You could argue Vien Huong shouldn’t be on this list, since it serves dishes from China’s Guangdong province. But the owners are from Vietnam, and this style of Teochew cooking is really popular in Vietnam. Plus, the restaurant’s name is Vietnamese, so we’re going to say it’s Vietnamese and Chinese. Regardless, noodle soups swimming with fish balls, shrimp, meats, and wide rice or egg noodles are the thing to order here.

This stylish Chinatown restaurant serves Vietnamese-inspired cocktails alongside its traditional Vietnamese eats. The menu draws from all over the country, but diners should pay special attention to dishes from central Vietnam and the Mekong Delta regions. Bánh bột lọc (chewy Hue-style dumplings) are delightful, as are the Mekong turmeric cakes, fried turmeric catfish, and fish curry. Northern Vietnamese bánh cuốn — delicate rice noodle rolls — are also a specialty.

Vietnamese street eats and comfort food are served in a warm, classy setting at Co Nam, the Temescal branch of the popular San Francisco restaurant. The menu changes every so often, but you might see some harder-to-find dishes like ba la lot (grilled beef wrapped in betel leaf) alongside staples like pork belly buns, shaken beef, and build-your-own bowls.

People have fierce opinions about who serves the best pho in town, and for many, that opinion favors Phở Vy Vietnamese Cuisine. The rare steak floating on top of the pho is, indeed, rare. Another great option is the hearty beef stew with soft French bread for dipping.

Pho King recently moved into a bigger space closer to the lake, and it’s as bustling as ever. It’s a favorite spot for pho but perhaps even more so for bun bo Hue, the spicy beef noodle soup teeming with lemongrass.

A top destination for its namesake chicken pho, this East Oakland restaurant is all about the bird. Try chicken over rice, noodle soup with shredded chicken, the whole chicken, or, of course, the pho ga. Either way, you’re getting some of the silkiest meat in town with a generous side of ginger scallion sauce to smear over everything.

Many were devastated when Cam Huong Restaurant closed in Oakland Chinatown — it was a local favorite for exceedingly affordable and reliable banh mi. Fortunately, there’s still this location in East Oakland, serving up the same grilled pork sandwiches for $3.50. The barbecued chicken and curry tofu banh mi are also popular orders.

Prepare to wait during peak times for piping hot goodness at Phở Ao Sen, which tends to be Eater’s pick for the best all-around pho in the East Bay. Whether you’re choosing chicken or beef pho, the broth is consistently good — simultaneously rich, delicate, and simple.

The line moves quickly at Banh Mi Ba Le, which makes what some argue to be the best Vietnamese sandwiches in Oakland. Most sandwiches clock in at about $3 and are stuffed with a generous amount of meat. Don’t miss the version with meatballs and a runny egg — and do throw in a delicious fruit smoothie for kicks.

The menu changes constantly at the Temple Club, but you can bet you’ll see dishes that you can’t find anywhere else in the East Bay. Chef-owner Geoffrey Deetz spent 16 years cooking and eating in Vietnam, and he’s brought back dishes from all corners of the country to his colorful East Oakland restaurant.