Came here around 11am on a Friday and no wait. We didn't know they only took cash and I think one of owners heard us and said we can zelle the restaurant phone number. Server took ou; order right away. I got sprare rib stew and it amazing,husband got #21 he loved it. We loved it so much we are coming back. read more

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Vien Huong is a classic noodle spot in Oakland Chinatown for over 40 years. They are consistent and served good clean tasty food at slightly higher prices for the area. They give you tea and water or free, take your order quickly, serves you quickly, and expect you to eat and leave rather quickly so that they can turn the table... as there's always a line. Service is super efficient, not friendly but not mean either -- a very "no BS" style -- so do not expect a friendly chit chat or asking you how your weekend is going! Good clean food. Good clean restaurant. Tasty food that's rather healthier and never too salty. All ingredients are always fresh and good. read more

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Are you a TK person or VH person? Me, I think it's safe to say I'm both. I'm not going to lie, if we're talking about wait time, VH literally takes the cake. It is always so busy! This is a fast place, table sharing, no room having place. If you're looking for a western style dining, it can become overwhelming. But, just embrace the speed and efficiency of this restaurant. Because once you are seated, you're served immediately to get you on the way. With service, don't expect tier 1 experience, but you'll get your water/tea. Savor it, don't assume they'll come back while you're still eating. Just saying! There's a few things on the menu that are must have.. 1. Chow Jew Ho Fun with soup on the side - the obvious that everyone orders. I like to get soup on the side, and then put about two tablespoons soup back into my noodle and add all the sauces! Then occasionally, sip the soup to wash everything down. 2. Beef Stew Ho Fun - My boyfriend's must have. Flavorful, soft meat, delicious. 3. Fish Cakes - Personally, I don't care for fish cakes, but my boyfriend and his family order it all the time, so of course I'll still eat it. It's still good. I'm just a person who feels I can buy it from the banh mi shops and it taste the same. Lol I don't eat anything else here. This is one of those restaurants where you go and eat what they're known for, not wander off too far away from the menu because the other stuff is just legit filler items. The only problem I have is, it's so expensive now for a small bowl. So it makes me not want to come back, but at the same time, flavors are really good. You just would think with the amount of customers, the business thriving, you could at least keep the portion size the same as before.. read more

Quick and delicious noodle spot! They have a lot of regulars and they are fast with service and food! Really like their Chow Jew Ho Fun which is a flat rice noodle soup that comes with pork, meatballs, shrimp, fish balls, and i think kidney. I think cash only so make sure you bring enough cash! Street parking with meter but also parking lot a couple blocks over. read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - chow jew ho fun - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

Food was great. Good and fast service. Parking in front but it's kind of small, we got lucky with finding one. Would definitely coming back. read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

I love little hole in the wall noodle places like this and was passing by so I decided to check it out. I'm sure if you're a local you know what you want but they asked me right as I sat down and got the menu if I was ready to order. Then came back a second time pretty quickly but I wasn't ready yet. I had to look up some of the options on Yelp to see what they actually looked like/meats they had. I ended up ordering the seafood with ho fun and soup on the side. The soup was light, I wish it had a bit more flavor. The ho fun was slightly over cooked, causing it to break easily and very sticky even after adding some broth. I wasn't blown away but I am intrigued to try another combo with different noodles. I've had a few noodle bowls like this in SF and they had a lot more flavor. Cash only by the way! read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - Seafood ho fun with soup on the side - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

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I ordered my usual order, the dry mixed rice noodle and soup on the side that came with shrimp, fish balls, pork bals, sliced pork and kidney. A satisfying and delicious bowl! read more

Chow Jew Noodles. Thin noodles. Soup on the side. That's what I ordered. It was delicious. I think it was $18 before TIPS. read more

===TL;DR=== - #22 Chiu Jew Rice Noodle - #21 Chiu Jew Ho Fun - #5 Sautéed Kidney w/ Ginger Onion ===TMI=== Ohhhmygoodness, let me tellllll you. If I'm ever on this side of town, this place became my "if I have cash on me" place. Almost became a ritual coming here if I have cash on me b/c this place just hits every time. Classic #21 or #22 depending on your noodle preference. I like mine with soup and my bf likes it on the side. The super star is their house made hot sauce and their marinated jalapeño. But proceed with caution as it can get spicyyyyy af.... But in a good way. I'd be tearing up and blowing my nose and still be adding more. Soup base here is amazing and they're always busy. Must visit if you're around! People are here for a good time, not a long time. Oh of course, CASH ONLY!! read more

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Always a go to after a long night the night before. The teow chew wonton noodle soup is always a 5/5. The soup is flavorful (I usually get it on the side) and you get plenty of shrimp, chicken and pork with your serving of noodles. They speak Chinese and Vietnamese primarily but since it's a well known spot they know enough English to get you through your order. Always get my food with 10 mins. It's a traditional Chinese/Viet fusion restaurant of sorts. Super laid back, but they're clean and everyone there is there for a good filling meal and minds their own business. read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - sauces - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

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At this location, the fried garlic is served separately--a detail I truly appreciate. I also really enjoy their thin egg noodles, which strike a perfect balance between chewy and tender without becoming overly soft. However, the dish tends to be quite oily, so if you prefer lighter meals, this might not be ideal for you. My usual order is the Number 1 without kidney, with the soup served on the side. I also always add fish cake as an appetizer. The total cost for two regular dishes plus one appetizer comes to $53.75. What I love about this restaurant is how it evokes the authentic flavors of Thailand's street food, especially the dry yellow egg noodles. While it doesn't include traditional Thai-style char siu or wontons, the taste remains quite close to home. This well-established Chinese restaurant impresses me with its surprisingly clean restrooms, likely due to my morning visits. Parking can be difficult, as only metered street parking is available. The branch tends to be busy, so clear communication with staff is important. Although there may be a short wait, the service is attentive and friendly. read more

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Neighborhood spot always filled during weekday lunch hour. Partner and I came in on a Wednesday at noon and secured the last open table. We were served hot tea before placing our orders. Service was quick and no-business type. I ordered the #21 and dry, with the soup on the side. Order was essentially a combo with all the possible meat toppings they had. The table had all the condiments necessary to adjust to anyone's liking. Soup was good - light yet flavorful. A solidified local spot. The kind that you want to gate keep since it's already so busy and to stay true to what they serve. Great representation of Oakland's Chinatown culture. read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - #21 (dry) - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

When I think of hidden gems of Oakland, I first think of Vien Huong. Their soups have been a staple of my high school meals whenever I was in town and it's been a while (a few years honestly) since I've last been here. #21 has always been my favorite along with their fish cakes. There are plenty of seating inside the restaurant and the service is pretty quick as they want you in and out because of the demand of their food. If you come here during lunch hours it gets pretty packed. Parking is kind of tough. Cash only. read more

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Vien Huong has been my go-to spot in Oakland for as long as I can remember. It's one of those rare places where the food has never changed -- and that's exactly why I love it. The quality has been consistent for over 30 years, and every visit feels like coming home. You'll usually find a line out the door during rush hours, but it's worth the wait. Pro tip: there's a list -- find a staff member and make sure your name's on it! Service moves fast once you're seated. The dishes are flavorful and comforting. I always get my noodles dry, while my husband prefers the soup noodles -- both are fantastic. My kids can demolish the crispy noodles in minutes! And definitely order the fried garlic on the side -- it takes everything to the next level. Whether you're a regular or visiting Oakland for the first time, Vien Huong is a must-try for an authentic, fast, and delicious meal that never disappoints. CASH ONLY!!!! read more

On a weekday afternoon, this place was filled for lunch! My friend and I were able to get the last seats in this restaurant, but there were several people waiting outside while we were eating. Most waiters at here were speaking either Chinese, Vietnamese, or English, and so it was nice to be able to order in any of these languages. I ordered their assorted fried rice while my friend ordered the beef chow mein. The assorted fried rice didn't have ingredients that I am used to when I see the words "assorted fried rice," but it had fresh ingredients including chicken, pork, tofu, and shrimp. My friend and I were both able to finish our dishes in one sitting, and we were served hot tea with our dishes. While the dishes were slightly more pricey than I expected, I enjoyed my late lunch and am interested in trying their other dishes on a colder day. read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - Assorted Fried Rice - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

(5/5) #10 Seafood Ho Fun Have gotten this dish multiple times and it's always delicious! Noodles are well cooked. Service: efficient and kind Ambiance: homey and sometimes crowded read more

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Ordered takeout for lunch the other day. I highly recommend calling in or ordering online before picking up. It was my first time and I got their noodle soup with all the meats. It was really good and the amount of food you get was a great deal. It was packed for the lunch hour, but they made our order quickly. The workers were also really nice, helping us get the sauces, and even offering a bag to carry all the sauces in. I'll have to come back and try dining in, but would definitely recommend if you're looking for some hot soup. read more

The restaurant opens up early. There was a crowd of people waiting outside the door. We weren't sure if there was a sign up list, until we found a man with a notepad to put our names down. Mainly communal seating, but we got our own table. Cash only. Fried fish cakes are popular, but we went with the sautéed kidney with ginger onion. It was a pricy dish at $24. I enjoyed it though. For my soup, I got the Chow Jew Rice Noodle. The menu doesn't have a description, but I saw photos of it on Yelp. The bowl contained ground pork, sliced chicken, fish balls, pork ball, shrimp, and kidney with flat rice noodles. There was also some bean sprouts and green onions. It hit the spot. I finished all the soup but had enough noodles/ meat leftover for dinner. My bf got the Preserved Orange Skin Duck Noodle, which had a good amount of duck. Overall, a great place for a bowl of noodles! read more

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Came here for noodle soup. Was recommended by a friend. I got the beef stew and it did not disappoint. My friend got a seafood fried noodles. Service was quick. They accept card. Come here for authentic eats and vibes. read more

I've been coming here since I was a kid and haven't been back in a while. I am happy to say that everything still taste the same. On a random Wednesday morning, even raining, I had to wait a few minutes for a table for 2. That's good food right there. They're famous for their chew chow style noodles, you can get it with soup or dry (soup on the side). I like it better dry. It's very flavorful. Their fried fish cake is also a good thing to get. I normally get some Vietnamese iced coffee with my meal, it's hard to say no. Their prices have changed a lot and keep in mind, they're only open until 3PM and cash only. Parking is ROUGH, so for these reasons is why they only get 4 stars from me. I would come here more if they were open for dinner. read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - Chew Chow style noodle (Dry, soup on the side) - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

Cash only restaurant that is worth the hurdle! Lunch time is cery busy and the staff hustles and bustles to get you in asap. Food is authentic as it gets. I went with their popular dish - #21 Chow Jew Ho Fun which is also know as Hu Tieu. Pork Broth is clear, savory and rich. Liver is tender and not too irony. Will come back to try other dishes here. read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - #21 - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

10/10 hands down. My go-to is the #10 with thick egg noodles, add wonton (dry with the soup on the side). Always. It never misses. Service is quick and super helpful. If you show them a picture of something someone else posted (or even one you took before), they know exactly what you're talking about. The ambiance is as authentic and vintage as it gets. No frills, just the real deal. The outside sign alone tells you everything you need to know. I live in San Francisco and still make the trip regularly, even with the $8.50 bridge toll now. Pro tip: go early for breakfast. There is honestly nothing like a hot bowl of noodle soup to warm you up. read more

Great sized bowl of soup that hits the spot, especially with the chilis and the hot sauce; not too large that you have to take leftovers, and the flat noodles are delicious. The volume of customers is always high, and service is super speedy here to match. Vien Huong is also open really early in the mornings (and on Mondays!) when few other places are. I was recently noting the variety of chairs, which just adds to this place's character. Apart from soup, people seem to also get the birds nest, chow fun, fried chicken over rice, etc... but every time we go it's hard not to order #21 - the chow jew ho fun (without kidney)! read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - #21 chow jew ho fun - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

We came here yesterday morning to get some bakery goods, and we peeped in to see if there was a line. Luckily there was no line, and we were seated right away. Already knowing what we wanted the ho fun combo it was easy. Portions was just right and more than enough. Once we got our food it started packing up quickly. Always forget this spot is cash only and luckily we got enough cash lol. The ambiance is always great here and its a vibe read more

first time here and very crowded!!! they open quite early and closed at 3pm. believe that this is an old restaurant but i will say their egg noodles taste great and definitely satisfy my tummy ~ a recommended noodles shop if you are a noodle lover... read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - no. 11... - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

I love their ho fun, soup on the side and fish cake. My one issue is the price for 2 bowls of noodles and fish cake was 52.00. This was a HOT date because of the price haha. Service is pretty good, attentive and efficient. Will be back probably once every other month when I'm ready to spend that much on a bowl of noodles. read more

Always a must stop for anyone visiting the East Bay. This hole in the wall is where you get the best Trieu Chow noodles. They even make their own chili satay sauce that is spicy and flavorful. If you have to try any Chinese noodles in Chinatown, come here and you will not be disappointed. They have something for everyone. This is for the authentic taste buds. Best bowl of noodles in Chinatown hands downs but it's a tiny location and parking is horrible. Bring cash. read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - Yellow noodle soup - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

Free hot tea. Okay noodles, not salted well so this isn't as great eating dry. Great toppings! Fish balls, ground learn pork, legit! Best part of the meal. Hot sauce: meh, doesn't have enough shallots. You can get free fried garlic but they really need shallots to up the flavor. Not sure if I'll be back, places in Monterey Park just tastes better. Lady at the register shorted me a dollar. So I gave them less than a dollar tip at the table. People at the restaurant at really friendly to non Asians but give meh service if you are Asian. Not sure how I feel about that being so blatant. read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

I don't normally prefer to get rice noodles but i wanted to try what they were known for so I got the Chow Jew Ho Fun and was not disappointed! The broth was light but super flavorful and comforting. The noodles were tender and not super oily and delicious with a spoonful of soup. I loved how there's many different things in the soup - shrimp, balls, kidneys, pork, etc and the hot sauce was so good with it! I luckily found cash in my purse as it's still cash only. read more

Best hor fun noodle place in chinatown. Chow Jew noodle is their signature dish. You don't need to order anything else but this when you come here, but please make sure you bring CASH. Like many other Chinese restaurants this is an all cash only place. Smoothest silky hor fun rice noodle. Variety of pork, fish balls and shrimp in your bowl. Tip: It usually comes with kidneys in the bowl but u can ask to remove them and they will substitute with extra pork balls. read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - Best Chow Jew noodle in town. I only order this here - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

Vien Huong's reputation was already well-established in Oakland Chinatown well before my generation was even an idea and my family has legitimately been eating here for decades. This joint specializes in traditional Teochew-Vietnamese noodles in a true hole-in-the-wall, street food-esque environment, so don't be offended if the service places efficiency over detail. They open at 7:30AM and stop seating/run out of food around 3:15PM every day of the week except for Thursday, so if you get hungry around closing make sure to call in and order for pick up beforehand. Lines can get long but move fast - prepare to share a table with a stranger if you're a smaller party. My default order is the 12, the Chow Jew Noodle, with thin noodles and soup on the side (so I can sip or hydrate my noodles if I'm feeling like it that day). The ingredients are simple and the flavors highlight the natural taste of the proteins with optional spicy dipping sauces. Typically, it comes with sliced and ground pork, shrimp, kidneys, fish balls, and beef balls, but on our most recent visit they ran out of both kidneys and sliced pork and just replaced them with chicken without telling us. This understandably irked my dad, who started muttering under his breath about how they weren't worth the price anymore and how we were never coming back, but in the way you talk about an ex you can't stop going back to. We'll be back soon. read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - 12. Chow Jew Noodles - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

We ordered their popular noodle soup #21, Chow Jew Ho Fun, and it did not disappoint. The broth was clear and flavorful with plenty of protein. We also tried it with their chili sauce and vinegar-chili pepper available on the tables, and it added that extra oomph. Just be careful because they are definitely packed with heat! It is cash only, so come prepared and come before noon to avoid a line out the door! read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

Been going here since the 1980's and this place is our go to soup place. Everyone knows VH and I need not add anymore kudos. Drop by and try our favorite Number 12 with egg thin noodle soup in and a side of crispy garlic. Sit anywhere with anyone if you come during peak. I come early and sit on the same spot by the door lol. Add a little hoisin and house made chill paste to the side of garlic as a dipping dish while consuming the broth and you will be hooked. Finish off with ice coffee to go and that garlic taste will disappear. This is my weekly spot. read more

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Fast service. Plenty of lighting. Food was great. Parking is a challenge in the area. read more

Consistently reliable comfort food in a sketchy background...just the way I like it :). The service is quick and efficient, so even if the wait looks long outside we're always seated within 15-20 minutes. Cash only. read more

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I have been coming to VH ever since I was a kid, and still go there without my family today. VH is a hidden gem, if you know you know! Many Oakland natives come here to get their soup fix. It's perfect hangover food too! They also have other options if you're not a big soup person. I often get the seafood chow fun to go, but if I'm dining in I get the chow jew ho fun. Everyone who says prices are unfairly high just don't understand what Oakland Chinatown (and the rest of the bay) is going through -- inflation and wage disparities. VH and a lot of businesses in Chinatown have had to deal with crime, robberies, and more -- but their quality still remains the same. I have witnessed the menu prices increase as expenses increase -- but the food is just bomb dot com. Another note: their chili oil sauce just hits different for some reason! read more

Delicious! Service hit or miss, but delicious! Seating is tight so be prepared lol haha read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - M - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

Went on a Monday around 1pm and place was filled but the line out the door wasn't too long (got seated around 15-20 minutes). The service is average, we did immediately get asked if we wanted water or tea but no one handed us menus for several minutes and when we tried to flag someone to take our order (or at least notify them that they were ready), we were not acknowledged for another few. After that though, service was fine and they gave our food in a timely manner and later came back to check if we wanted refills on our drink. I usually order my ho fun noodles with soup but this time, I was convinced to try them dry / soup on the side. While the food was still flavorful, I still prefer with soup. The broth was comforting and the noodles were not super oily, which I appreciated. The sliced meat and the meatball were my favorite parts of the dish as they were super soft and tender compared to other restaurants I've dined at. I did overestimate how much I could eat (because I was hungry) and ordered a large bowl, which I had to take to go since I only ate around half before getting full. read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - ho fun noodles - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

If you're from Oakland, you're likely familiar with Vien Huong, a beloved local gem. My family has cherished this restaurant since I was a little girl, and in my opinion, it's one of the best places for noodle soup in the Bay Area. While people may have different views on the atmosphere and service, I genuinely believe their noodle soups are truly satisfying. There's usually a line out the door, especially on busy weekends, but it's worth the wait. Today, I opted for takeout. My go-to order is #12, which features thick egg noodles topped with fried garlic. This dish comes with a variety of meats that change daily, though I usually skip the kidneys. If you're a fan of spice and sauces, this place is definitely for you. They offer chili oil, pickled jalapeños, spicy vinegar, and hoisin sauce--ingredients I love adding to my noodle soup to create a burst of flavor. After mixing the sauces to my liking, I finish it off with extra spicy vinegar and fried garlic for the perfect bite. Also, just a heads up this place is cash only so come prepared! read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - #12 thick egg noodles - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

I came on a Sunday 12:30. Even though the 49er game is on, there was a little wait. The restaurant is busy but efficient. Patrons are coming and going fast. There were about 5 people ahead of us but we got seated within 10 minutes. This is a hole in the wall ambiance but I'm totally OK with that. Staff here speaks perfect English. If rated just for the dry/soup noodles here I probably give it a solid 4 stars, but my friend doesn't eat seafood so he got the duck rice plate and it just didn't do it for him. I watched him eat his lunch in despair and he probably should've ordered their noodles. He could've easily asked for no seafood as I later discovered there weren't much. My trie chau noodles were ordered dry. This is how I like it because they separate the soup. It came with lots of meat that look like pork and what looks like kidneys. Their kidneys were real tender and juicy in a tasty way. I recall only seeing like 1 shrimp and fish balls for their seafood. I usually add jalapeños and these places typically have a sweet soy flavored sauce that you can squirt. The jalapeños here aren't pickled well. The sweet flavored soy sauce I was expecting was a bottle of hoisin sauce. Hoisin is a thick condiment whereas a more liquid sweetened soy can spread the flavors better. The last thing that I feel like it's missing is the pork bone that comes with the soup. The trie chau places I go to in San Jose serve them. I find them integral to a trie chau meal. Did I mistake this establishment for serving trie chau when maybe it's a different dish? They spell it differently but the pronunciation is similar. You be the judge. read more

Vien Huong Restaurant - 5 spice duck rice (2/5) - Chinese Near Me - Oakland, California

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