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Phuong Nam Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Vietnamese Vietnamese [Edit]
1615 Clay St(between 16th St & 17th St)
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 663-9811
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
95 reviews for Phuong Nam Restaurant
Review Highlights
"I am a vegetarian and their veggie pho is so yum yum."
(in 38 reviews)
"Lemongrass chicken and egg rolls, can't go wrong."
(in 6 reviews)
"My friend had the green beans and tofu."
(in 3 reviews)
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95 reviews in English
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Review from Dan A.
Sacramento, CA
9/14/2011
Quality: Excellent
Portions: Good
Service: Excellent
Price: Fair
I always get the spring rolls, clay pot, and force my friends or date to get the vermicelli with salad and grilled meat on top. The clay pot is absolutely fabulous, and never disappoints me. It tastes almost like they dropped a stick of butter in there, it's that good! The only drawback is that it's in a very crappy neighborhood, especially at night. -
Review from Erin G.
Berkeley, CA
9/16/2011 2 photos
What I ate: Pho ga, Goi cuon
Visit date: September 13, 2011
First time? This used to be my playground.
Back in the day when my office was around the corner, my coworkers and I frequented Phuong Nam. On today's visit I came with high expectations for the pho ga (the only thing I ever ordered!). Something went wrong though. It was still good, but it just wasn't the same. I'm going to have to go once more just to see if the pho-ail was just a one-time thing or a sad sad recipe change. On a good note, the goi cuon were delicious! I like my goi cuon with shrimp (no pork) and that's just how Phuong Nam makes them.
A plus about their pho noodles: if you take your leftovers home, the noodles don't expand/suck up all the soup and get gross. Go ahead, save the rest for dinner. -
Review from trustmeonthis t.
Alameda, CA
1/31/2012
YUMMY is all I have to say for this place. Not just great bang for your buck but the customer service is excellent. We have always had a great experience and great food when coming here. ENJOY
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Review from D. W.
Oakland, CA
12/10/2011
There are already a lot of reviews so I'm keeping it short. This place is GREAT! I didn't realize it's awesomeness until I went elsewhere in Oakland for pho where I didn't know they used MSG, which made me sick to my stomach. (I am sensitive to additives and such). At Phoung Nam, we usually get pho tai nam (but the clay pots are good too). I usually leave happy in the stomach and without MSG poisoning. They are also quite nice, which is strange for Asian restaurants :P
By the way, spent the last 7 years in the Midwest. There is almost no such thing as good pho outside of the Bay! I often dreamed about good pho and am glad I can have it as often as I can now :D -
Review from Annie C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/17/2011
From the great Yelp reviews, I was expecting a lot - but, I don't think a lot of these people know what great Vietnamese food should taste like.
The restaurant was pretty empty on a Saturday with only one couple and their kids dining in. I ordered to-go. The girl at the register and her friends were goofing around the whole time, no big deal.
Ordered the combo pho (pho dac biet) and it came with beef, rare beef, and a sliced meatball. When I order a combo pho in L.A. it comes with practically everything - well cooked beef, rare beef, tendons, tripe, meat balls, etc. This one was plain and most disappointing. The soup didn't have much flavor either. Also ordered the eggplant with garlic. The eggplant actually tasted good but for the tiny little portion and two huge scoops of rice, it wasn't worth $7.50.
I've gone to quite a number of well-known Vietnamese restaurants in the Bay area and none of them measure up to what we have in L.A./Westminster. Seems like you pay 25%-50% more for food that tastes only half as good. -
Review from Jen W.
CA
11/29/2011
love the clay pot - lunch time can be crazy, better to call in your order or else you might have to wait awhile
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Review from Jose O.
3/10/2011
This review is for lunch. I've been here maybe 6 times and I don't think I've been disappointed with any of their dishes. I love the lemongrass chicken and I can never get enough.
I also tried their Singapore noodles with tofu, and they make the tofu just the way I like it, which is crispy but still moist on the inside.
Claypot was not my favorite. The pho was really tasty though!
I'll be back for sure cause it's so close to my work. -
Review from tamika t.
Oakland, CA
Great Food!!! Fresh vegetables and every dish is flavorful, you cant go wrong with any choice. This is my go to place for lunch. I love the salt and pepper prawns. It comes with this lemon sauce that they put together (lemon, salt and pepper). Hits the spot. If your going for lunch I suggest you call in abbout 10 min before you think you will arrive because they are always packed at lunch time. Since everything is made to order it take about 7 min or less to prerpare. Yummy I highly reccomend
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Review from Maryneth K.
Seattle, WA
3/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pho Dac Biet was good.
Lots of mirrors. -
Review from Amanda H.
Oakland, CA
5/15/2011
Whenever I want to get my Pho on I come here! It is delicious!
I came to Phuong Nam after a very long night of partying on St. Patrick's day for my first meal at around 4pm. The friendly staff must have recognized my squalor as I was still wearing green, and probably still looking green in the face. She fully supplied our table for 2 with a pitcher of water and was instantaneous with the food delivery. I am a vegetarian and their veggie pho is so yum yum! I gobbled it down and was ready for the day.
I have to agree with some other folks on the parking, It's ridiculous, and slightly sketchy if you have to park too far. -
Review from Deanna A.
Someone recommended this restaurant and touted that it was the "best pho & bbq in oakland". Hmmm. I would not agree. Don't get me wrong, its good. Its standard vietnamese food - but "best"? best?!!!??? That's a lot of hype.
I was toying with a 3.5 star review, but because of the LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, it's a solid 3. My brother and I were the only patrons in the restaurant. The only. The waitress had no smile, no conversation, and didn't check on us once. We literally had to go around the corner and ask her for more water and eventually the bill. I'm a stickler on customer service because good service makes you want to go back to an establishment. She obviously didn't get it. And the lack of people there obviously echoes the fact that an unfriendly face is a lonely one.
Here's my take on the food that I tasted:
**Vietnamese egg rolls- GREAT! 2 things: (a) Not greasy which I liked! You know how some places have the fried egg rolls and when you bite into them, the contents are greasy and make your lips slippery like you just ate a bowl of chicken adobo. Phuong Nam's egg rolls were not greasy which I liked. (b) I'm used to the whole lettuce cups to wrap around the egg roll. PN uses shredded lettuce and sliced cucumbers. Interesting, but I prefer the lettuce cups.
**Catfish Claypot- You can smell the dish approaching the table. It isn't the most aromatic dish (I actually commented to my brother that it smelt funk-tified). But HELLO- Was that thing jam-packed with flavor! VERYYYY GOOD! Note: 4 small pieces of catfish, ask for extra sauce if possible. Its tasty on your rice. PS. You get used to the smell after a minute.
**BBQ Pork Vermicelli- 2 skewers of delicious pork that you take off and mix in a bowl of vermicelli noodles, shredded carrots, sprouts, and fish sauce. This dish is always good at any Vietnamese restaurant, and PN's was standard.
Would I come back again?
Not to eat there. But I wouldn't mind getting take out.
Then again-- there are 2 handfuls of other vietnamese restaurants in the area with the same caliber of food, however those establishments probably have a friendlier staff and livelier clientele. I think I'll try my luck at another spot. -
Review from Catherine A.
Oakland, CA
6/28/2011
They have the best Stir Fried Shrimp & String Beans. All who try it fall in love. They are also very fast and have great service!
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Review from Steve L.
San Francisco, CA
8/24/2010 7 Check-ins Here
Thank God for a reasonable, down-to-earth Vietnamese restaurant in uptown Oakland!
I swear that somewhere in the world, some abandoned kitten cries every time a co-worker tells me that Vo's or Pho 84 is "really good." Pho 84 isn't terribad, but both are ridiculously overpriced!
Anyway, Phuong Nam serves pretty good pho and other standard staples you'd find at a Vietnamese restaurant - all for very reasonable prices! You'll leave feeling satisfied, both in terms of taste and value. -
Review from shamina k.
Oakland, CA
12/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
I've been here twice... and both times the Pho was great. I'm game for consistency =) I ordered the beef broth pho with Shrimp. Super good for a nice cold day.
As far as the aesthetics of the place, it's a lot nicer than a lot of Vietnamese restaurants I've been to. -
Review from Jojo L.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 7/3/2011
Whoa. It's been about a year since I've been to Phuong Nam, and the food I had this time was not good. I ordered ca kho (clay pot fish), and it was really salty. When I told the host this, he apologized, but it was clear nothing could be done. So nothing was done, and I exited. Less salt, please, and more consideration for your consumer's experience.
Listed in: Vietnamese Food in the East…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/10/2010
This is a Vietnamese-family ran restaurant with reasonable prices and good food. Their canh chua is… Read more »
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Review from Simon F.
3/25/2011
I'm here to give you the Pho11 on this place (I'm sorry, I couldn't resist).
I want to be nice and give the restaurant 4 stars, but I left a little hungry yesterday, and so did a few others (there were 17 us, and I'm surprised that there was a lot of food left over).
There was a luncheon for my friend and coworker Larry (he's retiring). Despite how bad the weather was (at one point, all of us got pelted with rain), the restaurant was pretty packed.
This is a Vietnamese restaurant, but "Chinese Cuisine" is also served.
One of my coworkers eats here every other week (he meant well, but gave me some incorrect info- "I don't think so... Homey don't play dat!"). He always orders a clay pot (in an e-mail, I joked with my wife that they "must be crunchy, and I'm surprised that he has any teeth"). I'm sure that they're good here.
+There are 8 types of Pho (ex: "Rare beef, beef brisket noodle soup"; "Special Sate beef noodle soup"), and over 20 soup selections total.
+The menu is huge (I printed it out over a month ago, and it's 11 pages long- it would be even longer if the font wasn't so small). It features over 200 items, including a solid selection of beer, cocktails, martini's, and wine (ex: Heineken; Becks; Labatt Blue; Mai Tai; Tokyo Tea; Screwdriver; Chocolate Martini; Cosmopolitan). There's even a better than average selection of soft drinks (ex: Sprite; Coke; Orange Crush; Ginger Ale; Diet Pepsi; Root Beer; Mountain Dew).
+The seating capacity is over 60.
The tables aren't that big, but they're adequate, and the chairs are sturdy and comfortable.
+The ambiance is simple, but nice (ex: on the wall that was facing me are some small wooden instruments- my supervisor was intrigued by them too).
There are a lot of mirrors here (if you need to, you may not have to leave your seat to fix your wig, pick your teeth, or put on some makeup- I could have looked at myself and let out a bloodcurdling scream, but then Larry might not be around to enjoy his retirement).
+The servers are very humble. Unless he leaves more money and dashes out, my coworker has never been allowed to give more than a $1 tip.
+Almost all the dishes are under $10.
The Dinners for 3 are around $35, and the Dinners for 5 are around $50.
+/-For the most part, I was impressed with the servers. They don't mess around (they're businesslike), and they're quick and unintrusive.
One minor issue is that they could dress up a little (this goes for the staff in general). Their clothing is so casual that I didn't "recognize" them at first (the lead server was in a printed white T-shirt).
The servers also move around so quickly that it can be hard to get their attention.
+/-It's tough to say how soon the food is ready. Once everyone had arrived, we received all the dishes within a few minutes. I noticed a few people sitting at tables for awhile, though (I really thought that this one woman just came in to read and have something to drink- when her large bowl of soup finally arrived, she devoured it even though it was steaming).
-There's no free parking.
There's some metered parking in the area (I went with Larry, and he placed some coins in a meter, but it wasn't working- he was charged $4 for a 2-hour parking slip), as well as a parking garage.
-The register is in a bad spot overall. It's in the back, and somewhat close to the restrooms (it's easy for the area to become congested).
Grilled Chicken:
At first, I didn't realize that my piece was on a stick (damn, this chicken is hard).
I was looking forward to this, but ended up disappointed. The chicken was nicely cooked, but barely lukewarm. It was probably sitting around awhile (the luncheon started around 11:50 instead of 11:30).
Beef and Green Beans:
The beef was a little greasy, but good, and there was very little fat.
The green beans were fairly long, thick, and tasty. They were greasy, but nicely seasoned.
Tofu and Eggplant:
I avoided the eggplant (it looked like we were eating Barney), but the tofu tasted like chicken. Nice.
Singapore Noodles with Chicken:
The chicken was pretty good.
The noodles were tasty, but rather oily. I'm surprised that they didn't squirm around in my mouth.
Lemongrass Chicken:
It looks better than it tastes (I served myself too much- I could only eat a few pieces). I think too much rice vinegar is used for the sauce.
Prawns and Vegetables:
This dish was popular with the group, but there could have been more prawns (the coworker to my right plucked out the last ones with a gleam in his eye).
Steamed Rice:
The serving spoons could be a tad bigger and stronger, but the rice is great.
I tried everything but the soup (it wasn't Pho, and it looked more murky than my future), and was willing to be somewhat of a hog, but I never got full. As the coworker to my right basically said, the dishes didn't feature enough meat.
The food here is good. It's just not the most ideal spot for big or picky eaters.Listed in: A Taste Of Oakland
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Review from Daniel C.
Oakland, CA
11/9/2010 1 Check-in Here
I usually frequent Pho restaurants in the south bay... but I was drunk and needed a place to get some good food and found this one. The service was wonderful, the price was right, and the food was pretty good. The broth had a little less flavor than I am used to, but I got over it. Good meat, and you typical selection of Asian beers.
Good find. -
Review from Shaunna aka t.
El Cerrito, CA
11/4/2010
Blech.
I had the Cubed beef (Bo luc lac . . . or is it Bo lac luc. . . )
Neway, the chewiest beef I've had this side of Tijuana came in a lovely amber pool of oil, tossed with large chunks of almost raw onions, served atop some dripping smushy vegetable that was probably once shredded lettuce.
The service was interesting - kinda normal for asian restaurants (I can say that - I'm asian!!) Someone takes your order, someone else brings your order, someone else brings a bill after you stand up and get ready to leave cause you're tired of waiting. Ok, fine.
The lemon in the water was a nice touch and I must say the rice was great . . . until I got to the pool of oil at the bottom.
Blech.
My dog enjoyed the beef. -
Review from Michelle M.
Oakland, CA
10/26/2010
It's a great place for good, inexpensive Vietnamese food. I had a chicken and lemongrass vermicelli dish that was really good. My dining companion reported that their egg roll and vermicelli was quite good. The portions are large. They seem to have a very large, varied menu.
The service was attentive and quick, and the atmosphere is nice. And it's a great value. This is now my Downtown Oakland Vietnamese go to place. -
Review from L M.
Oakland, CA
7/29/2011
I worked within blocks for almost a year. LOVED their lemongrass chicken and chicken with broccoli...when the meat was fresh. Often there was fresh chicken mixed in with old chicken or an entire batch of old reheated chicken. My experience over time is that their food is so sadly very hit or miss. I kept trying because when it was on, it was fantastic!
I work in a different area now, so I hadn't been there in many months. Went for dinner last night. Had the chicken with broccoli. The broccoli was perfectly cooked. The sauce fantastic. The chicken tasted like it was days old. I left much of it on the plate and mostly ate the broccoli and rice and sauce. I'm done. I won't be back...and it's too bad. If the meat was consistently fresh, I'd be down for life. -
Review from Marc A.
6/4/2009
Upon a suggestion from fellow Yelper JackieG, the "Lady K" and I decided to try out Phuong Nam. As I'm sure you know by now pho is her comfort food and we hadn't found a spot since moving to this side of the Bay.
We walked in on a Friday night and we're the only ones in the entire restaurant, Where was everyone? Not here, that's for sure. The help was ok at best. She seemed a bit annoyed that we were there. She didnt come over and ask how our meal was and I had to get up to find her for the check. Keep in mind, there was no one else in the place!
Enough bitching... the food was great. The pho broth was perfect. The spring rolls were as fresh as a spring day.
I'm sure we'll be going back soon as the food made up for the lack of service. Enjoy! -
Review from Jackie G.
5/14/2009
Been living in Oakland for a year and just stumbled upon this Vietnamese place today! How lucky am I!??
The place is very neat, and tastefully decorated, better than your average Pho joint. It is good for the downtown lunch crowd or a low-key date night.
Friend and I were busy chatting so we both ordered something spontaneously, the chicken lemon grass vermincelli. It was a great pick, the noodles went down light, perfect for a hot day. The veggies had a touch of lemongrass, and the chicken was lightly fried, crunchy! It was a salad and dried noodles in one bowl.
They have such a large selection of authentic dishes- from rice plates to vermincelli noodles, to pho, to stir-fries. Having just come back from a 10 day trip to Vietnam, I can certainly appreciate great Vietnamese anytime!
Will definitely come back!Listed in: Viet Viet Vietnamese Food!
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Review from JD C.
Oakland, CA
11/15/2010
The best Vietnamese food around the Fox Theater.
The space is warm and inviting. The people who run the place are very friendly, professional and accommodating.The prices are very reasonable and the ingredients are fresh.
The food is both excellent and authentic. The space is very clean and the service you receive deserves 5 stars. -
Review from Ken T.
San Francisco, CA
5/27/2008
WHA??!?!?! mixed reviews/!?!? this place is a-freakin-mazing!!!
okay, so i'm on this PHO craze these days, and in a few weeks, i'm sure i'll make my way thru all of what Oakland has to offer in terms of PHO - but so far this is in my top 2
PHO breakdown:
-soup quality.... 4.5/5 - not to water'd down, just a good mix of flavor. added a little Sriracha, and a little Sauce, but overall... good sh!t
-meat... 4/5 - debating if i wanna give it a 5... been here a handful of times and eachtime the meat is juuuustt right, where its just starting to be completely cooked as you get it
-noodles... 3.7784/5 - lacks a little in volume, but high quality. most pho places i goto just toss a batch in there, so its a pain to try to separate
everything else:
yeah, got the cubed beef stake one time - it was okay - but cna't really compare it to anything else
GuyCuon was dooopppppeeee..... shrimp was still fresh, and it was like they just rolled it right there, unlike some places that pull McDonals style, and they leave it on the counter for a whiel
oh, that - and they do the AIDS donation too... so if u wanna give it a try, do it on that date, so it feels like u're helping out the world - so double bonus!! -
Review from Simona F.
Oakland, CA
2/29/2008
After reading the plentiful mixed reviews of Phuong Nam I wasn't sure if I should look forward to dinner or not. Now that I've been, I'm looking forward to going back!
The food was fantastic and the owners are an amazing family of do-gooders. In addition to supporting orphanages in Vietnam they are also participating in Dining Out for Life on April 24th (http://www.diningoutfo...). So many places are all about the money...Phuong Nam is about community AND food. Refreshing.
I had the prawn clay pot which was spiced just right and delicious! The vermincelli and grilled chicken was also fantastic and cooked perfectly.The egg rolls were egg rolls...nothing super special but definitely good.
My friend had the green beans and tofu. I've yet to have tofu anywhere or cooked by anyone (even well meaning friends who declare "You just haven't had it prepared right!") that isn't a mushy goo ball in some sauce pretending to be meat. Blech. I just don't order tofu anywhere because I don't like tofu. The green beans and the garlic sauce were yummy. I would have liked a bit more crunch to my green beans, but they certainly weren't overdone as is the case in many restaurants.
All in all...I give this spot a thumbs up! I'll be going back and I'll be sending friends. -
Review from Shafaq C.
San Francisco, CA
7/30/2009
My company has an office in Oakland, and I work out of that location once a week. I love Oakland because there are so many more ethnic food options around, especially compared to the FiDi. At a corner of the office through big bright window, I can look across the way and somewhere in the distance see the tiny banner for Phuong Nam. It was that tiny banner that a coworker pointed to when she was directing me what I had not known at that time would become my weekly addiction.
Somehow, early on I became addicted to the Shrimp Singapore noodles..and lets just say I haven't tried much else. The pick-up service can be a little slow, so make sure you give them like 15 mins after you call in an order. It's good food, so make your way over to Phuong Nam! You won't be disappointed...atleast not with the shrimp singapore :)Listed in: Food Near Oakland City Hall!
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Review from Angelique J.
San Leandro, CA
6/24/2011 7 Check-ins Here
They have the best food. My co-worker and me always call our order in and her and I walk over. They are so nice there and the food is soooo good.
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Review from Lizzy G.
Oakland, CA
1/15/2008
First off, they've changed their hours and are now open 10am-6pm, and closed Sundays. Yes, they've figured out the business folk butter their bread...so no longer will I drive by at 7pm and feel sorry for them and their empty seats.
At lunchtime it's usually crowded and noisy, and with all those mirrors, feels like a funhouse. I went today at 1:30 and it wasn't crowded at all. The waitstaff was surly. I mean, like they have the worst lives ever and on top of that they have to serve you piggy people a gourmet LUNCH for god's sake.
Summer rolls were $6.50. No basil, no cilantro, no carrot. Very bland, no crispy veggies in the center. About two mung beans.
Orange beef (spicy) was (not spicy) until I added Srihacha. The beef was flavorless and tough--like it had been steamed and then steamed again. And a better description would have been Orange beef (greasy). It was about $6.50...no soup.
And the Diet Pepsi was three months past its "fresh until" date on the bottom of the can. Bleeargh.
With so many Vietnamese spots in Downtown Oakland, I have to wonder, why is Phuong Nam letting itself go?? -
Review from reggie c.
Fremont, CA
5/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is my favorite viet spot in Oakland. Great broth.
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Review from Joshua C.
5/4/2010
Grilled chicken over rice for less than $8.00? Yessir. And it's white meat. On a stick. Can't beat that. Easy, affordable and decent Vietnamese food.
I'll be back. -
Review from Mindy K.
Oakland, CA
7/31/2007
Good Vietnamese food, prices are competitive with other local Vietnamese eateries, nice variety.
I like this place but it definitely needs some good yelping to help it pick up some business. The atmosphere is a bit lacking, as is the clientele. I've been here several times for dinner and each time, we've been either the only party or one of the only parties in this place - i can't believe its empty. The food is good, and it would be more enjoyable if I wasn't so weirded out by being the only one dining in here all the time.
The singapore-style noodles are tasty. I also recommend the curries, the Thai hot and sour soup, the eggplant and shrimp dish, pork rice paper rolls, and lemongrass beef. All were winners. Good service - since we were the only ones in there!
Maybe there's a bigger lunch crowd, since this area is pretty dead around 8pm most nights?Listed in: Get to know Oakland
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Review from Carolynne K.
Hayward, CA
2/5/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Dropped by for a spur of the moment lunch with a co-worker. Ordered the fried rice with shrimp.... grabbed the rooster sauce (you know that red hot sauce you find at Vietnamese restaurants) to squeeze on top, mix, and YUMMY!
It is very packed in there so be prepared to make some friends and wait a while; have a good conversation (or two). -
Review from Tony U.
9/15/2006
Although I think most Pho places shouldn't get more than 3 stars, I'll give this 4 stars only because there isn't a 3.5 stars and it's probably the best Pho place in Downtown Oakland.
It's very clean and can get crowded and claustrophobic at times. The service is genuine, sincere, and fast. Just what you want during lunch time.
It is overpriced. I mean Pho shouldn't cost more than $5. I think it was $6.50/bowl here. They are obviously capitalizing on the lack of competition around there but they do their best to give value for that extra cost.
The ice coffee is better than most pho places and I like how they filter the coffee for you and pour the hot coffee into a glass of ice. That's refreshing. This place is on 17th and Clay near the State Building.
Spring rolls are very good and the basil had lots of flavor.
The only other problem was that salty fish sauce was not available at the table and they only had the classic hot sauce (the one with the green top) and not the seeded hot sauce which I prefer.
Still, it's a reliable place to have lunch at on a work day. -
Review from Alina S.
Culver City, CA
11/10/2007
I'm still drooling at the thought of this place, one day later. The BEST Vietnamese food I've ever eaten, hands-down.
My friend brought me here b/c it's one of his faves, and he ordered what he always orders: the string beans with tofu, and the lemongrass beef.
WOW... *wipe drool from mouth*
The string beans with tofu were garlicky and just incredibly flavorful for such simple ingredients. I would've been happy with just that dish and the rice. But then I reached over and tried the lemongrass beef off my friend's plate, and was ready to just hoard his food to myself as well and tell him to order another serving for himself. The MOST amazing flavors.
After lunch I was waiting for the MSG sleepy-head / dry-mouth to kick in b/c I was convinced there was no way food could taste that good without some artificial chemical brain-killing help. But it really was just THAT good, period. No MSG from what I could tell, and I'm pretty sensitive to the stuff.
Holy moly. The next time in Oakland, I'd gladly go out of my way to find this place again. GREAT food. -
Review from Amanda N.
Vallejo, CA
came here yesterday, it was really slowww... their mi ga was ok. the chicken was cut up in really small pieces but the broth was good. and their bun thit nguong was ok too... prices was ehh... what i found most disturbing was when one of the workers was cutting their finger nails. do that at home please. i dont even know if they washed their hands after. -_-
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Review from Ging Ging F.
Lafayette, CA
10/28/2008
Was looking for beef noodle soup. Place was EMPTY when we got there, so we had our doubts (another group did end up walking in while we were there). You kind of need to know what you're looking for on the menu because there isn't much in terms of descriptions. Just 5 different combinations of soups (vs. the 20 comprehensive combinations you usually see) I got my typical combo bowl and my husband got his typical beef bowl and we shared a spring roll. Oddly, there was just one size for the soups, good thing there were two of us, because my husband helped me finish my soup, and he would still have been hungry if he hadn't.
Soup was tasty. Good ingredients. And they certainly did not skimp on the meat like a lot of places do. The combo came with lots of variety including meat balls, but I don't recall there being tripe, now that I think about it.
The street parking was a little sketchy though. The area was totally deserted when we went on a Saturday evening (it was certainly past 6pm, so their hours must have changed again). There was a group of people hanging out and being very loud around the corner, not sure I would go there with just a girlfriend. -
Review from Gabriel E.
Oakland, CA
2/26/2008
Here is my new rule after throwing away $33.54 at Phoung Nam: do not pay attention to restaurant reviews written by vegetarians, especially if there are words like "yummy" or "scrumptious" used within five words of "tofu." Unless tofu is flavored with meat or deep-fried, it is incapable of either yumminess or scrumptiousness.
I wonder if any of these people have ever had Vietnamese food anywhere else? Do they know that an Imperial roll should have ground pork or shrimp, not some kind of hot, mushy, goo? And it should be served with a mound of fresh green-leaf lettuce, fresh mint leaves and other good things? THAT is "excellent." Phoung Nam's were merely edible, served with thin, salty sauce, a few sad-looking slices of cucumber, shredded carrot and some flavorless iceberg lettuce that had been sliced into a kind of slaw.
We move on to their grilled beef. Again with the thin cucumber--they must be trying to make one cuke last all night--and the weak salty sauce. The beef was very salty, not that hot (even though the place was empty) and kind of bland. But not terrible. It was nice and soft and not fatty or greasy.
We also had clay pot catfish, as a non-vegetarian here recommended it. Very fresh catfish steaks, skin and everything. Tender, and well-cooked. But the sauce was unbelievably salty and very thin. We ate it with brown rice that was rubbery and chewy; it tasted like it had been made a few days before and reheated. Maybe it was from lunch.
The service was warm, friendly fast and polite, but the food here is about what I think you'd get at a government commissary in Ho Chi Mihn City. Vietnamese food is all about fresh ingredients and simple preparation. I would have been happier with a burrito and an It's-It. -
Review from Mr. and Mrs. G.
Oakland, CA
11/24/2009
Don't come here for the Pho. The restaurant is nice, the service is fine if you want independence (which I usually do, especially when I go in with a newspaper during lunch), and the menu seems to have something for everyone. I like that they give you your own pitcher of water.
I disliked my Pho. I got the combo beef, but it all appeared to be the same, overly dry done flank. Oh, and I got one beef ball. 7.50. The worst was the broth--overly oily (free lip gloss left over on your lips when you're done!), very untasty. Gave me basil and, eek, LEMON. No lime? Basil did nothing to help the broth. -
Review from Emma K.
Oakland, CA
12/2/2006
My boyfriend and I were headed to an art show in downtown Oakland, so in an auto-pilot state, we thought we'd head in the general direction of Le Cheval for a pre-show bite to eat. By the time we reached Jack London Square and doubled back, not catching sight of said Vietnamese restaurant, we were getting hungry and were tired of searching fruitlessly. That's when we drove by Phuong Nam, an unassuming restaurant with only a few patrons (a group of cops about to hit the Friday night beat--by our estimation they were postponing the beginning of their evening by every means possible, and who could blame them) and the owners/servers sitting down to a big meal themselves.
I felt sort of bad interrupting the staff (family?) meal, but I was so hungry I was getting nauseous. I ordered tofu spring rolls like I always do, and while they were not as awesomely gigantic like at a certain other Vietnamese restaurant in downtown Oakland, they were delicious and satisfying. Like Rachel L., I ordered the vegetarian vermicelli dish, and MAN, was it amazing. But wait, that was fish sauce that I dumped all over my noodles? I suppose I'm not a very careful (or conscientious) vegetarian, as it turns out.
We spent about $23 (including tip) for two entrees and an appetizer, which is much cheaper than Pho 84, and I was just as satisfied. Another thing to mention--which I can't confirm--is that the food at Phoung Nam may have an aphrodisiac quality to it (purely speculative, of course!)Listed in: Veg-o-matic
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Review from Holla F.
Oakland, CA
4/3/2011 4 Check-ins Here
My review is for lunch since I've only frequented while working close by. The reliable combo meal totally hits all the right parts of my senses. Grilled prawns and pork, eggroll, fried drummets over rice is darn good for less than $10 with tip. Much better than the former Le Cheval, now known as LCX.
