Are you looking for delicious and authentic Vietnamese food? You should stop by Alameda to check out Rang Dong. They used to be in Oakland Chinatown but have moved due to a fire. I have been to several Vietnamese restaurants and this place has the best Bun Rieu which is Vietnamese crab noodle soup filled with crab cakes, vermicelli, and tons of other ingredients. I checked out many places including restaurants in San Jose since they have a large Vietnamese community and always find myself coming back to Rang Dong. They have an extensive menu with Vietnamese classics like spring rolls, a variety of Pho options, rice plates, and more. There are also Chinese dishes so I think this is more of a Chinese and Vietnamese fusion restaurant. There is no parking lot so you’ll have to find street parking and it gets pretty busy in the afternoon. Like many places in the Bay Area now, prices have risen so you are looking at about $11- $13 per dish which is considered average now.
Rang Dong’s bun rieu reminds me of home cooking and always leaves me wanting more. Other places usually make the broth salty or overseason it with MSG but this place makes it legit! I've been here a few times and it usually gets pretty crowded during lunchtime so I go during dinner. The portions were on the smaller side compared to other Vietnamese restaurants but it was decent and will still fill you up. I would suggest ordering a side of their egg rolls if you want to try another item. I also tried their banh xeo before which is a Vietnamese crepe made up of turmeric, coconut milk, and rice flour filled with toppings like bean sprouts and pork belly. It was delicious and the size of it was enough to feed two people. Their Thai tea is also a must if you are looking for a classic and refreshing tea to pair with your dish. I love how everything is made in-house and you can taste the quality in the fresh ingredients.
Compared to other restaurants in the Bay Area, this place is a go-to for when I want authentic Vietnamese food. The service is sometimes on the slow side but not bad. I will be coming back when I want more bun rieu or banh xeo! While many places offer Vietnamese food, Rang Dong is my ultimate favorite and reminds me of the perfect comfort food.