This is a really cute spot tucked in San Jose downtown. I came here with my family on a Friday night and we were seated promptly. The staff was extremely attentive and nice and we got our food so fast we ordered papaya salad, duck curry, seafood medley, Thai boat noodles. We're a little small, but I appreciate that they were able to accommodate for our spice tolerance. Everything was delicious, no notes across the board for food. For the matcha Thai tea, the Thai tea and matcha were on the lighter side, more creamy side. I wish it was a little bit stronger but I'm glad it also didn't keep me up at night. For dessert, mango Panna, cotta and chocolate lava cake were amazing mango Panna cotta was actually just regular Panna cotta with mango sauce on it though, not mango flavored Panna cotta. read more

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Came here for a friend's birthday. Honestly, I never would have thought to come downtown for Thai food -- between the parking and the area itself, it's not somewhere I'd normally head for a meal. But the birthday girl suggested it, and I'm glad she did. First thing I noticed was the lychee mimosa, which I'd never had before. It comes with a lychee on top, super aesthetically pleasing, and the drink was yummy. We ordered the roti with curry sauce and it reminded me of the ones at Banana Island, which is a huge compliment. The roti was thin and airy, and the yellow curry was thick with that signature bright color and earthy flavor from a heavy turmeric and curry powder base, balanced with creamy coconut milk. I don't normally like calamari, but theirs was very soft and didn't need much chewing. It went really well with the seafood mayo sauce. The pad thai was also good -- they added crispy pork belly, which brought another dimension to an already complex dish with the scrambled egg, tofu, and bean sprouts. The chicken fried rice was solid with all the right Thai flavors: fish sauce, soy sauce, and a touch of sugar. I always order duck mad kee pao whenever I go to a Thai restaurant -- that fiery stir-fry with wide, chewy rice noodles, succulent roasted duck, fresh Thai basil, and crisp vegetables in a rich, savory sauce. I prefer it over pad see ew since it's heavier in flavor and spicier. Theirs delivered. The one miss for me was the crab omelette, which our waitress recommended when we asked. I didn't know what to expect. I've seen this dish on YouTube and know it's a hit in Thailand, and I think it's this restaurant's best seller -- but it ended up being my least favorite. It made me feel very full, probably the combination of rice, egg, and the heavy sauce, and the texture wasn't very complex. It came across as mushy to me. Maybe I just don't know how to appreciate it. Parking may be a problem, so plan for that. Staff was very friendly throughout. My friends got the dirty Thai tea and were jittery afterwards, haha. It was strong! read more

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This place is the real deal, best new brunch/lunch spot in SJ. They don't have a yelp waitlist, walk-in only. Street parking only, which wasn't so bad on the weekend. The tom yum omelet with duck was the best thing I've ever eaten. I love tom yum flavor, and the sauce over rice was the best thing. Who else loves a saucey rice entree? The rib dish was very tender and cooked well. It comes with a side of roti, which was flakey. I'll be back to try the tom yum omelette with crab meat and their other items! read more

VeLa Brunch & Thai Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Jose, California

Second time here, still impressive like the first time! All dishes hit, just like what I had in Thailand! We tried 4 dishes this time and crab fried rice has become my new favorite, so flavorful and huge portion! Duck curry is also excellent, with juicy, very tender duck absorbing all the lychee sauce!!! Overall, still 5/5 experience and I won't stop telling my friends about this restaurant! read more

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Birthday brunch here was a good choice! The food: 1. Shrimp tamarind sauce - THE SAUCE IS FIRE 2. Thai crab rolls - meh, would skip 3. Kao soi crispy chicken Benedict - not bad, but would also skip 4. Vela surf & turf (crab & duck) omelet - DELICIOUS 5. Mango sticky rice - tasty, your typical dessert Would definitely return for the shrimp tamarind sauce (super flavorful and yummy with perfectly cooked shrimp) and the surf & turf omelet (just the right balance of spice without overpowering the crab and duck). I couldn't get enough and was quite disappointed that we had to share. Great options for both indoor and outdoor dining, which is a huge perk for us as we like taking our fur baby out. Service was great and I appreciated their friendliness and understanding of having dogs in their somewhat small patio. read more

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Brunch time! The duck was tender and juicy, the egg was cooked to perfection, and the tom yum sauce was rich, creamy, and full of flavor. Everything tasted even better when mixed together with the egg and rice. I usually order Thai tea, but this was my first time trying it with matcha crème on top. It was delicious! The service was friendly and fast, and we didn't have to wait long for our food. I highly recommend making a reservation in advance, especially on weekends, since several groups were already waiting in line by the time we finished our meal. read more

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One of my new favorite Thai restaurants if you're looking for more elevated Thai dishes with premium ingredients. Standouts for me were definitely the Duck Curry and the Thai Crab Rolls. The Duck was perfectly cooked and I loved the incorporation of lychee in the curry sauce which helped give it a more unique flavor vs other curries I've enjoyed before. While the Thai Crab Rolls were satisfyingly crispy with plenty of delicious filling. The beef short rib dishes were also good and I wouldn't mind getting those again. The only one I'd pass on is the Thai Sausages as it was pretty dry and lackluster. I had to incorporate it into the curry sauce in order to make it more palatable. read more

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In Thai, the word VeLa () translates to "time". It is a popular, elegant name frequently used by modern cafes, restaurants, and lifestyle brands to signify a relaxing space to "take your time" or "savor the moment" One can definitely savor the moment here... 4.5 ***** rounded up to 5 ***** for me. VeLa Brunch & Thai Restaurant is located in downtown SJ; corner off 8th and William. Not the best location IMHO. Have fun hunting for parking; there is no dedicated parking lot, street parking it is. We got lucky and found parking right across the restaurant, in the shade too! PARKING MAGNET!! Yes I is! Not the biggest of venues, but they do have a decent amount of outdoor seating. We sat outside since the weather was lovely. Da wahine is obsessed with the Boat Noodle soup. So naturally Vella popped up on her list. However, she didn't get Boat Noodle this time! That's only because she wanted some eggs for brunch / lunch, and the Omelette caught her eye. #VelaEats: Poached Eggs Benedict: ~ Khao Soi Crispy Chicken - 4.5 Brilliant! The Chicken was perfectly done; crispy, yet tender and juicy, topped off with a perfect Eggs Benedict & bacon bursting with flavor. Delish!! Of course, I selfishly want lager portions! CHEF AYLEEN'S MUST-TRY: ~ VELLA Crab Omelette - 5/5 Very very tasty. The sauce is to die for! Your taste buds will go to heaven. Chunks of crab meat, oh so satisfying...!!! DESSERT: ~ Mango Sticky Rice - 5/5 Another banger! I Don't normally see this done with purple rice. Sweet, ripe Mango deliciousness... Service was good. Food came out in a timely manner, staff checked up on us on a regular basis and refilled our water. No worries, no dramas. I'll gladly return... read more

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Delicious choice when it comes to getting Thai-style brunch around the San Jose area! I came to VeLa on a Sunday afternoon, and it was busy but still had plenty of indoor and patio seating. The interior is cute and welcoming both in and out. This spot is located in downtown San Jose (though not near the San Pedro area), but it will still require street parking. Between my mom and me, we ordered three dishes from their brunch menu (they also offer their original dishes as well). We ordered the following: * Roti Dip: Comes with two fried rotis and your choice of yellow or green curry. We opted for yellow since my mom cannot eat spicy food. The roti itself was a bit oily for my taste, but I will say I ate it all with no complaints. It paired really well with the curry and was pretty good overall. * Thai Mussels: The mussels themselves were good; however, I wish there was a bit more complexity when it came to the broth. That said, I liked the addition of Thai basil to help round it out. * Surf and Turf Omelette: The priciest dish at $49, but since it's loaded with crab and duck and is one of their signature items, I knew we had to try it. It comes with your choice of tom yum or tom kha broth/sauce, which was super unique. I had never seen that before! I opted for the tom kha for a coconut kick. Overall, this dish was definitely delightful, and I was so glad we tried it. The broth was rich and creamy, and paired with the custard-like egg, tender duck, and fresh crab, it made for the perfect bite. I will say this isn't my favorite Thai spot, but it certainly won't disappoint when it comes to quality and hospitality. The staff was very attentive and kind. read more

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Khao soi crispy chicken Benedict with salad. Salad was a basic spring mix with light dressing. The chicken was perfectly cooked and stayed crispy and tender. The poached egg was a little undercooked but everything was still really good. It came on some sort of baguette, maybe ciabatta, and not an English muffin but not a big deal. It worked! Vela omelette with crab was so good. Sauce was amazing, wished there was more. If I could lick the plate without looking like a savage in public, I would. There were big chunks of crab and rice beneath the egg to soak up the sauce. I had to ask for a spoon so I could get perfect bites. Mango sticky rice might be one of favorites I've had. They use purple rice and it's not overly sweet. The mango itself was nicely ripe as well. They have boat noodle soup and Khao soi soup that I'll have to come back for another time. Table next to me ordered the massaman short rib. I typically like massaman as well and theirs looked amazing. I'm definitely coming back. Ambiance looked pretty inside but it felt a bit stuffy on a warm day so we chose to eat outside, which had plenty of shade. Dishes were pretty and lead free (yeah, I checked the bottom). Napkins were the thick high quality ones. Service was quick and attentive. read more

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Really solid spot for authentic Thai dishes! It's on the pricier side, but they have a lot of dishes that I love that aren't offered at many places in SJ. I went for dinner on a Saturday evening and noticed how small the place was inside, but it was really nice and well decorated! It wasn't that busy so we were seated right away. However, parking is terrible. It's street parking only and everything close by in the vicinity are neighborhoods that have a sign on every block that says no parking by permit only. We had to park maybe 3 or 4 blocks away which isn't a problem, but may be for others. As for the service, it was quick and the waiters are nice. We got the thai boat noodle, nam khao tod, and duck curry and enjoyed everything. The thai boat noodle was a bit on the thicker broth side so in comparison to other places, this ranks below other places, but otherwise it was still good. I always order Nam khao tod everywhere I can, and this didn't disappoint. It was so flavorful and crispy! For the duck curry, I haven't seen many places offer it so it's very unique and we had to try it. While the curry flavor could be stronger, it was still really good and I loved how succulent and soft the duck was. I went back for lunch with friends and got the same thing + the lao style papaya salad platter. Everything was good except for the papaya salad platter. It was very underwhelming and lackluster, a waste of money tbh so I'd skip this. We also got some drinks and they were good- we ordered. the lychee lemonade, pink milk, and matcha ube drink. I'd skip the matcha if you like a strong flavor, but the other two were really good. Overall food was good and while it is pricier for the serving sizes, it's a nice place to have dinner still. I'd go back again to try their other brunch items! It has a great brunch vibe here. read more

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overall 4/5 papaya salad: 4/5 very spicy and tangy! pad see ew: 3/5, sweeter than i would have liked tbh tom yum omelette: 10/5 truly if nothing else must get this!!! their thai tea is so good!! i got the matcha foam w the thai tea and it's a must order read more

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I have been to this place twice now. :) Everything I have tired is scrumptious! I have list of food places in DTSJ that are repeat places and this one is definitely on the list. The both times I been here I ordered the Vela omelette. You can either get it with crab or duck. I always order it with the crab. What I ordered! Vela omelette with Crab A aromatic omelette marinated in a base of tom yum sauce. The photo does not only look stunningly beautiful but its burst of tangy robust flavor that melts in your mouth and makes you do a little happy dance. I can't wait to be back and try more things. read more

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We decided to check out Vela for our weekend lunch. I made reservations for Saturday at 11am. It took us a minute to find a spot since parking is just street parking, they don't have a parking lot. We had to circle around the block a few times. They're right next door to California Burrito. We arrived a few minutes late but were the first ones there. The restaurant was clean and had a modern but basic feel. We ordered.. YUM MOO KROB $18 -crispy pork mint, red onion, green onion, cilantro, chili-lime dressing. 4/5* PAD THAI W/ CHICKEN $ -noodles had a nice chewiness to it but the sauce was super sweet. 3/5* PAD SEE EW W/ PORK $ -noodles were chewy and veggie still had a nice crunchy but the sauce was on the verge of being too salty for us. 3/5* SHRIMP TAMARIND SAUCE $27.50 -tiger prawns, shallot, asparagus with tamarind. Served with jasmine rice. Tamarind sauce was sticky and delicious. Asparagus had a fresh crunch. Tiger prawns had their shell-on, so we just ended up eating most of the shell. It was on the verge of being dry though. 4/5* Loved their chili condiments available on the side. Especially since we had our toddler with us and couldn't request any food to be spicy. Our server was kinda standoffish at first but she was attentive, as well as all the other workers there. Overall pretty good meal, portions are pretty small for what you pay for. I would come back to try their brunch items and other dishes. read more

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Located off downtown SJ area, it's in a bit of a rundown area but that also means it's a bit easier to find parking. Came for Thai brunch and enjoyed how it wasn't super crowded or busy. Everything was delicious and I liked the fusion of Thai with traditional American dishes like their crispy chicken benedict and the real crab omelette in Thai curry sauce. We ordered the Thai Tea coffee, but pretty sure it was full tea with no coffee. Highly recommend getting all the unique dishes to try! read more

05/02/26 Saturday Thai Lunch at Vela! I've been wanting to try out Vela since late last year and when one of my GF tossed out the lunch recommendation for a few of us to come try, we hopped all over it. We came right at noon on a Saturday, restaurant was busy but had a couple of smaller tables and all patio seatings available. The 4 ladies + my oldest son opted to sit indoors. We ordered Ube Matcha, Matcha Thai Tea, and regular Thai tea beverages. The last 2 friends ordered cocktails that I wasn't quick enough to snap a pic of! Ha. We started off family style dining and ordered a bunch to try together... (2) roti orders - $12.50/each - Round flatbread with choice of yellow or green curry. (1) Truffle fried $13 - French fried toss with truffle oil. I missed the scented truffle oil on this but did see a truffle dust powder on the French fries. (1) Yum Moo Krob - $18 - (Thai Crispy Pork Salad) - portion was a tad small but delicious. Described as a deep-fried, crispy pork belly tossed in a spicy, sour, and slightly sweet lime-based dressing with herbs. (1) Vela omelette - $28 - I would have never thought to pair eggs, tom yum and crab but how they do it works! - Creamy tom yum sauce, mushroom on top with jumbo lump crab over an egg omelette with a cup of rice underneath. (1) Duck Curry - $32.50 - I was skeptical with lychee in red curry but went for it and it was ok. Dish is Smoked duck, pineapple, cherry tomato, basil, bell pepper, & lychee in red curry served with jasmine rice (1) Khao Soi Crispy Chicken Benedict - $24 - my son's fave. The other half of the plate was a salad. Dish described as Crispy chicken thigh, focaccia bread, red onion, & Khao Soi hollandaise sauce Our total was roughly $225. It's a good meal Predominately Street parking. Service was ok. read more

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This place is known for their brunch, but don't sleep on their dinner items. We ordered the catfish Mok Pla and Tom Kha with chicken. Both were delicious. The Mok Pla is very fragrant and full of flavor. Tom Kha tastes different here than I've had at other Thai restaurants. Really good! The salak lemonade was very refreshing and not overly sweet. Great service too! Servers were friendly and checked in on us occasionally, which was perfect. They weren't overly attentive but also not neglectful. Water was always topped off. There's so much on the menu that sound so good, so I'll need to come back. read more

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Got the two most creative dishes: the Khao soi crispy chicken eggs benedict and the Tom yum omelette with jumbo lump crab and duck. Both were really good but the omelette was on another level. Id def suggest trying both but if you had to get one I'd vote the omelette. Also had a matcha Thai tea that was good as well. My only complaint is that prices are a bit high. The omelette is $39 and the eggs benedict was $24. Portion wise tho it seems instead of half portion of crab and duck it's more like a full operation so that could be why the omelette is so high. The drink prices were fair with the Thai teas at $7 and cocktails at about $14-15. Overall I def enjoyed my food and would come back if they think of more Thai brunch fusion dishes! read more

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Late review. They serve unique Thai dishes that I don't really see at other restaurants, which made this spot stand out to me. I came here for dinner and tried the Thai crab rolls (hoi jor), pad Thai with pork belly, Thai fried rice with fried chicken, duck curry, and a pink matcha. Everything was super tasty with great presentation, well-portioned, and full of flavor. The only thing I didn't enjoy as much was the matcha, it wasn't my favorite compared to others I've had. I'd definitely come back to try their brunch menu. Service was great, and there's a good amount of seating available. read more

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I recently visited Vela Thai Restaurant and had a really great experience overall. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, perfect for a casual dinner or even a date night. We started with a fresh coconut drink, which was refreshing and fun. For appetizers, the crispy calamari was perfectly cooked -- light, crunchy, and not greasy at all. For the main dishes, the seafood fried rice stood out. It was full of flavor and loaded with shrimp, mussels, and scallops. The crab omelette with curry sauce was rich and unique, something I don't usually order but definitely worth trying. We also had the braised short rib, which was incredibly tender and flavorful. Service was friendly and the food came out in a timely manner. Overall, everything felt fresh and well-prepared. I would definitely come back and recommend this place if you're looking for authentic Thai food in the area. read more

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Hello. Are you looking for a unique experience in San Jose? VeLa Brunch & Restaurant has what you need! The Tom Kha was creamy and exquisite. My favorite comes down to the Vela Omelette with sous-vide duck breast. The flavors were wonderful and delicious. Lastly, the one thing you cannot leave without trying is The Khao Soi with crispy chicken. This dish has a spicy curry flavor and very crunchy chicken. Furthermore, I really enjoyed my experience and I recommend that you come here with your friends or family members during lunch or dinner. Tina's Tip: Here is my tip. Make sure to reserve early for what time you want to eat here. There might be a cutoff period between brunch, lunch, and dinner. They have different menus for brunch and dinner. read more

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Tasty food located downtown. I really like their version of Masaman Short Rib. It was yummy, fall-of-the-bone soft, and generous. Their Pla Tod Nam Pla was delicious as well. Their crab fried rice - stellar! Big chunks of crab meat. This was a gem and a great find. Wouldn't mind coming back. Wish it was closer to home. Downtown parking doesn't leave much to be desired, but food was worth it. Street parking available. Nice clean interior and friendly wait staff. read more

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My husband and I tried VeLa Brunch & Thai for the first time, and we enjoyed the overall experience. Great vibes, hospitable staff, and excellent brunch food. We look forward to coming back and trying the more traditional Thai dishes. VeLa was located in a neighborhood, so street parking appeared to be the only option. That said, we were able to find a spot right away around 10 in the morning on a Sunday. I made a reservation for when it opened, but I think we would've been fine without one at that time. Cute restaurant! I appreciated the minimal design and decor. The realistic moon wall fixture was an eye catcher, and I liked its small outdoor patio with the mermaid fountain. The wait staff was awesome. Our server, who took our order, was very friendly and helpful in providing recommendations. Another server consistently went around to top off water glasses. Food came out in a timely manner. I ordered the surf and turf omelette, and my husband got the Khao soi fried chicken Benedict with fries. I was impressed by how big the breakfast entrees were. Well worth the cost since these were on the pricey side, especially the omelette since it came with both duck and crab. First thing my husband said when he saw the omelette was that it was a labor of love. The VeLa omelette was basically a Thai-style omurice. The thin fried egg was fluffy and delicately placed over white rice. Although the crab was good, the duck breast was the better protein by far. I would get this with the duck only for next time. The curry sauce tasted more on the peanut side, and it had a light sweetness to it. The Khao Soi fried chicken egg Benedict was fantastic. I honestly liked it better than the omelette. The fried chicken thigh was crispy and juicy. The egg was perfectly poached. I liked the khao soi hollaindaise, which was more of a Thai coconut curry flavor than peanut sauce. Even the fries bomb. I wondered if they were deep fried in fuck fat because they tasted really clean and not greasy. All-in-all both dishes were a 5 out of 5. Also do not sleep on their Thai Iced Coffee and Thai Iced Tea! So good. read more

VeLa Brunch & Thai Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Jose, California

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[Food] Takeout - VeLa Omelette ($27.50): Love this! The eggs were fluffy and moist. The tom yum sauce is delicious and loaded with plentiful of crab on top. I do wish the rice was some variation of fried rice instead of white rice. - Tom Kha Soup ($8.50): This tasted weirdly sweet and overly creamy. Definitely not a flavor I've ever tasted when I order Tom Kha. I was sad that this was a miss for me because I was really craving soup. - Calamari ($14.50): Pretty good. A light crisp batter with fresh squid. - Yum Sen Salad ($17.50): This was ok. I just wish there was more of the chili lime dressing because without the sauce, this was pretty dry. [Service] - Friendly, helpful, fast [Overall] - Would come back again and would love to try their other dishes! My fav dish from this order is the VeLa Omelette! read more

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What a treat! VeLa is a great addition to the downtown area. I came on a Sunday night at 7pm and was seated immediately. They had so many great options on the menu I wish I was hungrier or came with a big group to try more. I ordered the papaya salad Lao style aka: extra funky with fermented crabs. I asked for medium spicy and at first my ego told me I could have gone spicier. I'm glad I didn't in the end -- the heat kept building. Also got the appetizer wings which came with five huge pieces. Great crunch. Sticky sauce. The Tom Kha was also delicious and thicker than I think I'm used it. It was very filling and rich. Overall, it was a great dinner! The ambience in the restaurant has great music, lots of space and very clean. Definitely coming back. I could see parking being trouble in this area, I am fortunate enough to be walking distance. read more

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Birthday celebration for a friend. The place is located on a corner of a block. Street parking. Place is nicely decorated. We were seated promptly. Does get busy here. The food was nicely presented. And tasted just as good as they looked. The whole place is kept nice and clean including their restroom. The servers were very nice and pleasant. Good dinner. Good food. Good service. read more

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Saw Vela's brunch all over my page but ended up trying it out for dinner first! We ordered: - Duck Curry - Yum Moo Krob (crispy pork) - Thai boat noodles (with glass noodles) - Pad Thai (chicken) We started with the yum moo krob as a bit of an appetizer - it's a crispy pork "salad" and the dressing is flavorful! Lots of lettuce and herbs to pair with the crispy pork For the Thai boat noodles, you get to choose your noodle type (we chose glass noodles). The broth had good depth and flavor, but the noodle portion was quite small. I also feel like it might've been better with a different noodle choice. Their pad thai is saucy with a strong, tangy tamarind flavor. We chose chicken as the protein portion but it pretty minimal and cut into tiny pieces. Not my favorite and wasn't as satisfying... The duck curry was a red curry with pineapple, cherry tomatoes, lychee, and bell peppers - a combo I haven't had before! It's more of a sweeter curry. The smoked duck looked nice, but was a bit chewy. Portion-wise, the dish looked big but was actually quite shallow. Overall, some nice flavors, but I do wish the portions felt a bit more worth the price. Thursday night had plenty of open tables, but it's downtown San Jose and parking is all street parking and can be rough... read more

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Quick dinner trip was terrific. Pad see ew is kind of like chow fun. This one had fried pork belly which tasted good but the meat was a little tough. Short rib curry was delicious but a little small portion for the price. The roti was very yummy. Food comes out fast; fast service. And the restaurant is quiet and comfortable. I think I mentioned this in previous review. I did visit twice in a short period of time so that says something! read more

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I kept seeing this place on social media and I had to check it out! Parking is a bit rough but we were able to find street parking not too far away! Came here on a Wednesday night and we were able to get seated right away! It's quite spacious inside. There were so many options to choose from and it was a cold day, so we went with 2 curry options! I had to try the Vela omelette & the pumpkin curry. We also ordered calamari as an appetizer and 2 thai teas :) My favorite definitely had to be the pumpkin curry with the crispy pork! The curry was so smooth. I was worried the pork was going to get soggy since it was inside the curry, but it was still crispy :o My second favorite had to be the calamari with the sauce omg it paired so well together! I really liked the thai tea as well! It was thick and not too sweet :) My least favorite was unfortunately the Vela omelette :( I really wanted to like it and it was the dish I was most excited to try. There was very little curry, but it makes sense to balance out with a lot of rice since it was super flavorful :o The curry was definitely thicker than the pumpkin curry too. Presentation was pretty but I don't think I would order it again. I would come back if i'm in the area again to try out the other menu items. Their dessert options looked really good but we got too full T-T read more

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Fantastic! VeLa Brunch & Thai Restaurant lives up to their name and shines with their gentle yet robust style of Southeast Asian fusion fare. Thanks to all the Yelp praise for this newer place that pointed me the way here. We split two dishes - the VeLa Omelet (with crab), and the Pad Se Yew (chicken). I started with black coffee, which had good body, and a delicious, almost nutty flavor. The VeLa Omelet (which you may also choose with duck breast, instead of crab) is a signature dish that many have raved about. Justifiably so. A unique,somewhat sweet Tom Yum sauce atop a mound of rice, and then silky eggs, with a generous portion of lump crabmeat is highly recommended. Very shareable, too, which then allows you to try other dishes. The flavors of this dish, however, are heavenly. Next we enjoyed a delicious Pad See Ew that countered with a slightly salty and succulent taste. The peanut pieces ground this favorite of mine, which the rice noodles and greens all work together with the chicken. Well-balanced and memorable. Pretty place, comfortable, with a refreshing take on some familiar cuisine. read more

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Food, service, and ambiance are peerless at VeLa! This restaurant is amazing for dinner. Roti dip appetizer was the best roti I've ever had. It was like dipping a chewy and savory cloud of crisp into a heavenly sauce of thick, yellow curry. The hor mok salmon is a beautiful plate with tender salmon, sweet and spicy curry paste, and perfectly cooked rice. read more

VeLa Brunch & Thai Restaurant - Hor Mok Seafood - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Jose, California

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Wanted to try out a new Thai brunch that just opened up near SJSU. They do allow walk ins but I recommend getting a reservation via OpenTable if you can. Service was quick once we were seated. Fairly new spot so it's clean and bright inside. They do only have 1 bathroom - FYI Since this is a Thai restaurant, expect serving sizes to be shared between your party members. What we ordered: VELA Crab Omlette: slight spicy kick to the tom yum sauce and the eggs are not overcooked. 5/5 Pineapple fried rice: Sweet fried rice which I enjoyed. Compliments either the curry sauce or tom yum sauce. 5/5 Bacon scallops: good appetizers to start off with, scallops aren't over cooked and they also have some sort of sauce at the bottom for it. 4/5 Duck curry: the curry is on the sweeter side since they use pineapple in the sauce. The duck was perfectly cooked. I do with they had more duck serving though. 5/5 Drinks: Thai Tea Matcha - nice balance between sweet Thai and matcha. Pink Matcha (strawberry) - personal favorite Prices are a little high which is why I knocked a star off, but overall great food! read more

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I live just a block a way and I was very excited to eat here when they opened up. Had a very nice dine in experience but the total opposite when I ordered through DD. I had a very long shift this particular day and they were almost getting ready to close, so I decided to order through DD. Arrived to pick up my order, was not greeted and had to stand at the counter for an awkward amount of time before someone finally came up and helped me. Her face told me she was done for the day, girl me too, but I could've at least got a hello. Took my order and left but felt I needed to check my food before I drove off. When I opened up the bag, I was so disappointed to see the portion they provided for the amount I paid. I ordered their Thai boat noodle with beef short ribs. It looked like they grabbed left overs and gave me the last of whatever broth they had for the night for the soup. Which ended up not being enough to even cover the tiny portion of noodles they gave me... I walked back inside and informed another staff that I was missing the beef. She took it to the kitchen and came back and said that they were there. I didn't want to make a scene and just wanted to go home and eat and go to bed. Got home..unpacked everything into a bowl and it felt like I was eating a dry noodle because there was barely any broth and I saw only 3-4 overcooked beef slices. If I knew you guys would rob me like this through DD, I wouldn't have ordered. Because of this experience, I have not returned and have found another location just down the street. My advice if you're ordering or planning on ordering through Uber Eats or DD, DON'T DO IT. read more

It was our first time here. My partner and I arrived at 10:35am. We were the 4th group to arrive. The restaurant was clean and stylish. We enjoyed the lit up walls and signs. It looks great compared to the restaurant that used to be in this location a long time ago. As soon as we sat down, more and more customers came! Some have reservations and some who didn't demanded seating (even for 7 people). We were hopeful for delicious food! We ordered the coconut matcha, the ube latte, the duck omelette, and the khao soi chicken Benedict. Everything was indeed delicious! The coconut matcha was refreshing and reminded me of the coconut paleta ice cream bars! The ube latte was thick and creamy! Usually you rarely taste the ube, but we definitely tasted the ube in this drink! It was very well done. And omg, the duck omelette was delicious! The sauce is just spectacular! We used the fries from the khao soi chicken plate to dip into the omelette sauce. It was so good! The khao soi chicken eggs Benedict was average. I wouldn't miss it. We look forward to coming back to try their lunch/dinner meals, however we are not too sure since the parking was horrendous. It is very hard to find parking even though there was a lot across the street with 5 spots reserved for their customers. Thank you VeLa for great food and great service today! read more

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First of all reservations are highly highly recommended and beware that this is a residential area and nearby the local school so restaurant choices are very limited this one though will not disappoint it's very unique kind of like a fusion pricing is a little bit on the high side but when you see the food presentation and The Taste you'll understand the reason why everything on the menu has its own special Flair and special design and special style when you take a bite of it it's almost like it's telling a story and definitely you feel emotion connections when you take a bite into each of the specially prepared dishes. And don't forget they also have special drinks too and it sure will not disappoint you read more

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Absolutely amazing place! Everything was delicious -- from the food to the drinks. The cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, meat dishes, soups, salads, and appetizers were all outstanding. The service was excellent -- friendly, attentive, and professional. The interior is really cool and creates a great atmosphere. Every detail makes this place feel special. I truly enjoyed my experience and would highly recommend it to everyone. In my opinion, this restaurant deserves to be recognized by the Michelin Guide! read more

Really enjoyed my brunch here! The dishes were unique and full of flavor. My favorite dish was the Vela omelet. The eggs were nice and fluffy which paired perfectly with the tom yum sauce. We also got the Khao Soi crispy chicken Benedict which alright but I would be fine with skipping next time. Parking was a bit challenging since there's no dedicated lot, but there is street parking nearby. Overall a good experience, and I'd come back to try more items. read more

VeLa Brunch & Thai Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Jose, California

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My good friend Patty put me onto this place, and the IG reels did not lie. We came in for an early dinner on Friday night, and it wasn't too busy, probably because of the rain but I was glad we had the whole place mainly to ourselves since my kids were running wild. The staff was super nice and understanding and said it wasn't an issue since they weren't busy. But on to the food! Seriously, how do they make pad see ew here?! I could tell just by looking at the photos that it was going to be really good. The noodles were incredibly bouncy, and the flavor of the pad see ew was perfect. My son was doing a little dance after every bite. The curry duck was beautifully presented. I was surprised to find lychee in it--what a treat. There was a nice sear on the skin, and the duck wasn't overcooked. The dish even came with rice. The Kor Moo Yang (grilled pork neck) was really tasty. It came with sticky rice with mung beans, I think. I've never had sticky rice prepared like this before--it was shaped like a patty and grilled on both sides. The two paired so well together. I usually order tom yum, but the tom kha (coconut soup) was calling my name tonight. It was very good; the onions were a little sharp, but the soup base was delicious. I ordered it with shrimp and received three shrimp. This was such a treat, I'd be back to try more seafood, brunch and their OG options (basically the entire menu). Street parking is a bit tricky, but I can see this place blowing up in the future. read more

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I have had a wide variety of dishes from here now! Such a nice place to have conveniently next to SJSU. I wish this was here when I was a student. A great place to go for nice occasions, or just some stress-relief after finishing a stressful midterm... Here's what I tried that's worth mentioning: + Thai Herb Mussel (3/5): Mussels were a bit mushy and overcooked, but I really enjoyed the sauce! Super fragrant and flavorful. Funky from the lemongrass and perfectly encapsulated the mussel essence. + Nam Khao (5/5): I have mixed feelings about this one. The first time I ordered it, it was PERFECT. Crispy, flavorful, and had the best pork-to-rice ratio. Loved itttt. The second time I ordered it, they put too much pork compared to rice and the rice was overfried... Too crunchy, almost broke a tooth. And so oily! I guess it is a hit-or-miss dish! Not consistent. + VeLa Omelet (5/5): SCRUMPTIOUS. I have had this with both the duck and the crab! Both eere great, but the souvide duck was SO TENDER and soft! The duck skin had a nice sweetness to it. I highly recommend!!! The creamy tom yum sauce was S TIER too. + Papaya Salad (2/5): I would not order again... The sauce was not very flavorful or complex in flavor. Maybe the Lao version is better? Veggies were fresh though! + for drinks? I recommend the Longan or Thai Tea! Pink Milk was okay. Too much milk, not enough Sala syrup. read more

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Came by for lunch the other day and it was a tasty experience. Vela is located near downtown San Jose, near SJSU. Made a reservation and our table was ready upon arrival. The restaurant seems to be remodeled since the last Thai? restaurant tenant. Started off with the pad see ew shrimp and it was tasty. Loved the wok hei along with the char from the rice noodles. The shrimps were decent sized and tasty. The samosas reminded me of Thailand. They're in reality Thai curry puffs. I was pretty sure they're made in house as each one was an odd-sized shape. The samoas were filled with potato, curry, and carrots. The masaman curry short rib the highlight of the meal with the super tender and flavorful short rib with a tasty curry that was perfect for dipping the light and flaky roti. Finished off the meal with the mango sticky rice featuring super ripe and sweet mangoes. ~$50/head after tax and gratuity for lunch with plenty of leftovers. read more

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