointed after being a customer for many years. read more

First off, parking SUCKS. Space is limited and tight. My family and I ended up parking at Burger King haha (we were so hungry and didn't want to go home just because we couldn't find any parking...plus we were craving Pho!) We waited about 15 minutes for our seats. The place was packed and there was a line waiting outside the door. F O O D: We ordered their spicy wings for appetizer and they were my favorite! Perfectly crispy and not too much sauce that stayed under your fingernails. I could honestly eat two servings of these wings on my own (1 serving is only 7 wings, so my family I were fighting over them haha). I ordered what I always order at Pho places, and that's the chicken soup. This one was different because the chicken was on a separate plate with skin and bones. It also came with a ginger sauce. It wasn't my favorite chicken to put into the soup. O V E R A L L: There's a Pho place in Vallejo that I enjoy more, so I'm not sure if I'll consider coming back. If I do, it will most likely be for the wings. read more

Pho Ao Sen - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

I don't go here for Pho, but I love how big their rice plate portion is! Pho Ao Sen has a huge variety of Vietnamese food. It always seems to be super busy as well, yes even with Vietnamese people (that's when you know it's good). I love ordering the rice plate because they have this paste on the table that's super delicious with rice. I probably can just eat that with rice on its own. The eggrolls were delicious too; for those who don't know Vietnamese people love eating eggrolls in a lettuce wrap :) read more

Pho Ao Sen - Grilled pork chop rice plate with steamed egg cake - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

BEST PHO IN OAKLAND...ARGUABLY IN THE BAY AREA. BEST ACCOUTREMENT HOT SAUCE IN THE HISTORY OF SOUP NOODLES. I ONLY recommend coming here for pho for these occassions.......... -breakfast -lunch -brunch -dinner -hangovers -first dates -breakups -birthdays -hangovers -funerals -weddings receptions -baby showers -hangovers -national holidays Only time i recommend NOT COMING is on Wednesdays as they are closed. Truly PHOnomenal :) read more

Pho Ao Sen - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

It gets pretty busy on the weekends .. met some friends here for lunch. My girlfriend recommended bun no hue (spicy beef noodle soup)said this place make it the best .. she is right. I had a few sips from her bowl, it had flavors of lemongrass and spicy ness. I had the Pho Ga Dac Biet (brown chicken noodles soup) wow!! I love this soup here. Delicious chicken flavors. I hate to admit it but it could rival my homemade chicken noodle soup. My other fried had their rice plates with pork skin, side of soup and pork meatloaf patties and bbq pork with pickled cucumbers.. he stated the bbq is not salted enough and the pork meatloaf is dry. . read more

Pho Ao Sen - Free range chicken noodle soup (Pho Ga Dac Biet ) - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Solid, pretty darned good - just not great. But first, funny thing - spacious room, only partially full, the had radio playing. We could hear commercials on the radio - I can't remember the last time I was in a business that played commercial radio. The spring rolls were quite good; fresh, tasty; rolled nicely, good peanut sauce. The beef phô was good but not out of the ordinary. The brisket was better than the steak. I don't do tendon or meat ball. Broth didn't have as much depth as my normal place,...it was more fatty though. read more

My go to Pho place. Appetizers Spring Roll, Nem Nuong Roll, and Bo Bia are very good. Both the beef and Chicken Pho are good. Just pick your own type of meat and you will be please. Che Thai for dessert is my child's favorite. I go several times a month. read more

Love eating here! I normally get the bun bo hue. It tastes alot different than other places but it's amazing!

The food was good they don't add cilantro in their pho I honestly felt like it needed it but they definitely don't skimp on the portion sizes here! The service was good as well. read more

Pho Ao Sen - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

My first impressions were not good. I ordered over the phone and the lady on the other end was lowkey rude and it seemed like I was taking up her time... But aside from the poor service, food was also mediocre. I ordered the com tam with pork, egg cake, and shredded pork skin. The egg cake was great, but the pork and shredded pork skin were a huge let-down. I've had better in San Jose. Only plus is that the price is affordable-ish, and my order was made promptly. read more

I came here on a Saturday during lunch hours and it was packed. We had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated for a table of 5. It was well worth the wait. Service 4/5: originally they seated us at a small table where there would not be enough room for food, so they moved us to a bigger table. We had to ask multiple times to get a fork because one of our party doesn't know how to use chopsticks. They did bring out warm tea right away, it was nice since it was extra chilly outside that day. They brought out all the food fast and on time. Appetizers were brought out before the pho came. Food 5/5: The pork spring roll is amazing. We ordered two orders of these. It's pork wrapped with rice paper with fresh veggies and a piece of crispy spring roll inside. This gives it a nice crispy and soft texture that work nice together. The sauce is really good too. For the main dish I got the pho dac biet. It was a big bowl with plenty of noodles and meat. The broth was very flavorful and not watered down. Would hands down come back here again for the food. read more

Pho Ao Sen - Pork Spring Roll - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

My family has been frequenting this restaurant long before it expanded and moved to this location. It's notorious for being robbed in broad daylight so make sure to carry nothing valuable on you except enough cash to pay for the meal - I guess this tidbit adds character to the place eh? Foodwise, they're known for pho and their bun Hanoi which is an art to eat as it consists of combining various ingredients to create a delicious concoction that's reminiscent of the Mother Land for natives. I also enjoy their nem nuong (pork) spring rolls with their homemade sauce and their che Thai dessert - my two must-haves when I dine here. Weekends can get packed so be prepared to wait, but it hasn't been too crazy in my experience - maybe 15 min if your party size is small? Service is quick and efficient - they want you to eat and leave so they can accommodate as many people as they can, but don't even try to dine and dash, those Asians are ninjas about getting their money (not that I've tried or anything). There's a parking lot to the side of the restaurant, but it can be tight to maneuver if you've got a large vehicle. read more

Pho Ao Sen - Nem nuong spring rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

I have quite a few friends who love the pho here so I finally decided to check it out! Got the combination pho, medium size. I think it lives up to the hype! My friend got Bun Bo Hue. We also shared the egg rolls which have TARO! Love that in an egg roll. Any Vietnamese place that serves FRESH herbs and lettuce with your egg rolls is pretty authentic. Everything was really good! Generous portions and generous meat toppings in the pho. Only get the large size if you are hungry enough for two! I tried Bun Bo Hue for the first time last week and snuck a bite of my friend's. This place makes it much better! The lemongrass flavor comes out and the thicker noodles are a good texture. Topped that all off with ice cold Vietnamese coffee. Whoa, they make it strong here! But if it doesn't give you a ccaFFeinNne rUsssH then it wasn't made right! read more

Pho Ao Sen - Bun Bo Hue (minus pig blood, eeek) top, combination pho bottom. Really tasty meatballs! - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Whenever one of my friends and I meet up to grab pho, I usually defer to her as to where to go. She's pretty easy going for the most part, but when it comes to the food of her people, she can definitely be a bit particular. In this case though, being that we were on the other side of the bay, hitting one of her usual haunts in the TL in SF wasn't a feasible option. So instead, we opted to hit her fallback choice in Oakland, Pho Ao Sen. Compared to most other Vietnamese restaurants I've been to, Pho Ao Sen is a lot cleaner, brighter, and larger (there's an upper level as well). Photos of several of their dishes on their menu looked great as well (especially their Bun Bo Xao, Hainan Chicken, and Pho Ga, which seems to come with actual pieces of chicken instead of just meat), but I knew I had to try their pho. Which was kind of a bummer, since everything else looked so interesting! -- (D) NEM NUONG NHA TRANG - "Nha Trang" Style Grilled Pork Spring Rolls with Grilled Pork Paste, Crispy Roll, Mint, Lettuce, Carrot, Cucumber, Chive, and Rice Vermicelli in a Thin Rice Paper Wrap and Served with House Blended Meat Sauce...$5.95 (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pho-ao-sen-oakland-3?select=0Ff1PPC6h1SYd5Xl2mpKGQ) This was my first time having Nem Nuong, so I don't have anything to compare this to, but it was AWESOME! Besides how good they tasted, each roll was packed, the veggies were very fresh, the pork was super juicy, and the crispy roll in the middle gave it a nice crunch. No lie, I'd come back just for this! -- (#2) PHO DAC BIET - House Special Combination of Sliced Eye Round Steak, Well-Done Brisket, Well-Done Flank, Marbled Brisket, Soft Tendon, and Tripe...$9.25 (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pho-ao-sen-oakland-3?select=fqmrqeYWu5B2nt_AKWOBfg) This wasn't really flawed, but it was very standard. The bowl was fairly large and had a nice ratio of noodles to meat (both of which tasted fine), but the broth was pretty generic. While it was decently flavorful and not very greasy, I'd be lying if I said that it was as rich and deep in flavor as others I've tried. Food aside, I did like how the relatively cheap prices, how friendly the workers were, and how everything came out from the kitchen relatively fast (though they weren't all that busy and pho joints are generally quick). Still, the best feature about Pho Ao Sen just might be the fact they have their own parking lot, which is especially clutch in this area. All in all though, despite not feeling overwhelmed by their pho, I'd definitely come back to Pho Ao Sen again. In part because I want to try several of the dishes I missed out on, as well as to give their pho another go (I mean, my friend must like them for a reason!), but mostly just so that I can get my hands on another order of their Nem Nuong! THREE AND A HALF STARS for now, but rounded down for now. I just hope my friend doesn't read this... read more

Pho Ao Sen - Nem Nuong Nha Trang - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Place has been around for a minute. There is a parking lot next to the restaurant and is still weirdly shaped. Hopefully when you park you don't hit someone's car. One of the cleanest pho restaurants I've been to in the east bay. Menus are also brand new, but you don't come here for decor, you come here for the food. Standard tea or water when you enter. One thing that I always had a gripe with is GIVE ME SOME MORE NAPKINS! Food wise- they changed to metal bowls some time back and I feel like it got smaller. Inflation is a bih, but it is what it is. They don't skimp on the noodles, the broth is still flavorful, and meat is still decent. Still one of the few good options left. read more

Pho Ao Sen - Pho dac biet - large - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

Absolutely delicious pho. The broth is amazing. Not overwhelming, not overly salty either. I would say the broth is on the lighter side. It's very flavorful and just warms my soul. Good portion sizes too! Service was fast and efficient. You pay at the cash register in the back. I was seated pretty quickly but I can see it being much more crowded at peak hours. Plenty of seating inside. And there's even a parking lot. This place can be hard to find parking and is usually street parking only. But the restaurant itself has a parking lot for customers. read more

Pho for a cold day, makes the cold day, a good day! They have the hand wrap order that can be the whole meal with the lettuce and mint leaves and meat slices. Chicken wings are spot on for the opening starter. It was pho-filling. Food coma right after. read more

See all

I've been to this pho spot a few times but never reviewed it until now. So.. they have a parking lot but the spaces are pretty tight. There's also free street parking. I came here on a Monday night with a party of 4. We were greeted & seated right away. There were a few occupied tables inside (maybe 7 groups). It's a pretty big place; there's a 2nd floor too but I've never been up there. Someone brought us menus immediately and then waters about 2 minutes later. I shared a #1 with the bf (House special combination of sliced eye round steak, well-done brisket & flank, marbled brisket, soft tendon & tripe). It was about $9 for an X-Large. The soup was pretty good. Try the jar of lemongrass at the table! It's spicy but good lol. We also got the spicy marinated fried chicken wings. They were okay (think it's just like fried and there's a light fish sauce taste and yeah the peppers they topped it with are spicy). But yeah good pho and their fried eggrolls are good too! Clean restroom. read more

See all

This place really surprised me! We went here after my friend's triathlon and they did early well serving a huge group. They had to put us into 2 different tables but I understood. The food came out pretty quickly. The pho was bomb! I had the hainan chicken with rice and it was yummy! I just wish the sauce was saucier and not thick. But it tastes good! My friend got the spring rolls and wings and she liked it as well. I think they're known for their VIET rice plates and pho. I brought Pho tai chin home for my Fiancé and he loved it! I'm from Little Saigon in SoCal so my expectations for Vietnamese food is petty high. I really like this place and def would go back! read more

Pho Ao Sen - Spring rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Came here to get pho for the first time since quarantine and I was very happy with it ! Their beef broth is flavorful and they're pretty generous with the meat and portions. My favorite thing there was actually one of their condiments. I usually just put sriracha and hoisin sauce, but this chili sauce was amazing -- spicy, savory, and a little sweet. I think it's something like chili jam (?) and if I can find more of it, I'd put it on everything I eat. read more

Definitely one of the best pho places in the bay! The broth is so rich and flavorful and oh so satisfying. The only issue I have is that they raised their prices from $8 to $12 for a medium bowl, which is a lot of $$$ for pho. I know it's probably to recoup lost income during covid, but that's a very big jump in price. read more

See all

Pho Ao Sen is slightly better than your average pho restaurant, but they are still a pretender to the throne when compared to Pho King, the king of pho in Oakland. My family and I tried out Pho Ao Sen earlier this evening mainly because we've been to Pho King too many times recently. We arrived at around 5:15pm and were greeted by a young female server upon entering the restaurant. She seated us at a table near the kitchen. At first glance, I was impressed by the spaciousness and cleanliness of the place. The interior was bright and comfortable. American pop music was played in the background. An older female server brought us water and menu. To my surprise, she spoke fluent Cantonese and was quite friendly. After a few minutes of contemplation, we ordered: - Ch Giò (Vietnamese fried egg rolls, $5.95/3 per order, filling made with ground pork, shrimp, taro cellophane noodles, and shiitake mushroom) - Pho Xe Lua Dac Biêt (#1, house special combo beef pho, $9.25, XL) - Bún Bò Hu (Hue style beef noodle soup, $8.95, large) - Cm Gà Hi Nam (Hainanese chicken rice, $9.45) Food took about 10 minutes to come out. First up were the fried egg rolls. They were served with pickled vegetables, fresh lettuce and herbs, and fish sauce. They were crispy although a bit over fried. The filling was okay in taste but no one ingredient stood out. Overall, I thought it was pretty average. My Bún Bò Hu was decent, but definitely couldn't compare it with those from BBH An Nam or Pho King. There were only three different meat toppings in the dish (eight slices of beef shank, six slices of pork, and two pig blood curds). The beef shank slices were pretty thick and beefy. The pork slices had a decent taste to them. The pig blood curds were not very spongy. Broth was pretty mild in taste and lacked depth. Noodles had a nice chewiness in them. I asked my bro about his special combo beef pho. He said it was better than a lot of run of the mill places, but he'd had better. The different meats appeared fine and the cuts were standard (thin slices, no hunks or chunks here). He mentioned the noodles were cooked perfectly. As for the broth, he didn't finish it, which indicates it was just okay. I tried some of it and it had a noticeable amount of MSG in it. I asked my mom about her Hainanese chicken rice. She said the chicken was tasted good but the portion was a little on the small side. My brother asked her about the rice and she said it was just plain white rice with no taste. For those who like their food spicy, you must try their fantastic house-made chili oil! It was made with small dried anchovies, lemongrass, chili, and some other stuff. Think Vietnamese X.O. sauce. Parking was not an issue since there's a private lot adjacent to the restaurant. The area is kind of sketchy. I would recommend you go with a group during daylight hours. Service was adequate in my opinion. Our server and the boss man cashier were pretty friendly. The entire meal came out to ~$45 with T/T. Now that I've tried Pho Ao Sen, I still like Pho King better. By Yelp definition, they are a 3-star restaurant (A-OK). But in reality, they are more like 3.5 stars to me (better than A-OK, but can't call myself a fan of the place). I will only go back if Pho King is out of commission. BONUS MATERIAL: - VISA and MC accepted. Not sure about Apple Pay. - Private parking lot adjacent to the restaurant. Street parking otherwise. - Close every Wednesday. read more

See all

Hands down, the best com tam/rice plate I've had so far in the easy bay. Hands Down! I had the #23 house special broken rice plate to go and that thing was packed! One of the things I liked a lot about Pho Ao Sen's rice plate are the veggies on the side. Most place just offers regular lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and pickled carrots, but here, everything is pickled. They even give you pickled garlic which I absolutely loved. All the meats were grilled to near perfection. There was always a little hint of grilled char flavor which is essential to almost every grilled meat. The egg cake was nice and soft, almost melts in your mouth with a single chew, the pork cutlet was tender and everything added with their fish sauce pretty much made the dish perfect. There was a sunny side up egg on top as well and despite being take out, you can still pop the yolk and have it run over your food. All that delicious eggy, yolky-ness is the perfect topper. Portions were crazy! I'm usually able to finish all my food in a single sitting but I had to save at least a 3rd of my plate. They give you a mountain of broken rice and honestly, you can never go wrong with broken rice. All in all, 100% solid and definitely recommend the rice plates to everyone. read more

Pho Ao Sen - #23 all that goodness can barely be contained in a single photo - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

A few pho shops I like in the Town and Pho Ao Sen is one of them . During this visit we ordered Bun Bo Hue, Beef stew with egg noodle and Egg roll for appetizers . The broth on both soups is fresh and filled with rich flavors such as beef broth, onions , garlic spices etc . I usually come here for the Need stew as not to many locations have a good beef stew broth and you can tell the beef is cooked for a long time in the stew as it's so tender and easy to chew. Bun Bo Hue is just right not super oily and don't need to add much ingredients as it comes pack with flavor . The egg rolls are decent nothing to special about them but you gotta order them with your pho it's the best appetizers to go with it. You don't really come to pho restaurants for the customer service but for Delicious food . read more

See all