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    R & D Cafe

    4.2 (549 reviews)
    InexpensiveVietnamese
    Closed 11:00 am - 6:30 pm

    R & D Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    R & D CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - R & D Cafe

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    Garlic noodles are a must ! Pork is always delicious, Taro slushy not too sweet just perfect . Banh mi 10/10
    Jeanette A.

    Food always hits the spot in my vietnamese cravings ! You get your order so quick and staff are good people that love to take care of their customers.

    Chicken Banh Mi from R & D Cafe - 15813 Channel St San Lorenzo, CA 94580
    Mark H.

    In search of a good banh mi near me led me to pick up a delicious lunch today. The folks at R & D Cafe were kind and we enjoyed a great conversation as I waited for my food. The restaurant has room for sit down dining and plenty of parking. I ordered a chicken banh mi. The bread had a perfect crunch giving way to soft bread, chicken, jalapeños, daikon, carrots, fresh cilantro, cucumber....delicious... Highly recommend and I'll return for their other menu items. Great food, nice people and a good price.

    Strawberry slush
    Rai R.

    I've been coming here for years. I'd definitely recommend! My favorite is the #46 grilled beef with steam rice, but we also got the shrimp spring rolls and strawberry slushies.

    Green papaya salad with shrimp. Recommended.
    Vi T.

    Reasonable prices and good authentic Vietnamese food. Picked up a to go order for a BBQ pork banh mi and green papaya salad with shrimp. This is the perfect amount to share between 2 people. I plan to returm to try their other options. Restaurant is small and casual. Has about 6 tables for 4. It's located in a small neighborhood shopping plaza with enough parking.

    Iced coffee, Taro Slushie with boba
    Lauryn T.

    I was hungry and in the mood for some Vietnamese food. Lucky for me R&D Cafe is right next door while grocery shopping. I ordered a Vietnamese iced coffee and a grilled pork banh mi. The iced coffee was perfect! It wasn't too bitter it was just right for me. The banh mi was delicious it had so much flavor. It was filled with a good amount of meat. The owners are so sweet! I will be back again to try some different dishes.

    BBH
    Mimi S.

    The best BBH I've ever had! So full of flavors and lots of meat. I love coming here for lunch from work.

    Y X.

    Planned a visit on Monday and found they are closed on Sunday and Mondays. Most of the time, restaurants don't care so much about weekend businesses because foods are good. Dinning alone means I won't be able to get both BBH and Pho. And, this time I didn't ask for a pho broth (alone) for a preliminary taste. Turned out the BBH is quite good. Deep red and flavorful broth. After taste note tips to the sweeter side and can be the owner's personal taste depends on what regions he/she is from in Vietnam. I personally prefer the strong shrimp paste taste (which in this case, IMO not enough) and had a quick convo with the owner lady. "You should ask for more shrimp paste next time" she said. Willing to give me more worths another star. No strong cleaning spray smell is a plus. I came on Feb. 18 and starting this Saturday they will be closed for 2 weeks. I: why? She: we are going to Portugal for 2 weeks I: any must eats on the list? I heard it has a lot of good food. How about the egg tarts? She: I heard it's too sweet so I'm not sure.. I: what? too sweet? Come on, Viet. desserts are quite sweet too, u have to try the egg tarts! I love the fact that ppl who make good food are going to eat a lot of good food. ^^ A must try in the area and there's an interesting Asian supermarket also sells Hispanic spices a few door down.

    Vietnamese Coffee
    Felila F.

    Delicious food. Service amazing. I can taste the lemongrass in the beef. Pork flavors were on point. Can't beat the price. You won't be disappointed!

    Grilled Nem Nuong (Pork Paste) Banh Mi

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    9 months ago

    Great food and great people. The menu prices are very reasonable compared to all the vietnamese restaurants/cafes I have been to.

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    Page 1 of 14

    Ask the Community - R & D Cafe

    Do they still close from 2:30-4pm?

    No most of the times they are open till 6:30 now

    Is there dine in or still to-go only?

    Still to go as of 3/19

    Do they use apple pay?

    No they did not the last time I ate there in 2018.

    View All 4 Questions

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    2Ơi

    2Ơi

    4.9
    (81 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    Grab-and-go
    Vegan friendly

    SO good! Reminder that this isn't a restaurant--you place an order via text, get an ETA for pickup…read moreand drive to the location. Once you arrive, follow up via text for instructions. Someone came out with our food and I sent our payment via Venmo. Husband and I got the sandwich, two iced coffees, corn, large salad and it was DELICIOUS. The portions are pretty substantial and I think a small salad would have sufficed. Will definitely be back!

    2Oi is an home kitchen that opened 2 years ago in Argyle Palms Apartments. Initially I didn't know…read morehow to order. Lately, I saw instructions posted on their website on Yelp. I called to place order. Got a recording. Got a return call confirming my order. Found it's better to text with C6 or F7 unless one can speak Vietnamese. Main associate lacks English proficiency. Much easier for her to get "code" Place was an easy find. Street parking slightly difficult. Unknown if parking in their lot is permissible. Went towards big building on the right . Found unit with "Taste of Asia" brochure on window. Just before the gate. Bingo! Stood in front of open door until Vietnamese lady came out with my order. $21 cash. Unknown if Zelle has tax added to it. Tipped a little. Lady hesitated to give change. Offerings (Vietnamese): street food, drinks, coffee. Sips: Cafe Muoi Bien (sea salt foam Vietnamese coffee, 7)-Viet coffee, sea salt foam, condensed milk. -coffee didn't look full. No doubt foam on top shrank/mixed into coffee. -bold coffee with alternating sweet & salty tastes depending on sipping foam or condensed milk. Bites: Banh Trang Cuon (Vietnamese Special roll, 14). There's also a salad version with same ingredients & no wrapping. -dipping sauce had sweet & savory notes. -rice roll had dominant theme of beef jerky. The surrounding nuanced taste was a symphonic medley of carrots, quarter sectioned boiled eggs, coriander, green mango, dried shrimp, fried onions, peanuts & green mangos, 5 stars Worthy! Quality: freshly premade. Quantiy: ample enough for a meal. Would repeat. *Taste of Asia "passport" given to win prizes from buying from food vendors in Oakland Chinatown & San Leandro Asian businesses. May is Asian American Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

    Photos
    2Oi Vietnamese Menu
    2Oi Vietnamese Menu
    2Ơi
    NEW! NEW! NEW!

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    NEW! NEW! NEW!
    Pho Ga Huong Que

    Pho Ga Huong Que

    4.4
    (99 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    I am selfish and so happy they came to San Leandro!…read more It's solid, wholesome, and flavorful Pho Ga. Every appetizer is also a hit! I usually get the chicken giblets pho with a side of Thai tea. It's a monthly visit and have yet to be disappointed. Great service and always a quick stop.

    3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 stars My wife and daughter gave…read morethis place 3 stars. I gave them 4 stars, 5 stars for my food! Quality/Quantity - My daughter craved Pho so we came to this place. It has been a VERY long time since we ate here. Actually, the previous time was with the previous owners/business. Today we got the following: Fish Ball Noodle Soup with Pho Noodles - Of course my daughter's choice and with NO veggies?!?! This looked so plain... I know I could have made this better at home! My wife shared some of her wontons with my daughter to add to the flavor. See pictures. I am sure this is NOT what my daughter had in mind when she craved Pho. This was much more of a "Chinese" dish rather than Vietnamese. Update - My daughter mentioned that she could not find regular thinly sliced beef pho as an option. And she thought fish balls were beef balls... Wonton Noodle Soup - Also as plain as my daughter's dish. Again, more of a Chinese dish rather than Vietnamese. #24 Fried Pork Chop, Chicken, Egg with Steamed Rice - Fried fresh and perfectly done! My pork chop and chicken were 5 stars! Everything else was just okay. Ambiance - Very small local business. Decent size parking lot, but not enough spaces for this busy mall. We got lucky and got a space fairly close to the restaurant. Not stressed as we planned to shop at Foodnet after lunch. Service - Had to ask for everything. Hard to get their attention as they just hung around the first booth talking and talking and talking. The hardest worker was the runner, probably the only employee that was not family...? Price - $66 + more generous tip than deserved or earned. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success at this location since 2024. And your previous location in Oakland, etc. The previous location was known for their chicken, chicken noodle soup, etc.

    Photos
    2/25/26 FYI. Drink station
    2/25/26 FYI. Drink station
    Cha gio
    Cha gio
    Thai Tea

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    Thai Tea
    Pho An Hoa

    Pho An Hoa

    3.7
    (667 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Pho An Hoa is a solid choice if you're looking for authentic Vietnamese food at a great price. The…read morefood is tasty, portions are generous, and the overall value is hard to beat. You really get a satisfying meal without spending a lot. The service is efficient and the food comes out quickly, which is a big plus if you're looking for a casual meal. The staff's demeanor is just okay--not particularly warm or attentive, but perfectly adequate for getting you in and out. The ambiance is exactly what you'd expect from a family-run Vietnamese restaurant: simple, no-frills, and comfortable. It's not a place you go for the atmosphere, but rather for consistently good food at a reasonable price. If you're after a delicious, affordable Vietnamese meal, Pho An Hoa definitely delivers.

    If I was able to give zero stars, I would have. This was our go-to spot for Pho. However, we will…read morenot be patronizing this business anymore. Our food had just arrived, when a couple with two large dogs came into the restaurant. The dogs were NOT service dogs. The waiter proceeded to seat the couple with their dogs behind my husband and I. I was appalled!! The waiter never asked if we were OK if the couple sat near us. I want to point out that my husband and I are dog lovers and have had dogs for 20 years. I understand what it feels like to love them like family, but at the end of the day they are dogs. The law clearly states: "Under California Health and Safety Code § 114259.5, live animals are strictly prohibited inside the indoor dining or food preparation areas of a restaurant. The only legal exceptions are for official law enforcement dogs and individually trained service dogs. Emotional support animals (ESAs) or companion pets do not qualify under California law or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are not allowed indoors." So unless you are comfortable with dog hair possibly flying into your food, because you never know when a dog is going to shake, I would advise you NOT to eat here.

    Photos
    Sauces & Utensils
    Sauces & Utensils
    Beef stew noodle soup - 6/2025
    Beef stew noodle soup - 6/2025
    Outside

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    Outside
    Pho Seven

    Pho Seven

    4.3
    (367 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Established in 2019

    My daughter and I were on our way to Oakland Airport with a rental car. There's a cheap Arco gas…read morejust around the corner and it's close to the Oakland Airport so we came here for lunch. I was going to get Pho but the Bun Rieu looked pretty appealing and it's not a usual item to be offered so I opted for Bun Rieu. My daughter got garlic noodles with beef instead. Both items were very good and filling. I like the fact that I can choose the size of my Bun Rieu as most places only offer one size and it's usually for Pho rather than Bun Rieu. Might try their Bun Bo Hue next time. The place gets pretty packed around lunch time so it's a good sign that it's a popular joint for lunch. We arrived just after 12pm. If we were a little later, we might not get a table at all. There was plenty of parking in the strip mall. There's a cheap gas Arco just around the corner.

    I've been wanting to try this place for quite a while, but every visit ended the same way. The…read moreparking lot was so packed that I couldn't find a space, so I'd just give up and leave. This visit was finally my lucky day, and I'm glad I stuck with it because it was worth the wait. The restaurant was clean, welcoming, and had a comfortable atmosphere. The staff greeted us with a smile, answered our questions, and were friendly throughout the visit. I ordered a bowl of pho with a side of spring rolls, and both were delicious. Everything tasted fresh, the flavors were well balanced, and the portions were satisfying without feeling overly heavy. One feature I really appreciated was the ability to choose from a small, medium, or large bowl. It's a nice option whether you're looking for a lighter lunch or a hearty meal. There are still several menu items I'd like to try, so I'll definitely be back. My only suggestion is to be patient if you're driving because parking can be a challenge during busy times. Once you get inside, though, the food and service make it well worth the effort.

    Photos
    Pho Seven
    B1. Vermicelli w/Shredded Pork, Shrimp Cake and Grilled Pork
    B1. Vermicelli w/Shredded Pork, Shrimp Cake and Grilled Pork
    A5. Fried Egg Rolls

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    A5. Fried Egg Rolls
    Le Soleil Vietnamese Noodles and Grill

    Le Soleil Vietnamese Noodles and Grill

    3.8
    (569 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    Tomorrow is Le Soleil's last day in business. Unfortunately, I think many of us saw this coming. It…read morestarted when they reduced the number of days they were open for business, citing staffing issues. Then, as much as we loved the banh mi, the banner and the sidewalk sign advertising them as a new lunch option last year seemed almost like they were really, really trying to pull in more people any way they could. Every time I walked past this place, it was either empty or there were one to two tables with guests at a time. So when the word finally broke a few days ago that the owners have sold the place and are closing, I felt really sad, but wasn't surprised. It's definitely the end of an era, and is one of those longtime San Leandro restaurants in this strip of E 14th that has a comforting, early 2000s vibe -- and is now gone, like so many before them. It's frustrating, especially because the likelihood of them possibly getting replaced by a chain or yet another taqueria or Chinese place is high (though they apparently don't know what will be moving in after them). Dropped by yesterday with my husband for a final lunch. He got the bun bo hue and I got the yellow curry stir fry and fried rice. Everything was hot, fresh, and delicious, and the restaurant was nearly entirely full with people having their own last meals and saying their goodbyes to the owners. While the owner was incredibly nice, service was terrible. She was overworked, working the counter, packing up to-go orders, taking table orders, bringing out food, AND bussing tables alone. The party next to us was a little frustrated that she still hadn't come by to take their order and went to the counter to flag her down. I don't know how much longer Le Soleil would've remained viable if service has been like this for months. It's a sad situation, but I wish nothing but the best for the owners, especially if they decide to open another restaurant in the future.

    Joined friends for lunch and the food that I ordered was delicious, chicken in lemongrass sauce…read more Server was friendly, and place was nice and orderly. However, we ordered it to go spring roll and the shrimp is so thin like a Spanish ham. Clearly the intent is to deceive.

    Photos
    Chicken Pho
    Chicken Pho
    5 spice chicken
    5 spice chicken
    Crawfish fried rice

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    Crawfish fried rice

    R & D Cafe - vietnamese - Updated August 2026

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