Love this place! Try Mary's special rice plate. This is the old owner's recipe filled with BBQ chicken and prawns. The combo Pho is out of this world tasty too. The new owners are super sweet. A must try!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hendri Tjandra
If a restaurant changes ownership and does not serve the same full menu of the previous owner, is it expedient for the new owner keep the same name to draw in past regulars? Oriental used to be my fav pho restaurant in Berkeley. So many options of Vietnamese food. So when I had two new friends moving to Berkeley, I invited them to lunch at Berkeley after confirming that the restaurant still opened post-pandemic. When we showed up, the first thing that I noticed was the presence of Square as a payment option. Previously, cash was the only option. The servers looked different but I chalked it up to the difficulty of finding servers post-pandemic. Then I opened the menu, and to my surprise, it was not all Vietnamese menu any more. Instead, pho was one of the many options that included instant Korean noodle served with meats. I ordered the Korean noodle soup. It was definitely not the same Oriental bowl of noodle soup. The chicken was too dry. My teenage college kid could serve a lot more delicious instant noodle soup. I was embarrassed for inviting my guests after hyping the restaurant as one of my fav restaurants. My guests were understanding. I would not go back!
Hadlie Ward
This place was great! Delicious bun salad and super nice employees!
Chris Thomas
This place was a wonderful find. Tasty food, and friendly service. We'll be back for sure!Vegetarian options: Vegetable rolls were delish Wheelchair accessibility: Push button, wide entrance
Max J.
Incredibly heartbroken that this place is now closed. I hope the owners enjoy a pleasant retirement though. :(
Patrick B.
Devastated this institution has come to a close. The greatest bowl of bun bo hue in the bay area, and it wasn't even close. I had the privilege of coming here for 10 years, with dozens and dozens of my friends and family. Words cannot describe the love I feel for the spicy thick broth, sticky tables, and crotchety old grandpa telling me how to be a man.
jc d.
this is a question for the owners -- after serving us for decades, what are your names? and when did your restaurant open? thank you for your hard work and good food.
ishsuren battsooj
Best Pho in Berkeley. Yam yam
christopher menasche
Great pho
Pamela C.
I'm a big fan of bun bo hue and their combo bun bo hue hit the spot! Super flavorful soup, lots of meat, nice tender noodles, various crunchy veggies--yum! I also found the male worker greeting everyone by slightly yelling "Yes!!?" super hilarious. He's a jokester for sure.
Pho and Vietnamese iced coffee were very solid. Crispy tofu with lemongrass was delicious. Owners were very friendly.
Monika F.
Best Pho in the East Bay! I've been going here for 8 years anytime I'm need of the ultimate comfort food or hangover-cure. A long time ago I decided to be adventurous and try something else on the menu (maybe one of the chow mein's?), whatever it was, it wasn't memorable and I decided to stick to the Pho. I usually get the Pho Ga. The broth is has a depth of flavor that nourishes the soul, and the chicken is always succulent and perfectly cooked. If it's not obviously available, you can usually request the garlic chili oil condiment. Otherwise their Pho is always served with the usual suspects: Hoisin, Sriracha, cilantro, basil, lime, jalepeno, and bean sprouts. Oriental Restaurant is owned and operated by a wonderful family, and the older father figure approaches customer service in a uniquely entertaining manner. I absolutely adore him. He'll aggressively take really good care of you with the most radiant smile on his face, possibly with a dad-joke or two sprinkled in. **CASH ONLY!**
Willis K.
Easily the best pho in Berkeley and possibly the East Bay. Staff were kind. Extremely reasonable prices as well - a bowl of pho for under 10 bucks is nothing to scoff at. Like most family owned businesses, seems like Covid had a toll on the business so it's always nice to give them my support.
Emily C.
I had the eggplant with soy sauce with rice and tofu (.99 extra) which was made vegan. The portion was fairly large, but the sauce in the dish had large strips of ginger that I was not aware of as it wasn't in the menu description. There were also flies everywhere which landed on my food. Nice enough place and good, but not great with COVID-19 precautions with hand sanitizer in the front. Many customers who walked in didn't have masks at all. We also had to go to the counter to be served.
Jessica O.
love the owners, they were so welcoming and funny. the food was incredible, it was my first time tasting Pho and i absolutely loved it. i got the seafood combo and the shrimp spring rolls with the peanut sauce so good.
Love this place! Try Mary's special rice plate. This is the old owner's recipe filled with BBQ chicken and prawns. The combo Pho is out of this world tasty too. The new owners are super sweet. A must try!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If a restaurant changes ownership and does not serve the same full menu of the previous owner, is it expedient for the new owner keep the same name to draw in past regulars? Oriental used to be my fav pho restaurant in Berkeley. So many options of Vietnamese food. So when I had two new friends moving to Berkeley, I invited them to lunch at Berkeley after confirming that the restaurant still opened post-pandemic. When we showed up, the first thing that I noticed was the presence of Square as a payment option. Previously, cash was the only option. The servers looked different but I chalked it up to the difficulty of finding servers post-pandemic. Then I opened the menu, and to my surprise, it was not all Vietnamese menu any more. Instead, pho was one of the many options that included instant Korean noodle served with meats. I ordered the Korean noodle soup. It was definitely not the same Oriental bowl of noodle soup. The chicken was too dry. My teenage college kid could serve a lot more delicious instant noodle soup. I was embarrassed for inviting my guests after hyping the restaurant as one of my fav restaurants. My guests were understanding. I would not go back!
This place was great! Delicious bun salad and super nice employees!
This place was a wonderful find. Tasty food, and friendly service. We'll be back for sure!Vegetarian options: Vegetable rolls were delish Wheelchair accessibility: Push button, wide entrance
Incredibly heartbroken that this place is now closed. I hope the owners enjoy a pleasant retirement though. :(
Devastated this institution has come to a close. The greatest bowl of bun bo hue in the bay area, and it wasn't even close. I had the privilege of coming here for 10 years, with dozens and dozens of my friends and family. Words cannot describe the love I feel for the spicy thick broth, sticky tables, and crotchety old grandpa telling me how to be a man.
this is a question for the owners -- after serving us for decades, what are your names? and when did your restaurant open? thank you for your hard work and good food.
Best Pho in Berkeley. Yam yam
Great pho
I'm a big fan of bun bo hue and their combo bun bo hue hit the spot! Super flavorful soup, lots of meat, nice tender noodles, various crunchy veggies--yum! I also found the male worker greeting everyone by slightly yelling "Yes!!?" super hilarious. He's a jokester for sure.
Restaurantji Recommends
Pho and Vietnamese iced coffee were very solid. Crispy tofu with lemongrass was delicious. Owners were very friendly.
Best Pho in the East Bay! I've been going here for 8 years anytime I'm need of the ultimate comfort food or hangover-cure. A long time ago I decided to be adventurous and try something else on the menu (maybe one of the chow mein's?), whatever it was, it wasn't memorable and I decided to stick to the Pho. I usually get the Pho Ga. The broth is has a depth of flavor that nourishes the soul, and the chicken is always succulent and perfectly cooked. If it's not obviously available, you can usually request the garlic chili oil condiment. Otherwise their Pho is always served with the usual suspects: Hoisin, Sriracha, cilantro, basil, lime, jalepeno, and bean sprouts. Oriental Restaurant is owned and operated by a wonderful family, and the older father figure approaches customer service in a uniquely entertaining manner. I absolutely adore him. He'll aggressively take really good care of you with the most radiant smile on his face, possibly with a dad-joke or two sprinkled in. **CASH ONLY!**
Easily the best pho in Berkeley and possibly the East Bay. Staff were kind. Extremely reasonable prices as well - a bowl of pho for under 10 bucks is nothing to scoff at. Like most family owned businesses, seems like Covid had a toll on the business so it's always nice to give them my support.
I had the eggplant with soy sauce with rice and tofu (.99 extra) which was made vegan. The portion was fairly large, but the sauce in the dish had large strips of ginger that I was not aware of as it wasn't in the menu description. There were also flies everywhere which landed on my food. Nice enough place and good, but not great with COVID-19 precautions with hand sanitizer in the front. Many customers who walked in didn't have masks at all. We also had to go to the counter to be served.
love the owners, they were so welcoming and funny. the food was incredible, it was my first time tasting Pho and i absolutely loved it. i got the seafood combo and the shrimp spring rolls with the peanut sauce so good.