Van’s Own Roasted Duck from Van’s Vietnamese Restaurant in Albany.

In our annual Best of the Capital Region poll, there are few dining categories that are as dominated by one restaurant as this. When it comes to Vietnamese food, Van’s in Albany remains the first choice across the area. If you haven’t tried it, I guess the message is that you probably should go.

Having said that, we are lucky to have a lot of options for Vietnamese food, so you can compare them for yourself and decide. Yeah … that would be a worthy project. To help, here’s a rundown of the best Vietnamese restaurant winners, starting with the 2022 finalists.

More: See all of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region winners. | Sign up for the Best of the Capital Region newsletter

Beauty shot of the Grilled Tofu Steak & Vegetable, left, the Van's Own Roasted Duck, right top, and the Vietnamese Curry Chicken, bottom right, from the menu at Van's Vietnamese Restaurant, at 307 Central Ave., on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, in Albany, NY.

Best Vietnamese restaurant: First place in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015

Best Indonesian, Thai or Vietnamese restaurant: Second place in 2010

Best Vietnamese restaurant: Second place in 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018 and 2016; third place in 2017; runner-up in 2015

 Saigon Spring in Clifton Park.

Best Vietnamese restaurant: Second place in 2020, 2017 and 2015; third place in 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018 and 2016; runner-up in 2019

Address: 1683 U.S. 9, Clifton Park

Best Vietnamese restaurant: Runner-up in 2022

Address: 74 N. Pearl St., Suite 5, Albany

Best Vietnamese restaurant: Runner-up in 2022 and 2017

Address: 54 Phila St., Saratoga Springs

Quang's Vietnamese Bistro in Troy.

Best Vietnamese restaurant: Runner-up in 2021 and 2020

Best Vietnamese restaurant: Runner-up in 2021

Address: Galleria 7 Market, 1214 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham

Best Vietnamese restaurant: Third place in 2020; runner-up in 2019

Best Chinese restaurant: Runner up in 2019

Best Vietnamese restaurant: Runner up in 2019

Tanpopo Ramen and Sake Bar in Albany.

Best Vietnamese restaurant: Runner-up in 2018.

Best local restaurant: Third place in 2022

Best bar for wine: Runner-up in 2018

Best Indonesian, Thai or Vietnamese restaurant: First place in 2014, 2013 and 2012; second place in 2011

Best restaurant for a romantic night out: First place in 2004 and 2003; second place in 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2002

Best restaurant for an elegant night out: Third place in 2015

Best new restaurant: Third place in 2006 (Yono’s had moved and reopened.)

Best restaurant to pull out all the stops: Third place in 1999

Best Thai restaurant: Third place in 2020 and 2015

Best Indonesian, Thai or Vietnamese restaurant: Third place in 2010

Address: 1707 U.S. 9, Clifton Park

Best of the Capital Region 2022

Winners: See who won in each category of the Best of the Capital Region 2022 contest. Prefer something for your coffee table or to stash in your car for quick reference? Order our 68-page magazine, and we’ll ship it to you free.

100 categories: There were 14 new categories in 2022. 

See how far Best of the Capital Region has come in 25 years: These are the first winners from 1997. 

Hudson Valley’s Best: See who won

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Daniel Roberts is the executive news editor for digital and has been with the Times Union for more than a decade. He previously was an editor at The Fresno (Calif.) Bee, The Daily Interlake (Mont.) and The Whitefish (Mont.) Pilot. He grew up in the Capital Region and was formerly a session musician and has a music performance degree from The University at Albany. He studied writing and journalism at the University of Montana graduate journalism program. He can be reached at droberts@timesunion.com.