I had lunch here today with a close friend. I enjoyed it very much! The food is excellent, fresh and veggies cooked just the way I like them, al dente. Tofu was fried perfectly in my eggplant/tofu/green been dish with rice. The atmosphere was pleasant with the music turned low so we could have a real conversation. Wait staff was pleasant and unobtrusive, very fast to get our food, and didn't rush us out the door at all. It's a simple, small place with great food and service.
(5)
Jill T.
This place was seriously the BOMB! I am a huge PHO fan but they didn't have many choices on the menu for that so I ordered the ribs instead, trying something different. Overall our party has the sugar cane shrimp rolls which were the most interesting best tasting fresh rolls I have had...super yum. The dumplings were soo good! The stuffed egg plant was good, the chili ribs were interesting and tasty. The drinks were well done. Overall it's really good fusion type food. It's worth the price of admission.
(4)
Lien D.
This is now my number one favorite Vietnamese place to eat. The food is authentic, yet modern. If you go, order everything that Hellen D recommends (that's my sister!). My favorite thing to eat there was the Nem Nuong rolls, the shaking beef (OMG- so good) and the ribs. How are they so crunchy, yet still fall off the bone???? Oh wait, the green bean salad was fantastic too. I think the prices are fairly reasonable given the quality of the food and atmosphere. I spent $160 for 8 people for dinner - with drinks. That's only $20 per person!! You want cheap vietnamese food? Go to Chinatown or some place off International Blvd where they clean your table with cold tea and a dirty rag. Now I just need to convince more people to come with me so I can order more food next time.
Ate here yesterday afternoon at about 5:20pm. The place was empty which was one of the main reasons to eat here. I've always passed by later in the evening previously and have always seen the place packed. My girlfriend and I ordered the calamari, the scallop/shrimp fried rice & a side of the garlic noodles. For drinks she had the passion fruit mojito & I, the unfiltered saki. The calamari was light, tasty and seasoned just enough. The fried rice was good as was the noodles. I like their garlic noodles better than the ones at Dragon Rouge in Alameda. Overall the the dining experience was good. I'll be back here to try the carpaccio & the fillet mignon.
(3)
Vanessa O.
Papaya salad a must!!!! Was delicious and very refreshing! Xyclo rolls were really tasty. Any kind of pallet would enjoy. Curry fish very good. Different but good.
(5)
Celeste B.
Xyclo is one of our favorites. The Savory crepe is just outstanding. So delicious and unique. Papaya salad is a taste sensation. The quail is always a delight. Beautiful dishes, nice white wine list, friendly, family service. A great spot for high end Asian food. Never dissappointed.
(5)
Samantha R.
I have eaten at Xyclo many times since they opened and have enjoyed every meal. The food is inventive and delicious. Xyclo has become popular on the weekends, and when it's super-busy the service declines and so do the cocktails. Try going earlier in the evening or on a weeknight and I think you'll be pleased.
(4)
Shelley G.
I live in LA, but have been to Xyclo three times because it's my friend's favorite spot and I love it every time! The restaurant is small and cozy with a minimalist Asian touch. If you like ginger, definitely try the Ginger Drop cocktail. Nice and spicy. The tumbling dice are always a sure hit, but I just tried the coconut prawns and had to stop myself from licking every last bit. The prawns are served in a young coconut shell on a bed of coconut rice. As you eat the rice, you're supposed to scrape the coconut meat from inside the shell. Pure bliss. I can't recommend this dish enough for coconut lovers. One of the diners in our party was on a very strict diet- vegan with no wheat. Xyclo was very accommodating and brought her a delicious veggie dish without tofu or soy sauce. And don't dare leave without the fried banana with ice cream for dessert. It's a warm, sweet flavor explosion. Even though I'm 400 miles away, I'll be back!
(4)
Josh B.
My wife and I love Xyclo. Fresh, delicious dishes. Friendly, helpful servers. Excellent atmosphere. Great neighborhood feel. Favorite dishes: "Combination Stir Fry" and "Lemongrass, Basil Eggplant and Tofu" which had a delicious sauce! The sauce was so good, in fact that we asked for a side dish of tofu with that sauce and they happily made that for us. Full bar if you're into that.
(5)
Amaker L.
Easily one of my favorite finds in the east bay - which is hard because there aren't too many simple nice restaurants that aren't faking the funk around here. Everything on the menu looks good and is probably great. The most unique & delicious hot and sour soup I've ever had. This place is so yum. Not too badly priced and just really good unique food. No complaints except for seating is too close for comfort and the chairs at the bar are weird :(
(4)
Brian Y.
4.25 A good spot! Taste is pretty good and price is affordable. The only downside is having to find parking on the street. Not really their fault...but what makes up for it? Fenton's right across the street! w00t! I've tried the ribs, chicken, and beef. While the ribs got a lot of praise, the time I ordered it well...it tasted only 3.5 star worthy. Not great, but the beef cubes and chicken were a lot lot better.
(4)
Tamara C.
The food is great at this cute spot however there are two female waitresses there that aren't well trained in customer service. They seemed very pompous. This restaurant doesn't have the right staff. On the other hand, I had the garlic noodles today with tiger prawns. Very nice flavor however the noodles were slightly dry. I would return there again because the food is pretty tasty and close were I work.
(3)
tara s.
Its really good The Salt+Pepper Tofu is vegetarian crack.
(4)
Leme K.
Came back here last thursday for lunch with a few friends. I've came here before a couple of time since i first reviewed it and forgot an update, so here it is: Highly Recommended: Appetizers: Xyclo Rolls & Xyclo Taste Salad: Papaya Salad Large Plate:Stuffed eggplant & Tamarind Prawns Side Dishes: Garlic Herb noodles Beverages: Non - alcoholic mojitos breeze Here's my reasons why: Xyclo roll is just eggrolls; But even though they are just egg rolls do not look down upon them. They have chicken, shrimp, mushroom, carrot, taro, glass noodle filling and nuoc cham(fish dipping sauce). They are super flavorful, super fresh and super delicious! They are crunchy and serve very hot. How you know it's fresh? the skin of the eggroll(the thing that surrounds the filling) that will have pieces crumbling off when you bit into it. This reminds me of something my mom would make. And we all know mom's cooking is the best! Xlclo Taste this is really goo if you have a few friends who wants to try a little bit of everything. I know I did. So this plate came with a variety of things. Samples of Xyclo roll, Crispy Shrimp roll, Tao roll, Double Surprise roll, Goi Cuon roll and Sugarcane Shrimp roll; and let me tell you THEY WERE ALLLLL GOOOOD! The deep fried rolls such as the xylco roll, crispy shrimp roll and the double surprise rolls are really fresh and delicious. So flavorful when you bite into it! The Tao roll, Goi cuon and sugarcane roll all were very refreshing and fresh! These are wrapped with a thin rice paper and usually have lettuce, mint, basil and cilantro in them. it's a nice pick-me-up after the deep fried stuff. Also the tao roll is vegetarian! Papaya Salad: with fresh crunchy green papaya, carrots, basil, caramelized onion peanuts, with thin slices of fresh cooked shrimp and shrimp crackers on the side tossed in a spicy lime vinaigrette. One im thinking how do they make the papaya into a cross cut shape? and Two: MAN WHAT A KICK! this is a really refreshing salad. It's served room temp i believe and it's again fresh and delicious! The way they cut the papaya so thin and delicately, when you put that first piece into your mouth and bite down, the flavors of the sweet papaya and the lime vinaigrette intertwine together to make the right flavors and then they little spicy kick at the end to end it all. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Stuffed eggplant: im allergic to eggplant; it makes my tongue and throat itchy and usually i hate it.period. But because this place has been so amazing i tried it. Salty, savory, soft eggplants cooked to perfection with the shrimp in the middle makes a perfect blend of harmony to make you go mmmHmmmm. Also the gravy makes a great sauce with rice. Tamarind Prawns: i think this is my fav throughout this whole place. Jumbo pawns with a sweet savory salty sauce with a kick of tangy plus the sweetness of the pawns makes it more like a delicacy! Tamarind has this unique sweet and tangy flavor to it(the have it as candy and the real fruit at asian supermarkets) If it weren't for the sauce this would just be any plain jumbo shrimp. Garlic herb noodles. I order this every time i go. I don't know why but the way they cook it it has this chewiness that i've never tasted in any of the order restaurants before. Also this is just really plain good. You can taste the garlic and herbs they use. Really a tongue twisting enjoyment. Last but not least i always order the non-alcoholic mojito breeze just because it's that good and comes in many different flavor. Just like the real thing but this one is bubbly=]
(5)
Devon J.
I like going to this place because its located in a nice area, has a nice environment to it, you can go to fentons afterward, or you can even get boba at mr. green bubble and the food is good, light and sits well with you afterward. Me and a friend started off with the carpaccio, the meat was good, and fresh. Being topped with cashews and the other fixings made it extra good :) only thing is that i felt the lime vinaigrette was a little too sour for my taste, but nonetheless the dish was good We also got the coconut prawns which were really good. I was expecting the usual saucy shrimp that's breaded and coconutted? and deepfried, but this coconut shrimp had curry sauce and just had a light subtle coconut flavor. The rice in the coconut afterwards was pretty yummy too :) The tumbling dice was good too, the salad was light and refreshing, and the filet mignon was yummy and tender, and covered in a good sauce, solid. The lemongrass chicken was a little spicy, so look out for that if you're not too into spicy food, they warn you anyway, and it definitely did have a noticeable lemongrass taste. The chicken was good nicely too! Lastly, my other friend got the claypot rice, which I always like because of the crispy rice at the edge of the pot. It's also filled with fresh vegetables and chicken, which were all cooked nicely. The only thing about this place is that its a little pricey for the amount of food you get, but its still tasty.
(4)
Mary M.
Had a delightful luncheon. Eggplant specials exceeded our expectations. Thanks for a great dining experience.
Poor customer service, took forever to take our order, and never checked up on us throughout the entire time we were there. The food is NOT as great as everyone said it is. It's NOT authentic vietnamese food, every item is made catered to americans. Especially their "famous" pork ribs, gross... hardly any meat, all you're eating is their grease and favoring clustered up while frying it.
(1)
Fatty A.
If you cockazn you will like. If you azn you no likey. Its fairly expensive for what you the get. The devil wings are as big as an azn cock. Small as hell . The garlic herb noodles were nothing special for $7. They probab just added some garlic, butter and hoisen. I can do that at home.
(3)
Jennifer B.
I wish I'd found this place earlier. I consider it a great mid-week/pre-movie dinner option. Maaayyyyyybe even on a Saturday night. They have a creative take on Vietnamese cuisine, in a stylized, romantic setting. It seems the specialty here is their rolls. We ordered: sugarcane shrimp (fire roasted) rolls - outstanding! lemongrass eggplant with tofu - the tofu was actually something to speak about (usually tofu disappears in a dish) calamari - interesting, tempura-like batter. Too bad about the ketchup when they could have had an inventive sauce. Great service. Great food. Great prices.
(4)
Mariza S.
Since my office is practically across the street, I have had dinner and lunch here many times. Since I am a vegetarian my options are slightly restricted, but there are still a number of choices. I really like their tofu plates. The only concern I have about the food is in regards to my business partner. Each time we would go to have lunch there she would end up with a terrible headache within 2 hours of eating, which is very atypical of her. We have a extensive background in nutrition, so her signs and symptoms made me a little suspect.
(3)
Julie H.
Xyclo is our favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the East Bay. The roll sampler and devil wing appetizers are fabulous and the beef pho is awesome!
(4)
Mark R.
Good eggplant. Nice atoms. Reasonable prices. V good.
(4)
Lydia M.
I knew this was fusion-y when I went, so I was not expecting super authentic food. We got sugarcane shrimp roll, papaya salad, birds nest noodles, and the crepe. The roll was great! The papaya salad was acceptable. However, I can't really say that of the other two dishes. Even knowing that this was fusion, I was surprised at how BLAND the food was. Really bland, even for a "fusion" place! For a lower price, this could have been a 3-star joint, but at these prices I expect to be impressed.
(2)
Jonathan T.
This place was great. It's smallish, similar to most places on Piedmont Ave., but not cramped. I had a battered fish dish, friend had the roll sampler, and partner had a chicken curry dish. All were very tasty and reasonable sized portions. I would definitely come back here even if I didn't live around the corner and would definitely recommend it to a friend.
(4)
Jana C.
Very good food. Went there tonight for the first time. Great ambiance, friendly staff and fantastic food. The interior is unlike most Vietnamese restaurants I have been in. This one is a bit more modern & cozy. We tried way too many dishes, but they were all excellent. Loved the salt & pepper tofu and the herb garlic noodle side dish. We will definitely be back soon!
(5)
Ryan M.
I came here, with friends and Yelpers alike (Emahlee H., and Brian M.,) sometime ago but I couldn't recall what I ordered or how much I appreciated the place until I came here for a brief lunch today with my mother. As one of the many bookmarks, on Yelp it was decided to visit this place once I was back in town, one of the many enjoyable food offerings within the Piedmont city (a city just bordering the edges of North Oakland). After swerving off the freeway, and onto the small busy streets to only find parking within the Longs Drugs Pharmacy, I finally come back for a sophomore debut. The atmosphere is really chill, and the decor of blending Vietnamese culture and hint of soul (the James Brown Soul). Our waiter Phouvong, was prompt and respectful when it came to taking our orders which were the following: -1 order of XYCLO Chili Ribs (made of: Crispy ribs, peanut, sesame seed, and mixed herb glazed in sweet chili sauce) -1 order of Claypot Rice Medley (made of : prawns, chicken breast, broccoli, bell pepper, mushroom, cauliflower, rice cooked in a clay pot - 1 order of Vietnamese Carpaccio (made of: thinly sliced rare top sirloin beef topped with sweet basil, red onion, cashew nuts, and caramelized shallots with a light lime vinaigrette -1 order of Fried Calamari (special of the day): First order that came up, was the Fried Calamari. Apparently Xyclo, step up the quality in terms of preparation. The only other placed I've thoroughly enjoyed this dish was at Quattro Cafe in South Coast Plaza. The Calamari, was lightly breaded, and it was cooked just right...not too crispy or salty. The sauce that came with it, complimented it quite nicely not adding too much zing to its subtle flavor. Next up, the Vietnamese Carpaccio and my God...it's been a while since I've had good Carpaccio. The slices were drenched quite nicely with the herbs, nuts, and vinaigrette concoction making it harmoniously tasty after each bite. It was sweet, slightly acidic, and tangy at the same time. At first glance, the pieces didn't seem all that big, but it was enough for my mother and I to appreciate. The Third and Fourth dish respectively came at last, the XYCLO signature Chili Ribs and Claypot Medley. The Claypot medley was a decent dish in itself filling, but not too heavy. Also perhaps I was expecting maybe a bit more prawns and chicken breasts, but that was just me. There's not much for me to say about the claypot only because like every other one I've tried, the only difference between them is portion, therefore I feel my tastebuds are impartial to dish every time I try it. Now for the XYCLO Chili Ribs...this was the exact dish I ordered I believe a year and a half ago, before I moved to Irvine. At first glance, the portions are huge, hell you could even share between 3 people if you wanted (unless of course your a huge meat eater, like myself than you can demolish it one setting). As I was cutting in the meat, the texture outside was perfectly glazed to crispy perfection, I can hear the crackling of the meat, and as I Iet air right into the bone...the inside meat was moist. I sank my teeth on it, and every bite was sweet, slightly salty and chewy. The moistness of the meat, is what I appreciated...usually Ribs that I eat at BBQ places (excluding the KBBQ Ribs (galbi) of course) usually its burnt and the meat is usually dry for the most part. Overall, the total for all the food came to an estimate of $67.00 with tax and tip. I wish I could have tipped more for the excellent service, Phouvong provided but alas my cash has fallen short on me. I wish to come back here the next time in town, in hopes of renewing my experience and quite possibly trying other dishes in the process. Great job XYCLO, I hope you continue to cater to the public with your exemplary service and refined Asian fusion cooking.
(4)
Mary P.
Wow! What great service and the food is soo GOOD I want to come back the next day to try the rest of the menu. The sugarcane shrimp rolls are addicting. The Bun Cha Hanoi-- fantastic, and as well as the Pho' and Tumbling Dice. Super Good, and good prices, too.
(5)
Alessandra G.
Absolutely Delish! I Love their sugar cane shrimp rolls, spicy steak salad, beef pho, bun cha hanoi with pork, combo stir fry, & tumbling dice....I still haven't tried the ribs but I heard they are good too!
(5)
Christina T.
I had walked by this place a few times and thought I'd eventually eat here and did so on a whim. Wow, how much nicer this place looks inside than from the street view. The decor made me feel like I was visiting a typical fancy but somewhat middle of the road restaurant in LA. Staff was friendly, food was quick, and the Bun Cha Hanoi was delicious. And they have a decent selection of beer. This place is great for date night.
(5)
Leah M.
Excellent Food, Terrible Service. We had the Tao Roll, which was really good, the 7 seasons (appetizer) which was fun and good (but not as good as the Tao Roll), the spicy steak salad, which was delicious, and a noodle dish which was good. I may as well have gotten take out, the service was so terrible (when I was leaving the tip, I was honestly wondering who I was actually tipping). The ambiance is nice, though, and the food was worthwhile, so in the company of good friends it didn't matter so much.
(4)
Mike L.
This restaurant unsuccessfully attempts to look trendy. Though it has the right bone structure, its skin is adorned with gaudy caked up makeup. And because it feigns upscale chic (and not to mention is located in the bourgeois Piedmont area), it somehow manages to mark up the prices of its dishes about five to six dollars more than they should be. Despite my reservations about its interior, the food, in general, has very good, albeit very salty, flavor. Unfortunately the saltiness is enough to make you want to stuff a ladle full of rice in your mouth with each bite to neutralize the saltiness. With the help of an interior decorator, and perhaps a chef who can pull back and refine the seasonings, Xyclo can become the more upscale restaurant that is wants to be, but I reiterate, is not currently.
(3)
Sussu L.
I love this place for an inexpensive, mid-week meal! I've been twice now, and will definitely go back. Last night I had the lychee-black tea martini and thought it was superb, not sweet, not overpowering. The Seven Elements is one of my favorite dishes ever. I could eat this every day: little piles of amazing flavor bursts like lime, jalapeno, and chopped ginger, with mellow crunchy cashews, sweet roasted coconut, chopped red onion, dried shrimp for a little salty umami goodness, and a fish sauce-based sauce - all to be mixed as you like in a personalized roll on a butter lettuce leaf. It's heavenly. The other small plates are very fun, too - nothing too fancy or complicated, just nice solid flavors structured around one main ingredient. The wontons in the wonton soup are yummy, the green beans are tasty, the rolls are great and plentiful. The papaya salad is quite spicy and vinegary (I like it like that) and comes with just a few nicely poached shrimp. I like how casual and yummy this place is, perfect for when you don't feel like cooking at home.
(4)
Jen C.
Best Thai Iced Tea ever! I love this place for the ambiance. It's clean, simple, loungy but not nightcluby. :) The rolls are light and perfect to start with. The papaya salad & the green apple salad are both so refreshing and filling. Perfect addition to the rolls. Service is very friendly. I've always been seated quickly. Last time I was there, my friend & I sat in the lounge area which is off to the side from the main restaurant. It's cozy and more quiet. Their cocktails are mixed well, and they allowed us to order a full lunch there too, so we didn't have to move to the main seating area. Definitely a good place for a date to a dinner with friends.
(4)
Sparkely K.
I am acquainting myself with the northern part of Oakland and when selecting a place to meet a gal pal, thought it would be perfect to combine great chat with a scope-out of the Piedmont Avenue area. My thanks to the Yelp friends who suggested this place. After looking at the photos of Xyclo, along with the prices, I was expecting something very upscale. I managed to park directly in front of the restaurant, and was shocked at my good fortune, as I expected somewhat difficult parking. I made a reservation, as I didn't want to arrive and then have to wait, and was a bit shocked to see that the restaurant was about one-third full. These economic times are definitely hitting the restaurant industry! I ordered my standard dish, Bun Thit Nuong (lunch special $10) and a Vietnamese Iced Coffee ($4). I was hoping the iced coffee would drip at the table, but it was mixed at the bar for me. For some reason I always like the taste of the slower method (drip) over a pre-mix or mix by someone else. I wasn't entirely crazy about the coffee and drank only part of it. My entree was absolutely delicious! The service was very good; our gal was running the entire show by herself and it did get busier during our time there. Xyclo is a very low key, casual eatery with good solid food. I now have the first of a dozen or so restaurants under my belt in North Oakland.
(3)
Rafael N.
Vietnamese Sirloin Carpaccio, Garlic Herb Noodles, Spicy Filet Mignon Salad, Double Surprise Roll........ Catching your attention yet. So this fusion spot has some def hits. Surroundings easy on the eyes and the service is adequate. The freshness and flavors of the dishes made for a nice experience. Too much to try and some dishes r lacking were others pop. Being fusion they offer vegi options and have a spectrum to decide from. Only buzz kill is my gal felt a lil ill after our last visit. I was fine so not sure what that was about???
(4)
wade m.
Tasty food. Perfect portions. Stylish atmosphere. Friendly service. What more could you ask for?
(5)
Sabrina K.
I'm hooked. First it was the spicy steak salad, then the Pho (surprisingly refreshing broth, wonderfully tasty), then the double spring rolls. Ultimately, one of the most reliable restaurants for me to take friends to for special lunches and clients to for friendly negotiations. Everyone finds something on the menu that they swear they will be craving ever after--I've decided recently to work my way through the menu, though I still do crave that steak salad. . . Nicely uncluttered ambience and very friendly service, though a little slow if the place is busy.
(4)
Jon F.
Everything tasted fantastic, until I saw the two long, stringy human hairs in my flaming quail. It was then that I lost all appetite. Two stars for the other dishes we ordered. But still, I dunno when I'll come back.
(2)
Hilary A.
Ate here for the 2nd time today. The sweet & sour vegetarian soup was amazing. Really, I was completey satiated after that and it was the PERFECT hot meal for a chilly day. But I had already ordered an entree and the lemongrass tofu, eggplant, greenbeans dish looked way too beautiful not to try. Wow! What a delight for my taste buds. I had most of it boxed up for leftovers and can't wait to dig in at work for lunch tomorrow! Today was a lunch, so just water for me. But last time I ate here was dinner with a friend and the mojito was phenomenal. I will DEFINTIELY be back to try more!
(4)
Patrick C.
This is great Viet-Fusion...probs one of the best in the East Bay. Their raw beef salad was awesome and their tumbling dice was great!! A must try if you are in the Peidmont area.
(5)
D C.
We have been there twice. Love the pork rib dish. Can't remember the name of the dish. It's in a cute neighborhood, but parking there can be frustrating at times. The service is average and the noise level can be a bit loud when it's busy. We will definitely return.
(4)
Welch W.
This is a solid 4 stars. Yes it is a few years behind the "fusion" fad, but their food represents "fusion" at a high level. Our table had the caramelized fish, a bean dish with beef, an eggplant stew and a beef soup.. The nuk ma sauce was sweet and tangy. The sides (rice and salads) were good and served their purpose of supporting the main dishes. The prices are a bit high but the atmosphere, service and most importantly the quality of the food products make the additional cost justifiable. Parking is an issue so be prepared to walk a bit - really no big deal, after-all this is Piedmont Street and window shopping is pleasant..
(4)
Andy W.
This place is great! The decor was very chic with yummy, better-than-average fusion Vietnamese food. We had the Xyclo roll which had a soft texture on the skin and crunchy inside..yummy.. The raw beef (Carpaccio) was excellent. It had an interesting texture with some crunchy almonds/nuts and a hint of vinaigrette to complement the taste. The ribs, I think it was called Basa, were also excellent.. crunchy, tasty, and soft! I really recommend this place if you happened to stop by in Oakland Piedmont district, and craving for a Vietnamese with a twist. The only drawback: the service was a bit slow, but friendly.
(4)
Jenn H.
Very tasty and good prices. Parking kinda sucks but you can get around that by going a little earlier than dinner hours or going later in the evening. Everything I"ve tried so far has been really good!
(4)
Cindy O.
Still loving this place but some of the entrees are so sweet and oily - beyond the usual vietnamese sweet and oily. I will ask about this in the future before ordering. but i'm hooked on the veggie pho, fresh spring rolls & salads. Oh and fancy cocktails, too.
(4)
Dena V.
Incredible food. Good value. Highly recommend!!!
(5)
Jenna H.
I had the butterfly prawns noodle dish - it was delicious! The raspberry mojito breeze was a great non-alcoholic option as well. My friend got the tumbling dice and it was great as well. Service was so-so, they didn't check on us once, and we had to ask for the check, but the food made up for it.
(4)
alexa c.
I love this place, one of my faves in my hood! The last time I was here my friend and I ended up staying after hours and partying with the staff (it was our waiter's b-day). What an effen hoot! The decor is lovely, with a small lounge in the back for cocktails and appetizers. The staff are all sweet as pie and the food is delicious. I would encourage those who are unimpressed with the wine selection to give it another shot as my friend has been consulting them for the past few months and he has totally revamped their list. My favorite thing about this place (other than the fab food, staff and decor) is that it's a comfortable, non-pretentious neighborhood eatery that's obviously had some thought put into it.
(4)
Alotta F.
This place just didn't do it of me. I am a bit of a Vietnamese food purist, or as close to "pure" as you can get in America. Xyclo is fusion with Americanized versions of popular Vietnamese dishes, like the spring rolls. They were good, but they were loaded with too much rice noodles and not enough meat, shrimp or tofu, etc. And the accompanying peanut sauce was so watered down that it didn't adhere to the roll when you dipped it in. Ya had to spoon it on. For the main course, I had the Bun Cha Hanoi. Bun is my favorite Vietnamese dish so I was excited to try Xyclo's version. Again, it had more rice noodles and bean sprouts than the good stuff so it was mostly tasteless. The description of the dish promised pork AND shrimp. There was a small bowl of very salty and fatty pork and only one shrimp. The dish wasn't good enough to finish. I would tell you about the dessert experience, if I had any. The waitress didn't offer us any and seemed to rush us out the door after we ate. It was a Monday night, so maybe they wanted to close early. The ambiance was attractive from the outside but once we stepped in we notice the flat screen TV in the corner! Very unexpected, and not in a good way. My friends and I were looking for a cozy, intimate place to chat but it had the feel of a sports bar instead. Also the lights were on too bright. Zero ambiance. In sum, Xyclo was disappointing. Reminded me of a place you'd see at a touristy place like Fisherman's Wharf where exotic 'food from a strange land' is made palatable by over-Americanizing the dishes. They even had fried fish fillets they called tempura....it was fish sticks for adults! I recommend passing on this place and going for the much better Huynh in Oakland or even Saigon Express in Berkeley where the food is closer to the real thing and the ambiance is not half sports bar.
(2)
Mark G.
Above-average Vietnamese food in a space that crosses industrial with homey. Prices a bit high for what you get, but not unreasonable. They have a variety of appetizers and small plates if you want to go the family-style route, and large plates as well. Had a green bean appetizer with shrimp. The beans were a bit plain, but the sweet oniony sauce was quite nice. (I'm not a shrimp fan, so I can't speak to their quality.) The curry fish large plate was excellent: sweet, caramelized glaze with a nice spicy kick to it, but not so spicy that you couldn't comfortably finish. The fish was lightly pan-fried, with a slightly crunchy coating, and a nice, not-overcooked chewiness underneath. I would come back just for this dish.
(3)
Catherine L.
This is one of my favorite places on Piedmont Ave. The spring rolls are all great and I love getting the assortment. And the tumbling dice is so good, I've converted some of my non-meat eating friends to indulge. Service is sweet, and the decor is lovely.
(4)
Areeyla L.
Pretty good Asian Fusion restaurant on Piedmont Ave. We ordered the Xyclo Roll -- which tasted pretty typical of most vietnamese rolls, but was still good nonetheless. We also ordered the apple salad, spicy wings, a carpaccio and garlic noodles. The Spicy Wings were delicious! I'd order take out just to eat these all day. The Apple Salad was a little above average and pretty refreshing and the garlic noodles were so-so. The service was definitely 5 stars. The waitress got our order correct and even offered to heat up the carpaccio once we realized it was too raw for our liking. I'd definitely come back here again for the chicken wings. It's a nice place to sit down and catch up with the intimate atmosphere.
(4)
Todd W.
I finally went to Xyclo last week to see what all the talk was about (I have a number of friends in love with the place). My friend and I were happily greeted the moment we walked in the door. The personable service continued throughout the course of our meal. My friend insisted that I get the Xyclo ribs, which I did. Mostly boneless, and battered with a sweet sesame sauce, they literally melted in my mouth. INCREDIBLE!!! My friend got the ribs as well, so I didn't get to try anything else. I definitely recommend splitting a plate of the ribs as well as trying another entree. The cocktails are all soju and sake, but tasty and creative. Overall I give the service and atmosphere 5 stars, the food 4 stars, and price 3 stars (a little on the expensive side for what you get; the ribs were ~ $15).
(4)
Marsha O.
Not traditional Vietnamese food, but delicious & sweetly flavorful.
(5)
Shawna R.
I *really* love this place. We had an epic meal here and I would definitely recommend it.
(4)
Irene T.
As long as you don't go with a preconception of what Vietnamese food should be, you will enjoy your meal at Xyclo. Authenticity aside, the flavors are full & robust. Overall, good. Notable dishes are the Beef Carpaccio, Bun Hanoi, and Garlic Herb Noodles. The Bun Hanoi resembles the authentic Vietnamese version the most. The Carpaccio, while nowhere near authentic (capers?), is very tasty nonetheless. I actually enjoy what the capers do to the dish. The Garlic Herb Noodles is a must do to add to the experience. Dishes that disappoint are the Xyclo Rolls, the Tumbling Dice, and Butterfly Prawns. The Xyclo Rolls are too bland, even with the fish sauce. I think this is mainly due to the lack of meat and over abundance of veggies in them. The Tumbling Dice, while the meat is decent, should not be served with the balsamic vinegarette salad. That's just wrong. But here I violate my own rule of not having a preconception of Vietnamese food. But I can't help it. I would be happier having it with a salad with fish sauce, like green papaya salad. The Butterfly Prawns are almost there. Just a dash more seasoning for flavor would complete it. Overall this is a chic fusionized restaurant with a nice atmosphere and tasty food.
(4)
O L.
HEALTH Warning! HEALTH Warning! HEALTH Warning! Please note I am a foodie who Luuuuuvs Vietnamese cuisine. I discovered this place about 6 month ago and been there a few times since as food was decent. But last week was the LAST time. Evening started with hostess / owner / bartender giving away my window table (reserved hours in advance for a romantic dinner) right in from of me and telling me 'Why don't you just sit at the table next to it?' And that was only the beginning... I was upset, but didn't feel like ruining my special evening. About 25 min later and at a different table, we finally got our drinks and weren't we in for a treat! I took a sip of my drink hoping to finally relax. As I was swallowing it, I noticed something at the bottom of my small cognac glass. Upon closer look, in disbelief and to my horror, I have discovered 6 DEAD FRUIT FLIES peacefully floating at the bottom of my drink! It took me a minute to compose my self, then I called in the waiter and informed him of what happened. He replied with 'Oh?" and ran away with my glass to share the news with the hostess / owner / bartender. At that time, silly me was expecting that the owner would at least come over to the table to express her sincere apology, but no such luck! All I got was my waiter who came back and said one word 'sorry'. And THAT's was it!!! Appalled and disgusted, I marched straight to her and informed her that she just lost a customer to which she replied: 'Hm, sorry' (with an obvious touch of 'oh well, who cares' in her tone and body language, which was actually more shocking than DEAD FLYIES themselves. I hope this story will prevent you from exposing your HEALTH to dangers at Xyclo Restaurant!
(1)
Beth H.
This is a standout spot on Piedmont Ave. Great food and inventive sake-cocktails. The ribs are to die for! The perfect grown-up place to drop in on before or after you catch a movie. Super friendly staff and good service. The only down side is how packed it can get! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
J L.
Had dinner here this past Thursday, with my friend K.B. Once a month we go out for dinner and catch up, and Xyclo is always in our rotation. Our favorite combo is this: a couple mojitos (I went with mango, and she had pomegranate) an appetizer (one of the many delicious shrimp rolls) and a few sides - the garlic noodles (always delicious and perfectly cooked in garlic and butter) and bok choy, and.... wait for it.... the tumbling dice. This dish is cubed filet mignon cooked with onions in some delicious tasting sauce. We routinely order this and usually love it, although this last time the steak was cubed a little large and they did not give us a knife. This is a great place to eat on Piedmont. check them out!
(4)
Bob D.
This reminded me of dating in the late 80's and having sex with a semi-stranger on that first date without wearing a condom... all of the right sensations, tastes and smells are there... but it's still a little awkward and there is a sense that you might not get the thing you wanted. anyway... I had the xyclo ribs, which were tasty and different. I also ordered a Jolly Rancher sake cocktail, which comes with an actual watermelon jolly rancher sucker in the glass... which I found funny and unpretentious. I'd put it up there with Soi 4 as one of the more interesting and accessible asian fusion places in the East Bay.
(4)
Giofreddo W.
Excellent Vietnamese food that's easily a few notches above any other place we've tried in the East Bay. For the starter we shared the crispy shrimp roll, which wasn't life altering or anything, but still quite flavorful. But the entrees were where Xyclo really shined. I ordered the lemongrass basil chicken, a typically spicy dish that I like to try when judging any new (to me) Vietnamese joint. This was definitely among the very best examples of this dish to have crossed my palette. Very clean, fresh flavors, with awesomely tender pieces of chicken, and crisp, perfectly cooked green beans and sliced bell peppers. The only issue I had was that it could have been spicier, and next time I'll ask them to turn up the heat a bit. My wife ordered the five-spice chicken, which again, was excellent. The grilled chicken gave off a heavenly smoky flavor, and it was awesomely tender. And again, everything on the plate was very fresh and cleanly presented. The other person in our party ordered the chicken curry, which was one of the better curries we've tried at a Vietnamese place. It was a yellow curry, so it was sweeter and milder, but still quite rich, with tender pieces of dark and white chicken meat and large chunks of sweet potato. The portion of this curry was massive, too. The service was friendly but definitely a little slow. Long waits before and after ordering can be annoying, but then it's nice not to be rushed out of a place. The wife and I are really happy to have discovered Xyclo and we'd go back in a heart beat and try more things. There are numerous tired, mediocre Vietnamese places scattered around Oakland and Berkeley, and at least on this first visit, Xyclo was better than any of those that we've been to.
(4)
Iona C.
Two of my gal pals and I dropped by Xyclo for dinner on a Saturday night back in March. This is a pretty tiny neighborhood spot, and we were lucky to snag a table near the window at 5:30 pm before the real dinner rush began. Having worked in a restaurant before, I understand the need to avoid "campers" and flip tables, but I don't think it's right to hurry along diners who are eating and enjoying their time together. I'm glad to report that the waitstaff at Xyclo didn't try to rush anybody by not refilling water glasses, giving people the bill, etc. Looking for a good mix of dishes to accommodate the pescatarian in our group, we settled on the following: combination stir fry - 13 brown rice - 1.75 shrimp Hanoi - 17 garlic herb noodles - 8 tofu curry - 15 I really enjoyed the garlic herb noodles and the tofu curry the most. Along with the tofu, there were large chunks of potato that soaked up a lot of the curry flavor. Wonder what curry fries would be like... mmm. $17 for shrimp Hanoi is pretty outrageous, but then again, we were the ones who decided to meet up in Piedmont. What can ya do? While Xyclo probably wouldn't be one of the top three restaurants to come to mind if I was craving Vietnamese food in/around Oakland, it's not an absolutely terrible choice. Plus, I got the opportunity to try out my DSLR camera. Yup, the one that I pretty much treat like a point-and-shoot.
(4)
Dina L.
Mediocre at best with a less than friendly or attentive staff. I got the beef stew with tendons. Beef was tough & chewy and bland. On mt Dining while Black scale 1-5 with 5 being excellent service & experience. This place gets a 2 because they refused to see me asking for service
(2)
Jenny N.
I went here with my coworkers today expecting great food, and I got it. We ordered the appetitive combo. I really wish they would've told us what was what instead of us having to go and eat it to find out. The dipping sauces included their rendition of the fish sauce and peanut sauce. I liked the crispness of the fried sprint rolls. The spring rolls with taro were okay. A lot of us got the same Bun bowls with either shrimp or pork. One coworker got bun rieu and waited the longest for hers to come out. We got the garlic noodle sides for everyone to share as well as Vietnamese iced coffee. Be warned, the Vietnamese ice coffee is huuuge. More on the bitter side and lots of caffeine if you need it :) I got basically bun thit nhuong, BBQ pork and vermicelli noodles. It has the standard pickled carrots, peanuts, mint and cucumber. The pork was pretty tasty and the presentation was pretty. The garlic noodles were so tasty, but not as garlic-y as we all had hoped for. I want to come back for the Vietnamese carpaccio!!
(4)
Nina M.
This is a trendy somewhat upscale Vietnamese restaurant. I didn't think the menu selections featured many traditional Vietnamese options so perhaps it's a fusion kitchen. Sampled the wonton noodle soup, seafood stuffed eggplant, and chicken curry. Everything was good and the curry was much more watery than the typical stuff you find in Thai or Indian restaurants. I thought this was a good thing because it was still very flavorful without being heavy. The nigiri bottles sake was very nice and smooth as well, I didn't get a chance to look at the bottle but I think they only offer once type of this.
(4)
Geo D.
One of my favorite vietnamese restaurants in the Bay Area! To try: Garlic Noodles Beef stew noodles Vietnamese capriccio slices Stuffed eggplant Chicken pho And a side of the Tamarini. Awesome place and super speedy service. Also next to Fentons if desert is your thang.
(5)
Yen P.
THE BEST VIETNAMESE FUSION RESTAURANT I'VE EVER HAD! I usually don't like Vietnamese fusion because they somehow manage to fck it up and often overpriced. But this place mastered it. Even thought it was a little expensive, I think it was worth it. The papaya salad was soooooo goood. I swear, I can still taste the flavors. Tastes like Vietnam... but with a kick. heh. And trust me, I know what Vietnam tastes like. I was born there. On to the sampler. We decided to get this because we literally wanted everything under the "rolls" section. I'm so glad they had this option or else I would have ordered everything separately. Some rolls are better than other, some were a little bit too "traditional" or "safe" I prefer the more exotic/different ones. My favorite were the crispy shrimp roll. There were this "sugarcane shrimp roll" that didn't taste anything like sugarcane though, which was weird because I'm wondering if they forgot to put the sugarcane in there. **THE SAUCE. THE DIPPING SAUCE. ESPECIALLY THE PEANUT SAUCE. (We had to ask for extra) Overall, great place. I wish I had tried more stuff on the menu but i got full after the sampler. Bring more people so you can try more food! Oh, don't come here if you want the boring traditional vietnamese dishes. they don't serve those here.
(5)
Angie S.
After hearing my parents constantly raving about this place, I finally joined them for dinner one evening and was pleasantly surprised by the ambience and the food. This is definitely not your run of the mill pho and various broken rice plate Vietnamese restaurant. It is pretty pricey but everything on the menu is upscale and beautifully presented. The decor and lighting of this place also adds to the dining experience. For dinner I ordered the Bun Cha Hanoi which is basically a vegan vermicelli plate with lots of veggies ans fried tofu. I was so happy to see that they have vegan versions of many of their dishes! They even have vegan Nuoc Cham which is the fish sauce dressing you get with many different types of dishes at Vietnamese restaurants. I also tried the lychee spritzer which I liked at first but for some reason, the more i drank it, the more it had a weird after taste. Never the less, I really enjoyed the dinner and would definitely come back. Hopefully for lunch next time!
(4)
Sarah T.
Xylo is a fantastic little Vietnamese fusion restaurant. The interior is modern and classy, and Xylo definitely is going for (and succeeding at) the upmarket feel. We ordered 1, Xylo Roll Sampler ($23) This is a really generous appetizer, in fact to call it an appetizer is a total understatement. It could be the appetizer and entree for 2 people, comfortably, and you'd probably still have enough to take home. The appetizer consists of 4 gigantic fresh rolls with fillings of egg roll, shrimp, tofu and vegetables. The fresh rolls were amazing - the rice skins were really thin and the fillings were great, I especially loved the fried egg roll filling. It also comes with 3 different kinds of egg rolls, all fried to crispy perfection. I couldn't tell the difference in fillings, but they were all very good. I really enjoyed this dish and would definitely order it again! 2. Beef Carpaccio ($9) - Thinly sliced raw beef marinated with peanuts, garlic and lemon juice. This dish was pretty good, but it wasn't my favorite of the night. If you have had good carpaccio elsewhere, you probably will not be impressed, nonetheless it is not a bad dish, just a little underwhelming after the amazing sampler plate. 3. Chilli Pork Ribs The pork ribs were fried to crispy perfection and were not oily at all. I really enjoyed the crunch and texture but the flavorings left me a little underwhelmed. I tend to like my entrees savory, but the pork ribs definitely had more of a sweetish slant to it. Still, they were very yummy, and not at all spicy. 4. Butterfly Shrimp with Garlic Noodles The shrimp was really amazing, super succulent and cooked to perfection. I also enjoyed the flavoring of the shrimp a lot. The noodles were delicious too, fragrant because of the garlic and a little creamy thanks to the parmesan, but once again the noodles had a sweet-ish slant and were not my cup of tea, but my friends really loved this dish. all in all, Xylo is a fantastic little restaurant which serves truly amazing food. I had a great experience there and would not hesitate to come back for the sampler platter and to try any number of delicious things on their menu. they also have a fabulous little drink menu with a ton of yummy sounding drinks. i will definitely be back with all my friends in tow.
(4)
Stan L.
This place is delicious! I love asian fusion restaurants because there is just so much creativity involved in the cuisine, you always get to experience something new. Coming to Xyclo, you definitely have to try their rolls, which I think they are known for. Also, the $24 taster--which you can split between two or three people--gives you a lot of variety and food. I highly recommend that for your first time. This place is great for a casual dinner or even a drink with friends.
(5)
Kelly G.
This was over the top Vietnamese cuisine. They were located on Piedmont Ave in Oakland a few stores up from the Piedmont Theater. I ordered the Saigon Devil Wings. I was expecting more of a traditional stuffed wing. There were 6 wings on a plate with a creative pickled carrot garnish. Beautiful, but not spicy at all. The Coconut Prawns came butterflied with the shell on hanging from a fresh young coconut and stuffed with infused coconut rice. I could only eat about half it and it tasted even better the next day. The server wrapped the whole coconut in foil and I was able to scrape out some of the pulp of the coconut. Yum! The glass of water had a slice or orange in it which was surprising and refreshing. I can't wait to go back and try other dishes.
(5)
rugbarn d.
Our family came to Xyclo for the 2nd time yesterday on a Saturday night, around 5 PM. We were able to get seats right away without a reservation. The food was so good! The service was excellent! I rated all the dishes we tried below. Today we fought over the leftovers :-) j/k. Okay my stomach is seriously growling as I'm looking at the pictures of food we ordered, but they are already closed... Xyclo Roll: 4 Crispy Shrimp Roll: 5 Nem Nuong Roll (sausage): 5 the crispy piece inside nice touch & unique Bun with grilled pork: 5 Coconut prawns: 5 we were scraping the fresh coconut out and eating it all Dry scallop fried rice: 5 so good and tasty Tumbling Dice: 2 lower rating b/c i personally don't like texture of rarer meat, next day nuked leftover meat in microwave and it was yummy Garlic noodles with grilled chicken: 5 OMG! Would definitely order many of these dishes again. I would come here ALL the time if i had more money. ;)
(5)
Katherine L.
Stopped by here for lunch with the boyfriend. It was quite difficult to find parking around here! We had: Bun Rieu - Not that great, way too much tomato paste/tomatoes. Also didn't have much crab...sad. Lemongrass Basil Chicken - boyfriend liked this one. He thought it had good flavor. Ne Nuong Roll - I liked the sauce and the roll was pretty good. There was a lot of flavor and I liked the texture. Thai Iced Tea - Simple, good. I liked the laid back but classy decor of this place. Service was pretty good.
(3)
Barbara S.
Ambiance = 4 Food = 2 1/2 Staff = 4 We ended up there tonight after finding out that the restaurant we meant to go to was no longer there. My husband and stepsons had eaten here previously and liked it. Tonight my husband and I found it to be just okay. I had the item that gets the most raves on yelp, the cubed filet mignon. It was not nearly as good as I've had in other places. It seemed tender at first, but most of the pieces, while soft, would not chew down into anything you would want to swallow. My husband's dish was also just meh. I think if you like Vietnamese fusion you will probably like this more than I did. I'm finding I'm a way bigger fan of the real deal.
(3)
Helen O.
This is by far one of my favorite restaurants. It's been around for a number of years and there's always a wait on the weekend which shows a good sign. I've been coming here for years and their dishes are consistent. I know, this review is long overdue. Nem Nuong Rolls - the Vietnamese sausages are made by them. It's got all the textures I love combined all in one bite. Garlic Noodles - the noodles are al dente. There's just enough garlic where it isn't too overpowering. Crispy Shrimp Roll - this is my fav item on the menu of you love fried foods. The wrap isn't too thick where you can't taste anything inside. The crispness is just right. Seven Elements - now this is a dish I've never had anywhere. This dish has got all the flavor, bitter, sweet, sour, salty, and umami. Vietnamese Carpaccio - if you can hack raw beef, then this dish is for you. It's got all the right combo. But a must try. Saigon Devil Wings - I love my wings and these wings are delish. It's not too spicy so don't let the name or description fool you. Bun Cha Hanoi - they give you plenty of meat. When you go to other Vietnamese restaurants and you order this dish you will notice there's not enough meat and a lot of noodles but here they give u plenty of meat and veggies with less noodles (less carbs!!). Tumbling Dice - wow the beef are so flavorful with plenty of veggies. It's like a filet Mignon with salad. So worth trying!! The list goes on but there's plenty of more dishes on the menu that you can try and it won't disappoint.
(5)
Judy P.
Good food and service plus nice ambience equals a great lunch spot. Went here on a Sunday and enjoyed the food. They serve lunch specials on Sunday which was a nice surprise. We ordered beef pho, stuffed eggplant, pork spring rolls (the kind with the crispy skin rolled inside for some texture), and chicken curry. We all shared our dishes. My stuffed eggplant was flavored just right and reminded me of the broth sauce of a Japanese agedashi tofu dish. Our table shared a bowl of pho which was good, but really small. The amount of noodles equated to a small fist full. Don't get that if you're hungry. The broth was also a little lukewarm, and for pho I expect piping hot. Overall, I enjoyed the other dishes better and will be back.
(4)
Guisela L.
This is a great Americanized Vietanmese style place. I'm thinking more of a 4.5 rounded up because we really enjoyed the place but a few of the plates were just ok. The nem nhung rolls (not sure of the spelling) are the best...we order those every time. I've tried both phos and they're ok. My wife likes the garlic noodles and she substitutes chicken. The noodles are interesting because they top it with cheese. Everything has a slight twist on the original style of food which is great if you want a bit of a change. So far so good. We've come twice within a couple weeks so that definitely says something.
(5)
Sung K.
Pretty good Vietnamese fare. Pho broth is nice with appropriate condiments. Good value as well.
(3)
Jerry M.
Really enjoyed my papaya salad at Xyclo. Veggies were waffle cut and served in a light vinaigrette. I think the waffle cut exposes more surface area to the taste buds than a julienne cut because it was all quite flavorful. Also the portion size was just right for lunch. Service was fast and friendly. The resturant seems to be very popular because at 1:30 pm on a weekday it was mostly full. If you enjoy light and inventive vietnamese fare Xyclo is a great choice. Recommend.
(4)
Celia Z.
I'm always a little hesitant when it comes to 'asian fusion' but this place has definitely changed the way I think about it. The restaurant has a really nice cozy feel and the service is pretty attentive. Now onto the important part, the FOOD. I tried 3 items. The chili ribs, the beef stew, and the garlic noodles. Chili ribs - These ribs had a great flavor. It was sweet and barely spicy and had a nice crunch from the sesame seed coating. Beef stew - The beef stew was definitely on the traditional side which is what I hoped for. It had pretty good flavor but it was a tad on the salty side. Garlic noodles - OMG. Highly recommended. Garlic and topped with fried garlic and parmesan cheese. It was amazing. Probably best garlic noodles I've had. Overall, would come again for the garlic noodles.
(4)
Judy J.
We're regulars ever since we've moved to the area several years ago. It's the absolute best and where we take visiting guests to impress and delight them. You will never look at slanted door again after experiencing the food here. And even if you're a regular patron of local vietnamese places, Xyclo will also make a special place in your heart/tummy. Service is always super friendly, although I notice at lunch it can be less attentive, so ask for your hot sauce early :)
(5)
Sigrid H.
People on Piedmont ave love to complain. That being said, I love Xyclo. I've been here many times since they opened and I'm addicted to a number of their dishes. I can't say I've ever been disappointed here, and the dishes are always conistent - flavorful and fresh. If you are one of those people who needs perfect attentive service every second of your meal however - be advised. Infact do everyone a favor and just stay home. Go out with good company and relax - but you might have to flag someone down at some point, heaven forbid. It's a small space but they can get busy at times. The food always comes out fast and while a bit on the expensive side - It's delicious, pretty, packed with flavor and has a beautiful decor to boot. Things I love: Sugar cane shrimp rolls - (ask for a side of sriracha if you like spice). I could eat these things every day. Salty sweet, fresh, hot, cold, chewy, crunchy. I come here for this roll alone sometimes. Papaya salad - I love green papaya. I love fish sauce. The end. Steak salad - tender filet mignon over greens with a lovely dressing. Coconut curry shrimp - 4 large shrimp shell on ( my favorite part to eat). Sweet, delicate curry, aromatic rice inside a young coconut (don't forget to scrape the shell out) - if you don't you are doing the world a disservice. The young coconut is rich, fatty, and delicious. Saigon devil wings - sweet, super crunchy and sticky. If you hate soggy wings, this is your heaven. Pho - small but quality. Great broth. All the sides you expect. Chili mango margarita Tamarind Martini Have a drink, relax, be nice. The world will be a better place for all of us - I promise.
(5)
Meg M.
Booo. A friend and I came for lunch at 2pm. The place was not busy (score) so we sat ourselves. The restaurant itself was very cozy. The menu looked incredible and I had trouble deciding on what to get. I ended up going papaya salad, a classic. It was described as criss-cross cut papaya, carmelized onion, poached shrimp with peanuts. YUM I was jazzed. 9$ sounded pretty reasonable. The dish came out and it was itty bitty. It had about 3 tiny limp shrimp. The papaya WERE criss cross-y which I'll admit was cool. Sauce/dressing was watery and didn't stick to the papaya. It wasn't bad, I devoured it in three bites but I left hungry. The service was terrible. Our waitress scowled at us for no apparent reason even though I tried to butter her up. We were one of two tables in the place and she continually forgot to fill our itty bitty water glasses. Lame. There are so much better places around.
(1)
Nina H.
I actually started a yelp review giving this place 4 stars. However, after going back the second time, I changed my mind. The first time, I ordered the grilled pork dish, which was decent. The pork was a little fatty for my liking, but the flavor of the sauce was great and the portion was very generous. However, when I went back the second time, I tried their Pho. First of all, it is very overpriced. Secondly, they only have one choice of Pho on their menu. The broth was alright, not the best I've ever had. However, when I got home, I was so thirsty and couldn't stop drinking water! This usually happens when a bowl of Pho contains MSG. That being said, I haven't been back since, and I don't plan on going back anytime soon.
(3)
Kathryn C.
Have been walking by this spot for years. Attracted by the lighting and decor, put off a bit by the higher end prices for Vietnamese fare. Finally took the plunge. We were going light so just did one pho and the "lettuce wrap" appetizer. Ho hum. Just didn't work. Pho was ok. Wrap was a mess of tastes and textures that failed to amount to a satisfying bite, no matter how hard I tried to mix it up. Worst was the neglectful service. Had to flag down and ask at every turn. Believe me, we are not high maintenance and the place was not particularly busy. Too bad. Cross that one off the list of the many Piedmont Avenue options.
(2)
Despina G.
Excellent choice! Delicious and with appropriate plate portions for lunch! Friendly atmosphere and nice wait staff!
(5)
Shannon K.
Favorite lunch spot. Because I work on Piedmont Ave coming here for lunch is easily done. My favorites are... everything I've ever tried really. My usual is the lemongrass tofu and eggplant on sunny days and the beef pho on rainy, cold days, which were sadly few and far between this winter. Check out my pics for other dishes. Food is fresh and tasty. The bio is also interesting so if you have a chance look at that too. This is a gem on the ave. I recommend this place to my clients often. The service is on point. The food arrives in perfect timing. I feel like they have a system that really works. Fresh food, great service, perfect dining experience.
(5)
Dru N.
This place didn't have pho Bo vein (meatballs) then they looked liked they had a full bar but couldn't do a Bloody Mary. No hoisin or siracha was brought out with the entree??? A little expensive but Nice atmosphere . Service was oooook.
(3)
Kiko' N.
Amazing ! Service , food , drinks!!! I live around here 7 yrs didn't know this place ? What a shame! Way much more high quality than Montclear district ! Love food here and " Vi" she is so nice! Makes great drink!
(5)
Mariah R.
My boyfriend wasn't feeling well, so we decided to order some pho to go. Called in my order and they let me know it would be 15-20 mins. The restaurant has a great atmosphere inside- I want to come back and actually sit down. The pho was good and I loved that they gave us all the goodies to go (bean sprouts, lime, sauces, jalapeños, cilantro)
(4)
E S.
My absolute favorite Vietnamese restaurant!! The sugarcane shrimp rolls are amazing and the lemongrass basil chicken to die for. Top it off with the Vietnamese iced coffee and your good
(5)
LilyAnn N.
A Vietnamese family owned restaurant in the heart of Piedmont! My family & I come here to fulfill our cravings for bo kho, spring rolls, beef salad, & other delicious Vietnamese dishes. Their bo kho is to die for! It's flavorful and the beef and carrots are so tender and soft that they melt in your mouth. It tastes great with rice noodles or plain rice. Their spicy beef salad is another one of my favorites. It comes with beef skewers & lemongrass dressing. This salad is light and refreshing. If you're in the area, this place is definitely a restaurant to try!
(5)
Alexa W.
Not a fan yet.. though the food was pretty good, the service was on the questionable side. We came in early on a Saturday night, there were a few tables available. The waiter (?) at the door didn't say one word to us. I asked him whether we could have the table at the window. He just stared at me. Then he started to wipe the table down and left. The mister and I looked at each other, shrugged and sat down. The table was still wet. When the guy came back with the menus, I asked whether he could please wipe the table dry. He stared at me again, turned around and came back with one paper napkin to dry the table. Still no word. The rest of the evening was better though, we got a normally friendly female server, although my soda and water have not been refilled at all. At the end, the guy came back again for the check. smashed the check on the table, turned around and left. Strange... Like I said, food was good. Especially the won ton soup. We also had fried egg rolls (bit dry, but good flavor), chili ribs (interesting - would like to find out what the crunch was?! - but would probably not eat again, basically a little meat on a bone and a tiny nest of unseasoned raw cabbage, no side - small portion for $16), five spice chicken (pretty yummy). All in all, the portions were quite small and we were glad that we had taken the appetizers first. I think I will give it a try another time, maybe stop by for pho at lunch time. Who knows what this guy's problem was...
(3)
Nique F.
Sometimes you want Vietnamese food. Sometimes you want a sexy date night spot. And sometimes, you want both at the same time. Xyclo gets a thumbs-up for creating a cool, sleek, date-worthy atmosphere to go along with their nicer-than-average (and pricier-than-average) Viet cuisine. It might just be the classiest place in town for slurping a bowl of Pho or scarfing down spring rolls. I've had the vegetable stir fry for lunch, and appreciated the crisp, fresh veggies (not mushy / previously frozen) and the light sauce (as opposed to the typical Panda-Express-style gelatinous gravy). With the option for brown rice, it was the perfect semi-healthy lunch. For dinner I've had the shrimp-stuffed eggplant, which was definitely delicious but absolutely drowning in grease. I suppose that's the way you make eggplant taste amazing, but I felt the need to drip-dry each piece before biting into it. My date's beef noodle stew was pheNOMinal, with tender carrots soaked in the rich meaty broth with a strong hint of ginger. This one won't disappoint. The food is reliably fresh, and their wine list is perfectly planned for spicy Asian bites (love the Pinot Gris from Oregon) but the service could stand to be more attentive. I've been for lunch and dinner and it always seems that I go throughout the whole meal missing something crucial (like a napkin, or a water refill) without anyone noticing. Flagging someone down for essential items is just not ideal. I'm glad Xyclo is in the 'hood, but hope they'll step up the service next time, so I don't have to wipe my mouth with my sleeve.
(3)
Kat H.
This is the best Vietnamese restaurants around. I live in SF and haul over just to eat here. The coconut shrimp is out of this world and a piece of art all in one. The pho bo kho is also too notch (on menu as just bo kho). The garlic noodles are the best I've had. I've honestly never had anything less than delicious here. The staff is cute, it can get busy during lunch hour, but did you expect something else? Wait for you food bc it'll blow your mind. I will continue to trek across the bay for this place!
(5)
Cassandra C.
Spectacular food, quickly and artfully presented with nice portion sizes and fair pricing. Service was good, and the casual atmosphere worked for us too! I guess sometimes you CAN get price, quality and speed all in the same transaction. I can't pronounce the name, but I know where it is and I'll be back there soon!
(5)
Twee L.
Lemongrass chicken and xyclo rolls were super oily, like oil was dripping off my lips after each bite. It was gross. Service was super slow even though the majority of the restaurant was empty.
(2)
Mike L.
A decent spot on Piedmont for modern southeast Asian good, we tried a lot of things on the menu and it was all decent. The chicken wings were a standout and comparable to San tung in SF. The crepe was also really good, the coconut batter crisped up and stuffed with shrimp was quite tasty. Friendly service
(3)
jess D.
This place was only worth giving it a chance but I wouldn't come here if you're looking for authentic Vietnamese food. My hubby and I ordered: -Beef carpaccio: was good. Clean taste and well balanced. -Beef Pho: Very bland. Bottom line the pho sucked. -Saigon devil wings: rip off. (4) wings $9. It was just okay. Not worth it. -Bun rieu: where was the meat ball? So bland and watered down. I asked for extra shrimp paste and the waitress told me they only have fish sauce. A big part of that dish is the meat ball and shrimp paste! -iced coffee: I liked it. It's not the traditional Vietnamese coffee loaded with condense milk though, but it was better than the food. Overall, the food to me was very bland. Not what I'm use to especially coming from a Vietnamese community. The service matched the food pretty fairly. The waitress looked at us twice before acknowledging us, so we seated ourselves and the lack of decent service continued throughout our whole time there. The neighborhood is super cute and parking was a *itch to find. Would I come back? Definitely not. Though, every business deserves a fair chance and a fair review.
(2)
Rita L.
I'm always hesitant about asian fusion places. However, asian fusion might suggest a reinvented version of the original, and knowing this was slightly encouraging to give this place a try. I've walked past this place many times, and the bf and I never feel like eating "asian fusion," until one day, we randomly came here for dinner. I had the bun rieu soup, which was a larger portion than I expected, and it was alright. I though it was a very "clean" version of the viet classic because it was not greasy at all, but also it lacked that depth of flavor in the broth. It mostly tasted like tomatoes. The bf had the wonton soup and I don't think he cared for it at all. I suppose we should have consulted yelp for the more popular dishes, but overall, this place is alright.
(3)
Karen W.
We came here for lunch and it got busy after we sat down, probably around 12:45 or so. We started off with Goi Cuon Roll which was tasty and we had to ask for more peanut sauce, then ordered the lemongrass basil chicken, bun with eggroll and dessert we shared Hazelnut Mousse. I guess they had a rush of customers after we ordered as it took awhile to get our food and when they brought our entrees, they forgot the dipping sauce that goes with the bun. They apologized for the delay. Great atmosphere and good food.
(4)
Sharon C.
My friend and I were trying to find a Southeast Asian restaurant around the Oakland area. Since Champa Garden is closed on Sunday, we decided to give this place a try. We only ordered two dishes to share since we weren't that hungry (Ok, we were actually saving room for ice-cream at Fenton's just across the street) :p XYCLO Chili Ribs - Don't be fooled by the name. The ribs are not spicy at all! They are very tender and easily fall off the bones. However, I found many loose pieces of soft bones inside the ribs!? Butterfly Prawns with garlic noodle - The prawns are pretty fresh. I like how the prawns were cut on the bottom and flatten out. The garlic noodle is not bad, just not garlicky enough and a bit too sweet for my taste. Their rolls and salads look very interesting too, I might come back to try them someday.
(3)
Dean T.
Fancy Vietnamese place. I ordered the beef stew with noodles. My friend ordered the papaya salad. A bit on the pricey side, but the food is tasty. The ambiance was nice. The service was good. Good for date night.
(4)
J.A. K.
Vietnamese fusion similar to Lin Jia/Oakland and Zen Tapas/Alameda. Zen is the best, Lin Jia second (good when on, but erratic) and Xyclo definitely below those two. Beef carpaccio was good. Had to ask for plain rice vermicelli, which is not listed on menu but available. Waitress was surprised when we asked for it. That tells you not many Vietnamese come here, LOL. But the meal went rapidly downhill from there: Devil Wings. The glaze is delightful - honey-based, zipped up with salty fish sauce and red pepper chile flakes. But the wings are small, and when double-fried, the crust turns extra-crisp but the meat overcooks drastically. Spouse was okay with this; I'm not. Tempura Basa. Basa is one of those "alternative" fishes, a cheap bland white-fleshed fish. The portion is generous, with four good-sized filets, but the stiff flour batter is salty and picks up too much oil in the frying. As is typical of these below-average cod substitutes it's mushy and "wet" in texture. The dip is an odd orange/vinegar/fish sauce creation. Nice portion of stir-fried Shanghai bok choy on the bottom of the bowl. Coconut Shrimp in young coconut with coconut rice. AWFUL. The four shrimp were not fresh. The coconut was the cheaper "shell", with no meat inside. The coconut rice is glutinous, aka sweet rice. It isn't cooked with coconut juice or milk; merely steamed inside the shell which gives it a very mild coconut aroma and flavor. The curry itself was way oversweetened. I couldn't even finish it. Somebody mistook this for a dessert sauce. This dish also has no vegetables, unless you think lots of stir-fried onions and a couple of paper-thin rings of red bell pepper are sufficient vegetables in your diet. Overall: skip this place. Nice staff, pretty little restaurant, but there are much better places for Vietnamese or Viet fusion food.
(3)
Herbert R.
Came in here for a friend's birthday dinner and this joint was good. I was not too familiar of the location and had the hardest time looking for parking. This restaurant is just right across from Fenton's and the restaurant seems so small from the outside. The signage outside is not visible enough and you can miss it if you don't pay much attention. Our orders: -Xyclo Taste (for appetizers) -Bun Cha Hanoi (entree) Verdicts: Xyclo Taste - this appetizer is for sharing. It comes with a few items on the plate and good for sharing. Bu Cha Hanoi- it was perfect to my liking! The greens was fresh and the bbq pork was cooked perfectly, with a little charred. Service was great because our water was never empty. Server comes to the table to check on us and making sure we are alright. Overall, I would come back if I am around the area and fiending for some vietnamese fusion.
(3)
Michael C.
Great place, have been several times. They use to have Salt & pepper Tofu on the menu however I was the only one ordering it so it's gone (sad kitty face). Meanwhile you have to get here before 630 pm 'cause this place is happening. Great service, great selection of food and the best part....walk over to get some ice cream at Fenton's. Location location location!
(4)
Molee H.
Try the chili ribs! And the double surprise roll! The reason why we always return to this place is because of the fun Lychee/ Cucumber Martinis! Although, I love how this place really manages to add a fusion kick to Vietnamese foods. Every time we have gone here we have always ordered the double surprise rolls to start! They are pure deliciousness! Why haven't I ever though of putting a fried egg roll inside a spring roll!? The chili ribs are consistent every single time. Super crunchy and the sesame seeds will find a way to stick onto your face. I like the Vietnamese crepe because its a fun dish for those who havent had anything like it before. The eggplant dish is also yummy. Just wish they put more into the servings.
(4)
Daphne L.
My goal for this dinner was to have a bit more veggies as my meals have been meat-centric since I started my trip. My family wanted to take me to different parts of the Bay area which is why we ended up at Xyclo. Very impressed with food and service. We had: - Spring roll platter A mix of their fresh rolls and fried rolls. They were all good, the flavours of the Peanut sauce and the Sugar cane shrimp stood out the most - Papaya Salad Great flavour and texture, plus they don't skimp on the shrimp - Fish Curry Soo Flavourful! This was my fave dish. - Tumbling Dice The beef was cooked well, so soft. - Chicken Pho with a side of stir fried veggies For the kids I must say I was very impressed with the food and service. They were very accommodating and knew when to hold off a dish when our table was full, not once did we have to ask for a water refill. Would definitely recommend this place when you're in the area.
A lot of interesting things on the menu but ordered 2 apps and 2 entrees and they underwhelmed. Service is also pretty slow to the point that water was hard to get. Food is as advertised and is def Vietnamese fusion and not true authentic Vietnamese.
(3)
Sharee g.
Late lunch had the Lemongrass Basil Chicken...yummy good to my tummy! I'll come back to eat in and try other items AND have a drink! (they have a full bar)
(4)
Zachary R.
One star means extremely disappointed -- they had quite presentation right, but not "quality food" "quality drinks" "remembering your order" "bringing out food at the same time" and "reasonable portions". Our group of four ordered two appetizers, a few drinks, a few Thai iced teas, and four main courses. Service: They forgot one of the drinks, and then brought it much later when reminded. They then also forgot an entree, and when we asked about it, said it was coming, then said "wait we never put it in", then agreed to just take it off the bill. But without any apology, or without seeming to think this was anything but a normal occurrence. You forgot a dish! The other dishes came out in a random order, instead of the entrees all at once. They were also slow to refill water, take another round of drink orders, and so on. Portion size: Food was served in random cutsy serving vessels, such as a coconut for the coconut curry, which in my opinion was largely to disguise the fact that they were half the size / amount of food that is normal. Food quality: Everything was overly sweet. The fried fish was quite bad; each piece of fish looked like a piece of popcorn chicken, and was probably 90% batter and "fried" and 10% dried out fish. You couldn't taste the fish at all, it had no texture of properly fried fish, and frankly they could have used tempe for all the fish-nature it had. The fried roll was decent, but it tasted like any cheap Chinese take-out's fried roll. Drink quality: I wasn't drinking, but my Thai iced tea was watered down, and the cocktails I tasted were too sweet. Price: it's not cheap; they're charging as if it's a high end Asian fusion place, and it tastes worse than if it was a hole-in-the-wall dive. Avoid.
(1)
Jeannie T.
Had dinner here with a close friend as a catch up session. Upon arriving, we were greeted right away by one of the waiters. My friend ordered the garlic prawns with a thai iced tea and I ordered the green bean salad. To be honest, the green bean salad is my favorite thing to order here. And just like all the times in the past that I've been here, it was spot on. I love that the green beans in the salad are nice and crunchy and never has that squishy sound that it can make in your mouth when you eat it. It annoys me when that happens. The garlic lime vinaigrette was perfect. You know how when you eat at a restaurant and order the same thing over and over again, it may or may not always taste the same as the first time you ate it or you get sick of it? Not the case for me. It always tastes just as good as the last time and I can never grow tired of it. I didn't get to try my friend's garlic prawns but I know that it's his favorite dish to order here. And he ate it all, so that pretty much sums up that it's that good. I also didn't try his thai iced tea but he didn't complain about it so I'm assuming it was good as well. The service here was great. The restaurant wasn't too crowded and the ambiance was intimate but casual. The servers were super nice and friendly.
(5)
anthony l.
Wonderful spot, a hidden gem. Great attention to detail, really fresh ingredients and impeccable preparation for a moderate price. They would be just as comfortable in SF with the quality. The coconut shrimp is not like we had anywhere else, served in a cooked 1/2 coconut shell with soft coconut meat that scoops out like butter. The preparation behind their chili ribs is unbelievable and delivers an extremely unique crunchy, sweet , tender yet spicy experience. Definitely would come back and want to try all the other items.
(5)
Winnie G.
Key word: GARLIC NOODLES. Tell me why I finally find a local restaurant where I don't have to head into the city for some Garlic Noodles (7)! It's served as a side dish and wasn't what I expected. Pleasant surprise! Cooked with a tangy, sweet soy sauce like sauce, marinating the thick noodles to become a nice brown color, covered with something crunchy and just a touch of garlic. It wasn't overloading and not what I expected, but it pretty delicious. Best restaurant up in this hooha! I fell in love at first taste and arrival. It's such a precious eatery here on Piedmont Ave, a Vietnamese fusion cuisine that offers lunch specials, dinner specials, appetizers and sides. The interior is super cozy and dim, with soft lighting flowing in from the midday sun. The tres chic modern decoration gives your meal a touch of sophistication. Mm they offer a variety of different lunch specials and even vegetarian options! Being me, I took a shot at the pho (8) beef and astonished by the portion knowing that it's not an authentic viet pho place, I got the noodles the beef the mint the bean sprouts and lime and all that good broth in between. Small bowl, but well worth it in terms of taste and Piedmont Ave food worthy. It's really a great place to dine and the service is quick. The food is super fresh and the simple menu with burst of flavors really brings out the culture of Asian food. Can't wait to be back for more. Your one stop shop for flavorful Asian cuisine. They have bathrooms and do take both credit and cash. Ps. Try the crispy shrimp rolls (10) slightly expensive, comes with 5 and the sweetest fish sauce vinaigrette.
(4)
Janet N.
One of our favorite neighborhood restaurants for both lunch & dinner! For top value, go for the $10 lunch specials, which often include salad and rice. Delicious food, friendly and gracious service, comfortable and cozy ambiance. Try it -- you'll love it and become a regular!
(5)
Amber I.
Xyclo fed me most of my lunches when I worked from home. I love the dirtiest pho place possible, but there's something about this fancier chicken pho here that's awesome. There's really a delicious dish for everyone. Double surprise roll is a must. Staff is always so sweet, and they have a full bar.
(5)
Jennifer S. P.
Yummy spot! My boyfriend and I went there for dinner and loved all the food we ordered! It was really hard to find parking so we should have just walked from Rockridge, but the food was great. Staff not so friendly or attentive, but they weren't rude or anything so I would be willing to return.
(4)
Alan T.
Went here with high expectations and left with massive dissappointment. We ordered 3 dishes and 2 drinks, none was good, or near good. - Nem nuong roll: too much veggies compared to the amount of meat. The roll is not tight enough so everything started to fall apart the moment I took a small bite. - Chicken wings: too dry, overcooked - Ca kho: I feel like I can make this with those pre packaged spices they sell in the supermarket. Not much flavor in it. I would be less mad if the prices werent outrageous. Over$10/dish and portion is not adequate. This restaurant is not a high end asian fusion place at all
(1)
Salsaboy S.
To my surprise, I didn't like Xyclo much. It's not a great place for vegetarians, though several items on the menu are listed as vegetarian-capable upon request. Some of the items which Yelpers rave about -- the Salt and Pepper Tofu, for instance -- have been taken off of the menu (wasn't a big seller, they said), which is too bad. There were, maybe, four things that were able to be made vegetarian. I ordered the Clay Pot, vegetarian-style, which wasn't bad, but it wasn't special. I also got an order of the fresh rolls, which, frankly, were not good. I've had better rolls at Golden Lotus and the Slanted Door as well as Out the Door. They were fresher than comparable rolls from Whole Foods, but there wasn't any flavor. The peanut sauce was uninspired as well. My dining companion ordered the spare ribs, which, as a vegetarian, I didn't try. She said they were too sweet and she hardly ate them. She also ordered the garlic noodles as a side dish, which were the best thing we ordered that night. It would be difficult for me to recommend this place. It struck me as tired and uninspired. Could be hip but isn't. Piedmont Avenue continues to disappoint with mediocre establishments. My favorite is Lococo -- a quaint local Italian place -- but I hardly go because it gets crowded and the wait can be long.
(2)
L K.
Love this place. Regularly bait. Excellent pho and spring roll variety. Not so crazy about the plates on the menu outsider the appetizers and pho, but that's a personal pref. would highly recommend this place. It gets very busy on weekends during the eve.
(5)
Anna L.
Ambiance was great and we were seated right away. We preferred mojitos which came in a huge glass, which were delicious and strong. The fresh shrimp rolls were fresh and accompanied by a sweet sauce. At first I was a little disappointed with my vegetable pho but I was able to spice it up with a little Sriracha. My friend got a fishy soup that was OK only because it was pretty easy to get sick of the overwhelming fishy taste (I'm sure it's still going to taste great today so hey, double meal with my leftovers). Overall we were pretty pleased with our experience.
(5)
Courtney T.
I don't yelp all too often and I normally only leave reviews when the experience was outstanding. We've been really tight on budget but because it was my one day off I wanted to go out to eat after a long day of adventuring at Lands End with our puppy. We live in west Oakland so we looked for something seafood nearby. After going to a place that was packed and had no place to sit we decided to go here. We ordered the xyclo roll, which neither me nor my boyfriend really enjoyed. The sauce was not enticing and the roll itself was lacking. We also shared the rice medley clay pot. It was decent, but I easily could've made it at home and made it better, so for 16 dollars I was disappointed. Even the Thai tea was pretty meh. Along with the food being so-so, not a single server of the two ladies asked how we were, nor did we hear them ask anybody sitting near us. I myself come from nearly 5 years of restaurant work and find I'm very critical of dining experiences, so I at least expect to be asked how I'm doing aside from any specials or suggestions. Anyway, point is not sure why they have such good reviews. Maybe we just came on a slow Tuesday. Who knows. Definitely won't come back though when there are plenty of other cheaper, better quality restaurants in the area.
(1)
Ronald L.
Xyclo is conveniently located across the street from Fenton's which is my favorite ice cream parlor. Xyclo is an Asian Fusion restaurant with an emphasis in Vietnamese cuisines. I followed my fellow Yelpers and ordered the tumbling dice with a side of brown rice while my friends ordered the coconut prawns, xyclo chili ribs, papaya salad, and a side of garlic rice. Between the three of us, we ate about 2/3 of the food and I ate the remaining 1/3 at work the next day. Before I dive into the food, let me say a few kind words about the service. On a Tuesday night where the restaurant is only 1/2 filled, we had our water refilled only once that night and I had to flag down the waitress twice for more napkins. The waitress apparently ignored my first hand wave since I'm sure we made eye contact. It wasn't until she had to clear the table next to me that she finally got the hint that I wanted something from her in the first place. Now, onto the juicy stuff (no pun intended). As recommended by almost everyone on Yelp, the tumbling dice is the best dish on the menu. Juicy filet mignon cubes with delicious sauteed seasoning that makes me want to lick the liquids flowing out of the meat. I ordered a side of brown rice since I didn't want to have the liquids go to waste. Definitely a dish you would want to order. It's large enough to share with friends. The xyclo ribs weren't really spicy but rather crunchy. It's pork ribs breaded with sesame seeds. It was a little hard for me to eat since I had a canker sore under my tongue but my friends all had the same reaction that the ribs didn't leave a lasting impression. The ribs didn't seem to have enough meat either. The coconut prawns had a meager amount but the rice inside that coconut shell really hits the spot. Imagine fried rice with coconut chunks! Overall, the food was decent and the service wasn't so hot. For the price, eerrr... I want to say good things but even the price makes me want to think twice before going back. Now, don't get me wrong. The food is decent so you may want to try this place out and head over to Fenton's for dessert afterwards.
(3)
Jass M. B.
Have been here for the pho a couple times which is delicious on a cool night, and really what I come here for, though I know restaurant-pho is more expensive (and no better tasting) than delicious hole-in-the-wall-pho-place pho. And that's what this place is good for. Date-night pho. Cute little place, to get out of the house, eat, talk, and just enjoy the company of another, be it friend or beau. I have also tried the claypot - sooooo burn your mouth hot - takes too long to cool down to eating temp :( but once it does, is good. And the appetizer rolls - Xyclo, Crispy Shrimp which were both decent (wish they had a variety of dipping sauces available) and Sugarcane shrimp (didn't care for) Nothing to write home about, but yet, I like this place. And will continue to come :)
(4)
Dan L.
We love coming here for the rolls sampler. It has the full complement of the cold rice paper type rolls and the fried egg roll type rolls. Very tasty vegetables and meat inside, great with the chile oil and peanut sauce dipping sauces. We'll get the pho also, both beef and chicken are good. A small restaurant, can be crowded sometimes with lots of waiting. Always friendly service. Have been here a half-dozen times, was here last in Mar 2014, will definitely come back for a rolls 'n pho fix. Great location almost next door to Fenton's (perfect for dessert). Hard to find parking.
(3)
A T.
I gotta say, I was very excited to try this place when I was looking through the search engine. Let me start off by saying the time we chose to try this place was terrible. My friend and I went during New Years day and it was totally chaotic. So I don't know if this is how the restaurant normally operates. The food was great. I would recommend the Saigon Devil Wings, Garlic noodles and the Steak Salad. The marination of the wings were great and the size was standard, but I wish they had more flavor in the meat. The Garlic noodles were such a surprise. I felt it was better than Monkey King Bar and Grill, but that is my preference on flavor. The Steak Salad was another surprise for me, most places make the steak dry but the texture was moist and the flavor was amazing. The one dish I didn't like was the Chili Ribs. I know it is the signature dish for Xyclo, but I am not a big fan of sesame and those ribs were coated to the max capacity, which distracted me from the real flavor of the ribs and that should be the most important part right? Xyclo also has a cocktail menu that they should post on Yelp and I wasn't really impressed by it. When I tried to get recommendations from the waitress she had no idea what to recommend me and was too busy waiting the other tables to finish her sentence. The Lychee Martini is the safest choice I would go for. The most import thing of all that made my overall experience was the service, when I called the restaurant to check on the hours.. the lady who answered the phone was surprised I asked the question in the first place. When we arrived at the venue.. it seemed they only had ONE waitress working that night. When we asked a gentlemen who looked like he could be the owner or manager at the venue if he could assist us, he told us that he wasn't a waiter. I consider that rude. They were combining tables for a bigger party and my friend and I had to wait at the bar. I made the most of my wait and ordered the Lychee Martini and we were seated after 20 minutes. Since the waitress was swamped with other tables she hardly had time to refill our water cups or check on our orders. If it weren't for the food and great company I was having, I would give this place a lower rating for the poor service.
(3)
kathy o.
We go to this place once a month or so and always love it. Great before or after movie dinner. Food is consistently wonderful.
(5)
Kristy N.
I really don't get how Xyclo is rated 4 stars. This place is a rip off and not at all authentic Vietnamese (nor is it that great of a fusion joint either). My bowl of chicken pho was virtually 20% noodle/meat and 80% broth. The chicken was clearly the frozen kind that you buy from Costco, de-thaw, and then slice into pieces. The broth was just okay, but for $9 a bowl, I expected a whole lot more. There weren't that many other Asian customers in the restaurant, and I think that's very indicative of the type of customers this place attracts because it's clearly not Vietnamese people. There are a lot of yummier, cheaper places out there so don't waste your time with this one.
(2)
Jash P.
TUMBLING DICE. That's all you need to know! Eats: Highly recommend the tumbling dice with a side of rice. If not, you only get it on a bed of salad. The filet mignon melts in your mouth--def. some mouthwatering goodness! DELICIOUS. Other Eats: Butterfly Prawns--good flavor, but the prawns were difficult to remove from their shell. That was a struggle that left a sour note on the dish. Price: Expensive. Tumbling Dice + Side of Rice: $23; Butterfly Prawns: $16 Service: It was okay--could use some improvement though! It took awhile to get our refills for water and straws for our drinks. Wait Time: None! We were seated right away (party of 2 on a Saturday night around 7pm). Parking: Street--It actually took LONGER to find parking over waiting for a table! Bottom line: Go here for your filet mignon fix!
(4)
Clara Bella D.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the Bay! Talk about amazing Asian Fusion! My family used to own Di Bartolo's on grand and I love supporting local businesses!! If you're looking for a romantic, laid back, comfortable dinner then this is your place! Whether I'm with my boyfriend, girlfriends or even my gran this place is spectacular! My favorite dishes: -Tao Roll ( best fresh rolls in the Bay Area....) -Apple Salad (super refreshing and light) -Garlic Noodles ( the perfect side for two) -Extra Spicy Green Beans ( spice it up!!! This dish is perfect!) -Noise level is not high at all! Despite the crowded restaurant +: -Very simple yet tasteful ambiance and decor -Perfect for a romantic dinner for two! Just lovely.... -Attentive costumer service -Consistently good food every time...no surprises -Always an open table, even @ 9:15! -: -Parking on Piedmont Avenue is always awful but who cares!!:) -I don't recommend take out..... Sorry Xyclo but your 100% better eating in! Hurry up and try Xyclo!!!! Ciao.
(5)
Renalen C.
GARLIC NOODLES. get them. to share. or no, maybe just for yourself cuz youre gonna want the whole bowl. the chicken pho was perfect for the gloomy weather. not to mention HUGE. i barely finished it. if you want a jazz up youre drink choice, i wasnt disappointed with the mango spritzer i got. real mango chunks included.
(4)
Some D.
Won't be going back. The food is good, but not good enough to make up for a business that is incompetently run. They were on a waiting list when we arrived, but they were apparently choosing names at random from that list to determine whom to seat. They screwed up our order, to the point that a 2-course meal took over 2 hours. At that point it's more like being a prisoner than a customer. A free drink or something would have gone a LONG way towards improving the experience, but they were utterly apologetic about the whole thing. Having worked in multiple restaurants, I understand that things go wrogn sometimes, but to not recognize it when it does is unacceptable.
(2)
Scarlet A.
The food was very good. They a very generous with portion sizes. The tofu was cooked perfectly, which is something I am very picky about. Our drinks were large and strong. The restaurant was empty when we arrive close to opening time on a Monday. We were pretty much the only people there for an hour. It filled in quickly after that. Staff was friendly and attentive.
(5)
Erica C.
Date: Saturday night Party of: 11 Occasion: Friends Birthday! Parking: Nightmare Staring out the window to Fentons: *drool* I didn't know what to expect from this place. I'm not familiar with Oakland and all I knew was it would be impossible to find parking. We had a hard time finding it because for some reason we kept missing their sign. After parking blocks away I was pleasantly surprised to see Fentons across the street. I'll admit, the entire duration of my dinner all I kept thinking about was going to Fentons after for some dessert =P Upon walking into Xyclo, I thought to myself "this place is smaller than I thought, how are we going to fit 11 people"?? Lo and behold, there was an open space room that was the perfect size for our group. I was like our own private room complete with couches. My table started out with their combination rolls. There were various types of spring rolls and eggrolls. It was a big plate and each one was very good. I ordered the Banh Xeo. The portion was huge!! This is definitely for sharing. The crepe was crispy and hot but the stuff inside was not that great. Inside the banh xeo barely had meat with no sprouts. There were a lot of onions. I would give this dish 2 stars. The service was wonderful. They came by often to check on us and refill our drinks. The waitress was very helpful in answering all the questions we had about their dishes. Xyclo is good in my book.
(3)
Jeremy L.
I love this place. .. come here once a week because I can get enough wonton noodle soup and crispy shrimp rolls... now I'm getting the chili ribs and seven elements!
(5)
Annaliese D.
I went here with a large group for my birthday dinner. The food was 4 stars, but the serving was lacking. I know with a large party it is inevitable that there will be some mistakes with the order, but at Xyclo it was over the top. They couldn't keep track of who ordered what or what had been brought to the table. A few people's food came out much later then the rest of us because they had not written it down correctly. Luckily, the food was tasty. I had the crispy ribs and they were really good...very crispy with a lot of sesame seeds on the outside. My boyfriend ordered the garlic noodles to share and those were delicious! They were a fusion-inspired dish with flavors of garlic and soy but with parmesan cheese as well. His order of tempura basa was the crispiest tempura I've ever had, but it was somewhat ruined by the veggies underneath. Overall, despite the problems with the service I had a good experience...I guess that's what good food and good friends are for.
(3)
Laura K.
I love Vietnamese food and specifically pho. They only had chicken and beef pho. I tried their shrimp,paste soup the first time I visited and it was ok. Tonight I brought my husband and we both had a noodle dish. He had the Birds Nest dish and I had the shrimp noodle dish. They were both ok. I wish mine had more ingredients. It was just noodles, four shrimp and some spices with a sauce. The waiter was not friendly and not attentive to our needs. Not until after we paid did they bring us more water when I sat through most of dinner drinking the rest of my husband's water since mine was gone. Not the friendliest staff. This isn't a place that I would frequent again.
(3)
Andrew C.
For years I'd trekked to E14th in lieu of Xyclo. The other night I found myself with little time and craving some noodle soup . . . Order the Xyclo rolls (chicken, shrimp, mushroom, carrot, taro, glass noodle and nuoc cham, $9) and Bun Rieu (shrimp and crab cake, rice noodle, tofu and crab claw in tomato sauce, topped with cilantro and onion, $10) The Xyclo rolls are 5 small rolls wrapped in rice paper served with a small dipping bowl of nuoc cham and a pinch of shredded cabbage ( yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… ). The rolls were dense and flavorful. The nuoc cham needed more fish sauce and maybe some chilis to kick things up. Serving size seemed small for $9. Decent bun rieu with a salad plate of mint, shredded cabbage, and lettuce ( yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… ). The shrimp & crab cake was nice and the noodles well cooked. Plenty of tasty fried tofu wedges. The broth however, was weak. There was none of the fermented shrimp paste you usually see served with bun rieu which would have helped things tremendously, along with more herb variety (ie. parilla, etc) & maybe an option for pig's blood cubes. The crab claw, while a nice touch, was also messy to eat, having to rip it apart with your fingers to get the meat out. Service was non-existent despite it not being packed. I stood around for awhile waiting to be seated and during the meal the closest anyone came to my table when not delivering food was when one server with a water pitcher glanced at my table, saw my water was 3/4 full and walked away before I could ask for more dipping sauce. I had to resort to the Korean stand-by of shouting across the restaurant to get another drink. I think it took the Piedmont Ave crowd by surprise ;-) Xyclo rolls: 4 stars Bun Rieu: 3 stars Average to above-average food at above average prices. Crap-tastic service.
(2)
.Alan Y.
One of the few options for Vietnamese food in this part of Oakland, Xyclo has a modern menu with a menu comfortable for those who are unfamiliar with Asian or Vietnamese cuisine in particular. Xyclo works in a pinch if you don't feel like driving into Chinatown or the San Antonio District.
(4)
G T.
Came here for dinner, food is not too memorable. They make good cocktails to be fair.
(3)
Ratka P.
The food is always super fresh and delicious. I am always satisfied.
(5)
Patrick T.
Really excellent modern Vietnamese food. I've eaten here a good number of times for lunch/dinner or even from a catered wedding. I don't know if they still do lunch specials, but last time I was here, it was about $10 for a solid lunch. I had the crispy curry basa which was great. For an appetizer you must get the Saigon devil wings. Delicious, glazed, crispy chicken wings that are to die for. They really do their pork right. Bun cha hanoi was delicious. The grilled pork was cooked well and seasoned just right. Xyclo chili ribs are absolutely outstanding. Glazed in a sweet chili sauce, covered with sesame seeds, boy are your tastebuds in for a treat. The ribs are crispy from the glaze, but the meat falls right off the bone. Melty good.
(5)
Kelli M.
It's been some time since I've eaten at Xyclo. The last time my husband and I were there, we waited and waited...and waited - and no one came to our table. So we promptly left. We'd eaten there one other time, and the food was good, but it wasn't worth waiting that long. Had that been the only issue, I wouldn't have bothered with a review. Terrible service happens sometimes. But I'm writing one now, because in the last six months, I've walked by Xyclo in the wee hours of the morning only to find they hadn't bused the tables from the night before.This has happened three times. I know it may not seem like a big deal to some of you - but this just has red flags all over the place for me. If Xyclo doesn't care that there's half-eaten plates and bowls of food, dirty napkins, silverware and glasses on the tables in plain view of the public - then what does that say about the cleanliness of their kitchen? Do I even need to mention the possibility of rodents? I did check the Xyclo website before I posted this review to see if there was a contact I could email. There was not. Hopefully someone from the restaurant will read this review and get their act together. Who knows - maybe the chef/owner isn't aware that the place isn't being cleaned each night. Either way, I won't be back.
(1)
David S.
This place was REALLY good. We started with the fresh rolls, they were well flavored, had a crunchy sausage in the middle and came with a non-peanut dipping sauce that was really tasty. We moved on to the coconut shrimp served over coconut rice that was cooked in a coconut shell, also really good flavor...the shrimp were perfectly cooked and the rice was delicious. We also ordered the ribs, which were amazing....if you like ribs, even a little bit then this dish is a must. Tender, with a crunchy glazed exterior and great flavor! I will def be back.
(4)
Bobby K.
Hmmm...what can I say about this place......Its not like any other Vietnamese Restaurant I've been to in the past. Probably should have figured that out when I noticed on yelp that it was classified as ASIAN FUSION. Oooooo! Ahhhhhh! Anyways, the food was good. My sister and my other sister's boyfriend got the stuffed eggplant. It was delicious, and reminded me of the stuffed eggplants you can order for dim sum. On the other hand, my other sister and I ordered beef pho. I've definitely had better in San Jose. Of course, thats not what they're known for. Customer Service was sort of a hit and miss. We got a waitress, but she didnt really greet us with personality. Instead, she just asked what we would like. Once we finished our meal, it took us a few to several minutes for us to get a meal. But the hardest thing I could barely bare about this restaurant were the prices. IT WAS SO MUCH MONEY! The stuffed eggplant was good but definitely should not have cost 16 bucks! The pho had to be the cheapest thing on the menu, but it was still 9 dollars. Don't even get me started about how hard it was to actually find it on the menu. So overall, I thought it was ok, but I wouldn't mind trying Xyclo again if I were to have something extremely different. But definitely, its not worth the drive out of my way from Gilroy.
(3)
Anusha M.
The food and drinks were amazing. I would highly recommend the rolls. All of the food was very fresh, and the atmosphere was casual but elegant. The only drawback was the service was a bit slow with bringing out the food.
(4)
Susan L.
We have been here twice for dinner, and wonder why we don't come more often. Many restaurants make shrimp rolls (non-fried) but I have never had a better roll or a better dipping sauce. The simple mixed vegetables with tofu is very special, due to their ability to cook the vegetables perfectly and add a delicious sauce. The hit of our latest dinner was the huge prawns served in a coconut shell with coconut rice and young coconut, which is an incredible texture and flavor. And following that them, the fried bananas with coconut ice cream and toasted coconut was the perfect way to end the meal. Think we like coconut?! Gracious service completes this great experience. Perfect for pre or post-movie as it is in the same block as the Piedmont Theater. Don't miss it!
(4)
Fred S.
The Food was excellent across the board,but the customer service needs some extreme fine tuning.It took forever for use to get a menu,and one of the servers sat use so they new we where there,then it took forever for a server to to come and take our order,even when I would wave to catch there attention there eyes would ether always be looking down or glance by and not see my arm raised up.I have work as a server myself for Five years and the secret is not happy customers is not complicated in regards to the server part.Here is the verbal math, be sincerely warm and friendly on the meet and greet ,be quick ,on getting to the customer,get there orders correctly in the the cooks,check in on drinks to see if they have need for refills,get there orders out to them asap and when serving them there order be sure everything is in order before leaving the table,check back during the meal twice,but allows make sure to scan slowly to see if any tables are in need of anything,keep an eye on peoples drinks to see if they are in need of refills,and give people there space while they are enjoy each others company and meal.That is the secrets.Update your servers with these key training notes and make sure they follow through correctly and get an A when being tested throughout the week at random times,and you WIll see your profits RISE. Thanks for your time
(3)
Madrone J.
A-ok is three stars. I wanted to give more but can't justify it yet. The ambience is pretty good, not too loud, nice lighting. Service was really bad. I was given a glass of water and menus as I waited for my friends. Had to flag down to order a drink. Had to flag down to order starters after friends arrived.. Had to flag down to order mains. We basically had no service, every time flagging them down as they rushed by. Main dishes were bought out at different times, so two of us sat for 5 mins while our friend ate. The restaurant was not packed and they had 3 or 4 servers. The food, the papaya salad was great and nice and spicy The poached shrimp roll was somewhat bland and the peanut sauce not so good My friends clay pot made her very happy. Two of us ordered the coconut prawns, the sauce was fantastic, the prawns were so over cooked they were rubbery and chewy. 4 prawns and about 4 spoons of rice for $16 really? Because in general the flavors were so so good, I want to come back and try it again, order some different dishes, and hopefully the stars can go up. You guys have to work on your service. We basically had none and I felt frustrated to keep having to ask.
(3)
Jessica T.
Came here for Saturday night dinner and was seated immediately. Ambiance was intimate and the staff was quick and friendly. We got the nem noung roll, saigon devil wings, and tumble dice. I thought the nem noung roll was pretty standard, the tumble dice was soft and well seasoned, but still conflicted over the wings... great flavor but the caramelized garlic sauce was of annoying to eat. :/ still, worth a try if you want something yummy!
(4)
May T.
Sometimes Asian fusion works, and this is one of those restaurants. My brother warned me: "it's not real Vietnamese food." Yet, it was really tasty Vietnamese fusion food and the pho ga I had really soothed my sick, feverish self.
(3)
Ali H.
Came here for lunch and really enjoyed the food and ambience. The chicken with basil was tasty and fresh. Also had the pho which had a great broth. I'll be coming back!
(5)
Nimeela D.
Their shrimp rolls are amazing!!! And their pho is one of the best I've had in the bay area!!! Now great food coupled with amazing service, thats a cozy evening I'd want to go back to!!!
(5)
Vickie T.
Only the drinks were good at this place. I had a mangopolitan and I loved it. However the foods were only okay...
(3)
Christopher L.
Came here again tonight, and, as usual, it hit the spot. Still a smidgen on the pricey side, but it felt like their portion sizes have increased, so that helps a lot! I love the five-spice chicken, as it reminds me of chicken I once would eat from street vendors in Thailand. Good, attentive service. One of these days, I want to come and just order rolls, as one would at a sushi place.
My wife and I went there last Friday night. We both love Asian food. The food was excellent as was the service. The place is a hidden gem on Piedmont Ave.
(4)
Winnie H.
I have been to Xyclo about 4 times over the past 4 years, and I think I will return for more in the near future. I liked the food. I can't remember what I ordered the first couple times (as they took place more than 2-3 years ago), but they were good. My impression is that the food is a bit salty but otherwise good. Recently (actually I went there twice within the past week) I ordered Lemongrass tofu & veggie with rice, and Bun (which is rice noddle with salad and choice of meat, I picked chicken). They were both good. The lemongrass dish was a bit salty for me, but the Bun was just right. I think it's because rice noddle and salad taste minimal with the contrast of the sauteed meat on top (which alone is too salty), and they make a good mix. Overall, food is good, but at times can be too salty. I think I would go with dishes with more salad/noddles to make things a better balance.
(4)
Liz S.
Tasty, tasty, tasty. Came here with a group of friends recently and I can't remember everything we ordered, but most of it was dang good; maybe a couple of dishes were fine, not outstanding. I do have to say the Vietnamese crepes were delicious!!! A lot of fun to eat but very messy -- ask for extra napkins. Service was good too. Overall very positive experience and more than satisfying meal. I've been back a few times and will be back again.
(4)
Wendy M.
We literally drive from Santa Cruz just to eat at Xyclo. It is our first choice whenever anyone wants to take us out for a special celebration. Not only is the food amazingly delicious, but the service is fabulous, with attention to every detail. Our favorite dishes are: Garlic Noodles, Crispy Curry Fish, Combination Stir Fry, Green Bean Salad, Fresh Apple Salad, and Lemongrass Basil Chicken.
(5)
Christina C.
Brilliant. That coconut prawns dish is just brilliant. It is a must have dish. I finally brought family over last night. The dishes we ordered were very child friendly. My 4 yr-old had such a nice feed. Love everything about this trendy Vietnamese joint. PS: The parking is the only painful thing I do not enjoy........
(5)
Melinda Y.
I was fascinated to see that you can pre-order your meal over the phone and have it waiting for you when you arrive. Timing at your own risk however. The people had reserved the table next to us, with the food ready for consumption. I wanted to sneak a taste when nobody was looking. Yah, I was THAT hungry! I haven't had many memorable experiences at Asian Fusion-type restaurants (most are overpriced with small portions), but I'm open to trying some place if it seems promising. We ordered the Saigon devil wings ($8), birds nest ($15), crispy curry fish ($15), and five spice chicken ($14). My favorite of the night was the wings. The garlic caramelized glaze on the wings was superb. It was something that (I think) is unique to this restaurant. I'm still thinking about them right now. YUM! The fish was also pretty flavorful with a nice crisp. The noodle was okay...flavoring was a little bland.
(4)
Karla B.
They were very kind to accommodate our large group. Unfortunately, we were not in the main section and it was hard to get the staff's attention throughout the night. We shared the roll sampler, which was only ok. I had the coconut prawns, which came beautifully served, but again were only ok, and excessively sweet for me. Overall a nice place, but I was a bit disappointed with the food. The drink menu is quite good.
(3)
Debbie M.
Wonderful, delicious, inventive We've been to Vietnam three times (love the cuisine) - even taking cooking lessons in Hanoi. Xyclo's food is amazing, reminds us of some of our favorite restaurants in Vietnam, with a bit of a 'California' twist.
(5)
Xinwei L.
Their dishes are interesting and "modern" but I didn't like it. For example, they have quite a few choices of appetizer rolls and they are all $10 and up. I really like the traditional shrimp rolls but they didn't have it so I ordered the sugarcane shrimp rolls. I didn't care for it -- they cut the rolls in half and some of the rolls have a LOT of tall lettuce so the dish looks really pretty, but it doesn't taste right because there's too much lettuce! It's also kind of small for the price since those are only half rolls.
(3)
Anthony Y.
Always as good as the last time. I come here fairly regularly throughout the year and I can always expect my food to be just how I had it last time. Their rolls are great. I love the sugarcane shrimp roll and the double surprise roll. I always have to get an order of the garlic noodles. The people at the restaurant know me and my friend as the people who always order a ton of food. I've tried at least half of the menu and I'm never disappointed with their food every time I go back. Can be a little pricey especially with how many things I want to order.
(5)
Eryn L.
I've been here twice, once for a sit-down meal and once for take out. Both times the food was across the board excellent. The service was slow and not so friendly, but the food made up for it. I particularly like the eggplant and tofu dish, though everything is great. One thing to watch out for though: When we got take out, it leaked EVERYWHERE, unbeknownst to us until after dinner. All over the car seat, my boots... Nothing was upside down or out of place, their packaging was just faulty. Be careful when getting take out!
(4)
Courtney Y.
I was in the area and wanted Vietnamese food which I usually love. When I first walked in to this place it didn't have a good aroma. To me this is the first sign of a good restaurant. I was going to try another place until a woman eating in the restaurant told me " Good choice". Based on that I decided to give it a try. I ordered lemon basil chicken which came with a salad and rice. The chicken came out and it looked appetizing. However, the dish did not taste like lemon-basil and was drenched in soy sauce which I dislike. There was no flavors in the dish. Even the salad did not have a dressing on it and was just straight vinegar. I didn't care for this place and was surprised by all their award stickers on their window. I will not be back!
(2)
Joanna S.
Nice atmosphere and good food here. Limited menu, but what we tried was really good. Loved the tofu eggplant in sweet/spicy sauce with green beans, side of brown rice. Service was a little too understated. Water was refilled, but no one checked whether we needed something, which was a bit nonchalant.
(4)
Hilary B.
I will go here again & again! The food was amazing! Amazing! I can't believe I just discovered this place. I had the garlic noodles & Saigon Devil Wings. Can i tell you that they were fricking amazing? Because they were! The staff was even kind enough to throw together a quick grilled chicken & garlic noodle stir fry for my picky date. Ive decided that I will eat here as often as my diet & wallet allow!
(4)
Erin J.
When planning our wedding we decided that instead of paying outrageous prices per person for full service catering, we would order massive amounts of food from our favorite restaurant instead. Xyclo is delicious and pretty much our favorite restaurant, but this review extends beyond their deliciousness and great atmosphere. Keng was extremely helpful, sweet, and relaxed with helping us plan our menu for about 100 people. She gave good suggestions for what would hold up best, and how much food to order. In the end, all of the food held up, we had a good amount of food, and everybody raved about it. We have an eclectic mixture of friends and family, from "fancy" restaurant frequenters to BBQ loving family in Missouri, those with more exotic palets and those who like it plain, meat eaters, vegans, and gluton free alike - and absolutely everybody LOVED the food (with the one exception of our poor friend who is severely allergic to peanuts and denied the pleasure of this food lest he go into anaphylactic shock). I think in the end it worked out to just over $20 per person - which includes heaping plates to each people, seconds (sometimes thirds), and leftovers. Of course this also involved a lot more work on my family's part (Xyclo made the food but did not does not provide full service catering), but was well worth it for the extremely reasonable price and the absolutely delicious food.
(5)
Christine E.
My boyfriend and I decided to try this spot due to the high reviews, and sad to say that I am a bit disappointed. I was expecting more. We ordered the Xyclo Chili Ribs, Crispy Curry Fish, and a side order of Garlic Herb Noodles. Out of the three, I recommend ordering the Crispy Curry Fish. It was very flavorful and the fish was cooked perfectly. Many reviewers recommend ordering the Xyclo Chili Ribs and Garlic Herb Noodles, but it was OK. Nothing special and to rave about. Service here wasn't that great. I saw the server asking other tables if they are doing ok and if they need anything else, but did not bother to ask my boyfriend and I. The server only came to our table to give our food and check. Only wished the sever would fill up our glass of water while eating, not after. Would I come back? Ehhh, I personally think the food here is overpriced for what you get. Unless its on a special occasion I would, otherwise I have to pass.
(3)
Asia E.
i love xyclo! I've been coming here since they opened! i always get the following - xyclo roll sampler - jasmine tea - bûn - probably the best I've ever had
(4)
Claire A.
Used to come here a lot with the family and spend quite a bit. But I've been there a few times now and have been very disappointed. The pho here is a joke. 10$ for a few noodles a couple pieces of meat and you're like whaaatttt??? I won't be back.
(1)
M A.
Been there twice in the past 2 weeks for lunch special. Both times ordered Eggplant Basil Tofu dish. Both times cleaned it up and felt nourished. What could make this place better? If I knew 100% that the Tofu is not GMO [soy is one of the major GMO crops]. I care about these things, and hope my fellow humans do too! I would give Xyclo 5 stars and be there at least once a week if it was Organic.
(4)
Elise F.
If you have an onion allergy, do NOT assume that their menu is consistent. While they list several menu items as including onions, I ordered something that did not specifically say it had onions. You can probably guess what showed up on my plate...
(3)
Roxanne G.
Great food. I have been there many times for lunch but never for dinner. My go-to faves are the lemongrass eggplant tofu and the garlic noodles. Do not miss out on the garlic noodles!! I also love their fresh rolls, my favorite is the Tao roll. My co-worker always gets the pho and says it is delicious. Great place to bring people for lunch. Enjoy!
(4)
Philip L.
Given the overwhelming consensus that this is a great restaurant, we were quite surprised when the chunks of filet mignon in the "Tumbling Dice" dish were incredibly chewy. How do you make filet mignon chewy? By using a different cut of meat. The server graciously removed this from the bill. The other dishes we ordered, a roll and dried scallop fried rice, were good, but did not justify the elevated price.
(2)
Andy K.
This is Vietnamese fusion. You get variations on Vietnamese classics done with California toning up (or watering down, depending on your perspective). Whatever your view, the food is very good. I live in the neighborhood and eat here a couple times a week. No need to park, but I understand the complaints if you do. The restaurant is nicely furnished, if a bit sparse. One trick I use is to look in the window when walking by. If 90% of the tables are taken, go somewhere else. The servers are very nice and helpful but are easily overwhelmed. By following this rule, I never have a bad time there. Try lunch -- great food but not as busy. The pork chop is excellent. There are many good dishes at Xyclo, enough that I haven't gotten tired of it after 5 years straight. Short list, in menu order since I have it memorized: Rolls (double surprise is fun) Devil wings Green papaya salad Bun rieue soup Pho Bun with pork (noodles) Yellow curry Tumbling dice Chili ribs Garlic noodles Steamed tofu They also mix decent drinks and the wine list is great. I love this place and as long as you follow the rule above (attention Valentine's Day reviewers!), you will too.
(5)
Kathrina R.
I love this place. It has wonderful service. Great food too. It is also in a perfect local spot.
(5)
Christine K.
My friend and I went to Xyclo around 5pm on Saturday and were the only customers there (I'm guessing it gets busier later). Overall, Xyclo was a 3.5-4 star experience. Service was pretty good, food was FRESH and tasty. I ordered the spicy steak salad, which was perfect because I was in the mood for something flavorful but light. We also ordered the garlic herb noodles and the crispy shrimp rolls to share. The garlic noodles were my favorite! Chewy, full of toasted garlic flavor (i LOVE garlic). The crispy shrimp rolls were okay... I wish there was more taro in them, and they were a little bit TOO crispy/deep fried for my taste (but some people prefer that--I just don't like things that are too fried). For dessert, we got the fried banana with coconut ice cream. Coconut ice cream was delish! Not too sweet, which is always good. But the fried banana was a little too fried, too (I guess I just like more lightly fried things in general -- the wrapper was too hard, crunchy, thick and greasy for me). Would definitely go back to try other dishes :)
(4)
Ric M.
The Garlic Noodles were outstanding!!! With one caveat, so was the main dish I ordered, the Crispy Ribs. I've never had ribs prepared like they did, and the flavor was so good. But one thing was very strange. One of the ribs was cold - not cold as in after sitting on the plate, but cold as in having been in the refrigerator and not completely warmed up. It's easy for me to understand that the ribs had been pre-cooked to an extend, and the glazing process (or whatever) includes cooking them more. But in this case, one of them was cold. It was like eating leftovers, but not anything to get real worked up about. There were about 6-7 ribs on the plate and the rest were hot - just the one. So there was some sort of glitch in the process. All in all, a very good place to go.....as long as you don't have to park a car.
(3)
Katrina A.
Came back for a double date with the BFF and her boy. The boy and I usually order vegetarian, but BFFs boy is a meat eater. So we did start with vegetarian Tao Rolls, which are yummy. This time, I got to try the Tumbling Dice, which was so delicious. Super tender and moist, tons of flavor. Yum! It comes with a bit of salad too. Kinda pricey but it was delish. Next dish was the Bun Cha Hanoi. The boy ordered it thinking it was vegetarian since there was (V) next to it, but I think he forgot to request it as vegetarian, so I was surprised when there was meat on there. Anyways, it was really good though I felt bad that he couldn't eat it. Definitely recommend it. We ordered the eggplant tofu again, and the meat eater actually really liked it. Usually doesn't like eggplant, but he kept going for more! As for drinks, the boy had the mango mojito again; BFF had the mango margarita; and I went with the mango champagne sparkler. Both really loved their drinks. I was especially pleased with my drink since they used mango puree. Idk if it was fresh puree or not, but it was hella good!
(5)
Susana A.
We ate here two nights on our recent stay in Oakland and loved the food. It was light and fresh, no heavy foods or oily dishes. The first night we had a vegi pho and the udon soup which were both clean and flavorful. We also had the lettuce wraps with a most delicious fresh filling of finely chopped onion, lime, cashews, dried shrimp and several other items, topped with a plum sauce. Then we shared the Vietnamese pancake which was filled with thin noodles and vegetables. My Tamarini martini was the best and a huge motivator to return. On our second visit we had the Tao Roll and the Sugarcane Roll. I had the Papaya Salad which was unusually crisp and delicious and my husband had the Steak Carpaccio and the Tumbling Dice which he enjoyed very much. We were able to take some food home for the next day. We are so happy to have found this excellent, well-priced restaurant and we will look forward to our next visit.
(5)
Erica N.
Some restaurants mix exotic foods because they know it will be magical. Xyclo does it because its not illegal. They think its clever. Its actually a blend of hot and cold food that does not compliment the other. Limited drink menu is very limited despite an 'exotic' food menu. Servers are friendly and mostly attentive.
Why does Asian Fusion always have to be so overpriced? That's my only gripe about Xyclo. The Tumbling Dice ($19) and Claypot Rice Medley ($15) were delicious but smaller than I'd expect for the prices. The side of Garlic Herb Noodles ($7) was tasty. At 7:30 on a Friday night, there was no wait - a couple of tables were open. Overall, it's worth trying Xyclo at least once because the food is good. As a bonus, you can get dessert at Fentons Creamery, which is right next door.
(3)
Tom H.
This is an amazing place. We came here after a weekend in Napa where we had some amazing food, only to wrap it up with more amazing food. The staff was nice and courteous and service with a smile.
(5)
Abra S.
This place is a pretty good Vietnamese "Fuision" type restaurant. I got the Sugar Cane shrimp rolls which were really good and flavorful. I also got the Grilled Chicken Bun which was good as well. Overall clean restaurant with nice decor and good food.
(4)
Warwick M.
I can't remember when last I tried a restaurant for the first time and was so taken with it that I had to rush back the following day for more of their fine fare. Xyclo on Piedmont Avenue is just such a place. Everything was delicious. I am a lover of good curry and I eat it often but the Chicken Curry is one of the best I have ever had. Chicken, curry and coconut milk seem to be a marriage made in heaven and the Chicken Curry at Xyclo is spectacular. When the delicious food is added to the friendly service and reasonable prices, Xyclo is clearly 5 stars.
(5)
Lisa K.
The Xcyclo sampler was huge -- a variety of all the rolls on the menu. Definitely great for sharing. I highly recommend the papaya salad. It was beautifully presented and the spicy dressing was a nice complement to the flavors in the salad.
(4)
Jess M.
Ordered the ribs, bun hanoi, curry fish, and the 5 spice chicken to go, everything was amazing! A little pricey, but definitely worth it! Everything was very flavorful and the employees were helpful!
(5)
Laci G.
So, so delicious. I was skeptical because we walked into Xyclo off the street, but wow! It turned out to be one of the best Vietnamese meals I've ever had. Everything we ordered was delicious. Do make sure you check out the green papaya salad and the shrimp in coconut...omgggg. Heaven. Great joint and pretty good prices for what you get.
(5)
Natalia B.
What a disappointment - two out of four dishes were inedible. Went for lunch, had papaya salad (ok), and green apple salad (nice and fresh), pork sausage rolls which were no better than an old vienna sausage wrapped in lettuce with an off-tasting dipping sauce, and the completely inedible lemongrass eggplant tofu bean and rice dish. The whole thing tasted like it had been sitting around for days and reheated. Tough, chewy and not in a good way, thick unappetizing sauce. Very sad. We left hungry.
(2)
Leah E.
Saturday Date Night: October 30, 2010 @ 5:15 PM No thanks to a seafood restaurant in SF on Friday night, at 1 AM Saturday morning I was kneeling over the toilet bowl spewing out fried oysters and cajun fries. (Nasty, I know.) For Saturday Date Night, I told my guy that we had to have dinner as close as possible to the house and I needed a hot steaming bowl of soup, preferably Asian. (I was still feeling icky from the night before.) Prior to this dinner, I wrote Xyclo off as a fru-fru overpriced "Americanized" Vietnamese fusion restaurant. It took one food poisoning experience from another eatery for me to try it. Xyclo is definitely a notch above your mom and pop Vietnamese restaurant. However, it is still a neighborhood place and service was very down-to-earth. Decor was chic Asian which reminded me of the neon-lit modern restaurants in Singapore. "East meets West" decor of Asian artwork on bright-colored walls was the theme of this place. The cuisine is indeed fusion. yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… To qualm my sick tummy, I ordered these as soon as we sat down: A) POT OF CHRYSANTHEMUM TEA $3: Nice floral tea that came in an Asian teapot. Tea was strong but a little lukewarm. Still refreshing none the less. yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… B) SWEET AND SOUR SOUP: Fish, pineapple, celery, tomato and Asian dill in a sweet and sour broth $7. yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… This soup should be renamed "Very Sweet and Sour Soup." Generous portion with nice chunks of fish that tasted fresh and not fishy. I loved it despite the sweetness and started to make my tummy feel better. Came to me steaming hot. This alone filled me up. We ordered everything a la carte and was served to us family-style: C) CRISPY SHRIMP ROLL: Fried shrimp and taro wrapped in thin rice paper and nuoc cham (fried) $9. yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… Reall good and dense fried rolls. Piping hot and so yummy! D) HERBED GARLIC NOODLES $7: Big portion for being a side dish. Delicious, chewy and garlicky. yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… E) XYCLO CHILI RIBS- Crispy pork ribs, peanut, sesame seed and mixed herb glazed in sweet chili sauce $15. yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… My seafoodtarian self did not try these but these ribs were heavy and humongous that my guy had a hard time picking them up with his chopsticks. They were crispy on the outside and very tender on the inside. However, he whispered to me that it tasted "fishy." (As a disclaimer, my fiance hates fish sauce.) F) CLAYPOT RICE MEDLEY - Prawns, tofu, broccoli, bell pepper, mushroom, cauliflower, bok choy, zucchini and rice; slow cooked in a clay pot $15 yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… The dish arrived in a hot claypot. Even minutes after blowing on each spoonful of the dish, it was still very hard to eat because of the temperature. The rice had a nice crusty botton to it which I love. On top of already being full from the soup and the shrimp roll, I could not eat another bite. When I ate it at home later that evening, I found it very sweet once again like most of the other dishes. This dish is okay-just a very sweet garden-variety stir-fried dish in a pot. Not worth the $15 price tag. DOWNSIDE: The dishes were sweet, consistently "fusion" and after a while tasted all the same. OVERALL: Despite the sweetness of the dishes, Xyclo made a fan out of me. Not only the decor was nice and swanky but the presentation of each dish was very pleasing to the eyes. Also a cool place to grab a drink and appetizers! Tab: $76 including a Diet Coke, tax and 20 percent tip. (With plenty of leftover ribs and claypot dish.) 3.62 Stars rounding up to 4.
(4)
Rita Y.
3.5 stars. I actually liked the food I tried here. Hubby's been here before but it was my first try. It's rather expensive for lunch as our meal came to $30. Hubby tried the special of the day, a beef stew tendon over pho. It was a big serving, $10. We shared the xyclo roll, $9 for 5 fried rice rolls with chicken, shrimp, mushroom, carrot, glass noodle. It came with dipping sauce and was quite good. My entree was the chicken pho, $8. Very filling with thin spaghetti sized pho noodles, bean sprouts, really, really hot jalapeno peppers (it was a mistake to take a bite of one slice,my tongue burned for quite a few minutes) and a tiny wedge of lime. The broth was good but I still like the taste of the broth at Kevin's Noodle House in SF. It's a nice local place and is probably much quieter than during the work week when I'm sure they're flooded with commuters who work nearby. There is quite a selection of rolls, greens (salads), soups. Only 3 appetizers, 3 noodle dishes, but 14 large plates. Lunch specials run ro 11:30AM to 3PM and are worth trying at $10 .
(3)
Connie Y.
Over-priced "Vietnamese fusion." Spring rolls were different than what you would normally see from a real Vietnamese restaurant, I think $10 for 3 rolls (cut in half so you get 6). It doesn't taste bad, but I wasn't impressed considering the cost. The fried curry fish had interesting/ bold flavors and I had to eat it with rice. The texture was kind of weird though, I didn't taste the fish in it. The garlic in the garlic noodles were burnt, I tasted more butter than garlic, and it was too sweet.
(3)
John S.
I love this place--the food is great and the service is very friendly. I usually get the Chicken Pho and the Chicken Wings which are amazing. Only one thing sucks--you guys have to fix your door. It sticks and I've gotten stuck outside of the place and stuck inside. Please fix the door for 5 stars! EDIT: The last time I was in there, it seemed like they fixed the door!
(5)
Christal Y.
Get the Papaya Salad. Xyclo cuts their green papaya so unique that it's easy to eat and the flavors mix well instead of dripping out from the excess sauce. The salad is super refreshing and definitely set the bar for the rest of the dishes to come... which was why I was disappointed with my chicken curry. To Xyclo's credit, my boss liked it. But I'm a bigger fan of thick curry that doesn't drown my rice. With the little amount of rice I already had, I didn't think the curry did anything but water it down. Unfortunately, this downer was my dish, which is half the reason why I knocked off a star (onto that later). My boss got a basa fish. It was a very sweet white fish that seemed stir fried. Nothing special but the fish itself was delicious and in cute pieces like fish fingers. To this day I haven't tried anything like it - it didn't wow me, but it certainly did make me think I should've ordered something else. So my asian side came through, because I originally wanted noodles, but when I saw it was a fusion place, I put those thoughts aside and settled for something "safe." Bad choice. On the other hand, service is slow here. Xyclo wasn't even that full, but my boss and I stood for about two minutes before they seated us at a table without utensils (actually there was one set, but the napkin was missing - sketchy, sketchy!). Then we moved because it was windy, and they didn't come until we told them we were ready to order. I don't know... I'm not used to waving down waitresses in a half empty restaurant, and it wasn't like food took forever, so I'm not sure what kept them busy. But the papaya salad! Yums!
(3)
Hellen D.
There are no words to describe the feast I recently had here. It was my parents 35th anniversary and boy did we celebrate it with a bang. First off we had our own section for just the family and close friends. The owner came and greeted us and offered her best dishes and cocktails. We all obliged and let her offer her best dishes. This is what we had... Crispy Shrimp Roll - this was just like your regular egg roll, but with a whole shrimp and extra goodness inside. Wasn't like it was all veggies. You could actually taste and see the whole shrimp. Nem Nuong Roll - I LOVE this. We had a whole bunch in my past visit to Vietnam. You will never find a place that has this grilled pork sausage that is slightly sweet with a crunchy piece of fried egg roll wrapper. Anyone who knows anyone who eats this loves it. Many places don't sell nem nuong like this, it always is missing the best part, the egg roll wrapper. Besides all the goodness inside this roll..OMG the sauce is one of those sauces you want to eat with anything. Green Bean Salad - You would think this dish was just Eh by looking at it. Once you have a bite there is some sort of flavor you cant figure out what it is. Seven Elements - OK so I thought this dish wash a side dish to something. That's why I didn't have a photo of it. =(. BUT this dish was just as surprising as the green bean salad. You add all the elements together and you wrap it with the lettuce and put the sauce on and eat. YUM!!! It's literally making me drool. Vietnamese Carpaccio - This was very delicious. We had almost 2 servings of it. My parents weren't eating theirs because they were so busy talking so we ate some of it. I like this kind of carpaccio better because its thinly sliced meat, rather than mushed up meat like ground beef. I felt like you could get the full taste of the dish this way. Saigon Devil Wings - These were a perfect bite of goodness. They were like the chicken lolli pops you get at Sino. Very crunchy and crispy with that glaze of sweetness. Xyclo Chili Ribs - I was surprised that the ribs didn't have any bones in them. We asked the owner why this lovely piece of meat was so tender. It's a secret I wont tell. You just have to try it for yourself. Tumbling Dice - This is a great plate. MMM even though the meat is always delicious. It's the salad that tops it off. The balsamic vinaigrette and the meat juices that somehow mix together on one simple plate make this dish almost the favorite of the night. Dry Scallop Fried Rice - OK so you wouldn't think that the brown little bits are dried scallop. Ive never had a dried scallop to give rice some texture and flavor. I love fried rice but this is my ultimate favorite. Don't tell my mom I said that. Last but not least we had the what i think was the Tamarind Jumbo Prawns - it came in a coconut with coconut rice. This was delicious. More of the rice than the actual jumbo sized shrimp. OK so i told you i had a feast! I would love to come back and take my boyfriend here. This place is worth the drive.
(5)
Yoko S.
My BD dinner with a friend, thanks to Yelp's review. We found a parking spot luckily in the public parking nearby. The food was very good. We ordered the roll, fried curry fish dish and bokchoy side. The fish dish was spicy, so we had to order the extra rice. Conveniently, the froyo place is right next door...not to mention we had a dessert there.
(5)
Kari C.
The BF has been eyeballing this restaurant for a while. It's fusion Vietnamese cuisine, which means better quality ingredients and staggering price tags. Relative to the original Asian cuisine, of course. When I told my family how much this Vietnamese meal was, I almost got disowned! But I digress. The food here is good and the decor is modern. Service was adequate, but the actual food took a while to get to our table. We ordered the Tumbling Dice: succulent filet mignon cubes over a baby green salad. While noshing on the tender pieces, we debated whether it was cheating to look up the recommended dishes on Yelp. The sauce was tangy and sweet. Not too overpowering. A small dish of salt was provided for dipping. BF thought it added an extra dimension. I loved the hearty meat flavor by itself. I haven't had filet mignon in a long time and this reminded me why I wasn't a vegetarian. We also got the shrimp spring rolls with peanut sauce. The rolls were large and the veggies were super fresh. Rice paper was exactly the way I imagined it should be. Slightly chewy and not hard in any spots. And I would know, since I lived in Saigon - ummmmm, okay...Little Saigon in the O.C. The other dish was the spicy green beans. Beans were super fresh and cooked just right. The spice provided quite a bit of kick, even though we asked for it mild. The dish was enjoyable, however, noticeably lacking the "sizzle" flavor when you cook things in a well seasoned wok. They served me a tiny square dish of brown rice for an additional $1.50. This option is the hallmark of a fusion Asian restaurant. Rice was a tad dry, but I'm super picky about my rice. Parking can be tough to find in this area. We parked in a lot a few blocks away and walked over. I'd like to visit again to try some of the other dishes. I like how Vietnamese cuisine has healthier options and makes good use of fresh vegetables. But this is fusion food, so remember to stop by the ATM first or bring your credit card! :)
(4)
Morgan C.
This place is yummy!! Our waitress took a good chunk of time getting to our table, and we had to remind her that we had one more entree coming - but the food was delicious.
(4)
Brian L.
Very fancy viet food. Nice change up from the tasty ghetto joints I frequent in Dallas.
(5)
Moxie W.
Tumbling Dice... Believe the hype. Filet mignon in a vinagrette served on a bed of greens and a cold beer. It's renewed my interest in steak for sure! I have had the other things on the menu and they are just as AWESOME! Claypot rocks (esp if you make it with the veggie option), the spring rolls are fantastic too! It's a celebratory spot for me, when there are good times to be had, Xyclo. When times are tough and I need a pick me up, Xyclo. If you're lucky enough to get to Xyclo in the summer evenings, they church across the street sometimes plays movies on there wall, and you get dinner and a show!
(4)
Briget P.
Thai and Vietnamese fusion cuisine, many choices to choose from you might have a hard time deciding if it's your first time here. I played it safe and just went with a bowl of beef pho because I was sick that night. It was appetizing and was authentically prepared to my surprise because I feared it might be a fusion twist on pho. Service is kind of tricky, you may not hear back from your server throughout the whole night until you make eye contact for the bill.
(3)
Julie K.
I was torn between four and five stars but I ultimately decided that "Yay! I'm a fan" is an adequate description. My husband and I are new to the area and decided to park somewhere off Piedmont and just walk until we found a restaurant that looked fun. I'm glad we took that approach because I don't think we would have tried Xyclo based on the Yelp reviews and the fact that typically we don't agree with the majority of "fusion" restaurants. In Southern California, where we are from, fusion is typically a gimmick, and the food is never quite as good as the real thing. Nonetheless, we were feeling adventurous (not once did I reference Yelp for recommendations) and when we walked past Xyclo we saw the server bring some super tasty looking meals to the table by the window and we decided to give it a try. We ordered the Green Bean Salad, "green string beans, poached shrimp, red onion, Thai basil, and crispy shallots; tossed in a garlic lime vinaigrette" ($9), the Bun Cha Hanoi, " grilled shrimp, barbecued pork, rice noodles, fresh lettuce, cilantro, mint and peanuts served with nuoc cham vinaigrette" ($15), and a large pot of the chrysanthemum tea ($5). *The green bean salad was delicious, refreshing, and flavorful. I loved the dressing combined with the crispy shallots, though the four (or two cut in half) pieces of poached shrimp seemed pointless, the were tiny and added no flavor to the dish. [Vegetarians/Vegans: I highly recommend you order the green bean salad w/o the shrimp, because they aren't necessary to enjoy the dish.] *The Bun Cha Hanoi was absolutely delicious! Everything was extremely flavorful and my husband and I would absolutely order this again, though I might mention it seems like it would be better with rice instead of rice noodles b/c they don't really absorb the sauce very well and you don't get much in terms of rice noodles to begin with. *The chrysanthemum was good, nothing outstanding (I just wanted decaf) and it did seem a bit pricy for what it was. Bottom-line: The food was very tasty and the service was excellent (we were seated immediately on a busy Saturday night).
(4)
Cathy C.
Perfect after the movie spot. Casual with great fresh food, creative cocktails and good service. WINNER!
(5)
Travis K.
Lots of shrimp here not necessarily a bad thing but if you have allergies watch out!
(3)
Kymberli C.
Got a last minute call from my favorite Yelper friend, Judie H, to come join her and her boo thang for dinner. We rushed out to Oakland and had told her to order ahead for us since they were closing in 30 minutes. When we walked in, the food had just started coming out. We started off with the appetizer platter, Xyclo Taste, which included all different types of spring rolls. They were all very tasty but we were confused on which was which and hoping and praying that pescatarian Judie H wasn't eating any meat. We shared the entrees family style, which included the Basa (a deep fried fish), Stuffed Eggplant, Steak cubes, Butterflied Shrimp and garlic noodles. Everything was very tasty and flavorful. The service was very friendly and even though we were the last patrons there, we did not feel rushed to leave. We also enjoyed a few of their cocktails which were nice and strong.
EEEE...EEEE...EEEE...EEEE! youtube.com/watch?v=iX7K… Xyclo. Cyclone. Psycho. What an unfortunate name for a restaurant to incorporate the Vietnamese icon of a bicyclist in their signage. All I can think of is Janet Leigh screaming in the shower with Mrs. Bates bludgeoning her. Probably not the best image to have when sitting down for a meal, but it didn't stop me from dining here. This used to be the hippy-dippy Italian place, Cafe Valerian, for many years, but now it's become a sleek, West Elm-inspired eatery with a coolish lounge in the back. I just wish the food quality matched the decor. I tried two dishes. The first was the $6.00 Chicken Pho, which was reasonably good but nothing terribly outstanding with the noodles still congealed together in the broth (see photo). The second was the elaborately presented Bird's Nest in which they give you a choice between soft or hard noodles (see photo). I had presumed that hard noodles meant they were fried, but I was mistaken - it was the crunchy kind that I remember Chung King used to have in little cans to mix with your chop suey. The noodles were piled in a lettuce cup and then the rest of the plate was a saucy mix of chicken breast pieces, three prawns, broccoli, cauliflower, napa cabbage, carrot, and scallions. It was decent and somewhat overpriced at lunch for $14. The place was nearly empty since I missed the lunch rush, so the server was particularly courteous and responsive. But I have to say if I'm in the Piedmont Avenue area looking for quality Asian cuisine, I would rather go to the micro-mini Ninna down the street for a tastier treat. FOOD - 3 stars...beautifully presented but oh-so-middling in quality AMBIANCE - 4 stars...very contemporary, very sleek, very Room & Board - Espresso Line SERVICE - 3.5 stars...very polite TOTAL - 3 stars...the food disappoints
(3)
Lauren C.
Xyclo is my go-to lunch spot on the Avenue!! I work down the street, so I go there quite a lot. It's always consistent and delicious, so I almost always recommend it when I meet friends or colleagues for lunch. It's very reasonably priced, is always clean and welcoming, and the servers are always friendly. My current fave is the Chicken Pho with all the fixins, but I also love the Lemongrass Basil Chicken, Steak Salad and Bun. And of course the Thai Iced Tea, such a treat! Love this place, and will continue going back again and again.
(5)
meshell c.
Went there on a Thursday night with a group of 6 people from work. We had the back room and pretty much had it all to ourselves. The place was pretty quiet. The food: I had their clay pot mash up which had shrimp, chicken, and a bunch of veggies cooked in the clay pot. It came out sizzling at the table, something I can appreciate since I like my food piping hot and fresh off the stove! The rice was OK, nothing that blew me away. The chicken was not marinated so that just tasted bland. Others had the garlic noodle, green beans with tofu, and their version of a Vietnamese Crepe. They look pretty good and the garlic noodle was yummy, not the same garlic noodle I have tried at different places, it had more of a basil kick to it. There was a small selection of house cocktails, wine, and beer. The service: Well, considering they NEVER brought us our appetizer which we all wanted to try, I can't comment on the different rolls that were offered. Hence, that was a fail! C'mon, it wasn't like you guys were even busy that night! Overall: i'm not impressed or blown away but not discouraged either. The food selection and the idea of fusion food is always appealing to me. It is a bit pricey, $10 for a bowl of pho? Anyways, maybe I'll do a lunch there when I get a chance.
(3)
Liz L.
Filthy. Bug in my food and Boyfriend got sick. About three quarters into the meal, I found a fly in my rice. I felt kind of disgusted, so my boyfriend and I just paid the bill and left. My boyfriend got really sick when he got back home, it was his first meal of the day and he didn't have anything else, so we figured it couldn't be anything else other than the food we had at Xyclo. He had to visit the bathroom 4 times within the hour. So I don't think this place is too clean. I wouldn't mind having diarrhea all day if the food was worth it, but it wasn't. I've had vietnamese food that was tastier, cheaper, and without bugs. Staff: Waitress was rude. When she was cleaning up the table, she snatched the utensils from my hands. As someone else mentioned, the waitress looks gloomy and not attentive. I try not to complain about waitstaff since it's not easy dealing with people all day, but she just really made me feel really unwelcomed the moment I walked into the restaurant.
(1)
Stephanie K.
We came here looking for some marinated grilled pork over rice, but there wasn't any on the dinner menu. However, once we started eating we soon forgot about the pork. We ordered the XYCLO Roll, Stuffed Eggplant, and Garlic Noodles. The roll was good, but nothing out of the ordinary. The Stuffed Eggplant was delicious; we cleaned out the bowl as we poured all its sake infused gravy by all over our rice. The Garlic Noodles was not like the usual vampire-repelling kind; this version had a roasted sweetness to it which I really really enjoyed. Overall, I would come back to order the eggplant and garlic noodles. On the bright side, there seems to be a few other items on the menu that looked good to try on another visit.
(4)
Kelsey M.
I can't say enough things about Xyclo. I read the yelp reviews, and tried it out with a group of friends. It was excellent. The service was very attentive and the food was out of this world. Ive gone to Xyclo three times since trying it for the first time a month ago. I would recommend literally every dish I have tried- the tumbling dice (SO flavorful--consists of a generous serving of diced seasoned beef and a large side salad), Bo Kho (like a beef Pho with a hearty serving of both veef and veggies), and the Vietnamese Carpaccio (a refreshing spin on classic beef carpaccio). Their side of Steamed Tofu is also excellent, it is marinated and served in a sauce that tastes like sweet soy sauce and thinly sliced fried onions. This is a small place though, so I wouldn't go in a group larger than 4 or 5. I highly recommend trying Xyclo if you haven't yet!
(5)
Stefan G.
I really like this place. I've been here a few times and had a great experience every time. I also celebrated my birthday here, and it was great (we were about 18 people, so it was no small feat!). Love the cocktails and the staff is really nice. Really good!
(4)
Judie H.
Today was my sister's birthday and I thought of Xyclo. I called about 9pm to reserve a table for 5 telling them the occasion. We sat in an intimate setting already ready for us...in the back where the lighting is gorgeous (love the interesting ball of light...I think its from Ikea). We arrived about 9:15pm when the kitchen closes at 9:30pm. He said, don't rush the ordering, I'll make sure your order gets in just take your time =) Food: Xyclo taste, xyclo chili ribs, garlic herb noodles, spicy green beans & tumbling diced beef Drinks: Lychee martini, mangopolitan & pomegranate mojito Desserts: coffee gelato & hazelnut mousse My dad's favorite was the tumbling diced beef, my mom's was the spicy green beans, my sisters liked the Xyclo taste friend roll and I liked the garlic herb noodles. There was something for everyone. It's definitely not a go to dinner every night place, but for something extra special.
(5)
Sergio G.
Ok so I finally tried my very 1st Vietnamese cuisine.. I played it safe and took a friend... I see everybody writes about the noodles so why not. We shared an order of Crispy shrimp roll. I ordered that one becase it looked like something that I would be able to like.. I loved it!!! When I saw the menu and saw " birds nest " I said hell no..but ah, why not, all of the meats were cooked very well and I had the soft noodles I really liked the veggies that it came with. For my main dish I ordered the 'XYCLO Chili Ribs" it was fantastic.. It wasglazed in sweet chili sauce, and it had sesame seeds and peanuts.... Overall, the service was good, it didn't take that long for us to eat and we were served in a timely matter.. Price?? Who cares, it was my 1st time here... I will be back !!!
(4)
Jennifer D.
I came here for a group dinner to celebrate a girlfriend's birthday. The group consisted of at least 10 people so we ate family style and tried tons of their dishes. We thoroughly enjoyed everything on the menu and I cannot wait to come back!
(5)
Jim M.
Great service and food. Veggie clay pot is great. Also curry chicken a,10. Lunch is a deal but dinner is top dollar but worth t.
(5)
Sarah S.
Xyclo is a fantastic restaurant to take a date on Piedmont Ave. Still somewhat undiscovered, there is generally not a long wait and food service is pretty fast. It is well decorated and the mood lighting really steps up the romance. I've been very happy with the dishes I have had here, overall. The carpaccio is my favorite thing on the menu and one of the best I have ever tried! The spring roll plate is a fun and delicious sampler. I recently tried the Rolling Dice - yum. The chili ribs are great, too, but kind of heavy... Don't know if I would get them again. I was relatively unimpressed by the garlic noodles, though, even though they seem to have been quite popular with other reviewers. They weren't very garlic-y... The lychee martini is GREAT but be warned, it is deceptively strong. Not that that is a bad thing ;)
(4)
Michael L.
Tumbling dice, wings, and carpaccio...the best!
(5)
marcia m.
Met one of my friends for dinner tonight and i have to say I regret not trying it before. The food is great!! I had the "crime of passion" spectacular drink!! Xyclo chili ribs, love LOVE, LOVE Garlic noodles, LOVE I will be back very soon!!
(4)
Marissa C.
My boyfriend and I came here for our 15 month anniversary as a backup because our original place to eat was packed. So we decided to come here because the pictures from yelp looked like it resembled this other restaurant that we love. Good news, we didn't have to wait at all for a table. The only thing was, the place was super small and the tables were so close together, I felt like I was on a double date with the people sitting next to us haha. But it's all good, I'm sure they enjoyed hearing us talk about random things and inside jokes. We ordered the SAIGON DEVIL WINGS for an appetizer and we thought they would be spicy because they had a little flame by the name on the menu but they were not spicy at all. They were more sweet and super crispy. The caramelizing on them made it very sticky and it kept getting stuck in my teeth! For entrees we ordered the TUMBLING DICE and XYCLO CHILI RIBS. The Tumbling Dice reminded us of Mongolian beef and it came paired with a salad type side. I would assume the meat goes with the salad, but the two flavors combined did not go very well. Weird. The Ribs on the other hand were pretty good though. The flavoring of them tasted very similar to the chicken wings. I think that this place uses the same types of seasoning because we noticed there was alot of repetition in terms of garlic, basil, and that caramelizing form of cooking. I dont know, in my opinion, it makes all the dishes kind of taste the same. However, the service here was great, but the food was just OK. But I don't mind, i enjoy trying new eateries :)
(3)
Kang D.
This place was real nice the garlic noodles had lots of flavor the chicken wings where the best I've had in a while that carmelized textured was perfect.. They are also on point when it comes to giving you water and napkins ..
(5)
Shiki W.
It's an adorable, spacious restaurant. The decor is pretty American and kind of lacking in tables for the amount of space they have. The food, overall, seems to be Americanized Vietnamese cuisine. I always order the Spring Roll to start. It's definitely got a rocking twist to it. Abundance in lettuce, and along with the shrimp, carrots and vermicelli inside they threw in pork sausages! It's juicy and flavorful by itself as it is, but it also comes with this sauce to DIE for! I'm not sure how to describe the sauce...orange...bits of beef in it, somewhat tangy. I've asked for the recipe every time I've gone but they wouldn't give it up! It's freakin' orgasmic and sooo worth the $8 (for 3 rolls cut in halves)!!!! The pho noodle soup comes in a ridiculously small bowl, a few modest slices of meat and the soup itself is a bit on the sour side. I wouldn't recommend it to the true pho lovers. The waitress I always get there is nice, but she rarely smiles...actually I haven't seen much expression on her face. You won't be wowed by the service. This is the only place on Piedmont Ave that serves pho, btw. I believe in modest splurges on lunch meals, and this would be a good place to do that...but only once in a while for me! Other yelpers have said that dinner is better here, so I will have to try that and write a 2nd review.
(3)
David H.
I join the majority with a 5 star review, acknowledging that it will most likely get skipped over in favor of the less favorable reviews. Still, my review is in an effort to help increase Xyclo's average. And, just maybe, to encourage other diners to give it a try. I rarely allow a restaurant's service to dictate my rating. If the food's great, that's what I judge. Still, the service here happened to be great. The servers were attentive and helpful. Of course, there were only 3 other tables occupied (it was a Monday night at 9PM- great time to dine out if you're interested in avoiding crowds). Xyclo's prepares what I would describe as "of the best food I've tasted". My girlfriend and I ordered the following: Won Ton Soup The broth was light and flavorful without being too salty. The Wonton's themselves were also light with a nice fluff and a full flavor. The next time I get the flu, this will be my remedy. Double Surprise Rolls Unlike some reviewers here, the mini egg roll inside a cold spring roll remained hot to create a dynamic appetizer in both texture and flavor. The rolls are wide. I'd recommend sharing these with 2 others (2 half rolls per person). Coconut Shrimp This is 4 butterflied coconuts with jasmine rice and some vegetables cooked inside of a coconut. It was recommended that we scoop some pulp to enjoy with each bite. The sauce that was part of this dish was pure bliss. I'd eat it on anything. These items with the inclusion of a medium sizes bottle of Sake came out to $50.00. Totally reasonable when you consider the quality of the ingredients, the great care put in to the flavor and presentation and the warm welcome from the staff.
(5)
Charlie W.
I like this place.. It's a lot better than I originally thought it was. The decorations are trendy and spacious. The only complain I have are the bench like chairs that are hard on your butt. But I guess it fits the decor. The lunch menu are pretty descend. All of their items are pretty flavorful. I heard great things about their dinner as well but never been personally. The lunch menu are pretty well priced. They have selected items at a discount. It's a nice place to try if you are in the area. I wouldn't go looking for authentic Vietnamese Food. Like most other restaurants in the area, they are very "Westernized." However, that's not to say their food are not flavorful and tasty. The crowds are also very energetic and lively. The host and hostess are generally very nice. They serve you pretty quickly and with a smile. I love their spring roll, non fried and their stuffed wings--delicious!! Give this place a try if you haven't already. The only reason why they got a 3 star is because really, they are A-OK. Its not bad but its not very special neither.
(3)
Kira G.
It was a place I've walked by on a couple occasions, but had never thought it to try until it was late and the whole family was hungry. They were able to accommodate us immediately, with a table for 3 (plus a toddler) and the food was an extreme hit. I normally don't hand out 5's hence the 4, and I've been told by locals that the place is really great for lunch. (we had dinner) Regardless I will be returning, it was that good.
(4)
Johnny L.
Went Saturday night before the big b-day bash at Hibiscus with the friends. We started with a xyclo roll and a tao roll - both were quite good. The xyclo roll was fried just right, crispy but without an oily taste. I had a mango mojito (actually two) and it was well made. I ordered a Claypot Rice Medley - supposed to have prawns, chicken breast, broccoli, bell pepper, mushroom, cauliflower, bok choy, zucchini and rice; slow cooked in a clay pot. It had one prawn (that Dougie ate) and it was in a metal pot (splitting hairs???). Overall, a very bland dish that could have used a major spicing up. The only thing hot about this plate was when the waitress said to be careful, the pot is hot then proceeded to take the lid off and drop a piece of cauliflower on my leg. She was right, it was hot. I did swap my dish with Annie's who she swapped with Meri (just like the 60's but without the candy dish and the car keys). What i ended up with was the Lemongrass Basil Eggplants and Tofu - it was very good, spicey likey, cripsy tofu likey. I also tried the Tumbling Dice, it was also very good. All in all, a very good meal. I wouldn't order the metal pot....er....clay pot again - too blah. And, my peener doesn't like hot cauliflower spillage, so, I'd stick with the other selections in future visits. Ya feel me?
(4)
Linda L.
Late on my entries, came here on a Friday evening with my boyfriend, the food is more like Vietnamese fusion. Reminds me of le Cheval. I had the green bean salad with shrimp and the spring rolls. The food wasn't bad but it was something I could make myself at home. I'd come back if I were lazy but I would rather go to an authentic Vietnamese restaurant.
(3)
Kimly N.
What can I say... I'm a sucker for those Asian Fusion Restaurants. I've been meaning to try out this joint for a while since a number of my fam. and friends have been raving about it . and Fusion Vietnamese? Why not. I celebrated my birthday last night with a few close friends there. I suppose I expected the decor and venue of the place to be a lot grander, but it goes in deeper, unveiling a sort of lounge atmosphere. it was still a very hip and intimate setting. Our servers were definitely gracious, and attractive! My reccomendations : -Tumbling Dice: It was kind of a alternate to "Shaking Filet Mignon" It was juicy , savory and the cubes of meat were cooked perfectly in a garlic and onion sauce. Came with a side a salad which is a plus. -Viet Carpaccio: Oh my , I am picky about my carpaccio... but they marinated the thinly sliced beef so well in a lime vinagrette. Delish! -Double Surprise Roll: A crispy egg roll in side, a soft rice paper roll, the crunch and the diff. textures was def. fun to eat. I did try the XYCLO chili rips, and it was good.. it was very crispy and the seasame glaze was definitely different. YOU should try that if you're there. its something out of the ordinary. The only reason they don't get 5 stars is because they forgot one of our orders.. and gave us our appetizers and entress out of order. Overall, its a great fusion place...better than Le Cheval.
(4)
Jaime J.
We got Tumbling Dice (delicious!) and the roll sampler (also very good). Just the plate of rolls was enough for 2 people to have for dinner! Tumbling dice was expensive ($20) but delicious and was even good the next day cold. Best thing is that almost everything on the menu is available gluten-free- you have to ask for the gf menu and then you can see what your options are. She warned us to be sure to ask for something to be gluten-free, don't just order a dish you had before, b/c they cook ir differently. Will totally go back!
(4)
Sean F.
As a San Jose native, I've eaten my fair share of Vietnamese food--both expensive and bargain. When I came to Xyclo on a Valentines date, I was very excited to get into some good chow, now that I live in a place without any Vietnamese people and restaurants. The food did NOT disappoint. Each and everything we got was exceptional, though a little on the pricy side. Unfortunately, that's where the nice part of the review ends. The service was absolutely the worst I have EVER had. It was if we had done something to offend the server--yet that would be impossible, because we would have actually had contact with her to do so! It started with our initial seating. It took 10 minutes to get menus and a glass of water. Meanwhile, the tables seated next to us (who arrived later), not only got menus, drinks, etc., they started getting served before we could even plan an order. During the meal, there was no water refill, no asking us whether we'd like another glass of wine or other drink. Nothing. Meanwhile, at the table next to us, glasses were being refilled, additional drinks were served, and everything was going along fine. It was so bad, that the tables next to us even noticed and started laughing with us about how bad the service was. It was SO bad, in fact, that the table next to us turned over twice before we could finish our meal--which, BTW, ended with a busser throwing the tab at us in a glass. We were never even offered the opportunity to order dessert, which we were hoping to order, nor did we ever get to talk to the server again until she came to inform me that Amex is not accepted. Don't even get me started on the Amex thing. Restaurants need to get a clue. If I'm spending $100 on a meal, don't sweat the extra $1 that Amex charges you. If that's make-or-break for you, raise your prices by a few cents per item. Don't take it out on me--your potential loyal customer! Overall, the only reason I'm giving 1 star is that the food was superb, BUT with service like that, I can think of 50 other places I'd rather get Vietnamese food in the Bay Area--most of which are less expensive and all of which take my preferred form of payment!
(1)
Michael S.
Great tastes and affordable. It might have flirted with 5 stars but it was Saturday and their service was very slow. Big flavors: We each had a drink, then spring rolls, an incredible crab noodle soup and "tumbling dice," cubes of filet Mignon perfectly cooked with lettuce. I would only suggest the tumbling dice could use some rice for soaking in beef juice. Before tip, cost was $55. I will definitely return to sample more.
(4)
Laina V.
After living down the street for over a year, hubby and I *finally* came in to try this place, and I was very pleased! On a busy Saturday night (after some struggle of finding a parking spot) the hostess was able to seat us in the lounge area as long as we were out by 8; no problem! Mojitos were yummy and the food, even more so! I especially enjoyed the coconut shrimp served in actual coconut. The wait for the food was kinda long, but worth it! Yum yum yum!!
(5)
Stacy M.
it's official!!! after trying a number pho restaurants in the area, XYCLO is the BEST!!! best pho! you have to try it out, best eaten when under the weather.
(5)
L D.
The Mrs and I wanted to let 80 traffic subside a bit before our trek home, so we decided to grab a bite somewhere in Piedmont. We parked in the CVS lot at 5:40pm and paid about $1.50 (debit card or coins only) lots of spaces available. Its free after 6pm but fills up fast. After checking out the menus of a few different restaurants we decided on an asian fusion place called Xyclo. Our order: Salt and pepper tofu - it was just okay, try something else for an appetizer. Claypot rice dish $15- delicious! Just enough for me. Lemongrass basil chicken $14- great flavor, spicy, the Mrs liked it. Total cost $44 Wrong dish was brought out and they handled the situation nicely. Service was attentive, filled our water without us having to ask. Checked on us a couple times during the meal. 3.5 but round up to 4 stars
(4)
cmando M.
I would probably give Xyclo 3.5 stars if I could. The food deserves a 4 , but the service earns only a three, maybe less. We sat for a very long time before being noticed. And it's only because I stared the server down when she came in range that she came over when she did. Without a greeting or smile she asked if we were ready to order. I had to explain to her that we'd like to order cocktails first. She never came back to check on us once we had our food. We started with the Papaya salad, one of my favorite dishes. The flavor of the papaya was a little off, and it was cut too chunky so that the ratio of dressing to papaya didn't work. Still, it was pretty satisfying. Then I had the eggplant and tofu with lemongrass. It was excellent. The cocktails are quite yummy and the price is reasonable enough. I only wish the service was better. Not sure I'd come back for that reason.
(3)
Michael L.
Two words: Chili Ribs. You've got to try the Chili Ribs. Smoky spicy ribs with a crunchy sesame candy coating. They come to the table looking like sesame candy bars. My god, are they good. Xyclo is one of the few places where the flavors make us moan out loud with pleasure (Montclair Bistro is another). The Chili Ribs are our favorite but there are lots of other close seconds: the Green Bean Salad with prawns has a lime dressing which elicits a moan every time. The various rolls (some deep fried, others not) are filled with mint, spices, and either tofu or sausage or prawn and come with dipping sauces. I had the Seven Elements once, a fascinating dish where each of the seven items (dried shrimp is one) stands out but they all blend to create a whole greater than the parts. Even side dishes like the Bok Choy are buttery tender with a hint of garlic. Other great dishes are the Tumbling Dice (cubes of beef), the Won Ton soup, the Steak Salad (I forget what it's actually called). Service is usually great. A couple of times over the years they've made a mistake on the order but mistakes are fixed promptly and with no fuss.
(5)
Numrin T.
Like other reviews, the food was very very good. We had amazing Tumbling Dice that was tender and not at all chewy. The Clay Pot Rice Medley was very fresh and tasty. The Seven Elements was good but nothing spectacular. In short, everything was cooked to perfection. We didn't get to try their drinks though they looked very delicious. This place has a slick, modern, romantic vibe. The place is lively yet quiet enough to conduct a regular conversation without having to speak up too much. The service was very good, but can be a bit slow when it came to check time.
(5)
James L.
It is mostly a Vietnamese fusion restaurant. Unfortunately, I think they don't do the fusion the right way . Good: - The dried shrimp rolls were awesome. I would have rated it one star if not for the rolls. Not so good: - Spicy chicken wings blazed with caramel. It tasted ok. Would be better with a little more spicy kicking in. The problem was that the caramel was too thick. It stick to teeth and it was very hard to get them off. - You have to try Pho if it is your first time in a Vietnamese restaurant and you may visit it again. They have the smallest bowl of Pho I have ever had. It has only one size. And it was smaller than the small size at other Vietnamese restaurants. For a good bowl of pho, size is an important factor. You add basil leaves, bean sprouts, raw thin beef if you like, and your favorite sauce(s) to the soup, mix them well. The hot soup is supposed to cook the raw beef and bean sprouts, while still keep pretty hot. With such a small size, the soup would turn pretty lukewarm with such cooking process. Warm Pho tastes very different. It lacks the richness of the flavor. Well, I tasted the soup before I put stuffs in. It didn't have the multiple layers of rich flavors of a good bowl of pho. It tasted mostly salty, with a random mixture of flavors unbalanced and incompatible. - Lemongrass chicken with green beans. Too salty, from both salt and a lot of soy sauce. it overwhelmed all the other flavors. - Curry crispy fish. This was unbearably bad. The curry tasted extremely stale. It felt like you found a bag of curry spices you bought 5 years ago, and you used it to cook the fish. It also had an extra bitter taste, not the kind of bitterness from food like bitter melons, but the kind from very very stale spices. The fish was not any better. It was cut into thin slices, coated with a heavy layer of flours, and fried. It didn't taste like fish at all. To be worse, it was so rubbery. I am from Asian. I like some texture that most people think rubbery, like beef tendon, pig feet, etc. But this fish dish went to a new level of being rubbery. I have to say you could simply fry some dough and it would have better texture.
(2)
April L.
Whoa, what a let down my fellow yelpers! I was so excited to try this place out and finally get my vietnamese cravings out of my system or at least satisfied for a while. The Tao roll was definitely the savior of the meal. It was fresh, crunchy, sweet all at the same time. After that appetizer, it totally went downhill. The waitress did not remember my iced vietnamese coffee until we were done with our meal. I had gone through most of the meal without anything to drink not even water! I was stealing swigs from my husband's thai iced tea! The pho was totally forgettable. It was truly disappointing to eat the pho especially since with every bite I thought of favorite pho places closer to home. I drove all the way to Oakland for nothing. The only reason why I ate it was because I was hungry. The vietnamese carpaccio was the absolute worst thing we ordered here. I thought it looked amazing when the plate was delivered to our table. Oh my gosh, looks can be deceiving! I tried to pick up a slice meat with my fork but noticed I could not lift it off the plate. As soon as I finally tasted a piece I found out why they weren't coming off the plate as easily....They were icy and mostly frozen, what the hell is that about? It was so gross! After a while there were puddles of water on the plate. Last but not least..I had to run to the bathroom after we got home because everything came out of me! I would never ever go back to this place and do not see why people even patronize this place!
(1)
H T.
Was even better than the last time. We had the chili sesame ribs again, which was really good. We also had a very unique papaya salad. Instead of thin strips of green papaya, they looked kinda like Ruffles (potato chips). When you ate them, the greater surface area released a lot more flavor, and you could really taste the raw papaya and the vinaigrette. Yum yum yum!
(5)
Laura P.
This is our family's favorite restaurant. The food is great, it's affordably priced, and the service is wonderful. Even though I've been here perhaps 100 times (!) I still find it difficult to make a choice (but get the lemongrass tofu with eggplant, it is great!)
(5)
diane d.
My husband and I read the review in the March 2012 edition of Diablo Magazine. It sounded great so we ate there last night. There was a decent crowd at 9:00 pm and we took a seat in a table bordering the window. Great street appeal. Unfortunately, I believe they were having a seriously "off" night. First, the gentleman that brought out plates and chop sticks did not smile or utter a word. Next, we kept receiving the food and drinks ordered by the table in the same spot on the other side of the restaurant. The spring rolls were fine - not great, not bad. However, the rest of the items we ordered all had the same cloaky sauce. Too sweet and rich for my palate. We also ordered the fried rice which was very greasy. When we got the bill they included an item from the other table which they were happy to correct. Our server also told us that they were closing to remodel this coming week. Maybe that is why they weren't on their game. At any rate there are too many excellent Vietnamese places to eat at so we will not be returning to Xyclo.
(1)
Claudine V.
Went here for dinner with my bf and some sales people. The food was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Everything that we tried was truly divine!!! I love , love this place and will definitely try other things!
(4)
Dave B.
I wandered up and down Piedmont Ave on a rainy, winter Saturday, looking for something good for lunch. Places I've enjoyed in the past were either closed, empty or out of business. A couple were just too crowded. Ended up at Xyclo, a small, modern Vietnamese place. Really liked the idea of having a bowl of Pho. The menu had listed a small and large, but small had been crossed out. I hoped that they hadn't compromised and created a medium while retaining the name that indicated a grander size. To have only one item on the menu is always a big risk. This bet paid off nicely. Very pleased when my food arrived. There was the big bowl of noodles, broth and beef. On the side, I had a plate of extra goodies to add: peppers, bean sprouts, lime, cilantro (?). I mixed in some red paste that made my mouth tingle. The flavor was intense. $8 of happiness.
(4)
felix c.
Definitely a good spot for dining on the week day when you don't feel like cooking, as we experienced the other day. We sat down, had a Vietnamese Coffee and Thai Iced Tea before ordering our Nam Nuong (really good spring roll with crispy pork and sweet dipping sauce, not fish sauce), Sweet and Sour soup with fish (perfect for a soup night, really got it right with both ends, and shared the Lemon Chicken curry (this was alright, great flavor...not spicy at all, so ask for hot sauce or some spice). On the pricier end, so get ready to spend at least $35-45 for two with drinks, appetizer, and entrees. They had parties of 6-8 on separate tables, also kid friend section on the other side of the restaurant. Good for a intimate convo and lighthearted laughter. Don't break up here, as atmosphere is pretty positive and casual :) I recommend you to eat here!
(3)
Valerie B.
Came here for lunch with my co-workers and was quite satisfied. The place is small but cute. The staff is nice and work pretty quick. We ordered: -Sugarcane Shrimp Rolls: YUMMY! This is one of our favorite dishes. I love the crispness of the shrimp after biting into the soft rice paper. -Garlic Herb Noodles: not what you would think would be served at an asian restaurant, but it was good. I love garlic so it hit the spot. -Spicy Green Beans: it was ok. Could have been more spicy and with less sauce. -Lemongrass Chicken: Not too bad. A little on the saucy side, but good. Portion sizes are good for a satisfying lunch. I would come back just for the sugarcane shrimp rolls!
(4)
Maryam S.
*This review is for takeout only* I picked up takeout from Xyclo on Friday with a girlfriend. I hadn't tried it and I wanted there to be delicious Vietnamese walking distance from my house. Two rice dishes and one order of spring rolls later my friend and I were left satiated, but overall disappointed with the food. We both started reminiscing about what our food would have been like if we had ordered from Ms. Saigon or picked up from Pho 84. Oh well, now we know. . .
(2)
Jon W.
Sick-Low is how you pronounce their name for all you non V speaking peeps! And yes, I had to ask also. Loosely translated means rickshaw. Great fresh food in an art deco atmosphere. Very nice. Lots of beautiful friendly servers to help with your gorging needs. Veggie spring rolls - fresh and tasty great! Claypot - a fusion of flavor, not greazzy at the bottom, but a little dry. $6 noodles - fantastically a little sweet. side portion good enough for an entree. Tumbling Dice fillet Mignon - an explosion of flavored POW. Awesome! Lychee Black Tea - nice..subtle lychee flavor takes the bite out of bitterness. Hazelnut dessert - prolly not made there, but was good. Beer- well thats alwayz good! $65 including tip and we left happy campers promising to come back for more gluttony. Hopefully we can find a rickshaw, as you need to be lucky for parking.
(4)
Vera D.
I've had both their dining and catering experience. For pho, I'd rather eat at a divey pho place like Anh Dao than Xyclo only because I feel like I can get the same thing for less! I do admit their garlic noodles are addictive. :)
(3)
M T.
Yummy papaya salad- great presentation- although small portions. Good flavor profile. The rolls are definitely overpriced- not something I'd get again.
(3)
Tran N.
My friends took me here for a birthday dinner, and what a treat! We ordered the spicy steak salad, lemongrass basil chicken, garlic noodles, and Saigon devil wings. Everything was really tasty, my favorite was the lemongrass basil chicken. I will definitely come back to try the other dishes.
(4)
Kate G.
Xyclo taste: sampler of rolls. Amazing papaya salad.
(4)
Tim W.
hit or miss. I live right down the street from this place and few been to Xclyo a hand full of times. First off its pricey, well at least for the quality and portion size of what you get. I went there a few weeks back looking to taste the tumbling dice which a buddy of mine had ordered a few weeks back. It was to say the least underwhelming. Apps are good. Service is good. I would go again to try other dishes. Just not my first choice in the area.
(3)
Bella B.
Relaxed dining experience, quick service; I'm ready to go back and try more items from their menu! XYCLO Taste - good way to try the various roll and share with friends. Green Bean Salad - delicious, I had seconds. XYCLO Chili Ribs - I'm usually not a fan of ribs (hate nawing things off a bone), but this is defnitely yummy. I like spicy, and felt it was only mild. Garlic Herb Noodles - tasty, love garlic! Tumbling Dice - filet mignon is tasty and tender, very good. Claypot Rice Medley - good; I like when the rice on the bottom, flavorful with a slight crunchiness.
(4)
Nicole J.
Came in for lunch today, had Thai iced tea, a roll, and bun with shiitakes and tofu. The food was really good: fresh, crisp vegetables and very generous portions. The atmosphere was bustling and chic. Definitely some of the better Vietnamese I've had in the Bay.
(4)
David C.
Came here with a group dinner with some friends. This place looks really hip and modern from the outside, and you'll see that they serve very traditional vietnamese dishes (and some fusion dishes), but why is there such a huge price premium? We ended up paying around 30 dollars per head and did family style. We had the mixed appetizer sample. It came with assorted spring rolls, and assorted fried egg rolls and lumpia. It tasted fine, but it was nothing spectacular. For our entrees, we had the fried fish curry, the tumbling dice filet cubes, and sesame ribs. The fried fish curry was quite overdone, with too much batter, and a tad overseasoned. Same goes for the sesame ribs. The ribs were COATED in sesame seeds, which in my opinion overpowered the nice porky flavor of ribs. There was alot of sugar in the seasoning as well, which when combined with the sesame, only served to get stuck in all our teeths! Saved the best for last; the tumbling dice cubes were cubes of filet mignon stir fried with onions, red and green peppers, and black pepper. It tasted great, but I really couldn't justify the prices I paid at this restaurant. Service was mediocre.
(3)
ariel w.
this is our second time at xyclo . food is fresh and amazingly delicious . too bad that a lot of the dishes have shrimps in them...and not more vegetarian options ... service is friendly . we were lucky it wasn't very busy on sunday rainy afternoon , so there was no wait. the vegetarian rolls were great. the apple salad was fantastic !! also the eggplant with tofu is worth trying definitely will go back . definitely recommending this place !!! i would give this place 5 stars if it had less meat dishes and more vegetarian dishes...
(4)
M W.
We call Xyclo our 'healthy, fine-dining option'. The food is very fresh, the flavors enticing, the selection varied. Our favorites include: Tao Roll (my 14 year old daughter has one order for herself when we go), Green Bean Salad, Vietnamese Carpaccio and Combination Stir-fry. We've tried most of the menu and it's all good, though the Chicken Curry has too little chicken and is on the watery side. However, if you leave without trying the regular Mojito and the Seven Elements dish, you have totally missed the 5-star portions of this place. The 4-Star rating is for inconsistent service (sometimes just OK, sometimes great, never bad), strangely high prices on some items, and for the really bad artwork on the right-hand side wall (as you enter).
(4)
Kenneth C.
An excellent Vietnamese restaurant. Our first visit and certainly not our last. Good menu selections and the kitchen was able to modify a few dishes to meet our likes and dislikes. Full bar , good atmosphere and friendly staff. Good location next to the Piedmont Theater. Ken - Orinda
(4)
eliza w.
Sigh. You know when you're kinda into someone, but you know it's just cuz they're arm candy, and then you regret it all evening cuz you've gotta make some chit chat about some shit, and you'd rather be at home eating take out, watching bsg with yer dogs? Well, it was like that (cept my date is brains *and* beauty...but remember this is a metaphor for the restaurant, not miz sy, k?) On the food alone, this is a one-star. But the service was friendly, and the vibe is chill and relatively sleek. I'd like them to succeed, but I'd probably only come back for pupus and pricey drinks before a proper dinner somewhere else. Whether it's meant to be Vietnamese food or California-fusion food, it's not succeeding at either. Here's what we ordered: - Green bean salad The green bean salad was positively astonishing in its bite (lime plus vinegar). We kept eating it just to exclaim at the sensation...something between a taser shock and a dash of sulfuric acid. - Shrimp and taro fried rolls These were ok, lovely little fried things, good combo of shrimp flavor and texture with the taro and the fried bits. Prolly my favorite in the whole meal. - Butterfly prawns and garlic noodles Meh. Too much butter, and otherwise not so flavorful. Nice large shrimpies, but it didn't salvage the dish. Bland. - Chili Ribs Sigh. I love ribs. I love meat. This was disappointing. The flavor was a bit too sweet, the crust was interesting, but not as flavorful as I'd like. And some of the ribs were on the dry side. - Salty Spicy Shrimp The salty spicy shrimp was neither--more like a friendly fish and chips shop that discovered panko, and then threw in things like dried tofu skins (which were admittedly very cool, but added to the oddity of the disparate flavors mixed together). (Note: We saw another couple get the claypot, and I was tempted to brave the third degree burns to snatch their food. So mebbe we just ordered badly?) Not sure we'll be back, unless the arm-candy includes free drinks, and doesn't mind if I doodle rather than make chit-chat.
(2)
Jonathan M.
We were looking for a place to have dinner after a movie. So, after a so so movie, we walked over to Xyclo. We had pre-read the menu and were hopeful. Everything was delicious. The standouts were the rolls: the sausage one and then the shrimp rolls. Right up there was the Mom's Pork. There was purring around the table. The soups were also hits. The wonton soup and the pho were both very tasty. The broth was superb. We also had the birds in the nest, the chili spare ribs, and a chicken curry. All were very good. I haven't given many 5 stars but this place deserved it. The food, the server, the setting all earned this review. We'll be going back!
(5)
Carol W.
food is great! good lunch special selections for $10 each! fresh and good quality ingredients. friendly staff & environment.
(5)
Lise N.
2 words: beef carpaccio. If there is one thing you need to order there, this is it! It melts in your mouth and it is so much better than Slanted Door's. Good luck finding street parking though...
(5)
Ryley E.
Terrible service and boring food. We were seated quickly, which was nice. However, it was all downhill from there. After deciding what we wanted to order we sat around for several minutes before someone came by the table. The dishes came out in exactly the wrong order, with our appetizers actually arriving last. I wanted to order another drink, but we weren't checked on again until we were completely ready to leave. I can't even be bothered to write anything more in-depth. Skip this place. There are a dozen better places on Piedmont Ave alone.
(2)
Christina V.
This spot is a hidden gem in Oakland! Amazing pan fried noodles, butterflied shrimp, spicy beef cubes & clay pot dishes- wow, a must try for pan-Asian food lovers. Stylish decor, unique cocktails and dim lighting also make this a great date spot!
(5)
Tim M.
The four of us enjoyed everything that we tried including Fresh Apple Salad, Crispy Shrimp Rolls, Birds Nest Noodles (crunchy!), Chili Ribs and Tumbling Dice. Looking forward to trying again.
(4)
sarah s.
This place was decent and not too expensive. I recommend the clay pot dish, and, if you like rolls, the $21 assorted rolls dish (but only if your sharing because they all taste similar). Decor can be described as a tad pretentious, but if you like that stuff, you'll like their lamps and red walls.
(4)
R. P.
love their food!!! so far everything i have tried here has not failed. food always taste so fresh and cooked just right. I was craving spring rolls and despised the fact that they were $9. But once i took my first bite, I was hooked. this is not your average spring roll, it definitely sets itself apart from the rest. Take advantage of their $10 lunch specials. my favorites are the pork chops, basil chicken, green bean salad, and steak salad.
(5)
Michael B.
Fourth time back. Went there again on a recommendation of a friend. Thanks, Johnny. It was great food. My wife and I went with another couple who are quit picky. They thought everything was great. "one notch below La Cheval" was their consensus' (which is a five star review for most people). Good service even if no one could understand what the guy who brought our food over said when trying to explain the sampler appetizer tray. Missing star: drinks came after the appetizers. Should be minus 3 stars for this. Restaurant 101: get the customer a drink before you say HELLO! This doesn't translate well with Xyclo. Shrimp was tasteless. Thanks again Johnny. Maybe I'll go back for my Birthday.
(4)
Beth G.
My friend and I came here the other night for a delicious dinner. To start, I had a pomegranate spritzer, which was quite good (reminded me of a Shirley Temple). We shared the Tao Roll and the Bird's Nest for dinner. The presentation was gorgeous! The Tao Roll was nicely put together and the ingredients blended together quite well. I love shitake mushrooms and tofu, plus jicama was a nice treat. The carrots and lettuce didn't tone down the flavor and the cliantro was not overpowering. The Bird's Nest was quite good (though I liked the Tao Roll better). We had soft noodles, which was a nice twist on typical bird's nests. The chicken breast and the veggies were seasoned nicely. The atmosphere is really cool. Not overly hipster, but nice and intimate. The service was very warm and fairly attentive. I'm giving it five stars because of the uniqueness of the food, and how well the chef fused the ingredients to create delectable meals. This really was a unique experience and the next time I am in Oakland, I am coming back to try more off of this menu.
(5)
Elizabeth B.
My boyfriend and I split the Xyclo Sampler plate of spring rolls and fried rolls and after the meal was over we couldn't stop talking about how good the food was! Everything tastes so fresh and delicious. Its the perfect place to go if you are bored of the other mundane fare on Piedmont Avenue. The only minor drawback to our experience was the lack of attention we got once our food was served. We were so into the food that we didn't mind too much :) I can't wait to go back to try the $10 lunch specials!
(4)
Christian Y.
Garlic Noodles and any of their spring rolls is must try here. This is my fourth time here and the food and service remains amazing. If you're ever on Piedmont this you have got to come and give this place a try.
(5)
Daniel H.
Overpriced and service is unfriendly and impersonal. Cheap plastic plates. Waited 20 minutes before even having my order taken. These people need help.
(1)
Marina N.
Do not take fried rolls home for the next day. Totally my fault, I didn't think about the fried wrapping getting all soggy and they were nast. But bonus points to XYCLO for packaging them very well specifically so they wouldn't get soggy from the cabbage slaw thing or the sauce. Still, crispy fried stuff needs to be eaten warm and fresh. Loved the salt & pepper tofu. The pho was good too, fresh ingredients, though next time I will ask for meat on the side bc it was mostly cooked by the broth by the time I got it (and I like it on the rarer side). Waiter was very nice and place was clean.
(3)
Dan W.
I ducked into here with a buddy during a rainstorm, and we figured we'd give it a try. The decor is very classy, if somewhat generic for trendy asian fusion restaurants. But, hey, it's Piedmont Ave. We started off with rolls, which were very tasty. I followed up with the xyclo ribs, which were covered in sesame and very tasty (although a bit dry for my taste). As trendy fusion places go, it was all very tasty, although I would have preferred it if the ribs had come with rice, or vegetables that weren't pickled and shredded like cole-slaw. Maybe I'm just a philistine, but I felt like my dinner was a little more South Beach Diet than I prefer. Still service was very good, and it's a nice place. I'm just more likely to try out other restaurants in the area than make this my "go-to" spot.
(3)
Alicia N.
Delicious Vietnamese food. The food is fresh, portions are perfect, service is attentive - what more can you ask for?! This East Bay gem is hidden away on Piedmont Avenue and easily missed, unless you know it's there - but its fans definitely know where to find it! Don't hesitate a moment longer, head down to Piedmont Avenue and get your fix of Xyclo now, you'll be back there over and over again.
(4)
Dana G.
This place is perfect if you're on Piedmont and looking for a bite to eat. The atmosphere is cool and chilled out, service is good, food is yummy, and they have a decent selection of cocktails. I usually get the wonton soup which is perfect if you want something light, and I've also tried (and enjoyed) some of the rice dishes and rolls. It's definitely fusion so those looking for really authentic Vietnamese food will probably want to go elsewhere.
(4)
Vanessa D.
stopped for a quick lunch for the first time with the SO today and i gotta say that we must try the actual plates. we kinda went balls-out with the xyclo appetizer plate and the soup (beef pho and wonton noodle soup) that we were STUFFED. like, thanksgiving glut gut style. the sampler was excellent. the server was professional and polite. and though we're no strangers to vietnamese cuisine, she recommended sauce pairings to us. service was attentive and the place was clean and nicely decorated. the broth in the won ton soup hit the spot, as lately i've been feeling quite fatigued. it had such depth of flavor without the unctuous aftertaste of some meat-based broths. the wifey's pho was above average. we especially enjoyed the shrimp rolls and the vegetarian rolls. the sampler alone is enough for 4 adults. also, the prices are affordable and well worth the value. and the joint is casual so it's a great neighborhood hangout. plus it's close to the theater, so it's perfect for a movie night. we'll definitely come back and update this as we try more dishes.
(4)
Anthony R.
I went here for dinner tonight with my brother and a friend. We ordered to xyclo roll sampler dish which had a variety of different spring rolls. Very good and tasty. Both dipping sauces were really good. We had the coconut prawns with cocnut rice and the green bean dishes which were also really good. Only negative was with the drink. My brother and our friend ordered mojitos which were not very good. They basically tastes like cough drops. No good. Save your money and srink beer there instead (less then half the price of a mojito).
(4)
j g.
I am excited to pen this since this will be the first time I review a restaurant that I think I've tried most of the items on the menu! I stumbled across Xyclo (2 doors down from Fenton's) about a year ago with a friend visiting from Israel. I have since been there another 7 or 8 times and get teased for the number of FB check-ins I have there. FOOD - Very good and sometimes Excellent! Double Surprise Roll - exactly that, crisp, fresh, crunch at the middle, divine. XYCLO Roll - The center of the double surprise, crispy, fried (not greasy) diced yumminess Nem Nuong Roll - This is the one roll I am not crazy about, it is pork sausage and I expected diced or small bites and it is the circumference of a breakfast sausage wrapped, a bit odd to me. The combination of green apple, mint and cilantro combined with other ingredients makes most of there rolls ridiculously delicious and a perfect way to start the meal. SALADS - Papaya, green bean and apples salads are all very fresh with well balanced flavors and good 2nd course before large plates The Vietnamese Carpaccio of sirloin was very good and the plate got cleaned. The lime dressing was a bit intense, so it you don't like strong citrus notes, you may want to pass on this one. LARGE PLATES Lemongrass Basil Chicken - what you would expect and quite good Lemongrass Basil Eggplants and Tofu - I prefer this over the chicken because the Tofu is truly the best I've ever had. My daughter doesn't like tofu and wolfs this down. XYCLO Chili Ribs - when they are done correctly, these are amazing!! If you have more than 2 people in your party that will help eat these, get two orders (each comes with 4) and you will still be fighting over them. Chicken Curry - Good flavor and spice but I've ordered twice now when there was a huge amount of large pieces of potato and we had to search for the chicken. Most recently I took my daughter, her boyfriend and my son and did the ordering. I was embarrassed that I ordered this dish and there was almost no chicken in it, with 3 healthy eaters with me. Claypot Rice Medley - pretty pedestrian and no better than you could probably get anywhere. Crispy Curry Fish - excellent the first time I ordered and overcooked and chewy the 2nd time I ordered. All the favors at Xyclo are good. My one criticism is inconsistency. As noted above there have BEEN several instances the quality of a dish has differed between visits, which is frustrating when you like a restaurant this much. The other inconsistency for Xyclo is service. The first few times I went, we had a great waiter who was friendly and informative. Since then it has been revolving faces who simply seem to be order takers with no real rhythm to the service...so they show up at odd times and then you can't find them when you need them. This might sound strange, but if you've every experienced this you know what I mean. I wasn't happy that on a $100 dinner I got charged for a 2nd small bowl of rice which we only requested because the amount of rice served with the Large plates was so small. Last note: the fried banana and coconut ice cream that you can get at any ty Thai or Vietnamese restaurant. Xyclo's is THE BEST!
(4)
James C.
She move her body like a Xyclo... Just discovered this place last night when my buddy Zack took our group out to dinner to celebrate his new job, and I must say it was delicious. Definitely get the bird's nest and the tumbling dice steak. Actually, the food, the decor, and the prices were just like Unicorn's. What a boring entry. I can't think of any fluff to make this more interesting. I just want to write these reviews so I can read them later and remember what I ate! So back off!
(4)
chris c.
The food and drinks here are worth 4 stars. The asian fusion deal is done well here. The meats and veggies all good like the should be. My birds nest was pretty good. Good portion of veggies,noodles and meat. Now why did I give it 3 stars? well heres the thing I like how they kept our reservations even though the part was about 30 minutes late. Once we got seated however, It took really long to get our drinks and food. We had a late reservation and we were concerned the kitchen/bar would close on us before we even got started. They kept things open till later like 10:30pm which was cool. Then they brought out our check.
(3)
Tracy T.
During lunch time, this is a little dimly lit romantic place to go to. Mango, Peach, and Guava juice are chilled cans of Kerns served in a glass cup with the cans in the recycle bin (I hope!) in the back. Goi Cuon Roll: poached shrimp, rice noodles, green apple, fresh lettuce, cilantro, mint, served with peanut sauce. I was so excited to try this b/c it had apple slices in it, so I can see how well it would mix with the roll. To my disappointment, I ended up getting the typical cucumber slices in the rolls. Won Ton Soup with noodles: salty, the noodles tasted undercooked and too chewy, and there were 5 won tons. 5 Spice Chicken: tasted like typical grilled chicken at Vietnamese restaurants (the kind usually served on top of dry noodles or broken rice), nothing struck out to me with this dish. It came with garlic herbed pilaf, but it just tasted like rice with fried garlic/onions mixed with a few dried green raisins. Spicy green beans: just the right amount of spiciness to not over power the beans and carrots that came along with this dish. Butterfly prawns: the only dish that I liked here. The prawns had a good flavor, not too salty like the previous dishes I had above. The bed of garlic noodles was an interesting mix of flavors: parmesan cheese sprinkled on top of stir fried chow mein noodles with basil. Delicious, but a bit on the oily side! I would give the food here two stars, but the butterfly prawn dish deserves one extra star.
(3)
Suzee Q.
I hadn't been here in a couple years but I remember loving the ribs, so I tried it again. The decor is interesting and it's in a fine spot on Piedmont. We were greeted and seated quickly. We had the Shrimp Roll as an appetizer, which was perfectly fried and just the right portion. As entrees we got the Xyxlo Chili Ribs and the Combination Stir Fry. The Stir Fry was yummy. The Chili Ribs I found to be a tasty and weird combination. Too much of something, but I couldn't figure out what. I fear it's pork but what to do? Lots of stuff going on those ribs. The total bill was a tad high $$, but we had leftovers.
(4)
Catherine R.
Friendly fast service, warm atmosphere, and yummy fresh food. I brought two friends here Sunday night and we had a beef and salad festival: spicy beef salad (my favorite):skewers of juicy tender beef over a light toasted sesame dressed salad, filet mignon and a lime balsamic dressed salad: cubes of tender grilled beef and salad, beef carpacio dressed in a lime marinade, spicy green beens and the Vietnamese crepe. I would have enjoyed the carpacio more but it has flecks of an herb that I don't like. The spicy green beans had a mildly sweet and smoky flavour and came with carrots-we all enjoyed this side dish a lot., the crepe was huge and filling with plump shrimp and squid. A tad bland though.. I have ordered a similar dish in Cambodian restaurants and preferred it- but overall- the food was fresh and tasty. I wold go back for the amazing mojitos and the spicy beef salad in a heartbeat.
(4)
Regina N.
The food is great and always consistent! If you are craving for Vietnamese food, Xyclo is the place to go....they have some traditional dishes, but some have a slight twist and it's appetizing! We've tried most of their dishes, but our favorite dishes are: - Sugarcane Shrimp Rolls - Butterfly prawns with garlic noodles - Sweet and sour soup - Vietnamese crepe Location is great - along Piedmont Avenue and only a block away from Fenton's! Sometimes parking can be hard to find...The employees are friendly and service is pretty consistent. We can't wait to go back!
(4)
Mariela B.
WOW! For the price this place is the best. It had been a while since I have been here so I was surprised by the quality and presentation once again. The Tumbling dice(filet mignon) and the Coconut Shrimp were both AMAZING. We also started with a roll which was very good as well. This place beats many other pricy places. Easy to walk in too.
(5)
Linda B.
This place was a real find, at least as far as the food. Food 4 stars, service 2.5. I ordered the carpaccio, which was icy cold beef wonderfully marinated. I also ordered the fried shrimp rolls, which were too hot to eat, temperature-wise. So I had hot-cold, cold-hot going constantly. But they were both delicious. My partner had the 5-spice chicken, which she really liked. For dessert, I had the Bomba, which was quite unusual and very tasty (even though I'm not sure what the tastes were). Negatives: no Earl Grey tea; only some herbal stuff. They say small plates, but the plate the carpaccio was on was too large for the table. There only seemed to be one waiter (not sure about that), and the service was spotty; I received my 2 plates immediately, and I ate while my partner had nothing for 15 minutes. And at the end of our meal, when we wanted the check, we couldn't find the waiter. Overall, however, the food was very intriguing and delicious.
(3)
Nobbi L.
Well, my work colleague swears by this place and goes once a week. We tried it out last night. The service was very nice, as was the ambiance. I found the food mediocre. Not bad, but nothing special. The closest comparison in terms of restaurant type would be Dragon Rouge in Alameda, and its food is better.
(3)
michaela s.
great service and really tasty food. good for large groups and good taste in wine. only major overhaul needed -- lots more vegetarian options. we'd go there more if we didn't always get the same 2 or 3 things. recommend the tao rolls...YumMY!
(4)
Ali H.
The food was Delicious, the service was great and I loved the calming ambience. I also loved the old wood displayed, the server even gave us some history on the art piece! We ordered the calamari, fresh spring rolls, eggplant special, ribs, soup, noodles and a plate of broccoli for the kids (which they only charged $5). Basically enough for 3 adults and 3 children under the age of 8 and all of the food was Incredible!!!! I was super impressed with the speed of how quickly the food came out as well. The eggplant Tofu was my favourite, I have been craving it ever since!!! I have never had such an all around super dining experience! And the bill was only $100, couldn't believe it. I can't wait to check out the lounge area on the other side... They even do orders for carry out!!!
(5)
Alison V.
Yum, Yum, Yum! I continue to go back to Xyclo and am never disappointed. The food is always fresh, great ambiance, great service. Their green bean salad is a favorite. The wonton soup is DE-lish. Not too heavy and bursting with flavor.
(4)
marisa g.
Three of us went here on a Thursday night. We made a reservation so we got seated right away, but the restaurant, as well as the lounge next door were full. All in all, the food here is very good. I highly recommend the carpaccio, the garlic noodles (LOVE!), and the crispy ribs. We also had the sugarcane shrimp rolls, lemongrass chicken curry, and the clay pot. All were fine but nothing I would rave about. I would never call this authentic feeling Vietnamese food, but for a very yummy dinner out with good food and great drinks, I definitely recommend it. This place loses a star for the craptastic service though. Yes, the restaurant was full, but it is very small and I would estimate that our server was only covering 6 tables, all of which had been there well before we had arrived and it still took us 10 minutes to give a drink order and 10 more for it to arrive. Total cost for two appetizers, three entrees, a side, two beers, and four mixed drinks was around $160...not bad at all, especially considering I had two meals in leftovers.
(3)
Joanne C.
Finally.. a place in town where I can eat some delicious Asian Fusion food! :) PROS: good, attentive, servers who are usually a step or two ahead of us with regards to our needs; everything comes out fast, efficiently, and HOT. CONS: Parking sucks on weekend evenings since there is only street parking, meter parking, and residential parking which are all inconveniently not very near and usually taken up; tables seem a like they are packed a little too tightly. If the restaurant is busy, I'm usually breathing on the people next to me. :( FOOD TO TRY: beef noodle pho (delicious broth!), and the ribs (deliciously carmelized pork ribs with a delicate crunchy peanut-sesame crust. heaven!)
(4)
N. C.
I'm definitely a fan! I LOVE vietnamese dishes, but this is one of the best so far. It's somewhat contemporary flavor without losing the vietnamese root. To me, vietnamese cuisine is usually comfort asian food. Sometimes I can find vietnamese french fusion that takes it up to another dimension. But at Xyclo, it's straight up vietnamese and they've successfully kicked it up to another notch.
(4)
Amanda P.
I have died and gone to South East Asian Heaven! Ran to write the review the same night I ate it. Classic beef pho; simple, fresh ingredients warmed my tummy and the hot sauce warmed my mouth. The rolls were so fresh and the sauces were amazing. BUT I cannot describe the ribs...there is no way to do them justice. You HAVE to get them.
(5)
Fred F.
I thought the food was excellent. We ordered a bit too much though. Started with a lychee martini...then another...The Bird's Nest was enough for two people. I thought the Lemongrass Tofu was the most flavorful (just the right amount of heat). Next time I'll save room for desert....
(4)
Brenda H.
Went here with my girlfriend yesterday. We both ordered Pho (she had beef and I had vegetarian), plus a side order of steamed tofu and spicy green beans. The green beans and steamed tofu was pretty awesome. They were about $5-6 each but definitely worth it. The vegetarian Pho was okay. The flavor was pretty light but it was still quite refreshing. The sides were a definite ++++.
(3)
TJ J.
Xyclo has some of the best Vietnamese food in the East Bay. The service is very friendly and attentive. They have interesting lunch specials and are even open for lunch on Sundays. Unlike many Vietnamese restaurants they have wine by the glass and a full bar. I've eaten a lot of Vietnamese food over the past forty years. The best has been at home or friend's homes. But if you don't have any friends who cook great Vietnamese food, you should try the food at Xyclo. We will definitely be returning.
(4)
Jonathan U.
What a treat this was! I was a bit disappointed with the roll sampler, but the rest of the food certainly made up for it. The soup was tasty and the broth was outstanding, although with four people it would have been nice to get two wontons per person. The lemongrass curry chicken was perfect, I could really taste all of the flavors, but they still blended together to create a very tasty dish. The sweet potatoes complimented the spices perfectly. The chili ribs were wonderful, I have never had ribs like that before, they fell off the bone and had tons of meat (ie not much fat). The garlic noodles were the highlight though, we ended up getting an order to go for lunch today! They were so flavorful, they were the highlight of the meal. The ambiance was very nice, in fact there was a celebrity there, which always makes things a bit more exciting , and the waiter told us that he comes often, so I guess it's not just for the common man! I will go back here again, a nice addition to the neighborhood, too bad it took so long for me to get there.
(4)
Keara C.
Pretty decent for asian fushion food. Like every other restaurant down Peidmont Ave the ambiance for a little place is great. Specifically for this one, I really like the color scheme they have chosen for this place. This is a great place for a date. Everything on the menu was alright but not spectacular. I would definitely recommend the garlic noodles though. It seems like that is a signature item on the menu. I would give them props on the packaging and presentation of the food. You can tell the chef takes the extra effort to arrange the food in a way where it looks really pleasant so that even before you take a bite, you are already in euphoria.
(3)
Craig B.
Contemporary fusion-styled ambiance and cuisine that is very affordable. I have been to this restaurant over 15 times since they opened. I have eaten every thing on the menu, delicious. The soups are savory on the palette and light on the stomach. The roasted quail is superbe every time. I especially like Seven Elements; it is a salad comprised of seven different items set in individual, dainty piles that you place in self selected proportions on individual butter leaf lettuce fronds and then eat it like a wrap, mmmm . . .
(4)
Sarah L.
Xyclo serves "modern Vietnamese cuisine". What does this *really* mean? Well, don't expect classic Saigon-style traditionally prepared Vietnamese dishes--if you do, you'll be disappointed. Instead, simply judge the food on its own merits--flavor, freshness, creativity--and you'll be a happy camper. That said...Honeybunny and I just *looove* this place. The ambiance and decor are elegant and soothing, and the friendly service rocks. There's even a small, comfy lounge/bar area where you can wait for your table if they're busy (which they often seem to be, but at those times, there's rarely more than a 10-minute wait). And then there's the food, which is utterly exquisite. The chili ribs are absolutely addictive--our server last night confessed that he could never quit his job, because he'd have to stop eating them 3-4 times a week! Other fantastic dishes include the butterfly prawns with garlic noodles, the Vietnamese carpaccio, and the Seven Elements (a new twist on lettuce rolls). We've also tried the birds' nest, the Goi Cuon and Nem Nuong rolls, and the green bean salad--all wonderful. Long story short...try this place. It's a wee bit spendy, but worth every cent and then some.
(5)
Suzanne V.
The service is excellent,,,,NOT THE FOOD!! I wonder if the food critics below,,,ever had good Vietnamese or Asian food!!..... or maybe I'm a harder critic,,,,cuz I'm AZIAN!!!!!!
I like to tell people that I am really boring in bed; that I just lie there like a dead fish. That way when I seal the deal I appear better than I actually am because my partner had low expectations. Since my "date" could not multitask and talk on the phone and get ready at the same time I jumped on Yelp to find a place to eat dinner. After reading a slew of 4 and 5 star reviews I decided Xyclo was worth leaving my island. But after I ate I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. The atmosphere was outstanding, the server made great recommendations, and the Lychee Tea Martini knocked me off my ass. But the grilled pork sausage in the Nem Nuong Roll tasted like pigs in a blanket and I didn't feel the need to take home any left overs. So if your going to go, anticipate a dead fish, and perhaps you'll get a rockin good time.
(3)
Tram N.
been here a few times and i would have to say the food and service is great. my fave is the steak salad and spring rolls. It is a cozy little place to stop by for dinner and drinks. The only thing I don't like is parking sucks. There is only street parking and it's always a battle for me to get a spot.
(4)
Paul C.
had the garlic herb noodles with prawns, fresh spring rolls with shrimp, and the lemongrass chicken with rice. it was really flavorful and definitely worth a visit if you're in the mood for asian fusion. really good spring rolls and garlic herb noodles. people were really nice too. i was surprised by how pricey every dish was (felt like each dish was $2-3 too expensive)...but either way, worth a trip if you're in the area.
(5)
Gina W.
Very good food. GREAT presentation of food! The service is great as well.
(4)
calman r.
Really good asian fushiony food. I got the filet mignon steak with salad, and the salad is so good by itself i think i liked it better than the filet mignon. i'd say its more like le cheval's cube beef steak, but with a really good salad. kinda pricier than i would like, but wouldnt mind going once a month.
(5)
M N.
Wonderful food. I really enjoyed Coconut Prawn and Tumbling dice. One things is that I felt the service is slow. Coconut Prawn did not come out for long time and we asked, and they said that it takes long time to stem, but when we ordered it, the server did not mention it at all like any other restaurant do. Rice did not come out so and we felt already full so we cancelled on it. Overall great food and you won't get disappointed!
(4)
CALGail f.
This is our comfort food place - good, fresh, healthy food options at a decent price. Plus some interesting cocktail selections. Good for a date, a group of friends, or for (quite!) kids. The staff are very friendly and efficient. We love the salads (crunchy and tasty) and their wings and rolls, but most everything we try is great. I wish they would occasionally add specials or change up the menu (probably since we go there so much?!)
The food here is DELICIOUS!!! I had the spicy steak salad which was incredible. I usually can't stand steak, but this meat was cooked perfectly and marinated in some heavenly combination of who knows what. Our table also tried the sugarcane shrimp rolls which were great - the shrimp is warm and the roll cold, and the contrast is surprisingly satisfying. My friend had the pho here, and it's certainly the best pho I've had in this area! The broth was peeeerfect. Plus, they have some good asian beers, which are a great compliment to any meal! The restaurant itself has a nice feel. It was really stuffy when we went, but maybe they just had the heat on too high. The decor is pretty and it's nice for 2-5 person groups, i'd say. Our waiter was ok. Nothing to brag about, but he got the job done. Definitely recommend this place, especially for a date night or catching up with old friends!
(4)
Eva H.
SKIMPY! portions are small, they even skimp on rice so I had to order a side of rice just so I felt full! My bland claypot chicken and shrimp had 2 small shrimps and 8 thin strips of chicken. They even skimp on salad dressing so I had to ask for extra dressing. The claypot fish was good but SKIMPY. The place is pricey for the small portions.
(2)
Cheesemonger Jeff D.
Well-executed food in a beautifully designed space. Gracious service and moderate pricing all add up to a nice place to catch a casual lunch or dinner. We had the 'sugarcane' shrimp roll, bun hanoi (grilled shrimp, bbq pork in sweet lime broth, with rice noodle and veggie condiments), beef carpaccio, and green beans. All were tasty, beautifully presented and fairly priced, if a bit too sweet (but that's the basis of the cuisine, not a flaw in the execution) The wine list is a bit monochromatic, overpriced and not well thought out (chardonnay, cab, and pinot - no riesling, muscat, gewurz, or big over oaked reds to go with spicy sweet foods), as if it were written by the local Southern Wines and Spirits salesman (funny, all of the wines were from Southern!), but that's my only knock on the place.
(4)
caitlin c.
Very empty for lunch on Sunday afternoon, so service was super quick and helpful. The claypot (veggies, delicious rice that was crisped to the side of the pot as it cooked, chicken and shrimp) is a winner! The crepe is humungous and savory, overflowing with bean sprouts and shrimp. perfect crunch to the crepe. those 2 were standouts, the rest was just eh...I'm not sure what the cards about a local drought were about though. I've never been discouraged to order water at a restaurant before...
(4)
nana r.
real vegetarian pho! the drinks are also great (real raspberry mojito) fair decent prices
(5)
pea p.
As a poor student I doubt that I would have chosen to go to this restaurant on my own, but a friend was in town and I left it up to him to pick a place. We wandered around Piedmont and he decided we should try Xyclo even though neither of us had ever been there (he used to live here too). I can't say a lot since I only had the beef carpaccio and green beans but it was really so very delicious! The carpaccio is something I can imagine that I will have a craving for from time to time. The service was exceptional, and if you read my other reviews you will see that nothing irritates me like bad service. We never wanted for anything. I would wish for a beer and the server would be there asking if I wanted a beer! The meal ended up being very reasonably priced! I think the beautiful ambiance and design of the place just made me think it would cost more. Overall, YUMMY.
(5)
derek d.
This is one of our favorite asian restaurants in the SF bay; the food is unpretentious and simple, but always incredibly fresh, tasty and satisfying. The decor is of the same kind, simple but pleasant. Service is attentive and friendly. We dined there multiple times and were never disappointed. Go Xyclo!! PS : The beef carpaccio is particularly delicious ...
(5)
Jaimie O.
I think the quality and consistency of the food at Xyclo has really declined. The squid was tough, the meat indistinguishable in one dish (seemed like a bunch of bones in sauce), the shrimp had not been deveined. My waiter dropped my fork off the table and then failed to bring me back a new one. Egh...just would not be a place I ever plan to return. I used to think very highly of Xyclo but now...not at all.
(1)
Priscilla k.
Headed here for a pal's bday. I was surprised that no one else in the group had been here before except for me. I've been here a few times before, but haven't written a review until now. In the past, I've had the Salt & Pepper Shrimp and enjoyed them very much. The decor is cool--dark, with unusual horizontal wood paneling (looks better than it sounds), and mood lighting. -Cocktail menu has fun unusual choices -Double Roll pleased the crowd -Spicy Green Beans were spicy as promised -Basa (fried fish filets with bok choy) was artfully presented, and tasty, but not super outstanding -Xyclo Chili Ribs were DELICIOUS! Crispy sweet outside, with tender meat. The mixed black and white sesame seeds added extra oomph to the crunch! loved it. -Tumbling Dice filet mignon cubes were tender and tasty. Generous portion, with refreshing salad greens on the side. The beef sauce was a little sweet. -Garlic Herb noodles. We were worried when we heard that these come with parmesan cheese on top. It didn't sound right to me. But we gobbled these yummy noodles up anyway. Didn't have dessert this time b/c we went to Fenton's on the next block.
(4)
Sherry K.
Would give 2.5 stars if I could- loses stars for substandard service. So I've been here 3 times- the service definitely needs some help- On our last visit, the hostess barely acknowledged us and didn't say a word as she seated us- very lackluster. Waitstaff is generally friendly enough but is erratic, and they don't often come to check in on you, and asking for the bill takes freaking FOREVER. On that note- the pho is solid- since there isn't another place to get pho in walking distance of my house, this is a plus. They have various fresh spring rolls- they are decent but on the bland side, they seem to be missing a layer of flavor somehow. Ditto on the apple salad- needs a kick of something. Portions and quality are overall not quite up to what they are charging. Garlic noodles however, are really tasty- with some Parmesan which is a bit odd, but it works.
(2)
Penny P.
It was one of those nights. I had a crappy lunch earlier in the day, the wait for Lococo's was over 45 minutes (on a Wednesday...) I was a grumpy mess. My ass would be booted so quickly on Survivor... People were taking up too much space on the sidewalk. I wanted to go to Fenton's--but only because I couldn't bear to walk one more block. At first I didn't want to go near Xyclo. I didn't want something new, expensive and barely filling. I didn't want atmosphere. I tried to convince H to get take-out from Gregoire's, but we decided to try it anyway. Maybe it's just me, or what we ordered, but I actually really liked this place. Definitely one to add to the rotation. Here's what we ordered: -Green Bean Salad -Xyclo Roll -Rice Hot Pot with Chicken, Shrimp, and Vegetables (like a Vietnamese Dolsut Bi Bim Bap!) -Garlic Noodles (!!!) Tasty, perfect sized portions, great service. I was extremely happy. I'm not sure if it was because I was desperately hungry, but this place more than exceeded my expectations. Will definitely be back. After reading other Yelpers on this place, I think it's a matter of getting the RIGHT dishes... Warning: Beware if you're sensitive to MSG
(4)
Alex T.
This place is sooo good! It's a Vietnamese Fusion restaurant. I personally love vietnamese food. This place is definitely pricier than the average Vietnamese restaurant, but you're really paying for the ambiance. My favorite is their spring rolls. I had a few of their entrees and they were really great. The only thing I wouldn't get there is the pho. It's not bad, but it's not the best either. Mmmm, I'm craving it now!
(5)
Kate I.
Love this place-- was a total surprise. We were walking on Piedmont looking for a dinner place and it was cold and rainy outside. Basically we ducked in to avoid having to walk any further. A great choice. The food here is yummy and very good. Being as we're kind of pescetarians these days, I noticed that the menu is replete with seafood and vegetable only dishes. Given the focus on veggies and fish, freshness is key and Xyclo gets a solid "A". The ingredients in the dishes are are very fresh and extremely well prepared and presented. We had the spring rolls appetizers which were tasty, a clay pot of goodness, and garlic noodles with prawns (so much more tasty than I'd imagined). The clay pot was a medly of different vegetables that were cooked perfectly. The place is very intimate, and would be good for a date or a night out with a friend. Lighting is ideal-- warm and bright enough without being too bright. Decor is tasteful and vibrant-- fun. It's a small place that comes off as cozy but not crowded. The service was great, too. The place was packed but I never felt ignored. We had a wonderful meal and dining experience at Xyclo. Definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Britney K.
I talk about this place all of the time, I figured it was time for a review. I've only ever had the vegetarian Pho but it is the best I have ever had.
(4)
m l.
Maybe I didn't order the right things, but one shouldn't have to win the lottery to get a good meal. I had noodles with wontons and spicy green beans. How wrong could the spicy green beans go? Well they were ok, but just ok. I wouldn't go running back. And as for the wonton soup with noodles, not so good. I had a lime elixer of sorts that was pretty good but overpriced. If you like Asian food with American flair then you will like this place. If you are Asian and have different and higher standards, you won't like this place. It was just ok. Service was friendly, ambiance can be cute, but the food won't have me going back. Other people who have reviewed this place seem to like what they've ordered, but I've had much better Asian food without having to try hard.
(2)
Natalie H.
Xyclo, Xyclo, Xyclo! How I savor your sugarcane shrimp rolls and love your lemongrass chicken curry! Your bird's nest makes we want to fly away to a Xycloian paradise and never return! And your ambience and settings inside are oh-so exotic. (Not to mention you're almost next door to the world-famous Fenton's!)
(5)
Tom N.
Very good beef noodle soup. The broth was soooo tasty yummy! and Lemongrass eggplant tofu was very good too. Its hard to find a parking though...
(4)
Yaj ..
Tastey, fancy, but a little pricey for what you get. I would take old school imperial rolls any day. However, I was impressed with their salt and pepper prawns. They serve them with the shell on, which was not all that appealing at first. However, they crisp the shell up really good, so its like eating a thin, crispy chip - but the shrimp inside is not overcooked. They need to serve it with a side of lime juice, salt and pepper sauce.
(3)
ELLIS D.
I was so excited when I walked in and saw a bar. The first thing I did was order a scotch and sody ! wowooooohhhooo! Then I was informed that they only had sake or soji so I tried a soji cocktail. That was the last time I was disappointed . We ordered the green beans with shallot salad. IT had a nice balance of acidity. My gal had the wanton soup (she wasn't very hungry) . It was very enjoyable, house made won-tons and a nice clear broth. I had the crispy shrimp roll and the pork dish(i forget the Vietnamese name). It was very well presented and packed full of flavor. Maybe a little too sugary for my taste but excellent none the less. As we ate we noticed the waitress who was wearing a vintage rolling stones shirt, kneeling down to eye level each time she spoke with a guest. I recognize this as a trait of a good server so asked her if she knew the chef etc.... Turned out she was the chef/owner, toiling away on a Wednesday night. Great service and great food .... There were other items we wished to try so we will return.
(3)
Mutant O.
The Vietnamese crepe on its own, makes a great meal!
(4)
M R.
Very good spring rolls, soups and meat dishes. Small alcohol selection. Xyclo is a mid-range Vietnamese fusion restaurant; do not come here if you are looking for more traditional Vietnamese fare. I have never seen a group over four here, although the space could likely accommodate as many as 10 without significant difficulty. Service is adequate. Seriously consider splitting a large plate between two individuals given the opportunity as the quantity of food is commensurate with the price. Overall, recommended with some reservations.
(4)
Henry L.
A fun night out on Piedmont Ave. Really cool interior design at this cozy Asian Fusion spot. Plus, good service and decent grub. I tried the garlic noodles and was not disappointed. I would definitely go back!
(4)
Cathy N.
I would go back again & again. I love their Tumbling Dice filet mignon, their clay pot, and their vegetarian dish. It's always hard to choose when I go because of how good they all are.
(4)
David B.
Generally good Vietnamese items. Spring rolls (goi cuon) OK, with a slightly unusual citrusy dipping sauce; "Double Surprise" roll quite good, and includes slices of apple for crunch. "Seven Elements," a lettuce wrap, is outstanding though messy to eat (for my clumsy self, at least)--I actually prefer it as take-out so that I can eat it wearing an apron while standing over the sink. My wife swears that the carpaccio is the best she's had. Spicy green beans, a side item, are really good too, and make one feel all virtuous and healthy. The menu changes erratically, and they don't update the menu on their website, so if you use it to phone in a to-go order be sure to have several alternatives in mind. Otherwise, just go there, order, wander around Piedmont Ave for 10 minutes, and go back. Saves hassle. Nice people. Go there. Fourth star is for being willing to throw together items no longer on the menu, as long as they have all the necessary stuff.
(4)
Michael S.
Updating because I said I would return and glad I did. Lunch items are around 10 dollars which is reasonably priced and the food is authentic, however oily for my taste. I had the chicken and asparagus.
(3)
jen n.
Yum. I went here with Caitlin A. and her friend. The decor is trendy and modern chic. Our server was friendly and was helpful with the ordering. I believe we started with Goi Cuon roll, which was very good. They have several rolls to choose from, and I believe this is the one we ordered. It had apples in it. We also ordered the Tumbling Dice Beef and an order of the Spicy Green Beans. The beef is delicious. Tender and savory. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. If you have ever had the cube beef at Le Cheval, it's very similar, but better. Shh...don't tell Le Cheval that though. I would hate to have the Vietnamese mob after me. They don't have a full bar, but they do offer soju cocktails along with beer, wine, and sake.
(4)
Bryan A.
my all time Favourite!
(5)
Renee B.
one of my favorite spots; waitstaff good and attentive if you wanna catch a flick at the nearby theatre. the Vietnamese Crepe is yummy, stuffed eggplant tasty and sopp it up with the fluffy rice, garlic noodles always a hit. I have enjoyed everything I have eaten at this place. ambience is fun and hip and the cocktails are tasty too!! its a bit pricey for a neighborhood place but food is great
(5)
Cindy F.
Rocking Vietnemese food! A month later and we are all still raving about it. Evething was delicicous. The "tumbling Dice" was our favorite. they curry fish was yummy too. Don't forgrt desserts, the fried banana and the mango sticky rice were mmm, mmm good! Oh, and they have cool drinks too!
(5)
Jessica H.
Chic environs and delicious food make for an excellent addition to the neighborhood. It's really too bad they've been overshadowed by all that scaffolding for so long. +The dishes are lovely +Chicken pho is delicious and tender and inexpensive +Beef pho is equally delicious, and as a person who eats beef very rarely, I vote this as a good place to get my iron +The fresh summer rolls are delicious, but expensive for what they are. These are maybe the most expensive version of a goi cuon roll I've ever had. True, they're creative, I happen to like the shrimp and apple, but $7-8?
(4)
Ron B.
We went there with 5 people and they were accomodating and pushed 3 tables together. The service is really good and the food comes out pretty fast. I have had almost everything on the menu and it is all decent. My favorites are the Garlic-Herb noodles, Calamari, Double Surprise Roll and the Saigon Devil Wings. The entrees I suggest are Tamarind Shrimp and the Tumbling Dice. The desserts are decent as well. Go and try it out. Good place to go before or after a movie.
(3)
Avi W.
I really like the food here, I just think its a bit pricey. Great spring rolls, good curry, and I'll certainly go again.
(3)
Jackie K.
I went to Xyclo for a much over-do second visit. Don't know why I hadn't been back but I hadn't. Then yesterday, I was out toolin' with a friend and we were headed for LoCoCo but dammit it's closed on Sunday afternoons and I should know that cuz I've tried to go to LoCoCo for a Sunday lunch previously and it was closed then too! So we ended up at Xyclo. And now, I've updated my rating from 4 stars to 5 and there are two reasons why. Reason 1 - XYCLO CHILI RIBS! They are absolutely divine. I mean, they are good. In fact I'm wondering if I won't go there for dinner tonight and get them again. We has also ordered the Bun Cha Hanoi but couldn't finish it cuz we filled up on chili ribs. I asked to have the Bun Cha boxed up so I could take it home. And just now, I opened the to-go box, and they put in there a little extra serving of the vinaigrette! And that's reason 2. Puffy hearts to those that pay attention to the details. And mad love to whomever created the chili ribs. 10/13/07 I thought the food, service and prices here were excellent! My dining companion, Kelly, and I thought everything sounded good so we split stuff. We had the sugarcane shrimp spring rolls, they were good but not extraordinary. The devil wings were fantastic! Although the crunchy caramel coating kept sticking to my teeth. We had the Bird's nest with soft noodles and it was very good. The caramelized fish was really tasty! Plus, they serve loose tea! Yay! I feel the love when a restaurant has a few decent loose leaf teas. The service was really great. Our waiter brought us fresh small plates cuz Kelly and I kept junkin' up ours with sauces from each course. I think this will definitely become one of my fall back places when I want to go somewhere that will offer consistently tasty food. There's still plenty more to check out on the menu.
(5)
Rose V.
I went here recently for a friend's birthday... Pros... 1) Friendly service - Gave us a couple of free drinks & overall very pleasant 2) Interesting modern/asian decor 3) Decent Food - interesting adaptation of basic vietnamese dishes (Thit bo luc lac (beef cubes over salad with vinegary sauce) was tasty and the sampler plate of appetizers was good as well- can't go wrong with fried foods. Cons... 1) A little pricey, for just okay tasting vietnamese food. There were 15 of us, and still, the price came to $40/person 2) Slow service - since there was a large group, we ordered a lot of food (on the advice of our server)... but it came out sooo slowly... we were full before all of our dishes arrived 3) Wanted to be more impressed with the vietnamese tapas but was not I'll probably not return since there are many other better restaurants out there.
(3)
M F.
Me and my friends go here once in a little while - usually for lunch. They have very good asian-fusion food (thai - viet) but I think some of the food were a bit overpriced. The place is small and the tables were so close together that people can hear whatever me and my friends were talking about...
(4)
Emma K.
I was psyched to see a new Vietnamese restaurant on Piedmont, as most of my standbys have grown tiresome. My boyfriend had gotten very drunk at Xyclo right after it opened, while I was in Asia. It didn't have much more than that and the fact that it was new to recommend it, but I figured it had to at least be pretty good. The food we ate was simple, healthy and tasted good. We ordered the crispy Tao rolls (fried veggie egg roll-type things), six finger-sized pieces for $7, and he got a chicken curry for the main, while I got stir-fried vegetables. My veggies were excellently flavored, although even I couldn't polish off the fair-sized portion because I got bored of eating just veggies and tofu. There needed to be more variety and different food groups represented for a $10 entree. My dog thoroughly enjoyed the other half of the chicken curry. We ended up spending about $50, including tip, for a decent-sized, good-tasting meal. The service was great (they also have take-out), and if the prices weren't so out of proportion to the quality of food, I'd be back in an instant.
(3)
Zinna R.
For some reason we didn't make it out of the house for our first meal of the day until 2 in the afternoon. As you can imagine, we were delirious with hunger. I was hallucinating. Thought I saw a unicorn run into some scaffolding and made my boyfriend pull over to investigate. Instead we found this place. Even though there was no unicorn, We did get seated right away, our order promptly taken, appetizers (Crispy Shrimp Rolls) in mere minutes after we ordered and an amusing demonstration of our server flipping our unfiltered sake around (a new take on shaken not stirred, much in the grand tradition of Tom Cruise's bartending skills in "Cocktail"). Maybe it was the sugar rush or the alcohol on an empty stomach but I went from a scrowling, beady eye'd barker of orders to a sparkly eye'd princess having the grandest of times... all from a few bites of the scrumptious rolls, a few jokes with our charming server and a few sips of some damn good sake. Once the hunger pains died down and I realized that unicorns don't exist in this part of the world (wink, wink), I noticed that the place was nicely decorated and the kill bill soundtrack played softly in the background (nice!). I couldn't help but think, what a sweet place to share meal with a hot date (the kind you want to end with breakfast). And the food was DELICIOUS. Aside from the rolls, we had the vietnamese carpaccio which was EXCELLENT-- a wonderful combination of flavors. We also had the Bun Cha Hanoi (thinly sliced marinated beef and pork sausage served vermicelli and herbs) , which was so good I'm thinking about getting some for take-out tonight. We wished we'd had room for more food because everything on the menu look great (I wanted to try the Salt'N' Prawns and the Ribs) and we were having such a good time we could have stayed there for hours.
(5)
John O.
My wife and I ate lunch at Xyclo yesterday and it was delicious. We ordered the Xyclo taste appetizer, which provides a sampling of all the appetizers, which are always superb -- filled with fresh ingredients and served with great dipping sauces. We also split an order of the chili ribs, which are unlike ribs I've found anywhere else. The restaurant also offers some great teas. This isn't a cheap place to eat, but the food quality has been consistently excellent every time we've eaten there.
(4)
Ruth S.
Love the spring rolls, they are so fresh! Space is a bit chilly in the winter. I always run into foodie friends here. Great neighborhood place. Cocktails... ummm, does anyone drink Sky Vodka anymore?
(4)
Tom M.
Spotty. Fairly good service, loved our waiter. Decent stylish interior, although a little cramped, but that's par for the course at hip restaurants these days. The meal was half great half disappointing. The rolls were ordered were incredibly good. hot on the inside and cold like a spring roll on the outside. Excellent! The hot and sour soup was bland. The vegetables were uncooked and the fish seemed overboiled. The ribs were also very bland. The 'tumbling dice" was excellent though. Vegetables and steak cubes. Very tasty.
(3)
Mister Chao ..
Xyclo is one of Mr Chao's favorite restaurants in the East Bay. Mr Chao only orders 3 things here. 1. Tumbling Dice. Always juicy. 2. Butterfly Prawns over Garlic Noodles. 3. Chili Ribs. Awesome! Add Sauteed Vegetables and Mr Chao thinks you have an excellent meal for a date. Beware, Mr Chao thinks the drinks are addicting.
(5)
Cory G.
New asian fusion place on Piedmont. We went here shortly after they opened and although the place was mostly empty, the food was excellent. Tasty ribs with lots of sesame, but what I really remember is the Seven Elements entree: lettuce, ginger, lime, dried shrimp, cashew, shredded coconut and chili served with a sweet coconut chili sauce. The presentation was great and the flavors were different. And by different I mean good. Really good. Waitstaff was friendly, but the hostess had so much cleavage it made me uncomfortable. Also has a nice, cozy bar area in the back if you want to go solely for cocktails.
(4)
Rebecca S.
Food is great, but portions are a little small for the price. I like to have leftovers : 0
(4)
Greg T.
Nice and tastey lunch
(4)
p d.
In general I like this place. Food is usually very good. Today, a huge let down. I ordered garlic noodles and asked if I could add chicken. "yes." cool. Went to pick it up and it cost $16.85!!! They billed it as some prawn dish with noodles, super shady in my opinion and the food was just mediocre. What a let down in price and taste. Garlic noodles are $7 so the scant amount of dark meat chicken cost almost $10. Chicken doesn't cost the same amount as Prawns people.
(1)
Barbara P.
The food was delicious and amazing! It was a little packed both times, and we had to wait a while for our food, but it was great. I love the eclectic decorations. I had the carpaccio, and it was great. They have an awesome bar with great soju selections, too! I totally recommend this place!
(5)
Dave D.
I was hungry on a Wednesday night and we just popped in for a quick bite. It was very quiet, plenty of seats. I tried the tumbling dice an pho noodles! Had the won ton soup which was good and I loved the rolls which now I forget what they 're called. I would recommend this place to anybody!
(3)
Eastbay Bulldog S.
Ok, overpriced vietnamese food. I prefer Le Cheval and even Vo's.
(3)
Aaron H.
My wife and I both thought Xyclo was good, but not great. The high prices don't help. It's "Vietnamese-fusion" which translates to "Western-Style Vietnamese", i.e. not very authentic, although their rolls were outstanding. So if you are looking for a really authentic Vietnamese place, this is isn't it. But as along as you don't walk in expecting authentic fare, you should be fine. They don't hide the fact that they are a fusion-style restaurant. First off, the place is pretty small - any party larger than 4 will be hard pressed to find seating on a busy weekend night, unless you made reservations, and even then expect to be cozy. It's decorated in a trendy/artsy/modern hipster style that you may like or find annoying depending on what kind of person you are. They have a full bar and while I thought the drinks were a tad expensive, they were good. The rolls we ordered were outstanding, although I can't remember their name. My wife had the claypot and while it was good it was nothing to write home about - a simple claypot of mixed vegetables and seafood/meat. I had the tempura battered fish which came on a bed of bok choi. Again, good, but nothing that blew my socks off. Service was very good, attentive and quick, so they get a plus for that. But for the prices we paid, I expected better. Yes, I know it's Piedmont Ave, and yes I know it's not your typical Chinatown-Vietnamese restaurant, but I expect more when the prices are that high. So that's the reason for the three stars: good, but not great food, that doesn't live up to what I considered somewhat high prices. Also, definitely not good for kids, unless it's maybe lunch or something on a weekday. Crowded and somewhat noisy, not a lot of room or areas for kids.
(3)
Allan C.
We came across this little gem one day a couple of years ago whilst wandering along Piedmont Avenue running out the clock til the movie at the Piedmont Theater started. And about a half block from the theater we came across this small restaurant with a colorful neon sign that read cryptically, 'Xyclo'. So we decided to take a gamble and went in. Well I have to tell you that we come up with creative excuses to be in the neighborhood because Xyclo consistently provides a tasty and satisfying meal with courteous service. The presentation of the food is a feast for the eyes and seeing is believing. My personal favorite are the Sugar Cane Shrimp Rolls. And the Pho soup is a meal in itself. I give five stars for quality and consistency. This is not the five star Zagat rated haunt with a line out the door or reservations (which they don't take) booked weeks in advance. This is a place that I hope gets just enough clientele to keep it going strong but not so many that its small neighborhood charm is lost. They do a great balancing act.
(5)
maggie l.
Whoa man, I am still thinking about those crispy ribs, a week later. We came here randomly because I wanted noodles and they were - amazingly enough - open late on a Sunday night, but the ribs were calling to me to I decided to forgo the noodles, and I made the right choice; the ribs were seriously good. Be warned, though, the "suggested sides" are there for a reason; the entrees don't come with anything else, so if you want some veggies with your ribs you gotta order them separately, which is annoying to me because I don't need to eat all that much food, and I don't think the ribs would have made good leftovers, and because that means it's not particularly cheap. Regardless though, the food is great and the people are really nice. Oh, and extra points for having Ti Kuan Yin, and serving it in tetsubin (iron teapot)!
(4)
Laurie K.
I walked in expecting to HATE this place. It has no host stand (reason: no room!) so it's a bit awkward if you have to wait for someone to come up and seat you. However, I had to eat my words, as we enjoyed a delicious meal of the tumbling dice, grean beans and something else that I no longer recall, other than it was delicious. Knowing me, it was probably some kind of tofu concoction. I will certainly go again sometime when my budget allows (not cheap!) and I will try not to preemptively judge a tiny restaurant by whether or not they have room for a host stand. Wish I worked in Oakland during the day, I would try them for lunch in a heartbeat!
(4)
Grace C.
good, clean, pho-n. i give this place 5 stars for their chicken pho and their spicy green beans. Always delicious and always fresh! Also when I ask for extra sriracha they always hook it up.
(5)
Covenant E.
The food is great! I highly recommend the Basa, the carpaccio, and the garlic noodle. The atmosphere is good, service is good. Only down side is the price. Overall, it is an excellent place to dine after a long weekday.
(4)
Paolo D.
We went here for lunch. The food is average but the portion is super small for the price. The service is really bad in this place. Looks like the same person who takes orders, also cooks the food, brings the food out, washes the dishes, brings the bill, clears the tables etc. super super slow. When the menu reads spicy.... Don't believe it. We had to ask for hot sauce. Also it would be helpful to mention on the menus if you have any peanuts in the food (or any other possible allergy items). My co-worker has allergy to peanuts and her food had peanut sprinkled on it....we won't be going to this place again.
(2)
Mel H.
Tasty, and very pretty and fancy, without being too expensive. Also, nice to have Vietnamese food in another area of Oakland!
(4)
Ellie O.
The various rolls - both deep fried and fresh ones are to die for! It's the very best you can find anywhere! The other dishes are ok.
(5)
Bobby B.
Xyclo is a pleasant, well designed little space with a small lounge in the rear. Indulge in the sampler of all of their spring rolls. The ribs rubbed in a chili glaze and coated in seeds were delectable, and the spicy green beans complemented that dish well. My friend had a salad with glazed filet mignon cubes that were soft and sweet. The staff was attentive and cheerful. Overall, it is well worth a visit.
(4)
Jennifer J.
If you think of this place as less authentic Vietnamese, and just delicious food with a Vietnamese twist, I think you'll be in for a pleasant surprise. We didn't try the pho (obviously), but had most all of the entrees on the menu between our large group. The tumbling dice was smooth as butter and the crispy curry fish was very flavorful. Service was decent. Overall good for groups.
(4)
Anissa B.
This place is a great surprise! They use the freshest ingredients, plenty of leafy veggies and somehow tasty tasty!! They have this wonderful sampler appetizer "roll" platter that I just die for and have been knownt o come in just for that alone. It's value for the money and can fill two people up easily. So many great things to choose from here.
(5)
RuffNReddy R.
We went after a Piedmont Hot Springs dip...it was a nice quiet place to grab a bite afterward, seated immediatly, service was prompt, no loud music, nice decor, friendly staff. But... Small portions, well presented. Very tasty but, not filling enough for the money. And that was just lunch. Fusion for sure, not authentic. But, as I said, very tasty! Try the Pho and spring rolls.
(3)
Jim H.
Eaten here 50 times. Big sample size. Perfect "too lazy to cook" alternative. I'm too lazy to cook a lot as you can tell.....the Double Surprise rolls are worth whatever they charge for them. Love this place.
(4)
BB H.
One of my favorites in the East Bay. Come here for lunch and get the Banh Mi sandwich, Pho or assortment of rolls and chicken wings. You will not be disappointed. Great service, too.
(4)
Dan K.
We split a bowl of tasty chicken pho and an order of the chili ribs. The ribs are quite an amazing dish -- they're full-size and cooked perfectly, tender and falling off the bone but not overcooked, with a terrific sweet/hot glaze that has an ultra-crunchy outer shell with embedded sesame seeds. Unusual and delicious and the bill came to around $25 for two! Next time, Tumbling Dice.
(5)
Waniac B.
FOOD POISONING at last night's dinner. Ugh these guys have kept me up all night suffering. Never Never, i mean NEVER again. Watch out for the deep fried ribs, its 100% what got me.
(1)
Marilyn L.
We have wanted to try this place ever since it opened, but last night was finally the night - and worth the wait. Cleanly elegant decor and friendly-without-being-smarmy service set the tone for a wonderful evening. The food was timed perfectly, beautifully presented, and incredibly flavorful; try the butterfly shrimp and garlic noodles with the spicy green beans - to die! One small nit-pick: I expected a little more heat from the Spicy Devil Wings but that's a really minor point. You can't beat the flavor of the garlic caramel sauce (yes, you read that right), which is so good I'm not sure it's legal. Not a place to chow down on the cheap but a great mid-priced nice restaurant right in the 'hood. Can't wait to try some of their other dishes!
(4)
Mark H.
This place is pretty nice. The food was good and the decoration is elegant. I had the prawn noodles and it taste good. I'll probably come back to try other dishes.
(4)
Jones D.
The garlic noodles alone are worth going back for. The wonton soup is perfect for a cold (by Bay Area standards) night. Service was okay.
(4)
MELLY D.
My BF and I went here after reading all of the great reviews We started with the sugar cane spring rolls (tasty) then had the tumbling dice (one of the best beef dishes I have ever tasted) and the Vietnamese crepe (not quite as good as ones I have had in SF but a close 2nd). The lychee mojitos were also delish!! The music was cool too. ...parking was tough on a Friday night and it smelled a little musty like grandma's house...but I would definitely over look all that stuff and eat here again!
(5)
Rita N.
I came here with a couple of friends, one who apparently was an expert in this restaurant as he had already tried a lot of their dishes. Go to this restaurant if you love flavor in your Vietnamese fusion food. (I'm a Vietnamese fusion virgin - so I don't have any expert knowledge on what is good or bad for this type of cuisine) This place is super super tasty. Yes, the word "super "can be repeated twice in a sentence, but only if you mean it. I tried their lychee mojito. Omg. I've died and gone to lychee heaven - this concoction was so full of flavor and served in a nice tall glass with a huge lychee on a toothpick. They also balanced the alcohol level quite nicely with the mint. Just for kicks, we decided to try the flaming quail. From the title of the dish, we thought it was either going to be very spicy, or engulfed in fire. It was neither, but still very tasty. It was kind of intimidating because it definitely looked lifelike. Just imagine those little buggers as tiny chickens. Ok, maybe not. Ignore the fact that you are eating a quail and enjoy it. Trust me, you'll thank me later. This dish was an obstacle to eat, but well worth the time. For our entrees, we ordered the Bun Cha Hanoi, Combination Stirfry and Claypot Medley. For the Combination Stirfry, my friend articulately declared, "I normally don't like food with no meat in it, but this is an exception." Amen, brother. Now pass me some more of that bad boy so I can go to town with it. The Claypot Medley, although very tasty, had some burned rice on the bottom. This dish is set up in a hot claypot with the rice on the bottom and the toppings of chicken, prawns and veggies on the top - so the rice that was not eaten right away got charcoaled. The Bun Cha Hanoi was the highlight of the meal. Everyone loved this dish. EVERYONE. I even got to take some of the leftovers home and as I'm typing this, my picky roommates are attacking it with a fury. I'm actually afraid to leave my room for fear that I might get in between the crossfires of their speedy chopsticks and the noodles of awesomeness. Lastly, for dessert, we ordered the triple chocolate mousse and a white chocolate mousse with raspberry mousse topping and a small sliver of green tea cake filling in the middle. Holy mother of whatever is holy. Those desserts were the icing on the cake. I felt like that really mean critic character(Anton Ego, I think) from the movie Ratatouille when he ate...the ratatouille. Colors were flying everywhere and I was in some sort of food induced euphoria. So sad that they served them in small cups. If they were served in bigger buckets, I think I'd eat Xyclo out of house and home. The waitress was accommodating, letting us take our time with the menu and refilling our waters in a somewhat timely matter. (One of my friends had to resort to drinking my water because the waitress didn't refill hers yet) The food didn't take long to come out and we were surprised to see that even though the place had a constant flow of customers, our waitress didn't forget to stop by our table to ask if we needed anything. This restaurant does tend to attract the richer, middle aged white folk. Ok- Yes, this place is expensive. We each paid from 25-30 dollars for dinner. But, HELLO. Yummy, delicious, scrumptious Vietnamese fusion in a cute restaurant? Who can say no to that?! This place definitely serves up super super quality.
(5)
Juliane N.
Although the food here is not cheap but the food is pretty tasty. I wanted to give it a try when it opened up and so I went in and gave it a try. The decor is cute and the service was excellent. The five spice chicken was really good.. it was a big portion too and they serve their rice that was flavored with chicken in a steamer like the ones you get when you eat siu mai from dim sum places.. really good. Give it a try.
(4)
rachel p.
the service was friendly, the prices affordable and the ambiance nice, the three reasons i am giving out a third star. but the food left me a bit underwhelmed. apparently a lot of the people who reviewed this place love sugar. because literally everything we ordered here was sweet. by the end of the meal, it was overkill. the nem nuong rolls we started with were tasty, but what is up with that sausage in the roll? that was a little weird. yes, it was tasty sausage, but still. the husband tried the sweet fish soup to start. this was probably my favorite of the evening. loaded with pineapple, tomato and green onions it's sweetness has a tang that's warming and refreshing. my claypot was super sweet and the veggies a little limp. the husband's order of pork ribs was substantial, but each rib was mummified in carmelized sugar loaded with little black seeds likely to get stuck in your teeth--note not to order this one on a date. he tired of the taste prettey quickly. our friend had the prawns--lemongrass i think--and these were perfectly grilled and i think would have been my favorite if everything else wasn't so sugary. for a small place it was nice to see a tempranillo and malbec on the wine list. and the tempranillo was pretty good too. not sure these are enuf of a reason to return tho. go if you like your food like candy.
(3)
Joann S.
Wonderful!!!!!!!!!! The tumble dice filet mignon steak is so delicious, and so is the noodles+pork+shrimp. My boyfriend and I went to Ruth Chris' the week before, and we both agreed that we would have rather spent our $ here. The price isn't bad at all, for what you get, and the staff is REALLY friendly. I told them that it was my friend's bday and they gave us this really delicious pudding thing. I really recommend this place. I crave the dice steak as we speak!
(5)
Yan P.
Four stars for the food (though slightly overpriced), 1 star for food poisoning the next day. It was tasty but I should have checked on here before...looks like not the first poisoning case here!
(1)
Melissa A.
I went back to see if things got any better. The hostess, I"m sorry, is just annoying. This isn't a strip club, it's piedmont avenue.
(1)
Edward M.
I went few times and the food was fantastic, the Tubmbling Dice, the Garlic Noddles, the Pho and the Chicken Wings is to die for. Yum can't you see yourself eating this.
(5)
Catherine R.
The roll sampler is great. Split that with a bowl of soup and you and your dining buddy are good to go to the movies or Fentons or the Skerry House wherever... I haven't really branched out too far from there but the stuff I see go by looks great.
(4)
La M.
Came her at the end of a stressful day. Dopo was crowded, as was Lococo's, and I don't like French food much so Jojo was out.. we chose a "one-o" restaurant on piedmont ave just to get crazy. I came here once before and was underimpressed, but it was worth another try. But I have to say... meh. The fried shrimp appetizer was pricey. ON the up side, the largeish shrimp were sitting in a really tasty mound of coconut and vegetables, On the downside: the shrimp itself was bland, and they left the heads on (which meant a nasty mouthful of shrimp brains before I realized, blech). I had a fried fish carmelized thingy. A bit over cooked. It was pretty sweet tasting (the caramel I guess), but they warned it would be a little spicy, it wasn't spicy at all. It wasn't bad, kinda bland, kinda comfort-food-like. The veggies on the side seemed mostly decorative, just a few slices of carrot and something else unmemorable. Rice was fine. It sure wasn't worth the 15 dollars, though. more like slightly heavy (or light but bland) basic vietnamese food in a fancied-up setting. I might come back again just to sample the noodles on another day I'm too busy to cook, but I'd rather spend good money somewhere I know it's worth it. Maybe if you like the drinks the money feel better leaving your wallet. the food probably merits 3 stars, but the prices push a star off.
(2)
Charlotte S.
I'd heard of this place from friends and finally had an opportunity to try it ... and was very impressed! It's small, but feels warm and intimate -- like being inside someone's home -- even though it is definitely a professional experience. The food is gorgeous on the plates, the flavors are plentiful and the service is VERY friendly! I always request room temperature water in restaurants, but most waiters either ignore the request or bring water without ice that is just as freezing as ice water. At Xyclo, the waitress actually brought a stainless steel thermos of hot water to use as I pleased with my glass. (How thoughtful!) I loved the butterfly prawns: they were grilled to perfection, and the garlic herb noodles were fabulous.
(5)
Jordan M.
The flavors were nice, but the textures and prices, not so much. We had a roll, lettuce wraps, and curry fish. The roll said BBQ pork, and it was stiffed with a sausage. It made the roll awkward to eat. The lettuce wraps were a make ti yourself deal with a plate full of dried shrimp, re onion, diced ginger, lime wedges (with rind), etc. I was surprised I actually liked this dish, it was a little overwhelming, but different than anything else I'd ever eaten. And the fish was tough! The curry tasted wonderful, but the little fried pieces were chewy. I thought it was tofu and had to rip (literally) one open to make sure it was fish. And it was a little pricey for such simple dishes.
(3)
Lai I.
The ambiance of this place is great. I really liked the decor. Most importantly the food was excellent! They had great vegetarian dishes that were quite flavorful. I would definitely recommend this to all my friends.
(4)
vuForce Fresh n.
i was pleasantly surprised after both of my recent visits here. first off, let's classify this place.... it's a place you go when you want to take your friends out, enjoy nice ambiance, eat tasty cali-cuisine style vietnamese food, and are willing to pay a slight premium for. how's that for a classification? if i don't get at least one "useful" vote, i'll just go ahead and shut up now. as for the food, i highly recommend the spring/imperial roll platter, beef carpacio and tumbling dice (aka shaking beef cubes). everything else is pretty good too. this restaurant is classified as "asian fusion" here on yelp, but i disagree. it's pretty authentic/traditional vietnamese taste, but it is served with neo- california cuisine presentations: smaller portions, variety of tastes, emphasis on visual appeal, fresh ingredients... u get the idea. sidenote: i'm vietnamese. that's makes me particularly critical of vietnamese restaurants. i don't get tricked easily. that in mind, let's continue... service was top notch, the waiters were very helpful and accommodating. they even crack semi-funny jokes once in awhile. if you have a large party, make a reservation for the back room... it comfortably seats 10+ and makes for a great semi-private party. there are lounge chairs right next to the table, perfect to fight off the food coma afterwards. the wine selection was great. the staff was particularly accommodating to switching orders. ok, hungry yet? i am, see u there.
(4)
Jessica G.
Love their rolls! They have a sample roll platter. Really fresh and paired with great dipping sauces. Rest of the their food is consistently good, too. Can get crowded on weekends. Love the unfiltered sake! We've been bringing our son since he was a baby. On the cheaper side, and food comes pretty quick.
(4)
Christian C.
have been here a couple of times. i have tried almost all of the rolls via the xyclo taste sampler. i recommend this as most of the rolls are delicious and you get to try almost everything. an excellent starter if you have three or more people. the chili ribs were recommended to me by several yelpers. i liked them but i wasnt in love with them. the glaze on them was good and the meat was tender, but i felt the coating was too overpowering. you couldnt really taste the pork that much. the saigon devil wings are arguably the best thing on the menu. they are covered in this delicious, sticky yet crispy spiced caramel sauce. they are to die for. i want to eat them every day. i have sampled the apple salad which was refreshingly sweet but tart from the vinagrette. the butterfly prawns on the garlic noodles was good, but not entirely memorable....since, uh......i dont remember anything about them other than i thought they needed a little something. i remember the shrimp were cooked well, but that is about it. service is good. not overly attentive, but then i dont really care if i am doted over or not. dont remember much about the cocktails either. hmm, based on this review i am writing, i guess i need to go back and get reaquainted with Xyclo.
(4)
micaela r.
i had avoided this place for quite some time as i thought it seemed to be trying too hard to strike a certain modern asian hipness chord. but then it was raining and i was hungry and in the mood for some pho. i looked at some reviews online and decided it would be better to walk there then drive somewhere else. so i ordered a bowl of veggie pho for pick up. yum yum. it came with big hunks of tofu and various veggies like broccoli, green beans, mushrooms, and zucchini (only 2-3 of each). they packed a cute little to go baggie of bean sprout, thai basil, lime, the whole shabang for my eating desires. and a hoisin/sriracha sauce combo. noodles and cilantro in another box. too much packaging, yes. but nice to have all of the ingredients. the soup hit the spot and for $6 i will definitely have it again. also, the place looked nice on the inside, a loungy vibe. convenient, tasty, cheap, warm.
(4)
Margarita M.
I noticed this restaurant during a visit to Fenton's, which is right across the street from Xyclo. I'm a huge fan of Vietnamese cuisine, so I vowed to myself I'd try it. After watching the Warriors beat the Knicks, my boyfriend and I decided to finally have dinner here. For starters we ordered the Crispy Shrimp Roll, which I think is similar to the traditional shrimp cake only this was rolled like a spring roll and a bit more crispy than usual and it came with nuoc cham. It wasn't anything special. On the menu it says it has taro in it (which I LOVE), but I couldn't seem to taste or feel the texture of it. It tasted like the ones I usually order at other Vietnamese restaurants. It's a little over priced than normal, but it was still good. For our entree we had the Saigon Devil Wings, which is my absolute favorite dish! Probably the best garlic chicken dish I've ever eaten...EVER!! It was caramelized and garlicky on the outside and tender on the inside. I could have eaten the entire dish alone. We had the chicken with the Dry Scallop Fried Rice, which had the right amount of veggies, shrimp, chicken, and shredded dry scallops. The rice was perfect consistency and it tasted buttery. We also had a side of the Spicy Green Beans, which were cooked perfect. I cleansed my palate with a pot of their Lychee Black Tea, which to me was just OK. I want to try their Genmaicha Brown Rice Green Tea and Sencha Green Tea next time. The portions were perfect! Service was perfect! We never had to ask for a refill on our water and our food came very quickly. We didn't have too much interaction with our server, which is fine with me. She checked on us once, but it wasn't like we needed immediate attention from her. Our bill came up to under $40. With great service and good food for that price, I'm not complaining! Just as long as the food is good, I'm with good company, and I leave satisfied! I'm going back for more!
(5)
michelle b.
2.5 stars. maybe i ordered wrong? although i'll not be returning as my meal was not worth the $$, i'll give it the benefit of the doubt and limit my review to the items i ordered. the decision is left up to you... veggie rolls -- meh sweet and sour soup -- very very sweet and overly pineapple-y, although the fennel added a nice fresh taste birds nest (soft noodles) -- reminiscent of my old standby at a cheap korean cafeteria in a strip mall drug store i frequented when i was on a college student budget. complete with a trace of a post-meal grease-induced belly ache. crime of passion (?) sake cocktail -- yum
(3)
John G.
Just coming back from a thoroughly underwhelming dinner, and felt obligated to share. My wife, son and I started with an order of Saigon "Devil" wings. They (all 5 of them) came reasonably promptly, covered in a thick and ridiculously sweet glaze that stuck to the back of my teeth and packed minimal spice ("devil"?). Sigh - but perhaps dinner will be redemptive? I ordered the butterfly prawns on garlic noodles. The three (3) prawns were well-grilled and tasty enough, but the bed of garlic noodles were tossed in some kind of ridiculously sweet sauce that was even blander than the glaze on the wings. My wife ordered the curry fish, which came, not sauced, but glazed, in a sweet, crunchy ginger-curry "sauce". Pretty one note on initial tasting, though my wife says they built up a little tang as she worked through the dish. My son got the Bun (noodle salad w/grilled pork), which was probably the best dish, but not as good as any number of Buns you could get at any other Vietnamese place (and for half the price). Uh, and to cap it off, the Bun's sauce was a bit on the sweet side. I almost laughed when they offered me a dessert menu. Service was reasonable. Water was constantly getting topped up. No one asked me if I wanted a second beer when they took my Fat Tire bottle. I've had other dishes here I liked better (the pho, spring rolls), which earns it the second star, but man, that dinner tonight would have put a diabetic in a coma.
(2)
Nichtdaisy E.
Xyclo markets itself as Vietnamese cuisine with fusion elements of French cuisine. While the food, overall, was adequate, it was not remarkable. We ordered the beef carpaccio, the Nem Nuong Rolls (fresh spring rolls made with pork sausage), and the spicy crispy pork ribs, with a side of green beans. The carpaccio was ice-cold; obviously pre-prepared and chilled in the fridge. The iceness masked the full flavor of the beef. The carpaccio was served both with fried onions & cilantro (vietnamese) and capers (european), also with a veneer of mustard-based dressing (european). The flavors of the dressings neither conflicted nor added anything special. The rolls were fine. I enjoyed eating sausage- something that you don't find on the gringo menu in your average Vietnamese restaurant. It was served with an unfamilar sauce- thick, opaque, the color of ripe papaya, and mild in flavor. Everything was nice and fresh, but again, lacking in flavor. The ribs, on the other hand, were packed with flavor. Almost overwhelming. They are breaded and fried in a "general gao's:" type orange-chili-sesame style sauce. The meat was tender and fell off the ribs. It was intense- too much for me, but probably delicious if you are a fan of sesame-style or general gao's style chinese food. The green beans were a-ok. Like with the ribs, too much reliance on black bean sauce and chili to create flavors. Xyclo has a great mellow atmosphere, and was not crowded. Its a good alternative if you can't stand the lines at Dopo's or Fenton's up the street. Overall, the food is fine, but you get the sense that this restaurant is trying to capitalize on the yuppie trendy foodieness of Piedmont avenue by dressing up their food as fusion. I would much rather have 'regular' vietnamese food at a cheaper restaurant for less fuss. If you want great Vietnames/French fusion, I prefer Bui on Solano Ave (Berkeley) - pbuidining.com/Bui/Welco… .
(2)
Jenny C.
I have been here twice now and I will definitely return. It is a small, intimate, classy joint, with good food and even better lychee mojitos....yummmm! Attentive, patient servers ( the group was particularly indecisive that night) and overall a cool place to enjoy a nice evening.
(4)
JJ C.
I really wanted to like this place. It's such a well appointed Piedmont location with great ambiance and color scheme. Wow what a disappointment. I think the bus boy serving us water was more attentive than our waiter. I went here for the ribs which I was told were amazing. I have to say the ribs were pretty decent but not outstanding. They came out a bit on the dry side and were lacking spice and caramelization that I would be expecting from some really good ribs. My husband ordered the giant tiger prawn over garlic noodle. The prawns came out raw and the noodle dish had no trace of garlic and was far too sweet. We asked to send the dish back to the kitchen. They returned the dish with re-cooked prawns and nothing more. By then the dish was cold and I had shared my ribs. So in my mind the dinner was a total wash. I think this *could* be a great little Piedmont restaurant. However until the kitchen works on kicking out consistent dishes with more emphasis on flavor I doubt I will be back.
(2)
Elaine D.
Been to Vietnam and have tried to find food here that is as good as it is there. This is as close as it gets. Nice service, great food. Both the Xyclo and Double Surprise roll were great, with the Double Surprise much closer to what you'd get in Saigon. The Butterfly noodles were fabulous. This is a great place!
(5)
Gwenyth K.
This place is awesome in general. They have a lounge area, great decor, and a very friendly staff. My only comment is that the horiz. wood slat ceilings and walls remind me of a sauna. Everything I've tried (except the Bird's Nest) rocks but, for your ten dollar meal? Two bowls of pho, the green beans, and the garlic noodles (ten bucks a person).
(4)
C. L.
This is my second time here and every time I find the food delicious. I tried the tumbling dice based on the reviews here this time around and I wasn't impressed. It was good, but I don't know if it was as good as people are saying. Wait staff was attentive. The table was small and we had a hard time fitting everything on the table. My favorite for the evening was the dried scallop fried rice.
(4)
Louise O.
Non existent service. We watched multiple tables flagging down staff, to get water, to place a dinner order, to get the check, to pay the check, to get more wine, etc., etc. My dish was so-so. We agreed we should have tried the spring rolls since that's clearly the menu's focus. I question if I'd go back to do so, given the fact there's more than enough Asian and/or Vietnamese restaurants I already know and love. This was a Thurs night, and maybe they were shortstaffed. I did not take home my substantial leftovers. To me, that's the better indicator that it wasn't any good.
(2)
Chrammy D.
meat and I we're friends, good friends. this place treats meat well, so i like it. this "tumbling dice" so good, melts in your mouth like butta. i'm into all of the rolls as well and this birds nest dish. but dude the sake drinks are actually good, who thought some place could actually make good drinks with sake, because lord knows i've have my share of ew really gross sake mixed drinks. They went a little overboard on the red decor, reminds me of um well a lot of red things, they should spice it up with some non red items. overall though they treat me and meat well.
(4)
Justine N.
Xyclo is a great addition to the restaurant scene on Piedmont Ave. for those looking for a place that's more upscale than Barney's but not as trendy as Cesar. 3 stars for great ambiance, attentive service and the tasty lemongrass chicken curry I had for dinner.
(3)
Olivia W.
The place has a cool and lounge like atmosphere, with a great mesh of colors. They also had a great drink menu, which runs about $8 per drink. The service was good, a bit slow, other then that, I wasn't very impress with the food. I thought it was very over priced, and I could find it cheaper and better in Chinatown. If you are dying to go, I think it's worth a try, I recommend the Chicken Curry, Ribs, and most of the appetizer rolls looked really good. ALSO a Thai ice tea runs $4. OUCH!
(3)
Libby J.
Great pho; slow service; decent value; nice staff; 'nuff said.
(4)
sarah j.
We had a great lunch there this week. My entree had perfectly cooked ingredients (tofu, green beans) and was pleasantly spicy. The service was excellent. We have eaten both lunch and dinner here and have enjoyed each thing that we have tried.
(4)
Marsh-Silog P.
I really enjoyed this place. If you love spring rolls by all means get the sampler platter of spring rolls. My co-worker and I shared it and it was more than enough. Would I go here again? Yes I would. I thought it was a little pricey for Vietnamese cuisine but then again they are in a popular location and really probably the only Vietnamese Fusion around.
(4)
Temoor N.
its a cool little spot...nice and fresh. i like the quail here and the pho---but with the filet mignon. you won't go wrong....most of all the rest of dishes are very good too. its cool.... you will like it.
(4)
Chard M.
Tastiness ensues upon ordering from here. Get the crazy double spring roll with the fried egg roll inside for starters. Anything that starts with "Special..." get it. It is truly that which describes it. I've been here about 4 times and it is consistently delicious.
(4)
Love T.
Food is awesome here! I'm really surprised to see all the negative reviews on this place. I've been here 3 times and have been amazed by the tasty-ness of every bite every time. My favorite eats here are the fried shrimp appetizers, shrimp spring rolls, and the spicy fried basa fillets. The staff is really friendly and helpful. Eat here!
(5)
Dori C.
If you are a fan of Ana Mandara, the Slanted Door, or Thanh Long, you will love this gem on Piedmont Ave. Fabulous addition to the Bay Area's plethora of Asian Fusion cuisine - very authentic flavors with a great range of items to please the palette. My personal favorite is the Carpaccio - amazing!
(5)
Anony m.
We eat here all the time! its the best!! Try the crepe...
(5)
Marc E.
This tasty and stylish Vietnamese joint is a great addition to the neighborhood that's been aching for something new and original for a while. For a few dollars more per dish than the local Chinese places, you can have a delicious, fresh and, most importantly, light-tasting gourmet meal. We no longer order out for Chinese and instead come here and get the garlic noodles ($7) and a few chicken dishes. The drinks are pretty good (though pricey) and the service is definitely eager to please if you eat in. I hope it flourishes for years to come.
(4)
Max P.
Xyclo is a restaurant that typifies semi-fine dining in the East Bay - and on Piedmont Avenue in particular. The owners have started with the right idea: well executed Southeast Asian fusion cuisine, a nice little bar/lounge, and even waiters dressed all in black. It would seem that Xyclo desires to be a hip, casual eatery serving quality cusine. But like so many restaurants in the East Bay (and on Piedmont Avenue in particular), Xyclo can't seem to look past the middle-aged boomers and residents of the near-by old folks home when gunning for their target clientele. Why not make the place a little darker? I mean, you spent all that money on fancy spot lighting. And why not play a little background music? Heck, even some of that soft ambient trip-hop crap would help raise the cool factor a little. As it is now, I can't really see myself sitting in the "lounge" and sipping a cocktail when it's so quiet that I can hear Grandma talking about her colonscopy and so brightly lit that I can see the former hippie next to me as he adjusts the wool socks in his sandals.
(3)
jewel r.
crispy crab rolls, bun cha hanoi, crispy shrimp rolls, crispy spicy ribs, crispy everything!!!!!!!!!!!!! love it! and the staff is awesome!
(4)
Alex p.
I love pho, and I have to say this is my absolute favorite! If you're looking for the never ending bowl of bland noodles in watery broth, this is NOT it! The broth is exquisite, clear and sublime, the beef, so fresh and tender. The vietnamese carpaccio is also to die for. I've been meaning to try other things on the menu but I just can't get over their perfect Pho!
(5)
Sarah L.
I went to Xyclo last night after walking past it that afternoon. My boyfriend and I were famished, but he wasn't very excited about the new Vietnamese place. We went anyways (when you're that hungry it's hard to make a unanimous decision). We started with the tao rolls (soft, not crispy) which were great--fresh and tasty-- but not extraordinary. The jicama and mushrooms were overpowered by the cilantro and peanut sauce. We shared the XYCLO Chili Ribs and the lemongrass Chicken Curry. When I ordered the curry the waiter looked a little concerned and explained that there is absolutely no spice in the curry. We ordered it anyway. I'm glad we did, because the sweet and regular potatoes in that dish were heaven! They had been stewed in the coconut broth and became these soft coconut-potato dumplings. I will definitely be attempting that at home. The ribs were terrific, but we got only three ribs for the $14 "large plate". This is probably enough for a normal person, but my boyfriend and I have hearty appetites and enjoy ribs, so it was a feat to politely split the third rib (who splits a rib?!?). The ribs were great because of the chili-sesame crust. And that was crusty! Mmmmmm good. We did notice that the older couple next to us did receive a larger portion of ribs and handiwipes (which we did not). Ageism? Inconsistent platers? Not sure... Xyclo serves sake and sujo cocktails. I don't generally drink, but my boyfriend, lover of all things coconut, got a fancy drink called something like the loco coco. It was made with both sake and sujo and he enjoyed it thoroughly, but it came with a hefty price tag. All in all I left full and satisfied, but I'll agree with Emma K. that the prices do not match the portions. I would like to go back and try some small plates, though, and see what they offer for desserts.
(4)
Gracie B.
Welcome to Oakland! This was the first place my mom and I had dinner after moving me here from DC. And I loved it. After 4 days on the road eating Cracker Barrel meals, gas station coffee and sun chips, I wanted something fresh and different - and this was it. We got 2 rolls and 2 entrees (we hadn't eaten all day) and left satisfied but not feeling like we were goign to die or explode. The crispy shrimp rolls were great and so were the otherones, but I don't remember the name. The Birds Nest noodle dish was very good but a bit on the bland side. The sauce was a lot like Moo Goo Gai Pan, but since I hadn't seen a veggie other than Cracker Barrel carrots or the lettuce, tomato,onion on a burger in 4 days - I was happy to eat the crisp, fresh tasting veggies in the nest. Itwas also very pretty...which makes up for blandness. The tumbling dice entree was very very good. A bit too much cilantro in the salad thats on top, but in general wonderful. Our bill was around $60 before tip, but I know we could have eaten there for much less and still been satisfied.
(4)
Tod V.
Having a night out without our 3yr old...my wife and I decided to try Xyclo. The staff was great, the place was cool and the food was great! The sake mixed drinks were a little different...but I am not complaining. We will be back for more!
(4)
nadines d.
a nice vietnamese-american style restaraunt. sundays the lunch menu applies, and they're open fairly early, so it's pretty easy on the budget. i like the garlic noodles. i was also surprised that the salads would be so high quality--no iceberg lettuce here! it's a pleasant place to go with someone on the weekend. and it's packed and popular at night.
(4)
Jenny Y.
maybe i think i need to "keep it real" all the time...and that makes me rather judgmental of eating asian cuisine in places designed with dark wooden slats running along the expanse of the dining room wall. maybe because seeing such design served with "asian" cuisine makes my frugal chinese nature bristle at the thought of paying double what i could get in chinatown, koreatown, little tokyo, or the san gabriel valley around L.A. so against my natural inclinations, my friend and i ate dinner at xyclo wednesday night when i said i wanted some lighter fare and veges. and much to my surprise, i rather enjoyed it. the food: sugarcane shrimp roll - $9 - tasty. superfresh, and possibly too pricey given the fact i can get equally tasty rolls for half the price in L.A. chinatown. but still yum. (hey. i'm paying for the ambiance) green bean salad - $9 - the green beans were yummy in a light, fresh vineagrette. they were cooked perfectly al dente. portion size was alright. vietnamese carparccio - $9 - beef carpaccio with a lime vinaigrette. the toppings made it tasty. crunchy cashew nuts, caramelized shallots, red onions and i coulda sworn they had a few capers sprinkled about too. claypot rice medley - $15 - don't know if this is worth $15 but it was yummy nevertheless. there were ample veges and not as many prawns and chicken as i would've liked. but the veges were perfectly steamed. the star of the dish was the broken rice crisped on the sides by the claypot to a chewy smokiness (a favorite in many cultures) and flavored with a sweet basil sauce throughout. service was prompt and attentive, making sure this water-drinker had a steady supply. the 33 vietnamese beer was nice and light, but doesn't distinguish itself much from many of the other asian light beers i've had. so all in all, the food was good. i don't know if it merited the higher pricepoint. but it was perfect for what i needed to eat that evening, given that i was there for business all week and eating a lot of salty restaurant food. (also not four stars but three because the iconography in the xyclo logo hints too much at stereotypes of conical hats and rickshaws, but that's just me)
(3)
Allison F.
We found this place shortly after it opened, and are fans. I feel, however, the quality of the food went downhill over the past few years. For example, the meat in tumbling dice had a mealy texture to it and I felt the apple salad was overloaded with jicama, whereas in the past the apple dominated. I do like that it expanded it drink menu. The mojito was pretty good.
(3)
Royce L.
I like it. But maybe I'm just a sucker for Vietnamese food. I love spring rolls and fish sauce so if any Vietnamese rest. is able to pull together good fish sauce and spring rolls I'm sold. Xyclo is a nice Piedmont restaurant with pleasant service and casual-comfy atmosphere. Unpretentious with Vietnamese home-cooked dishes. The first time I dined here I tried their sesame crusted ribs which weren't so delicious, but the spicy-tangy green bean salad was excellent, along with the shrimp spring roll and garlic noodles. The second time I dined there I tried more spring rolls!! (they have about 5 different ones), their curry ck, which was delightful, and a noodle dish that was good, but can't quite remember (so it probably was quite ordinary). Finally, they have MANGO STICKY RICE. Another one of my favs, so my comments about it probably are too skewed to mean anything. It was so good. Although my BF commented the mangoes were over ripe, b/c our forks/spoons were unable to smoothly cut through the pieces. Personally I could care less. The flavor and rice texture was fine. I ate the entire dessert.
(4)
a w.
this place saved the day for two hungry squirrels that were way past their dinner time. there was an initial intent to go to Dopo which was closed for easter monday (who knew?) we ventured across the street and everything looked good. since ma belly was a screamin and i had no more energy after reading the appetizer section, i ordered the whole damn section in the form of the roll sampler. sofackinggood. and seriously folks, i woulda liked it if i wasn't hungry. several different types of spring rolls, some with shrimp, some with green apple, several crispy roll versions, all with the most luscious lettuce, sweet and sour and peanut sauces for many a dips. my dinner partner ordered a normal person's portion of my order and a plate of extremely yummaaaay spicy green beans. a hit fo sho. I basically vacuumed my plate people, and will be interested in getting to the main dishes on my next visit! heehee
(4)
Marissa N.
I would give this place 4.5 stars. It's fantastic! A few of my friends and I went there for some weeknight dinner and drinks. I'd heard so many good things about this place and I was just itching to try it with a few people. Here's our menu: - Tumbling Dice - Chili Ribs - Eggplant and Tofu stir fry - Sides: spicy green beans, garlic herb noodles, and rice - Fried Banana and coconut ice cream SO. MUCH.FOOD. Between the three of us, we had a lot left over (which I happily took home! Thanks guys!). The tumbling dice were amazing: cubes of filet mignion sauteed in a savory sauce and peppers. Tender, juicy, and so savory. It came with a large salad (but really no one touched it. I feel like it was just there for color!) The chili ribs were the surprise of the night! Crunchy fried goodness on the outside tossed in a light sauce and sesame seeds-- and SO tender on the inside. Worth getting your fingers dirty. I'm ordering those again and eating them all by myself. You think I'm kidding? I'm not. I really enjoyed the noodles, but my two friends thought they were only okay. In retrospect there's nothing special about them other than they're cooked well and flavored nicely. The green beans and eggplant/tofu dishes were good. Unfortunately they were severely out-shined by the meat dishes on the table! But a girl's gotta get her greens, right? Plus we had a vegetarian in the crowd that night and she said the tofu was AMAZING. I'll take her word for it! We finished off the dinner with some fried bananas and coconut ice cream. Two HUGE scoops of coconut ice cream and spring rolls filled with yum-0 banana. Drizzled on the plate was a light caramel/butterscotch sauce. I could drink that stuff out of a water bottle it's so wonderful. It was a great finish to a very filling meal. The cocktails looks refreshing and sweet, and maybe next time I'll order one. But that night felt more like a beer-night so I was happy to see Tsing Tao and Sapporo on the menu. I only wish that the lighting was a bit better so I could (ahem, Japanese girl moment here) take pictures of my food with my phone. That was total fail, but seriously that was the only thing wrong with the place. Take a date here; take a group here; take YOURSELF here. It's worth it.
(4)
Lillian C.
The interior was a small but nicely decorated space. For the appetizer we got the 'double surprise' which were basically egg rolls wrapped in fresh rolls, which i thought tasted pretty good. I was disappointed by the entrees though (or maybe it was just the noodle dishes that aren't that great). I got butterfly prawn noodles, which were bland and dry but oily (paradoxical, I know. The texture was as if it had been microwaved). They were supposed to be garlic herb noodles, but the only thing I could taste was parmesan and basil. The prawns were big but flavorless as well. As for the bird's nest, it just seemed like a simple chow mein dish that reminded me of panda express. So overall the food was just ok but the wait staff was pretty attentive and the ambience nice. Just a suggestion though, if you do decide to go: do NOT order the noodle dishes.
(3)
sydney a.
The food at Xyclo is great.. Their Tao roll is to die for - perfectly crunchy, very fresh tasting, and paired with the perfect peanut sauce. The fresh apple salad they serve is perfect, with just the right combination of sweet and tangy. All of the cocktails I've had there have been interesting twists on classic recipes - I love the salt they use on all of their margaritas. Unfortunately, the service at this place isn't great. It's not the worst - everything I ordered came out pretty fast - but after we'd gotten all of the things we'd ordered, the waitstaff prettymuch ignored us. It took us about 20 minutes to flag someone down to bring us our check after our food and drinks were completely finished (still on our table, though). That wouldn't have been a big deal if the place was packed, but the place was only about 1/3 of the way full by the time we were done with our meal, so the wait seemed fairly unreasonable.
(4)
Wakaba S.
Their foods are creative. I had devil wings and xyclo roll, but they were sort of stinky for some reason. Double surprise roll sounds awesome but tastes really weird. They also include $1 per person bar fee in the bill.
(2)
michael f.
Upscale without being obnoxious. Full bar, which is nice, though I thought the wine list was a little limited. What makes this place is killer is the food. Everything was spot on. We started with the Vietnamese Carpaccio. While I probably prefer the Italian version when it is done really well, this version is not far behind and it was done really well. The lime and peanuts gave it a really unusual and very fresh taste. We order one of their specialty rolls which was really tasty. For main dishes we shared the filet mignon salad (crazy good) and the lemon/basil chicken (still dreaming about that dish). Prices were fair but don't go here if you are looking for a cheap pho meal. This is upscale Asian dining and they do that very well. We will be back.
(4)
Jackie G.
This is a gem of a Vietnamese fusion restaurant located a couple of stores down from Fenton's. I came here on a Friday night for a friend's birthday, and it was just the right pick for a girly Bohemian friend of mine as it's fusing the best of the East & West. I like their decor, red walls, whimsical light balls that hung from the ceiling (I swear they looked just like the ones from a beach in Thailand I went to). The food was second to none. Friend and I shared the Lemongrass Chicken Curry, wow... can we say flavorful? The greenbean salad was also a fresh pick, if you want your mouth zinging with gingerly spices, go for that one! I love how everything is wallet-friendly for Piedmont Ave., around $13-$17 per dish. Will definitely go back for great service, lovely atmosphere and mouthwatering dishes.
(5)
Zain K.
In a city with no shortage of choices for exceptional Vietnamese food, I don't understand the appeal of this place (and there's certainly some appeal, judging by the number of positive reviews here and the fact that we had to wait for a table on a recent Sunday night). It's priced about 10% higher than Huynh, 25% higher than Pho 84 or Le Cheval, and 40% higher than the holes-in-the-wall (hole-in-the-walls? holes-in-the-walls?) on International Ave, without offering as much in the way of either quality or quantity.
(2)
stefanie h.
i think my friends owe me for this one. the first get-together of the year with my friends, and xyclo was suggested. i sorta cringed at the suggestion, but didn't want to be "that friend" that picks food over friendship. i mean, no meal could ever be that bad that would prevent me from spending some quality time with friends, right? riiiight. xyclo is about to be the exception. i know i'm ripping pretty hard on xyclo...but really, this is my third try within 5 years. i've given you several chances, gave you time, etc., etc. it's time to let each other go--you're not going to win me over, and i'm not coming back. i ordered the fish. the flavor was fine, but it was over-fried and the texture was way too tough and chewy. my friends weren't impressed with their dishes either (noodles, eggplant, and something else, i don't remember). next time, i'm putting my foot down on where we eat. actually, i'll probably be considered a good friend if i can prevent this experience from happening again.
(2)
Alan C.
Pretty solid place! We were able to get a slew of dishes since we came here with a big party. Food was better than i would expect from a 'fusion' place. Ill order these from the ones that are a must get, to a maybe try. XYCLO Chili Ribs- ive never had ribs like these awesome crunchy sesame coat and the meat was falling off the bone! a must get Curry Fish- texture of this fish was crunchy but surprisingly good! the curry they use for this fish is also really flavorful. Not sure what id describe this curry as, all i know is its a dry curry more leaning towards an indian curry Saigon Devil Wing- a bit too sweet of a sauce for me but still perfectly fried Seven Elements- this appetizer had so many flavors and textures going on but somehow worked well! Dry Scallop Fried Rice- definitely fills you up and again alot of flavors. Vietnamese Carpaccio decent this is somewhat the problem i have with fusion places, every dish is so different than the next, and each has alot of flavors/textures going on in it. i guess you can get about anything and find something in it that you like. the drinks made this place awesome! try any of the cocktails. the fruit mojitos are great! as for service, i had to ask for water/utencils a couple times before they got it for me but i guess it was a full house that night. a decent place but i feel is somewhat overpriced.
(3)
Kiristen R.
Itching for a pho-fix? This probably isn't the place for you. The pho is fine. It has some good flavor but if it's been 6+ months since you've had pho, this place will not satisfy your craving. The portion is smaller then you'd find in your typical pho spot. I guess I should've known - the restaurant is on Piedmont ave. The decor is a toned down version of the SF Osha chain. Next time I go out for pho I'll stick to the ugly bright neon awning hole-in-the wall places found in downtown Oakland/Chinatown/Lake Merritt. The chicken wings are decent but I had chicken wings from So the night before, no comparison. Service was OK. The timing between my dish, my friend's dish and our shared appetizer was off but nothing we couldn't manage. If you're a SF city-dweller, sit by the window and watch the Piedmont Ave suburban life pass by. It's cute.
(3)
Jenny S.
My friend took me here for lunch, and I can't wait to go back tomorrow! I ordered the Lemongrass Basil Eggplant Tofu lunch special. It was delicious!!! The eggplant wasn't too mushy or greasy like other places I've been to. Just so you know, I'm not a vegetarian, and I felt completely satisfied with my meal. My friend had the Grilled Pork Chop, and I was able to taste it. I think I may have that tomorrow. I found their servings to be generous and reasonably priced. I wonder if I'll have room after my meal tomorrow to try their mango sticky rice. Yum!!!
(4)
Art H.
We went a couple weeks ago, binging on a couple of new places we haven't been to yet. This was recommended by many in our neighborhood, so we gave it a shot. Ditto on comments about the rolls, light, great texture but not so much taste. The remaining dishes were good, but nothing really stood out. Service was prompt and the room was hot. Not hot like in visuals, but hot as in thermal. Perhaps the best part was the drinks, sweety tootie fruitte, which made the heat a bit more pleasant.
(3)
Elisabeth P.
Love, love, love Xyclo. Definitely one of my go-to places when I don't know what to eat and can't bring myself to cook. It's also one of my main comfort food places. I never thought Vietnamese fusion (is that what it is?) would be comfort food, but it is. I always get the crispy shrimp roll. All their rolls are excellent. Love the chicken curry, too, and the tumbling dice and butterfly prawns with garlic noodle. I try to branch out to new items, but I usually find myself drawn to the familiar and beloved. Staff is super helpful and friendly. And it doesn't hurt that it's ridicu-close to my building.
(5)
Paul C.
We happened to come upon Xyclo while looking for another restaurant - it happens to be just a block from Fenton's. The restaurant is small - though they apparently have a separate section for those with reservations. While the seating was tiny - along with the serving plates - the place is loud and alive. The food is differently fusion-y, but in a good way. We tried their "flaming" quail, which was really good and crispy. Their chicken curry was normal - nothing to exciting. But the rest of our order was different (in a good way). The dry scallop fried rice was amazing, while the coconut shrimp (which had rice inside the coconut) could be a meal on its own. But the best is the tumbling dice (something many Yelp reviewers have recommended). It's so soft and tasty that you immediately fall in love with it. All in all, it's a great place and a pretty good neighborhood. Maybe I should try making reservations because the place does get busy.
(4)
Julie B.
Went to Xyclo for the first time last night - the place was packed on a Wednesday night at 7:30PM - popular place! We got seated a lot faster than I thought which was a nice point - then we waited ... When the server finally arrived he was apologetic and very attentive after that - but many of the diners were done with their meals and leaving by that time. So the service was not so hectic. The meal was good - and the drinks are good! Overall a good place! Note: if you order the clay pot the rice is "blackened" on the bottom and that flavors the rice a lot - if you want un-burned rice order a side of rice - and eat that with the vegetables and chicken in the clay pot which are cooked perfectly . We will be back!!
(4)
Anh-Dao T.
Great service and good food, but the prices are too steep for what you get. I like the decor and the food had great presentation. I also liked the teapots that came out with my tea (lychee-black tea, it sounded better than it tasted.) I had the five-spice chicken, which I was expecting to come out somewhat like Slanted Door's. Unfortunately, it was more like the rice plate I can get at any Pho restaurant for a third of the price. My brother had the prawns with garlic noodles, which were way overseasoned and the shallots overpowered the garlic. A big disappointment. Next time, I'll stick to Slanted Door if I want Vietnamese food in a modern setting.
(3)
John H.
This my favorite restaurant in Piedmont. The people are like their food: GREAT! I come here every now and then when I don't feel like driving out to the city. I usually get this really great waiter and he remembers me every time I come in. He also makes a great cocktail. Now that is great customer service! I've had a variety of dishes such as the spring rolls, the ribs and the fried chicken but nothing beats the Butterfly Prawns. That is a must every time I come here. It is a noodle dish with huge prawns. I highly recommend it. The food here is true Asian fusion done right! The ambiance here is excellent and fits the theme appropriately. The lighting is not bright and creates the atmosphere that a hip and sheik restaurant should have. The furniture also fits with he decor very nicely. The restaurant also has touches of Vietnamese cultural items which adds to the overall feel of the place.
(5)
Chrysantha C.
Upon moving to Piedmont Avenue, I started to interview people who lived in the neighborhood and the store owners if they could recommend some places for lunch... Time and time again people recommended Xyclo so today, I finally decided to try it out since the rain would have been nice to watch while eating lunch. Upon entrance, I was invited by beautiful wood beams that decorated the interior of this restaurant. I was beginning to have really high hopes so that I could add a new favorite restaurant to eat at in my new neighborhood. Outside the window, Xcylo advertises 5 lunch menu items which included a chicken, fish, vegetable, pork chop, and banh mi all at $10.00 each. I decided on the Fish and MK ordered the Pork Chop... to our disappointment the waitress returned to tell us that they no longer had any pork chops (mind you it was only noon). We were disappointed and had to change the entire game plan since MK has already tried the other dishes which he didn't really like and felt was a bit bland in the past. We then settled on calamari since nothing else sounded too appealing on the menu and decided to just half the fish dish. We enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant while waiting for our order to arrive... For lunch, the restaurant didn't seem as packed as the rest of Piedmont Avenue. That's when we started to get nervous about the food. The calamari was disappointing since they served it with a traditional shrimp cocktail sauce... for a fusion restaurant I would at least expect a chili sauce mixed with rice vinegar as a dip NOT bottled cocktail sauce - it just seemed so WRONG! The fish wasn't bad, it had a good flavor with caramelized onions and sauteed bell peppers. It was served with a salad with a vinegarette. Our entire order was "okay"... I expected better tasting food for the price and ambience offered. As I was convincing myself to come back to try their dinner menu I took one last bite of my salad and noticed a bug on my leaf. And upon inspection I found another one. Believe me, I hate having to encounter a situation like this.. I really do feel bad even having to report it... I am embarrassed for the restaurant ... but they have to know what they aren't catching in the kitchen... By the time I noticed the bugs, most of the salad was already eaten... They were polite about it and removed the entree from our tab. We payed $15 for Thai Iced Tea and calamari that I would expect from a seafood shack. I went home and cooked my own Pho... I should have just saved my money and stayed home.
(1)
Judy S.
Vietnamese fusion. The food here is soo good. They have a super creative menu, not the typical Vietnamese faire. The atmosphere is more on the trendy/sexy side with a little lounge area. You want to try just about everything on this menu once. I loved the carpaccio, the coconut shrimp in a coconut shell (for real). Their lychee martinis are the best. Good, friendly service.
(4)
Cindy T.
I would just like to say that this place has the best Vietnamese food in the bay area I've been here twice and i love the food its like heaven I'd had the Nem Noung spring spring rolls and the dry scallop shrimp fried rice and the Bun Cha Hanoi and it was yummy!!! I would most likely come back again
(5)
Radha X.
Small yes, comfy stylish atmosphere. They have a nice cocktail menu. Defn try the Berry Mimosa, cucumber/lychee martini and mango mojito! Every single dish i tried was good! the Diced something (steak w/ salad) Prawn garlic noodles spring roll sampler green bean salad I'm very very satisfied. and reasonable prices :) only thing is its on Piedmont ave. So parking is scarce...
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Deborah D.
I had lunch here today with a close friend. I enjoyed it very much! The food is excellent, fresh and veggies cooked just the way I like them, al dente. Tofu was fried perfectly in my eggplant/tofu/green been dish with rice. The atmosphere was pleasant with the music turned low so we could have a real conversation. Wait staff was pleasant and unobtrusive, very fast to get our food, and didn't rush us out the door at all. It's a simple, small place with great food and service.
(5)Jill T.
This place was seriously the BOMB! I am a huge PHO fan but they didn't have many choices on the menu for that so I ordered the ribs instead, trying something different. Overall our party has the sugar cane shrimp rolls which were the most interesting best tasting fresh rolls I have had...super yum. The dumplings were soo good! The stuffed egg plant was good, the chili ribs were interesting and tasty. The drinks were well done. Overall it's really good fusion type food. It's worth the price of admission.
(4)Lien D.
This is now my number one favorite Vietnamese place to eat. The food is authentic, yet modern. If you go, order everything that Hellen D recommends (that's my sister!). My favorite thing to eat there was the Nem Nuong rolls, the shaking beef (OMG- so good) and the ribs. How are they so crunchy, yet still fall off the bone???? Oh wait, the green bean salad was fantastic too. I think the prices are fairly reasonable given the quality of the food and atmosphere. I spent $160 for 8 people for dinner - with drinks. That's only $20 per person!! You want cheap vietnamese food? Go to Chinatown or some place off International Blvd where they clean your table with cold tea and a dirty rag. Now I just need to convince more people to come with me so I can order more food next time.
(4)tramy n.
Im a Fan !!! I got mixed reviews from friends about this place.. So i had to try it for myself... I was here with a good friend.. We had such a great time.. Service was great..Food was delish, better then what i thought. We Ordered: *Spicy Steak Salad - filet mignon skewer with mix greens, red onion, cherry tomatoes and lemongrass vinaigrett. *Vietnamese Carpaccio - thinly sliced rare top sirloin beef topped with sweet basil, red onion, cashew nuts and caramelized shallots with a light lime vinaigrett. *XYCLO Chili Ribs - crispy pork ribs, peanut, sesame seed and mixed herb glazed in sweet chili sauce ..A MUST HAVE! *Tumbling Dice - filet mignon cubes sautéed and shaken with garlic and onions atop a mix salad with balsamic vinaigrette. Drinks: Do try the Genmaicha Brown Rice Green Tea!!! Two girls 4 dishes and we killed it!! haha... Enjoy!!!!
(4)Paul U.
Ate here yesterday afternoon at about 5:20pm. The place was empty which was one of the main reasons to eat here. I've always passed by later in the evening previously and have always seen the place packed. My girlfriend and I ordered the calamari, the scallop/shrimp fried rice & a side of the garlic noodles. For drinks she had the passion fruit mojito & I, the unfiltered saki. The calamari was light, tasty and seasoned just enough. The fried rice was good as was the noodles. I like their garlic noodles better than the ones at Dragon Rouge in Alameda. Overall the the dining experience was good. I'll be back here to try the carpaccio & the fillet mignon.
(3)Vanessa O.
Papaya salad a must!!!! Was delicious and very refreshing! Xyclo rolls were really tasty. Any kind of pallet would enjoy. Curry fish very good. Different but good.
(5)Celeste B.
Xyclo is one of our favorites. The Savory crepe is just outstanding. So delicious and unique. Papaya salad is a taste sensation. The quail is always a delight. Beautiful dishes, nice white wine list, friendly, family service. A great spot for high end Asian food. Never dissappointed.
(5)Samantha R.
I have eaten at Xyclo many times since they opened and have enjoyed every meal. The food is inventive and delicious. Xyclo has become popular on the weekends, and when it's super-busy the service declines and so do the cocktails. Try going earlier in the evening or on a weeknight and I think you'll be pleased.
(4)Shelley G.
I live in LA, but have been to Xyclo three times because it's my friend's favorite spot and I love it every time! The restaurant is small and cozy with a minimalist Asian touch. If you like ginger, definitely try the Ginger Drop cocktail. Nice and spicy. The tumbling dice are always a sure hit, but I just tried the coconut prawns and had to stop myself from licking every last bit. The prawns are served in a young coconut shell on a bed of coconut rice. As you eat the rice, you're supposed to scrape the coconut meat from inside the shell. Pure bliss. I can't recommend this dish enough for coconut lovers. One of the diners in our party was on a very strict diet- vegan with no wheat. Xyclo was very accommodating and brought her a delicious veggie dish without tofu or soy sauce. And don't dare leave without the fried banana with ice cream for dessert. It's a warm, sweet flavor explosion. Even though I'm 400 miles away, I'll be back!
(4)Josh B.
My wife and I love Xyclo. Fresh, delicious dishes. Friendly, helpful servers. Excellent atmosphere. Great neighborhood feel. Favorite dishes: "Combination Stir Fry" and "Lemongrass, Basil Eggplant and Tofu" which had a delicious sauce! The sauce was so good, in fact that we asked for a side dish of tofu with that sauce and they happily made that for us. Full bar if you're into that.
(5)Amaker L.
Easily one of my favorite finds in the east bay - which is hard because there aren't too many simple nice restaurants that aren't faking the funk around here. Everything on the menu looks good and is probably great. The most unique & delicious hot and sour soup I've ever had. This place is so yum. Not too badly priced and just really good unique food. No complaints except for seating is too close for comfort and the chairs at the bar are weird :(
(4)Brian Y.
4.25 A good spot! Taste is pretty good and price is affordable. The only downside is having to find parking on the street. Not really their fault...but what makes up for it? Fenton's right across the street! w00t! I've tried the ribs, chicken, and beef. While the ribs got a lot of praise, the time I ordered it well...it tasted only 3.5 star worthy. Not great, but the beef cubes and chicken were a lot lot better.
(4)Tamara C.
The food is great at this cute spot however there are two female waitresses there that aren't well trained in customer service. They seemed very pompous. This restaurant doesn't have the right staff. On the other hand, I had the garlic noodles today with tiger prawns. Very nice flavor however the noodles were slightly dry. I would return there again because the food is pretty tasty and close were I work.
(3)tara s.
Its really good The Salt+Pepper Tofu is vegetarian crack.
(4)Leme K.
Came back here last thursday for lunch with a few friends. I've came here before a couple of time since i first reviewed it and forgot an update, so here it is: Highly Recommended: Appetizers: Xyclo Rolls & Xyclo Taste Salad: Papaya Salad Large Plate:Stuffed eggplant & Tamarind Prawns Side Dishes: Garlic Herb noodles Beverages: Non - alcoholic mojitos breeze Here's my reasons why: Xyclo roll is just eggrolls; But even though they are just egg rolls do not look down upon them. They have chicken, shrimp, mushroom, carrot, taro, glass noodle filling and nuoc cham(fish dipping sauce). They are super flavorful, super fresh and super delicious! They are crunchy and serve very hot. How you know it's fresh? the skin of the eggroll(the thing that surrounds the filling) that will have pieces crumbling off when you bit into it. This reminds me of something my mom would make. And we all know mom's cooking is the best! Xlclo Taste this is really goo if you have a few friends who wants to try a little bit of everything. I know I did. So this plate came with a variety of things. Samples of Xyclo roll, Crispy Shrimp roll, Tao roll, Double Surprise roll, Goi Cuon roll and Sugarcane Shrimp roll; and let me tell you THEY WERE ALLLLL GOOOOD! The deep fried rolls such as the xylco roll, crispy shrimp roll and the double surprise rolls are really fresh and delicious. So flavorful when you bite into it! The Tao roll, Goi cuon and sugarcane roll all were very refreshing and fresh! These are wrapped with a thin rice paper and usually have lettuce, mint, basil and cilantro in them. it's a nice pick-me-up after the deep fried stuff. Also the tao roll is vegetarian! Papaya Salad: with fresh crunchy green papaya, carrots, basil, caramelized onion peanuts, with thin slices of fresh cooked shrimp and shrimp crackers on the side tossed in a spicy lime vinaigrette. One im thinking how do they make the papaya into a cross cut shape? and Two: MAN WHAT A KICK! this is a really refreshing salad. It's served room temp i believe and it's again fresh and delicious! The way they cut the papaya so thin and delicately, when you put that first piece into your mouth and bite down, the flavors of the sweet papaya and the lime vinaigrette intertwine together to make the right flavors and then they little spicy kick at the end to end it all. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Stuffed eggplant: im allergic to eggplant; it makes my tongue and throat itchy and usually i hate it.period. But because this place has been so amazing i tried it. Salty, savory, soft eggplants cooked to perfection with the shrimp in the middle makes a perfect blend of harmony to make you go mmmHmmmm. Also the gravy makes a great sauce with rice. Tamarind Prawns: i think this is my fav throughout this whole place. Jumbo pawns with a sweet savory salty sauce with a kick of tangy plus the sweetness of the pawns makes it more like a delicacy! Tamarind has this unique sweet and tangy flavor to it(the have it as candy and the real fruit at asian supermarkets) If it weren't for the sauce this would just be any plain jumbo shrimp. Garlic herb noodles. I order this every time i go. I don't know why but the way they cook it it has this chewiness that i've never tasted in any of the order restaurants before. Also this is just really plain good. You can taste the garlic and herbs they use. Really a tongue twisting enjoyment. Last but not least i always order the non-alcoholic mojito breeze just because it's that good and comes in many different flavor. Just like the real thing but this one is bubbly=]
(5)Devon J.
I like going to this place because its located in a nice area, has a nice environment to it, you can go to fentons afterward, or you can even get boba at mr. green bubble and the food is good, light and sits well with you afterward. Me and a friend started off with the carpaccio, the meat was good, and fresh. Being topped with cashews and the other fixings made it extra good :) only thing is that i felt the lime vinaigrette was a little too sour for my taste, but nonetheless the dish was good We also got the coconut prawns which were really good. I was expecting the usual saucy shrimp that's breaded and coconutted? and deepfried, but this coconut shrimp had curry sauce and just had a light subtle coconut flavor. The rice in the coconut afterwards was pretty yummy too :) The tumbling dice was good too, the salad was light and refreshing, and the filet mignon was yummy and tender, and covered in a good sauce, solid. The lemongrass chicken was a little spicy, so look out for that if you're not too into spicy food, they warn you anyway, and it definitely did have a noticeable lemongrass taste. The chicken was good nicely too! Lastly, my other friend got the claypot rice, which I always like because of the crispy rice at the edge of the pot. It's also filled with fresh vegetables and chicken, which were all cooked nicely. The only thing about this place is that its a little pricey for the amount of food you get, but its still tasty.
(4)Mary M.
Had a delightful luncheon. Eggplant specials exceeded our expectations. Thanks for a great dining experience.
(4)claire l.
Well, Xyclo *is* an overpriced Vietnamese fusion restaurant (just like Leah E. says), but for all that, it's not bad. I haven't tried their pho, because I don't really see the point in having fusion pho, but they have some other dishes which I find to be totally tasty. The one that always stands out to me is the Lemongrass Basil Eggplants and Tofu (eggplants and tofu sautéed with lemongrass, Thai basil, chili, green bean, coconut milk, served with rice), which has a really nice balance of flavors and textures. I get the Tumbling Dice (filet mignon cubes sautéed and shaken with garlic and onions atop a mix salad with balsamic vinaigrette) from time to time as well - it's a little on the sweet side, but the salad greens underneath do a nice job of balancing it out. Their cocktails are right-on.
(3)Dreamer L.
Poor customer service, took forever to take our order, and never checked up on us throughout the entire time we were there. The food is NOT as great as everyone said it is. It's NOT authentic vietnamese food, every item is made catered to americans. Especially their "famous" pork ribs, gross... hardly any meat, all you're eating is their grease and favoring clustered up while frying it.
(1)Fatty A.
If you cockazn you will like. If you azn you no likey. Its fairly expensive for what you the get. The devil wings are as big as an azn cock. Small as hell . The garlic herb noodles were nothing special for $7. They probab just added some garlic, butter and hoisen. I can do that at home.
(3)Jennifer B.
I wish I'd found this place earlier. I consider it a great mid-week/pre-movie dinner option. Maaayyyyyybe even on a Saturday night. They have a creative take on Vietnamese cuisine, in a stylized, romantic setting. It seems the specialty here is their rolls. We ordered: sugarcane shrimp (fire roasted) rolls - outstanding! lemongrass eggplant with tofu - the tofu was actually something to speak about (usually tofu disappears in a dish) calamari - interesting, tempura-like batter. Too bad about the ketchup when they could have had an inventive sauce. Great service. Great food. Great prices.
(4)Mariza S.
Since my office is practically across the street, I have had dinner and lunch here many times. Since I am a vegetarian my options are slightly restricted, but there are still a number of choices. I really like their tofu plates. The only concern I have about the food is in regards to my business partner. Each time we would go to have lunch there she would end up with a terrible headache within 2 hours of eating, which is very atypical of her. We have a extensive background in nutrition, so her signs and symptoms made me a little suspect.
(3)Julie H.
Xyclo is our favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the East Bay. The roll sampler and devil wing appetizers are fabulous and the beef pho is awesome!
(4)Mark R.
Good eggplant. Nice atoms. Reasonable prices. V good.
(4)Lydia M.
I knew this was fusion-y when I went, so I was not expecting super authentic food. We got sugarcane shrimp roll, papaya salad, birds nest noodles, and the crepe. The roll was great! The papaya salad was acceptable. However, I can't really say that of the other two dishes. Even knowing that this was fusion, I was surprised at how BLAND the food was. Really bland, even for a "fusion" place! For a lower price, this could have been a 3-star joint, but at these prices I expect to be impressed.
(2)Jonathan T.
This place was great. It's smallish, similar to most places on Piedmont Ave., but not cramped. I had a battered fish dish, friend had the roll sampler, and partner had a chicken curry dish. All were very tasty and reasonable sized portions. I would definitely come back here even if I didn't live around the corner and would definitely recommend it to a friend.
(4)Jana C.
Very good food. Went there tonight for the first time. Great ambiance, friendly staff and fantastic food. The interior is unlike most Vietnamese restaurants I have been in. This one is a bit more modern & cozy. We tried way too many dishes, but they were all excellent. Loved the salt & pepper tofu and the herb garlic noodle side dish. We will definitely be back soon!
(5)Ryan M.
I came here, with friends and Yelpers alike (Emahlee H., and Brian M.,) sometime ago but I couldn't recall what I ordered or how much I appreciated the place until I came here for a brief lunch today with my mother. As one of the many bookmarks, on Yelp it was decided to visit this place once I was back in town, one of the many enjoyable food offerings within the Piedmont city (a city just bordering the edges of North Oakland). After swerving off the freeway, and onto the small busy streets to only find parking within the Longs Drugs Pharmacy, I finally come back for a sophomore debut. The atmosphere is really chill, and the decor of blending Vietnamese culture and hint of soul (the James Brown Soul). Our waiter Phouvong, was prompt and respectful when it came to taking our orders which were the following: -1 order of XYCLO Chili Ribs (made of: Crispy ribs, peanut, sesame seed, and mixed herb glazed in sweet chili sauce) -1 order of Claypot Rice Medley (made of : prawns, chicken breast, broccoli, bell pepper, mushroom, cauliflower, rice cooked in a clay pot - 1 order of Vietnamese Carpaccio (made of: thinly sliced rare top sirloin beef topped with sweet basil, red onion, cashew nuts, and caramelized shallots with a light lime vinaigrette -1 order of Fried Calamari (special of the day): First order that came up, was the Fried Calamari. Apparently Xyclo, step up the quality in terms of preparation. The only other placed I've thoroughly enjoyed this dish was at Quattro Cafe in South Coast Plaza. The Calamari, was lightly breaded, and it was cooked just right...not too crispy or salty. The sauce that came with it, complimented it quite nicely not adding too much zing to its subtle flavor. Next up, the Vietnamese Carpaccio and my God...it's been a while since I've had good Carpaccio. The slices were drenched quite nicely with the herbs, nuts, and vinaigrette concoction making it harmoniously tasty after each bite. It was sweet, slightly acidic, and tangy at the same time. At first glance, the pieces didn't seem all that big, but it was enough for my mother and I to appreciate. The Third and Fourth dish respectively came at last, the XYCLO signature Chili Ribs and Claypot Medley. The Claypot medley was a decent dish in itself filling, but not too heavy. Also perhaps I was expecting maybe a bit more prawns and chicken breasts, but that was just me. There's not much for me to say about the claypot only because like every other one I've tried, the only difference between them is portion, therefore I feel my tastebuds are impartial to dish every time I try it. Now for the XYCLO Chili Ribs...this was the exact dish I ordered I believe a year and a half ago, before I moved to Irvine. At first glance, the portions are huge, hell you could even share between 3 people if you wanted (unless of course your a huge meat eater, like myself than you can demolish it one setting). As I was cutting in the meat, the texture outside was perfectly glazed to crispy perfection, I can hear the crackling of the meat, and as I Iet air right into the bone...the inside meat was moist. I sank my teeth on it, and every bite was sweet, slightly salty and chewy. The moistness of the meat, is what I appreciated...usually Ribs that I eat at BBQ places (excluding the KBBQ Ribs (galbi) of course) usually its burnt and the meat is usually dry for the most part. Overall, the total for all the food came to an estimate of $67.00 with tax and tip. I wish I could have tipped more for the excellent service, Phouvong provided but alas my cash has fallen short on me. I wish to come back here the next time in town, in hopes of renewing my experience and quite possibly trying other dishes in the process. Great job XYCLO, I hope you continue to cater to the public with your exemplary service and refined Asian fusion cooking.
(4)Mary P.
Wow! What great service and the food is soo GOOD I want to come back the next day to try the rest of the menu. The sugarcane shrimp rolls are addicting. The Bun Cha Hanoi-- fantastic, and as well as the Pho' and Tumbling Dice. Super Good, and good prices, too.
(5)Alessandra G.
Absolutely Delish! I Love their sugar cane shrimp rolls, spicy steak salad, beef pho, bun cha hanoi with pork, combo stir fry, & tumbling dice....I still haven't tried the ribs but I heard they are good too!
(5)Christina T.
I had walked by this place a few times and thought I'd eventually eat here and did so on a whim. Wow, how much nicer this place looks inside than from the street view. The decor made me feel like I was visiting a typical fancy but somewhat middle of the road restaurant in LA. Staff was friendly, food was quick, and the Bun Cha Hanoi was delicious. And they have a decent selection of beer. This place is great for date night.
(5)Leah M.
Excellent Food, Terrible Service. We had the Tao Roll, which was really good, the 7 seasons (appetizer) which was fun and good (but not as good as the Tao Roll), the spicy steak salad, which was delicious, and a noodle dish which was good. I may as well have gotten take out, the service was so terrible (when I was leaving the tip, I was honestly wondering who I was actually tipping). The ambiance is nice, though, and the food was worthwhile, so in the company of good friends it didn't matter so much.
(4)Mike L.
This restaurant unsuccessfully attempts to look trendy. Though it has the right bone structure, its skin is adorned with gaudy caked up makeup. And because it feigns upscale chic (and not to mention is located in the bourgeois Piedmont area), it somehow manages to mark up the prices of its dishes about five to six dollars more than they should be. Despite my reservations about its interior, the food, in general, has very good, albeit very salty, flavor. Unfortunately the saltiness is enough to make you want to stuff a ladle full of rice in your mouth with each bite to neutralize the saltiness. With the help of an interior decorator, and perhaps a chef who can pull back and refine the seasonings, Xyclo can become the more upscale restaurant that is wants to be, but I reiterate, is not currently.
(3)Sussu L.
I love this place for an inexpensive, mid-week meal! I've been twice now, and will definitely go back. Last night I had the lychee-black tea martini and thought it was superb, not sweet, not overpowering. The Seven Elements is one of my favorite dishes ever. I could eat this every day: little piles of amazing flavor bursts like lime, jalapeno, and chopped ginger, with mellow crunchy cashews, sweet roasted coconut, chopped red onion, dried shrimp for a little salty umami goodness, and a fish sauce-based sauce - all to be mixed as you like in a personalized roll on a butter lettuce leaf. It's heavenly. The other small plates are very fun, too - nothing too fancy or complicated, just nice solid flavors structured around one main ingredient. The wontons in the wonton soup are yummy, the green beans are tasty, the rolls are great and plentiful. The papaya salad is quite spicy and vinegary (I like it like that) and comes with just a few nicely poached shrimp. I like how casual and yummy this place is, perfect for when you don't feel like cooking at home.
(4)Jen C.
Best Thai Iced Tea ever! I love this place for the ambiance. It's clean, simple, loungy but not nightcluby. :) The rolls are light and perfect to start with. The papaya salad & the green apple salad are both so refreshing and filling. Perfect addition to the rolls. Service is very friendly. I've always been seated quickly. Last time I was there, my friend & I sat in the lounge area which is off to the side from the main restaurant. It's cozy and more quiet. Their cocktails are mixed well, and they allowed us to order a full lunch there too, so we didn't have to move to the main seating area. Definitely a good place for a date to a dinner with friends.
(4)Sparkely K.
I am acquainting myself with the northern part of Oakland and when selecting a place to meet a gal pal, thought it would be perfect to combine great chat with a scope-out of the Piedmont Avenue area. My thanks to the Yelp friends who suggested this place. After looking at the photos of Xyclo, along with the prices, I was expecting something very upscale. I managed to park directly in front of the restaurant, and was shocked at my good fortune, as I expected somewhat difficult parking. I made a reservation, as I didn't want to arrive and then have to wait, and was a bit shocked to see that the restaurant was about one-third full. These economic times are definitely hitting the restaurant industry! I ordered my standard dish, Bun Thit Nuong (lunch special $10) and a Vietnamese Iced Coffee ($4). I was hoping the iced coffee would drip at the table, but it was mixed at the bar for me. For some reason I always like the taste of the slower method (drip) over a pre-mix or mix by someone else. I wasn't entirely crazy about the coffee and drank only part of it. My entree was absolutely delicious! The service was very good; our gal was running the entire show by herself and it did get busier during our time there. Xyclo is a very low key, casual eatery with good solid food. I now have the first of a dozen or so restaurants under my belt in North Oakland.
(3)Rafael N.
Vietnamese Sirloin Carpaccio, Garlic Herb Noodles, Spicy Filet Mignon Salad, Double Surprise Roll........ Catching your attention yet. So this fusion spot has some def hits. Surroundings easy on the eyes and the service is adequate. The freshness and flavors of the dishes made for a nice experience. Too much to try and some dishes r lacking were others pop. Being fusion they offer vegi options and have a spectrum to decide from. Only buzz kill is my gal felt a lil ill after our last visit. I was fine so not sure what that was about???
(4)wade m.
Tasty food. Perfect portions. Stylish atmosphere. Friendly service. What more could you ask for?
(5)Sabrina K.
I'm hooked. First it was the spicy steak salad, then the Pho (surprisingly refreshing broth, wonderfully tasty), then the double spring rolls. Ultimately, one of the most reliable restaurants for me to take friends to for special lunches and clients to for friendly negotiations. Everyone finds something on the menu that they swear they will be craving ever after--I've decided recently to work my way through the menu, though I still do crave that steak salad. . . Nicely uncluttered ambience and very friendly service, though a little slow if the place is busy.
(4)Jon F.
Everything tasted fantastic, until I saw the two long, stringy human hairs in my flaming quail. It was then that I lost all appetite. Two stars for the other dishes we ordered. But still, I dunno when I'll come back.
(2)Hilary A.
Ate here for the 2nd time today. The sweet & sour vegetarian soup was amazing. Really, I was completey satiated after that and it was the PERFECT hot meal for a chilly day. But I had already ordered an entree and the lemongrass tofu, eggplant, greenbeans dish looked way too beautiful not to try. Wow! What a delight for my taste buds. I had most of it boxed up for leftovers and can't wait to dig in at work for lunch tomorrow! Today was a lunch, so just water for me. But last time I ate here was dinner with a friend and the mojito was phenomenal. I will DEFINTIELY be back to try more!
(4)Patrick C.
This is great Viet-Fusion...probs one of the best in the East Bay. Their raw beef salad was awesome and their tumbling dice was great!! A must try if you are in the Peidmont area.
(5)D C.
We have been there twice. Love the pork rib dish. Can't remember the name of the dish. It's in a cute neighborhood, but parking there can be frustrating at times. The service is average and the noise level can be a bit loud when it's busy. We will definitely return.
(4)Welch W.
This is a solid 4 stars. Yes it is a few years behind the "fusion" fad, but their food represents "fusion" at a high level. Our table had the caramelized fish, a bean dish with beef, an eggplant stew and a beef soup.. The nuk ma sauce was sweet and tangy. The sides (rice and salads) were good and served their purpose of supporting the main dishes. The prices are a bit high but the atmosphere, service and most importantly the quality of the food products make the additional cost justifiable. Parking is an issue so be prepared to walk a bit - really no big deal, after-all this is Piedmont Street and window shopping is pleasant..
(4)Andy W.
This place is great! The decor was very chic with yummy, better-than-average fusion Vietnamese food. We had the Xyclo roll which had a soft texture on the skin and crunchy inside..yummy.. The raw beef (Carpaccio) was excellent. It had an interesting texture with some crunchy almonds/nuts and a hint of vinaigrette to complement the taste. The ribs, I think it was called Basa, were also excellent.. crunchy, tasty, and soft! I really recommend this place if you happened to stop by in Oakland Piedmont district, and craving for a Vietnamese with a twist. The only drawback: the service was a bit slow, but friendly.
(4)Jenn H.
Very tasty and good prices. Parking kinda sucks but you can get around that by going a little earlier than dinner hours or going later in the evening. Everything I"ve tried so far has been really good!
(4)Cindy O.
Still loving this place but some of the entrees are so sweet and oily - beyond the usual vietnamese sweet and oily. I will ask about this in the future before ordering. but i'm hooked on the veggie pho, fresh spring rolls & salads. Oh and fancy cocktails, too.
(4)Dena V.
Incredible food. Good value. Highly recommend!!!
(5)Jenna H.
I had the butterfly prawns noodle dish - it was delicious! The raspberry mojito breeze was a great non-alcoholic option as well. My friend got the tumbling dice and it was great as well. Service was so-so, they didn't check on us once, and we had to ask for the check, but the food made up for it.
(4)alexa c.
I love this place, one of my faves in my hood! The last time I was here my friend and I ended up staying after hours and partying with the staff (it was our waiter's b-day). What an effen hoot! The decor is lovely, with a small lounge in the back for cocktails and appetizers. The staff are all sweet as pie and the food is delicious. I would encourage those who are unimpressed with the wine selection to give it another shot as my friend has been consulting them for the past few months and he has totally revamped their list. My favorite thing about this place (other than the fab food, staff and decor) is that it's a comfortable, non-pretentious neighborhood eatery that's obviously had some thought put into it.
(4)Alotta F.
This place just didn't do it of me. I am a bit of a Vietnamese food purist, or as close to "pure" as you can get in America. Xyclo is fusion with Americanized versions of popular Vietnamese dishes, like the spring rolls. They were good, but they were loaded with too much rice noodles and not enough meat, shrimp or tofu, etc. And the accompanying peanut sauce was so watered down that it didn't adhere to the roll when you dipped it in. Ya had to spoon it on. For the main course, I had the Bun Cha Hanoi. Bun is my favorite Vietnamese dish so I was excited to try Xyclo's version. Again, it had more rice noodles and bean sprouts than the good stuff so it was mostly tasteless. The description of the dish promised pork AND shrimp. There was a small bowl of very salty and fatty pork and only one shrimp. The dish wasn't good enough to finish. I would tell you about the dessert experience, if I had any. The waitress didn't offer us any and seemed to rush us out the door after we ate. It was a Monday night, so maybe they wanted to close early. The ambiance was attractive from the outside but once we stepped in we notice the flat screen TV in the corner! Very unexpected, and not in a good way. My friends and I were looking for a cozy, intimate place to chat but it had the feel of a sports bar instead. Also the lights were on too bright. Zero ambiance. In sum, Xyclo was disappointing. Reminded me of a place you'd see at a touristy place like Fisherman's Wharf where exotic 'food from a strange land' is made palatable by over-Americanizing the dishes. They even had fried fish fillets they called tempura....it was fish sticks for adults! I recommend passing on this place and going for the much better Huynh in Oakland or even Saigon Express in Berkeley where the food is closer to the real thing and the ambiance is not half sports bar.
(2)Mark G.
Above-average Vietnamese food in a space that crosses industrial with homey. Prices a bit high for what you get, but not unreasonable. They have a variety of appetizers and small plates if you want to go the family-style route, and large plates as well. Had a green bean appetizer with shrimp. The beans were a bit plain, but the sweet oniony sauce was quite nice. (I'm not a shrimp fan, so I can't speak to their quality.) The curry fish large plate was excellent: sweet, caramelized glaze with a nice spicy kick to it, but not so spicy that you couldn't comfortably finish. The fish was lightly pan-fried, with a slightly crunchy coating, and a nice, not-overcooked chewiness underneath. I would come back just for this dish.
(3)Catherine L.
This is one of my favorite places on Piedmont Ave. The spring rolls are all great and I love getting the assortment. And the tumbling dice is so good, I've converted some of my non-meat eating friends to indulge. Service is sweet, and the decor is lovely.
(4)Areeyla L.
Pretty good Asian Fusion restaurant on Piedmont Ave. We ordered the Xyclo Roll -- which tasted pretty typical of most vietnamese rolls, but was still good nonetheless. We also ordered the apple salad, spicy wings, a carpaccio and garlic noodles. The Spicy Wings were delicious! I'd order take out just to eat these all day. The Apple Salad was a little above average and pretty refreshing and the garlic noodles were so-so. The service was definitely 5 stars. The waitress got our order correct and even offered to heat up the carpaccio once we realized it was too raw for our liking. I'd definitely come back here again for the chicken wings. It's a nice place to sit down and catch up with the intimate atmosphere.
(4)Todd W.
I finally went to Xyclo last week to see what all the talk was about (I have a number of friends in love with the place). My friend and I were happily greeted the moment we walked in the door. The personable service continued throughout the course of our meal. My friend insisted that I get the Xyclo ribs, which I did. Mostly boneless, and battered with a sweet sesame sauce, they literally melted in my mouth. INCREDIBLE!!! My friend got the ribs as well, so I didn't get to try anything else. I definitely recommend splitting a plate of the ribs as well as trying another entree. The cocktails are all soju and sake, but tasty and creative. Overall I give the service and atmosphere 5 stars, the food 4 stars, and price 3 stars (a little on the expensive side for what you get; the ribs were ~ $15).
(4)Marsha O.
Not traditional Vietnamese food, but delicious & sweetly flavorful.
(5)Shawna R.
I *really* love this place. We had an epic meal here and I would definitely recommend it.
(4)Irene T.
As long as you don't go with a preconception of what Vietnamese food should be, you will enjoy your meal at Xyclo. Authenticity aside, the flavors are full & robust. Overall, good. Notable dishes are the Beef Carpaccio, Bun Hanoi, and Garlic Herb Noodles. The Bun Hanoi resembles the authentic Vietnamese version the most. The Carpaccio, while nowhere near authentic (capers?), is very tasty nonetheless. I actually enjoy what the capers do to the dish. The Garlic Herb Noodles is a must do to add to the experience. Dishes that disappoint are the Xyclo Rolls, the Tumbling Dice, and Butterfly Prawns. The Xyclo Rolls are too bland, even with the fish sauce. I think this is mainly due to the lack of meat and over abundance of veggies in them. The Tumbling Dice, while the meat is decent, should not be served with the balsamic vinegarette salad. That's just wrong. But here I violate my own rule of not having a preconception of Vietnamese food. But I can't help it. I would be happier having it with a salad with fish sauce, like green papaya salad. The Butterfly Prawns are almost there. Just a dash more seasoning for flavor would complete it. Overall this is a chic fusionized restaurant with a nice atmosphere and tasty food.
(4)O L.
HEALTH Warning! HEALTH Warning! HEALTH Warning! Please note I am a foodie who Luuuuuvs Vietnamese cuisine. I discovered this place about 6 month ago and been there a few times since as food was decent. But last week was the LAST time. Evening started with hostess / owner / bartender giving away my window table (reserved hours in advance for a romantic dinner) right in from of me and telling me 'Why don't you just sit at the table next to it?' And that was only the beginning... I was upset, but didn't feel like ruining my special evening. About 25 min later and at a different table, we finally got our drinks and weren't we in for a treat! I took a sip of my drink hoping to finally relax. As I was swallowing it, I noticed something at the bottom of my small cognac glass. Upon closer look, in disbelief and to my horror, I have discovered 6 DEAD FRUIT FLIES peacefully floating at the bottom of my drink! It took me a minute to compose my self, then I called in the waiter and informed him of what happened. He replied with 'Oh?" and ran away with my glass to share the news with the hostess / owner / bartender. At that time, silly me was expecting that the owner would at least come over to the table to express her sincere apology, but no such luck! All I got was my waiter who came back and said one word 'sorry'. And THAT's was it!!! Appalled and disgusted, I marched straight to her and informed her that she just lost a customer to which she replied: 'Hm, sorry' (with an obvious touch of 'oh well, who cares' in her tone and body language, which was actually more shocking than DEAD FLYIES themselves. I hope this story will prevent you from exposing your HEALTH to dangers at Xyclo Restaurant!
(1)Beth H.
This is a standout spot on Piedmont Ave. Great food and inventive sake-cocktails. The ribs are to die for! The perfect grown-up place to drop in on before or after you catch a movie. Super friendly staff and good service. The only down side is how packed it can get! Can't wait to go back!
(5)J L.
Had dinner here this past Thursday, with my friend K.B. Once a month we go out for dinner and catch up, and Xyclo is always in our rotation. Our favorite combo is this: a couple mojitos (I went with mango, and she had pomegranate) an appetizer (one of the many delicious shrimp rolls) and a few sides - the garlic noodles (always delicious and perfectly cooked in garlic and butter) and bok choy, and.... wait for it.... the tumbling dice. This dish is cubed filet mignon cooked with onions in some delicious tasting sauce. We routinely order this and usually love it, although this last time the steak was cubed a little large and they did not give us a knife. This is a great place to eat on Piedmont. check them out!
(4)Bob D.
This reminded me of dating in the late 80's and having sex with a semi-stranger on that first date without wearing a condom... all of the right sensations, tastes and smells are there... but it's still a little awkward and there is a sense that you might not get the thing you wanted. anyway... I had the xyclo ribs, which were tasty and different. I also ordered a Jolly Rancher sake cocktail, which comes with an actual watermelon jolly rancher sucker in the glass... which I found funny and unpretentious. I'd put it up there with Soi 4 as one of the more interesting and accessible asian fusion places in the East Bay.
(4)Giofreddo W.
Excellent Vietnamese food that's easily a few notches above any other place we've tried in the East Bay. For the starter we shared the crispy shrimp roll, which wasn't life altering or anything, but still quite flavorful. But the entrees were where Xyclo really shined. I ordered the lemongrass basil chicken, a typically spicy dish that I like to try when judging any new (to me) Vietnamese joint. This was definitely among the very best examples of this dish to have crossed my palette. Very clean, fresh flavors, with awesomely tender pieces of chicken, and crisp, perfectly cooked green beans and sliced bell peppers. The only issue I had was that it could have been spicier, and next time I'll ask them to turn up the heat a bit. My wife ordered the five-spice chicken, which again, was excellent. The grilled chicken gave off a heavenly smoky flavor, and it was awesomely tender. And again, everything on the plate was very fresh and cleanly presented. The other person in our party ordered the chicken curry, which was one of the better curries we've tried at a Vietnamese place. It was a yellow curry, so it was sweeter and milder, but still quite rich, with tender pieces of dark and white chicken meat and large chunks of sweet potato. The portion of this curry was massive, too. The service was friendly but definitely a little slow. Long waits before and after ordering can be annoying, but then it's nice not to be rushed out of a place. The wife and I are really happy to have discovered Xyclo and we'd go back in a heart beat and try more things. There are numerous tired, mediocre Vietnamese places scattered around Oakland and Berkeley, and at least on this first visit, Xyclo was better than any of those that we've been to.
(4)Iona C.
Two of my gal pals and I dropped by Xyclo for dinner on a Saturday night back in March. This is a pretty tiny neighborhood spot, and we were lucky to snag a table near the window at 5:30 pm before the real dinner rush began. Having worked in a restaurant before, I understand the need to avoid "campers" and flip tables, but I don't think it's right to hurry along diners who are eating and enjoying their time together. I'm glad to report that the waitstaff at Xyclo didn't try to rush anybody by not refilling water glasses, giving people the bill, etc. Looking for a good mix of dishes to accommodate the pescatarian in our group, we settled on the following: combination stir fry - 13 brown rice - 1.75 shrimp Hanoi - 17 garlic herb noodles - 8 tofu curry - 15 I really enjoyed the garlic herb noodles and the tofu curry the most. Along with the tofu, there were large chunks of potato that soaked up a lot of the curry flavor. Wonder what curry fries would be like... mmm. $17 for shrimp Hanoi is pretty outrageous, but then again, we were the ones who decided to meet up in Piedmont. What can ya do? While Xyclo probably wouldn't be one of the top three restaurants to come to mind if I was craving Vietnamese food in/around Oakland, it's not an absolutely terrible choice. Plus, I got the opportunity to try out my DSLR camera. Yup, the one that I pretty much treat like a point-and-shoot.
(4)Dina L.
Mediocre at best with a less than friendly or attentive staff. I got the beef stew with tendons. Beef was tough & chewy and bland. On mt Dining while Black scale 1-5 with 5 being excellent service & experience. This place gets a 2 because they refused to see me asking for service
(2)Jenny N.
I went here with my coworkers today expecting great food, and I got it. We ordered the appetitive combo. I really wish they would've told us what was what instead of us having to go and eat it to find out. The dipping sauces included their rendition of the fish sauce and peanut sauce. I liked the crispness of the fried sprint rolls. The spring rolls with taro were okay. A lot of us got the same Bun bowls with either shrimp or pork. One coworker got bun rieu and waited the longest for hers to come out. We got the garlic noodle sides for everyone to share as well as Vietnamese iced coffee. Be warned, the Vietnamese ice coffee is huuuge. More on the bitter side and lots of caffeine if you need it :) I got basically bun thit nhuong, BBQ pork and vermicelli noodles. It has the standard pickled carrots, peanuts, mint and cucumber. The pork was pretty tasty and the presentation was pretty. The garlic noodles were so tasty, but not as garlic-y as we all had hoped for. I want to come back for the Vietnamese carpaccio!!
(4)Nina M.
This is a trendy somewhat upscale Vietnamese restaurant. I didn't think the menu selections featured many traditional Vietnamese options so perhaps it's a fusion kitchen. Sampled the wonton noodle soup, seafood stuffed eggplant, and chicken curry. Everything was good and the curry was much more watery than the typical stuff you find in Thai or Indian restaurants. I thought this was a good thing because it was still very flavorful without being heavy. The nigiri bottles sake was very nice and smooth as well, I didn't get a chance to look at the bottle but I think they only offer once type of this.
(4)Geo D.
One of my favorite vietnamese restaurants in the Bay Area! To try: Garlic Noodles Beef stew noodles Vietnamese capriccio slices Stuffed eggplant Chicken pho And a side of the Tamarini. Awesome place and super speedy service. Also next to Fentons if desert is your thang.
(5)Yen P.
THE BEST VIETNAMESE FUSION RESTAURANT I'VE EVER HAD! I usually don't like Vietnamese fusion because they somehow manage to fck it up and often overpriced. But this place mastered it. Even thought it was a little expensive, I think it was worth it. The papaya salad was soooooo goood. I swear, I can still taste the flavors. Tastes like Vietnam... but with a kick. heh. And trust me, I know what Vietnam tastes like. I was born there. On to the sampler. We decided to get this because we literally wanted everything under the "rolls" section. I'm so glad they had this option or else I would have ordered everything separately. Some rolls are better than other, some were a little bit too "traditional" or "safe" I prefer the more exotic/different ones. My favorite were the crispy shrimp roll. There were this "sugarcane shrimp roll" that didn't taste anything like sugarcane though, which was weird because I'm wondering if they forgot to put the sugarcane in there. **THE SAUCE. THE DIPPING SAUCE. ESPECIALLY THE PEANUT SAUCE. (We had to ask for extra) Overall, great place. I wish I had tried more stuff on the menu but i got full after the sampler. Bring more people so you can try more food! Oh, don't come here if you want the boring traditional vietnamese dishes. they don't serve those here.
(5)Angie S.
After hearing my parents constantly raving about this place, I finally joined them for dinner one evening and was pleasantly surprised by the ambience and the food. This is definitely not your run of the mill pho and various broken rice plate Vietnamese restaurant. It is pretty pricey but everything on the menu is upscale and beautifully presented. The decor and lighting of this place also adds to the dining experience. For dinner I ordered the Bun Cha Hanoi which is basically a vegan vermicelli plate with lots of veggies ans fried tofu. I was so happy to see that they have vegan versions of many of their dishes! They even have vegan Nuoc Cham which is the fish sauce dressing you get with many different types of dishes at Vietnamese restaurants. I also tried the lychee spritzer which I liked at first but for some reason, the more i drank it, the more it had a weird after taste. Never the less, I really enjoyed the dinner and would definitely come back. Hopefully for lunch next time!
(4)Sarah T.
Xylo is a fantastic little Vietnamese fusion restaurant. The interior is modern and classy, and Xylo definitely is going for (and succeeding at) the upmarket feel. We ordered 1, Xylo Roll Sampler ($23) This is a really generous appetizer, in fact to call it an appetizer is a total understatement. It could be the appetizer and entree for 2 people, comfortably, and you'd probably still have enough to take home. The appetizer consists of 4 gigantic fresh rolls with fillings of egg roll, shrimp, tofu and vegetables. The fresh rolls were amazing - the rice skins were really thin and the fillings were great, I especially loved the fried egg roll filling. It also comes with 3 different kinds of egg rolls, all fried to crispy perfection. I couldn't tell the difference in fillings, but they were all very good. I really enjoyed this dish and would definitely order it again! 2. Beef Carpaccio ($9) - Thinly sliced raw beef marinated with peanuts, garlic and lemon juice. This dish was pretty good, but it wasn't my favorite of the night. If you have had good carpaccio elsewhere, you probably will not be impressed, nonetheless it is not a bad dish, just a little underwhelming after the amazing sampler plate. 3. Chilli Pork Ribs The pork ribs were fried to crispy perfection and were not oily at all. I really enjoyed the crunch and texture but the flavorings left me a little underwhelmed. I tend to like my entrees savory, but the pork ribs definitely had more of a sweetish slant to it. Still, they were very yummy, and not at all spicy. 4. Butterfly Shrimp with Garlic Noodles The shrimp was really amazing, super succulent and cooked to perfection. I also enjoyed the flavoring of the shrimp a lot. The noodles were delicious too, fragrant because of the garlic and a little creamy thanks to the parmesan, but once again the noodles had a sweet-ish slant and were not my cup of tea, but my friends really loved this dish. all in all, Xylo is a fantastic little restaurant which serves truly amazing food. I had a great experience there and would not hesitate to come back for the sampler platter and to try any number of delicious things on their menu. they also have a fabulous little drink menu with a ton of yummy sounding drinks. i will definitely be back with all my friends in tow.
(4)Stan L.
This place is delicious! I love asian fusion restaurants because there is just so much creativity involved in the cuisine, you always get to experience something new. Coming to Xyclo, you definitely have to try their rolls, which I think they are known for. Also, the $24 taster--which you can split between two or three people--gives you a lot of variety and food. I highly recommend that for your first time. This place is great for a casual dinner or even a drink with friends.
(5)Kelly G.
This was over the top Vietnamese cuisine. They were located on Piedmont Ave in Oakland a few stores up from the Piedmont Theater. I ordered the Saigon Devil Wings. I was expecting more of a traditional stuffed wing. There were 6 wings on a plate with a creative pickled carrot garnish. Beautiful, but not spicy at all. The Coconut Prawns came butterflied with the shell on hanging from a fresh young coconut and stuffed with infused coconut rice. I could only eat about half it and it tasted even better the next day. The server wrapped the whole coconut in foil and I was able to scrape out some of the pulp of the coconut. Yum! The glass of water had a slice or orange in it which was surprising and refreshing. I can't wait to go back and try other dishes.
(5)rugbarn d.
Our family came to Xyclo for the 2nd time yesterday on a Saturday night, around 5 PM. We were able to get seats right away without a reservation. The food was so good! The service was excellent! I rated all the dishes we tried below. Today we fought over the leftovers :-) j/k. Okay my stomach is seriously growling as I'm looking at the pictures of food we ordered, but they are already closed... Xyclo Roll: 4 Crispy Shrimp Roll: 5 Nem Nuong Roll (sausage): 5 the crispy piece inside nice touch & unique Bun with grilled pork: 5 Coconut prawns: 5 we were scraping the fresh coconut out and eating it all Dry scallop fried rice: 5 so good and tasty Tumbling Dice: 2 lower rating b/c i personally don't like texture of rarer meat, next day nuked leftover meat in microwave and it was yummy Garlic noodles with grilled chicken: 5 OMG! Would definitely order many of these dishes again. I would come here ALL the time if i had more money. ;)
(5)Katherine L.
Stopped by here for lunch with the boyfriend. It was quite difficult to find parking around here! We had: Bun Rieu - Not that great, way too much tomato paste/tomatoes. Also didn't have much crab...sad. Lemongrass Basil Chicken - boyfriend liked this one. He thought it had good flavor. Ne Nuong Roll - I liked the sauce and the roll was pretty good. There was a lot of flavor and I liked the texture. Thai Iced Tea - Simple, good. I liked the laid back but classy decor of this place. Service was pretty good.
(3)Barbara S.
Ambiance = 4 Food = 2 1/2 Staff = 4 We ended up there tonight after finding out that the restaurant we meant to go to was no longer there. My husband and stepsons had eaten here previously and liked it. Tonight my husband and I found it to be just okay. I had the item that gets the most raves on yelp, the cubed filet mignon. It was not nearly as good as I've had in other places. It seemed tender at first, but most of the pieces, while soft, would not chew down into anything you would want to swallow. My husband's dish was also just meh. I think if you like Vietnamese fusion you will probably like this more than I did. I'm finding I'm a way bigger fan of the real deal.
(3)Helen O.
This is by far one of my favorite restaurants. It's been around for a number of years and there's always a wait on the weekend which shows a good sign. I've been coming here for years and their dishes are consistent. I know, this review is long overdue. Nem Nuong Rolls - the Vietnamese sausages are made by them. It's got all the textures I love combined all in one bite. Garlic Noodles - the noodles are al dente. There's just enough garlic where it isn't too overpowering. Crispy Shrimp Roll - this is my fav item on the menu of you love fried foods. The wrap isn't too thick where you can't taste anything inside. The crispness is just right. Seven Elements - now this is a dish I've never had anywhere. This dish has got all the flavor, bitter, sweet, sour, salty, and umami. Vietnamese Carpaccio - if you can hack raw beef, then this dish is for you. It's got all the right combo. But a must try. Saigon Devil Wings - I love my wings and these wings are delish. It's not too spicy so don't let the name or description fool you. Bun Cha Hanoi - they give you plenty of meat. When you go to other Vietnamese restaurants and you order this dish you will notice there's not enough meat and a lot of noodles but here they give u plenty of meat and veggies with less noodles (less carbs!!). Tumbling Dice - wow the beef are so flavorful with plenty of veggies. It's like a filet Mignon with salad. So worth trying!! The list goes on but there's plenty of more dishes on the menu that you can try and it won't disappoint.
(5)Judy P.
Good food and service plus nice ambience equals a great lunch spot. Went here on a Sunday and enjoyed the food. They serve lunch specials on Sunday which was a nice surprise. We ordered beef pho, stuffed eggplant, pork spring rolls (the kind with the crispy skin rolled inside for some texture), and chicken curry. We all shared our dishes. My stuffed eggplant was flavored just right and reminded me of the broth sauce of a Japanese agedashi tofu dish. Our table shared a bowl of pho which was good, but really small. The amount of noodles equated to a small fist full. Don't get that if you're hungry. The broth was also a little lukewarm, and for pho I expect piping hot. Overall, I enjoyed the other dishes better and will be back.
(4)Guisela L.
This is a great Americanized Vietanmese style place. I'm thinking more of a 4.5 rounded up because we really enjoyed the place but a few of the plates were just ok. The nem nhung rolls (not sure of the spelling) are the best...we order those every time. I've tried both phos and they're ok. My wife likes the garlic noodles and she substitutes chicken. The noodles are interesting because they top it with cheese. Everything has a slight twist on the original style of food which is great if you want a bit of a change. So far so good. We've come twice within a couple weeks so that definitely says something.
(5)Sung K.
Pretty good Vietnamese fare. Pho broth is nice with appropriate condiments. Good value as well.
(3)Jerry M.
Really enjoyed my papaya salad at Xyclo. Veggies were waffle cut and served in a light vinaigrette. I think the waffle cut exposes more surface area to the taste buds than a julienne cut because it was all quite flavorful. Also the portion size was just right for lunch. Service was fast and friendly. The resturant seems to be very popular because at 1:30 pm on a weekday it was mostly full. If you enjoy light and inventive vietnamese fare Xyclo is a great choice. Recommend.
(4)Celia Z.
I'm always a little hesitant when it comes to 'asian fusion' but this place has definitely changed the way I think about it. The restaurant has a really nice cozy feel and the service is pretty attentive. Now onto the important part, the FOOD. I tried 3 items. The chili ribs, the beef stew, and the garlic noodles. Chili ribs - These ribs had a great flavor. It was sweet and barely spicy and had a nice crunch from the sesame seed coating. Beef stew - The beef stew was definitely on the traditional side which is what I hoped for. It had pretty good flavor but it was a tad on the salty side. Garlic noodles - OMG. Highly recommended. Garlic and topped with fried garlic and parmesan cheese. It was amazing. Probably best garlic noodles I've had. Overall, would come again for the garlic noodles.
(4)Judy J.
We're regulars ever since we've moved to the area several years ago. It's the absolute best and where we take visiting guests to impress and delight them. You will never look at slanted door again after experiencing the food here. And even if you're a regular patron of local vietnamese places, Xyclo will also make a special place in your heart/tummy. Service is always super friendly, although I notice at lunch it can be less attentive, so ask for your hot sauce early :)
(5)Sigrid H.
People on Piedmont ave love to complain. That being said, I love Xyclo. I've been here many times since they opened and I'm addicted to a number of their dishes. I can't say I've ever been disappointed here, and the dishes are always conistent - flavorful and fresh. If you are one of those people who needs perfect attentive service every second of your meal however - be advised. Infact do everyone a favor and just stay home. Go out with good company and relax - but you might have to flag someone down at some point, heaven forbid. It's a small space but they can get busy at times. The food always comes out fast and while a bit on the expensive side - It's delicious, pretty, packed with flavor and has a beautiful decor to boot. Things I love: Sugar cane shrimp rolls - (ask for a side of sriracha if you like spice). I could eat these things every day. Salty sweet, fresh, hot, cold, chewy, crunchy. I come here for this roll alone sometimes. Papaya salad - I love green papaya. I love fish sauce. The end. Steak salad - tender filet mignon over greens with a lovely dressing. Coconut curry shrimp - 4 large shrimp shell on ( my favorite part to eat). Sweet, delicate curry, aromatic rice inside a young coconut (don't forget to scrape the shell out) - if you don't you are doing the world a disservice. The young coconut is rich, fatty, and delicious. Saigon devil wings - sweet, super crunchy and sticky. If you hate soggy wings, this is your heaven. Pho - small but quality. Great broth. All the sides you expect. Chili mango margarita Tamarind Martini Have a drink, relax, be nice. The world will be a better place for all of us - I promise.
(5)Meg M.
Booo. A friend and I came for lunch at 2pm. The place was not busy (score) so we sat ourselves. The restaurant itself was very cozy. The menu looked incredible and I had trouble deciding on what to get. I ended up going papaya salad, a classic. It was described as criss-cross cut papaya, carmelized onion, poached shrimp with peanuts. YUM I was jazzed. 9$ sounded pretty reasonable. The dish came out and it was itty bitty. It had about 3 tiny limp shrimp. The papaya WERE criss cross-y which I'll admit was cool. Sauce/dressing was watery and didn't stick to the papaya. It wasn't bad, I devoured it in three bites but I left hungry. The service was terrible. Our waitress scowled at us for no apparent reason even though I tried to butter her up. We were one of two tables in the place and she continually forgot to fill our itty bitty water glasses. Lame. There are so much better places around.
(1)Nina H.
I actually started a yelp review giving this place 4 stars. However, after going back the second time, I changed my mind. The first time, I ordered the grilled pork dish, which was decent. The pork was a little fatty for my liking, but the flavor of the sauce was great and the portion was very generous. However, when I went back the second time, I tried their Pho. First of all, it is very overpriced. Secondly, they only have one choice of Pho on their menu. The broth was alright, not the best I've ever had. However, when I got home, I was so thirsty and couldn't stop drinking water! This usually happens when a bowl of Pho contains MSG. That being said, I haven't been back since, and I don't plan on going back anytime soon.
(3)Kathryn C.
Have been walking by this spot for years. Attracted by the lighting and decor, put off a bit by the higher end prices for Vietnamese fare. Finally took the plunge. We were going light so just did one pho and the "lettuce wrap" appetizer. Ho hum. Just didn't work. Pho was ok. Wrap was a mess of tastes and textures that failed to amount to a satisfying bite, no matter how hard I tried to mix it up. Worst was the neglectful service. Had to flag down and ask at every turn. Believe me, we are not high maintenance and the place was not particularly busy. Too bad. Cross that one off the list of the many Piedmont Avenue options.
(2)Despina G.
Excellent choice! Delicious and with appropriate plate portions for lunch! Friendly atmosphere and nice wait staff!
(5)Shannon K.
Favorite lunch spot. Because I work on Piedmont Ave coming here for lunch is easily done. My favorites are... everything I've ever tried really. My usual is the lemongrass tofu and eggplant on sunny days and the beef pho on rainy, cold days, which were sadly few and far between this winter. Check out my pics for other dishes. Food is fresh and tasty. The bio is also interesting so if you have a chance look at that too. This is a gem on the ave. I recommend this place to my clients often. The service is on point. The food arrives in perfect timing. I feel like they have a system that really works. Fresh food, great service, perfect dining experience.
(5)Dru N.
This place didn't have pho Bo vein (meatballs) then they looked liked they had a full bar but couldn't do a Bloody Mary. No hoisin or siracha was brought out with the entree??? A little expensive but Nice atmosphere . Service was oooook.
(3)Kiko' N.
Amazing ! Service , food , drinks!!! I live around here 7 yrs didn't know this place ? What a shame! Way much more high quality than Montclear district ! Love food here and " Vi" she is so nice! Makes great drink!
(5)Mariah R.
My boyfriend wasn't feeling well, so we decided to order some pho to go. Called in my order and they let me know it would be 15-20 mins. The restaurant has a great atmosphere inside- I want to come back and actually sit down. The pho was good and I loved that they gave us all the goodies to go (bean sprouts, lime, sauces, jalapeños, cilantro)
(4)E S.
My absolute favorite Vietnamese restaurant!! The sugarcane shrimp rolls are amazing and the lemongrass basil chicken to die for. Top it off with the Vietnamese iced coffee and your good
(5)LilyAnn N.
A Vietnamese family owned restaurant in the heart of Piedmont! My family & I come here to fulfill our cravings for bo kho, spring rolls, beef salad, & other delicious Vietnamese dishes. Their bo kho is to die for! It's flavorful and the beef and carrots are so tender and soft that they melt in your mouth. It tastes great with rice noodles or plain rice. Their spicy beef salad is another one of my favorites. It comes with beef skewers & lemongrass dressing. This salad is light and refreshing. If you're in the area, this place is definitely a restaurant to try!
(5)Alexa W.
Not a fan yet.. though the food was pretty good, the service was on the questionable side. We came in early on a Saturday night, there were a few tables available. The waiter (?) at the door didn't say one word to us. I asked him whether we could have the table at the window. He just stared at me. Then he started to wipe the table down and left. The mister and I looked at each other, shrugged and sat down. The table was still wet. When the guy came back with the menus, I asked whether he could please wipe the table dry. He stared at me again, turned around and came back with one paper napkin to dry the table. Still no word. The rest of the evening was better though, we got a normally friendly female server, although my soda and water have not been refilled at all. At the end, the guy came back again for the check. smashed the check on the table, turned around and left. Strange... Like I said, food was good. Especially the won ton soup. We also had fried egg rolls (bit dry, but good flavor), chili ribs (interesting - would like to find out what the crunch was?! - but would probably not eat again, basically a little meat on a bone and a tiny nest of unseasoned raw cabbage, no side - small portion for $16), five spice chicken (pretty yummy). All in all, the portions were quite small and we were glad that we had taken the appetizers first. I think I will give it a try another time, maybe stop by for pho at lunch time. Who knows what this guy's problem was...
(3)Nique F.
Sometimes you want Vietnamese food. Sometimes you want a sexy date night spot. And sometimes, you want both at the same time. Xyclo gets a thumbs-up for creating a cool, sleek, date-worthy atmosphere to go along with their nicer-than-average (and pricier-than-average) Viet cuisine. It might just be the classiest place in town for slurping a bowl of Pho or scarfing down spring rolls. I've had the vegetable stir fry for lunch, and appreciated the crisp, fresh veggies (not mushy / previously frozen) and the light sauce (as opposed to the typical Panda-Express-style gelatinous gravy). With the option for brown rice, it was the perfect semi-healthy lunch. For dinner I've had the shrimp-stuffed eggplant, which was definitely delicious but absolutely drowning in grease. I suppose that's the way you make eggplant taste amazing, but I felt the need to drip-dry each piece before biting into it. My date's beef noodle stew was pheNOMinal, with tender carrots soaked in the rich meaty broth with a strong hint of ginger. This one won't disappoint. The food is reliably fresh, and their wine list is perfectly planned for spicy Asian bites (love the Pinot Gris from Oregon) but the service could stand to be more attentive. I've been for lunch and dinner and it always seems that I go throughout the whole meal missing something crucial (like a napkin, or a water refill) without anyone noticing. Flagging someone down for essential items is just not ideal. I'm glad Xyclo is in the 'hood, but hope they'll step up the service next time, so I don't have to wipe my mouth with my sleeve.
(3)Kat H.
This is the best Vietnamese restaurants around. I live in SF and haul over just to eat here. The coconut shrimp is out of this world and a piece of art all in one. The pho bo kho is also too notch (on menu as just bo kho). The garlic noodles are the best I've had. I've honestly never had anything less than delicious here. The staff is cute, it can get busy during lunch hour, but did you expect something else? Wait for you food bc it'll blow your mind. I will continue to trek across the bay for this place!
(5)Cassandra C.
Spectacular food, quickly and artfully presented with nice portion sizes and fair pricing. Service was good, and the casual atmosphere worked for us too! I guess sometimes you CAN get price, quality and speed all in the same transaction. I can't pronounce the name, but I know where it is and I'll be back there soon!
(5)Twee L.
Lemongrass chicken and xyclo rolls were super oily, like oil was dripping off my lips after each bite. It was gross. Service was super slow even though the majority of the restaurant was empty.
(2)Mike L.
A decent spot on Piedmont for modern southeast Asian good, we tried a lot of things on the menu and it was all decent. The chicken wings were a standout and comparable to San tung in SF. The crepe was also really good, the coconut batter crisped up and stuffed with shrimp was quite tasty. Friendly service
(3)jess D.
This place was only worth giving it a chance but I wouldn't come here if you're looking for authentic Vietnamese food. My hubby and I ordered: -Beef carpaccio: was good. Clean taste and well balanced. -Beef Pho: Very bland. Bottom line the pho sucked. -Saigon devil wings: rip off. (4) wings $9. It was just okay. Not worth it. -Bun rieu: where was the meat ball? So bland and watered down. I asked for extra shrimp paste and the waitress told me they only have fish sauce. A big part of that dish is the meat ball and shrimp paste! -iced coffee: I liked it. It's not the traditional Vietnamese coffee loaded with condense milk though, but it was better than the food. Overall, the food to me was very bland. Not what I'm use to especially coming from a Vietnamese community. The service matched the food pretty fairly. The waitress looked at us twice before acknowledging us, so we seated ourselves and the lack of decent service continued throughout our whole time there. The neighborhood is super cute and parking was a *itch to find. Would I come back? Definitely not. Though, every business deserves a fair chance and a fair review.
(2)Rita L.
I'm always hesitant about asian fusion places. However, asian fusion might suggest a reinvented version of the original, and knowing this was slightly encouraging to give this place a try. I've walked past this place many times, and the bf and I never feel like eating "asian fusion," until one day, we randomly came here for dinner. I had the bun rieu soup, which was a larger portion than I expected, and it was alright. I though it was a very "clean" version of the viet classic because it was not greasy at all, but also it lacked that depth of flavor in the broth. It mostly tasted like tomatoes. The bf had the wonton soup and I don't think he cared for it at all. I suppose we should have consulted yelp for the more popular dishes, but overall, this place is alright.
(3)Karen W.
We came here for lunch and it got busy after we sat down, probably around 12:45 or so. We started off with Goi Cuon Roll which was tasty and we had to ask for more peanut sauce, then ordered the lemongrass basil chicken, bun with eggroll and dessert we shared Hazelnut Mousse. I guess they had a rush of customers after we ordered as it took awhile to get our food and when they brought our entrees, they forgot the dipping sauce that goes with the bun. They apologized for the delay. Great atmosphere and good food.
(4)Sharon C.
My friend and I were trying to find a Southeast Asian restaurant around the Oakland area. Since Champa Garden is closed on Sunday, we decided to give this place a try. We only ordered two dishes to share since we weren't that hungry (Ok, we were actually saving room for ice-cream at Fenton's just across the street) :p XYCLO Chili Ribs - Don't be fooled by the name. The ribs are not spicy at all! They are very tender and easily fall off the bones. However, I found many loose pieces of soft bones inside the ribs!? Butterfly Prawns with garlic noodle - The prawns are pretty fresh. I like how the prawns were cut on the bottom and flatten out. The garlic noodle is not bad, just not garlicky enough and a bit too sweet for my taste. Their rolls and salads look very interesting too, I might come back to try them someday.
(3)Dean T.
Fancy Vietnamese place. I ordered the beef stew with noodles. My friend ordered the papaya salad. A bit on the pricey side, but the food is tasty. The ambiance was nice. The service was good. Good for date night.
(4)J.A. K.
Vietnamese fusion similar to Lin Jia/Oakland and Zen Tapas/Alameda. Zen is the best, Lin Jia second (good when on, but erratic) and Xyclo definitely below those two. Beef carpaccio was good. Had to ask for plain rice vermicelli, which is not listed on menu but available. Waitress was surprised when we asked for it. That tells you not many Vietnamese come here, LOL. But the meal went rapidly downhill from there: Devil Wings. The glaze is delightful - honey-based, zipped up with salty fish sauce and red pepper chile flakes. But the wings are small, and when double-fried, the crust turns extra-crisp but the meat overcooks drastically. Spouse was okay with this; I'm not. Tempura Basa. Basa is one of those "alternative" fishes, a cheap bland white-fleshed fish. The portion is generous, with four good-sized filets, but the stiff flour batter is salty and picks up too much oil in the frying. As is typical of these below-average cod substitutes it's mushy and "wet" in texture. The dip is an odd orange/vinegar/fish sauce creation. Nice portion of stir-fried Shanghai bok choy on the bottom of the bowl. Coconut Shrimp in young coconut with coconut rice. AWFUL. The four shrimp were not fresh. The coconut was the cheaper "shell", with no meat inside. The coconut rice is glutinous, aka sweet rice. It isn't cooked with coconut juice or milk; merely steamed inside the shell which gives it a very mild coconut aroma and flavor. The curry itself was way oversweetened. I couldn't even finish it. Somebody mistook this for a dessert sauce. This dish also has no vegetables, unless you think lots of stir-fried onions and a couple of paper-thin rings of red bell pepper are sufficient vegetables in your diet. Overall: skip this place. Nice staff, pretty little restaurant, but there are much better places for Vietnamese or Viet fusion food.
(3)Herbert R.
Came in here for a friend's birthday dinner and this joint was good. I was not too familiar of the location and had the hardest time looking for parking. This restaurant is just right across from Fenton's and the restaurant seems so small from the outside. The signage outside is not visible enough and you can miss it if you don't pay much attention. Our orders: -Xyclo Taste (for appetizers) -Bun Cha Hanoi (entree) Verdicts: Xyclo Taste - this appetizer is for sharing. It comes with a few items on the plate and good for sharing. Bu Cha Hanoi- it was perfect to my liking! The greens was fresh and the bbq pork was cooked perfectly, with a little charred. Service was great because our water was never empty. Server comes to the table to check on us and making sure we are alright. Overall, I would come back if I am around the area and fiending for some vietnamese fusion.
(3)Michael C.
Great place, have been several times. They use to have Salt & pepper Tofu on the menu however I was the only one ordering it so it's gone (sad kitty face). Meanwhile you have to get here before 630 pm 'cause this place is happening. Great service, great selection of food and the best part....walk over to get some ice cream at Fenton's. Location location location!
(4)Molee H.
Try the chili ribs! And the double surprise roll! The reason why we always return to this place is because of the fun Lychee/ Cucumber Martinis! Although, I love how this place really manages to add a fusion kick to Vietnamese foods. Every time we have gone here we have always ordered the double surprise rolls to start! They are pure deliciousness! Why haven't I ever though of putting a fried egg roll inside a spring roll!? The chili ribs are consistent every single time. Super crunchy and the sesame seeds will find a way to stick onto your face. I like the Vietnamese crepe because its a fun dish for those who havent had anything like it before. The eggplant dish is also yummy. Just wish they put more into the servings.
(4)Daphne L.
My goal for this dinner was to have a bit more veggies as my meals have been meat-centric since I started my trip. My family wanted to take me to different parts of the Bay area which is why we ended up at Xyclo. Very impressed with food and service. We had: - Spring roll platter A mix of their fresh rolls and fried rolls. They were all good, the flavours of the Peanut sauce and the Sugar cane shrimp stood out the most - Papaya Salad Great flavour and texture, plus they don't skimp on the shrimp - Fish Curry Soo Flavourful! This was my fave dish. - Tumbling Dice The beef was cooked well, so soft. - Chicken Pho with a side of stir fried veggies For the kids I must say I was very impressed with the food and service. They were very accommodating and knew when to hold off a dish when our table was full, not once did we have to ask for a water refill. Would definitely recommend this place when you're in the area.
(4)Gina B.
My go to spot after working the first of two 12's at the local hospital. Needing something light and packed with flavor before I rinse and repeat I usually get a to-go order of the rolls--all of them are awesome. The fresh rolls hit the spot perfectly for a late dinner. I usually get the sampler platter and share with the family who is usually underfed on mac-n-cheese by the time I get home. Also a good spot for date night. Cute table with something yummy to eat --everything has been good here--and a couple lycée martini's then a walk around Piedmont or a movie. I usually go for the brown rice to offset the guilt from ordering a curry. I rarely have leftovers when I eat here. Another good sign.
(5)C W.
A lot of interesting things on the menu but ordered 2 apps and 2 entrees and they underwhelmed. Service is also pretty slow to the point that water was hard to get. Food is as advertised and is def Vietnamese fusion and not true authentic Vietnamese.
(3)Sharee g.
Late lunch had the Lemongrass Basil Chicken...yummy good to my tummy! I'll come back to eat in and try other items AND have a drink! (they have a full bar)
(4)Zachary R.
One star means extremely disappointed -- they had quite presentation right, but not "quality food" "quality drinks" "remembering your order" "bringing out food at the same time" and "reasonable portions". Our group of four ordered two appetizers, a few drinks, a few Thai iced teas, and four main courses. Service: They forgot one of the drinks, and then brought it much later when reminded. They then also forgot an entree, and when we asked about it, said it was coming, then said "wait we never put it in", then agreed to just take it off the bill. But without any apology, or without seeming to think this was anything but a normal occurrence. You forgot a dish! The other dishes came out in a random order, instead of the entrees all at once. They were also slow to refill water, take another round of drink orders, and so on. Portion size: Food was served in random cutsy serving vessels, such as a coconut for the coconut curry, which in my opinion was largely to disguise the fact that they were half the size / amount of food that is normal. Food quality: Everything was overly sweet. The fried fish was quite bad; each piece of fish looked like a piece of popcorn chicken, and was probably 90% batter and "fried" and 10% dried out fish. You couldn't taste the fish at all, it had no texture of properly fried fish, and frankly they could have used tempe for all the fish-nature it had. The fried roll was decent, but it tasted like any cheap Chinese take-out's fried roll. Drink quality: I wasn't drinking, but my Thai iced tea was watered down, and the cocktails I tasted were too sweet. Price: it's not cheap; they're charging as if it's a high end Asian fusion place, and it tastes worse than if it was a hole-in-the-wall dive. Avoid.
(1)Jeannie T.
Had dinner here with a close friend as a catch up session. Upon arriving, we were greeted right away by one of the waiters. My friend ordered the garlic prawns with a thai iced tea and I ordered the green bean salad. To be honest, the green bean salad is my favorite thing to order here. And just like all the times in the past that I've been here, it was spot on. I love that the green beans in the salad are nice and crunchy and never has that squishy sound that it can make in your mouth when you eat it. It annoys me when that happens. The garlic lime vinaigrette was perfect. You know how when you eat at a restaurant and order the same thing over and over again, it may or may not always taste the same as the first time you ate it or you get sick of it? Not the case for me. It always tastes just as good as the last time and I can never grow tired of it. I didn't get to try my friend's garlic prawns but I know that it's his favorite dish to order here. And he ate it all, so that pretty much sums up that it's that good. I also didn't try his thai iced tea but he didn't complain about it so I'm assuming it was good as well. The service here was great. The restaurant wasn't too crowded and the ambiance was intimate but casual. The servers were super nice and friendly.
(5)anthony l.
Wonderful spot, a hidden gem. Great attention to detail, really fresh ingredients and impeccable preparation for a moderate price. They would be just as comfortable in SF with the quality. The coconut shrimp is not like we had anywhere else, served in a cooked 1/2 coconut shell with soft coconut meat that scoops out like butter. The preparation behind their chili ribs is unbelievable and delivers an extremely unique crunchy, sweet , tender yet spicy experience. Definitely would come back and want to try all the other items.
(5)Winnie G.
Key word: GARLIC NOODLES. Tell me why I finally find a local restaurant where I don't have to head into the city for some Garlic Noodles (7)! It's served as a side dish and wasn't what I expected. Pleasant surprise! Cooked with a tangy, sweet soy sauce like sauce, marinating the thick noodles to become a nice brown color, covered with something crunchy and just a touch of garlic. It wasn't overloading and not what I expected, but it pretty delicious. Best restaurant up in this hooha! I fell in love at first taste and arrival. It's such a precious eatery here on Piedmont Ave, a Vietnamese fusion cuisine that offers lunch specials, dinner specials, appetizers and sides. The interior is super cozy and dim, with soft lighting flowing in from the midday sun. The tres chic modern decoration gives your meal a touch of sophistication. Mm they offer a variety of different lunch specials and even vegetarian options! Being me, I took a shot at the pho (8) beef and astonished by the portion knowing that it's not an authentic viet pho place, I got the noodles the beef the mint the bean sprouts and lime and all that good broth in between. Small bowl, but well worth it in terms of taste and Piedmont Ave food worthy. It's really a great place to dine and the service is quick. The food is super fresh and the simple menu with burst of flavors really brings out the culture of Asian food. Can't wait to be back for more. Your one stop shop for flavorful Asian cuisine. They have bathrooms and do take both credit and cash. Ps. Try the crispy shrimp rolls (10) slightly expensive, comes with 5 and the sweetest fish sauce vinaigrette.
(4)Janet N.
One of our favorite neighborhood restaurants for both lunch & dinner! For top value, go for the $10 lunch specials, which often include salad and rice. Delicious food, friendly and gracious service, comfortable and cozy ambiance. Try it -- you'll love it and become a regular!
(5)Amber I.
Xyclo fed me most of my lunches when I worked from home. I love the dirtiest pho place possible, but there's something about this fancier chicken pho here that's awesome. There's really a delicious dish for everyone. Double surprise roll is a must. Staff is always so sweet, and they have a full bar.
(5)Jennifer S. P.
Yummy spot! My boyfriend and I went there for dinner and loved all the food we ordered! It was really hard to find parking so we should have just walked from Rockridge, but the food was great. Staff not so friendly or attentive, but they weren't rude or anything so I would be willing to return.
(4)Alan T.
Went here with high expectations and left with massive dissappointment. We ordered 3 dishes and 2 drinks, none was good, or near good. - Nem nuong roll: too much veggies compared to the amount of meat. The roll is not tight enough so everything started to fall apart the moment I took a small bite. - Chicken wings: too dry, overcooked - Ca kho: I feel like I can make this with those pre packaged spices they sell in the supermarket. Not much flavor in it. I would be less mad if the prices werent outrageous. Over$10/dish and portion is not adequate. This restaurant is not a high end asian fusion place at all
(1)Salsaboy S.
To my surprise, I didn't like Xyclo much. It's not a great place for vegetarians, though several items on the menu are listed as vegetarian-capable upon request. Some of the items which Yelpers rave about -- the Salt and Pepper Tofu, for instance -- have been taken off of the menu (wasn't a big seller, they said), which is too bad. There were, maybe, four things that were able to be made vegetarian. I ordered the Clay Pot, vegetarian-style, which wasn't bad, but it wasn't special. I also got an order of the fresh rolls, which, frankly, were not good. I've had better rolls at Golden Lotus and the Slanted Door as well as Out the Door. They were fresher than comparable rolls from Whole Foods, but there wasn't any flavor. The peanut sauce was uninspired as well. My dining companion ordered the spare ribs, which, as a vegetarian, I didn't try. She said they were too sweet and she hardly ate them. She also ordered the garlic noodles as a side dish, which were the best thing we ordered that night. It would be difficult for me to recommend this place. It struck me as tired and uninspired. Could be hip but isn't. Piedmont Avenue continues to disappoint with mediocre establishments. My favorite is Lococo -- a quaint local Italian place -- but I hardly go because it gets crowded and the wait can be long.
(2)L K.
Love this place. Regularly bait. Excellent pho and spring roll variety. Not so crazy about the plates on the menu outsider the appetizers and pho, but that's a personal pref. would highly recommend this place. It gets very busy on weekends during the eve.
(5)Anna L.
Ambiance was great and we were seated right away. We preferred mojitos which came in a huge glass, which were delicious and strong. The fresh shrimp rolls were fresh and accompanied by a sweet sauce. At first I was a little disappointed with my vegetable pho but I was able to spice it up with a little Sriracha. My friend got a fishy soup that was OK only because it was pretty easy to get sick of the overwhelming fishy taste (I'm sure it's still going to taste great today so hey, double meal with my leftovers). Overall we were pretty pleased with our experience.
(5)Courtney T.
I don't yelp all too often and I normally only leave reviews when the experience was outstanding. We've been really tight on budget but because it was my one day off I wanted to go out to eat after a long day of adventuring at Lands End with our puppy. We live in west Oakland so we looked for something seafood nearby. After going to a place that was packed and had no place to sit we decided to go here. We ordered the xyclo roll, which neither me nor my boyfriend really enjoyed. The sauce was not enticing and the roll itself was lacking. We also shared the rice medley clay pot. It was decent, but I easily could've made it at home and made it better, so for 16 dollars I was disappointed. Even the Thai tea was pretty meh. Along with the food being so-so, not a single server of the two ladies asked how we were, nor did we hear them ask anybody sitting near us. I myself come from nearly 5 years of restaurant work and find I'm very critical of dining experiences, so I at least expect to be asked how I'm doing aside from any specials or suggestions. Anyway, point is not sure why they have such good reviews. Maybe we just came on a slow Tuesday. Who knows. Definitely won't come back though when there are plenty of other cheaper, better quality restaurants in the area.
(1)Ronald L.
Xyclo is conveniently located across the street from Fenton's which is my favorite ice cream parlor. Xyclo is an Asian Fusion restaurant with an emphasis in Vietnamese cuisines. I followed my fellow Yelpers and ordered the tumbling dice with a side of brown rice while my friends ordered the coconut prawns, xyclo chili ribs, papaya salad, and a side of garlic rice. Between the three of us, we ate about 2/3 of the food and I ate the remaining 1/3 at work the next day. Before I dive into the food, let me say a few kind words about the service. On a Tuesday night where the restaurant is only 1/2 filled, we had our water refilled only once that night and I had to flag down the waitress twice for more napkins. The waitress apparently ignored my first hand wave since I'm sure we made eye contact. It wasn't until she had to clear the table next to me that she finally got the hint that I wanted something from her in the first place. Now, onto the juicy stuff (no pun intended). As recommended by almost everyone on Yelp, the tumbling dice is the best dish on the menu. Juicy filet mignon cubes with delicious sauteed seasoning that makes me want to lick the liquids flowing out of the meat. I ordered a side of brown rice since I didn't want to have the liquids go to waste. Definitely a dish you would want to order. It's large enough to share with friends. The xyclo ribs weren't really spicy but rather crunchy. It's pork ribs breaded with sesame seeds. It was a little hard for me to eat since I had a canker sore under my tongue but my friends all had the same reaction that the ribs didn't leave a lasting impression. The ribs didn't seem to have enough meat either. The coconut prawns had a meager amount but the rice inside that coconut shell really hits the spot. Imagine fried rice with coconut chunks! Overall, the food was decent and the service wasn't so hot. For the price, eerrr... I want to say good things but even the price makes me want to think twice before going back. Now, don't get me wrong. The food is decent so you may want to try this place out and head over to Fenton's for dessert afterwards.
(3)Jass M. B.
Have been here for the pho a couple times which is delicious on a cool night, and really what I come here for, though I know restaurant-pho is more expensive (and no better tasting) than delicious hole-in-the-wall-pho-place pho. And that's what this place is good for. Date-night pho. Cute little place, to get out of the house, eat, talk, and just enjoy the company of another, be it friend or beau. I have also tried the claypot - sooooo burn your mouth hot - takes too long to cool down to eating temp :( but once it does, is good. And the appetizer rolls - Xyclo, Crispy Shrimp which were both decent (wish they had a variety of dipping sauces available) and Sugarcane shrimp (didn't care for) Nothing to write home about, but yet, I like this place. And will continue to come :)
(4)Dan L.
We love coming here for the rolls sampler. It has the full complement of the cold rice paper type rolls and the fried egg roll type rolls. Very tasty vegetables and meat inside, great with the chile oil and peanut sauce dipping sauces. We'll get the pho also, both beef and chicken are good. A small restaurant, can be crowded sometimes with lots of waiting. Always friendly service. Have been here a half-dozen times, was here last in Mar 2014, will definitely come back for a rolls 'n pho fix. Great location almost next door to Fenton's (perfect for dessert). Hard to find parking.
(3)A T.
I gotta say, I was very excited to try this place when I was looking through the search engine. Let me start off by saying the time we chose to try this place was terrible. My friend and I went during New Years day and it was totally chaotic. So I don't know if this is how the restaurant normally operates. The food was great. I would recommend the Saigon Devil Wings, Garlic noodles and the Steak Salad. The marination of the wings were great and the size was standard, but I wish they had more flavor in the meat. The Garlic noodles were such a surprise. I felt it was better than Monkey King Bar and Grill, but that is my preference on flavor. The Steak Salad was another surprise for me, most places make the steak dry but the texture was moist and the flavor was amazing. The one dish I didn't like was the Chili Ribs. I know it is the signature dish for Xyclo, but I am not a big fan of sesame and those ribs were coated to the max capacity, which distracted me from the real flavor of the ribs and that should be the most important part right? Xyclo also has a cocktail menu that they should post on Yelp and I wasn't really impressed by it. When I tried to get recommendations from the waitress she had no idea what to recommend me and was too busy waiting the other tables to finish her sentence. The Lychee Martini is the safest choice I would go for. The most import thing of all that made my overall experience was the service, when I called the restaurant to check on the hours.. the lady who answered the phone was surprised I asked the question in the first place. When we arrived at the venue.. it seemed they only had ONE waitress working that night. When we asked a gentlemen who looked like he could be the owner or manager at the venue if he could assist us, he told us that he wasn't a waiter. I consider that rude. They were combining tables for a bigger party and my friend and I had to wait at the bar. I made the most of my wait and ordered the Lychee Martini and we were seated after 20 minutes. Since the waitress was swamped with other tables she hardly had time to refill our water cups or check on our orders. If it weren't for the food and great company I was having, I would give this place a lower rating for the poor service.
(3)kathy o.
We go to this place once a month or so and always love it. Great before or after movie dinner. Food is consistently wonderful.
(5)Kristy N.
I really don't get how Xyclo is rated 4 stars. This place is a rip off and not at all authentic Vietnamese (nor is it that great of a fusion joint either). My bowl of chicken pho was virtually 20% noodle/meat and 80% broth. The chicken was clearly the frozen kind that you buy from Costco, de-thaw, and then slice into pieces. The broth was just okay, but for $9 a bowl, I expected a whole lot more. There weren't that many other Asian customers in the restaurant, and I think that's very indicative of the type of customers this place attracts because it's clearly not Vietnamese people. There are a lot of yummier, cheaper places out there so don't waste your time with this one.
(2)Jash P.
TUMBLING DICE. That's all you need to know! Eats: Highly recommend the tumbling dice with a side of rice. If not, you only get it on a bed of salad. The filet mignon melts in your mouth--def. some mouthwatering goodness! DELICIOUS. Other Eats: Butterfly Prawns--good flavor, but the prawns were difficult to remove from their shell. That was a struggle that left a sour note on the dish. Price: Expensive. Tumbling Dice + Side of Rice: $23; Butterfly Prawns: $16 Service: It was okay--could use some improvement though! It took awhile to get our refills for water and straws for our drinks. Wait Time: None! We were seated right away (party of 2 on a Saturday night around 7pm). Parking: Street--It actually took LONGER to find parking over waiting for a table! Bottom line: Go here for your filet mignon fix!
(4)Clara Bella D.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the Bay! Talk about amazing Asian Fusion! My family used to own Di Bartolo's on grand and I love supporting local businesses!! If you're looking for a romantic, laid back, comfortable dinner then this is your place! Whether I'm with my boyfriend, girlfriends or even my gran this place is spectacular! My favorite dishes: -Tao Roll ( best fresh rolls in the Bay Area....) -Apple Salad (super refreshing and light) -Garlic Noodles ( the perfect side for two) -Extra Spicy Green Beans ( spice it up!!! This dish is perfect!) -Noise level is not high at all! Despite the crowded restaurant +: -Very simple yet tasteful ambiance and decor -Perfect for a romantic dinner for two! Just lovely.... -Attentive costumer service -Consistently good food every time...no surprises -Always an open table, even @ 9:15! -: -Parking on Piedmont Avenue is always awful but who cares!!:) -I don't recommend take out..... Sorry Xyclo but your 100% better eating in! Hurry up and try Xyclo!!!! Ciao.
(5)Renalen C.
GARLIC NOODLES. get them. to share. or no, maybe just for yourself cuz youre gonna want the whole bowl. the chicken pho was perfect for the gloomy weather. not to mention HUGE. i barely finished it. if you want a jazz up youre drink choice, i wasnt disappointed with the mango spritzer i got. real mango chunks included.
(4)Some D.
Won't be going back. The food is good, but not good enough to make up for a business that is incompetently run. They were on a waiting list when we arrived, but they were apparently choosing names at random from that list to determine whom to seat. They screwed up our order, to the point that a 2-course meal took over 2 hours. At that point it's more like being a prisoner than a customer. A free drink or something would have gone a LONG way towards improving the experience, but they were utterly apologetic about the whole thing. Having worked in multiple restaurants, I understand that things go wrogn sometimes, but to not recognize it when it does is unacceptable.
(2)Scarlet A.
The food was very good. They a very generous with portion sizes. The tofu was cooked perfectly, which is something I am very picky about. Our drinks were large and strong. The restaurant was empty when we arrive close to opening time on a Monday. We were pretty much the only people there for an hour. It filled in quickly after that. Staff was friendly and attentive.
(5)Erica C.
Date: Saturday night Party of: 11 Occasion: Friends Birthday! Parking: Nightmare Staring out the window to Fentons: *drool* I didn't know what to expect from this place. I'm not familiar with Oakland and all I knew was it would be impossible to find parking. We had a hard time finding it because for some reason we kept missing their sign. After parking blocks away I was pleasantly surprised to see Fentons across the street. I'll admit, the entire duration of my dinner all I kept thinking about was going to Fentons after for some dessert =P Upon walking into Xyclo, I thought to myself "this place is smaller than I thought, how are we going to fit 11 people"?? Lo and behold, there was an open space room that was the perfect size for our group. I was like our own private room complete with couches. My table started out with their combination rolls. There were various types of spring rolls and eggrolls. It was a big plate and each one was very good. I ordered the Banh Xeo. The portion was huge!! This is definitely for sharing. The crepe was crispy and hot but the stuff inside was not that great. Inside the banh xeo barely had meat with no sprouts. There were a lot of onions. I would give this dish 2 stars. The service was wonderful. They came by often to check on us and refill our drinks. The waitress was very helpful in answering all the questions we had about their dishes. Xyclo is good in my book.
(3)Jeremy L.
I love this place. .. come here once a week because I can get enough wonton noodle soup and crispy shrimp rolls... now I'm getting the chili ribs and seven elements!
(5)Annaliese D.
I went here with a large group for my birthday dinner. The food was 4 stars, but the serving was lacking. I know with a large party it is inevitable that there will be some mistakes with the order, but at Xyclo it was over the top. They couldn't keep track of who ordered what or what had been brought to the table. A few people's food came out much later then the rest of us because they had not written it down correctly. Luckily, the food was tasty. I had the crispy ribs and they were really good...very crispy with a lot of sesame seeds on the outside. My boyfriend ordered the garlic noodles to share and those were delicious! They were a fusion-inspired dish with flavors of garlic and soy but with parmesan cheese as well. His order of tempura basa was the crispiest tempura I've ever had, but it was somewhat ruined by the veggies underneath. Overall, despite the problems with the service I had a good experience...I guess that's what good food and good friends are for.
(3)Laura K.
I love Vietnamese food and specifically pho. They only had chicken and beef pho. I tried their shrimp,paste soup the first time I visited and it was ok. Tonight I brought my husband and we both had a noodle dish. He had the Birds Nest dish and I had the shrimp noodle dish. They were both ok. I wish mine had more ingredients. It was just noodles, four shrimp and some spices with a sauce. The waiter was not friendly and not attentive to our needs. Not until after we paid did they bring us more water when I sat through most of dinner drinking the rest of my husband's water since mine was gone. Not the friendliest staff. This isn't a place that I would frequent again.
(3)Andrew C.
For years I'd trekked to E14th in lieu of Xyclo. The other night I found myself with little time and craving some noodle soup . . . Order the Xyclo rolls (chicken, shrimp, mushroom, carrot, taro, glass noodle and nuoc cham, $9) and Bun Rieu (shrimp and crab cake, rice noodle, tofu and crab claw in tomato sauce, topped with cilantro and onion, $10) The Xyclo rolls are 5 small rolls wrapped in rice paper served with a small dipping bowl of nuoc cham and a pinch of shredded cabbage ( yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… ). The rolls were dense and flavorful. The nuoc cham needed more fish sauce and maybe some chilis to kick things up. Serving size seemed small for $9. Decent bun rieu with a salad plate of mint, shredded cabbage, and lettuce ( yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… ). The shrimp & crab cake was nice and the noodles well cooked. Plenty of tasty fried tofu wedges. The broth however, was weak. There was none of the fermented shrimp paste you usually see served with bun rieu which would have helped things tremendously, along with more herb variety (ie. parilla, etc) & maybe an option for pig's blood cubes. The crab claw, while a nice touch, was also messy to eat, having to rip it apart with your fingers to get the meat out. Service was non-existent despite it not being packed. I stood around for awhile waiting to be seated and during the meal the closest anyone came to my table when not delivering food was when one server with a water pitcher glanced at my table, saw my water was 3/4 full and walked away before I could ask for more dipping sauce. I had to resort to the Korean stand-by of shouting across the restaurant to get another drink. I think it took the Piedmont Ave crowd by surprise ;-) Xyclo rolls: 4 stars Bun Rieu: 3 stars Average to above-average food at above average prices. Crap-tastic service.
(2).Alan Y.
One of the few options for Vietnamese food in this part of Oakland, Xyclo has a modern menu with a menu comfortable for those who are unfamiliar with Asian or Vietnamese cuisine in particular. Xyclo works in a pinch if you don't feel like driving into Chinatown or the San Antonio District.
(4)G T.
Came here for dinner, food is not too memorable. They make good cocktails to be fair.
(3)Ratka P.
The food is always super fresh and delicious. I am always satisfied.
(5)Patrick T.
Really excellent modern Vietnamese food. I've eaten here a good number of times for lunch/dinner or even from a catered wedding. I don't know if they still do lunch specials, but last time I was here, it was about $10 for a solid lunch. I had the crispy curry basa which was great. For an appetizer you must get the Saigon devil wings. Delicious, glazed, crispy chicken wings that are to die for. They really do their pork right. Bun cha hanoi was delicious. The grilled pork was cooked well and seasoned just right. Xyclo chili ribs are absolutely outstanding. Glazed in a sweet chili sauce, covered with sesame seeds, boy are your tastebuds in for a treat. The ribs are crispy from the glaze, but the meat falls right off the bone. Melty good.
(5)Kelli M.
It's been some time since I've eaten at Xyclo. The last time my husband and I were there, we waited and waited...and waited - and no one came to our table. So we promptly left. We'd eaten there one other time, and the food was good, but it wasn't worth waiting that long. Had that been the only issue, I wouldn't have bothered with a review. Terrible service happens sometimes. But I'm writing one now, because in the last six months, I've walked by Xyclo in the wee hours of the morning only to find they hadn't bused the tables from the night before.This has happened three times. I know it may not seem like a big deal to some of you - but this just has red flags all over the place for me. If Xyclo doesn't care that there's half-eaten plates and bowls of food, dirty napkins, silverware and glasses on the tables in plain view of the public - then what does that say about the cleanliness of their kitchen? Do I even need to mention the possibility of rodents? I did check the Xyclo website before I posted this review to see if there was a contact I could email. There was not. Hopefully someone from the restaurant will read this review and get their act together. Who knows - maybe the chef/owner isn't aware that the place isn't being cleaned each night. Either way, I won't be back.
(1)David S.
This place was REALLY good. We started with the fresh rolls, they were well flavored, had a crunchy sausage in the middle and came with a non-peanut dipping sauce that was really tasty. We moved on to the coconut shrimp served over coconut rice that was cooked in a coconut shell, also really good flavor...the shrimp were perfectly cooked and the rice was delicious. We also ordered the ribs, which were amazing....if you like ribs, even a little bit then this dish is a must. Tender, with a crunchy glazed exterior and great flavor! I will def be back.
(4)Bobby K.
Hmmm...what can I say about this place......Its not like any other Vietnamese Restaurant I've been to in the past. Probably should have figured that out when I noticed on yelp that it was classified as ASIAN FUSION. Oooooo! Ahhhhhh! Anyways, the food was good. My sister and my other sister's boyfriend got the stuffed eggplant. It was delicious, and reminded me of the stuffed eggplants you can order for dim sum. On the other hand, my other sister and I ordered beef pho. I've definitely had better in San Jose. Of course, thats not what they're known for. Customer Service was sort of a hit and miss. We got a waitress, but she didnt really greet us with personality. Instead, she just asked what we would like. Once we finished our meal, it took us a few to several minutes for us to get a meal. But the hardest thing I could barely bare about this restaurant were the prices. IT WAS SO MUCH MONEY! The stuffed eggplant was good but definitely should not have cost 16 bucks! The pho had to be the cheapest thing on the menu, but it was still 9 dollars. Don't even get me started about how hard it was to actually find it on the menu. So overall, I thought it was ok, but I wouldn't mind trying Xyclo again if I were to have something extremely different. But definitely, its not worth the drive out of my way from Gilroy.
(3)Anusha M.
The food and drinks were amazing. I would highly recommend the rolls. All of the food was very fresh, and the atmosphere was casual but elegant. The only drawback was the service was a bit slow with bringing out the food.
(4)Susan L.
We have been here twice for dinner, and wonder why we don't come more often. Many restaurants make shrimp rolls (non-fried) but I have never had a better roll or a better dipping sauce. The simple mixed vegetables with tofu is very special, due to their ability to cook the vegetables perfectly and add a delicious sauce. The hit of our latest dinner was the huge prawns served in a coconut shell with coconut rice and young coconut, which is an incredible texture and flavor. And following that them, the fried bananas with coconut ice cream and toasted coconut was the perfect way to end the meal. Think we like coconut?! Gracious service completes this great experience. Perfect for pre or post-movie as it is in the same block as the Piedmont Theater. Don't miss it!
(4)Fred S.
The Food was excellent across the board,but the customer service needs some extreme fine tuning.It took forever for use to get a menu,and one of the servers sat use so they new we where there,then it took forever for a server to to come and take our order,even when I would wave to catch there attention there eyes would ether always be looking down or glance by and not see my arm raised up.I have work as a server myself for Five years and the secret is not happy customers is not complicated in regards to the server part.Here is the verbal math, be sincerely warm and friendly on the meet and greet ,be quick ,on getting to the customer,get there orders correctly in the the cooks,check in on drinks to see if they have need for refills,get there orders out to them asap and when serving them there order be sure everything is in order before leaving the table,check back during the meal twice,but allows make sure to scan slowly to see if any tables are in need of anything,keep an eye on peoples drinks to see if they are in need of refills,and give people there space while they are enjoy each others company and meal.That is the secrets.Update your servers with these key training notes and make sure they follow through correctly and get an A when being tested throughout the week at random times,and you WIll see your profits RISE. Thanks for your time
(3)Madrone J.
A-ok is three stars. I wanted to give more but can't justify it yet. The ambience is pretty good, not too loud, nice lighting. Service was really bad. I was given a glass of water and menus as I waited for my friends. Had to flag down to order a drink. Had to flag down to order starters after friends arrived.. Had to flag down to order mains. We basically had no service, every time flagging them down as they rushed by. Main dishes were bought out at different times, so two of us sat for 5 mins while our friend ate. The restaurant was not packed and they had 3 or 4 servers. The food, the papaya salad was great and nice and spicy The poached shrimp roll was somewhat bland and the peanut sauce not so good My friends clay pot made her very happy. Two of us ordered the coconut prawns, the sauce was fantastic, the prawns were so over cooked they were rubbery and chewy. 4 prawns and about 4 spoons of rice for $16 really? Because in general the flavors were so so good, I want to come back and try it again, order some different dishes, and hopefully the stars can go up. You guys have to work on your service. We basically had none and I felt frustrated to keep having to ask.
(3)Jessica T.
Came here for Saturday night dinner and was seated immediately. Ambiance was intimate and the staff was quick and friendly. We got the nem noung roll, saigon devil wings, and tumble dice. I thought the nem noung roll was pretty standard, the tumble dice was soft and well seasoned, but still conflicted over the wings... great flavor but the caramelized garlic sauce was of annoying to eat. :/ still, worth a try if you want something yummy!
(4)May T.
Sometimes Asian fusion works, and this is one of those restaurants. My brother warned me: "it's not real Vietnamese food." Yet, it was really tasty Vietnamese fusion food and the pho ga I had really soothed my sick, feverish self.
(3)Ali H.
Came here for lunch and really enjoyed the food and ambience. The chicken with basil was tasty and fresh. Also had the pho which had a great broth. I'll be coming back!
(5)Nimeela D.
Their shrimp rolls are amazing!!! And their pho is one of the best I've had in the bay area!!! Now great food coupled with amazing service, thats a cozy evening I'd want to go back to!!!
(5)Vickie T.
Only the drinks were good at this place. I had a mangopolitan and I loved it. However the foods were only okay...
(3)Christopher L.
Came here again tonight, and, as usual, it hit the spot. Still a smidgen on the pricey side, but it felt like their portion sizes have increased, so that helps a lot! I love the five-spice chicken, as it reminds me of chicken I once would eat from street vendors in Thailand. Good, attentive service. One of these days, I want to come and just order rolls, as one would at a sushi place.
(5)Daniel L.
Shannon F and I were taking a stroll on Piedmont Ave on Valentine's Day when she thoughtfully noticed the listing of bread pudding dessert on the window menu at Xyclo. The ambiance has an edgy, dim, and fun décor similar to the one at Candybar with cute little red tables stacked on either side of its walls to accentuate an intimate vibe. I'm not a big fan of fusion cuisine but the charming atmosphere and idea of having bread pudding were intriguing to us. The four course pre fix dinner included eight small dishes that ranged from salads, appetizers, entrees and desserts for $30 per person. Poached shrimps: A small serving of poached shrimps blended with papaya salad served with two large sized shrimp chips. There was not enough shrimps and the papaya was lumpy and could use a stronger fish sauce and lime to give it a better taste. This dish was mild spicy but the shrimp chips were crisp and nicely done. Vietnamese Style Beef Jerky: Similar to the poached shrimps, this salad was constituted with small bits of Vietnamese beef jerky tossed with papaya salad served with another pair of jumbo shrimp chips. The concept was repetitive and I would have liked it better if the ingredients had a sharper and crunchier texture. Bo Bia Fresh Rolls: Vietnamese spring rolls wrapped with jicama, carrot, dried shrimps, basil, and fried eggs served with peanut hoisin sauce. The dish only came with three rolls so it's not the most ideal for Valentine's Day when pre fix dishes like this should come in even numbers. The rice wrapper was served too wet while the rolls could have tasted better if it had included rice noodles at the center. Banh Kot: The concept was inspired by Vietnamese shrimp cake (Banh Tom Ho Tay) that usually come with a shrimp deep fried to crisp with soft potatoes and wheat embedded in the inner core. This fusion interpretation had a soft breaded outer layer with small poached shrimp stuffed at the center alongside scallions and sticks of green apples dipped in nuoc cham vinaigrette. *Shaking my head* Can I just say I didn't like it? Coconut prawns: Jumbo prawns simmered in a rich creamy house curry served in a young coconut that was filled with coconut rice. Its overt sweet and creamy flavor was too rich for me but I definitely liked the concept. The rice was served too wet for it to be enjoyable. Fillet Mignon: This was pretty much a standard Vietnamese beef salad with a diverse mix of peanuts, mint, cilantro, sautéed beef with garlic and onions served on a bed of rice noodles. Of all the dishes, I liked this one the most but I truly did not trust the fillet mignon label and thought the fish sauce could be more inspiring. Gelato: Two sizable heart-shaped strawberry and chocolate ice creams served with an edible flower. The ice creams were good but the texture and consistency failed to meet the definition of a gelato. Bread Pudding: Warm, soft, homemade banana bread pudding served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was not as good as the one I had at Westside Tavern but still delicious. I liked it. *All smiles* To me it wasn't about the meal but the company that mattered. The server was attentive but not knowledgeable with the questions we had about the ingredients. We also ordered their Ginger ($9) and Lychee ($9) Martinis but they were way too strong and tasted horrible. I'm not sure if their regular menu is reflective of what we had experienced, but I don't think I'll be returning with Le Cheval being a short drive away.
(2)Bob S.
My wife and I went there last Friday night. We both love Asian food. The food was excellent as was the service. The place is a hidden gem on Piedmont Ave.
(4)Winnie H.
I have been to Xyclo about 4 times over the past 4 years, and I think I will return for more in the near future. I liked the food. I can't remember what I ordered the first couple times (as they took place more than 2-3 years ago), but they were good. My impression is that the food is a bit salty but otherwise good. Recently (actually I went there twice within the past week) I ordered Lemongrass tofu & veggie with rice, and Bun (which is rice noddle with salad and choice of meat, I picked chicken). They were both good. The lemongrass dish was a bit salty for me, but the Bun was just right. I think it's because rice noddle and salad taste minimal with the contrast of the sauteed meat on top (which alone is too salty), and they make a good mix. Overall, food is good, but at times can be too salty. I think I would go with dishes with more salad/noddles to make things a better balance.
(4)Liz S.
Tasty, tasty, tasty. Came here with a group of friends recently and I can't remember everything we ordered, but most of it was dang good; maybe a couple of dishes were fine, not outstanding. I do have to say the Vietnamese crepes were delicious!!! A lot of fun to eat but very messy -- ask for extra napkins. Service was good too. Overall very positive experience and more than satisfying meal. I've been back a few times and will be back again.
(4)Wendy M.
We literally drive from Santa Cruz just to eat at Xyclo. It is our first choice whenever anyone wants to take us out for a special celebration. Not only is the food amazingly delicious, but the service is fabulous, with attention to every detail. Our favorite dishes are: Garlic Noodles, Crispy Curry Fish, Combination Stir Fry, Green Bean Salad, Fresh Apple Salad, and Lemongrass Basil Chicken.
(5)Christina C.
Brilliant. That coconut prawns dish is just brilliant. It is a must have dish. I finally brought family over last night. The dishes we ordered were very child friendly. My 4 yr-old had such a nice feed. Love everything about this trendy Vietnamese joint. PS: The parking is the only painful thing I do not enjoy........
(5)Melinda Y.
I was fascinated to see that you can pre-order your meal over the phone and have it waiting for you when you arrive. Timing at your own risk however. The people had reserved the table next to us, with the food ready for consumption. I wanted to sneak a taste when nobody was looking. Yah, I was THAT hungry! I haven't had many memorable experiences at Asian Fusion-type restaurants (most are overpriced with small portions), but I'm open to trying some place if it seems promising. We ordered the Saigon devil wings ($8), birds nest ($15), crispy curry fish ($15), and five spice chicken ($14). My favorite of the night was the wings. The garlic caramelized glaze on the wings was superb. It was something that (I think) is unique to this restaurant. I'm still thinking about them right now. YUM! The fish was also pretty flavorful with a nice crisp. The noodle was okay...flavoring was a little bland.
(4)Karla B.
They were very kind to accommodate our large group. Unfortunately, we were not in the main section and it was hard to get the staff's attention throughout the night. We shared the roll sampler, which was only ok. I had the coconut prawns, which came beautifully served, but again were only ok, and excessively sweet for me. Overall a nice place, but I was a bit disappointed with the food. The drink menu is quite good.
(3)Debbie M.
Wonderful, delicious, inventive We've been to Vietnam three times (love the cuisine) - even taking cooking lessons in Hanoi. Xyclo's food is amazing, reminds us of some of our favorite restaurants in Vietnam, with a bit of a 'California' twist.
(5)Xinwei L.
Their dishes are interesting and "modern" but I didn't like it. For example, they have quite a few choices of appetizer rolls and they are all $10 and up. I really like the traditional shrimp rolls but they didn't have it so I ordered the sugarcane shrimp rolls. I didn't care for it -- they cut the rolls in half and some of the rolls have a LOT of tall lettuce so the dish looks really pretty, but it doesn't taste right because there's too much lettuce! It's also kind of small for the price since those are only half rolls.
(3)Anthony Y.
Always as good as the last time. I come here fairly regularly throughout the year and I can always expect my food to be just how I had it last time. Their rolls are great. I love the sugarcane shrimp roll and the double surprise roll. I always have to get an order of the garlic noodles. The people at the restaurant know me and my friend as the people who always order a ton of food. I've tried at least half of the menu and I'm never disappointed with their food every time I go back. Can be a little pricey especially with how many things I want to order.
(5)Eryn L.
I've been here twice, once for a sit-down meal and once for take out. Both times the food was across the board excellent. The service was slow and not so friendly, but the food made up for it. I particularly like the eggplant and tofu dish, though everything is great. One thing to watch out for though: When we got take out, it leaked EVERYWHERE, unbeknownst to us until after dinner. All over the car seat, my boots... Nothing was upside down or out of place, their packaging was just faulty. Be careful when getting take out!
(4)Courtney Y.
I was in the area and wanted Vietnamese food which I usually love. When I first walked in to this place it didn't have a good aroma. To me this is the first sign of a good restaurant. I was going to try another place until a woman eating in the restaurant told me " Good choice". Based on that I decided to give it a try. I ordered lemon basil chicken which came with a salad and rice. The chicken came out and it looked appetizing. However, the dish did not taste like lemon-basil and was drenched in soy sauce which I dislike. There was no flavors in the dish. Even the salad did not have a dressing on it and was just straight vinegar. I didn't care for this place and was surprised by all their award stickers on their window. I will not be back!
(2)Joanna S.
Nice atmosphere and good food here. Limited menu, but what we tried was really good. Loved the tofu eggplant in sweet/spicy sauce with green beans, side of brown rice. Service was a little too understated. Water was refilled, but no one checked whether we needed something, which was a bit nonchalant.
(4)Hilary B.
I will go here again & again! The food was amazing! Amazing! I can't believe I just discovered this place. I had the garlic noodles & Saigon Devil Wings. Can i tell you that they were fricking amazing? Because they were! The staff was even kind enough to throw together a quick grilled chicken & garlic noodle stir fry for my picky date. Ive decided that I will eat here as often as my diet & wallet allow!
(4)Erin J.
When planning our wedding we decided that instead of paying outrageous prices per person for full service catering, we would order massive amounts of food from our favorite restaurant instead. Xyclo is delicious and pretty much our favorite restaurant, but this review extends beyond their deliciousness and great atmosphere. Keng was extremely helpful, sweet, and relaxed with helping us plan our menu for about 100 people. She gave good suggestions for what would hold up best, and how much food to order. In the end, all of the food held up, we had a good amount of food, and everybody raved about it. We have an eclectic mixture of friends and family, from "fancy" restaurant frequenters to BBQ loving family in Missouri, those with more exotic palets and those who like it plain, meat eaters, vegans, and gluton free alike - and absolutely everybody LOVED the food (with the one exception of our poor friend who is severely allergic to peanuts and denied the pleasure of this food lest he go into anaphylactic shock). I think in the end it worked out to just over $20 per person - which includes heaping plates to each people, seconds (sometimes thirds), and leftovers. Of course this also involved a lot more work on my family's part (Xyclo made the food but did not does not provide full service catering), but was well worth it for the extremely reasonable price and the absolutely delicious food.
(5)Christine E.
My boyfriend and I decided to try this spot due to the high reviews, and sad to say that I am a bit disappointed. I was expecting more. We ordered the Xyclo Chili Ribs, Crispy Curry Fish, and a side order of Garlic Herb Noodles. Out of the three, I recommend ordering the Crispy Curry Fish. It was very flavorful and the fish was cooked perfectly. Many reviewers recommend ordering the Xyclo Chili Ribs and Garlic Herb Noodles, but it was OK. Nothing special and to rave about. Service here wasn't that great. I saw the server asking other tables if they are doing ok and if they need anything else, but did not bother to ask my boyfriend and I. The server only came to our table to give our food and check. Only wished the sever would fill up our glass of water while eating, not after. Would I come back? Ehhh, I personally think the food here is overpriced for what you get. Unless its on a special occasion I would, otherwise I have to pass.
(3)Asia E.
i love xyclo! I've been coming here since they opened! i always get the following - xyclo roll sampler - jasmine tea - bûn - probably the best I've ever had
(4)Claire A.
Used to come here a lot with the family and spend quite a bit. But I've been there a few times now and have been very disappointed. The pho here is a joke. 10$ for a few noodles a couple pieces of meat and you're like whaaatttt??? I won't be back.
(1)M A.
Been there twice in the past 2 weeks for lunch special. Both times ordered Eggplant Basil Tofu dish. Both times cleaned it up and felt nourished. What could make this place better? If I knew 100% that the Tofu is not GMO [soy is one of the major GMO crops]. I care about these things, and hope my fellow humans do too! I would give Xyclo 5 stars and be there at least once a week if it was Organic.
(4)Elise F.
If you have an onion allergy, do NOT assume that their menu is consistent. While they list several menu items as including onions, I ordered something that did not specifically say it had onions. You can probably guess what showed up on my plate...
(3)Roxanne G.
Great food. I have been there many times for lunch but never for dinner. My go-to faves are the lemongrass eggplant tofu and the garlic noodles. Do not miss out on the garlic noodles!! I also love their fresh rolls, my favorite is the Tao roll. My co-worker always gets the pho and says it is delicious. Great place to bring people for lunch. Enjoy!
(4)Philip L.
Given the overwhelming consensus that this is a great restaurant, we were quite surprised when the chunks of filet mignon in the "Tumbling Dice" dish were incredibly chewy. How do you make filet mignon chewy? By using a different cut of meat. The server graciously removed this from the bill. The other dishes we ordered, a roll and dried scallop fried rice, were good, but did not justify the elevated price.
(2)Andy K.
This is Vietnamese fusion. You get variations on Vietnamese classics done with California toning up (or watering down, depending on your perspective). Whatever your view, the food is very good. I live in the neighborhood and eat here a couple times a week. No need to park, but I understand the complaints if you do. The restaurant is nicely furnished, if a bit sparse. One trick I use is to look in the window when walking by. If 90% of the tables are taken, go somewhere else. The servers are very nice and helpful but are easily overwhelmed. By following this rule, I never have a bad time there. Try lunch -- great food but not as busy. The pork chop is excellent. There are many good dishes at Xyclo, enough that I haven't gotten tired of it after 5 years straight. Short list, in menu order since I have it memorized: Rolls (double surprise is fun) Devil wings Green papaya salad Bun rieue soup Pho Bun with pork (noodles) Yellow curry Tumbling dice Chili ribs Garlic noodles Steamed tofu They also mix decent drinks and the wine list is great. I love this place and as long as you follow the rule above (attention Valentine's Day reviewers!), you will too.
(5)Kathrina R.
I love this place. It has wonderful service. Great food too. It is also in a perfect local spot.
(5)Christine K.
My friend and I went to Xyclo around 5pm on Saturday and were the only customers there (I'm guessing it gets busier later). Overall, Xyclo was a 3.5-4 star experience. Service was pretty good, food was FRESH and tasty. I ordered the spicy steak salad, which was perfect because I was in the mood for something flavorful but light. We also ordered the garlic herb noodles and the crispy shrimp rolls to share. The garlic noodles were my favorite! Chewy, full of toasted garlic flavor (i LOVE garlic). The crispy shrimp rolls were okay... I wish there was more taro in them, and they were a little bit TOO crispy/deep fried for my taste (but some people prefer that--I just don't like things that are too fried). For dessert, we got the fried banana with coconut ice cream. Coconut ice cream was delish! Not too sweet, which is always good. But the fried banana was a little too fried, too (I guess I just like more lightly fried things in general -- the wrapper was too hard, crunchy, thick and greasy for me). Would definitely go back to try other dishes :)
(4)Ric M.
The Garlic Noodles were outstanding!!! With one caveat, so was the main dish I ordered, the Crispy Ribs. I've never had ribs prepared like they did, and the flavor was so good. But one thing was very strange. One of the ribs was cold - not cold as in after sitting on the plate, but cold as in having been in the refrigerator and not completely warmed up. It's easy for me to understand that the ribs had been pre-cooked to an extend, and the glazing process (or whatever) includes cooking them more. But in this case, one of them was cold. It was like eating leftovers, but not anything to get real worked up about. There were about 6-7 ribs on the plate and the rest were hot - just the one. So there was some sort of glitch in the process. All in all, a very good place to go.....as long as you don't have to park a car.
(3)Katrina A.
Came back for a double date with the BFF and her boy. The boy and I usually order vegetarian, but BFFs boy is a meat eater. So we did start with vegetarian Tao Rolls, which are yummy. This time, I got to try the Tumbling Dice, which was so delicious. Super tender and moist, tons of flavor. Yum! It comes with a bit of salad too. Kinda pricey but it was delish. Next dish was the Bun Cha Hanoi. The boy ordered it thinking it was vegetarian since there was (V) next to it, but I think he forgot to request it as vegetarian, so I was surprised when there was meat on there. Anyways, it was really good though I felt bad that he couldn't eat it. Definitely recommend it. We ordered the eggplant tofu again, and the meat eater actually really liked it. Usually doesn't like eggplant, but he kept going for more! As for drinks, the boy had the mango mojito again; BFF had the mango margarita; and I went with the mango champagne sparkler. Both really loved their drinks. I was especially pleased with my drink since they used mango puree. Idk if it was fresh puree or not, but it was hella good!
(5)Susana A.
We ate here two nights on our recent stay in Oakland and loved the food. It was light and fresh, no heavy foods or oily dishes. The first night we had a vegi pho and the udon soup which were both clean and flavorful. We also had the lettuce wraps with a most delicious fresh filling of finely chopped onion, lime, cashews, dried shrimp and several other items, topped with a plum sauce. Then we shared the Vietnamese pancake which was filled with thin noodles and vegetables. My Tamarini martini was the best and a huge motivator to return. On our second visit we had the Tao Roll and the Sugarcane Roll. I had the Papaya Salad which was unusually crisp and delicious and my husband had the Steak Carpaccio and the Tumbling Dice which he enjoyed very much. We were able to take some food home for the next day. We are so happy to have found this excellent, well-priced restaurant and we will look forward to our next visit.
(5)Erica N.
Some restaurants mix exotic foods because they know it will be magical. Xyclo does it because its not illegal. They think its clever. Its actually a blend of hot and cold food that does not compliment the other. Limited drink menu is very limited despite an 'exotic' food menu. Servers are friendly and mostly attentive.
(2)Aimee R.
I like the neighborhood that this restaurant is located in. Cute little shops and restaurants nearby. We came here for the first time to have dinner with one of my friends, her husband, and her beautiful kids. The place was pretty busy when we came in. The restaurant isn't that big but they have a good amount of tables. Also, the only parking is street parking. The dishes we enjoyed: (We ordered 2 of each for our party of 6) Wonton Soup: They kept it nice and simple with shrimp and pork wontons and veggies. The broth was seasoned perfectly, not salty like some wonton soups can get. Lemongrass Basil Eggplants and Tofu - eggplants and tofu sautéed with lemongrass, Thai basil, chili, green bean, coconut milk. *My kind of dish...I love eggplant and I love tofu! Crispy Curry Fish - caramelized curry glaze Basa, Thai basil, bell pepper, served with rice and cucumber. *Bite size strips of deep fried fish...the sauce was tasty! Garlic Herb Noodles: Very flavorful. The kids especially enjoyed this dish. We look forward to coming back to this restaurant and try some new items. Restrooms: They have separate restrooms for men and women. Each only has one toilet. The women's restroom was small and stocked but the bathroom could use an automatic air freshener.
(4)Grace C.
Why does Asian Fusion always have to be so overpriced? That's my only gripe about Xyclo. The Tumbling Dice ($19) and Claypot Rice Medley ($15) were delicious but smaller than I'd expect for the prices. The side of Garlic Herb Noodles ($7) was tasty. At 7:30 on a Friday night, there was no wait - a couple of tables were open. Overall, it's worth trying Xyclo at least once because the food is good. As a bonus, you can get dessert at Fentons Creamery, which is right next door.
(3)Tom H.
This is an amazing place. We came here after a weekend in Napa where we had some amazing food, only to wrap it up with more amazing food. The staff was nice and courteous and service with a smile.
(5)Abra S.
This place is a pretty good Vietnamese "Fuision" type restaurant. I got the Sugar Cane shrimp rolls which were really good and flavorful. I also got the Grilled Chicken Bun which was good as well. Overall clean restaurant with nice decor and good food.
(4)Warwick M.
I can't remember when last I tried a restaurant for the first time and was so taken with it that I had to rush back the following day for more of their fine fare. Xyclo on Piedmont Avenue is just such a place. Everything was delicious. I am a lover of good curry and I eat it often but the Chicken Curry is one of the best I have ever had. Chicken, curry and coconut milk seem to be a marriage made in heaven and the Chicken Curry at Xyclo is spectacular. When the delicious food is added to the friendly service and reasonable prices, Xyclo is clearly 5 stars.
(5)Lisa K.
The Xcyclo sampler was huge -- a variety of all the rolls on the menu. Definitely great for sharing. I highly recommend the papaya salad. It was beautifully presented and the spicy dressing was a nice complement to the flavors in the salad.
(4)Jess M.
Ordered the ribs, bun hanoi, curry fish, and the 5 spice chicken to go, everything was amazing! A little pricey, but definitely worth it! Everything was very flavorful and the employees were helpful!
(5)Laci G.
So, so delicious. I was skeptical because we walked into Xyclo off the street, but wow! It turned out to be one of the best Vietnamese meals I've ever had. Everything we ordered was delicious. Do make sure you check out the green papaya salad and the shrimp in coconut...omgggg. Heaven. Great joint and pretty good prices for what you get.
(5)Natalia B.
What a disappointment - two out of four dishes were inedible. Went for lunch, had papaya salad (ok), and green apple salad (nice and fresh), pork sausage rolls which were no better than an old vienna sausage wrapped in lettuce with an off-tasting dipping sauce, and the completely inedible lemongrass eggplant tofu bean and rice dish. The whole thing tasted like it had been sitting around for days and reheated. Tough, chewy and not in a good way, thick unappetizing sauce. Very sad. We left hungry.
(2)Leah E.
Saturday Date Night: October 30, 2010 @ 5:15 PM No thanks to a seafood restaurant in SF on Friday night, at 1 AM Saturday morning I was kneeling over the toilet bowl spewing out fried oysters and cajun fries. (Nasty, I know.) For Saturday Date Night, I told my guy that we had to have dinner as close as possible to the house and I needed a hot steaming bowl of soup, preferably Asian. (I was still feeling icky from the night before.) Prior to this dinner, I wrote Xyclo off as a fru-fru overpriced "Americanized" Vietnamese fusion restaurant. It took one food poisoning experience from another eatery for me to try it. Xyclo is definitely a notch above your mom and pop Vietnamese restaurant. However, it is still a neighborhood place and service was very down-to-earth. Decor was chic Asian which reminded me of the neon-lit modern restaurants in Singapore. "East meets West" decor of Asian artwork on bright-colored walls was the theme of this place. The cuisine is indeed fusion. yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… To qualm my sick tummy, I ordered these as soon as we sat down: A) POT OF CHRYSANTHEMUM TEA $3: Nice floral tea that came in an Asian teapot. Tea was strong but a little lukewarm. Still refreshing none the less. yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… B) SWEET AND SOUR SOUP: Fish, pineapple, celery, tomato and Asian dill in a sweet and sour broth $7. yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… This soup should be renamed "Very Sweet and Sour Soup." Generous portion with nice chunks of fish that tasted fresh and not fishy. I loved it despite the sweetness and started to make my tummy feel better. Came to me steaming hot. This alone filled me up. We ordered everything a la carte and was served to us family-style: C) CRISPY SHRIMP ROLL: Fried shrimp and taro wrapped in thin rice paper and nuoc cham (fried) $9. yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… Reall good and dense fried rolls. Piping hot and so yummy! D) HERBED GARLIC NOODLES $7: Big portion for being a side dish. Delicious, chewy and garlicky. yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… E) XYCLO CHILI RIBS- Crispy pork ribs, peanut, sesame seed and mixed herb glazed in sweet chili sauce $15. yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… My seafoodtarian self did not try these but these ribs were heavy and humongous that my guy had a hard time picking them up with his chopsticks. They were crispy on the outside and very tender on the inside. However, he whispered to me that it tasted "fishy." (As a disclaimer, my fiance hates fish sauce.) F) CLAYPOT RICE MEDLEY - Prawns, tofu, broccoli, bell pepper, mushroom, cauliflower, bok choy, zucchini and rice; slow cooked in a clay pot $15 yelp.com/biz_photos/XrFY… The dish arrived in a hot claypot. Even minutes after blowing on each spoonful of the dish, it was still very hard to eat because of the temperature. The rice had a nice crusty botton to it which I love. On top of already being full from the soup and the shrimp roll, I could not eat another bite. When I ate it at home later that evening, I found it very sweet once again like most of the other dishes. This dish is okay-just a very sweet garden-variety stir-fried dish in a pot. Not worth the $15 price tag. DOWNSIDE: The dishes were sweet, consistently "fusion" and after a while tasted all the same. OVERALL: Despite the sweetness of the dishes, Xyclo made a fan out of me. Not only the decor was nice and swanky but the presentation of each dish was very pleasing to the eyes. Also a cool place to grab a drink and appetizers! Tab: $76 including a Diet Coke, tax and 20 percent tip. (With plenty of leftover ribs and claypot dish.) 3.62 Stars rounding up to 4.
(4)Rita Y.
3.5 stars. I actually liked the food I tried here. Hubby's been here before but it was my first try. It's rather expensive for lunch as our meal came to $30. Hubby tried the special of the day, a beef stew tendon over pho. It was a big serving, $10. We shared the xyclo roll, $9 for 5 fried rice rolls with chicken, shrimp, mushroom, carrot, glass noodle. It came with dipping sauce and was quite good. My entree was the chicken pho, $8. Very filling with thin spaghetti sized pho noodles, bean sprouts, really, really hot jalapeno peppers (it was a mistake to take a bite of one slice,my tongue burned for quite a few minutes) and a tiny wedge of lime. The broth was good but I still like the taste of the broth at Kevin's Noodle House in SF. It's a nice local place and is probably much quieter than during the work week when I'm sure they're flooded with commuters who work nearby. There is quite a selection of rolls, greens (salads), soups. Only 3 appetizers, 3 noodle dishes, but 14 large plates. Lunch specials run ro 11:30AM to 3PM and are worth trying at $10 .
(3)Connie Y.
Over-priced "Vietnamese fusion." Spring rolls were different than what you would normally see from a real Vietnamese restaurant, I think $10 for 3 rolls (cut in half so you get 6). It doesn't taste bad, but I wasn't impressed considering the cost. The fried curry fish had interesting/ bold flavors and I had to eat it with rice. The texture was kind of weird though, I didn't taste the fish in it. The garlic in the garlic noodles were burnt, I tasted more butter than garlic, and it was too sweet.
(3)John S.
I love this place--the food is great and the service is very friendly. I usually get the Chicken Pho and the Chicken Wings which are amazing. Only one thing sucks--you guys have to fix your door. It sticks and I've gotten stuck outside of the place and stuck inside. Please fix the door for 5 stars! EDIT: The last time I was in there, it seemed like they fixed the door!
(5)Christal Y.
Get the Papaya Salad. Xyclo cuts their green papaya so unique that it's easy to eat and the flavors mix well instead of dripping out from the excess sauce. The salad is super refreshing and definitely set the bar for the rest of the dishes to come... which was why I was disappointed with my chicken curry. To Xyclo's credit, my boss liked it. But I'm a bigger fan of thick curry that doesn't drown my rice. With the little amount of rice I already had, I didn't think the curry did anything but water it down. Unfortunately, this downer was my dish, which is half the reason why I knocked off a star (onto that later). My boss got a basa fish. It was a very sweet white fish that seemed stir fried. Nothing special but the fish itself was delicious and in cute pieces like fish fingers. To this day I haven't tried anything like it - it didn't wow me, but it certainly did make me think I should've ordered something else. So my asian side came through, because I originally wanted noodles, but when I saw it was a fusion place, I put those thoughts aside and settled for something "safe." Bad choice. On the other hand, service is slow here. Xyclo wasn't even that full, but my boss and I stood for about two minutes before they seated us at a table without utensils (actually there was one set, but the napkin was missing - sketchy, sketchy!). Then we moved because it was windy, and they didn't come until we told them we were ready to order. I don't know... I'm not used to waving down waitresses in a half empty restaurant, and it wasn't like food took forever, so I'm not sure what kept them busy. But the papaya salad! Yums!
(3)Hellen D.
There are no words to describe the feast I recently had here. It was my parents 35th anniversary and boy did we celebrate it with a bang. First off we had our own section for just the family and close friends. The owner came and greeted us and offered her best dishes and cocktails. We all obliged and let her offer her best dishes. This is what we had... Crispy Shrimp Roll - this was just like your regular egg roll, but with a whole shrimp and extra goodness inside. Wasn't like it was all veggies. You could actually taste and see the whole shrimp. Nem Nuong Roll - I LOVE this. We had a whole bunch in my past visit to Vietnam. You will never find a place that has this grilled pork sausage that is slightly sweet with a crunchy piece of fried egg roll wrapper. Anyone who knows anyone who eats this loves it. Many places don't sell nem nuong like this, it always is missing the best part, the egg roll wrapper. Besides all the goodness inside this roll..OMG the sauce is one of those sauces you want to eat with anything. Green Bean Salad - You would think this dish was just Eh by looking at it. Once you have a bite there is some sort of flavor you cant figure out what it is. Seven Elements - OK so I thought this dish wash a side dish to something. That's why I didn't have a photo of it. =(. BUT this dish was just as surprising as the green bean salad. You add all the elements together and you wrap it with the lettuce and put the sauce on and eat. YUM!!! It's literally making me drool. Vietnamese Carpaccio - This was very delicious. We had almost 2 servings of it. My parents weren't eating theirs because they were so busy talking so we ate some of it. I like this kind of carpaccio better because its thinly sliced meat, rather than mushed up meat like ground beef. I felt like you could get the full taste of the dish this way. Saigon Devil Wings - These were a perfect bite of goodness. They were like the chicken lolli pops you get at Sino. Very crunchy and crispy with that glaze of sweetness. Xyclo Chili Ribs - I was surprised that the ribs didn't have any bones in them. We asked the owner why this lovely piece of meat was so tender. It's a secret I wont tell. You just have to try it for yourself. Tumbling Dice - This is a great plate. MMM even though the meat is always delicious. It's the salad that tops it off. The balsamic vinaigrette and the meat juices that somehow mix together on one simple plate make this dish almost the favorite of the night. Dry Scallop Fried Rice - OK so you wouldn't think that the brown little bits are dried scallop. Ive never had a dried scallop to give rice some texture and flavor. I love fried rice but this is my ultimate favorite. Don't tell my mom I said that. Last but not least we had the what i think was the Tamarind Jumbo Prawns - it came in a coconut with coconut rice. This was delicious. More of the rice than the actual jumbo sized shrimp. OK so i told you i had a feast! I would love to come back and take my boyfriend here. This place is worth the drive.
(5)Yoko S.
My BD dinner with a friend, thanks to Yelp's review. We found a parking spot luckily in the public parking nearby. The food was very good. We ordered the roll, fried curry fish dish and bokchoy side. The fish dish was spicy, so we had to order the extra rice. Conveniently, the froyo place is right next door...not to mention we had a dessert there.
(5)Kari C.
The BF has been eyeballing this restaurant for a while. It's fusion Vietnamese cuisine, which means better quality ingredients and staggering price tags. Relative to the original Asian cuisine, of course. When I told my family how much this Vietnamese meal was, I almost got disowned! But I digress. The food here is good and the decor is modern. Service was adequate, but the actual food took a while to get to our table. We ordered the Tumbling Dice: succulent filet mignon cubes over a baby green salad. While noshing on the tender pieces, we debated whether it was cheating to look up the recommended dishes on Yelp. The sauce was tangy and sweet. Not too overpowering. A small dish of salt was provided for dipping. BF thought it added an extra dimension. I loved the hearty meat flavor by itself. I haven't had filet mignon in a long time and this reminded me why I wasn't a vegetarian. We also got the shrimp spring rolls with peanut sauce. The rolls were large and the veggies were super fresh. Rice paper was exactly the way I imagined it should be. Slightly chewy and not hard in any spots. And I would know, since I lived in Saigon - ummmmm, okay...Little Saigon in the O.C. The other dish was the spicy green beans. Beans were super fresh and cooked just right. The spice provided quite a bit of kick, even though we asked for it mild. The dish was enjoyable, however, noticeably lacking the "sizzle" flavor when you cook things in a well seasoned wok. They served me a tiny square dish of brown rice for an additional $1.50. This option is the hallmark of a fusion Asian restaurant. Rice was a tad dry, but I'm super picky about my rice. Parking can be tough to find in this area. We parked in a lot a few blocks away and walked over. I'd like to visit again to try some of the other dishes. I like how Vietnamese cuisine has healthier options and makes good use of fresh vegetables. But this is fusion food, so remember to stop by the ATM first or bring your credit card! :)
(4)Morgan C.
This place is yummy!! Our waitress took a good chunk of time getting to our table, and we had to remind her that we had one more entree coming - but the food was delicious.
(4)Brian L.
Very fancy viet food. Nice change up from the tasty ghetto joints I frequent in Dallas.
(5)Moxie W.
Tumbling Dice... Believe the hype. Filet mignon in a vinagrette served on a bed of greens and a cold beer. It's renewed my interest in steak for sure! I have had the other things on the menu and they are just as AWESOME! Claypot rocks (esp if you make it with the veggie option), the spring rolls are fantastic too! It's a celebratory spot for me, when there are good times to be had, Xyclo. When times are tough and I need a pick me up, Xyclo. If you're lucky enough to get to Xyclo in the summer evenings, they church across the street sometimes plays movies on there wall, and you get dinner and a show!
(4)Briget P.
Thai and Vietnamese fusion cuisine, many choices to choose from you might have a hard time deciding if it's your first time here. I played it safe and just went with a bowl of beef pho because I was sick that night. It was appetizing and was authentically prepared to my surprise because I feared it might be a fusion twist on pho. Service is kind of tricky, you may not hear back from your server throughout the whole night until you make eye contact for the bill.
(3)Julie K.
I was torn between four and five stars but I ultimately decided that "Yay! I'm a fan" is an adequate description. My husband and I are new to the area and decided to park somewhere off Piedmont and just walk until we found a restaurant that looked fun. I'm glad we took that approach because I don't think we would have tried Xyclo based on the Yelp reviews and the fact that typically we don't agree with the majority of "fusion" restaurants. In Southern California, where we are from, fusion is typically a gimmick, and the food is never quite as good as the real thing. Nonetheless, we were feeling adventurous (not once did I reference Yelp for recommendations) and when we walked past Xyclo we saw the server bring some super tasty looking meals to the table by the window and we decided to give it a try. We ordered the Green Bean Salad, "green string beans, poached shrimp, red onion, Thai basil, and crispy shallots; tossed in a garlic lime vinaigrette" ($9), the Bun Cha Hanoi, " grilled shrimp, barbecued pork, rice noodles, fresh lettuce, cilantro, mint and peanuts served with nuoc cham vinaigrette" ($15), and a large pot of the chrysanthemum tea ($5). *The green bean salad was delicious, refreshing, and flavorful. I loved the dressing combined with the crispy shallots, though the four (or two cut in half) pieces of poached shrimp seemed pointless, the were tiny and added no flavor to the dish. [Vegetarians/Vegans: I highly recommend you order the green bean salad w/o the shrimp, because they aren't necessary to enjoy the dish.] *The Bun Cha Hanoi was absolutely delicious! Everything was extremely flavorful and my husband and I would absolutely order this again, though I might mention it seems like it would be better with rice instead of rice noodles b/c they don't really absorb the sauce very well and you don't get much in terms of rice noodles to begin with. *The chrysanthemum was good, nothing outstanding (I just wanted decaf) and it did seem a bit pricy for what it was. Bottom-line: The food was very tasty and the service was excellent (we were seated immediately on a busy Saturday night).
(4)Cathy C.
Perfect after the movie spot. Casual with great fresh food, creative cocktails and good service. WINNER!
(5)Travis K.
Lots of shrimp here not necessarily a bad thing but if you have allergies watch out!
(3)Kymberli C.
Got a last minute call from my favorite Yelper friend, Judie H, to come join her and her boo thang for dinner. We rushed out to Oakland and had told her to order ahead for us since they were closing in 30 minutes. When we walked in, the food had just started coming out. We started off with the appetizer platter, Xyclo Taste, which included all different types of spring rolls. They were all very tasty but we were confused on which was which and hoping and praying that pescatarian Judie H wasn't eating any meat. We shared the entrees family style, which included the Basa (a deep fried fish), Stuffed Eggplant, Steak cubes, Butterflied Shrimp and garlic noodles. Everything was very tasty and flavorful. The service was very friendly and even though we were the last patrons there, we did not feel rushed to leave. We also enjoyed a few of their cocktails which were nice and strong.
(4)Shannon F.
I really like this place! Went here for V day dinner with my Yelper friend Daniel L. After walking up and down piedmont trying to find a place to eat, we spotted this place. The menu was appealing, as well as the funky , hip atmosphere of the restaurant, so we ended our search and headed our hungry tummies in! The smell of the food stirred up even more of an appetite. We were seated promptly. The menu was a fixed Valentines menu for $30.00 per person(not bad) Your choice between 2 appetizers 2 different salads 2 different main dishes as well as 2 different types of desserts We decided to start off our dinner with some Martinis (Bad Mistake) we went with one Ginger Martini and a Lychee Martini to share. As appealing as they sounded, they were the complete opposite! I have had a Lychee Martini before and they have all been superb- Not these! The description sounded sweet and promising, though upon receiving and taking my first sip, my taste buds were trauma shocked by the over powering taste of alcohol ( and I like my drinks a little strong ) however, these had DUI written all over it...Uhhh Anyhow, the food certainly made up for it. We started with two different types of Salads (I can't remember the name of most of the dishes) the salads was some sort of noodles with shrimp tossed in a sweet lime tasting vinaigrette with dried papaya - I thought it was Fantastic! The other salad was similar though more spicy Appetizers were Bo Bia Fresh Rolls: Vietnamese spring rolls wrapped with jicama, carrot, dried shrimps, basil, and fried eggs served with with a creamy peanut vinaigrette dipping sauce - I loved it! The other appetizer was some sort of little orderve little round pieces of bread soaked in some sort of broth with with a shrimp placed upon it - Not to great ,completely lacked flavor and the bread was a bit soggy. Our main dishes were 1st the Tumbling Dice - filet mignon cubes sautéed and shaken with garlic and onions atop a mix salad with balsamic vinaigrette - I though was extremely flavorful and satifying.The other (my favorite)Coconut prawns: Jumbo prawns simmered in a rich creamy house curry served in a young coconut that was filled with coconut rice -I loved this! The flavor was a sweet coconut flavor, very rich and sweet and the texture and the rice soaked in the juice was creamy and heavenly (It was a little too sweet for Daniel, but being the sweet toothed gal I am, I loved it) The dessert were two different types 1st, was the bread pudding-This was divine and being the bread pudding connoisseur Daniel is, He even agreed it was up to par! Perfect in portion, homemade, hot, soft and chewy, drenched in an amazing sauce, a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream with an edible flower placed on the dish, all very aesthetically pleasing, The 2nd dessert which was to beautiful in presentation-Were two heart shaped gelatos (supposly) one chocolate and one strawberry, with a side of creamy whip cream and a flower-The gelatos tasted more like Ice Cream and did not quite have the thick consistency that gelato has, though they were extremely flavorful and satisfying. Overall, I was Impressed with the flavor of the food (not the drinks) as well as the presentation of the dishes. I was not too impressed though with the service, for it was a little bland and not to friendly, especially after the fact that Daniel asked one of the servers what a particular dish was and he had not a clue! Seriously?? A little bad on his part. If I was in the area ,I would stop by again and get something to go!
(4)Ed U.
EEEE...EEEE...EEEE...EEEE! youtube.com/watch?v=iX7K… Xyclo. Cyclone. Psycho. What an unfortunate name for a restaurant to incorporate the Vietnamese icon of a bicyclist in their signage. All I can think of is Janet Leigh screaming in the shower with Mrs. Bates bludgeoning her. Probably not the best image to have when sitting down for a meal, but it didn't stop me from dining here. This used to be the hippy-dippy Italian place, Cafe Valerian, for many years, but now it's become a sleek, West Elm-inspired eatery with a coolish lounge in the back. I just wish the food quality matched the decor. I tried two dishes. The first was the $6.00 Chicken Pho, which was reasonably good but nothing terribly outstanding with the noodles still congealed together in the broth (see photo). The second was the elaborately presented Bird's Nest in which they give you a choice between soft or hard noodles (see photo). I had presumed that hard noodles meant they were fried, but I was mistaken - it was the crunchy kind that I remember Chung King used to have in little cans to mix with your chop suey. The noodles were piled in a lettuce cup and then the rest of the plate was a saucy mix of chicken breast pieces, three prawns, broccoli, cauliflower, napa cabbage, carrot, and scallions. It was decent and somewhat overpriced at lunch for $14. The place was nearly empty since I missed the lunch rush, so the server was particularly courteous and responsive. But I have to say if I'm in the Piedmont Avenue area looking for quality Asian cuisine, I would rather go to the micro-mini Ninna down the street for a tastier treat. FOOD - 3 stars...beautifully presented but oh-so-middling in quality AMBIANCE - 4 stars...very contemporary, very sleek, very Room & Board - Espresso Line SERVICE - 3.5 stars...very polite TOTAL - 3 stars...the food disappoints
(3)Lauren C.
Xyclo is my go-to lunch spot on the Avenue!! I work down the street, so I go there quite a lot. It's always consistent and delicious, so I almost always recommend it when I meet friends or colleagues for lunch. It's very reasonably priced, is always clean and welcoming, and the servers are always friendly. My current fave is the Chicken Pho with all the fixins, but I also love the Lemongrass Basil Chicken, Steak Salad and Bun. And of course the Thai Iced Tea, such a treat! Love this place, and will continue going back again and again.
(5)meshell c.
Went there on a Thursday night with a group of 6 people from work. We had the back room and pretty much had it all to ourselves. The place was pretty quiet. The food: I had their clay pot mash up which had shrimp, chicken, and a bunch of veggies cooked in the clay pot. It came out sizzling at the table, something I can appreciate since I like my food piping hot and fresh off the stove! The rice was OK, nothing that blew me away. The chicken was not marinated so that just tasted bland. Others had the garlic noodle, green beans with tofu, and their version of a Vietnamese Crepe. They look pretty good and the garlic noodle was yummy, not the same garlic noodle I have tried at different places, it had more of a basil kick to it. There was a small selection of house cocktails, wine, and beer. The service: Well, considering they NEVER brought us our appetizer which we all wanted to try, I can't comment on the different rolls that were offered. Hence, that was a fail! C'mon, it wasn't like you guys were even busy that night! Overall: i'm not impressed or blown away but not discouraged either. The food selection and the idea of fusion food is always appealing to me. It is a bit pricey, $10 for a bowl of pho? Anyways, maybe I'll do a lunch there when I get a chance.
(3)Liz L.
Filthy. Bug in my food and Boyfriend got sick. About three quarters into the meal, I found a fly in my rice. I felt kind of disgusted, so my boyfriend and I just paid the bill and left. My boyfriend got really sick when he got back home, it was his first meal of the day and he didn't have anything else, so we figured it couldn't be anything else other than the food we had at Xyclo. He had to visit the bathroom 4 times within the hour. So I don't think this place is too clean. I wouldn't mind having diarrhea all day if the food was worth it, but it wasn't. I've had vietnamese food that was tastier, cheaper, and without bugs. Staff: Waitress was rude. When she was cleaning up the table, she snatched the utensils from my hands. As someone else mentioned, the waitress looks gloomy and not attentive. I try not to complain about waitstaff since it's not easy dealing with people all day, but she just really made me feel really unwelcomed the moment I walked into the restaurant.
(1)Stephanie K.
We came here looking for some marinated grilled pork over rice, but there wasn't any on the dinner menu. However, once we started eating we soon forgot about the pork. We ordered the XYCLO Roll, Stuffed Eggplant, and Garlic Noodles. The roll was good, but nothing out of the ordinary. The Stuffed Eggplant was delicious; we cleaned out the bowl as we poured all its sake infused gravy by all over our rice. The Garlic Noodles was not like the usual vampire-repelling kind; this version had a roasted sweetness to it which I really really enjoyed. Overall, I would come back to order the eggplant and garlic noodles. On the bright side, there seems to be a few other items on the menu that looked good to try on another visit.
(4)Kelsey M.
I can't say enough things about Xyclo. I read the yelp reviews, and tried it out with a group of friends. It was excellent. The service was very attentive and the food was out of this world. Ive gone to Xyclo three times since trying it for the first time a month ago. I would recommend literally every dish I have tried- the tumbling dice (SO flavorful--consists of a generous serving of diced seasoned beef and a large side salad), Bo Kho (like a beef Pho with a hearty serving of both veef and veggies), and the Vietnamese Carpaccio (a refreshing spin on classic beef carpaccio). Their side of Steamed Tofu is also excellent, it is marinated and served in a sauce that tastes like sweet soy sauce and thinly sliced fried onions. This is a small place though, so I wouldn't go in a group larger than 4 or 5. I highly recommend trying Xyclo if you haven't yet!
(5)Stefan G.
I really like this place. I've been here a few times and had a great experience every time. I also celebrated my birthday here, and it was great (we were about 18 people, so it was no small feat!). Love the cocktails and the staff is really nice. Really good!
(4)Judie H.
Today was my sister's birthday and I thought of Xyclo. I called about 9pm to reserve a table for 5 telling them the occasion. We sat in an intimate setting already ready for us...in the back where the lighting is gorgeous (love the interesting ball of light...I think its from Ikea). We arrived about 9:15pm when the kitchen closes at 9:30pm. He said, don't rush the ordering, I'll make sure your order gets in just take your time =) Food: Xyclo taste, xyclo chili ribs, garlic herb noodles, spicy green beans & tumbling diced beef Drinks: Lychee martini, mangopolitan & pomegranate mojito Desserts: coffee gelato & hazelnut mousse My dad's favorite was the tumbling diced beef, my mom's was the spicy green beans, my sisters liked the Xyclo taste friend roll and I liked the garlic herb noodles. There was something for everyone. It's definitely not a go to dinner every night place, but for something extra special.
(5)Sergio G.
Ok so I finally tried my very 1st Vietnamese cuisine.. I played it safe and took a friend... I see everybody writes about the noodles so why not. We shared an order of Crispy shrimp roll. I ordered that one becase it looked like something that I would be able to like.. I loved it!!! When I saw the menu and saw " birds nest " I said hell no..but ah, why not, all of the meats were cooked very well and I had the soft noodles I really liked the veggies that it came with. For my main dish I ordered the 'XYCLO Chili Ribs" it was fantastic.. It wasglazed in sweet chili sauce, and it had sesame seeds and peanuts.... Overall, the service was good, it didn't take that long for us to eat and we were served in a timely matter.. Price?? Who cares, it was my 1st time here... I will be back !!!
(4)Jennifer D.
I came here for a group dinner to celebrate a girlfriend's birthday. The group consisted of at least 10 people so we ate family style and tried tons of their dishes. We thoroughly enjoyed everything on the menu and I cannot wait to come back!
(5)Jim M.
Great service and food. Veggie clay pot is great. Also curry chicken a,10. Lunch is a deal but dinner is top dollar but worth t.
(5)Sarah S.
Xyclo is a fantastic restaurant to take a date on Piedmont Ave. Still somewhat undiscovered, there is generally not a long wait and food service is pretty fast. It is well decorated and the mood lighting really steps up the romance. I've been very happy with the dishes I have had here, overall. The carpaccio is my favorite thing on the menu and one of the best I have ever tried! The spring roll plate is a fun and delicious sampler. I recently tried the Rolling Dice - yum. The chili ribs are great, too, but kind of heavy... Don't know if I would get them again. I was relatively unimpressed by the garlic noodles, though, even though they seem to have been quite popular with other reviewers. They weren't very garlic-y... The lychee martini is GREAT but be warned, it is deceptively strong. Not that that is a bad thing ;)
(4)Michael L.
Tumbling dice, wings, and carpaccio...the best!
(5)marcia m.
Met one of my friends for dinner tonight and i have to say I regret not trying it before. The food is great!! I had the "crime of passion" spectacular drink!! Xyclo chili ribs, love LOVE, LOVE Garlic noodles, LOVE I will be back very soon!!
(4)Marissa C.
My boyfriend and I came here for our 15 month anniversary as a backup because our original place to eat was packed. So we decided to come here because the pictures from yelp looked like it resembled this other restaurant that we love. Good news, we didn't have to wait at all for a table. The only thing was, the place was super small and the tables were so close together, I felt like I was on a double date with the people sitting next to us haha. But it's all good, I'm sure they enjoyed hearing us talk about random things and inside jokes. We ordered the SAIGON DEVIL WINGS for an appetizer and we thought they would be spicy because they had a little flame by the name on the menu but they were not spicy at all. They were more sweet and super crispy. The caramelizing on them made it very sticky and it kept getting stuck in my teeth! For entrees we ordered the TUMBLING DICE and XYCLO CHILI RIBS. The Tumbling Dice reminded us of Mongolian beef and it came paired with a salad type side. I would assume the meat goes with the salad, but the two flavors combined did not go very well. Weird. The Ribs on the other hand were pretty good though. The flavoring of them tasted very similar to the chicken wings. I think that this place uses the same types of seasoning because we noticed there was alot of repetition in terms of garlic, basil, and that caramelizing form of cooking. I dont know, in my opinion, it makes all the dishes kind of taste the same. However, the service here was great, but the food was just OK. But I don't mind, i enjoy trying new eateries :)
(3)Kang D.
This place was real nice the garlic noodles had lots of flavor the chicken wings where the best I've had in a while that carmelized textured was perfect.. They are also on point when it comes to giving you water and napkins ..
(5)Shiki W.
It's an adorable, spacious restaurant. The decor is pretty American and kind of lacking in tables for the amount of space they have. The food, overall, seems to be Americanized Vietnamese cuisine. I always order the Spring Roll to start. It's definitely got a rocking twist to it. Abundance in lettuce, and along with the shrimp, carrots and vermicelli inside they threw in pork sausages! It's juicy and flavorful by itself as it is, but it also comes with this sauce to DIE for! I'm not sure how to describe the sauce...orange...bits of beef in it, somewhat tangy. I've asked for the recipe every time I've gone but they wouldn't give it up! It's freakin' orgasmic and sooo worth the $8 (for 3 rolls cut in halves)!!!! The pho noodle soup comes in a ridiculously small bowl, a few modest slices of meat and the soup itself is a bit on the sour side. I wouldn't recommend it to the true pho lovers. The waitress I always get there is nice, but she rarely smiles...actually I haven't seen much expression on her face. You won't be wowed by the service. This is the only place on Piedmont Ave that serves pho, btw. I believe in modest splurges on lunch meals, and this would be a good place to do that...but only once in a while for me! Other yelpers have said that dinner is better here, so I will have to try that and write a 2nd review.
(3)David H.
I join the majority with a 5 star review, acknowledging that it will most likely get skipped over in favor of the less favorable reviews. Still, my review is in an effort to help increase Xyclo's average. And, just maybe, to encourage other diners to give it a try. I rarely allow a restaurant's service to dictate my rating. If the food's great, that's what I judge. Still, the service here happened to be great. The servers were attentive and helpful. Of course, there were only 3 other tables occupied (it was a Monday night at 9PM- great time to dine out if you're interested in avoiding crowds). Xyclo's prepares what I would describe as "of the best food I've tasted". My girlfriend and I ordered the following: Won Ton Soup The broth was light and flavorful without being too salty. The Wonton's themselves were also light with a nice fluff and a full flavor. The next time I get the flu, this will be my remedy. Double Surprise Rolls Unlike some reviewers here, the mini egg roll inside a cold spring roll remained hot to create a dynamic appetizer in both texture and flavor. The rolls are wide. I'd recommend sharing these with 2 others (2 half rolls per person). Coconut Shrimp This is 4 butterflied coconuts with jasmine rice and some vegetables cooked inside of a coconut. It was recommended that we scoop some pulp to enjoy with each bite. The sauce that was part of this dish was pure bliss. I'd eat it on anything. These items with the inclusion of a medium sizes bottle of Sake came out to $50.00. Totally reasonable when you consider the quality of the ingredients, the great care put in to the flavor and presentation and the warm welcome from the staff.
(5)Charlie W.
I like this place.. It's a lot better than I originally thought it was. The decorations are trendy and spacious. The only complain I have are the bench like chairs that are hard on your butt. But I guess it fits the decor. The lunch menu are pretty descend. All of their items are pretty flavorful. I heard great things about their dinner as well but never been personally. The lunch menu are pretty well priced. They have selected items at a discount. It's a nice place to try if you are in the area. I wouldn't go looking for authentic Vietnamese Food. Like most other restaurants in the area, they are very "Westernized." However, that's not to say their food are not flavorful and tasty. The crowds are also very energetic and lively. The host and hostess are generally very nice. They serve you pretty quickly and with a smile. I love their spring roll, non fried and their stuffed wings--delicious!! Give this place a try if you haven't already. The only reason why they got a 3 star is because really, they are A-OK. Its not bad but its not very special neither.
(3)Kira G.
It was a place I've walked by on a couple occasions, but had never thought it to try until it was late and the whole family was hungry. They were able to accommodate us immediately, with a table for 3 (plus a toddler) and the food was an extreme hit. I normally don't hand out 5's hence the 4, and I've been told by locals that the place is really great for lunch. (we had dinner) Regardless I will be returning, it was that good.
(4)Johnny L.
Went Saturday night before the big b-day bash at Hibiscus with the friends. We started with a xyclo roll and a tao roll - both were quite good. The xyclo roll was fried just right, crispy but without an oily taste. I had a mango mojito (actually two) and it was well made. I ordered a Claypot Rice Medley - supposed to have prawns, chicken breast, broccoli, bell pepper, mushroom, cauliflower, bok choy, zucchini and rice; slow cooked in a clay pot. It had one prawn (that Dougie ate) and it was in a metal pot (splitting hairs???). Overall, a very bland dish that could have used a major spicing up. The only thing hot about this plate was when the waitress said to be careful, the pot is hot then proceeded to take the lid off and drop a piece of cauliflower on my leg. She was right, it was hot. I did swap my dish with Annie's who she swapped with Meri (just like the 60's but without the candy dish and the car keys). What i ended up with was the Lemongrass Basil Eggplants and Tofu - it was very good, spicey likey, cripsy tofu likey. I also tried the Tumbling Dice, it was also very good. All in all, a very good meal. I wouldn't order the metal pot....er....clay pot again - too blah. And, my peener doesn't like hot cauliflower spillage, so, I'd stick with the other selections in future visits. Ya feel me?
(4)Linda L.
Late on my entries, came here on a Friday evening with my boyfriend, the food is more like Vietnamese fusion. Reminds me of le Cheval. I had the green bean salad with shrimp and the spring rolls. The food wasn't bad but it was something I could make myself at home. I'd come back if I were lazy but I would rather go to an authentic Vietnamese restaurant.
(3)Kimly N.
What can I say... I'm a sucker for those Asian Fusion Restaurants. I've been meaning to try out this joint for a while since a number of my fam. and friends have been raving about it . and Fusion Vietnamese? Why not. I celebrated my birthday last night with a few close friends there. I suppose I expected the decor and venue of the place to be a lot grander, but it goes in deeper, unveiling a sort of lounge atmosphere. it was still a very hip and intimate setting. Our servers were definitely gracious, and attractive! My reccomendations : -Tumbling Dice: It was kind of a alternate to "Shaking Filet Mignon" It was juicy , savory and the cubes of meat were cooked perfectly in a garlic and onion sauce. Came with a side a salad which is a plus. -Viet Carpaccio: Oh my , I am picky about my carpaccio... but they marinated the thinly sliced beef so well in a lime vinagrette. Delish! -Double Surprise Roll: A crispy egg roll in side, a soft rice paper roll, the crunch and the diff. textures was def. fun to eat. I did try the XYCLO chili rips, and it was good.. it was very crispy and the seasame glaze was definitely different. YOU should try that if you're there. its something out of the ordinary. The only reason they don't get 5 stars is because they forgot one of our orders.. and gave us our appetizers and entress out of order. Overall, its a great fusion place...better than Le Cheval.
(4)Jaime J.
We got Tumbling Dice (delicious!) and the roll sampler (also very good). Just the plate of rolls was enough for 2 people to have for dinner! Tumbling dice was expensive ($20) but delicious and was even good the next day cold. Best thing is that almost everything on the menu is available gluten-free- you have to ask for the gf menu and then you can see what your options are. She warned us to be sure to ask for something to be gluten-free, don't just order a dish you had before, b/c they cook ir differently. Will totally go back!
(4)Sean F.
As a San Jose native, I've eaten my fair share of Vietnamese food--both expensive and bargain. When I came to Xyclo on a Valentines date, I was very excited to get into some good chow, now that I live in a place without any Vietnamese people and restaurants. The food did NOT disappoint. Each and everything we got was exceptional, though a little on the pricy side. Unfortunately, that's where the nice part of the review ends. The service was absolutely the worst I have EVER had. It was if we had done something to offend the server--yet that would be impossible, because we would have actually had contact with her to do so! It started with our initial seating. It took 10 minutes to get menus and a glass of water. Meanwhile, the tables seated next to us (who arrived later), not only got menus, drinks, etc., they started getting served before we could even plan an order. During the meal, there was no water refill, no asking us whether we'd like another glass of wine or other drink. Nothing. Meanwhile, at the table next to us, glasses were being refilled, additional drinks were served, and everything was going along fine. It was so bad, that the tables next to us even noticed and started laughing with us about how bad the service was. It was SO bad, in fact, that the table next to us turned over twice before we could finish our meal--which, BTW, ended with a busser throwing the tab at us in a glass. We were never even offered the opportunity to order dessert, which we were hoping to order, nor did we ever get to talk to the server again until she came to inform me that Amex is not accepted. Don't even get me started on the Amex thing. Restaurants need to get a clue. If I'm spending $100 on a meal, don't sweat the extra $1 that Amex charges you. If that's make-or-break for you, raise your prices by a few cents per item. Don't take it out on me--your potential loyal customer! Overall, the only reason I'm giving 1 star is that the food was superb, BUT with service like that, I can think of 50 other places I'd rather get Vietnamese food in the Bay Area--most of which are less expensive and all of which take my preferred form of payment!
(1)Michael S.
Great tastes and affordable. It might have flirted with 5 stars but it was Saturday and their service was very slow. Big flavors: We each had a drink, then spring rolls, an incredible crab noodle soup and "tumbling dice," cubes of filet Mignon perfectly cooked with lettuce. I would only suggest the tumbling dice could use some rice for soaking in beef juice. Before tip, cost was $55. I will definitely return to sample more.
(4)Laina V.
After living down the street for over a year, hubby and I *finally* came in to try this place, and I was very pleased! On a busy Saturday night (after some struggle of finding a parking spot) the hostess was able to seat us in the lounge area as long as we were out by 8; no problem! Mojitos were yummy and the food, even more so! I especially enjoyed the coconut shrimp served in actual coconut. The wait for the food was kinda long, but worth it! Yum yum yum!!
(5)Stacy M.
it's official!!! after trying a number pho restaurants in the area, XYCLO is the BEST!!! best pho! you have to try it out, best eaten when under the weather.
(5)L D.
The Mrs and I wanted to let 80 traffic subside a bit before our trek home, so we decided to grab a bite somewhere in Piedmont. We parked in the CVS lot at 5:40pm and paid about $1.50 (debit card or coins only) lots of spaces available. Its free after 6pm but fills up fast. After checking out the menus of a few different restaurants we decided on an asian fusion place called Xyclo. Our order: Salt and pepper tofu - it was just okay, try something else for an appetizer. Claypot rice dish $15- delicious! Just enough for me. Lemongrass basil chicken $14- great flavor, spicy, the Mrs liked it. Total cost $44 Wrong dish was brought out and they handled the situation nicely. Service was attentive, filled our water without us having to ask. Checked on us a couple times during the meal. 3.5 but round up to 4 stars
(4)cmando M.
I would probably give Xyclo 3.5 stars if I could. The food deserves a 4 , but the service earns only a three, maybe less. We sat for a very long time before being noticed. And it's only because I stared the server down when she came in range that she came over when she did. Without a greeting or smile she asked if we were ready to order. I had to explain to her that we'd like to order cocktails first. She never came back to check on us once we had our food. We started with the Papaya salad, one of my favorite dishes. The flavor of the papaya was a little off, and it was cut too chunky so that the ratio of dressing to papaya didn't work. Still, it was pretty satisfying. Then I had the eggplant and tofu with lemongrass. It was excellent. The cocktails are quite yummy and the price is reasonable enough. I only wish the service was better. Not sure I'd come back for that reason.
(3)Michael L.
Two words: Chili Ribs. You've got to try the Chili Ribs. Smoky spicy ribs with a crunchy sesame candy coating. They come to the table looking like sesame candy bars. My god, are they good. Xyclo is one of the few places where the flavors make us moan out loud with pleasure (Montclair Bistro is another). The Chili Ribs are our favorite but there are lots of other close seconds: the Green Bean Salad with prawns has a lime dressing which elicits a moan every time. The various rolls (some deep fried, others not) are filled with mint, spices, and either tofu or sausage or prawn and come with dipping sauces. I had the Seven Elements once, a fascinating dish where each of the seven items (dried shrimp is one) stands out but they all blend to create a whole greater than the parts. Even side dishes like the Bok Choy are buttery tender with a hint of garlic. Other great dishes are the Tumbling Dice (cubes of beef), the Won Ton soup, the Steak Salad (I forget what it's actually called). Service is usually great. A couple of times over the years they've made a mistake on the order but mistakes are fixed promptly and with no fuss.
(5)Numrin T.
Like other reviews, the food was very very good. We had amazing Tumbling Dice that was tender and not at all chewy. The Clay Pot Rice Medley was very fresh and tasty. The Seven Elements was good but nothing spectacular. In short, everything was cooked to perfection. We didn't get to try their drinks though they looked very delicious. This place has a slick, modern, romantic vibe. The place is lively yet quiet enough to conduct a regular conversation without having to speak up too much. The service was very good, but can be a bit slow when it came to check time.
(5)James L.
It is mostly a Vietnamese fusion restaurant. Unfortunately, I think they don't do the fusion the right way . Good: - The dried shrimp rolls were awesome. I would have rated it one star if not for the rolls. Not so good: - Spicy chicken wings blazed with caramel. It tasted ok. Would be better with a little more spicy kicking in. The problem was that the caramel was too thick. It stick to teeth and it was very hard to get them off. - You have to try Pho if it is your first time in a Vietnamese restaurant and you may visit it again. They have the smallest bowl of Pho I have ever had. It has only one size. And it was smaller than the small size at other Vietnamese restaurants. For a good bowl of pho, size is an important factor. You add basil leaves, bean sprouts, raw thin beef if you like, and your favorite sauce(s) to the soup, mix them well. The hot soup is supposed to cook the raw beef and bean sprouts, while still keep pretty hot. With such a small size, the soup would turn pretty lukewarm with such cooking process. Warm Pho tastes very different. It lacks the richness of the flavor. Well, I tasted the soup before I put stuffs in. It didn't have the multiple layers of rich flavors of a good bowl of pho. It tasted mostly salty, with a random mixture of flavors unbalanced and incompatible. - Lemongrass chicken with green beans. Too salty, from both salt and a lot of soy sauce. it overwhelmed all the other flavors. - Curry crispy fish. This was unbearably bad. The curry tasted extremely stale. It felt like you found a bag of curry spices you bought 5 years ago, and you used it to cook the fish. It also had an extra bitter taste, not the kind of bitterness from food like bitter melons, but the kind from very very stale spices. The fish was not any better. It was cut into thin slices, coated with a heavy layer of flours, and fried. It didn't taste like fish at all. To be worse, it was so rubbery. I am from Asian. I like some texture that most people think rubbery, like beef tendon, pig feet, etc. But this fish dish went to a new level of being rubbery. I have to say you could simply fry some dough and it would have better texture.
(2)April L.
Whoa, what a let down my fellow yelpers! I was so excited to try this place out and finally get my vietnamese cravings out of my system or at least satisfied for a while. The Tao roll was definitely the savior of the meal. It was fresh, crunchy, sweet all at the same time. After that appetizer, it totally went downhill. The waitress did not remember my iced vietnamese coffee until we were done with our meal. I had gone through most of the meal without anything to drink not even water! I was stealing swigs from my husband's thai iced tea! The pho was totally forgettable. It was truly disappointing to eat the pho especially since with every bite I thought of favorite pho places closer to home. I drove all the way to Oakland for nothing. The only reason why I ate it was because I was hungry. The vietnamese carpaccio was the absolute worst thing we ordered here. I thought it looked amazing when the plate was delivered to our table. Oh my gosh, looks can be deceiving! I tried to pick up a slice meat with my fork but noticed I could not lift it off the plate. As soon as I finally tasted a piece I found out why they weren't coming off the plate as easily....They were icy and mostly frozen, what the hell is that about? It was so gross! After a while there were puddles of water on the plate. Last but not least..I had to run to the bathroom after we got home because everything came out of me! I would never ever go back to this place and do not see why people even patronize this place!
(1)H T.
Was even better than the last time. We had the chili sesame ribs again, which was really good. We also had a very unique papaya salad. Instead of thin strips of green papaya, they looked kinda like Ruffles (potato chips). When you ate them, the greater surface area released a lot more flavor, and you could really taste the raw papaya and the vinaigrette. Yum yum yum!
(5)Laura P.
This is our family's favorite restaurant. The food is great, it's affordably priced, and the service is wonderful. Even though I've been here perhaps 100 times (!) I still find it difficult to make a choice (but get the lemongrass tofu with eggplant, it is great!)
(5)diane d.
My husband and I read the review in the March 2012 edition of Diablo Magazine. It sounded great so we ate there last night. There was a decent crowd at 9:00 pm and we took a seat in a table bordering the window. Great street appeal. Unfortunately, I believe they were having a seriously "off" night. First, the gentleman that brought out plates and chop sticks did not smile or utter a word. Next, we kept receiving the food and drinks ordered by the table in the same spot on the other side of the restaurant. The spring rolls were fine - not great, not bad. However, the rest of the items we ordered all had the same cloaky sauce. Too sweet and rich for my palate. We also ordered the fried rice which was very greasy. When we got the bill they included an item from the other table which they were happy to correct. Our server also told us that they were closing to remodel this coming week. Maybe that is why they weren't on their game. At any rate there are too many excellent Vietnamese places to eat at so we will not be returning to Xyclo.
(1)Claudine V.
Went here for dinner with my bf and some sales people. The food was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Everything that we tried was truly divine!!! I love , love this place and will definitely try other things!
(4)Dave B.
I wandered up and down Piedmont Ave on a rainy, winter Saturday, looking for something good for lunch. Places I've enjoyed in the past were either closed, empty or out of business. A couple were just too crowded. Ended up at Xyclo, a small, modern Vietnamese place. Really liked the idea of having a bowl of Pho. The menu had listed a small and large, but small had been crossed out. I hoped that they hadn't compromised and created a medium while retaining the name that indicated a grander size. To have only one item on the menu is always a big risk. This bet paid off nicely. Very pleased when my food arrived. There was the big bowl of noodles, broth and beef. On the side, I had a plate of extra goodies to add: peppers, bean sprouts, lime, cilantro (?). I mixed in some red paste that made my mouth tingle. The flavor was intense. $8 of happiness.
(4)felix c.
Definitely a good spot for dining on the week day when you don't feel like cooking, as we experienced the other day. We sat down, had a Vietnamese Coffee and Thai Iced Tea before ordering our Nam Nuong (really good spring roll with crispy pork and sweet dipping sauce, not fish sauce), Sweet and Sour soup with fish (perfect for a soup night, really got it right with both ends, and shared the Lemon Chicken curry (this was alright, great flavor...not spicy at all, so ask for hot sauce or some spice). On the pricier end, so get ready to spend at least $35-45 for two with drinks, appetizer, and entrees. They had parties of 6-8 on separate tables, also kid friend section on the other side of the restaurant. Good for a intimate convo and lighthearted laughter. Don't break up here, as atmosphere is pretty positive and casual :) I recommend you to eat here!
(3)Valerie B.
Came here for lunch with my co-workers and was quite satisfied. The place is small but cute. The staff is nice and work pretty quick. We ordered: -Sugarcane Shrimp Rolls: YUMMY! This is one of our favorite dishes. I love the crispness of the shrimp after biting into the soft rice paper. -Garlic Herb Noodles: not what you would think would be served at an asian restaurant, but it was good. I love garlic so it hit the spot. -Spicy Green Beans: it was ok. Could have been more spicy and with less sauce. -Lemongrass Chicken: Not too bad. A little on the saucy side, but good. Portion sizes are good for a satisfying lunch. I would come back just for the sugarcane shrimp rolls!
(4)Maryam S.
*This review is for takeout only* I picked up takeout from Xyclo on Friday with a girlfriend. I hadn't tried it and I wanted there to be delicious Vietnamese walking distance from my house. Two rice dishes and one order of spring rolls later my friend and I were left satiated, but overall disappointed with the food. We both started reminiscing about what our food would have been like if we had ordered from Ms. Saigon or picked up from Pho 84. Oh well, now we know. . .
(2)Jon W.
Sick-Low is how you pronounce their name for all you non V speaking peeps! And yes, I had to ask also. Loosely translated means rickshaw. Great fresh food in an art deco atmosphere. Very nice. Lots of beautiful friendly servers to help with your gorging needs. Veggie spring rolls - fresh and tasty great! Claypot - a fusion of flavor, not greazzy at the bottom, but a little dry. $6 noodles - fantastically a little sweet. side portion good enough for an entree. Tumbling Dice fillet Mignon - an explosion of flavored POW. Awesome! Lychee Black Tea - nice..subtle lychee flavor takes the bite out of bitterness. Hazelnut dessert - prolly not made there, but was good. Beer- well thats alwayz good! $65 including tip and we left happy campers promising to come back for more gluttony. Hopefully we can find a rickshaw, as you need to be lucky for parking.
(4)Vera D.
I've had both their dining and catering experience. For pho, I'd rather eat at a divey pho place like Anh Dao than Xyclo only because I feel like I can get the same thing for less! I do admit their garlic noodles are addictive. :)
(3)M T.
Yummy papaya salad- great presentation- although small portions. Good flavor profile. The rolls are definitely overpriced- not something I'd get again.
(3)Tran N.
My friends took me here for a birthday dinner, and what a treat! We ordered the spicy steak salad, lemongrass basil chicken, garlic noodles, and Saigon devil wings. Everything was really tasty, my favorite was the lemongrass basil chicken. I will definitely come back to try the other dishes.
(4)Kate G.
Xyclo taste: sampler of rolls. Amazing papaya salad.
(4)Tim W.
hit or miss. I live right down the street from this place and few been to Xclyo a hand full of times. First off its pricey, well at least for the quality and portion size of what you get. I went there a few weeks back looking to taste the tumbling dice which a buddy of mine had ordered a few weeks back. It was to say the least underwhelming. Apps are good. Service is good. I would go again to try other dishes. Just not my first choice in the area.
(3)Bella B.
Relaxed dining experience, quick service; I'm ready to go back and try more items from their menu! XYCLO Taste - good way to try the various roll and share with friends. Green Bean Salad - delicious, I had seconds. XYCLO Chili Ribs - I'm usually not a fan of ribs (hate nawing things off a bone), but this is defnitely yummy. I like spicy, and felt it was only mild. Garlic Herb Noodles - tasty, love garlic! Tumbling Dice - filet mignon is tasty and tender, very good. Claypot Rice Medley - good; I like when the rice on the bottom, flavorful with a slight crunchiness.
(4)Nicole J.
Came in for lunch today, had Thai iced tea, a roll, and bun with shiitakes and tofu. The food was really good: fresh, crisp vegetables and very generous portions. The atmosphere was bustling and chic. Definitely some of the better Vietnamese I've had in the Bay.
(4)David C.
Came here with a group dinner with some friends. This place looks really hip and modern from the outside, and you'll see that they serve very traditional vietnamese dishes (and some fusion dishes), but why is there such a huge price premium? We ended up paying around 30 dollars per head and did family style. We had the mixed appetizer sample. It came with assorted spring rolls, and assorted fried egg rolls and lumpia. It tasted fine, but it was nothing spectacular. For our entrees, we had the fried fish curry, the tumbling dice filet cubes, and sesame ribs. The fried fish curry was quite overdone, with too much batter, and a tad overseasoned. Same goes for the sesame ribs. The ribs were COATED in sesame seeds, which in my opinion overpowered the nice porky flavor of ribs. There was alot of sugar in the seasoning as well, which when combined with the sesame, only served to get stuck in all our teeths! Saved the best for last; the tumbling dice cubes were cubes of filet mignon stir fried with onions, red and green peppers, and black pepper. It tasted great, but I really couldn't justify the prices I paid at this restaurant. Service was mediocre.
(3)ariel w.
this is our second time at xyclo . food is fresh and amazingly delicious . too bad that a lot of the dishes have shrimps in them...and not more vegetarian options ... service is friendly . we were lucky it wasn't very busy on sunday rainy afternoon , so there was no wait. the vegetarian rolls were great. the apple salad was fantastic !! also the eggplant with tofu is worth trying definitely will go back . definitely recommending this place !!! i would give this place 5 stars if it had less meat dishes and more vegetarian dishes...
(4)M W.
We call Xyclo our 'healthy, fine-dining option'. The food is very fresh, the flavors enticing, the selection varied. Our favorites include: Tao Roll (my 14 year old daughter has one order for herself when we go), Green Bean Salad, Vietnamese Carpaccio and Combination Stir-fry. We've tried most of the menu and it's all good, though the Chicken Curry has too little chicken and is on the watery side. However, if you leave without trying the regular Mojito and the Seven Elements dish, you have totally missed the 5-star portions of this place. The 4-Star rating is for inconsistent service (sometimes just OK, sometimes great, never bad), strangely high prices on some items, and for the really bad artwork on the right-hand side wall (as you enter).
(4)Kenneth C.
An excellent Vietnamese restaurant. Our first visit and certainly not our last. Good menu selections and the kitchen was able to modify a few dishes to meet our likes and dislikes. Full bar , good atmosphere and friendly staff. Good location next to the Piedmont Theater. Ken - Orinda
(4)eliza w.
Sigh. You know when you're kinda into someone, but you know it's just cuz they're arm candy, and then you regret it all evening cuz you've gotta make some chit chat about some shit, and you'd rather be at home eating take out, watching bsg with yer dogs? Well, it was like that (cept my date is brains *and* beauty...but remember this is a metaphor for the restaurant, not miz sy, k?) On the food alone, this is a one-star. But the service was friendly, and the vibe is chill and relatively sleek. I'd like them to succeed, but I'd probably only come back for pupus and pricey drinks before a proper dinner somewhere else. Whether it's meant to be Vietnamese food or California-fusion food, it's not succeeding at either. Here's what we ordered: - Green bean salad The green bean salad was positively astonishing in its bite (lime plus vinegar). We kept eating it just to exclaim at the sensation...something between a taser shock and a dash of sulfuric acid. - Shrimp and taro fried rolls These were ok, lovely little fried things, good combo of shrimp flavor and texture with the taro and the fried bits. Prolly my favorite in the whole meal. - Butterfly prawns and garlic noodles Meh. Too much butter, and otherwise not so flavorful. Nice large shrimpies, but it didn't salvage the dish. Bland. - Chili Ribs Sigh. I love ribs. I love meat. This was disappointing. The flavor was a bit too sweet, the crust was interesting, but not as flavorful as I'd like. And some of the ribs were on the dry side. - Salty Spicy Shrimp The salty spicy shrimp was neither--more like a friendly fish and chips shop that discovered panko, and then threw in things like dried tofu skins (which were admittedly very cool, but added to the oddity of the disparate flavors mixed together). (Note: We saw another couple get the claypot, and I was tempted to brave the third degree burns to snatch their food. So mebbe we just ordered badly?) Not sure we'll be back, unless the arm-candy includes free drinks, and doesn't mind if I doodle rather than make chit-chat.
(2)Jonathan M.
We were looking for a place to have dinner after a movie. So, after a so so movie, we walked over to Xyclo. We had pre-read the menu and were hopeful. Everything was delicious. The standouts were the rolls: the sausage one and then the shrimp rolls. Right up there was the Mom's Pork. There was purring around the table. The soups were also hits. The wonton soup and the pho were both very tasty. The broth was superb. We also had the birds in the nest, the chili spare ribs, and a chicken curry. All were very good. I haven't given many 5 stars but this place deserved it. The food, the server, the setting all earned this review. We'll be going back!
(5)Carol W.
food is great! good lunch special selections for $10 each! fresh and good quality ingredients. friendly staff & environment.
(5)Lise N.
2 words: beef carpaccio. If there is one thing you need to order there, this is it! It melts in your mouth and it is so much better than Slanted Door's. Good luck finding street parking though...
(5)Ryley E.
Terrible service and boring food. We were seated quickly, which was nice. However, it was all downhill from there. After deciding what we wanted to order we sat around for several minutes before someone came by the table. The dishes came out in exactly the wrong order, with our appetizers actually arriving last. I wanted to order another drink, but we weren't checked on again until we were completely ready to leave. I can't even be bothered to write anything more in-depth. Skip this place. There are a dozen better places on Piedmont Ave alone.
(2)Christina V.
This spot is a hidden gem in Oakland! Amazing pan fried noodles, butterflied shrimp, spicy beef cubes & clay pot dishes- wow, a must try for pan-Asian food lovers. Stylish decor, unique cocktails and dim lighting also make this a great date spot!
(5)Tim M.
The four of us enjoyed everything that we tried including Fresh Apple Salad, Crispy Shrimp Rolls, Birds Nest Noodles (crunchy!), Chili Ribs and Tumbling Dice. Looking forward to trying again.
(4)sarah s.
This place was decent and not too expensive. I recommend the clay pot dish, and, if you like rolls, the $21 assorted rolls dish (but only if your sharing because they all taste similar). Decor can be described as a tad pretentious, but if you like that stuff, you'll like their lamps and red walls.
(4)R. P.
love their food!!! so far everything i have tried here has not failed. food always taste so fresh and cooked just right. I was craving spring rolls and despised the fact that they were $9. But once i took my first bite, I was hooked. this is not your average spring roll, it definitely sets itself apart from the rest. Take advantage of their $10 lunch specials. my favorites are the pork chops, basil chicken, green bean salad, and steak salad.
(5)Michael B.
Fourth time back. Went there again on a recommendation of a friend. Thanks, Johnny. It was great food. My wife and I went with another couple who are quit picky. They thought everything was great. "one notch below La Cheval" was their consensus' (which is a five star review for most people). Good service even if no one could understand what the guy who brought our food over said when trying to explain the sampler appetizer tray. Missing star: drinks came after the appetizers. Should be minus 3 stars for this. Restaurant 101: get the customer a drink before you say HELLO! This doesn't translate well with Xyclo. Shrimp was tasteless. Thanks again Johnny. Maybe I'll go back for my Birthday.
(4)Beth G.
My friend and I came here the other night for a delicious dinner. To start, I had a pomegranate spritzer, which was quite good (reminded me of a Shirley Temple). We shared the Tao Roll and the Bird's Nest for dinner. The presentation was gorgeous! The Tao Roll was nicely put together and the ingredients blended together quite well. I love shitake mushrooms and tofu, plus jicama was a nice treat. The carrots and lettuce didn't tone down the flavor and the cliantro was not overpowering. The Bird's Nest was quite good (though I liked the Tao Roll better). We had soft noodles, which was a nice twist on typical bird's nests. The chicken breast and the veggies were seasoned nicely. The atmosphere is really cool. Not overly hipster, but nice and intimate. The service was very warm and fairly attentive. I'm giving it five stars because of the uniqueness of the food, and how well the chef fused the ingredients to create delectable meals. This really was a unique experience and the next time I am in Oakland, I am coming back to try more off of this menu.
(5)Elizabeth B.
My boyfriend and I split the Xyclo Sampler plate of spring rolls and fried rolls and after the meal was over we couldn't stop talking about how good the food was! Everything tastes so fresh and delicious. Its the perfect place to go if you are bored of the other mundane fare on Piedmont Avenue. The only minor drawback to our experience was the lack of attention we got once our food was served. We were so into the food that we didn't mind too much :) I can't wait to go back to try the $10 lunch specials!
(4)Christian Y.
Garlic Noodles and any of their spring rolls is must try here. This is my fourth time here and the food and service remains amazing. If you're ever on Piedmont this you have got to come and give this place a try.
(5)Daniel H.
Overpriced and service is unfriendly and impersonal. Cheap plastic plates. Waited 20 minutes before even having my order taken. These people need help.
(1)Marina N.
Do not take fried rolls home for the next day. Totally my fault, I didn't think about the fried wrapping getting all soggy and they were nast. But bonus points to XYCLO for packaging them very well specifically so they wouldn't get soggy from the cabbage slaw thing or the sauce. Still, crispy fried stuff needs to be eaten warm and fresh. Loved the salt & pepper tofu. The pho was good too, fresh ingredients, though next time I will ask for meat on the side bc it was mostly cooked by the broth by the time I got it (and I like it on the rarer side). Waiter was very nice and place was clean.
(3)Dan W.
I ducked into here with a buddy during a rainstorm, and we figured we'd give it a try. The decor is very classy, if somewhat generic for trendy asian fusion restaurants. But, hey, it's Piedmont Ave. We started off with rolls, which were very tasty. I followed up with the xyclo ribs, which were covered in sesame and very tasty (although a bit dry for my taste). As trendy fusion places go, it was all very tasty, although I would have preferred it if the ribs had come with rice, or vegetables that weren't pickled and shredded like cole-slaw. Maybe I'm just a philistine, but I felt like my dinner was a little more South Beach Diet than I prefer. Still service was very good, and it's a nice place. I'm just more likely to try out other restaurants in the area than make this my "go-to" spot.
(3)Alicia N.
Delicious Vietnamese food. The food is fresh, portions are perfect, service is attentive - what more can you ask for?! This East Bay gem is hidden away on Piedmont Avenue and easily missed, unless you know it's there - but its fans definitely know where to find it! Don't hesitate a moment longer, head down to Piedmont Avenue and get your fix of Xyclo now, you'll be back there over and over again.
(4)Dana G.
This place is perfect if you're on Piedmont and looking for a bite to eat. The atmosphere is cool and chilled out, service is good, food is yummy, and they have a decent selection of cocktails. I usually get the wonton soup which is perfect if you want something light, and I've also tried (and enjoyed) some of the rice dishes and rolls. It's definitely fusion so those looking for really authentic Vietnamese food will probably want to go elsewhere.
(4)Vanessa D.
stopped for a quick lunch for the first time with the SO today and i gotta say that we must try the actual plates. we kinda went balls-out with the xyclo appetizer plate and the soup (beef pho and wonton noodle soup) that we were STUFFED. like, thanksgiving glut gut style. the sampler was excellent. the server was professional and polite. and though we're no strangers to vietnamese cuisine, she recommended sauce pairings to us. service was attentive and the place was clean and nicely decorated. the broth in the won ton soup hit the spot, as lately i've been feeling quite fatigued. it had such depth of flavor without the unctuous aftertaste of some meat-based broths. the wifey's pho was above average. we especially enjoyed the shrimp rolls and the vegetarian rolls. the sampler alone is enough for 4 adults. also, the prices are affordable and well worth the value. and the joint is casual so it's a great neighborhood hangout. plus it's close to the theater, so it's perfect for a movie night. we'll definitely come back and update this as we try more dishes.
(4)Anthony R.
I went here for dinner tonight with my brother and a friend. We ordered to xyclo roll sampler dish which had a variety of different spring rolls. Very good and tasty. Both dipping sauces were really good. We had the coconut prawns with cocnut rice and the green bean dishes which were also really good. Only negative was with the drink. My brother and our friend ordered mojitos which were not very good. They basically tastes like cough drops. No good. Save your money and srink beer there instead (less then half the price of a mojito).
(4)j g.
I am excited to pen this since this will be the first time I review a restaurant that I think I've tried most of the items on the menu! I stumbled across Xyclo (2 doors down from Fenton's) about a year ago with a friend visiting from Israel. I have since been there another 7 or 8 times and get teased for the number of FB check-ins I have there. FOOD - Very good and sometimes Excellent! Double Surprise Roll - exactly that, crisp, fresh, crunch at the middle, divine. XYCLO Roll - The center of the double surprise, crispy, fried (not greasy) diced yumminess Nem Nuong Roll - This is the one roll I am not crazy about, it is pork sausage and I expected diced or small bites and it is the circumference of a breakfast sausage wrapped, a bit odd to me. The combination of green apple, mint and cilantro combined with other ingredients makes most of there rolls ridiculously delicious and a perfect way to start the meal. SALADS - Papaya, green bean and apples salads are all very fresh with well balanced flavors and good 2nd course before large plates The Vietnamese Carpaccio of sirloin was very good and the plate got cleaned. The lime dressing was a bit intense, so it you don't like strong citrus notes, you may want to pass on this one. LARGE PLATES Lemongrass Basil Chicken - what you would expect and quite good Lemongrass Basil Eggplants and Tofu - I prefer this over the chicken because the Tofu is truly the best I've ever had. My daughter doesn't like tofu and wolfs this down. XYCLO Chili Ribs - when they are done correctly, these are amazing!! If you have more than 2 people in your party that will help eat these, get two orders (each comes with 4) and you will still be fighting over them. Chicken Curry - Good flavor and spice but I've ordered twice now when there was a huge amount of large pieces of potato and we had to search for the chicken. Most recently I took my daughter, her boyfriend and my son and did the ordering. I was embarrassed that I ordered this dish and there was almost no chicken in it, with 3 healthy eaters with me. Claypot Rice Medley - pretty pedestrian and no better than you could probably get anywhere. Crispy Curry Fish - excellent the first time I ordered and overcooked and chewy the 2nd time I ordered. All the favors at Xyclo are good. My one criticism is inconsistency. As noted above there have BEEN several instances the quality of a dish has differed between visits, which is frustrating when you like a restaurant this much. The other inconsistency for Xyclo is service. The first few times I went, we had a great waiter who was friendly and informative. Since then it has been revolving faces who simply seem to be order takers with no real rhythm to the service...so they show up at odd times and then you can't find them when you need them. This might sound strange, but if you've every experienced this you know what I mean. I wasn't happy that on a $100 dinner I got charged for a 2nd small bowl of rice which we only requested because the amount of rice served with the Large plates was so small. Last note: the fried banana and coconut ice cream that you can get at any ty Thai or Vietnamese restaurant. Xyclo's is THE BEST!
(4)James C.
She move her body like a Xyclo... Just discovered this place last night when my buddy Zack took our group out to dinner to celebrate his new job, and I must say it was delicious. Definitely get the bird's nest and the tumbling dice steak. Actually, the food, the decor, and the prices were just like Unicorn's. What a boring entry. I can't think of any fluff to make this more interesting. I just want to write these reviews so I can read them later and remember what I ate! So back off!
(4)chris c.
The food and drinks here are worth 4 stars. The asian fusion deal is done well here. The meats and veggies all good like the should be. My birds nest was pretty good. Good portion of veggies,noodles and meat. Now why did I give it 3 stars? well heres the thing I like how they kept our reservations even though the part was about 30 minutes late. Once we got seated however, It took really long to get our drinks and food. We had a late reservation and we were concerned the kitchen/bar would close on us before we even got started. They kept things open till later like 10:30pm which was cool. Then they brought out our check.
(3)Tracy T.
During lunch time, this is a little dimly lit romantic place to go to. Mango, Peach, and Guava juice are chilled cans of Kerns served in a glass cup with the cans in the recycle bin (I hope!) in the back. Goi Cuon Roll: poached shrimp, rice noodles, green apple, fresh lettuce, cilantro, mint, served with peanut sauce. I was so excited to try this b/c it had apple slices in it, so I can see how well it would mix with the roll. To my disappointment, I ended up getting the typical cucumber slices in the rolls. Won Ton Soup with noodles: salty, the noodles tasted undercooked and too chewy, and there were 5 won tons. 5 Spice Chicken: tasted like typical grilled chicken at Vietnamese restaurants (the kind usually served on top of dry noodles or broken rice), nothing struck out to me with this dish. It came with garlic herbed pilaf, but it just tasted like rice with fried garlic/onions mixed with a few dried green raisins. Spicy green beans: just the right amount of spiciness to not over power the beans and carrots that came along with this dish. Butterfly prawns: the only dish that I liked here. The prawns had a good flavor, not too salty like the previous dishes I had above. The bed of garlic noodles was an interesting mix of flavors: parmesan cheese sprinkled on top of stir fried chow mein noodles with basil. Delicious, but a bit on the oily side! I would give the food here two stars, but the butterfly prawn dish deserves one extra star.
(3)Suzee Q.
I hadn't been here in a couple years but I remember loving the ribs, so I tried it again. The decor is interesting and it's in a fine spot on Piedmont. We were greeted and seated quickly. We had the Shrimp Roll as an appetizer, which was perfectly fried and just the right portion. As entrees we got the Xyxlo Chili Ribs and the Combination Stir Fry. The Stir Fry was yummy. The Chili Ribs I found to be a tasty and weird combination. Too much of something, but I couldn't figure out what. I fear it's pork but what to do? Lots of stuff going on those ribs. The total bill was a tad high $$, but we had leftovers.
(4)Catherine R.
Friendly fast service, warm atmosphere, and yummy fresh food. I brought two friends here Sunday night and we had a beef and salad festival: spicy beef salad (my favorite):skewers of juicy tender beef over a light toasted sesame dressed salad, filet mignon and a lime balsamic dressed salad: cubes of tender grilled beef and salad, beef carpacio dressed in a lime marinade, spicy green beens and the Vietnamese crepe. I would have enjoyed the carpacio more but it has flecks of an herb that I don't like. The spicy green beans had a mildly sweet and smoky flavour and came with carrots-we all enjoyed this side dish a lot., the crepe was huge and filling with plump shrimp and squid. A tad bland though.. I have ordered a similar dish in Cambodian restaurants and preferred it- but overall- the food was fresh and tasty. I wold go back for the amazing mojitos and the spicy beef salad in a heartbeat.
(4)Regina N.
The food is great and always consistent! If you are craving for Vietnamese food, Xyclo is the place to go....they have some traditional dishes, but some have a slight twist and it's appetizing! We've tried most of their dishes, but our favorite dishes are: - Sugarcane Shrimp Rolls - Butterfly prawns with garlic noodles - Sweet and sour soup - Vietnamese crepe Location is great - along Piedmont Avenue and only a block away from Fenton's! Sometimes parking can be hard to find...The employees are friendly and service is pretty consistent. We can't wait to go back!
(4)Mariela B.
WOW! For the price this place is the best. It had been a while since I have been here so I was surprised by the quality and presentation once again. The Tumbling dice(filet mignon) and the Coconut Shrimp were both AMAZING. We also started with a roll which was very good as well. This place beats many other pricy places. Easy to walk in too.
(5)Linda B.
This place was a real find, at least as far as the food. Food 4 stars, service 2.5. I ordered the carpaccio, which was icy cold beef wonderfully marinated. I also ordered the fried shrimp rolls, which were too hot to eat, temperature-wise. So I had hot-cold, cold-hot going constantly. But they were both delicious. My partner had the 5-spice chicken, which she really liked. For dessert, I had the Bomba, which was quite unusual and very tasty (even though I'm not sure what the tastes were). Negatives: no Earl Grey tea; only some herbal stuff. They say small plates, but the plate the carpaccio was on was too large for the table. There only seemed to be one waiter (not sure about that), and the service was spotty; I received my 2 plates immediately, and I ate while my partner had nothing for 15 minutes. And at the end of our meal, when we wanted the check, we couldn't find the waiter. Overall, however, the food was very intriguing and delicious.
(3)Nobbi L.
Well, my work colleague swears by this place and goes once a week. We tried it out last night. The service was very nice, as was the ambiance. I found the food mediocre. Not bad, but nothing special. The closest comparison in terms of restaurant type would be Dragon Rouge in Alameda, and its food is better.
(3)michaela s.
great service and really tasty food. good for large groups and good taste in wine. only major overhaul needed -- lots more vegetarian options. we'd go there more if we didn't always get the same 2 or 3 things. recommend the tao rolls...YumMY!
(4)Ali H.
The food was Delicious, the service was great and I loved the calming ambience. I also loved the old wood displayed, the server even gave us some history on the art piece! We ordered the calamari, fresh spring rolls, eggplant special, ribs, soup, noodles and a plate of broccoli for the kids (which they only charged $5). Basically enough for 3 adults and 3 children under the age of 8 and all of the food was Incredible!!!! I was super impressed with the speed of how quickly the food came out as well. The eggplant Tofu was my favourite, I have been craving it ever since!!! I have never had such an all around super dining experience! And the bill was only $100, couldn't believe it. I can't wait to check out the lounge area on the other side... They even do orders for carry out!!!
(5)Alison V.
Yum, Yum, Yum! I continue to go back to Xyclo and am never disappointed. The food is always fresh, great ambiance, great service. Their green bean salad is a favorite. The wonton soup is DE-lish. Not too heavy and bursting with flavor.
(4)marisa g.
Three of us went here on a Thursday night. We made a reservation so we got seated right away, but the restaurant, as well as the lounge next door were full. All in all, the food here is very good. I highly recommend the carpaccio, the garlic noodles (LOVE!), and the crispy ribs. We also had the sugarcane shrimp rolls, lemongrass chicken curry, and the clay pot. All were fine but nothing I would rave about. I would never call this authentic feeling Vietnamese food, but for a very yummy dinner out with good food and great drinks, I definitely recommend it. This place loses a star for the craptastic service though. Yes, the restaurant was full, but it is very small and I would estimate that our server was only covering 6 tables, all of which had been there well before we had arrived and it still took us 10 minutes to give a drink order and 10 more for it to arrive. Total cost for two appetizers, three entrees, a side, two beers, and four mixed drinks was around $160...not bad at all, especially considering I had two meals in leftovers.
(3)Joanne C.
Finally.. a place in town where I can eat some delicious Asian Fusion food! :) PROS: good, attentive, servers who are usually a step or two ahead of us with regards to our needs; everything comes out fast, efficiently, and HOT. CONS: Parking sucks on weekend evenings since there is only street parking, meter parking, and residential parking which are all inconveniently not very near and usually taken up; tables seem a like they are packed a little too tightly. If the restaurant is busy, I'm usually breathing on the people next to me. :( FOOD TO TRY: beef noodle pho (delicious broth!), and the ribs (deliciously carmelized pork ribs with a delicate crunchy peanut-sesame crust. heaven!)
(4)N. C.
I'm definitely a fan! I LOVE vietnamese dishes, but this is one of the best so far. It's somewhat contemporary flavor without losing the vietnamese root. To me, vietnamese cuisine is usually comfort asian food. Sometimes I can find vietnamese french fusion that takes it up to another dimension. But at Xyclo, it's straight up vietnamese and they've successfully kicked it up to another notch.
(4)Amanda P.
I have died and gone to South East Asian Heaven! Ran to write the review the same night I ate it. Classic beef pho; simple, fresh ingredients warmed my tummy and the hot sauce warmed my mouth. The rolls were so fresh and the sauces were amazing. BUT I cannot describe the ribs...there is no way to do them justice. You HAVE to get them.
(5)Fred F.
I thought the food was excellent. We ordered a bit too much though. Started with a lychee martini...then another...The Bird's Nest was enough for two people. I thought the Lemongrass Tofu was the most flavorful (just the right amount of heat). Next time I'll save room for desert....
(4)Brenda H.
Went here with my girlfriend yesterday. We both ordered Pho (she had beef and I had vegetarian), plus a side order of steamed tofu and spicy green beans. The green beans and steamed tofu was pretty awesome. They were about $5-6 each but definitely worth it. The vegetarian Pho was okay. The flavor was pretty light but it was still quite refreshing. The sides were a definite ++++.
(3)TJ J.
Xyclo has some of the best Vietnamese food in the East Bay. The service is very friendly and attentive. They have interesting lunch specials and are even open for lunch on Sundays. Unlike many Vietnamese restaurants they have wine by the glass and a full bar. I've eaten a lot of Vietnamese food over the past forty years. The best has been at home or friend's homes. But if you don't have any friends who cook great Vietnamese food, you should try the food at Xyclo. We will definitely be returning.
(4)Jonathan U.
What a treat this was! I was a bit disappointed with the roll sampler, but the rest of the food certainly made up for it. The soup was tasty and the broth was outstanding, although with four people it would have been nice to get two wontons per person. The lemongrass curry chicken was perfect, I could really taste all of the flavors, but they still blended together to create a very tasty dish. The sweet potatoes complimented the spices perfectly. The chili ribs were wonderful, I have never had ribs like that before, they fell off the bone and had tons of meat (ie not much fat). The garlic noodles were the highlight though, we ended up getting an order to go for lunch today! They were so flavorful, they were the highlight of the meal. The ambiance was very nice, in fact there was a celebrity there, which always makes things a bit more exciting , and the waiter told us that he comes often, so I guess it's not just for the common man! I will go back here again, a nice addition to the neighborhood, too bad it took so long for me to get there.
(4)Keara C.
Pretty decent for asian fushion food. Like every other restaurant down Peidmont Ave the ambiance for a little place is great. Specifically for this one, I really like the color scheme they have chosen for this place. This is a great place for a date. Everything on the menu was alright but not spectacular. I would definitely recommend the garlic noodles though. It seems like that is a signature item on the menu. I would give them props on the packaging and presentation of the food. You can tell the chef takes the extra effort to arrange the food in a way where it looks really pleasant so that even before you take a bite, you are already in euphoria.
(3)Craig B.
Contemporary fusion-styled ambiance and cuisine that is very affordable. I have been to this restaurant over 15 times since they opened. I have eaten every thing on the menu, delicious. The soups are savory on the palette and light on the stomach. The roasted quail is superbe every time. I especially like Seven Elements; it is a salad comprised of seven different items set in individual, dainty piles that you place in self selected proportions on individual butter leaf lettuce fronds and then eat it like a wrap, mmmm . . .
(4)Sarah L.
Xyclo serves "modern Vietnamese cuisine". What does this *really* mean? Well, don't expect classic Saigon-style traditionally prepared Vietnamese dishes--if you do, you'll be disappointed. Instead, simply judge the food on its own merits--flavor, freshness, creativity--and you'll be a happy camper. That said...Honeybunny and I just *looove* this place. The ambiance and decor are elegant and soothing, and the friendly service rocks. There's even a small, comfy lounge/bar area where you can wait for your table if they're busy (which they often seem to be, but at those times, there's rarely more than a 10-minute wait). And then there's the food, which is utterly exquisite. The chili ribs are absolutely addictive--our server last night confessed that he could never quit his job, because he'd have to stop eating them 3-4 times a week! Other fantastic dishes include the butterfly prawns with garlic noodles, the Vietnamese carpaccio, and the Seven Elements (a new twist on lettuce rolls). We've also tried the birds' nest, the Goi Cuon and Nem Nuong rolls, and the green bean salad--all wonderful. Long story short...try this place. It's a wee bit spendy, but worth every cent and then some.
(5)Suzanne V.
The service is excellent,,,,NOT THE FOOD!! I wonder if the food critics below,,,ever had good Vietnamese or Asian food!!..... or maybe I'm a harder critic,,,,cuz I'm AZIAN!!!!!!
(2)Jim G.
4+ Stars. My partner and I ordered 3 items and each was well above average. No appetizers as dinner is usually enough, and it was just the right amount of food without walking away hungry or over-stuffed. She wanted the coconut prawns. As it is shrimp and rice only, we added the 'spicy green beans' too. I ordered the grilled shrimp & pork with rice noodles (a bun dish whose name I forgot). In typical Asian restaurant fashion one dish preceded the other 2. Usually I find this annoying but in this case it actually worked very well. The spicy green beans arrived alone and I don't usually say this about green beans but these were truly magnificent. Slightly el dente, they were just the right texture. Spicy enough to add flavor but not overwhelm. And best of all served hot (temperature). A nice accent of sautéed onions & carrots made for what turned out to be a great appetizer. I am a food temperature NUT, and I was particularly impressed that as we slowly enjoyed each bean chop-stick style, they somehow retained their perfect temperature and texture. The main dishes were extremely flavorful as well. Mary's curry coconut shrimp & rice was beautifully flavored and mine was as well. The shrimp & some of the pork slices in the bun dish were nicely grill charred and the broth was way above average. The negatives were minor. All hard surfaces in the decor make this place noisy. I enjoyed the look though and thought the restaurant cozy. Also, both main dishes were messy and we both needed a hearty cleanup after. Third, the service wasn't awful, but they did need a few 'looks' & 'waves' to get things done. They were good about keeping our ice waters full though, and I like that. A very satisfying dining experience that I look forward to repeating!
(4)Jennifer E.
I like to tell people that I am really boring in bed; that I just lie there like a dead fish. That way when I seal the deal I appear better than I actually am because my partner had low expectations. Since my "date" could not multitask and talk on the phone and get ready at the same time I jumped on Yelp to find a place to eat dinner. After reading a slew of 4 and 5 star reviews I decided Xyclo was worth leaving my island. But after I ate I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. The atmosphere was outstanding, the server made great recommendations, and the Lychee Tea Martini knocked me off my ass. But the grilled pork sausage in the Nem Nuong Roll tasted like pigs in a blanket and I didn't feel the need to take home any left overs. So if your going to go, anticipate a dead fish, and perhaps you'll get a rockin good time.
(3)Tram N.
been here a few times and i would have to say the food and service is great. my fave is the steak salad and spring rolls. It is a cozy little place to stop by for dinner and drinks. The only thing I don't like is parking sucks. There is only street parking and it's always a battle for me to get a spot.
(4)Paul C.
had the garlic herb noodles with prawns, fresh spring rolls with shrimp, and the lemongrass chicken with rice. it was really flavorful and definitely worth a visit if you're in the mood for asian fusion. really good spring rolls and garlic herb noodles. people were really nice too. i was surprised by how pricey every dish was (felt like each dish was $2-3 too expensive)...but either way, worth a trip if you're in the area.
(5)Gina W.
Very good food. GREAT presentation of food! The service is great as well.
(4)calman r.
Really good asian fushiony food. I got the filet mignon steak with salad, and the salad is so good by itself i think i liked it better than the filet mignon. i'd say its more like le cheval's cube beef steak, but with a really good salad. kinda pricier than i would like, but wouldnt mind going once a month.
(5)M N.
Wonderful food. I really enjoyed Coconut Prawn and Tumbling dice. One things is that I felt the service is slow. Coconut Prawn did not come out for long time and we asked, and they said that it takes long time to stem, but when we ordered it, the server did not mention it at all like any other restaurant do. Rice did not come out so and we felt already full so we cancelled on it. Overall great food and you won't get disappointed!
(4)CALGail f.
This is our comfort food place - good, fresh, healthy food options at a decent price. Plus some interesting cocktail selections. Good for a date, a group of friends, or for (quite!) kids. The staff are very friendly and efficient. We love the salads (crunchy and tasty) and their wings and rolls, but most everything we try is great. I wish they would occasionally add specials or change up the menu (probably since we go there so much?!)
(4)Stephen H.
XYCLO Taste - Samples of Xyclo roll, Crispy Shrimp roll, Tao roll, Double Surprise roll, Goi Cuon roll and Sugarcane Shrimp roll 21 - This was a nice dish, but $21 is a bit steep for a few spring rolls. It is good to try the whole set and see which one you want to focus on during the next trip. To me the Sugarcane Shrimp Roll was the standout winner, but I can the appeal in most of the rolls. Curry Fish - caramelized curry glaze and basil Basa, served with rice and cucumber $15 - This dish was good, reminded me of the basil chicken that Coriander in the SF mall serves, which is actually a good thing. Cooked just right with no heavy breading. Tumbling Dice - filet mignon cubes, sautéed and shaken with garlic and onions atop a mix salad with balsamic vinaigrette $18 - This was a bit expensive for the amount of beef you get, but the beef is tender and fairly tasty. Not quite to die for but it was good, as mentioned by others the salad it comes with is fresh and tasty by itself. I liked that they give you a fresh lime to squeeze in a dish to dip the cubes into, all the traditional places seem to have a lime side dip. Five Spice Chicken - grilled chicken, garlic herb rice pilaf, raisin, nuts, herb salad 14 - Very tasty, but $14 for a chicken dish takes some getting used to. Unlike my favorite five spice chicken at PPQ in SF this place doesn't flash fry theirs, it is grilled (a bit too much in some areas, which had black crust). If you don't mind risking the cancer chunks, it is a tasty dish. Flaming Quail - tender and juicy quail prepared with five spices 10 -Tasty dish, but hard to eat, those scrawny quail just are not meaty enough. Garlic Herb Noodles 6 (v) - Very tasty, and sweeter than other places usually make it. This was one dish that I could say was actually a good value for what you get, I'd definitely order it again.
(4)S B.
The food here is DELICIOUS!!! I had the spicy steak salad which was incredible. I usually can't stand steak, but this meat was cooked perfectly and marinated in some heavenly combination of who knows what. Our table also tried the sugarcane shrimp rolls which were great - the shrimp is warm and the roll cold, and the contrast is surprisingly satisfying. My friend had the pho here, and it's certainly the best pho I've had in this area! The broth was peeeerfect. Plus, they have some good asian beers, which are a great compliment to any meal! The restaurant itself has a nice feel. It was really stuffy when we went, but maybe they just had the heat on too high. The decor is pretty and it's nice for 2-5 person groups, i'd say. Our waiter was ok. Nothing to brag about, but he got the job done. Definitely recommend this place, especially for a date night or catching up with old friends!
(4)Eva H.
SKIMPY! portions are small, they even skimp on rice so I had to order a side of rice just so I felt full! My bland claypot chicken and shrimp had 2 small shrimps and 8 thin strips of chicken. They even skimp on salad dressing so I had to ask for extra dressing. The claypot fish was good but SKIMPY. The place is pricey for the small portions.
(2)Cheesemonger Jeff D.
Well-executed food in a beautifully designed space. Gracious service and moderate pricing all add up to a nice place to catch a casual lunch or dinner. We had the 'sugarcane' shrimp roll, bun hanoi (grilled shrimp, bbq pork in sweet lime broth, with rice noodle and veggie condiments), beef carpaccio, and green beans. All were tasty, beautifully presented and fairly priced, if a bit too sweet (but that's the basis of the cuisine, not a flaw in the execution) The wine list is a bit monochromatic, overpriced and not well thought out (chardonnay, cab, and pinot - no riesling, muscat, gewurz, or big over oaked reds to go with spicy sweet foods), as if it were written by the local Southern Wines and Spirits salesman (funny, all of the wines were from Southern!), but that's my only knock on the place.
(4)caitlin c.
Very empty for lunch on Sunday afternoon, so service was super quick and helpful. The claypot (veggies, delicious rice that was crisped to the side of the pot as it cooked, chicken and shrimp) is a winner! The crepe is humungous and savory, overflowing with bean sprouts and shrimp. perfect crunch to the crepe. those 2 were standouts, the rest was just eh...I'm not sure what the cards about a local drought were about though. I've never been discouraged to order water at a restaurant before...
(4)nana r.
real vegetarian pho! the drinks are also great (real raspberry mojito) fair decent prices
(5)pea p.
As a poor student I doubt that I would have chosen to go to this restaurant on my own, but a friend was in town and I left it up to him to pick a place. We wandered around Piedmont and he decided we should try Xyclo even though neither of us had ever been there (he used to live here too). I can't say a lot since I only had the beef carpaccio and green beans but it was really so very delicious! The carpaccio is something I can imagine that I will have a craving for from time to time. The service was exceptional, and if you read my other reviews you will see that nothing irritates me like bad service. We never wanted for anything. I would wish for a beer and the server would be there asking if I wanted a beer! The meal ended up being very reasonably priced! I think the beautiful ambiance and design of the place just made me think it would cost more. Overall, YUMMY.
(5)derek d.
This is one of our favorite asian restaurants in the SF bay; the food is unpretentious and simple, but always incredibly fresh, tasty and satisfying. The decor is of the same kind, simple but pleasant. Service is attentive and friendly. We dined there multiple times and were never disappointed. Go Xyclo!! PS : The beef carpaccio is particularly delicious ...
(5)Jaimie O.
I think the quality and consistency of the food at Xyclo has really declined. The squid was tough, the meat indistinguishable in one dish (seemed like a bunch of bones in sauce), the shrimp had not been deveined. My waiter dropped my fork off the table and then failed to bring me back a new one. Egh...just would not be a place I ever plan to return. I used to think very highly of Xyclo but now...not at all.
(1)Priscilla k.
Headed here for a pal's bday. I was surprised that no one else in the group had been here before except for me. I've been here a few times before, but haven't written a review until now. In the past, I've had the Salt & Pepper Shrimp and enjoyed them very much. The decor is cool--dark, with unusual horizontal wood paneling (looks better than it sounds), and mood lighting. -Cocktail menu has fun unusual choices -Double Roll pleased the crowd -Spicy Green Beans were spicy as promised -Basa (fried fish filets with bok choy) was artfully presented, and tasty, but not super outstanding -Xyclo Chili Ribs were DELICIOUS! Crispy sweet outside, with tender meat. The mixed black and white sesame seeds added extra oomph to the crunch! loved it. -Tumbling Dice filet mignon cubes were tender and tasty. Generous portion, with refreshing salad greens on the side. The beef sauce was a little sweet. -Garlic Herb noodles. We were worried when we heard that these come with parmesan cheese on top. It didn't sound right to me. But we gobbled these yummy noodles up anyway. Didn't have dessert this time b/c we went to Fenton's on the next block.
(4)Sherry K.
Would give 2.5 stars if I could- loses stars for substandard service. So I've been here 3 times- the service definitely needs some help- On our last visit, the hostess barely acknowledged us and didn't say a word as she seated us- very lackluster. Waitstaff is generally friendly enough but is erratic, and they don't often come to check in on you, and asking for the bill takes freaking FOREVER. On that note- the pho is solid- since there isn't another place to get pho in walking distance of my house, this is a plus. They have various fresh spring rolls- they are decent but on the bland side, they seem to be missing a layer of flavor somehow. Ditto on the apple salad- needs a kick of something. Portions and quality are overall not quite up to what they are charging. Garlic noodles however, are really tasty- with some Parmesan which is a bit odd, but it works.
(2)Penny P.
It was one of those nights. I had a crappy lunch earlier in the day, the wait for Lococo's was over 45 minutes (on a Wednesday...) I was a grumpy mess. My ass would be booted so quickly on Survivor... People were taking up too much space on the sidewalk. I wanted to go to Fenton's--but only because I couldn't bear to walk one more block. At first I didn't want to go near Xyclo. I didn't want something new, expensive and barely filling. I didn't want atmosphere. I tried to convince H to get take-out from Gregoire's, but we decided to try it anyway. Maybe it's just me, or what we ordered, but I actually really liked this place. Definitely one to add to the rotation. Here's what we ordered: -Green Bean Salad -Xyclo Roll -Rice Hot Pot with Chicken, Shrimp, and Vegetables (like a Vietnamese Dolsut Bi Bim Bap!) -Garlic Noodles (!!!) Tasty, perfect sized portions, great service. I was extremely happy. I'm not sure if it was because I was desperately hungry, but this place more than exceeded my expectations. Will definitely be back. After reading other Yelpers on this place, I think it's a matter of getting the RIGHT dishes... Warning: Beware if you're sensitive to MSG
(4)Alex T.
This place is sooo good! It's a Vietnamese Fusion restaurant. I personally love vietnamese food. This place is definitely pricier than the average Vietnamese restaurant, but you're really paying for the ambiance. My favorite is their spring rolls. I had a few of their entrees and they were really great. The only thing I wouldn't get there is the pho. It's not bad, but it's not the best either. Mmmm, I'm craving it now!
(5)Kate I.
Love this place-- was a total surprise. We were walking on Piedmont looking for a dinner place and it was cold and rainy outside. Basically we ducked in to avoid having to walk any further. A great choice. The food here is yummy and very good. Being as we're kind of pescetarians these days, I noticed that the menu is replete with seafood and vegetable only dishes. Given the focus on veggies and fish, freshness is key and Xyclo gets a solid "A". The ingredients in the dishes are are very fresh and extremely well prepared and presented. We had the spring rolls appetizers which were tasty, a clay pot of goodness, and garlic noodles with prawns (so much more tasty than I'd imagined). The clay pot was a medly of different vegetables that were cooked perfectly. The place is very intimate, and would be good for a date or a night out with a friend. Lighting is ideal-- warm and bright enough without being too bright. Decor is tasteful and vibrant-- fun. It's a small place that comes off as cozy but not crowded. The service was great, too. The place was packed but I never felt ignored. We had a wonderful meal and dining experience at Xyclo. Definitely recommend this place.
(5)Britney K.
I talk about this place all of the time, I figured it was time for a review. I've only ever had the vegetarian Pho but it is the best I have ever had.
(4)m l.
Maybe I didn't order the right things, but one shouldn't have to win the lottery to get a good meal. I had noodles with wontons and spicy green beans. How wrong could the spicy green beans go? Well they were ok, but just ok. I wouldn't go running back. And as for the wonton soup with noodles, not so good. I had a lime elixer of sorts that was pretty good but overpriced. If you like Asian food with American flair then you will like this place. If you are Asian and have different and higher standards, you won't like this place. It was just ok. Service was friendly, ambiance can be cute, but the food won't have me going back. Other people who have reviewed this place seem to like what they've ordered, but I've had much better Asian food without having to try hard.
(2)Natalie H.
Xyclo, Xyclo, Xyclo! How I savor your sugarcane shrimp rolls and love your lemongrass chicken curry! Your bird's nest makes we want to fly away to a Xycloian paradise and never return! And your ambience and settings inside are oh-so exotic. (Not to mention you're almost next door to the world-famous Fenton's!)
(5)Tom N.
Very good beef noodle soup. The broth was soooo tasty yummy! and Lemongrass eggplant tofu was very good too. Its hard to find a parking though...
(4)Yaj ..
Tastey, fancy, but a little pricey for what you get. I would take old school imperial rolls any day. However, I was impressed with their salt and pepper prawns. They serve them with the shell on, which was not all that appealing at first. However, they crisp the shell up really good, so its like eating a thin, crispy chip - but the shrimp inside is not overcooked. They need to serve it with a side of lime juice, salt and pepper sauce.
(3)ELLIS D.
I was so excited when I walked in and saw a bar. The first thing I did was order a scotch and sody ! wowooooohhhooo! Then I was informed that they only had sake or soji so I tried a soji cocktail. That was the last time I was disappointed . We ordered the green beans with shallot salad. IT had a nice balance of acidity. My gal had the wanton soup (she wasn't very hungry) . It was very enjoyable, house made won-tons and a nice clear broth. I had the crispy shrimp roll and the pork dish(i forget the Vietnamese name). It was very well presented and packed full of flavor. Maybe a little too sugary for my taste but excellent none the less. As we ate we noticed the waitress who was wearing a vintage rolling stones shirt, kneeling down to eye level each time she spoke with a guest. I recognize this as a trait of a good server so asked her if she knew the chef etc.... Turned out she was the chef/owner, toiling away on a Wednesday night. Great service and great food .... There were other items we wished to try so we will return.
(3)Mutant O.
The Vietnamese crepe on its own, makes a great meal!
(4)M R.
Very good spring rolls, soups and meat dishes. Small alcohol selection. Xyclo is a mid-range Vietnamese fusion restaurant; do not come here if you are looking for more traditional Vietnamese fare. I have never seen a group over four here, although the space could likely accommodate as many as 10 without significant difficulty. Service is adequate. Seriously consider splitting a large plate between two individuals given the opportunity as the quantity of food is commensurate with the price. Overall, recommended with some reservations.
(4)Henry L.
A fun night out on Piedmont Ave. Really cool interior design at this cozy Asian Fusion spot. Plus, good service and decent grub. I tried the garlic noodles and was not disappointed. I would definitely go back!
(4)Cathy N.
I would go back again & again. I love their Tumbling Dice filet mignon, their clay pot, and their vegetarian dish. It's always hard to choose when I go because of how good they all are.
(4)David B.
Generally good Vietnamese items. Spring rolls (goi cuon) OK, with a slightly unusual citrusy dipping sauce; "Double Surprise" roll quite good, and includes slices of apple for crunch. "Seven Elements," a lettuce wrap, is outstanding though messy to eat (for my clumsy self, at least)--I actually prefer it as take-out so that I can eat it wearing an apron while standing over the sink. My wife swears that the carpaccio is the best she's had. Spicy green beans, a side item, are really good too, and make one feel all virtuous and healthy. The menu changes erratically, and they don't update the menu on their website, so if you use it to phone in a to-go order be sure to have several alternatives in mind. Otherwise, just go there, order, wander around Piedmont Ave for 10 minutes, and go back. Saves hassle. Nice people. Go there. Fourth star is for being willing to throw together items no longer on the menu, as long as they have all the necessary stuff.
(4)Michael S.
Updating because I said I would return and glad I did. Lunch items are around 10 dollars which is reasonably priced and the food is authentic, however oily for my taste. I had the chicken and asparagus.
(3)jen n.
Yum. I went here with Caitlin A. and her friend. The decor is trendy and modern chic. Our server was friendly and was helpful with the ordering. I believe we started with Goi Cuon roll, which was very good. They have several rolls to choose from, and I believe this is the one we ordered. It had apples in it. We also ordered the Tumbling Dice Beef and an order of the Spicy Green Beans. The beef is delicious. Tender and savory. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. If you have ever had the cube beef at Le Cheval, it's very similar, but better. Shh...don't tell Le Cheval that though. I would hate to have the Vietnamese mob after me. They don't have a full bar, but they do offer soju cocktails along with beer, wine, and sake.
(4)Bryan A.
my all time Favourite!
(5)Renee B.
one of my favorite spots; waitstaff good and attentive if you wanna catch a flick at the nearby theatre. the Vietnamese Crepe is yummy, stuffed eggplant tasty and sopp it up with the fluffy rice, garlic noodles always a hit. I have enjoyed everything I have eaten at this place. ambience is fun and hip and the cocktails are tasty too!! its a bit pricey for a neighborhood place but food is great
(5)Cindy F.
Rocking Vietnemese food! A month later and we are all still raving about it. Evething was delicicous. The "tumbling Dice" was our favorite. they curry fish was yummy too. Don't forgrt desserts, the fried banana and the mango sticky rice were mmm, mmm good! Oh, and they have cool drinks too!
(5)Jessica H.
Chic environs and delicious food make for an excellent addition to the neighborhood. It's really too bad they've been overshadowed by all that scaffolding for so long. +The dishes are lovely +Chicken pho is delicious and tender and inexpensive +Beef pho is equally delicious, and as a person who eats beef very rarely, I vote this as a good place to get my iron +The fresh summer rolls are delicious, but expensive for what they are. These are maybe the most expensive version of a goi cuon roll I've ever had. True, they're creative, I happen to like the shrimp and apple, but $7-8?
(4)Ron B.
We went there with 5 people and they were accomodating and pushed 3 tables together. The service is really good and the food comes out pretty fast. I have had almost everything on the menu and it is all decent. My favorites are the Garlic-Herb noodles, Calamari, Double Surprise Roll and the Saigon Devil Wings. The entrees I suggest are Tamarind Shrimp and the Tumbling Dice. The desserts are decent as well. Go and try it out. Good place to go before or after a movie.
(3)Avi W.
I really like the food here, I just think its a bit pricey. Great spring rolls, good curry, and I'll certainly go again.
(3)Jackie K.
I went to Xyclo for a much over-do second visit. Don't know why I hadn't been back but I hadn't. Then yesterday, I was out toolin' with a friend and we were headed for LoCoCo but dammit it's closed on Sunday afternoons and I should know that cuz I've tried to go to LoCoCo for a Sunday lunch previously and it was closed then too! So we ended up at Xyclo. And now, I've updated my rating from 4 stars to 5 and there are two reasons why. Reason 1 - XYCLO CHILI RIBS! They are absolutely divine. I mean, they are good. In fact I'm wondering if I won't go there for dinner tonight and get them again. We has also ordered the Bun Cha Hanoi but couldn't finish it cuz we filled up on chili ribs. I asked to have the Bun Cha boxed up so I could take it home. And just now, I opened the to-go box, and they put in there a little extra serving of the vinaigrette! And that's reason 2. Puffy hearts to those that pay attention to the details. And mad love to whomever created the chili ribs. 10/13/07 I thought the food, service and prices here were excellent! My dining companion, Kelly, and I thought everything sounded good so we split stuff. We had the sugarcane shrimp spring rolls, they were good but not extraordinary. The devil wings were fantastic! Although the crunchy caramel coating kept sticking to my teeth. We had the Bird's nest with soft noodles and it was very good. The caramelized fish was really tasty! Plus, they serve loose tea! Yay! I feel the love when a restaurant has a few decent loose leaf teas. The service was really great. Our waiter brought us fresh small plates cuz Kelly and I kept junkin' up ours with sauces from each course. I think this will definitely become one of my fall back places when I want to go somewhere that will offer consistently tasty food. There's still plenty more to check out on the menu.
(5)Rose V.
I went here recently for a friend's birthday... Pros... 1) Friendly service - Gave us a couple of free drinks & overall very pleasant 2) Interesting modern/asian decor 3) Decent Food - interesting adaptation of basic vietnamese dishes (Thit bo luc lac (beef cubes over salad with vinegary sauce) was tasty and the sampler plate of appetizers was good as well- can't go wrong with fried foods. Cons... 1) A little pricey, for just okay tasting vietnamese food. There were 15 of us, and still, the price came to $40/person 2) Slow service - since there was a large group, we ordered a lot of food (on the advice of our server)... but it came out sooo slowly... we were full before all of our dishes arrived 3) Wanted to be more impressed with the vietnamese tapas but was not I'll probably not return since there are many other better restaurants out there.
(3)M F.
Me and my friends go here once in a little while - usually for lunch. They have very good asian-fusion food (thai - viet) but I think some of the food were a bit overpriced. The place is small and the tables were so close together that people can hear whatever me and my friends were talking about...
(4)Emma K.
I was psyched to see a new Vietnamese restaurant on Piedmont, as most of my standbys have grown tiresome. My boyfriend had gotten very drunk at Xyclo right after it opened, while I was in Asia. It didn't have much more than that and the fact that it was new to recommend it, but I figured it had to at least be pretty good. The food we ate was simple, healthy and tasted good. We ordered the crispy Tao rolls (fried veggie egg roll-type things), six finger-sized pieces for $7, and he got a chicken curry for the main, while I got stir-fried vegetables. My veggies were excellently flavored, although even I couldn't polish off the fair-sized portion because I got bored of eating just veggies and tofu. There needed to be more variety and different food groups represented for a $10 entree. My dog thoroughly enjoyed the other half of the chicken curry. We ended up spending about $50, including tip, for a decent-sized, good-tasting meal. The service was great (they also have take-out), and if the prices weren't so out of proportion to the quality of food, I'd be back in an instant.
(3)Zinna R.
For some reason we didn't make it out of the house for our first meal of the day until 2 in the afternoon. As you can imagine, we were delirious with hunger. I was hallucinating. Thought I saw a unicorn run into some scaffolding and made my boyfriend pull over to investigate. Instead we found this place. Even though there was no unicorn, We did get seated right away, our order promptly taken, appetizers (Crispy Shrimp Rolls) in mere minutes after we ordered and an amusing demonstration of our server flipping our unfiltered sake around (a new take on shaken not stirred, much in the grand tradition of Tom Cruise's bartending skills in "Cocktail"). Maybe it was the sugar rush or the alcohol on an empty stomach but I went from a scrowling, beady eye'd barker of orders to a sparkly eye'd princess having the grandest of times... all from a few bites of the scrumptious rolls, a few jokes with our charming server and a few sips of some damn good sake. Once the hunger pains died down and I realized that unicorns don't exist in this part of the world (wink, wink), I noticed that the place was nicely decorated and the kill bill soundtrack played softly in the background (nice!). I couldn't help but think, what a sweet place to share meal with a hot date (the kind you want to end with breakfast). And the food was DELICIOUS. Aside from the rolls, we had the vietnamese carpaccio which was EXCELLENT-- a wonderful combination of flavors. We also had the Bun Cha Hanoi (thinly sliced marinated beef and pork sausage served vermicelli and herbs) , which was so good I'm thinking about getting some for take-out tonight. We wished we'd had room for more food because everything on the menu look great (I wanted to try the Salt'N' Prawns and the Ribs) and we were having such a good time we could have stayed there for hours.
(5)John O.
My wife and I ate lunch at Xyclo yesterday and it was delicious. We ordered the Xyclo taste appetizer, which provides a sampling of all the appetizers, which are always superb -- filled with fresh ingredients and served with great dipping sauces. We also split an order of the chili ribs, which are unlike ribs I've found anywhere else. The restaurant also offers some great teas. This isn't a cheap place to eat, but the food quality has been consistently excellent every time we've eaten there.
(4)Ruth S.
Love the spring rolls, they are so fresh! Space is a bit chilly in the winter. I always run into foodie friends here. Great neighborhood place. Cocktails... ummm, does anyone drink Sky Vodka anymore?
(4)Tom M.
Spotty. Fairly good service, loved our waiter. Decent stylish interior, although a little cramped, but that's par for the course at hip restaurants these days. The meal was half great half disappointing. The rolls were ordered were incredibly good. hot on the inside and cold like a spring roll on the outside. Excellent! The hot and sour soup was bland. The vegetables were uncooked and the fish seemed overboiled. The ribs were also very bland. The 'tumbling dice" was excellent though. Vegetables and steak cubes. Very tasty.
(3)Mister Chao ..
Xyclo is one of Mr Chao's favorite restaurants in the East Bay. Mr Chao only orders 3 things here. 1. Tumbling Dice. Always juicy. 2. Butterfly Prawns over Garlic Noodles. 3. Chili Ribs. Awesome! Add Sauteed Vegetables and Mr Chao thinks you have an excellent meal for a date. Beware, Mr Chao thinks the drinks are addicting.
(5)Cory G.
New asian fusion place on Piedmont. We went here shortly after they opened and although the place was mostly empty, the food was excellent. Tasty ribs with lots of sesame, but what I really remember is the Seven Elements entree: lettuce, ginger, lime, dried shrimp, cashew, shredded coconut and chili served with a sweet coconut chili sauce. The presentation was great and the flavors were different. And by different I mean good. Really good. Waitstaff was friendly, but the hostess had so much cleavage it made me uncomfortable. Also has a nice, cozy bar area in the back if you want to go solely for cocktails.
(4)Rebecca S.
Food is great, but portions are a little small for the price. I like to have leftovers : 0
(4)Greg T.
Nice and tastey lunch
(4)p d.
In general I like this place. Food is usually very good. Today, a huge let down. I ordered garlic noodles and asked if I could add chicken. "yes." cool. Went to pick it up and it cost $16.85!!! They billed it as some prawn dish with noodles, super shady in my opinion and the food was just mediocre. What a let down in price and taste. Garlic noodles are $7 so the scant amount of dark meat chicken cost almost $10. Chicken doesn't cost the same amount as Prawns people.
(1)Barbara P.
The food was delicious and amazing! It was a little packed both times, and we had to wait a while for our food, but it was great. I love the eclectic decorations. I had the carpaccio, and it was great. They have an awesome bar with great soju selections, too! I totally recommend this place!
(5)Dave D.
I was hungry on a Wednesday night and we just popped in for a quick bite. It was very quiet, plenty of seats. I tried the tumbling dice an pho noodles! Had the won ton soup which was good and I loved the rolls which now I forget what they 're called. I would recommend this place to anybody!
(3)Eastbay Bulldog S.
Ok, overpriced vietnamese food. I prefer Le Cheval and even Vo's.
(3)Aaron H.
My wife and I both thought Xyclo was good, but not great. The high prices don't help. It's "Vietnamese-fusion" which translates to "Western-Style Vietnamese", i.e. not very authentic, although their rolls were outstanding. So if you are looking for a really authentic Vietnamese place, this is isn't it. But as along as you don't walk in expecting authentic fare, you should be fine. They don't hide the fact that they are a fusion-style restaurant. First off, the place is pretty small - any party larger than 4 will be hard pressed to find seating on a busy weekend night, unless you made reservations, and even then expect to be cozy. It's decorated in a trendy/artsy/modern hipster style that you may like or find annoying depending on what kind of person you are. They have a full bar and while I thought the drinks were a tad expensive, they were good. The rolls we ordered were outstanding, although I can't remember their name. My wife had the claypot and while it was good it was nothing to write home about - a simple claypot of mixed vegetables and seafood/meat. I had the tempura battered fish which came on a bed of bok choi. Again, good, but nothing that blew my socks off. Service was very good, attentive and quick, so they get a plus for that. But for the prices we paid, I expected better. Yes, I know it's Piedmont Ave, and yes I know it's not your typical Chinatown-Vietnamese restaurant, but I expect more when the prices are that high. So that's the reason for the three stars: good, but not great food, that doesn't live up to what I considered somewhat high prices. Also, definitely not good for kids, unless it's maybe lunch or something on a weekday. Crowded and somewhat noisy, not a lot of room or areas for kids.
(3)Allan C.
We came across this little gem one day a couple of years ago whilst wandering along Piedmont Avenue running out the clock til the movie at the Piedmont Theater started. And about a half block from the theater we came across this small restaurant with a colorful neon sign that read cryptically, 'Xyclo'. So we decided to take a gamble and went in. Well I have to tell you that we come up with creative excuses to be in the neighborhood because Xyclo consistently provides a tasty and satisfying meal with courteous service. The presentation of the food is a feast for the eyes and seeing is believing. My personal favorite are the Sugar Cane Shrimp Rolls. And the Pho soup is a meal in itself. I give five stars for quality and consistency. This is not the five star Zagat rated haunt with a line out the door or reservations (which they don't take) booked weeks in advance. This is a place that I hope gets just enough clientele to keep it going strong but not so many that its small neighborhood charm is lost. They do a great balancing act.
(5)maggie l.
Whoa man, I am still thinking about those crispy ribs, a week later. We came here randomly because I wanted noodles and they were - amazingly enough - open late on a Sunday night, but the ribs were calling to me to I decided to forgo the noodles, and I made the right choice; the ribs were seriously good. Be warned, though, the "suggested sides" are there for a reason; the entrees don't come with anything else, so if you want some veggies with your ribs you gotta order them separately, which is annoying to me because I don't need to eat all that much food, and I don't think the ribs would have made good leftovers, and because that means it's not particularly cheap. Regardless though, the food is great and the people are really nice. Oh, and extra points for having Ti Kuan Yin, and serving it in tetsubin (iron teapot)!
(4)Laurie K.
I walked in expecting to HATE this place. It has no host stand (reason: no room!) so it's a bit awkward if you have to wait for someone to come up and seat you. However, I had to eat my words, as we enjoyed a delicious meal of the tumbling dice, grean beans and something else that I no longer recall, other than it was delicious. Knowing me, it was probably some kind of tofu concoction. I will certainly go again sometime when my budget allows (not cheap!) and I will try not to preemptively judge a tiny restaurant by whether or not they have room for a host stand. Wish I worked in Oakland during the day, I would try them for lunch in a heartbeat!
(4)Grace C.
good, clean, pho-n. i give this place 5 stars for their chicken pho and their spicy green beans. Always delicious and always fresh! Also when I ask for extra sriracha they always hook it up.
(5)Covenant E.
The food is great! I highly recommend the Basa, the carpaccio, and the garlic noodle. The atmosphere is good, service is good. Only down side is the price. Overall, it is an excellent place to dine after a long weekday.
(4)Paolo D.
We went here for lunch. The food is average but the portion is super small for the price. The service is really bad in this place. Looks like the same person who takes orders, also cooks the food, brings the food out, washes the dishes, brings the bill, clears the tables etc. super super slow. When the menu reads spicy.... Don't believe it. We had to ask for hot sauce. Also it would be helpful to mention on the menus if you have any peanuts in the food (or any other possible allergy items). My co-worker has allergy to peanuts and her food had peanut sprinkled on it....we won't be going to this place again.
(2)Mel H.
Tasty, and very pretty and fancy, without being too expensive. Also, nice to have Vietnamese food in another area of Oakland!
(4)Ellie O.
The various rolls - both deep fried and fresh ones are to die for! It's the very best you can find anywhere! The other dishes are ok.
(5)Bobby B.
Xyclo is a pleasant, well designed little space with a small lounge in the rear. Indulge in the sampler of all of their spring rolls. The ribs rubbed in a chili glaze and coated in seeds were delectable, and the spicy green beans complemented that dish well. My friend had a salad with glazed filet mignon cubes that were soft and sweet. The staff was attentive and cheerful. Overall, it is well worth a visit.
(4)Jennifer J.
If you think of this place as less authentic Vietnamese, and just delicious food with a Vietnamese twist, I think you'll be in for a pleasant surprise. We didn't try the pho (obviously), but had most all of the entrees on the menu between our large group. The tumbling dice was smooth as butter and the crispy curry fish was very flavorful. Service was decent. Overall good for groups.
(4)Anissa B.
This place is a great surprise! They use the freshest ingredients, plenty of leafy veggies and somehow tasty tasty!! They have this wonderful sampler appetizer "roll" platter that I just die for and have been knownt o come in just for that alone. It's value for the money and can fill two people up easily. So many great things to choose from here.
(5)RuffNReddy R.
We went after a Piedmont Hot Springs dip...it was a nice quiet place to grab a bite afterward, seated immediatly, service was prompt, no loud music, nice decor, friendly staff. But... Small portions, well presented. Very tasty but, not filling enough for the money. And that was just lunch. Fusion for sure, not authentic. But, as I said, very tasty! Try the Pho and spring rolls.
(3)Jim H.
Eaten here 50 times. Big sample size. Perfect "too lazy to cook" alternative. I'm too lazy to cook a lot as you can tell.....the Double Surprise rolls are worth whatever they charge for them. Love this place.
(4)BB H.
One of my favorites in the East Bay. Come here for lunch and get the Banh Mi sandwich, Pho or assortment of rolls and chicken wings. You will not be disappointed. Great service, too.
(4)Dan K.
We split a bowl of tasty chicken pho and an order of the chili ribs. The ribs are quite an amazing dish -- they're full-size and cooked perfectly, tender and falling off the bone but not overcooked, with a terrific sweet/hot glaze that has an ultra-crunchy outer shell with embedded sesame seeds. Unusual and delicious and the bill came to around $25 for two! Next time, Tumbling Dice.
(5)Waniac B.
FOOD POISONING at last night's dinner. Ugh these guys have kept me up all night suffering. Never Never, i mean NEVER again. Watch out for the deep fried ribs, its 100% what got me.
(1)Marilyn L.
We have wanted to try this place ever since it opened, but last night was finally the night - and worth the wait. Cleanly elegant decor and friendly-without-being-smarmy service set the tone for a wonderful evening. The food was timed perfectly, beautifully presented, and incredibly flavorful; try the butterfly shrimp and garlic noodles with the spicy green beans - to die! One small nit-pick: I expected a little more heat from the Spicy Devil Wings but that's a really minor point. You can't beat the flavor of the garlic caramel sauce (yes, you read that right), which is so good I'm not sure it's legal. Not a place to chow down on the cheap but a great mid-priced nice restaurant right in the 'hood. Can't wait to try some of their other dishes!
(4)Mark H.
This place is pretty nice. The food was good and the decoration is elegant. I had the prawn noodles and it taste good. I'll probably come back to try other dishes.
(4)Jones D.
The garlic noodles alone are worth going back for. The wonton soup is perfect for a cold (by Bay Area standards) night. Service was okay.
(4)MELLY D.
My BF and I went here after reading all of the great reviews We started with the sugar cane spring rolls (tasty) then had the tumbling dice (one of the best beef dishes I have ever tasted) and the Vietnamese crepe (not quite as good as ones I have had in SF but a close 2nd). The lychee mojitos were also delish!! The music was cool too. ...parking was tough on a Friday night and it smelled a little musty like grandma's house...but I would definitely over look all that stuff and eat here again!
(5)Rita N.
I came here with a couple of friends, one who apparently was an expert in this restaurant as he had already tried a lot of their dishes. Go to this restaurant if you love flavor in your Vietnamese fusion food. (I'm a Vietnamese fusion virgin - so I don't have any expert knowledge on what is good or bad for this type of cuisine) This place is super super tasty. Yes, the word "super "can be repeated twice in a sentence, but only if you mean it. I tried their lychee mojito. Omg. I've died and gone to lychee heaven - this concoction was so full of flavor and served in a nice tall glass with a huge lychee on a toothpick. They also balanced the alcohol level quite nicely with the mint. Just for kicks, we decided to try the flaming quail. From the title of the dish, we thought it was either going to be very spicy, or engulfed in fire. It was neither, but still very tasty. It was kind of intimidating because it definitely looked lifelike. Just imagine those little buggers as tiny chickens. Ok, maybe not. Ignore the fact that you are eating a quail and enjoy it. Trust me, you'll thank me later. This dish was an obstacle to eat, but well worth the time. For our entrees, we ordered the Bun Cha Hanoi, Combination Stirfry and Claypot Medley. For the Combination Stirfry, my friend articulately declared, "I normally don't like food with no meat in it, but this is an exception." Amen, brother. Now pass me some more of that bad boy so I can go to town with it. The Claypot Medley, although very tasty, had some burned rice on the bottom. This dish is set up in a hot claypot with the rice on the bottom and the toppings of chicken, prawns and veggies on the top - so the rice that was not eaten right away got charcoaled. The Bun Cha Hanoi was the highlight of the meal. Everyone loved this dish. EVERYONE. I even got to take some of the leftovers home and as I'm typing this, my picky roommates are attacking it with a fury. I'm actually afraid to leave my room for fear that I might get in between the crossfires of their speedy chopsticks and the noodles of awesomeness. Lastly, for dessert, we ordered the triple chocolate mousse and a white chocolate mousse with raspberry mousse topping and a small sliver of green tea cake filling in the middle. Holy mother of whatever is holy. Those desserts were the icing on the cake. I felt like that really mean critic character(Anton Ego, I think) from the movie Ratatouille when he ate...the ratatouille. Colors were flying everywhere and I was in some sort of food induced euphoria. So sad that they served them in small cups. If they were served in bigger buckets, I think I'd eat Xyclo out of house and home. The waitress was accommodating, letting us take our time with the menu and refilling our waters in a somewhat timely matter. (One of my friends had to resort to drinking my water because the waitress didn't refill hers yet) The food didn't take long to come out and we were surprised to see that even though the place had a constant flow of customers, our waitress didn't forget to stop by our table to ask if we needed anything. This restaurant does tend to attract the richer, middle aged white folk. Ok- Yes, this place is expensive. We each paid from 25-30 dollars for dinner. But, HELLO. Yummy, delicious, scrumptious Vietnamese fusion in a cute restaurant? Who can say no to that?! This place definitely serves up super super quality.
(5)Juliane N.
Although the food here is not cheap but the food is pretty tasty. I wanted to give it a try when it opened up and so I went in and gave it a try. The decor is cute and the service was excellent. The five spice chicken was really good.. it was a big portion too and they serve their rice that was flavored with chicken in a steamer like the ones you get when you eat siu mai from dim sum places.. really good. Give it a try.
(4)rachel p.
the service was friendly, the prices affordable and the ambiance nice, the three reasons i am giving out a third star. but the food left me a bit underwhelmed. apparently a lot of the people who reviewed this place love sugar. because literally everything we ordered here was sweet. by the end of the meal, it was overkill. the nem nuong rolls we started with were tasty, but what is up with that sausage in the roll? that was a little weird. yes, it was tasty sausage, but still. the husband tried the sweet fish soup to start. this was probably my favorite of the evening. loaded with pineapple, tomato and green onions it's sweetness has a tang that's warming and refreshing. my claypot was super sweet and the veggies a little limp. the husband's order of pork ribs was substantial, but each rib was mummified in carmelized sugar loaded with little black seeds likely to get stuck in your teeth--note not to order this one on a date. he tired of the taste prettey quickly. our friend had the prawns--lemongrass i think--and these were perfectly grilled and i think would have been my favorite if everything else wasn't so sugary. for a small place it was nice to see a tempranillo and malbec on the wine list. and the tempranillo was pretty good too. not sure these are enuf of a reason to return tho. go if you like your food like candy.
(3)Joann S.
Wonderful!!!!!!!!!! The tumble dice filet mignon steak is so delicious, and so is the noodles+pork+shrimp. My boyfriend and I went to Ruth Chris' the week before, and we both agreed that we would have rather spent our $ here. The price isn't bad at all, for what you get, and the staff is REALLY friendly. I told them that it was my friend's bday and they gave us this really delicious pudding thing. I really recommend this place. I crave the dice steak as we speak!
(5)Yan P.
Four stars for the food (though slightly overpriced), 1 star for food poisoning the next day. It was tasty but I should have checked on here before...looks like not the first poisoning case here!
(1)Melissa A.
I went back to see if things got any better. The hostess, I"m sorry, is just annoying. This isn't a strip club, it's piedmont avenue.
(1)Edward M.
I went few times and the food was fantastic, the Tubmbling Dice, the Garlic Noddles, the Pho and the Chicken Wings is to die for. Yum can't you see yourself eating this.
(5)Catherine R.
The roll sampler is great. Split that with a bowl of soup and you and your dining buddy are good to go to the movies or Fentons or the Skerry House wherever... I haven't really branched out too far from there but the stuff I see go by looks great.
(4)La M.
Came her at the end of a stressful day. Dopo was crowded, as was Lococo's, and I don't like French food much so Jojo was out.. we chose a "one-o" restaurant on piedmont ave just to get crazy. I came here once before and was underimpressed, but it was worth another try. But I have to say... meh. The fried shrimp appetizer was pricey. ON the up side, the largeish shrimp were sitting in a really tasty mound of coconut and vegetables, On the downside: the shrimp itself was bland, and they left the heads on (which meant a nasty mouthful of shrimp brains before I realized, blech). I had a fried fish carmelized thingy. A bit over cooked. It was pretty sweet tasting (the caramel I guess), but they warned it would be a little spicy, it wasn't spicy at all. It wasn't bad, kinda bland, kinda comfort-food-like. The veggies on the side seemed mostly decorative, just a few slices of carrot and something else unmemorable. Rice was fine. It sure wasn't worth the 15 dollars, though. more like slightly heavy (or light but bland) basic vietnamese food in a fancied-up setting. I might come back again just to sample the noodles on another day I'm too busy to cook, but I'd rather spend good money somewhere I know it's worth it. Maybe if you like the drinks the money feel better leaving your wallet. the food probably merits 3 stars, but the prices push a star off.
(2)Charlotte S.
I'd heard of this place from friends and finally had an opportunity to try it ... and was very impressed! It's small, but feels warm and intimate -- like being inside someone's home -- even though it is definitely a professional experience. The food is gorgeous on the plates, the flavors are plentiful and the service is VERY friendly! I always request room temperature water in restaurants, but most waiters either ignore the request or bring water without ice that is just as freezing as ice water. At Xyclo, the waitress actually brought a stainless steel thermos of hot water to use as I pleased with my glass. (How thoughtful!) I loved the butterfly prawns: they were grilled to perfection, and the garlic herb noodles were fabulous.
(5)Jordan M.
The flavors were nice, but the textures and prices, not so much. We had a roll, lettuce wraps, and curry fish. The roll said BBQ pork, and it was stiffed with a sausage. It made the roll awkward to eat. The lettuce wraps were a make ti yourself deal with a plate full of dried shrimp, re onion, diced ginger, lime wedges (with rind), etc. I was surprised I actually liked this dish, it was a little overwhelming, but different than anything else I'd ever eaten. And the fish was tough! The curry tasted wonderful, but the little fried pieces were chewy. I thought it was tofu and had to rip (literally) one open to make sure it was fish. And it was a little pricey for such simple dishes.
(3)Lai I.
The ambiance of this place is great. I really liked the decor. Most importantly the food was excellent! They had great vegetarian dishes that were quite flavorful. I would definitely recommend this to all my friends.
(4)vuForce Fresh n.
i was pleasantly surprised after both of my recent visits here. first off, let's classify this place.... it's a place you go when you want to take your friends out, enjoy nice ambiance, eat tasty cali-cuisine style vietnamese food, and are willing to pay a slight premium for. how's that for a classification? if i don't get at least one "useful" vote, i'll just go ahead and shut up now. as for the food, i highly recommend the spring/imperial roll platter, beef carpacio and tumbling dice (aka shaking beef cubes). everything else is pretty good too. this restaurant is classified as "asian fusion" here on yelp, but i disagree. it's pretty authentic/traditional vietnamese taste, but it is served with neo- california cuisine presentations: smaller portions, variety of tastes, emphasis on visual appeal, fresh ingredients... u get the idea. sidenote: i'm vietnamese. that's makes me particularly critical of vietnamese restaurants. i don't get tricked easily. that in mind, let's continue... service was top notch, the waiters were very helpful and accommodating. they even crack semi-funny jokes once in awhile. if you have a large party, make a reservation for the back room... it comfortably seats 10+ and makes for a great semi-private party. there are lounge chairs right next to the table, perfect to fight off the food coma afterwards. the wine selection was great. the staff was particularly accommodating to switching orders. ok, hungry yet? i am, see u there.
(4)Jessica G.
Love their rolls! They have a sample roll platter. Really fresh and paired with great dipping sauces. Rest of the their food is consistently good, too. Can get crowded on weekends. Love the unfiltered sake! We've been bringing our son since he was a baby. On the cheaper side, and food comes pretty quick.
(4)Christian C.
have been here a couple of times. i have tried almost all of the rolls via the xyclo taste sampler. i recommend this as most of the rolls are delicious and you get to try almost everything. an excellent starter if you have three or more people. the chili ribs were recommended to me by several yelpers. i liked them but i wasnt in love with them. the glaze on them was good and the meat was tender, but i felt the coating was too overpowering. you couldnt really taste the pork that much. the saigon devil wings are arguably the best thing on the menu. they are covered in this delicious, sticky yet crispy spiced caramel sauce. they are to die for. i want to eat them every day. i have sampled the apple salad which was refreshingly sweet but tart from the vinagrette. the butterfly prawns on the garlic noodles was good, but not entirely memorable....since, uh......i dont remember anything about them other than i thought they needed a little something. i remember the shrimp were cooked well, but that is about it. service is good. not overly attentive, but then i dont really care if i am doted over or not. dont remember much about the cocktails either. hmm, based on this review i am writing, i guess i need to go back and get reaquainted with Xyclo.
(4)micaela r.
i had avoided this place for quite some time as i thought it seemed to be trying too hard to strike a certain modern asian hipness chord. but then it was raining and i was hungry and in the mood for some pho. i looked at some reviews online and decided it would be better to walk there then drive somewhere else. so i ordered a bowl of veggie pho for pick up. yum yum. it came with big hunks of tofu and various veggies like broccoli, green beans, mushrooms, and zucchini (only 2-3 of each). they packed a cute little to go baggie of bean sprout, thai basil, lime, the whole shabang for my eating desires. and a hoisin/sriracha sauce combo. noodles and cilantro in another box. too much packaging, yes. but nice to have all of the ingredients. the soup hit the spot and for $6 i will definitely have it again. also, the place looked nice on the inside, a loungy vibe. convenient, tasty, cheap, warm.
(4)Margarita M.
I noticed this restaurant during a visit to Fenton's, which is right across the street from Xyclo. I'm a huge fan of Vietnamese cuisine, so I vowed to myself I'd try it. After watching the Warriors beat the Knicks, my boyfriend and I decided to finally have dinner here. For starters we ordered the Crispy Shrimp Roll, which I think is similar to the traditional shrimp cake only this was rolled like a spring roll and a bit more crispy than usual and it came with nuoc cham. It wasn't anything special. On the menu it says it has taro in it (which I LOVE), but I couldn't seem to taste or feel the texture of it. It tasted like the ones I usually order at other Vietnamese restaurants. It's a little over priced than normal, but it was still good. For our entree we had the Saigon Devil Wings, which is my absolute favorite dish! Probably the best garlic chicken dish I've ever eaten...EVER!! It was caramelized and garlicky on the outside and tender on the inside. I could have eaten the entire dish alone. We had the chicken with the Dry Scallop Fried Rice, which had the right amount of veggies, shrimp, chicken, and shredded dry scallops. The rice was perfect consistency and it tasted buttery. We also had a side of the Spicy Green Beans, which were cooked perfect. I cleansed my palate with a pot of their Lychee Black Tea, which to me was just OK. I want to try their Genmaicha Brown Rice Green Tea and Sencha Green Tea next time. The portions were perfect! Service was perfect! We never had to ask for a refill on our water and our food came very quickly. We didn't have too much interaction with our server, which is fine with me. She checked on us once, but it wasn't like we needed immediate attention from her. Our bill came up to under $40. With great service and good food for that price, I'm not complaining! Just as long as the food is good, I'm with good company, and I leave satisfied! I'm going back for more!
(5)michelle b.
2.5 stars. maybe i ordered wrong? although i'll not be returning as my meal was not worth the $$, i'll give it the benefit of the doubt and limit my review to the items i ordered. the decision is left up to you... veggie rolls -- meh sweet and sour soup -- very very sweet and overly pineapple-y, although the fennel added a nice fresh taste birds nest (soft noodles) -- reminiscent of my old standby at a cheap korean cafeteria in a strip mall drug store i frequented when i was on a college student budget. complete with a trace of a post-meal grease-induced belly ache. crime of passion (?) sake cocktail -- yum
(3)John G.
Just coming back from a thoroughly underwhelming dinner, and felt obligated to share. My wife, son and I started with an order of Saigon "Devil" wings. They (all 5 of them) came reasonably promptly, covered in a thick and ridiculously sweet glaze that stuck to the back of my teeth and packed minimal spice ("devil"?). Sigh - but perhaps dinner will be redemptive? I ordered the butterfly prawns on garlic noodles. The three (3) prawns were well-grilled and tasty enough, but the bed of garlic noodles were tossed in some kind of ridiculously sweet sauce that was even blander than the glaze on the wings. My wife ordered the curry fish, which came, not sauced, but glazed, in a sweet, crunchy ginger-curry "sauce". Pretty one note on initial tasting, though my wife says they built up a little tang as she worked through the dish. My son got the Bun (noodle salad w/grilled pork), which was probably the best dish, but not as good as any number of Buns you could get at any other Vietnamese place (and for half the price). Uh, and to cap it off, the Bun's sauce was a bit on the sweet side. I almost laughed when they offered me a dessert menu. Service was reasonable. Water was constantly getting topped up. No one asked me if I wanted a second beer when they took my Fat Tire bottle. I've had other dishes here I liked better (the pho, spring rolls), which earns it the second star, but man, that dinner tonight would have put a diabetic in a coma.
(2)Nichtdaisy E.
Xyclo markets itself as Vietnamese cuisine with fusion elements of French cuisine. While the food, overall, was adequate, it was not remarkable. We ordered the beef carpaccio, the Nem Nuong Rolls (fresh spring rolls made with pork sausage), and the spicy crispy pork ribs, with a side of green beans. The carpaccio was ice-cold; obviously pre-prepared and chilled in the fridge. The iceness masked the full flavor of the beef. The carpaccio was served both with fried onions & cilantro (vietnamese) and capers (european), also with a veneer of mustard-based dressing (european). The flavors of the dressings neither conflicted nor added anything special. The rolls were fine. I enjoyed eating sausage- something that you don't find on the gringo menu in your average Vietnamese restaurant. It was served with an unfamilar sauce- thick, opaque, the color of ripe papaya, and mild in flavor. Everything was nice and fresh, but again, lacking in flavor. The ribs, on the other hand, were packed with flavor. Almost overwhelming. They are breaded and fried in a "general gao's:" type orange-chili-sesame style sauce. The meat was tender and fell off the ribs. It was intense- too much for me, but probably delicious if you are a fan of sesame-style or general gao's style chinese food. The green beans were a-ok. Like with the ribs, too much reliance on black bean sauce and chili to create flavors. Xyclo has a great mellow atmosphere, and was not crowded. Its a good alternative if you can't stand the lines at Dopo's or Fenton's up the street. Overall, the food is fine, but you get the sense that this restaurant is trying to capitalize on the yuppie trendy foodieness of Piedmont avenue by dressing up their food as fusion. I would much rather have 'regular' vietnamese food at a cheaper restaurant for less fuss. If you want great Vietnames/French fusion, I prefer Bui on Solano Ave (Berkeley) - pbuidining.com/Bui/Welco… .
(2)Jenny C.
I have been here twice now and I will definitely return. It is a small, intimate, classy joint, with good food and even better lychee mojitos....yummmm! Attentive, patient servers ( the group was particularly indecisive that night) and overall a cool place to enjoy a nice evening.
(4)JJ C.
I really wanted to like this place. It's such a well appointed Piedmont location with great ambiance and color scheme. Wow what a disappointment. I think the bus boy serving us water was more attentive than our waiter. I went here for the ribs which I was told were amazing. I have to say the ribs were pretty decent but not outstanding. They came out a bit on the dry side and were lacking spice and caramelization that I would be expecting from some really good ribs. My husband ordered the giant tiger prawn over garlic noodle. The prawns came out raw and the noodle dish had no trace of garlic and was far too sweet. We asked to send the dish back to the kitchen. They returned the dish with re-cooked prawns and nothing more. By then the dish was cold and I had shared my ribs. So in my mind the dinner was a total wash. I think this *could* be a great little Piedmont restaurant. However until the kitchen works on kicking out consistent dishes with more emphasis on flavor I doubt I will be back.
(2)Elaine D.
Been to Vietnam and have tried to find food here that is as good as it is there. This is as close as it gets. Nice service, great food. Both the Xyclo and Double Surprise roll were great, with the Double Surprise much closer to what you'd get in Saigon. The Butterfly noodles were fabulous. This is a great place!
(5)Gwenyth K.
This place is awesome in general. They have a lounge area, great decor, and a very friendly staff. My only comment is that the horiz. wood slat ceilings and walls remind me of a sauna. Everything I've tried (except the Bird's Nest) rocks but, for your ten dollar meal? Two bowls of pho, the green beans, and the garlic noodles (ten bucks a person).
(4)C. L.
This is my second time here and every time I find the food delicious. I tried the tumbling dice based on the reviews here this time around and I wasn't impressed. It was good, but I don't know if it was as good as people are saying. Wait staff was attentive. The table was small and we had a hard time fitting everything on the table. My favorite for the evening was the dried scallop fried rice.
(4)Louise O.
Non existent service. We watched multiple tables flagging down staff, to get water, to place a dinner order, to get the check, to pay the check, to get more wine, etc., etc. My dish was so-so. We agreed we should have tried the spring rolls since that's clearly the menu's focus. I question if I'd go back to do so, given the fact there's more than enough Asian and/or Vietnamese restaurants I already know and love. This was a Thurs night, and maybe they were shortstaffed. I did not take home my substantial leftovers. To me, that's the better indicator that it wasn't any good.
(2)Chrammy D.
meat and I we're friends, good friends. this place treats meat well, so i like it. this "tumbling dice" so good, melts in your mouth like butta. i'm into all of the rolls as well and this birds nest dish. but dude the sake drinks are actually good, who thought some place could actually make good drinks with sake, because lord knows i've have my share of ew really gross sake mixed drinks. They went a little overboard on the red decor, reminds me of um well a lot of red things, they should spice it up with some non red items. overall though they treat me and meat well.
(4)Justine N.
Xyclo is a great addition to the restaurant scene on Piedmont Ave. for those looking for a place that's more upscale than Barney's but not as trendy as Cesar. 3 stars for great ambiance, attentive service and the tasty lemongrass chicken curry I had for dinner.
(3)Olivia W.
The place has a cool and lounge like atmosphere, with a great mesh of colors. They also had a great drink menu, which runs about $8 per drink. The service was good, a bit slow, other then that, I wasn't very impress with the food. I thought it was very over priced, and I could find it cheaper and better in Chinatown. If you are dying to go, I think it's worth a try, I recommend the Chicken Curry, Ribs, and most of the appetizer rolls looked really good. ALSO a Thai ice tea runs $4. OUCH!
(3)Libby J.
Great pho; slow service; decent value; nice staff; 'nuff said.
(4)sarah j.
We had a great lunch there this week. My entree had perfectly cooked ingredients (tofu, green beans) and was pleasantly spicy. The service was excellent. We have eaten both lunch and dinner here and have enjoyed each thing that we have tried.
(4)Marsh-Silog P.
I really enjoyed this place. If you love spring rolls by all means get the sampler platter of spring rolls. My co-worker and I shared it and it was more than enough. Would I go here again? Yes I would. I thought it was a little pricey for Vietnamese cuisine but then again they are in a popular location and really probably the only Vietnamese Fusion around.
(4)Temoor N.
its a cool little spot...nice and fresh. i like the quail here and the pho---but with the filet mignon. you won't go wrong....most of all the rest of dishes are very good too. its cool.... you will like it.
(4)Chard M.
Tastiness ensues upon ordering from here. Get the crazy double spring roll with the fried egg roll inside for starters. Anything that starts with "Special..." get it. It is truly that which describes it. I've been here about 4 times and it is consistently delicious.
(4)Love T.
Food is awesome here! I'm really surprised to see all the negative reviews on this place. I've been here 3 times and have been amazed by the tasty-ness of every bite every time. My favorite eats here are the fried shrimp appetizers, shrimp spring rolls, and the spicy fried basa fillets. The staff is really friendly and helpful. Eat here!
(5)Dori C.
If you are a fan of Ana Mandara, the Slanted Door, or Thanh Long, you will love this gem on Piedmont Ave. Fabulous addition to the Bay Area's plethora of Asian Fusion cuisine - very authentic flavors with a great range of items to please the palette. My personal favorite is the Carpaccio - amazing!
(5)Anony m.
We eat here all the time! its the best!! Try the crepe...
(5)Marc E.
This tasty and stylish Vietnamese joint is a great addition to the neighborhood that's been aching for something new and original for a while. For a few dollars more per dish than the local Chinese places, you can have a delicious, fresh and, most importantly, light-tasting gourmet meal. We no longer order out for Chinese and instead come here and get the garlic noodles ($7) and a few chicken dishes. The drinks are pretty good (though pricey) and the service is definitely eager to please if you eat in. I hope it flourishes for years to come.
(4)Max P.
Xyclo is a restaurant that typifies semi-fine dining in the East Bay - and on Piedmont Avenue in particular. The owners have started with the right idea: well executed Southeast Asian fusion cuisine, a nice little bar/lounge, and even waiters dressed all in black. It would seem that Xyclo desires to be a hip, casual eatery serving quality cusine. But like so many restaurants in the East Bay (and on Piedmont Avenue in particular), Xyclo can't seem to look past the middle-aged boomers and residents of the near-by old folks home when gunning for their target clientele. Why not make the place a little darker? I mean, you spent all that money on fancy spot lighting. And why not play a little background music? Heck, even some of that soft ambient trip-hop crap would help raise the cool factor a little. As it is now, I can't really see myself sitting in the "lounge" and sipping a cocktail when it's so quiet that I can hear Grandma talking about her colonscopy and so brightly lit that I can see the former hippie next to me as he adjusts the wool socks in his sandals.
(3)jewel r.
crispy crab rolls, bun cha hanoi, crispy shrimp rolls, crispy spicy ribs, crispy everything!!!!!!!!!!!!! love it! and the staff is awesome!
(4)Alex p.
I love pho, and I have to say this is my absolute favorite! If you're looking for the never ending bowl of bland noodles in watery broth, this is NOT it! The broth is exquisite, clear and sublime, the beef, so fresh and tender. The vietnamese carpaccio is also to die for. I've been meaning to try other things on the menu but I just can't get over their perfect Pho!
(5)Sarah L.
I went to Xyclo last night after walking past it that afternoon. My boyfriend and I were famished, but he wasn't very excited about the new Vietnamese place. We went anyways (when you're that hungry it's hard to make a unanimous decision). We started with the tao rolls (soft, not crispy) which were great--fresh and tasty-- but not extraordinary. The jicama and mushrooms were overpowered by the cilantro and peanut sauce. We shared the XYCLO Chili Ribs and the lemongrass Chicken Curry. When I ordered the curry the waiter looked a little concerned and explained that there is absolutely no spice in the curry. We ordered it anyway. I'm glad we did, because the sweet and regular potatoes in that dish were heaven! They had been stewed in the coconut broth and became these soft coconut-potato dumplings. I will definitely be attempting that at home. The ribs were terrific, but we got only three ribs for the $14 "large plate". This is probably enough for a normal person, but my boyfriend and I have hearty appetites and enjoy ribs, so it was a feat to politely split the third rib (who splits a rib?!?). The ribs were great because of the chili-sesame crust. And that was crusty! Mmmmmm good. We did notice that the older couple next to us did receive a larger portion of ribs and handiwipes (which we did not). Ageism? Inconsistent platers? Not sure... Xyclo serves sake and sujo cocktails. I don't generally drink, but my boyfriend, lover of all things coconut, got a fancy drink called something like the loco coco. It was made with both sake and sujo and he enjoyed it thoroughly, but it came with a hefty price tag. All in all I left full and satisfied, but I'll agree with Emma K. that the prices do not match the portions. I would like to go back and try some small plates, though, and see what they offer for desserts.
(4)Gracie B.
Welcome to Oakland! This was the first place my mom and I had dinner after moving me here from DC. And I loved it. After 4 days on the road eating Cracker Barrel meals, gas station coffee and sun chips, I wanted something fresh and different - and this was it. We got 2 rolls and 2 entrees (we hadn't eaten all day) and left satisfied but not feeling like we were goign to die or explode. The crispy shrimp rolls were great and so were the otherones, but I don't remember the name. The Birds Nest noodle dish was very good but a bit on the bland side. The sauce was a lot like Moo Goo Gai Pan, but since I hadn't seen a veggie other than Cracker Barrel carrots or the lettuce, tomato,onion on a burger in 4 days - I was happy to eat the crisp, fresh tasting veggies in the nest. Itwas also very pretty...which makes up for blandness. The tumbling dice entree was very very good. A bit too much cilantro in the salad thats on top, but in general wonderful. Our bill was around $60 before tip, but I know we could have eaten there for much less and still been satisfied.
(4)Tod V.
Having a night out without our 3yr old...my wife and I decided to try Xyclo. The staff was great, the place was cool and the food was great! The sake mixed drinks were a little different...but I am not complaining. We will be back for more!
(4)nadines d.
a nice vietnamese-american style restaraunt. sundays the lunch menu applies, and they're open fairly early, so it's pretty easy on the budget. i like the garlic noodles. i was also surprised that the salads would be so high quality--no iceberg lettuce here! it's a pleasant place to go with someone on the weekend. and it's packed and popular at night.
(4)Jenny Y.
maybe i think i need to "keep it real" all the time...and that makes me rather judgmental of eating asian cuisine in places designed with dark wooden slats running along the expanse of the dining room wall. maybe because seeing such design served with "asian" cuisine makes my frugal chinese nature bristle at the thought of paying double what i could get in chinatown, koreatown, little tokyo, or the san gabriel valley around L.A. so against my natural inclinations, my friend and i ate dinner at xyclo wednesday night when i said i wanted some lighter fare and veges. and much to my surprise, i rather enjoyed it. the food: sugarcane shrimp roll - $9 - tasty. superfresh, and possibly too pricey given the fact i can get equally tasty rolls for half the price in L.A. chinatown. but still yum. (hey. i'm paying for the ambiance) green bean salad - $9 - the green beans were yummy in a light, fresh vineagrette. they were cooked perfectly al dente. portion size was alright. vietnamese carparccio - $9 - beef carpaccio with a lime vinaigrette. the toppings made it tasty. crunchy cashew nuts, caramelized shallots, red onions and i coulda sworn they had a few capers sprinkled about too. claypot rice medley - $15 - don't know if this is worth $15 but it was yummy nevertheless. there were ample veges and not as many prawns and chicken as i would've liked. but the veges were perfectly steamed. the star of the dish was the broken rice crisped on the sides by the claypot to a chewy smokiness (a favorite in many cultures) and flavored with a sweet basil sauce throughout. service was prompt and attentive, making sure this water-drinker had a steady supply. the 33 vietnamese beer was nice and light, but doesn't distinguish itself much from many of the other asian light beers i've had. so all in all, the food was good. i don't know if it merited the higher pricepoint. but it was perfect for what i needed to eat that evening, given that i was there for business all week and eating a lot of salty restaurant food. (also not four stars but three because the iconography in the xyclo logo hints too much at stereotypes of conical hats and rickshaws, but that's just me)
(3)Allison F.
We found this place shortly after it opened, and are fans. I feel, however, the quality of the food went downhill over the past few years. For example, the meat in tumbling dice had a mealy texture to it and I felt the apple salad was overloaded with jicama, whereas in the past the apple dominated. I do like that it expanded it drink menu. The mojito was pretty good.
(3)Royce L.
I like it. But maybe I'm just a sucker for Vietnamese food. I love spring rolls and fish sauce so if any Vietnamese rest. is able to pull together good fish sauce and spring rolls I'm sold. Xyclo is a nice Piedmont restaurant with pleasant service and casual-comfy atmosphere. Unpretentious with Vietnamese home-cooked dishes. The first time I dined here I tried their sesame crusted ribs which weren't so delicious, but the spicy-tangy green bean salad was excellent, along with the shrimp spring roll and garlic noodles. The second time I dined there I tried more spring rolls!! (they have about 5 different ones), their curry ck, which was delightful, and a noodle dish that was good, but can't quite remember (so it probably was quite ordinary). Finally, they have MANGO STICKY RICE. Another one of my favs, so my comments about it probably are too skewed to mean anything. It was so good. Although my BF commented the mangoes were over ripe, b/c our forks/spoons were unable to smoothly cut through the pieces. Personally I could care less. The flavor and rice texture was fine. I ate the entire dessert.
(4)a w.
this place saved the day for two hungry squirrels that were way past their dinner time. there was an initial intent to go to Dopo which was closed for easter monday (who knew?) we ventured across the street and everything looked good. since ma belly was a screamin and i had no more energy after reading the appetizer section, i ordered the whole damn section in the form of the roll sampler. sofackinggood. and seriously folks, i woulda liked it if i wasn't hungry. several different types of spring rolls, some with shrimp, some with green apple, several crispy roll versions, all with the most luscious lettuce, sweet and sour and peanut sauces for many a dips. my dinner partner ordered a normal person's portion of my order and a plate of extremely yummaaaay spicy green beans. a hit fo sho. I basically vacuumed my plate people, and will be interested in getting to the main dishes on my next visit! heehee
(4)Marissa N.
I would give this place 4.5 stars. It's fantastic! A few of my friends and I went there for some weeknight dinner and drinks. I'd heard so many good things about this place and I was just itching to try it with a few people. Here's our menu: - Tumbling Dice - Chili Ribs - Eggplant and Tofu stir fry - Sides: spicy green beans, garlic herb noodles, and rice - Fried Banana and coconut ice cream SO. MUCH.FOOD. Between the three of us, we had a lot left over (which I happily took home! Thanks guys!). The tumbling dice were amazing: cubes of filet mignion sauteed in a savory sauce and peppers. Tender, juicy, and so savory. It came with a large salad (but really no one touched it. I feel like it was just there for color!) The chili ribs were the surprise of the night! Crunchy fried goodness on the outside tossed in a light sauce and sesame seeds-- and SO tender on the inside. Worth getting your fingers dirty. I'm ordering those again and eating them all by myself. You think I'm kidding? I'm not. I really enjoyed the noodles, but my two friends thought they were only okay. In retrospect there's nothing special about them other than they're cooked well and flavored nicely. The green beans and eggplant/tofu dishes were good. Unfortunately they were severely out-shined by the meat dishes on the table! But a girl's gotta get her greens, right? Plus we had a vegetarian in the crowd that night and she said the tofu was AMAZING. I'll take her word for it! We finished off the dinner with some fried bananas and coconut ice cream. Two HUGE scoops of coconut ice cream and spring rolls filled with yum-0 banana. Drizzled on the plate was a light caramel/butterscotch sauce. I could drink that stuff out of a water bottle it's so wonderful. It was a great finish to a very filling meal. The cocktails looks refreshing and sweet, and maybe next time I'll order one. But that night felt more like a beer-night so I was happy to see Tsing Tao and Sapporo on the menu. I only wish that the lighting was a bit better so I could (ahem, Japanese girl moment here) take pictures of my food with my phone. That was total fail, but seriously that was the only thing wrong with the place. Take a date here; take a group here; take YOURSELF here. It's worth it.
(4)Lillian C.
The interior was a small but nicely decorated space. For the appetizer we got the 'double surprise' which were basically egg rolls wrapped in fresh rolls, which i thought tasted pretty good. I was disappointed by the entrees though (or maybe it was just the noodle dishes that aren't that great). I got butterfly prawn noodles, which were bland and dry but oily (paradoxical, I know. The texture was as if it had been microwaved). They were supposed to be garlic herb noodles, but the only thing I could taste was parmesan and basil. The prawns were big but flavorless as well. As for the bird's nest, it just seemed like a simple chow mein dish that reminded me of panda express. So overall the food was just ok but the wait staff was pretty attentive and the ambience nice. Just a suggestion though, if you do decide to go: do NOT order the noodle dishes.
(3)sydney a.
The food at Xyclo is great.. Their Tao roll is to die for - perfectly crunchy, very fresh tasting, and paired with the perfect peanut sauce. The fresh apple salad they serve is perfect, with just the right combination of sweet and tangy. All of the cocktails I've had there have been interesting twists on classic recipes - I love the salt they use on all of their margaritas. Unfortunately, the service at this place isn't great. It's not the worst - everything I ordered came out pretty fast - but after we'd gotten all of the things we'd ordered, the waitstaff prettymuch ignored us. It took us about 20 minutes to flag someone down to bring us our check after our food and drinks were completely finished (still on our table, though). That wouldn't have been a big deal if the place was packed, but the place was only about 1/3 of the way full by the time we were done with our meal, so the wait seemed fairly unreasonable.
(4)Wakaba S.
Their foods are creative. I had devil wings and xyclo roll, but they were sort of stinky for some reason. Double surprise roll sounds awesome but tastes really weird. They also include $1 per person bar fee in the bill.
(2)michael f.
Upscale without being obnoxious. Full bar, which is nice, though I thought the wine list was a little limited. What makes this place is killer is the food. Everything was spot on. We started with the Vietnamese Carpaccio. While I probably prefer the Italian version when it is done really well, this version is not far behind and it was done really well. The lime and peanuts gave it a really unusual and very fresh taste. We order one of their specialty rolls which was really tasty. For main dishes we shared the filet mignon salad (crazy good) and the lemon/basil chicken (still dreaming about that dish). Prices were fair but don't go here if you are looking for a cheap pho meal. This is upscale Asian dining and they do that very well. We will be back.
(4)Jackie G.
This is a gem of a Vietnamese fusion restaurant located a couple of stores down from Fenton's. I came here on a Friday night for a friend's birthday, and it was just the right pick for a girly Bohemian friend of mine as it's fusing the best of the East & West. I like their decor, red walls, whimsical light balls that hung from the ceiling (I swear they looked just like the ones from a beach in Thailand I went to). The food was second to none. Friend and I shared the Lemongrass Chicken Curry, wow... can we say flavorful? The greenbean salad was also a fresh pick, if you want your mouth zinging with gingerly spices, go for that one! I love how everything is wallet-friendly for Piedmont Ave., around $13-$17 per dish. Will definitely go back for great service, lovely atmosphere and mouthwatering dishes.
(5)Zain K.
In a city with no shortage of choices for exceptional Vietnamese food, I don't understand the appeal of this place (and there's certainly some appeal, judging by the number of positive reviews here and the fact that we had to wait for a table on a recent Sunday night). It's priced about 10% higher than Huynh, 25% higher than Pho 84 or Le Cheval, and 40% higher than the holes-in-the-wall (hole-in-the-walls? holes-in-the-walls?) on International Ave, without offering as much in the way of either quality or quantity.
(2)stefanie h.
i think my friends owe me for this one. the first get-together of the year with my friends, and xyclo was suggested. i sorta cringed at the suggestion, but didn't want to be "that friend" that picks food over friendship. i mean, no meal could ever be that bad that would prevent me from spending some quality time with friends, right? riiiight. xyclo is about to be the exception. i know i'm ripping pretty hard on xyclo...but really, this is my third try within 5 years. i've given you several chances, gave you time, etc., etc. it's time to let each other go--you're not going to win me over, and i'm not coming back. i ordered the fish. the flavor was fine, but it was over-fried and the texture was way too tough and chewy. my friends weren't impressed with their dishes either (noodles, eggplant, and something else, i don't remember). next time, i'm putting my foot down on where we eat. actually, i'll probably be considered a good friend if i can prevent this experience from happening again.
(2)Alan C.
Pretty solid place! We were able to get a slew of dishes since we came here with a big party. Food was better than i would expect from a 'fusion' place. Ill order these from the ones that are a must get, to a maybe try. XYCLO Chili Ribs- ive never had ribs like these awesome crunchy sesame coat and the meat was falling off the bone! a must get Curry Fish- texture of this fish was crunchy but surprisingly good! the curry they use for this fish is also really flavorful. Not sure what id describe this curry as, all i know is its a dry curry more leaning towards an indian curry Saigon Devil Wing- a bit too sweet of a sauce for me but still perfectly fried Seven Elements- this appetizer had so many flavors and textures going on but somehow worked well! Dry Scallop Fried Rice- definitely fills you up and again alot of flavors. Vietnamese Carpaccio decent this is somewhat the problem i have with fusion places, every dish is so different than the next, and each has alot of flavors/textures going on in it. i guess you can get about anything and find something in it that you like. the drinks made this place awesome! try any of the cocktails. the fruit mojitos are great! as for service, i had to ask for water/utencils a couple times before they got it for me but i guess it was a full house that night. a decent place but i feel is somewhat overpriced.
(3)Kiristen R.
Itching for a pho-fix? This probably isn't the place for you. The pho is fine. It has some good flavor but if it's been 6+ months since you've had pho, this place will not satisfy your craving. The portion is smaller then you'd find in your typical pho spot. I guess I should've known - the restaurant is on Piedmont ave. The decor is a toned down version of the SF Osha chain. Next time I go out for pho I'll stick to the ugly bright neon awning hole-in-the wall places found in downtown Oakland/Chinatown/Lake Merritt. The chicken wings are decent but I had chicken wings from So the night before, no comparison. Service was OK. The timing between my dish, my friend's dish and our shared appetizer was off but nothing we couldn't manage. If you're a SF city-dweller, sit by the window and watch the Piedmont Ave suburban life pass by. It's cute.
(3)Jenny S.
My friend took me here for lunch, and I can't wait to go back tomorrow! I ordered the Lemongrass Basil Eggplant Tofu lunch special. It was delicious!!! The eggplant wasn't too mushy or greasy like other places I've been to. Just so you know, I'm not a vegetarian, and I felt completely satisfied with my meal. My friend had the Grilled Pork Chop, and I was able to taste it. I think I may have that tomorrow. I found their servings to be generous and reasonably priced. I wonder if I'll have room after my meal tomorrow to try their mango sticky rice. Yum!!!
(4)Art H.
We went a couple weeks ago, binging on a couple of new places we haven't been to yet. This was recommended by many in our neighborhood, so we gave it a shot. Ditto on comments about the rolls, light, great texture but not so much taste. The remaining dishes were good, but nothing really stood out. Service was prompt and the room was hot. Not hot like in visuals, but hot as in thermal. Perhaps the best part was the drinks, sweety tootie fruitte, which made the heat a bit more pleasant.
(3)Elisabeth P.
Love, love, love Xyclo. Definitely one of my go-to places when I don't know what to eat and can't bring myself to cook. It's also one of my main comfort food places. I never thought Vietnamese fusion (is that what it is?) would be comfort food, but it is. I always get the crispy shrimp roll. All their rolls are excellent. Love the chicken curry, too, and the tumbling dice and butterfly prawns with garlic noodle. I try to branch out to new items, but I usually find myself drawn to the familiar and beloved. Staff is super helpful and friendly. And it doesn't hurt that it's ridicu-close to my building.
(5)Paul C.
We happened to come upon Xyclo while looking for another restaurant - it happens to be just a block from Fenton's. The restaurant is small - though they apparently have a separate section for those with reservations. While the seating was tiny - along with the serving plates - the place is loud and alive. The food is differently fusion-y, but in a good way. We tried their "flaming" quail, which was really good and crispy. Their chicken curry was normal - nothing to exciting. But the rest of our order was different (in a good way). The dry scallop fried rice was amazing, while the coconut shrimp (which had rice inside the coconut) could be a meal on its own. But the best is the tumbling dice (something many Yelp reviewers have recommended). It's so soft and tasty that you immediately fall in love with it. All in all, it's a great place and a pretty good neighborhood. Maybe I should try making reservations because the place does get busy.
(4)Julie B.
Went to Xyclo for the first time last night - the place was packed on a Wednesday night at 7:30PM - popular place! We got seated a lot faster than I thought which was a nice point - then we waited ... When the server finally arrived he was apologetic and very attentive after that - but many of the diners were done with their meals and leaving by that time. So the service was not so hectic. The meal was good - and the drinks are good! Overall a good place! Note: if you order the clay pot the rice is "blackened" on the bottom and that flavors the rice a lot - if you want un-burned rice order a side of rice - and eat that with the vegetables and chicken in the clay pot which are cooked perfectly . We will be back!!
(4)Anh-Dao T.
Great service and good food, but the prices are too steep for what you get. I like the decor and the food had great presentation. I also liked the teapots that came out with my tea (lychee-black tea, it sounded better than it tasted.) I had the five-spice chicken, which I was expecting to come out somewhat like Slanted Door's. Unfortunately, it was more like the rice plate I can get at any Pho restaurant for a third of the price. My brother had the prawns with garlic noodles, which were way overseasoned and the shallots overpowered the garlic. A big disappointment. Next time, I'll stick to Slanted Door if I want Vietnamese food in a modern setting.
(3)John H.
This my favorite restaurant in Piedmont. The people are like their food: GREAT! I come here every now and then when I don't feel like driving out to the city. I usually get this really great waiter and he remembers me every time I come in. He also makes a great cocktail. Now that is great customer service! I've had a variety of dishes such as the spring rolls, the ribs and the fried chicken but nothing beats the Butterfly Prawns. That is a must every time I come here. It is a noodle dish with huge prawns. I highly recommend it. The food here is true Asian fusion done right! The ambiance here is excellent and fits the theme appropriately. The lighting is not bright and creates the atmosphere that a hip and sheik restaurant should have. The furniture also fits with he decor very nicely. The restaurant also has touches of Vietnamese cultural items which adds to the overall feel of the place.
(5)Chrysantha C.
Upon moving to Piedmont Avenue, I started to interview people who lived in the neighborhood and the store owners if they could recommend some places for lunch... Time and time again people recommended Xyclo so today, I finally decided to try it out since the rain would have been nice to watch while eating lunch. Upon entrance, I was invited by beautiful wood beams that decorated the interior of this restaurant. I was beginning to have really high hopes so that I could add a new favorite restaurant to eat at in my new neighborhood. Outside the window, Xcylo advertises 5 lunch menu items which included a chicken, fish, vegetable, pork chop, and banh mi all at $10.00 each. I decided on the Fish and MK ordered the Pork Chop... to our disappointment the waitress returned to tell us that they no longer had any pork chops (mind you it was only noon). We were disappointed and had to change the entire game plan since MK has already tried the other dishes which he didn't really like and felt was a bit bland in the past. We then settled on calamari since nothing else sounded too appealing on the menu and decided to just half the fish dish. We enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant while waiting for our order to arrive... For lunch, the restaurant didn't seem as packed as the rest of Piedmont Avenue. That's when we started to get nervous about the food. The calamari was disappointing since they served it with a traditional shrimp cocktail sauce... for a fusion restaurant I would at least expect a chili sauce mixed with rice vinegar as a dip NOT bottled cocktail sauce - it just seemed so WRONG! The fish wasn't bad, it had a good flavor with caramelized onions and sauteed bell peppers. It was served with a salad with a vinegarette. Our entire order was "okay"... I expected better tasting food for the price and ambience offered. As I was convincing myself to come back to try their dinner menu I took one last bite of my salad and noticed a bug on my leaf. And upon inspection I found another one. Believe me, I hate having to encounter a situation like this.. I really do feel bad even having to report it... I am embarrassed for the restaurant ... but they have to know what they aren't catching in the kitchen... By the time I noticed the bugs, most of the salad was already eaten... They were polite about it and removed the entree from our tab. We payed $15 for Thai Iced Tea and calamari that I would expect from a seafood shack. I went home and cooked my own Pho... I should have just saved my money and stayed home.
(1)Judy S.
Vietnamese fusion. The food here is soo good. They have a super creative menu, not the typical Vietnamese faire. The atmosphere is more on the trendy/sexy side with a little lounge area. You want to try just about everything on this menu once. I loved the carpaccio, the coconut shrimp in a coconut shell (for real). Their lychee martinis are the best. Good, friendly service.
(4)Cindy T.
I would just like to say that this place has the best Vietnamese food in the bay area I've been here twice and i love the food its like heaven I'd had the Nem Noung spring spring rolls and the dry scallop shrimp fried rice and the Bun Cha Hanoi and it was yummy!!! I would most likely come back again
(5)Radha X.
Small yes, comfy stylish atmosphere. They have a nice cocktail menu. Defn try the Berry Mimosa, cucumber/lychee martini and mango mojito! Every single dish i tried was good! the Diced something (steak w/ salad) Prawn garlic noodles spring roll sampler green bean salad I'm very very satisfied. and reasonable prices :) only thing is its on Piedmont ave. So parking is scarce...
(4)