Nyum Bai has been on my to try list ever since they were highlighted by James Beard a few years ago, but I never make it out to Oakland, and I heard lines and wait times were insane before. I have a soft spot in my heart and stomach for mee kola. It was my go-to comfort food dish at my favorite place just outside of Boston (Floating Rock.. RIP..) It's been incredibly hard to find - I tried a bunch of Cambodian places in Long Beach and San Jose, but no one ever seems to have this noodle dish, so I was excited to see it on the menu at Nyum Bai. They have indoor and patio seating with reservations on Resy - it wasn't hard to get a same week Sunday brunch reservation. That said, it is Fruitvale, and we had a sleepy toddler in tow, so we changed to takeout at the last minute (via toast tab). We double parked while one person ran out to pick up the food, but it didn't seem very easy to find parking. - Mee kola: the soft cooked egg is a nice variation from the traditional hard boiled egg. The pickles were a little under marinated, but the noodle flavor was exactly what I was looking for. It's a simple home style dish - Prahok ktiss + rice: pork belly simmered in a Khmer coconut curry - like a curry dip with seasonal raw vegetables and crisped rice for dipping, plus jasmine rice for the extra sauce. This reminded me of a cross between a bolognese and a curry. It's super bold and rich in flavor and is definitely worth a try Prices are much higher than my old school grandma kitchen in Revere, MA, but the mee kola hit the spot. It is quite the trek from the peninsula, but if you're ever in the Oakland area, it's worth a detour for Cambodian food.
Amy H.
Nyum Bai definitely have a lot flavors in their dishes. The food is authentic. It's delicious. My taste buds got excited with every bite. We had the green mango with spicy chili pepper paste; prahok ktiss; and shaken beef loc lok. I was watching the chef from behind the glass kitchen and can tell she put in a lot of passion and time into her cooking. She was very focused. The flames flared while she was cooking the shaken beef loc lok. I can smell the smoke charred marinated beef in the air. It felt like I'm watching a cooking show live. That loc lok is the best thing I've tasted. I loved every single bite of it. The prahok ktiss was a fun dish to eat. The ground pork simmered curry red sauce is addictively good and goes great with the veggies. I scooped some of the pork sauce onto rice and I literally closed my eyes and open them wide like Mark Weins. Wow. So simple yet, so good! Watch out for the spicy chili paste that comes with the green mangos. It's hella spicy! And I love spicy! I did dip some of that onto the loc lok. Mmm. I also got a jar of their chili oil garlic crisp. It was an expensive dinner but overall, we enjoyed it. It was our first time dining here as well. I'm glad we came and finally tried it. I recommend this place. Restaurant is hip and small with a few seats indoors & outdoors. Very lively. It gets busy, so reservations is suggested. Parking was plenty on the streets and had no issue finding parking. I love to come back and try other dishes. Thank you for a delicious meal chef Yun!
Amy P.
The flavors were really good and the vibe was fun and the staff was friendly. The prices though seemed really high. $17 for sautéed vegetables is ridiculous. Not sure if I would ever come back because of the prices.
ariel r.
Great service. Host and waitress where attentive and helpful. Food was great. Solid beer selection
Irene Y.
** February 2022 Visit: Saturday Night ** Okay to be fair my friend and I had already been eating all day and we had a full dinner before coming here, BUT... I had heard so many good things about this restaurant (and it was walking distance from the last restaurant) so we stopped by to share a dish. It's located in Fruitvale and while the neighborhood is a little rough around the edges, this particular shop has a very hipster/trendy feel to it. There were neon lights inside. Patrons were asked to show both ID and vac card to be seated indoors, though there were quite a few takeout orders and outdoor tables. Honestly, we were full but the hostess told us about the Prahok Ktiss + Bai ($20), which was Chef Nite's favorite dish, so we HAD to try it. The veggies were fresh, and the minced pork concoction was tasty with the rice. However, I think had I had room I probably would have loved to have tried the Kuy Teav Phnom Penh Noodle Dish ($18) with Shrimp ($3) and/or the Mee Kola ($18), a cold noodle dish. I will be back!
Katie G.
Updating review! Amok is still my favorite...tonight had that and Cha Ban Lai, Cha Troup. Intense flavors and you have to drink the sauce/broth it's so good. Amazing! We got some Mama Teav's hot garlic sauce too which I'll literally eat right from the jar as well as a condiment. Rosé and red wine were good and dry. It was hard to stop myself from eating to make sure for leftovers but I did and can't wait to have them!! The ambiance is wonderful with a cute little patio and indoor space. We had wine while we waited on a bench (only 10 min.) for a table. Everyone there is super sweet. Love it here!!
Helen Yamamoto
Great service, delicious food, and a fun ambiance! I first tried Nyum Bai at Outside Lands this year and was thrilled to finally visit their brick and mortar location in Oakland. It was a fun vibe during dinner, and my friends and I will definitely be back!
Wes K.
Me and the homie Lakeside Kevy Kev was droppin off the homie Noodles at the Oakland Airport and on the way back to the Rich i asked him if he wanted to grab some Cambodian food. So he was down and i've been wanting to try Nyum Bai since i heard their Kuy Teav was pretty good. So we drove into Fruitvale for dinner and i ordered the Kuy Teav, Lakeside Kevy Kev ordered the Amok and we split a order of some Khmer fried chicken wangs. The Kuy Teav was busssssin and a lil different then original Kuy Teav because they used pork ramen style broth instead of the beef broth that i'm use to eating for Kuy Teav, but yo! this place is definitely a good spot to try, i'll mos def come back again if i'm in the Town.
Ellen H.
Nyum Bai is a well regarded Cambodian restaurant in Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood. It has been on our must visit list for years and we finally got a chance in early 2022. It was nominated for Best New Restaurant in 2019 by the James Beard Awards. On a Saturday night, few people were indoors, several tables were occupied outside. Not many heat lamps. We called directly to order and maximize their revenue. During the Covid 19 Pandemic in 2021, we visited them for take out. We were trying to support local restaurants, so they can survive. All will get a 4 star review for being open. Safety Pluses - Online menu, Delivery services available, online ordering, social distancing. Minuses - None Picks: Khmer FRIED CHICKEN gf ($14) with kampot peppercorn & lime zest was fantastic. Eggless batter deep fried until crispy with about 8 small pieces of chicken. Lots of flavor and crunch. 10/10 KUY TEAV PHNOM PENH GF ($18) Cambodia quintessential noodle soup! 8 hour pork broth with rice noodles, pork, sliced beef. Make sure to squeeze the lime. Is similar to a wide rice noodle pho. Strong broth flavor and large chunks of pork. 8.5/10 KOH + Bai GF ($20) Braised succulent pork belly in caramelized palm sugar with soy braised daikon & soft boiled eggs w/ peppery note, ginger & star anise, hodo-soy tofu is a signature dish. Really good sauce with tender large chunk of pork belly. Daikon was a bit of an odd touch. 9/10 Cha Ban Laigf ($16) Sauteed seasonal greens, fermented salted beans, shallots chips with vegan option. Was very heavy with the sweetish sauce. Today's veggie was pea shoots. 8/10
Wei D.
Nyum Bai is absolutely one of my favorites in Oakland! I particularly love how small and intimate it feels. Everything I've tried here has been amazing! My favorite has got to be the pork belly. It is so tender and flavorful - I think about it at odd moments days after having it. Although it is a little far from where I live, I always try to go whenever possible for a guaranteed great dinner. The staff has always been nice and accommodating. Looking forward to the next time I get to come here!
Wow! Absolutely delicious food! The variety of tastes was incredible. I took my family there for a feast. Everyone enjoyed the depths of seasonings and authentic Cambodian food. I highly recommend this restaurant! Especially if you are a foodie :)
Katie Y.
I finally made the trek down to Nyum Bai (it's far from North Oakland!) - met up with some friends coming from Union City so it was a great in-between spot. We sat outside because of Omicron concerns - there are are heat lamps but you'll need to dress warmly. The outside tables had tablecloth like what you'd see in Southeast Asia, how cute! If you want to sit inside be sure to make a reservation if you're coming on a weekend. Two of us split the papaya salad, yellow curry, and pork belly. The yellow curry flavor was really amazing but I wish there was more stuff in it vs just sauce. The pork belly was amazing. The papaya salad was a bit spicy (not unbearable), but I didn't love it because it had way too much fish sauce. We were also eating with my friend from Cambodia - he said all the dishes except for the pork belly were very authentic concepts! He seemed to like his minced pork and amok Street was pretty quiet. It's in a bit of a rundown area but we did not have any issues sitting outside.
Tommy G.
Came with two friends tonight and we ordered family style. Every single dish we ordered was simply amazing. We had the catfish soufflé, pork belly, minced pork, and cold noodles. The side broth is delicious full of flavor and little bits. It was so good I ordered two servings. I've been hearing about Nyum Bai for some time and am so happy I made the trip out to visit. I will be coming back and telling my friends to try it too!
Angela L.
I saw a video featuring Chef Nite and Nyum Bai a while ago and had always wanted to check it out, but I never felt motivated enough to make the trek over the bay. Then on Sundays, when I actually had time, I saw that it was their rest day. Alas, I've finally tried it!! Went over on a Friday night - had made reservations just in case. It was easy to park right across the street from the restaurant, but the area is pretty sketchy, so beware. We ordered the papaya salad, kuy teav noodle soup, phrahok ktiss, and coconut mochi dessert. The papaya salad is probably one of the best I've ever had - it's super spicy and flavorful. The noodle soup was also delicious - and very filling. It's a huge portion. People get so addicted to the broth, they offer it as a side dish. Also really liked the phrahok ktiss! I am guilty of watching some mukbang videos, and there's always the southeast asian people who have a huge plate of raw veggies that they dip in what looks to be hot sauce. I've always wanted to try it, and my dream finally came true! It was fun to see which combo of veggie tasted best with the pork belly. Really, everything that we ordered here was delicious, and I would definitely come back. The only thing I didn't love with the mochi sesame ball filled with palm sugar - it was too much. Like literally just putting a wad of sugar and burnt sesame seeds. And I really just love the Chinese ones from dim sum.
Robin C.
Just great! Nice sized heated patio, and cute tables. Food was excellent and hit all the right spicy/funky/sour/salty/fishy notes. Also the Thai tea with oat milk is bomb.
Nyum Bai has been on my to try list ever since they were highlighted by James Beard a few years ago, but I never make it out to Oakland, and I heard lines and wait times were insane before. I have a soft spot in my heart and stomach for mee kola. It was my go-to comfort food dish at my favorite place just outside of Boston (Floating Rock.. RIP..) It's been incredibly hard to find - I tried a bunch of Cambodian places in Long Beach and San Jose, but no one ever seems to have this noodle dish, so I was excited to see it on the menu at Nyum Bai. They have indoor and patio seating with reservations on Resy - it wasn't hard to get a same week Sunday brunch reservation. That said, it is Fruitvale, and we had a sleepy toddler in tow, so we changed to takeout at the last minute (via toast tab). We double parked while one person ran out to pick up the food, but it didn't seem very easy to find parking. - Mee kola: the soft cooked egg is a nice variation from the traditional hard boiled egg. The pickles were a little under marinated, but the noodle flavor was exactly what I was looking for. It's a simple home style dish - Prahok ktiss + rice: pork belly simmered in a Khmer coconut curry - like a curry dip with seasonal raw vegetables and crisped rice for dipping, plus jasmine rice for the extra sauce. This reminded me of a cross between a bolognese and a curry. It's super bold and rich in flavor and is definitely worth a try Prices are much higher than my old school grandma kitchen in Revere, MA, but the mee kola hit the spot. It is quite the trek from the peninsula, but if you're ever in the Oakland area, it's worth a detour for Cambodian food.
Nyum Bai definitely have a lot flavors in their dishes. The food is authentic. It's delicious. My taste buds got excited with every bite. We had the green mango with spicy chili pepper paste; prahok ktiss; and shaken beef loc lok. I was watching the chef from behind the glass kitchen and can tell she put in a lot of passion and time into her cooking. She was very focused. The flames flared while she was cooking the shaken beef loc lok. I can smell the smoke charred marinated beef in the air. It felt like I'm watching a cooking show live. That loc lok is the best thing I've tasted. I loved every single bite of it. The prahok ktiss was a fun dish to eat. The ground pork simmered curry red sauce is addictively good and goes great with the veggies. I scooped some of the pork sauce onto rice and I literally closed my eyes and open them wide like Mark Weins. Wow. So simple yet, so good! Watch out for the spicy chili paste that comes with the green mangos. It's hella spicy! And I love spicy! I did dip some of that onto the loc lok. Mmm. I also got a jar of their chili oil garlic crisp. It was an expensive dinner but overall, we enjoyed it. It was our first time dining here as well. I'm glad we came and finally tried it. I recommend this place. Restaurant is hip and small with a few seats indoors & outdoors. Very lively. It gets busy, so reservations is suggested. Parking was plenty on the streets and had no issue finding parking. I love to come back and try other dishes. Thank you for a delicious meal chef Yun!
The flavors were really good and the vibe was fun and the staff was friendly. The prices though seemed really high. $17 for sautéed vegetables is ridiculous. Not sure if I would ever come back because of the prices.
Great service. Host and waitress where attentive and helpful. Food was great. Solid beer selection
** February 2022 Visit: Saturday Night ** Okay to be fair my friend and I had already been eating all day and we had a full dinner before coming here, BUT... I had heard so many good things about this restaurant (and it was walking distance from the last restaurant) so we stopped by to share a dish. It's located in Fruitvale and while the neighborhood is a little rough around the edges, this particular shop has a very hipster/trendy feel to it. There were neon lights inside. Patrons were asked to show both ID and vac card to be seated indoors, though there were quite a few takeout orders and outdoor tables. Honestly, we were full but the hostess told us about the Prahok Ktiss + Bai ($20), which was Chef Nite's favorite dish, so we HAD to try it. The veggies were fresh, and the minced pork concoction was tasty with the rice. However, I think had I had room I probably would have loved to have tried the Kuy Teav Phnom Penh Noodle Dish ($18) with Shrimp ($3) and/or the Mee Kola ($18), a cold noodle dish. I will be back!
Updating review! Amok is still my favorite...tonight had that and Cha Ban Lai, Cha Troup. Intense flavors and you have to drink the sauce/broth it's so good. Amazing! We got some Mama Teav's hot garlic sauce too which I'll literally eat right from the jar as well as a condiment. Rosé and red wine were good and dry. It was hard to stop myself from eating to make sure for leftovers but I did and can't wait to have them!! The ambiance is wonderful with a cute little patio and indoor space. We had wine while we waited on a bench (only 10 min.) for a table. Everyone there is super sweet. Love it here!!
Great service, delicious food, and a fun ambiance! I first tried Nyum Bai at Outside Lands this year and was thrilled to finally visit their brick and mortar location in Oakland. It was a fun vibe during dinner, and my friends and I will definitely be back!
Me and the homie Lakeside Kevy Kev was droppin off the homie Noodles at the Oakland Airport and on the way back to the Rich i asked him if he wanted to grab some Cambodian food. So he was down and i've been wanting to try Nyum Bai since i heard their Kuy Teav was pretty good. So we drove into Fruitvale for dinner and i ordered the Kuy Teav, Lakeside Kevy Kev ordered the Amok and we split a order of some Khmer fried chicken wangs. The Kuy Teav was busssssin and a lil different then original Kuy Teav because they used pork ramen style broth instead of the beef broth that i'm use to eating for Kuy Teav, but yo! this place is definitely a good spot to try, i'll mos def come back again if i'm in the Town.
Nyum Bai is a well regarded Cambodian restaurant in Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood. It has been on our must visit list for years and we finally got a chance in early 2022. It was nominated for Best New Restaurant in 2019 by the James Beard Awards. On a Saturday night, few people were indoors, several tables were occupied outside. Not many heat lamps. We called directly to order and maximize their revenue. During the Covid 19 Pandemic in 2021, we visited them for take out. We were trying to support local restaurants, so they can survive. All will get a 4 star review for being open. Safety Pluses - Online menu, Delivery services available, online ordering, social distancing. Minuses - None Picks: Khmer FRIED CHICKEN gf ($14) with kampot peppercorn & lime zest was fantastic. Eggless batter deep fried until crispy with about 8 small pieces of chicken. Lots of flavor and crunch. 10/10 KUY TEAV PHNOM PENH GF ($18) Cambodia quintessential noodle soup! 8 hour pork broth with rice noodles, pork, sliced beef. Make sure to squeeze the lime. Is similar to a wide rice noodle pho. Strong broth flavor and large chunks of pork. 8.5/10 KOH + Bai GF ($20) Braised succulent pork belly in caramelized palm sugar with soy braised daikon & soft boiled eggs w/ peppery note, ginger & star anise, hodo-soy tofu is a signature dish. Really good sauce with tender large chunk of pork belly. Daikon was a bit of an odd touch. 9/10 Cha Ban Laigf ($16) Sauteed seasonal greens, fermented salted beans, shallots chips with vegan option. Was very heavy with the sweetish sauce. Today's veggie was pea shoots. 8/10
Nyum Bai is absolutely one of my favorites in Oakland! I particularly love how small and intimate it feels. Everything I've tried here has been amazing! My favorite has got to be the pork belly. It is so tender and flavorful - I think about it at odd moments days after having it. Although it is a little far from where I live, I always try to go whenever possible for a guaranteed great dinner. The staff has always been nice and accommodating. Looking forward to the next time I get to come here!
Restaurantji Recommends
Wow! Absolutely delicious food! The variety of tastes was incredible. I took my family there for a feast. Everyone enjoyed the depths of seasonings and authentic Cambodian food. I highly recommend this restaurant! Especially if you are a foodie :)
I finally made the trek down to Nyum Bai (it's far from North Oakland!) - met up with some friends coming from Union City so it was a great in-between spot. We sat outside because of Omicron concerns - there are are heat lamps but you'll need to dress warmly. The outside tables had tablecloth like what you'd see in Southeast Asia, how cute! If you want to sit inside be sure to make a reservation if you're coming on a weekend. Two of us split the papaya salad, yellow curry, and pork belly. The yellow curry flavor was really amazing but I wish there was more stuff in it vs just sauce. The pork belly was amazing. The papaya salad was a bit spicy (not unbearable), but I didn't love it because it had way too much fish sauce. We were also eating with my friend from Cambodia - he said all the dishes except for the pork belly were very authentic concepts! He seemed to like his minced pork and amok Street was pretty quiet. It's in a bit of a rundown area but we did not have any issues sitting outside.
Came with two friends tonight and we ordered family style. Every single dish we ordered was simply amazing. We had the catfish soufflé, pork belly, minced pork, and cold noodles. The side broth is delicious full of flavor and little bits. It was so good I ordered two servings. I've been hearing about Nyum Bai for some time and am so happy I made the trip out to visit. I will be coming back and telling my friends to try it too!
I saw a video featuring Chef Nite and Nyum Bai a while ago and had always wanted to check it out, but I never felt motivated enough to make the trek over the bay. Then on Sundays, when I actually had time, I saw that it was their rest day. Alas, I've finally tried it!! Went over on a Friday night - had made reservations just in case. It was easy to park right across the street from the restaurant, but the area is pretty sketchy, so beware. We ordered the papaya salad, kuy teav noodle soup, phrahok ktiss, and coconut mochi dessert. The papaya salad is probably one of the best I've ever had - it's super spicy and flavorful. The noodle soup was also delicious - and very filling. It's a huge portion. People get so addicted to the broth, they offer it as a side dish. Also really liked the phrahok ktiss! I am guilty of watching some mukbang videos, and there's always the southeast asian people who have a huge plate of raw veggies that they dip in what looks to be hot sauce. I've always wanted to try it, and my dream finally came true! It was fun to see which combo of veggie tasted best with the pork belly. Really, everything that we ordered here was delicious, and I would definitely come back. The only thing I didn't love with the mochi sesame ball filled with palm sugar - it was too much. Like literally just putting a wad of sugar and burnt sesame seeds. And I really just love the Chinese ones from dim sum.
Just great! Nice sized heated patio, and cute tables. Food was excellent and hit all the right spicy/funky/sour/salty/fishy notes. Also the Thai tea with oat milk is bomb.