Bhan Mae Vane

get everything here. the rolls, the fried rolls, the curries, nam khao, I had so much of the food on this menu from having it at a birthday party.

Please stop by and try anything because it's all good

Just outside of the Bay Bridge and in a little college town in Alameda you'll be find yourself here.

The price is large (spacious) with vibrant colors and fast service. Just like the place, the food comes large as well. You'll easily be able to share a plate with 1 or 2 extra people easily, unless you're like me with a huge appetite!

I had the pho that came with sliced beef, meatball, and tripe. The broth was light and aromatic which gave me room to add in all my extra seasonings. The size of this bowl would typically be a large or extra large in other restaurants.

The pork belly was a special order which they inform you at the menu that it will take some time to prepare, but make no mistake, it was definitely worth the wait! The pork belly was succulent and savory. The perfect cut of not to thin and not to thick. The marinate gave it an umami boost mixed with the super crispy skin on top, was perfect! Mix it with the chili lime sauce that they provide with it and you've got yourself a party in your mouth!

This vibrant Lao eatery has become a favorite spot for my family and me, offering bold flavors that resonate with our Filipino palates. The liberal use of fish sauce in their dishes creates a delightful umami-rich experience.

Standout dishes:
1. Pad See Ew Beef: Perfectly balanced savory notes complement the soft, wide rice noodles. It's not overly sweet, allowing the flavors to shine.
2. Crispy Eggrolls: Served with fresh veggies and herbs for wrapping, these crunchy rolls are elevated by the accompanying dipping sauce.

Pros:
- Quick, attentive service
- Accommodating of dietary restrictions (gluten-free options available)
- Authentic Lao cuisine

Cons:
- The space gets quite noisy when busy
- Parking can be challenging

The restaurant tends to be packed during dinner hours, which contributes to a somewhat loud atmosphere. The high ceilings, while visually appealing, do amplify the noise.

One unexpected touch is the single TV in the dining area, which adds a casual element to the ambiance. During our last visit, it was showing the Olympics.

Overall, this place offers a solid dining experience with excellent Lao cuisine. If you can manage the occasionally hectic atmosphere and potential parking issues, you'll be rewarded with flavorful dishes and efficient service. It's a worthy destination for those seeking authentic Lao flavors in a lively setting.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

I was in Alameda for my hair care appointment and wanted some noodles. figured it was a quick bite it would definitely fill me up for the day. And i was definitely right! I placed a phone order for their pqd see eww with chicken. I walked into the quaint establishment 10 mins after and it was already done! ( talk about quickness!).

the noodles are
bomb. super thick and not the
typical "chow fun" size that most thai
spots use. i was happily surprised ! good
flavor and can definitely taste the char. 10/10. the portions were soooo much. it could feed 2-3 people. lots of chicken pieces ( white meat) and plenty of veggies.

i am excited to
return back and hopefully do a dine in option. i heard good things about their kasoy !

I love coming here with friends or family to share their delicious dishes. The portions are huge and super flavorful.

The service can be a bit slow due to the restaurant always being packed with customers dining in or grabbing take out but they get the job done as quickly as possible.

The ambiance is cute with the knitted wood lanterns and the inside is clean and bright.

My favorite dish to order is the Nam Khao and the platter with pork belly, angel wings and Lao style papaya salad. The Kha Piek was ok, the only dish I wasn't a fan of. My husband and I also love to order the pad kee mao and the clear spring rolls since it comes with lettuce and sauce to dip the egg rolls.

I'll definitely be back! My fiancé and I stopped by here for a date night. We added our name to the list inside and waited outside for maaaaybe 10-15 mins tops for a table to be ready for us.

The restaurant looks smaller than it does in photos but it wasn't cramped. They were playing the warriors game so people were hanging around to finish the game too. Lots of tables for all sizes of groups but if you're going to want seating for a large group, I would call ahead. They also have a small bar (or really bar counter) if you're just wanting some drinks.

For my fiancé and I, the appetizer sampler platter and the phatty combo was plenty to share. We got the appetizer platter and didn't think about how fried everything was...but also it was delicious. My fav was the wrapped shrimp. We also got the phatty combo, which isn't on the menu but is on a sign right on the counter. Comes with a few meats and garlic noodles. Those garlic noodles are top notch! The pork belly too...chef's kiss! It all tasted so good, not the best health-wise, but worth it.

Anyways, will def be back to try other items and maybe even some drinks next time.

This place was soooooo good!

The service was really great. It was our first time at the restaurant, and we came here for my birthday! We asked for a few recommendations and they listed the items from the specialty menu and the pork belly.

First of all the nam khao was a 11/10. It was so amazing! It was crispy due to the rice, crunchy from the peanuts, and also a bit spicy from the chili. We loved the seasoning as well. There were also cured pork bits in the rice, everything combined was so good. It was definitely so tasty.

We also got the Tom kha soup! This is definitely a staple. To describe the taste, it tasted like Tom yum soup but with coconut milk. 10/10. There was a lot ingredients, such as mushrooms, onions, and chicken in the soup. They did not skim out!

Lastly for the pork belly, it was a bit dry and cold on our end, we liked it but it was hard to chew on since it was dry. However, it was nice that there wasn't too much fat so we were getting a lot of protein from the cut we received. Overall, we gave this a 7/10.

Additionally, the restaurant definitely is a spot of a casual or date night event. It's really well decorated inside and has a lot of space.

Overall, my experience was a 4.5/5 for the food. Which I rounded up to 5 stars because the service was great! definitely will be coming back again.

Got togo food this time because we were in a rush but ate dine-in as well and the presentation is so pretty and represents Thai & Lao culture appropriately.
My favorite dish is the Aou Nuer + Large sticky rice... it reminds me of my childhood and when I miss hm I go here to eat my mind off things. As a Lao american I feel so proud to eat here and hope I can order my go-to order forever
10/10

Came here on a whim and was not disappointed! This takes the prize as my new favorite Thai restaurant in the Bay area!

I came here on a Saturday night with a party of 6 and we were able to be seated immediately. Every dish we tried was delicious, but the highlights were the sakoo, which was so unique and hard to elsewhere, and the fried clear rice roll wraps.

The staff was great and were able to accommodate us even though we came near closing time. Will be back to try their mango sticky rice!!

Food: I would like to start off saying that the fried rice roll wraps were absolutely delicious. I could probably eat 20 of these little things and not feel bad at all. The pork ribs were savory, and my bf and I loved wrapping different pieces of what you see pictured in the long fresh lettuce pieces.

I do have to mention that the regular Pad Thai (didn't get a picture of it, sorry y'all) wasn't exactly what I had in mind. The taste was very different than what I'm used to, so it might just be that different Thai restaurants have different takes on it. I've only gone to two other Thai spots in the Valley, and none of them tasted like Tapatío. It was still good, just not the Pad Thai flavor I was expecting.

Ambiance: if you're looking for a date night or hanging out with a couple friends at an authentic Thai restaurant, this is a spot to go to to get an amazing bite. I will say you must be aware of portions - they are quite large. I would choose a couple things off the menu and just share with your friends or family.

My boyfriend and I went here on a Saturday evening, so it was quite busy, however the service was very quick. I only mentioned how busy it was because it was quite loud due to the echoing walls, and the loud party next to us. Not the restaurants' fault! Just keep in mind if you're sensitive to that kind of thing.

Overall, I'd go again, skip the Pad Thai and go full grub on what you see pictured here. And get some egg rolls of course.