Bhan Mae Vane

We came here for an afterwork dinner gathering with a group of 12, and made a reservation ahead of time. When we arrived, we were seated quickly. We ordered a bunch of dishes, so I'll review the ones that I remember. I had the Pad Se Ew, Pad Thai, Angel Wings, Spicy Wings, Tom Kha, and the BMV Ultimate Papaya Platter. Pad Se Ew, the fried flat wide rice noodles with black soy sauce, broccoli, and eggs. I really liked the flavor, and the noodle texture was to my liking. Pad Thai, the fried thin rice noodles with tamarind sauce, tofu, eggs, and bean sprouts. Unlike Pad Se Ew, this dish felt a bit mediocre, the flavor was pretty bland. Both Angel Wings and Spicy Wings tasted great; the crunch and seasoning were spot on. Tom Kha, a coconut soup with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and fresh mushrooms, chicken or shrimp. Really creamy and delicious. The BMV Ultimate Papaya Platter came with papaya salad, pork rinds, noodles, cabbage, and sticky rice. You can choose up to 3 proteins and a type of papaya salad, like Thai or Lao. We had the Thai Papaya salad with 2 crispy pork and angel wings. The papaya salad was really fragrant and paired well with the crispy pork, which helped cleanse the palate. The crispy pork had a strong umami flavor, with the rich fattiness of the meat itself. You could smell the roasted meat and rendered fat. aroma. Also, their Thai Iced Green Tea and Beerlao are worth a try!

The first time I came here was months ago for my cousins graduation. Food was sooooooo good I had to brag about it to my mom. So we decided to order take out! When it go home, the food was as amazing as the first time I tried it! OH MY GOODNESS EVERYTHING WAS DEVINE!!! Every dish has its own great flavor. If you haven’t been, this is a must go to restaurant. Staff here are all amazing and so nice! Parking is definitely not easy and if you come at 2nd half opening which is 5p, just know you have to wait a bit because the kitchen/ restaurant is just reopening. The restaurant itself is very warm and welcoming and nicely decorated.

Wait: Came with some friends for lunch, short 10min wait for a Saturday at 1pm. (Important note: your entire party needs to be there when called or they’ll give the table to other parties present. Some of us went to the comic store two doors down while our table was called and our table was given to another party. But it was just a short wait while they prepped another table. Just FYI) Atmosphere: was great, spacious interior (tables are well-spaced), staff was attentive, and overall vibes were good. Food & drinks: had Thai ice tea and green ice tea, I’d personally recommend the green milk tea!! As for the food, appetisers - we ordered fried clear spring rolls and angel wings. Pretty good, crispy and savory! Mains: we ordered yellow curry, pineapple khao pad and khao soy. All 3 mains were not bad, didn’t feel like “wasted-calories” kind of meal! The portions are huge!! So value for money, as a San Franciscan. Worth trying: green ice tea, fried spring rolls. Would come back again if I was in the area.

Big portions, and the food was very good. The dishes were a little less sour than other Laotian restaurants I've been to, which I kind of missed, but I don't know enough about the cuisine to comment if that's typical variation. Some dishes were new to me and very fun to try!

Wonderful Laos spot in Alameda. To simplify things, I would recommend getting the Papaya Platter. It comes with a lot of food with your choice of either Thai Papaya Salad or Lao Papaya Salad. The difference between the two can be better described the staff but what I got from it is Thai is spicier and Laos is fishier. We went with Thai and it was really good and spicy. With the platter you get 3 selections of meats. We went with the Laos sausage, pork belly and jerky. In that order, that is what I would rank it. The Laos sausage was flavorful but could’ve been more spicy. The pork belly was soft and crunchy at the same time. The jerky was a bit tough but it had a great taste to it. I would love to come back here and try other dishes. I enjoyed it a lot !

We visited BMV on a Saturday evening for a casual dinner date night. Thai is my favorite cuisine, but with being a vegetarian come some restrictions with how food is prepared and can be made equally tasty, so we were nervous. But to my surprise, everything was just right. The flavors, spices, consistency and taste - excellent! We ordered spicy fried rice, pad kee mao, egg rolls and string beans and tofu and they were all great! Service was slightly busy, but we were attended with a big smile, always. Such great ambience, and I LOVE the YELLOW door!

The food quality is good. I could clearly and straightly feel the cost and how much time the cookers spend on the food. Therefore, I was willing to pay 18% tips to appreciate the cookers and dishwashers. Otherwise, I would just pay 10%. The only one thing that I hate was all the waitresses including boss were disordered and confused but they felt they worked so hard. For example, more than three workers to call the waitlist, discussed at the front desk once one of them missed customers. For instance, almost everyone checked the same to go order and discussed at the front desk once. Today is a friday. I can understand how busy the business is. However, there were around 5 waitresses just walked around to pretend to be busy and worked disorderly. And, it led us wait over 20 minutes to get the first dish. All of the service at this restaurant were terrible.

This was a great local Lao/Thai restaurant that was super tasty and I want to return! The Thai Iced Green Tea is slightly different than the traditional Thai Iced Tea and it was refreshing. I ordered the Yum Talay and it was good, the Sai Oua was very tasty with textures because it is fried, and the Mok Pla was tasty too. Very good food and I highly recommend it. I'll be returning to try more items on the menu!

Place was busy on a Wednesday night, almost full capacity, but the staff welcomed my brother and me right away and got us seated quickly. The menu had a simple layout with a good variety of modern Lao and Thai dishes. We were pretty hungry so we ordered 4 entrees and some rice on the side. The food came out fast and everything looked great. Every dish hit the spot and was cooked well. My favorite dish was the Sakoo because of how fresh and meaty the little tapioca pearl balls were. It was savory, chewy, and crunchy all at the sametime. The fresh greens on the side and the spicy chilis from their sauce bowls on the table really brought it all together. The Khao Piek with Pork Blood Cubes was another winner in my book. The broth had a nice deep tasting broth and the chewy thick rice noodles made it hearty. Honestly, if that were the only entree I ordered, I would still have been more than happy. I could have dumped a whole bowl of rice in there just to soak up every drop of the soup. I am definitely coming back again to try more dishes. Next time I will bring more reinforcements so we can order the whole menu!

We came with a group of 9 and were able to make reservations beforehand. Service was prompt and friendly, and they have an extensive menu. My favorite was the eggplant dish, and of course pad kee mao is a classic. We got the red and green curries as well as the wings and a few others. The wings were my least favorite and not super flavorful. The portion sizes were fairly generous.

Good food! Service could be better. I arrived early and requested the only round table in the place because I had a party of 8. I was told to come back when it was time. The place never got crowded I was told. So I took a walk for 20min. When I came back the table was taken. I was told by another person that they were sorry but they could not take reservations on the day-of, and I should have stayed in the lace. Completely contradictory to what I'd been told 20min before. So yeah. Good food but this episode left a bad taste in my mouth.

Checked out this place after attending the Cape & Cowl comic con in Alameda last weekend. Lao dishes seem to be stronger than the Thai ones, but overall everything was very solid. Would probably skip the chicken satay next time, but definitely come back for the nam khao, sakoo, and amok. Tip: You'll have to ask for their version of nuoc cham/fish sauce for the nam khao and sakoo because it doesn't automatically come with it

I've only been to Bhan Mae Vane maybe a dozen times. I try to avoid weekend nights because it's so busy. I've come at lunch. I've come at dinner. I love everything I've ordered. The flavors of the Laotian dishes are incredible and you have to keep returning to satisfy the cravings of the Nom Khao and Sakoo and other specialties dishes -- I love these two because I love eating them in lettuce wraps. I also love their pork belly and their Phatty special or Papaya platter to get this and angel wings and a few other items is a great way to get a sampling and share with others in your party. Everyone I have brought to Bhan Mae Vane is hooked. And you will be too.

Absolutely enjoyed dining here for lunch. Parking was a little tough, parked in the residential area about four blocks away. As for the entrees, I had the usual -- PAD SEE EEW and SPRING ROLL WRAP. Portions are generous; the food is delicious. The service here is wonderful. The staff is very kind and polite. Very patient and attentive. Will return in the near future; I am looking forward to trying something new.

Was craving some spicy Lao food and Bhan Mae Vane was able to satisfy my urges. We shared the BMV Ultimate Papaya Platter (Lao style) for two people, which was defo enough food. You get to choose 3 options for proteins; we selected crispy pork belly, fried wings, and beef short ribs (extra charge). The least flavorful out of the 3 were the chicken wings, which I'd probably get something else next time. For our papaya salad we got medium spice, which my husband thought was incredibly spicy, but for me, I think I could have went the next level up. I feel like when you eat papaya salad, no pain, no gain? xD I did also feel like it was on the sweeter side even though we got Lao style and would have preferred it to be more stanky; but maybe that's just my personal preference. I liked how the platter comes with vermicelli noodles, pork rinds, and sticky rice altogether. Overall, I'd come back. There aren't a lot of South East asian restaurants that serve authentic Lao food. There was a bit of a wait as well, but nothing too egregious.

The first time I came here was months ago for my cousins graduation. Food was sooooooo good I had to brag about it to my mom. So we decided to order take out! When it go home, the food was as amazing as the first time I tried it! OH MY GOODNESS EVERYTHING WAS DEVINE!!! Every dish has its own great flavor. If you haven't been, this is a must go to restaurant. Staff here are all amazing and so nice! Parking is definitely not easy and if you come at 2nd half opening which is 5p, just know you have to wait a bit because the kitchen/ restaurant is just reopening. The restaurant itself is very warm and welcoming and nicely decorated.

The food and service are great. However, the price is steeper than expected. The rice for curry are charged separately and expensive. One rice bowl is not even enough for the curry.

Still good. Still noisy. Still busy. Favorites are: - Crab Fried Rice (nice crab taste) - Crispy Rice Salad (crunchy rice, lop Cheung, peanuts, that you eat on a lettuce leaf with mint) - Lao Beef Spring Roll (3 sauces, rice wrap surrounding grilled beef, lettuce and cucumber) And the one place that serves a Thai Iced Matcha Green Tea - sweet.

Super delicious Lao/Thai food here. Got the special sakoo and the papaya platter with three meats. At first i thought the platter ($70) would be cheap in portion sizes but my god was I actually impressed with the amount of food and quality. With two $5 drinks our total was about $100 pre-tip. We had leftovrrs to take home that could serve another 2 meals to be honest. Super worth. 9/10, would def come again and def recommend to a friend.

WHEN: Fri @7:30pm It's my second time here since Dec and I will talk about both times. Clearly it's a really good spot which is why I came back here when I have friends visiting from out of town who wanted to do dinner. Street Parking is free after 6pm and it will be difficult to find any in front on Webster. You have a better bet on finding a spot at the nearby lot which is treated like street parking. Across the street behind the Pinball Museum. The first time I went there was a bit of a wait on Sunday evening around 6pm, but my 2nd time on a Friday evening around bit after 7pm was no wait. I was able to get a table even before my friends arrived! I feel Bhan Mae Vane is one of those types of establishments where no matter what you order, it will be good. Here's what I was able to try with friends: PAPAYA SALAD - $18 Lao style - Hand shredded green papaya mixed with fresh Thai chili, tomatoes, lime juice, shrimp paste and anchovy dressing. If you are a shrimp paste fan then definitely get this! I really enjoyed this salad even though I'm not a huge fan of the shrimp paste, the flavors were so good. We asked for mild and it's a bit spicier than the mild level I'm used to. The huge wedge of cabbage was odd and we have to chop it ourselves but it okay. Or maybe it was meant to be garnish. But I enjoyed the range in textures and all the fibers I know my body is getting! TOM KHA - $18 + $2 for SHIRMP. Coconut soup with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and fresh mushrooms. This soup was SO good. And it helps if your other dish is so spicy cuz this soup will help you. It's creamy, and has every single veggie listed. Instantly a favorite. SAKOO - $18 Steamed savory tapioca balls stuffed with ground pork, peanuts, sweet radishes and shallots. Served with lettuce, fried chili peppers, fried garlic, and fresh herbs. How fun was this unique dish! The meat stuffed tapioca balls was so soft and tender! I loved that it came with greens to eat it with. Sadly the peanuts is mixed into the ground pork inside so if you have a peanut allergy, you can't have this. FRIED CLEAR RICE ROLL WRAPS - $18 Our signature fried rice paper egg rolls with pork. Served with our sweet fish sauce, lettuce, herbs, and vermicelli noodles. This reminds me of a Vietnamese dish where they deep fry spring rolls and you wrap it in lettuce with herbs and vermicelli noodles. How nice of them to also provide the fish sauce without peanuts for my friend with the peanut allergy. This dish was SO good and refreshing. BMV ULTIMATE PAPAYA PLATTER - $70 Papaya Salad (Lao or Thai style), pork rinds, vermicelli noodles, cabbage and rice (steamed or sticky). Out of the meat options, we went for: CRISPY PORK BELLY - Yeah I've decided I'm not a fan of this style meat. It's just so hard and chewy so to me it tastes dry. LAO SAUSAGE - This I enjoyed! BBQ PORK RIBS - Flavors are good but tough. I really enjoyed the noodles, the papaya salad and sticky rice though! Overall, I personally don't recommend this dish. I rather order 3 other dishes and it would come out to be cheaper than this crazy platter. Nice presentation though! CRAB KAHO PAD - $25 Wok fried rice with crab, eggs, tomatoes and onions. Not much of a looker, but boy is it jam packed with crab flavor--and meat of course! This was pretty dang good and I was quite impressed and pleased. I appreciate how knowledgeable the staff is in helping with our orders. I see a lot of people do take out and heads up that the ambiance is quite noisy at this lively restaurant. I can't wait to go again to try both dishes old and new.

Tasty and good prices! There was no wait around 6pm on a Sunday but it did get more crowded around 6:30-7pm. There are a lot of tables inside and also a big tv in the corner. They were showing the NBA finals, which was cool to see. Fried clear rice roll wraps, Sakoo, crispy pork belly, and sticky rice with mango were all great. I like how the rice roll wraps were all cut and easy to share. Sakoo was an interesting dish with a tasty inside - fun to eat and pairs well with the greens. Crispy pork belly was also very crispy and had a good mix of meat and fat. Sticky rice was also good as the mango was sweet. Would come back and try some of the other dishes! The red curry was good but not the best compared to the other dishes. It paired well with the large side of sticky rice that we got.

Came to visit my wife's family who frequents this place fairly often, and there isn't really any Lao food where I live, so they took me here and I was thoroughly impressed! She's half Laotian (from her dad's side who is 100% Laotian) so they know they know good vs bad Lao food, and it's approved by them which is already a good sign. We arrived around 5:30pm on a Saturday which is only a bit after it opens and there was already a bit of line with the inside being completely filled, which is another good sign. After getting seated, my wife's family ordered a bunch of things which I didn't keep track of until large plates of delicious looking tasty smelling food started arriving in a flurry. Most of it was Lao food staples, all freshly prepared with great balances of flavors. The egg rolls were super crispy with a meaty flavorful inside, paired well with the lettuce wraps and were very reminiscent of Vietnamese style egg rolls. Laab (also spelled larb) chicken was well seasoned, spicy and citrusy from the lime with a rich toasted rice powder flacor. Mok pla (fish steamed in a banana leaf) - big portion compared to a lot of other places, surprisingly soft and creamy with lots of dill and herby flavor, went nice with the steamed vegetables on the side Papaya platter - at $70 it's a great deal for a big combo of spicy papaya salad, rice noodles, and your choices of three proteins which all come with nice sized portions. We got the pork ribs which were cooked perfectly until tender but with just a bit of a bit and still very juicy, savory with a hint of spice and sweetness. The pork belly was crispy and juicy, light on the seasonings so you can dip it in the delicious sweet spicy tangy fish sauce mixture it comes with. The lao sausage is meaty, fatty, packs a kick, and again has a big portion of already sliced sausages compared to all of the Lao restaurants we have in the east coast where you might only get 2-3 smaller size sausages. The papaya salad was crisp and acidic with a strong kick, even the medium spicy had me sweating and stopping for breaks. Overall, the best deal on food to order and all impeccably done. Nam khao - crispy rice salad made from deep frying balls of curry seasoned rice that's studded with bits of a pink preserved vinegary pork called "nam" (or "nem" in Vietnamese), then breaking up those deep fried rice balls into a delicious crispy rice salad eaten with fresh lettuce and veggie wraps. It sounds very extra but the flavors are fantastic, with the savory rice and mild but rich and spicy curry flavor balanced by the tanginess of the pork bits, a delicious deep fried flavor of the crispy bits which give a great texture, and the refreshing lettuce wraps. If you've never had Lao food before, I highly recommend this dish in addition to whatever other meats and salads you get. Overall, everything was on point, delicious, well priced, and authentic. Wish I lived closer so I could come and try the rest of the menu!

Soooo delicious. Nam Khao has become one of my staples now and this place does it really well. From the presentation to the actual taste, crunch, and flavor. It his it all with the crunchy bits of rice flavorful pieces of meat all wrapped by fresh herbs, lettuce and a splash of lime. This is hands down my favorite dish. We also ordered the eggplant and pumpkin curry. Both very tasty and flavorful as well. I liked how saucy the beef and eggplant was, and that the curry was more on the coconutty savory side with a good amount of heat. The place indoors is very bright and welcoming! It was packed as we arrived and continued to get more crowded as the night went on for a Thursday dinner. Highly recommend for a nice dinner out. Our total came out to be around $80ish including tip for 3 dishes.

This is one of my go-to spots in Alameda when I'm in the mood for a nice dine-in Thai experience. It's one of the only spots I know of in the Bay that serves sakoo. Portion sizes are pretty good. I came here with my girlfriend and her sister last time and we ordered the Sakoo, Mok Pla, and fresh Lao spring rolls and it was definitely quite filling. Prices are a little pricey especially when compared to other small Thai places in the East Bay like Chai Thai.

We visited BMV on a Saturday evening for a casual dinner date night. Thai is my favorite cuisine, but with being a vegetarian come some restrictions with how food is prepared and can be made equally tasty, so we were nervous. But to my surprise, everything was just right. The flavors, spices, consistency and taste - excellent! We ordered spicy fried rice, pad kee mao, egg rolls and string beans and tofu and they were all great! Service was slightly busy, but we were attended with a big smile, always. Such great ambience, and I LOVE the YELLOW door!

I came back twice in one month! That's how you know it's good! The first time I got these three dishes. The second time I came ordered the papaya salad, eggrolls, crab fried rice and mango sticky rice! Everything was just well seasoned and all full of flavor! I would say the crab fried rice and sakoo are my favorite from my 2nd visit there. Their speciality dishes like the crispy fried rice spot on bomb! The papaya salad we ordered as mild but it was still on the spicy side so beware! But they know how to do papaya salad for sure and are not afraid of really showcasing authentic flavors of Thai and Laos cuisine. The place itself is so cute and I love the hanging baskets for lighting! The servers were all very nice both time I came! Also they don't rush you out and give you space to eat at your own pace! I really appreciate that when it comes to dining out.

Last Wednesday night was "Fun Night" for League players and guests at the Pacific Pinball Museum, across the street from Bhan Mae Vane. We usually try to bring a vegetarian dish so everyone can partake of our potluck contribution. For this event, we ordered three orders of Tofu Garlic Noodles. I called the order in about a hour before pick-up time. All that I was asked for was my name and a phone number. When we arrived, the order was ready to go and all we had to do was pay for it. To serve, we had brought an aluminum 1/2 pan with us to pour the noodles into. For service, we had also brought several dozen paper food trays and plastic forks. Yes, we know plastic forks are bad but we've had them for several years and have to use them up before making the switch to wooden sporks. And, as usual, the Garlic Noodles were scrumptious!

I stopped by Bhan Mae Vane on a whim and was absolutely blown away. From the moment I walked in, the vibe was warm and inviting--family-run feel, friendly staff, and a calm, no-frills atmosphere that let the food shine. I ordered the crispy pork, fried chicken wings, sticky rice, and a special dish (whose name escapes me, but I still think about it days later). Every dish was incredible. The crispy pork had that perfect balance of tender meat and crunchy skin, bursting with flavor. The fried chicken wings were addictive--well-seasoned, juicy, and fried to golden perfection. Even the sticky rice was exceptional, with just the right texture and a hint of sweetness that paired perfectly with the meats. That mystery special dish? Whatever it was, it was rich, savory, and clearly made with love. It felt like something straight out of a home kitchen--comforting and complex at the same time. This place deserves more recognition. I'll definitely be coming back and bringing friends next time. Phnom Penh House is a must-visit if you're into bold flavors, hearty portions, and authentic Laotian cooking.

I've had my eye on this local spot for awhile due to a few dishes that piqued my interest. I haven't had lao food much and so I was excited to try this place out. I placed an order to go and it was honestly the way to go because there was such a big wait when I went to pick it up! It definitely got me excited that the food should be good though. I ended up ordering sakoo, mok pla, and crispy pork belly. Sakoo has a tapioca exterior, soft and chewy, and is filled with meat and vegetables. Each order comes with 12 balls. I was pretty surprised with how much I liked this. They were pretty small and so I was thinking that there wouldn't be much filling but I was wrong. There's a good ratio of meat and everything combined was delicious. My favorite of the bunch had to be the mok pla, which is fish and curry steamed in banana leaves with vegetables on the side. I had no idea what to expect, especially since it's hard to tell from photos of this dish. But I couldn't stop eating the fish, and boy was it packed. Some places don't give you a lot of fish for $18 but this was definitely worth the price. The fish was perfectly cooked and sauced. And they give you a lot of vegetables to pair with it too. I would say the crispy pork belly was nothing special. The pieces are thin cut and some had a bit too much fat vs meat. The dipping sauce added extra flavor though. All in all, I enjoyed this food quite a bit. I had no issues with ordering to go and everything was packed well. There are so many other dishes that are new to me still, so I hope to come back to try out more!

This is a "must-try" in alameda. Superrrrrrr delicious! I highly recommend the garlic noodles with crispy pork and wings. The flavor is authentic and strong. Sakoo has interesting taste and it's chewy. The curry is also very good. The line was long when we go. Maybe cuz it was a Friday at dinner time. But the restaurant is popular so u should go early to avoid the line. The workers are nice but they are short staffed during rush hour. Gotta patient when you try to order. Hope you enjoy!

I came here with a big group after my friends graduation. They were super nice & service was quick. We got pad Thai, pad see ew, the appetizer platter, green and yellow curry, and some dishes I forgot the name of. One of them was lettuce wrap with crispy rice & it was sooooo good. Must get !! the noodles were pretty good as well. The chilis were spicy too which is always a plus.

Delicious Laotian / Thai spot in Alameda! BMV has some unique dishes that I haven't really seen around the Bay (nam khao and sakoo) - would highly recommend the nam khao. We also ordered the yellow curry and pad see ew and enjoyed both. Portion sizes were huge for the price. It gets extremely busy here on the weekends so expect a wait. Service is a bit slow (and the waitresses can be a little blunt) given how busy they get.

Party of 6 and we ate-ate. One of my top 3 FAVORITE places to eat in Alameda. Get the platter you won't regret it, I promise. The staff is legit nice AF and if you don't know what to eat they will help you choose. I never go without a Thai coffee, cause I can drink 2!

Wonderful Laos spot in Alameda. To simplify things, I would recommend getting the Papaya Platter. It comes with a lot of food with your choice of either Thai Papaya Salad or Lao Papaya Salad. The difference between the two can be better described the staff but what I got from it is Thai is spicier and Laos is fishier. We went with Thai and it was really good and spicy. With the platter you get 3 selections of meats. We went with the Laos sausage, pork belly and jerky. In that order, that is what I would rank it. The Laos sausage was flavorful but could've been more spicy. The pork belly was soft and crunchy at the same time. The jerky was a bit tough but it had a great taste to it. I would love to come back here and try other dishes. I enjoyed it a lot !

Although tempted to get the BMV ultimate papaya platter after seeing a picture earlier this year, I wanted to try some of Bhan Mae Vane's specialty dishes like the Sakoo (Steamed savory tapioca balls stuffed with ground pork, peanuts, sweet radishes and shallots served with lettuce, fried chili peppers, fried garlic, and fresh herbs) and Mok Pla. Khao Poon Gai Noodle Soup and BBQ Pork Ribs gave us a taste of most categories that I'd like to think of it as my customized "platter", even though it was obvious we over ordered for two. The Sakoo was my absolute favorite and almost finished that all by myself and definitely would order again. I have had better Mok Pla elsewhere so would skip next time. The Khao Poon was spicier than I expected so I only had a little before tackling those BBQ pork ribs.

I ordered takeout from Bhan Mae Vane to eat with a few others. We ordered the following: Pad see wi with tofu - It's savory and tasted a lot like pad see ew to me, but the soy sauce is more on the light side. Pad per nor mai - This is their bamboo shoot stir fry dish. The sauce is nice, you can eat it with rice. I like the generous amount of bamboo. It also has cabbage, carrot, broccoli. BBQ beef short ribs - This is one of their specialty dishes. I didn't try it myself, but they definitely looked tasty. Overall, I thought the food was delicious and I appreciate that they have the option to choose the protein option which allows many dishes to be made vegetarian if you choose the tofu or vegetables option.

Delicious! This was my first time trying sakoo, and won't be my last. The peanut-pork-radish filling was a burst of umami texture set off nicely by the tapioca ball, lettuce, and herbs. My party of three ordered two other dishes -- both delicious -- but could have easily gone with one (fried rice was a big hit) plus the sakoo and been pleasantly full. The portions are GIANT, so our table mate went home with leftovers that served her family of four!

Was pleasantly surprised by Bhan Mae Vane! It was my first time trying Laotian cuisine and everything was flavorful, delicious, and perfectly cooked, especially the Sakoo and Nam Khao. Ambiance was casual and service was fast on a busy Sat night.

I was walking around Webster Street and came across this Thai/Laotian place. It looked super busy, but I was able to get a seat. I ordered chicken skewers, papaya salad, and pad se ew. I wasn't a huge fan of the chicken skewers--they seemed a bit stiff, but the pad se ew was really good. This was my first time trying papaya salad, so I'm not entirely sure how it's supposed to taste, but I thought it was delicious. I really liked how they added pork rinds and fresh veggies. However, I would definitely change the spice level. I ordered medium, and it was super spicy, even though I can usually handle spice. It felt like a different level of heat. Next time, I'll go with mild so I can still get a kick of spice without it being too overpowering. The service was great, and I loved the atmosphere. The interior had these beautiful lights on the ceiling, and the whole space was well thought out.

Went here on a Thursday night with my friend. We arrived before 7 pm and we were seated right away. It was our first time here and this place was recommended by all around my friends and my coworkers, that's why we decided to drive all the way to alameda. Food: 100/100 we ordered more than what we needed but it was worth it. We wanted to try different things and we ended up loving everything. Pork belly is a must. Papaya salad was soooo fresh and delicious. We loved the dishes with shrimps which were soooo fresh. Drunken noodle was awesome (but I will recommend you finish this instead of packing it home for left over, because the rice noodle will soak up liquids so fast and you don't want to eat that the next day). We ordered the red curry with beef and it was amazing too. We finished off with a green milk tea and mango sticky rice and the sweetness and the tartness had a great balance between them. Service was excellent. Very attentive even tho they were super busy that night. And last but not least, congratulations on getting on the Check Please, Bay Area show!!

I surprised my BF with this pick since he's obsessed with papaya salad and always raves about Lao style. Street parking was relatively easy to find since it was a Wednesday evening. The area appeared to be very safe despite being in the Bay. We enter into the restaurant and found that every table was occupied, we were excited because we knew that was a great sign. We ordered the Lao papaya salad, Lao sausage and beef larb with sticky rice. We selected medium spice level, which was perfect. Any higher of a spice level I would have not been able to eat. Hands down one of the best meals I have ever had. Everything was absolutely delicious and all elements of salt, acidity and spice were so well balanced.

Clean place, well lit and nicely decorated. Everything I'd expect from a super celebrated place like this. Food was delicious and staff was very nice. Grew up earing Lao food my entire life & these were the flavors I was used to having. Highly recommended for people who want to impress their date or a guest with them.

The food at Bhan Mae Vane was so good. I recommend getting: nam khao (crispy rice salad), sakoo (pork and tapioca dumplings), crab fried rice, fried egg rolls, mango sticky rice (in summer), mok pla (steam fish). The service was great and the food came out quickly. Lovely experience here.

This place is good. Tho it's kind of pricey, yet everything tastes good. It's hard to find papaya salad. And what is sakoo!? Or nam kao. Whatever it is, it's good. I like trying new and exotic food. Mochi with meat is quite tasty. And the crispy fried rice salad sounds impossible but it's quite good. The place isn't very big so go early or make reservations. Else you'd have to wait in line. Service is good. I also got a Thai green tea for $5. That's pottery cheap. Very sweet and also strong green tea flavor. The vibe is nice. They have big screen TV playing nba games. Nice to have a good meal and watch the wolves treat the Thunder apart! Would go back for sure. Be careful it can get pricey fast. Solid A

Stopped in on a whim after a quick search on Yelp! for some Thai food in Alameda, and came across this place, which serves up Thai and Lao cuisine. We put our name on the list and our party of 2 was called in after ten minutes. It seemed a bit noisy, but we got a nice corner table at the back, and we were able to converse comfortably without having to strain. We tried the Chicken Pad See Ew, Eggplant Pad Mak Kuer with Tofu, and Sakoo which is a specialty dish of steamed savory tapioca balls stuffed with ground pork, peanuts, sweet radishes and shallots, served with lettuce, chili pepper, and fried garlic. We enjoyed the Pad See Ew and Eggplant dishes, which were full of flavor and prepared without too much grease. The Sakoo was new to us, and frankly we were a bit underwhelmed. I am sure the dish was prepared well; it just wasn't something that appealed to our palate since it had more subtle flavors. The service was good, and I would come back again to try some other menu items. Street parking wasn't too bad - we found a spot 2 blocks away on our first pass.

Cute family style place with a lot of seating in Alameda, the place was packed when we got there on a Friday night but we were able to sit our party of 3 quickly within 5 minutes. The food here is really, really good. We ordered the papaya platter with angel wings (sweet chili wings), sausages, and crispy pork belly -- you choose the meats you want; it comes with papaya salad - thai or lao style with more fish sauce - and sticky rice. We also ordered the fried rice rolls. Everything was really solid & super delicious & I'd recommend and reorder the dishes we ordered except our crispy pork belly was a little dry for me. The papaya salad (we ordered Lao style) the platter comes with is great. The papaya platter at around $70 is more than enough for 3 people, and we took home leftovers that fed another 3 people. It's a pretty good deal for coming in with a family. I'm definitely coming back here regularly.

There are only a few Lao restaurants in the Bay Area, so we decided to travel to Alameda for the best! Bhan Mae Vane was occupied with people, which surprised me because Lao food is unknown to many. We decided to order the BMV Ultimate Papaya Platter, which was stacked with various foods. In the center lay a mini mortar of Lao Papaya Salad complimented with sticky rice, angel wings, Lao Sausage, crispy pork belly, cabbage, pork rinds, and vermicelli noodles. There were also two different types of jeow (sauces) on the side. For $70, this platter was plentiful and enough for a group of people. My group ended up having to take the majority of the meats home as leftovers. If you haven't had Lao food before and looking to venture out to Alameda for good Lao food, Bhan Mae Vane is authentic to the core! Definitely shows people the flavors of Laos!

HUGE fan of BMV since they opened. Their pad see ew is the best on the island! Other faves include the nam khao, phatty special, and clear fried spring rolls. Love that their entrees that come with fresh veggies always include a ton of fresh greens and herbs to cut some of the richness of the entrees. The phatty special with their garlic noodles is super rich and gluttonous with the delicious angel wings. If you're looking for a pick me up their iced coffee is perfect too. Their soups are also good, but prefer their entrees more. They're definitely a popular spot for lunch and dinner, so don't be surprised if there's a wait. Service is always fast and friendly.

I'm pretty stingy about giving five stars... probably limit it to food that's so good (for the money) that I gotta go back. Bhan Mae Vane isn't quite that, but it's very good and has a great open feeling atmosphere. It's right across from the Pacific Pinball Museum, which made it a great place to take a lunch break. Dishes average $20 but the portions are huge.

This is my go to spot for food in alameda! Food is alway ok point. Service is amazing! Ambiance is cute!

LOVE this place! The portions here are huge and I love bringing family and friends here to share. The food here is just simply amazing! You can't go wrong with anything on their menu. My go-to order is the Nam Kao and Sakoo. While I find the Nam Kao a bit too salty for my taste, I just ask for it to be less salty, and it's perfect. The Sakoo is also great. Both dishes come with fresh lettuce and herbs, making the dish refreshing! They offer a variety of sauces at the counter, including a fish sauce with chilis, spicy chili oil, and a mild red sauce--just grab what you need or ask for it. Their fried clear rice roll wrap, which is the egg roll appetizer but also served with noodles, lettuce, and herbs is also a must-try. This will always be my go-to spot, and I can't wait to return!

A wonderful find in Alameda! My family and I were craving Thai food and came across this restaurant on Yelp. I'm so glad we decided to check this place out! The decor is super cute with the different lighting options, and comfortable seating (booth and tables available). My favorite dishes here are: - pad se ew: love the fresh noodles and flavor of the beef - crispy pork belly: crispy, fatty, flavor bomb - pumpkin curry: sweet, creamy, would love to try this next time with pork or beef (I tried it with chicken) - The sakoo was also really delicious! Parking can be a little tough since it's located on Webster, so I had to circle around a few times to find street parking. Highly recommend coming early to find parking and avoiding a wait :).

Came here on a Sunday afternoon with two friends and we had a delightful time. Staff and Service: - Staff members were nice and answered our questions well about portion sizes Food and Drinks: - Thai Iced Tea: delicious, sweet, refreshing - Pineapple Fried Rice: huge portion with good flavor that can be a whole meal for someone or shared with others - Yellow Curry: we got this dish with extra white rice, which was a good call (not that we needed it with all of our other food, but it went well with the curry). - Spring Rolls: got spring rolls with beef. Comes with three different sauces (the peanut one was my favorite). This is 3 large rolls split in half, so comes out to 6 pieces - We also ordered a noodle dish that I can't remember the name of. It was tasty though and also was a large portion Miscellaneous: - Parking available via street parking - Portions are large and fun to share - Good for solo, pairs, and / or larger groups

I came to Alameda specifically to try this restaurant. It's an interesting city... You feel isolated from the usual hustle and bustle of the Bay area but can look across the water and see the iconic San Francisco skyline. Traffic was amazing when I was there and parking was free and not hard to find around the corner from the restaurant. We had two people ahead of us on the wait list when I put my name down, and it didn't take long to get seated. They have a small seating area just outside the front door for people who are waiting. We ordered the nam kao, crispy pork, and pad thai. Everything was good but our favorite by far was the nam khao. The pork belly was super crispy but could be a tad more seasoned. The pad thai had a good balance of salt and acid. The nam kao was super flavorful and had a generous ratio of nam meat to rice. If I am ever back in Alameda I would stop by for the nam kao.

I would have given a 3.75 if I could. Inside is lovely. The decor. I did arrive to my party late, so we moved tables. My party had already started getting their food. I had to go up to the counter and order my food because no one came back to the table. No one refilled our drinks. Food was decent. Pretty standard, nothing Stand out. We had to go and ask for to go containers. And then go up and pay. It was a Thursday night, maybe 3 or 4 other tables. Not exactly busy. If I'm going to go to a sit down restaurant, and tip a server. I'd like them to do the whole job worth tipping for.

We ordered take-out. We got a notification that It was ready faster than Door Dash had quoted, so we popped over to pick it up. They were packed on Friday night which was nice to see. We got the fried clear rice roll wrap, the short rib, the fatty, and the mango and sticky rice. Everything was delicious. The garlic noodles in The Fatty were much better than I remembered. The fried clear rice roll wrap and the Nam Khao are two of my favorite items on the menu. They're both fresh and cozy comforting at the same time. Kinda the perfect meal. Everyone is always welcoming and friendly when we come for pick up.

So many people recommend this restaurant. I have been here twice now. I highly recommend the nam khao and sakoo. They have dishes that I never tried or seen at other Laotian restaurants, so the sakoo was completely new to me but still delicious! I tried the khao piek since the worker said it was one of the popular soups, but it was too bland for my taste. I would try the khao soy instead. Both times I have been here, it is sooo loud. This is NOT a good spot to catch up with people; I have to yell across the table lol. This place can accommodate very large groups of 10+ though. Overall, whenever I am craving Laotian food, I will get my fix here!