BA~nh Minh Qua!N

User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Stellar Vietnamese near Chinatown: This little place became one my favorite local Vietnamese restaurants after just one visit. Since the departure of Vi's a few years ago, and the closure of Vo's after the fire, we have been sticking to Pho 84 and the small but charming pho shops around San Antonio Park. But Binh Minh Quan has stolen my heart with one exceptional dish, the bun (rice vermicelli) special with shredded pork, beef, chicken, prawns, and sliced imperial roll, served with pickled carrots, green onions, bean sprouts, mint, and a tangy, pungent fish sauce on the side. Each of the meats had a distinctive and delicate flavor, blending very well with one another and with the noodles/condiments. They have an extensive menu that I am now very anxious to explore. I have read that the hot pots are exceptional; they also offer some exotic meats such as frog, deer, and boar...

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User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Everyone should have a favorite restaurant as good as this. I have had many bowls of Pho at Binh Minh Quan over the last 10 years, and it has always been a pleasure.

This is a local Vietnamese family restaurant that has become very successful, and is still growing. They work very hard to make a friendly atmosphere with wonderful food.

My wife likes the Calamari. My wife and daughter both like the Chicken with rice & eggrolls. They especially like the eggrolls.

I live for the Chicken Pho.

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User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Great Vietnamese food in Oakland Chinatown: Binh Minh Quan is a great find for Vietnamese food in downtown Oakland. We visited the restaurant on a Sunday evening and the place was buzzing with activity. This seems to be a popular place for families with children. It was somewhat on the noisy side, but the food was well worth this minor inconvenience.

The food is a departure from the usual fare at most Vietnamese restaurants. The flavors are unique, but not overpowering. We enjoyed a very satisfactory meal. First, they bringt a pot of aromatic tea. The tea is pale yellow and has a very pleasant, somewhat flowery fragrance. I don't know what kind of tea this is, but it was refreshing and delicious. I loved the Marinated Beef in Tamarind #90 with a side of rice, and my husband was very pleased with the Broken Rice, grilled beef, shrimp stick and grilled pork #22. All portions were generous, so you don't go away hungry. We also had the Shrimp Salad Roll appetizer and a 33 Vietnamese Beer. The total bill came to $31 before the tip.

An unusual curtain strung with small, slender wooden dowels on strands of string and a casual arrangement of bamboo poles decorates the front windows. From the street, it looked cute and inviting and drew us in. Inside, the atmosphere is pleasant and casual. A woven rolled plant material covers the lower half of the walls, and there is a tiki style island in the rear.

All in all, this was a very positive experience. We will return to try some of the other dishes on the extensive menu.

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