Ray's Place

The most perfect stop after a chili morning. I came as the lunch rush was leaving - most tables were full but most people were closing out - it cleared out by 1pm. I ordered a tofu/veggie pho *(they do not have vegetarian broth). It was delicious - hit the spot. Service and food came quickly. The atmosphere was pretty nice - one side where I sat was a typical restaurant with pictures of the diners, drive ins and dives guy - the other there was a bar with a bunch of ‘crap’ behind it - which was weird so i took a star off for that side. I would 100% go back.

I always enjoy coming here. Whether it’s having a girls night dining in or doing my normal pork fried rice take out. Hands down the best fried rice in town & really just the best people. Family ran restaurant, they’re personable & genuine..it really feels like home there. I will happily keep giving my business to Rays & shout out to the owner for the spring rolls on the house tonight they were delicious. Keep up the great work guys, we notice & appreciate you!

I thoroughly enjoyed my Vietnamese Tuna Steak which was made to order extra spicy…it was great! The owners were so gracious as I explored their picture display and they posed for a picture when I asked. I was on vacation in Anchorage, but if I lived here I would eat at Ray’s Place often!!

I got the seafood fried rice with curry. It was flavorful, albeit slightly overbearing. The portion size is huge, but I'm not sure if the $20 price tag is justified for a fried rice. It's decent, but I'm not sure if it's good enough that I'd return.

Despite living in Anchorage (basically) my entire, I had never eaten Vietnamese food or been to Ray’s place in Spenard. Thankfully, my 15-year-old stepson requested Ray’s Place for a recent dinner out and I can confidently say I really enjoyed Vietnamese food and loved Ray’s Place. The portions are generous, so go hungry; the menu is extensive, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to try many different dishes, all prepared quickly and delicious. There are several vegetarian options plus an accommodating kitchen that will work with your dietary requirements (as best they can.) Highly recommend!

We ordered the sweet & sour chicken, fried rice and spicy beef. The sweet & sour chicken wasn’t your normal sweet & sour chicken that’s fried and comes with the sweet & sour sauce on top. Which was totally fine, because it turned out to be really good! It did catch me a bit off guard lol. Spicy beef was so so delicious and the spice level was just PERFECT! The fried rice was amazing as well and paired well with everything we ordered. Only downfall is that the parking is tight.

The food was good. Service was good. I've just had better. I got the chicken pho, and there wasn't a lot of chicken in it. My husband got the seafood curry. The taste was okay, but it was creamier than he would have liked, and it had no spice. The rice was really good. Our appetizer was the fresh pork spring roll. I liked it. It was probably my favorite part. But my husband wasn't a fan. But he doesn't like peanut sauce.

The food is exceptional. Came back a second time the next day just to experience it again and picked up a bottle of their sauce that we can't wait to use

I recently returned to Ray's Place in Anchorage, and I'm so glad I did! A couple of years ago, my experience didn't leave much of an impression, but after a fantastic business dinner here recently, I was eager to give it another shot. Last night, my husband and I dined at Ray's Place, and we were blown away. I ordered the spicy cashew chicken, a dish I remembered fondly from my previous visit, and it did not disappoint. The perfect balance of heat and flavor had me savoring every bite. My husband opted for the seafood dish featuring shrimp and squid, and he couldn't stop raving about how fresh and delicious it was. Both meals were absolutely phenomenal! What truly stood out, though, was the staff. They were incredibly helpful and kind, going above and beyond to ensure we had a great experience. I was pleasantly surprised when they remembered my previous visit and my order--such a personal touch that made us feel valued as customers. If you're in Anchorage, Ray's Place is definitely worth a visit. I can't wait to return for another delicious meal!

Rays Place is a Vietnamese and Thai specialty restaurant along Spenard Road. I have been there twice and had their Thai Soup. It was excellent with a good mixture of hot broth, vegetables and seafood. This is my favorite dish at Thai restaurants and the one I use compare them. It is not a critic of many of their dishes unless I am dinning with someone else. Based on my standards this was an excellent dish and I would order it again. Both times I have been there has been lunch hours and they are extremely busy. The service is fast and efficient. The cost is reasonable for Alaska. Observing those around me the portions and expressions give me they believe that people find Ray's food very good. I would recommend that you try it. Parking can be a problem as no on street parking in front of the restaurant is available but side streets and a short walk is find. I don't remember if they have a rear parking area because I have a poor memory and didn't did to find it. Not good for large groups unless they have an additional dinning area I did not see. My next visit I will be more observant.

Now I know why I rarely go here. Their number wasn't going through when I called.. I had my husband try and that worked (he confirmed they were open). Then I tried again and it worked and placed a to go order. We got the bahn mi, spicy cashew chicken and tofu curry. The bahn mi was severely disappointing. Seemed like maybe pork, and store bought ham.? Would not recommend. The other two dishes were delicious! Their open sign wasn't on when we went, so that, and the phone issue, seemed like they weren't open for business. Just an odd experience. Decent to go food. But more reliable places to go like Gia Dinh.

Quick and easy lunch spot with traditional flavors. Egg rolls were hot and fresh tasting. Tofu well seasoned. Noodles a bit on the hard side but the simple dish was exactly what I expected. Nothing special but perfect if you're looking for a simple Vietnamese meal. Fast and friendly service that got us in and out while I was in town for work.

Ray's Place Rocks! And I'm kind of shocked I haven't written a review yet, but better late than never I suppose! I really enjoy this place, and has a lot of Spenard Nostalgia for me. My most recent order was another adventure in office lunches, and I'll chat about that in a moment. But first, the menu is fantastic, the staff is wonderful, it's tiny but the service is great! Parking.....eh, but that's okay, it's worth the hassle. As for our to go order the meals were spot on, I always get the cold noodle salad and it was super delicious. The sauce was different than what I remembered but still really good. Of course the fried rice is amazing, and 100% a meal in itself, I also dig the Bahn Mi, the bread is great, and it's an easy meal to enjoy in an office setting. This is absolutely on our rotation of regular places we order from, but I do prefer eating there.

Now delivering smaller portions via Door Dash! Disappointed in Rays Place for changing to a smaller to go container.

Guy Fieri got it right this time! I'm a fan of the dude's show but not such a fan of most of his featured spots. However, I'm tempted to agree with Guy's view that Ray's Place is perhaps the best Vietnamese food in North America, In the minimum, I concede that Ray's is absolutely the best Vietnamese fare in Northern North America. Ray's is actively managed by the firecracker matriarch, whose recipes were brought over from the old country and prepared is similar fashion from back home. The entire staff was hospitable, professional and eager to please. This is a family owned and operated business, and even non-family staff served as though the place was their own. We tried about a third of the menu, and the pictures I posted were of the highlights of the highlights. If your version of fine dining consists of exceptionally tasting food served with a mother's TLC in a modest setting, then Ray's will be the place for you as it was for me.

This is one of my favorite places to eat in Anchorage! I award's order the shrimp fried rice with curry, no cabbage, extra crispy. AMAZING! I love that it's very family oriented and the service is great. Such a homie place to eat! I love going to rays place!

I'd never been to Ray's Place before - mainly due to the fact I've found my go-to place for Beef Fried Rice. So went to my go-to place for Beef Fried Rice last Thursday, and i was shocked by how bad it was on this most recent occasion. We asked the server was there a new chef, but she said no. It was bland, the rice was overcooked and mushy, just no flavour at all. Anyway, she did not charge us for it, and also gave us a couple of red bean pastries on the house, so no shade thrown at them. Let's just say Chef was having a bad day, and leave it at that. But i was still Jonesing for the Beef Fried Rice, and when Ray's Place popped up in a search for chinese food, i was confused because i thought it was Vietnamese. I should have known, that most Asian places in town are somewhat flexible in their dishes, and have a selection from most Asian countries. There was a great review for Beef Fried Rice, so i informed husband that i wanted to go to Ray's Place. Goodness, it's a busy restaurant, constant order pickups to go, and the dining hall was busy too. I did like the space, there's a big crystal chandelier in the shape of a boat as you walk in, and then smaller chandeliers over each table. Table tops are marble. Really nice space. Not too much clutter (ie "art") and fast service. I ordered the Beef Fried Rice, which also had the option for a couple dollars extra, of coming with curry sauce. I chose not to have the curry sauce. Blake got chicken curry. They had very nice stainless steel tumblers for the water. I was handed a really large plate of Beef Fried Rice, and Blake got a really big bowl of Chicken Curry, and a bowl of rice. My Beef Fried Rice had an enormous amount of other vegetables than is normally included in this dish - cabbage, carrots, broccoli, sweetcorn, and of course the beef. Now i will say this, and it's the reason this review is 4 star, and not 5 star. The beef was a little chewy, whereas my previous go-to Beef Fried Rice always has very tender Beef. The Chinese have a "secret" way of tenderizing even the cheapest cuts, and i can tell. I can also tell that this method has not been used on the Beef in my Beef Fried Rice here at Ray's Place. It's still delicious and savoury though, very good, perfectly cooked veggies, and the rice is excellent. It has a different overall flavour than my favourite fried rice at the other place, so I'm a little sad about that. Par for the course, I cannot eat it all, and get a to-go box, so i can scarf it down later. Blake's curry was also delicious, very distinctly Chinese in flavour, with a mild kick. It had some lovely big potatoes in it, and they were perfectly cooked despite their size. Not everywhere mange's to get them fully cooked through AND still have flavour. This was a lovely Chicken Curry. I was very happy with the food, the service, and the dining room, and will definitely return.

I've enjoyed Ray's Place for several years. Always good food, great service, and the good vibes sent out by everyone who works there are shared by everyone who's come for a meal...just feels good. And Ray's is always closed on Saturdays and Sundays...maybe that's partially why everyone enjoys being there... And the place is closed for about a month each winter, giving all who work there time to visit family, relax, and just be thankful for such a great place to work. Thank you, Curt and your whole family.

I came here for dinner on a Monday night with a friend and we enjoyed our meals. We had a hard time choosing because the menu has so many great options. The prices are a great deal considering how large the portion sizes are. Very unassuming exterior that's easy to miss. Interior is comfortable and clean. Service was very fast for how busy it was. I ordered a Thai iced tea and spicy chicken with cashews. The Thai iced tea was too milky for my liking. The spicy chicken with cashews wasn't as spicy as i expected but overall I enjoyed it. The vegetables were fresh and well-cooked and there was plenty of rice for my friend and I to share. Solid option for a quick fresh meal. I'd like to return and try more offerings.

I think I had been here when I was a kid, but that has been awhile! So we stopped by on a Friday night. Parking lot was full. Not too busy in the dining room tho. Lots of takeout. We got fresh spring rolls. They had shrimp, chicken, noodles, cucumber, and lettuce. They were ok. The taste was a bit off for me. For dinner I had the seeet and sour duck. Came with rice. The sizes of duck meat were pretty good and not too many pieces of fat which was nice. The sauce was very flavorful. It was a thin runny sauce and was soup like with cabbage, carrots, pineapple, broccoli, and onions I think. Probly other veggies too. Service was friendly and they were fast. Prices were actually decent as well, not too many dishes over $20.

Hard to beat Ray's for comfort Asian food. I had the Vietnamese crepe and the halibut in tamarind sauce, extra spicy. Although the spice of the halibut wasn't "extra" it was still savory and delightful. The crepe wasn't too bad either but I would've enjoyed a little less grease on the crepe itself. I would definitely come back and try the rest of the menu if I had time (they kick you out at 8:30 on the dot!). The other caveat is that they don't serve alcohol which sucks because a nice Pinot noir would've complimented many of their dishes. The other caveat is that they stop taking orders at 8:10pm and kick you out promptly at 8:30. No ambience to the restaurant, no music playing and it's tacky decorated. Thank God they have great dishes or they wouldn't survive.

Normally a favorite but they seemed preoccupied with closing, rushed our meal then told us we had to leave. It was still 8 minutes to closing time. Probably won't return.

TL;DR I've had worse Details: First of all, this isn't a Vietnamese restaurant. The menu is American Chinese with a few Vietnamese dishes. The good news is that all the dishes can be made with your choice of meat. If you prefer chicken breast to thigh, it's a small upcharge. We had cashew chicken but they forgot the cashews. They did add them in afterwards. The food was ok. Service is a bit forgetful but well-meaning. The decor is stereotypical 1960's Chinese restaurant from the Midwest.

Great food, great service, and great view of the marina, bay, and mountains! Well worth the wait to be seated. Will definitely return if we ever go back to Seward.

I've been here a handful of times and have tried something new off their menu each time. Each dish has been beautifully put together and served within minutes. I had the sweet and sour duck recently and it was full of chunks of veggies and meat in a wonderfully made sweat and sour sauce. Very good Vietnamese food and it's locally owned.

Had the halibut Vietnamese style the sauce and veggies were so good with the halibut. Bun bo hue was spicy and really good. Would be nice if there was more blood meat. Pork spring rolls were delicious with the peanut sauce. This is now my go to restaurant when I'm in anchorage.

Go to Ray's!! Hands down best Vietnamese food in Anchorage!! We had the bbq ribs, pork friend rice and fried egg rolls and everything was soooooo good! Staff was friendly and food came out very quick! This is now our go to every time we're in Anchorage.

We came to Anchorage for work and wanted some good Vietnamese food. We've see the reviews on this place and also the episode of Guy Fieri eating here. Said no more and the food is fantastic. We ordered the fresh spring rolls, meatballs and brisket pho and the fried rice. Everything was sooo delicious and the ambiance was great too. I highly recommend Ray's place if you are in the need of some authentic Vietnamese food.

We always have great food is always fresh and delicious. The service is always great. The Yim Family are a great family and this place is amazing. It must be, Guy Fieri came and it's on Diners, Drive- Ins and Dives!

One of the best places in Anchorage for Vietnamese food! We really enjoy their chicken pho, combo fried rice and spicy cashew chicken. Their staff is always super friendly and welcoming!

Honestly for a place you wouldn't think twice about going inside but as a recommendation from others we checked it out. Food was delicious and service was great! Would recommend to others.

Stopped in at Ray's Place for a late dinner and was just amazed at how good the food there was. We got shrimp curry, the Alaskan Halibut and Spring Rolls. Everything tasted great and all the employees were friendly and quick. The atmosphere was also very friendly with everybody walking around in smiles. The food was so good that we were also able to meet the owners who were extremely friendly and easy to talk with. We're only in Anchorage for a week and the front desk person recommended Ray's Place to us and we're so happy we took that recommendation. We liked the food so much that we're planning on heading over there again before our trip is over. Definitely a spot to hit if you're in town for the day, weekend or week!

Best house fried rice in all of Anchorage, maybe even the state. We usually order ahead for pick-up. It says a ton about this place that they've been around forever, with one location and, they can afford to close on the weekends and pretty much whenever they want. They've got the blueprint for a successful small business, for sure. Ray's has its devoted regulars, which include local law enforcement. I don't recommend play-fighting inside this establishment :) Enjoy!

This it's my first time trying this place and I'm going to tell you I was disappointed. I heard raving reviews about this restaurant and the food. And I got here today when I opened it it looked perfectly normal, that to the first bite I could tell it was not. I thought it had a weird taste and then I took another bite and I was like what is his taste burnt. So I started to move everything around and it was like the cook knew it he burnt it and covered it up inside the entire dish. So I was able to eat the eggrolls which were good but the eggrolls wasn't what I wanted the most sorry I'm a little disappointed that I couldn't enjoy my lunch luckily I had fruit with me.

Ray's is great. Every time I visit, I receive courteous, prompt, and professional service. The authenticity and caliber of the pictures were well beyond what I had anticipated. The fish with ginger and vegetables was really delicious! Being a family-run business, they take great delight in what they produce.

Well been here twice recently After the first trip couldn't wait to go back well Friday went back for lunch at 1pm. If you want some of the most perfectly prepared veggies Then this is the place I had the ginger beef and it was ready in three minutes but we couldn't wait so as soon as we sat down we got fresh rolls. Couldn't have been fresher. Wife had the ginger shrimp and we got a tofu curry to go for my daughter. Wife tried the curry yum then had to go in for a secon bite with tofu. Hmm her reaction scared me since I'm the only carnivore in the family now So once we were home I tried a bite That shit will. Turn you vegan. Just saying Honestly I didn't want to post this but I can't keep this slice of heaven to myself

Best Asian cuisine in anchorage. The flavor is unbelievable. Would not miss out of the cashew chicken, or the pho. Best pho in town too.

Like everyone says, it's a family owned place and it's very good! The spicy chicken was good with a kick but I believe the star was their fried rice. I've tried many fried rice from all sorts of background and this place makes them the best. I promise you. Believe me, I'm from California, LA to OC..China etc. it's really good here. The owner was out helping with the tables and I had the pleasure of meeting her and daughter. They were kind enough to give my group some Melona popsicles. Also, we apologize we couldn't make it back the following day for one more meal before we flew back to CA.

Visiting Anchorage and this place popped up under recommendations for Vietnamese food. Was a little skeptical seeing the building but man, it's good. Staff is very nice too. I'm bummed out there are closed on Sat and Sun but I'll be back on Monday night!

I love this place. Always great friendly serve and the BEST pork fried rice and pork spring rolls I have had!

Super good appetizer and dinner, fast service, friendly environment would recommend again

The service was pretty bad. We came in around 2:30 not knowing they closed at 3:00. My husband ordered a bahn mi, I didn't eat. Sandwich arrived, husband began eating. Server dropped our check before he finished the first half. In the middle of eating the second half his sandwich (and also mid-sentence) server came over and said very rudely: "Can you pay now? We're about to close. [handed me credit card device] It'll prompt you to tip or skip." It might have been 2:50 by this time. Maybe. My husband finished his sandwich and we left. No tip. We walked the 2.5 blocks home and it still wasn't 3:00. The bahn mi sandwich: all the ingredients were there, but not in the right proportions. Pretty bland and somewhat disappointing. Overall, definitely not a love connection. We probably won't go back.

Best authentic Vietnamese food in Anchorage, reminds me of places in Orange County/LA. Price is insanely good! Even with inflation adjustment. Owner/managers/servers all extremely kind and helpful. Shame they're closed on the weekends, it's hard to squeeze in a weekday visit from the valley but it's always worth it. Love the banh mi, banh xeo, and the nem nuong cuon!

What a wonderful lunch we had! My spicy chicken had perfect spice, lemongrass and was a curry dish. One of the best restaurant meals in such a long time! Service was perfect, food came out quickly and perfectly! My friend had the cold noodle salad with curry & tofu that was excellent. Just Go!

Bun Bo Hue is excellent! Perfect amount of warmth and spice to refresh you from the cold.

My go to is the Combination Fried Rice with curry sauce. Also love the Vietnamese coffee. Comfortable and casual atmosphere. I've always been happy with service wether dining in or to go.

Duck sautéed noodles were fantastic and the food was out so fast!! Best damn sautéed noodles in town!!!

Rays place is one of those tucked away gems you wonder how you never knew about once you discover it. My sister introduced me to the curry fried rice one day after work. It was a long day and my inner foodie wanted to take comfort in an enormous plate of fried rice, so I did. There are many meat options to add. My favorite is lamb. You might wonder why I chose fried rice to recommend. It's a very common and humble choice and certainly could be obtained at dozens of restaurants around town. Usually not noteworthy. However Rays fried rice is probably the best I've had in town. The curry sauce lights up my taste buds and leaves me wanting more. Rays is good all the way around. The food is always fast, delicious and reasonably priced. They can make it gluten free if you ask ahead. The staff is friendly and the parking lot is always nearly full. Add this place your list of new places to try. You won't be disappointed!

The FOOD!!! The curry fried rice is a must table share. We have not been disappointed yet.

This is my first Vietnamese restaurant that I went to when I first got to Anchorage. The service and seating were good. I could see the waitresses and the waiters waking around with the water pitcher in their hands. I don't see that attentive service at most Asian restaurants, but that's a good thing! The menu is up front with the foods' names and prices. Of course, I expected expensive prices in Anchorage, AK compared to average prices in Seattle, WA. I was disappointed with the limited Pho options because I wanted something like tripe, tendon, and other interesting Asian combo in my soup, but it was 11 am in the morning in a town I wasn't familiar with. I wasn't going to complain, so i ordered plain well-done steak Pho. I looked at my phone and turned around after 1 minute, and the soup bowl was served in front of me. Quick service = 10. Hot soup = 10. Tasty broth = 10. Seriously, you can't go wrong with soup. I'm glad I chose this restaurant as my first stop-by place for breakfast / lunch.

Ray's Place has been around for years and their food is always fantastic. A good friend always loves the tilapia fillet with brown rice. I order the Seafood Curry with vegetables at a medium level spice, and it's perfect to me. They give an ample amount of seafood with sauce to die for. The iced Vietnamese coffee is also delicious! Service is fast and friendly.

Authentic cultural atmosphere with friendly family services and delicious fresh foods.

This restaurant had a large variety of Vietnamese and Asian dishes. The quality and the serving portions were excellent. The service was outstanding and very quick and efficient. They were very attentive to our needs and provided an excellent place to nine. The prices were quite reasonable.

The fried rice is the best in town hands down. A $1 extra for the curry sauce and you have 2 days of meals. They make it to order and there is nothing in town quite like it.

Ray's place is absolutely delicious. Great service, food has always been spot on. Very consistent and great portion size. Thank you to all the great staff

I can't believe that I have been in Anchorage since 1986 and have never been in to Ray's before. Dated yet comfortable interior. Appeared to be clean and well kept (I did not go into the restroom). Nice menu, not overwhelming. The descriptions of each dish were sufficient to really boost my appetite. Plenty of choices regardless of dietary restriction. Wide variety of authentic Vietnamese dishes. Prompt, courteous, attentive server who was able to provide very satisfying recommendation. My meal came out quickly and piping hot. The Nutshell: It was really good. Not mind blowing, just really good. I look forward to going back soon and trying more of their offerings.

Super delicious, affordable, great menu selection. Only downside is; since it is a great restaurant, it is very busy. You might wait for your service couple extra minutes but it is totally worth it.