New Vietnamese Restaurant On Parrott Street Site
Song Hu'o'ng tries to make a go of the downtown site that Vo's had vacated.
Restaurants come and go, and I was both disappointed and curious to see a change of owners and menus at 277 Parrot Street in a lovely locale that had -- and still does -- feature Vietnamese food.
Welcome Song Hu'o'ng, which recently moved into the corner building that formerly housed Vo's Restaurant.
Both the new and departed restaurants serve Vietnamese cuisine (is Vietnamese the new Chinese?).
I do not eat out all that often but I had liked both the menu and decor at Vo's and so I wanted to see what the new owners were up to.
I had a light but filling beef noodle soup. Another in my party had a tasty shrimp dish. The check was reasonable and the food was good but not spectacular.
There is plenty of competition in the Vietnamese category.
In the past I've enjoyed Sylantro Restaurant in the Manor.
But I have not yet made it to Le Soleil on East 14th nor HaLan Restaurant on Lewelling Boulevard, which has been family owned since 2005.
If you've compared the fares of these or other Vietnamese restaurants in town, please jump in with a comment.
(Song Hu'o'ng is open 10 am to 10 pm, seven days a week at 277 Parrott Street, phone 510-357-8368.)
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Marga Lacabe
11:47 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Here are my reviews of the Vietnamese restaurants in San Leandro I've been to. I haven't been to Song Hu'o'ng, the Vietnamese place in Marina Fair or the one on Marina near Dwelling (Saigon 2, I think, if it's still there).
Le Soleil: http://www.marga.org/food/rest/soleil.html
It's a very old review, and we've gone there dozens if not hundreds of times since, but I haven't updated it because, really, the restaurant hasn't changed much. I do wish they would change their menu somewhat. I've actually stopped going because I've had everything I've wanted to try and I'm tired of the dishes.
Pho An Ha: http://www.marga.org/foodblog/2008/08/pho-anh-ha-restaurant-san-leandro/
This is the restaurant by my house. I actually haven't eaten there much since 2008. I decided that it was too expensive and, not eating pho, they didn't offer too much stuff I liked.
Sylanto: http://www.marga.org/foodblog/2010/08/sylantro-vietnamese-cuisine-a-new-gem-in-san-leandro-restaurant-review/
This place is actually very good
Pho An Hoa, this is the one on Floresta Plaza. I went there once but didn't write a review. I thought the food was good and the service bad.
Mr. Bagel: http://www.marga.org/foodblog/2012/01/mr-bagel-cafe-san-leandro-review/
At the former Planet Coffee location offers Vietnamese sandwiches
Tom Abate
2:15 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Thanks for adding those. It's quite a list of places in town.
Jamie
10:14 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Sorry but I've got to chime in here right away. Marga, as a proud Washington Manor native and someone who lives off of the street I feel it is my duty to point out that you are referring to Lewelling Blvd., not Dewelling. I'm sure it was a simple typo on your part but the Scorpio pride in me kicked in.
I didn't realize that Vo's had closed. Was this recent? And I can attest that Sylantro (In the Manor :D) has an excellent veggie bahn mi. As does Li Do in the Lucky shopping center by Bay Fair. Only theirs is hella cheap.
Marga Lacabe
8:07 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Ack, Jamie, I'm sorry. I actually meant Doolittle. Apparently Lewelling and Doolittle crossed in my mind :-)
I think Vo's closing was relatively recent, in the last couple of months or so.
Thanks for the tip on Li Do. I hadn't even noticed the place, but I'm going to try it when I get a chance.
Jamie, also, as a Manor resident, have you been to the Manor Grill since they reopened (which I know was a few years ago)? How is it? Thanks!
Jamie
8:39 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
There is a Pho place on Lewelling, where House of Wong used to be. I have not tried it nor have I been to the Manor Grill recently. I haven't been there in a long while actually. I am itching to try Dick's since it has recent new owners. I just hope they haven't changed too much. Especially the pancakes.
Angela Marrujo
11:24 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The Vietnamese sandwiches (and really, pretty much everything) at Mr. Bagel are really, really good. The meats they use are seasoned so flavorfully, and the ingredients in their sandwiches are fresh. I've been a frequent patron there from the moment they opened - I work a couple doors down and it's a great lunch spot.
Sarah Nash
10:39 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
I haven't tried all of these places, but I agree that Sylantro is quite good. If it was closer to where I live, I'd definitely frequent it more often.