So this was a random find and was only craving some hot pot on a cold Monday sprinkly evening. This place popped up on Yelp while checking in the area I was in and I said let's check it out. We arrived around 6ish and there was not too many people but by the time we left, it was 3/4 full.A very modern ambiance for a Vietnamese restaurant. Nicely decorated and plenty of tables even for a big group. It's located in the old Blanding shopping area now where Nob Hills Market is where they modernized the place from my childhood days in Alameda. Alameda has been changing a lot over the decade and for the better with more places to eat.We ordered their sangria and it was pretty good. We also ordered their Beef Luc Lac. Very good portions of beef. The marinated beef was very good and we finished all of that. We also ordered their Lau Pork Bone Marrow soup, and added Wagyu beef and some enoki mushrooms! Not a disappoint. I actually thought the pot was small and that it was not enough for my husband and I to share but I was so wrong!! Very rich broth but once you add the veggies it makes the broth so much better. The broth was so good and creamy.Since it was only two of us, we couldn't order more or add a dessert to try because we were just too full from two things. Service was great! We will definitely be back to try other things. If you like hot pot style, come try this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hot Pot
Nicholas Hendricks
What a great restaurant. Very authentic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef La Lot Grilled Beef Wrapped in Betel Leaf, Hot Pot
Cecille W.
Bacogai has been on the top of my bookmark list ever since I saw them on social media. Hot pot is my favorite type of meal so I knew I had to make the drive out to Alameda to give it a try! I was able to easily make a same-day reservation via Yelp, but because the restaurant was full when we arrived, we still waited about 15 minutes. We didn't try any of their drinks but they have a nice list of cocktails, wine, and beer. Now onto the food - We ordered the Beef La Lot ($25) as our appetizer and it was delicious. It was my first time having this dish and Bacogai has set my expectations high! However, my boyfriend mentioned that $25 is on the pricier end for this compared to other places he's tried. Perhaps because this is categorized as an entree on the menu, but I think if I were to order it as an entree, I would only get it if I wasn't that hungry since the portion is on the smaller side. For our individual hot pots, I got the Lau Oxtail ($26) and my boyfriend got the Lau Canh Chua ($27) which is mainly seafood with a sweet and sour tamarind broth. I really enjoyed my Lau Oxtail broth and there was decent amounts of oxtail, tripe, and beef balls. My boyfriend is a big fan of tamarind and his broth was very flavorful and "exactly what he wanted". Because the portions are on the smaller side and there really isn't much meat, we ordered the beef tongue and Australian wagyu beef as an add on to share. The quality of the meat was good but also on the pricier end. Service was great, they were very attentive, checked in on us multiple times, and re-lit our fires quickly when it went out (2-3x). Overall, Bacogai was a delicious and high-quality meal, but it was expensive for the amount of food we got. I don't think I'll be visiting regularly since the drive is a little far from me, but if you're in the area its definitely worth a try.
Lisa Y.
Came here for dinner on Saturday with my boyfriend. I recommend making a reservation. We ordered the summer rolls and two hot pots (Lau Canh Chua) and (Lau Mushroom) with a side of Kurobuta pork collar. It was super filling and worth the price. Next time, we'll probably order one hot pot and more plates of meat (wagyu beef, Angus beef, etc).
Foodie I.
The menu doesn't have a lot of choices. $30 for a pot of soup that's very salty. We saw people ordered a soup to share and ordered al la carte hotpot items but then the soup will get even more salty because you need to pay additional $4 for more soup lol it's very expensive for a lunch but will probably come back again just to get the soup to go so I can dilute it for hotpot
Andrea T.
Super yum!! I really enjoyed the flavor of the soup and variety of add-ins. Service was fabulous, and the waitstaff was so kind! A little dismayed that the extra broth was an added charge - but I get it, it's like liquid gold. It can get crowded on the weekends, so be sure to come early~
Javier G.
The food is good although the portions are rather small. For example, the hotpot is really on feasible for one person although I would typically share among several people. I think the prices are a little on the higher end for the amount of food. Had a great time and good food but might not be on my go-to list. The staff is friendly and the restaurant is spacious and clean..
Frances C.
Food is very authentic and the broth is heaven, milky and very tasty - no MSG Service is nice and the decor is pleasant, spacious and warm. If you ever need to have some comfort food, that's the place to be. Very good concept with Vietnamese soup base and hot pot and with a nice spread of sides. Especially need to support small businesses. They are owned by pretty young hard working women.
Monica L.
We were excited to try this place out because of all the raving reviews. Ordered the oxtail and the seafood hot pot. Everything from service to the food was great but it was extremely pricey for what it was worth. The hot pot portions were also small compared to other places I've been to so we were a bit disappointed.
Corey P.
So much hype surrounding this place. I saw it all over social media. The food itself in terms of flavor is great. I would say the portions are kind of small given the price. It does satisfy that Vietnamese flavor profile if you long for it or need a quick fix. Service was very friendly. I felt like staff checked in pretty frequently and it felt warm and welcoming. The restaurant itself felt spacious. Not bad for a date spot. I would say this place is worth a try if you're curious. I prefer AYCE hotpot elsewhere in general. I wouldn't come here often, but I'm glad this place is an option if I can't get a home cooked meal from time to time.
Love this place! I've gotten it take out a few times and have gone in to eat a couple times too and they never fail to impress me! I've tried all the lau's and personally, my favorite is the pork bone marrow one. But all of the broths are absolutely delicious!! Also, tried the beef luc lac and wow I was blown away. So freaking good. Will definitely order this again. The dessert was good too, nothing out of the ordinary though. It's always chill inside and I'm always able to get a table immediately. The workers are very kind and sweet! The restaurant is located in a plaza so parking is not a problem at all!
Tiffany N.
As a viet person I rarely eat out at viet restaurants but was in the area and decided to check it out. My bf and I ordered the canh cua hot pot which is where they just put the vegetables on the side. Honestly this can feed 2 people even they said it feeds one. They gave tons of catfish also. We also got the Bo luc lac and it was little sweet for my liking but my bf liked it. Wish the pandan waffle was crispy but love that they paired it with ice cream. Overall it was good if you're craving viet food but since I eat it almost every day, it was just alright for me. But I give it a plus for their ambiance, decor and vibes. Very modern feel and service was good.
Chin T.
Great food and service. Will definitely come back. Fairly new restaurant. Clean and spacious.
Amy G.
This place has a lot of potential. Bacogai is a Vietnamese restaurant in Alameda that is known for its Vietnamese-style hotpots and banh hoi, which is a dish that consists of woven vermicelli served with protein, egg rolls, lettuce, and nuoc cham dipping sauce. Props to this place for using fresh ingredients. The flavors are refreshing, complex, yet so comforting. Though I wish their portion sizes were bigger because I was still left hungry after eating a $27 hotpot with $15 of additional beef slices... Expensive.
Vanessa D.
The service was amazing! Not sure if we were talking with the owners, but they were very nice and understanding! The food was good! I like the concept or hot pot pho. I did feel it was a bit overpriced but they include ox tail in the soup which can get pretty pricey so I understand. The broth is very rich compared to an average bowl of pho. Definitely need the napa and spinach to cut through but overall really good!
So this was a random find and was only craving some hot pot on a cold Monday sprinkly evening. This place popped up on Yelp while checking in the area I was in and I said let's check it out. We arrived around 6ish and there was not too many people but by the time we left, it was 3/4 full.A very modern ambiance for a Vietnamese restaurant. Nicely decorated and plenty of tables even for a big group. It's located in the old Blanding shopping area now where Nob Hills Market is where they modernized the place from my childhood days in Alameda. Alameda has been changing a lot over the decade and for the better with more places to eat.We ordered their sangria and it was pretty good. We also ordered their Beef Luc Lac. Very good portions of beef. The marinated beef was very good and we finished all of that. We also ordered their Lau Pork Bone Marrow soup, and added Wagyu beef and some enoki mushrooms! Not a disappoint. I actually thought the pot was small and that it was not enough for my husband and I to share but I was so wrong!! Very rich broth but once you add the veggies it makes the broth so much better. The broth was so good and creamy.Since it was only two of us, we couldn't order more or add a dessert to try because we were just too full from two things. Service was great! We will definitely be back to try other things. If you like hot pot style, come try this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hot Pot
What a great restaurant. Very authentic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef La Lot Grilled Beef Wrapped in Betel Leaf, Hot Pot
Bacogai has been on the top of my bookmark list ever since I saw them on social media. Hot pot is my favorite type of meal so I knew I had to make the drive out to Alameda to give it a try! I was able to easily make a same-day reservation via Yelp, but because the restaurant was full when we arrived, we still waited about 15 minutes. We didn't try any of their drinks but they have a nice list of cocktails, wine, and beer. Now onto the food - We ordered the Beef La Lot ($25) as our appetizer and it was delicious. It was my first time having this dish and Bacogai has set my expectations high! However, my boyfriend mentioned that $25 is on the pricier end for this compared to other places he's tried. Perhaps because this is categorized as an entree on the menu, but I think if I were to order it as an entree, I would only get it if I wasn't that hungry since the portion is on the smaller side. For our individual hot pots, I got the Lau Oxtail ($26) and my boyfriend got the Lau Canh Chua ($27) which is mainly seafood with a sweet and sour tamarind broth. I really enjoyed my Lau Oxtail broth and there was decent amounts of oxtail, tripe, and beef balls. My boyfriend is a big fan of tamarind and his broth was very flavorful and "exactly what he wanted". Because the portions are on the smaller side and there really isn't much meat, we ordered the beef tongue and Australian wagyu beef as an add on to share. The quality of the meat was good but also on the pricier end. Service was great, they were very attentive, checked in on us multiple times, and re-lit our fires quickly when it went out (2-3x). Overall, Bacogai was a delicious and high-quality meal, but it was expensive for the amount of food we got. I don't think I'll be visiting regularly since the drive is a little far from me, but if you're in the area its definitely worth a try.
Came here for dinner on Saturday with my boyfriend. I recommend making a reservation. We ordered the summer rolls and two hot pots (Lau Canh Chua) and (Lau Mushroom) with a side of Kurobuta pork collar. It was super filling and worth the price. Next time, we'll probably order one hot pot and more plates of meat (wagyu beef, Angus beef, etc).
The menu doesn't have a lot of choices. $30 for a pot of soup that's very salty. We saw people ordered a soup to share and ordered al la carte hotpot items but then the soup will get even more salty because you need to pay additional $4 for more soup lol it's very expensive for a lunch but will probably come back again just to get the soup to go so I can dilute it for hotpot
Super yum!! I really enjoyed the flavor of the soup and variety of add-ins. Service was fabulous, and the waitstaff was so kind! A little dismayed that the extra broth was an added charge - but I get it, it's like liquid gold. It can get crowded on the weekends, so be sure to come early~
The food is good although the portions are rather small. For example, the hotpot is really on feasible for one person although I would typically share among several people. I think the prices are a little on the higher end for the amount of food. Had a great time and good food but might not be on my go-to list. The staff is friendly and the restaurant is spacious and clean..
Food is very authentic and the broth is heaven, milky and very tasty - no MSG Service is nice and the decor is pleasant, spacious and warm. If you ever need to have some comfort food, that's the place to be. Very good concept with Vietnamese soup base and hot pot and with a nice spread of sides. Especially need to support small businesses. They are owned by pretty young hard working women.
We were excited to try this place out because of all the raving reviews. Ordered the oxtail and the seafood hot pot. Everything from service to the food was great but it was extremely pricey for what it was worth. The hot pot portions were also small compared to other places I've been to so we were a bit disappointed.
So much hype surrounding this place. I saw it all over social media. The food itself in terms of flavor is great. I would say the portions are kind of small given the price. It does satisfy that Vietnamese flavor profile if you long for it or need a quick fix. Service was very friendly. I felt like staff checked in pretty frequently and it felt warm and welcoming. The restaurant itself felt spacious. Not bad for a date spot. I would say this place is worth a try if you're curious. I prefer AYCE hotpot elsewhere in general. I wouldn't come here often, but I'm glad this place is an option if I can't get a home cooked meal from time to time.
Restaurantji Recommends
Love this place! I've gotten it take out a few times and have gone in to eat a couple times too and they never fail to impress me! I've tried all the lau's and personally, my favorite is the pork bone marrow one. But all of the broths are absolutely delicious!! Also, tried the beef luc lac and wow I was blown away. So freaking good. Will definitely order this again. The dessert was good too, nothing out of the ordinary though. It's always chill inside and I'm always able to get a table immediately. The workers are very kind and sweet! The restaurant is located in a plaza so parking is not a problem at all!
As a viet person I rarely eat out at viet restaurants but was in the area and decided to check it out. My bf and I ordered the canh cua hot pot which is where they just put the vegetables on the side. Honestly this can feed 2 people even they said it feeds one. They gave tons of catfish also. We also got the Bo luc lac and it was little sweet for my liking but my bf liked it. Wish the pandan waffle was crispy but love that they paired it with ice cream. Overall it was good if you're craving viet food but since I eat it almost every day, it was just alright for me. But I give it a plus for their ambiance, decor and vibes. Very modern feel and service was good.
Great food and service. Will definitely come back. Fairly new restaurant. Clean and spacious.
This place has a lot of potential. Bacogai is a Vietnamese restaurant in Alameda that is known for its Vietnamese-style hotpots and banh hoi, which is a dish that consists of woven vermicelli served with protein, egg rolls, lettuce, and nuoc cham dipping sauce. Props to this place for using fresh ingredients. The flavors are refreshing, complex, yet so comforting. Though I wish their portion sizes were bigger because I was still left hungry after eating a $27 hotpot with $15 of additional beef slices... Expensive.
The service was amazing! Not sure if we were talking with the owners, but they were very nice and understanding! The food was good! I like the concept or hot pot pho. I did feel it was a bit overpriced but they include ox tail in the soup which can get pretty pricey so I understand. The broth is very rich compared to an average bowl of pho. Definitely need the napa and spinach to cut through but overall really good!