Pho 84

Founded in 1984 by Ms. Sang, who arrived in America as a refugee, the restaurant grew from a small storefront in the heart of Oakland. When her cooking was initially unfamiliar to locals, she adapted by blending traditional Vietnamese culinary techniques with touches suited to American tastes, keeping the recipes authentic rather than diluted. Decades later, the kitchen carries forward that foundation with handcrafted Vietnamese comfort food, serving staples like classic vermicelli bowls alongside fresh herbs.