Xyclo - Oakland

I enjoyed the criss cross pattern of the papaya in the papaya salad, but it was too spicy for my taste; as I can only handle mild. I will be searching elsewhere for this dish.

I got a good vibe from this place just walking by, so I resolved to try it at my next opportunity and today was the day. On a cold, rainy day I had a craving for some beef pho, and Xyclo's hit the spot. I got it with beef brisket, and the beef was tender and tasty, the broth was flavorful with maybe a hint of cinnamon, and the ambiance was chill. A couple of beers on tap are a nice touch too. They actually have quite a number of other good looking things on the menu, but I think I've found my go to pho place.

I was disappointed that my all time fav EB Vietnamese restaurant closed. Luckily the head chef and owner went to Conam not very far from Xyclo. Woohoo! I can still get my Vietnamese fix!

This place is amazing. It's my go to for pho, duck noodle soup, tumbling dice steak, and xyclo rolls. I read they're closing soon so order now! I've been going for years and just went last night for take out. Always friendly and prompt.

I want to like Xyclo more than I actually do and would actually give them a 3.5, but I will round it to 4. The ambiance is very intimate and modern, staff is pleasant, and the food is pretty good but some dishes were a let down, like the chashu pork noodle soup. It was ok- just nothing that special about it and it costs $12. Maybe I'm more used to the authentic Vietnamese soups in Chinatown and I've had some spots that set the asian noodle soup bar pretty high. I do remember having some good flavorful dishes in the past, however, like the spring rolls, lemongrass chicken, and tumbling beef. Maybe I'll just stick to the rice plates when I come back.