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EAT Vietnamese Food (SF Bay Area)
Even more than Thai, Vietnamese food appears everywhere around the bay. Here are the local eateries that I’ve tried and reviewed that encompass my digestive geography:
137 Places
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Ed’s 3-star review: They keep the hot side hot and the cold side cold...though I am sadly not talking about the dearly departed McDLT from McDonald's. God, I miss that burger. No, I'm talking about how they pack up the pho (noodle soup) when you order it to go. They have the broth and the hot ingredients in a Styrofoam liquid container, the cold noodles are in a little burger-type container and the bean sprouts and hot peppers are in a little baggie. It's quite an operation, but it works. You put it all in a bowl at home, and it can be pretty tasty especially if your fridge only contains a piece of moldy cheese and a half-empty Diet Coke bottle. I usually have the $5.50 Curry Chicken Noodle Soup which has a couple of chicken pieces (still with the bones) bathing in a curry-infused broth. But they offer the usual suspects when it comes to Chinese and Vietnamese dishes - lots of rice plates, chow mien, even BBQ sandwiches. I have to admit none of the food I've had is all that outstanding, but it ain't disreputable either. It's perfectly decent for a quick meal, and since it is technically my neighborhood Asian restaurant, I come in here often to make orders to go. I can't remember the last time I actually sat down and ate there though. FOOD - 3 stars...decent, just decent AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...a lunchroom...though they gussy it up during the holidays SERVICE - 4 stars...really nice and attentive TOTAL - 3.5 stars...if you're in the neighborhood -
Ed’s 3-star review: I remember this one took a while to open, but sneaking a peek through the window, I didn't think it looked quite like the other eateries on Jackson. First of all, it's a Vietnamese place rather than Chinese and second, I could tell from the decor that they were going for a more modern approach than a traditional one. In fact, the restaurant is subtitled "cuisine indochine", which made me wonder if it was aspiring to be more Le Colonial than Turtle Tower. However, menu items like Grilled Ribeye Steak and New England Lobster Roll confused me like the Donald Trump campaign. Well, they offer French fries as a side option so that's something, I guess, and also Grilled French Rack of Lamb which must be French since they say so. Maybe the owners are trying to please a wide variety of palates through a somewhat limited menu. I decided to try two plates to see if I could reconcile the cuisine from chef Jimmy Kwok. First up was the $13 Bun Cha Hanoi, which is the street food you get from a cart over there, a vermicelli salad wrap with a bowl of marinated broiled pork belly and grilled pork burger in order to stuff the red leaf lettuce leaves (photo: http://bit.ly/1D0iAP1). Cucumber slices added a nice crunch, but the basil leaves were rather intrusive and overall it didn't have the flavorfully carnivorous punch I was looking for as it was drooling down to my wrists as I picked the wrap up (photo: http://bit.ly/1InUwpW). The other dish I tried was arguably more Cantonese, the $10 Garlic Eggplant with String Beans (photo: http://bit.ly/1ftjsks). Although heavily ladled with a sweet and sour bean sauce mixed with garlic, ginger, chili and scallions, this dish was ultimately a bit more satisfying than the self-made wrap, especially as I selected the Garlic Noodles as an accompaniment. Out came quite an abundant bowlful sprinkled with scallions and lacquered completely in butter (photo: http://bit.ly/1IkawVn). Ah, there's the French touch. The lobster roll aside, they did have some interesting dishes to consider for another visit although I'm in no hurry to return since the service was spotty and increasingly inattentive as the big parties came in. Begoni, be gone? Not yet. FOOD - 3 stars...middling results on the French twist to the Vietnamese plates served up here AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...more modern in tone than most Chinatown restaurants though a bit dark and sterile, too SERVICE - 2.5 stars...likely the most disappointing aspect of my experience TOTAL - 3 stars...interesting hybrid of flavors here but they don't quite gel -
Ed’s 3-star review: Could I heave an audible sigh? Yes I can, and it can sound like Chris Christie after any recent press conference. That's the palpable sound of meh when I found myself waiting in line for what turned out to be faux banh mis. Yes, what the faux. That be Bun Mee. Oh yes, I've been to the other Bun Mee on Fillmore (review: http://bit.ly/1hknE5G), so there were no surprises offered here. But the lunchtime crowds were a bit ridiculous for what I view as overpriced sandwiches. You just have to travel two BART stations and make a right onto Larkin to get a better, more authentic banh mi for $4.50 less. Despite a relative abundance of ingredients, the sandwiches at Bun Mee just don't have the soul of Saigon Sandwich to make the premium price worthwhile. When I finally got up to the register, I ended up ordering the $6.75 Bun Mee Combo, which offers layers of grilled lemongrass Kurobuta pork, paté de campagne, mortadella, garlic mayo, shaved onion, pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber, jalapenos and cilantro, all in a crusty, hollowed-out French baguette (photo: http://bit.ly/1jGCy6y). There are indeed quality ingredients, but it was frankly almost too packaged for my taste given the staff has to prepare for the massive lunch rush. In a moment of weakness, I added an order of the $2.75 Salt 'n Pepper Garlic Fries with bits of sauteed red onions, garlic, and jalapenos and seasoned heavily (photo: http://bit.ly/1jGCy6y). The crowd here is an unsurprising mix of the young and hip which is a perfect match for the manga-like decor with a huge red mural of women in motorcycle helmets (photo: http://bit.ly/1jGCDqT). With its high ceilings, the renovated space on Market is much bigger than its progenitor on Fillmore, but I have to admit that it's not enough of a draw for me to come here very often. Give me the two Vietnamese ladies in their tiny prep area at Saigon Sandwich anytime. FOOD - 3 stars...good fillings but not nearly as authentically soulful as the real banh mis in Little Saigon AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...spacious but still too crowded during the lunch hour SERVICE - 3 stars...relatively fast back there but more assembly line than anything else TOTAL - 3 stars...Bun Mee?...Well, Bun You! -
Ed’s 3-star review: Bun Mee? BUN MEE?... BUN YOU!... and twice on Sundays!... Is anglicizing the term, banh mi, really necessary in a city as ethnically diverse as San Francisco? Oh yes, it is... especially in an upwardly mobile neighborhood like Pac Heights where the Tenderloin might as well be Timbuktu for a lot of the residents here. Somebody had a brilliant idea in taking the same sammies you can find in Little Saigon for $2.50, prettying them up a bit, and selling them in a hipster setting for almost three times more. The difference is that you don't have to trip over drug addicts to enjoy them. They're pretty good. Jamie W. had the $6.50 Bun Mee Combo, which combines roast pork, mortadella and a more upscale pate with the standard Vietnamese ingredients of onions cucumbers, and pickled carrots and daikon - all perfectly julienned - as well as jalapeno, garlic aioli and cilantro (see photo). Mine was a tad fancier and more satisfying, the $7.95 Juicy Steak, which you guessed it - contains grilled steak with the same Vietnamese ingredients plus crispy shallots, lotus root relish and lime pepper in the aioli (see photo). But I have to admit one thing as a non-Pac Heights glutton - they seemed a mite small to me to be completely filling for dinner. Good thing we ordered the Sweet Potato Fries which came in a little aluminum bucket with a red curry aioli (see photo). Jamie was a bit miffed that we were forced to have the upscale Boylan sodas, a sure sign of elitism since they do not dare offer the dregs that represent Diet Coke. I had less issue with my Diet Cane Cola since I just needed to wet my whistle. We ended our mini-meal with a $1.50 House-made Coconut Cookie Sandwich, a sliver of a chocolate cookie dessert with an Almond Joy-type filling in between (see photo). FOOD - 3 stars...good sammies with top ingredients but really overpriced compared to the likes of Lee's or Saigon Sandwiches AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...hipster rural and quite compact SERVICE - 3.5 stars...nice guy at the counter TOTAL - 3 stars...Bun You! -
Ed’s 3-star review: I keep thinking a gangsta named this place because instead of saying 'Banh Mi', they shout out 'Bunn Mi!!' like we was being threatened by a particularly crusty roll that could cause a concussion. That's what my feverish little mind came up with when I saw the name on the brown awning on Clement Street. My expectations of gold grills and Cookie-like attitudes quickly changed once I entered and found a low-key shop that focuses on low-key Vietnamese fast food, not only banh mis but pho, rice and noodle plates, salads, fries and imperial rolls. In other words, it's all the stuff you would want from a well-stocked street cart in Ho Chi Minh City. I was feeling peckish as I was waiting for my car to get serviced on Geary, so I went for the $4.50 Grilled Pork Banh Mi, which had all the requisite ingredients - onions, pickled carrots, daikon radishes, cilantro, cucumber slices and jalapenos stuffed into a crusty French roll nicely toasted and slathered with their own housemade aioli (photo: http://bit.ly/1W00twf). What's not to like about a sandwich like that? Nothing, man. But what didn't work as well were the $6 Spicy Garlic Chicken Wings a half-down that were way too sticky for normal consumption goven they were wok-tossed and heavily coated in a spicy housemade garlic sauce that could have doubled as a wood varnish (photo: http://bit.ly/1MO88NJ). Straight outta Clement. Yo. FOOD - 3 stars...a solid banh mi followed by stickier-than-thou wings AMBIANCE - 3 stars...a low-key space with cafe tables SERVICE - 3.5 stars...fast enough if you take it to go TOTAL - 3 stars...Bunn Mi? Bunn You! -
Ed’s 3-star review: Cafe Dolci has the makings of a great Netflix sitcom, don't you think? A married couple has to spend the entire work day in a space no bigger than a hall closet without driving each other crazy, while their wacky work neighbors from Walgreens and Wells Fargo stream in and out shooting the breeze with them as they wait for their pastries and banh mis. Orange may be the new black, but I could see how lunchtime claustrophobia could be a trend that takes off. Smells like a hit to me. In fact, if "Grace & Frankie" didn't get picked up for a second season, I would have suggested recasting the Asian married couple with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as lesbian partners in that tight, little space. Let the hilarity ensue. While that concept went into turnaround, I decided to come here as a fallback when I was looking for the Mob Dog kiosk and realized later he didn't set up his stand on Tuesdays. Gee, I walked down Market on a gloomy day for nuthin'? That's when I turned around and thought I should give this place a try. I was amazed at the sight of both of them in that tiny space acting very civil with each other and to the customers (photo: http://bit.ly/1BjmJN8). I'd be stark raving mad after ten minutes, I'm sure, like I felt as a teenager in a much bigger space selling Chinese food in my little pagoda stand at the World's Fare in the Great America theme park. I ordered the $6.50 Grilled Pork Banh Mi, and it was just fine when I got it back to the office (photo: http://bit.ly/1FjM8BF). I smell an Emmy. FOOD - 3 stars...perfectly decent banh mi although a bit too much bread for me AMBIANCE - 3 stars...uhhh, it's a closet SERVICE - 4 stars...let's give it up to the couple who can work that closely together TOTAL - 3 stars..."Lunch in a Closet'...how's that for the title of that sitcom?...hey, it's better than "My Mother the Car" -
Ed’s 4-star review: So I've been looking high and low for the NorCal equivalent of Savoy Kitchen down in Alhambra since for my money, they make the best Hainan chicken in all the land (review: http://bit.ly/2uWbMTL). This ain't da place, but the chicken served at this minimal Vietnamese restaurant is the closest I've gotten to the flavorful quality they serve down south. No damning with faint praise from this Hainan chicken aficionado, and it was by pure accident that I came upon this spot. I regularly visit my dad who lives nearby in a senior living center and prefers eating in their lunch room. After watching him eat and pondering my drive back home, I found myself looking for a bite, and this spot was nearby on Santa Clara Street at 8th east of Downtown. They had me at Hainan. From the outside, the restaurant looks like it was probably a Sambo's in a former life with an unmistakably retro mid-century vibe (photo: http://bit.ly/2ENwU10). The parking lot is dominated by a large mural of a rainbow coalition of people getting haircuts (photo: http://bit.ly/2GU5siB) which has nothing to do with the restaurant and everything to do with the barbershop next door. The menu is simple, straightforward, and except for two veggie noodle bowls, all about the chicken. Out of two dozen choices, I went straight for #1, the $10.95 Com Ga Nam Ha, the dish that defines the entire operation, Hainan chicken with chicken rice (photo: http://bit.ly/2EaezK4). The good news was that that the chicken was nicely poached and the skin was supple, not rubbery. The slight downside was the portion was on the paltry side and the rice was simply white rice, not chicken rice. However, with the three dipping sauces - minced ginger & garlic, sweetened soy, and spicy chile, it definitely had me feeling I was stompin' at the Savoy, even though this place doesn't offer anything near a duck pizza. It was a good thing I caved to my proclivity for innards and ordered the $5.95 Long Ga, a generous pile of steamed chicken giblets they would have likely been thrown into their stock otherwise (photo: http://bit.ly/2FQdPuj). Speaking of which, the bowl of chicken broth was a satisfying balm for the soul (photo: http://bit.ly/2E9YLew). I have to admit those chewy giblets really hit the spot and made up for the skimpy Hainan chicken portion. Shall we just call it Savoy North? Hmmm, not yet. FOOD - 4 stars...a nice Hainan chicken but somewhat incomplete AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...a generic repurposed space SERVICE - 3.5 stars...almost absurd how fast it comes to the table TOTAL - 4 stars...oh, how I wish Savoy Kitchen would open a location nearby -
Ed’s 3-star review: OK, this was not the place I expected. I was taking the California Street cable car one night expecting to enter a regular restaurant with formica tables, naugahyde chairs, surly waiters, and a sun-faded poster of the Eiffel Tower half-torn on the wall. You know, like Sam Wo's reborn. But I guess I wasn't really in the Tenderloin, and real estate is clearly at more of a premium on Nob Hill. Surely that's the explanation for the walk-in closet that is Cordon Bleu on California near Polk Street. It reminds me of any number of greasy diners in New York like Johny's Luncheonette (no second 'n' please) where the counter is pretty much your only alternative other than the large-group tables in the back. It was pretty crowded when I entered but not fully. Because a couple of mouthy hipsters decided to hog three stools between them, I stood against the wall waiting for an opening. They were so self-absorbed that it took a five full minutes before one of them acknowledged I was perhaps wanting to use the stool to eat and only after leaving his money (cash only). Thanks dudes...hope the cable car doesn't run you over when you jaywalk across the street. The two women who run the place pay no attention to such matters... they have a grill to master and rice to scoop. I grabbed one of the few well-used, laminated menus on the counter and started to peruse. Lemme see... there are five combo plate entrees, four house specials, and on the other side of the menu, four veggie options. The choices struck me as more pan-Asian than strictly Vietnamese... kinda Korean by way of Saigon with a heavy emphasis on country comfort food, in other words, pure catnip for budget-conscious slackers. I decided to order the $9 Number Five, which consisted of a Five-Spice Roast Chicken Leg, "Shish Kebab" (without a stick and served in thin slices Korean-style), a large Imperial Roll chopped and heavily deep-fried, a "Country Salad" (a.k.a. shredded lettuce with some dressing), and the mysteriously described "Meat Sauce on Rice" (see photo). Ironically it was this latter item that turned out to be the most satisfying component if only because it sopped up the drippings from the other four items. I still couldn't tell what kind of meat I was eating, but it was sloppy-Joe-good. The shish kebab and chicken were a tad overcooked for my taste, even though that didn't stop me from devouring either one. Despite the tasty filling, the roll was just way too crunchy-greasy to eat comfortably without having nightmares of a coronary where I would have to lay down on the dirty-plate-covered counter since there would be no room for a gurney in there. OK, I'd still probably come back, give more explicit stink-eye to the entitled hipsters, and try to decode the meat sauce again. FOOD - 3 stars...dinerific with a tasty-greasy meat sauce of unknown origin AMBIANCE - 2 stars...I would describe it as claustrophobic but all those letters wouldn't fit in here SERVICE - 2.5 stars...speedy multi-taskers, not much on smiling TOTAL - has anyone seen Guy Fieri in here yet? -
Ed’s 4-star review: I'm not sure what the name means, and it's probably as much a non sequitur as finding a Vietnamese sandwich shop in the Castro. But I would expect the place to be more playful than it is - maybe a life-size Godzilla action figure that waves hello or at least a poster for "Land of the Lost", not the Will Ferrell version of course. No, it's just a nondescript space on the back-end of that mini-mall complex no one really knows is there except when I stop by Books Inc, or when maybe you go to that tiny sushi place I also forget is there inside. Dinosaurs is not really on Market either. It flanks the 16th Street entrance to the mall, which I'm sure is the reason I never noticed it before. Six banh mi sandwiches are offered, as well as a few pre-packaged things like salad and spring rolls. Since this was my maiden voyage into prehistoric times, I thought I should give the sandwiches a try first. Like probably everyone else, I ordered the $5 Special, which has slices of roasted pork and "fancy pork loaf" and a smear of pate in between a crispy-crusted French roll with plenty of cilantro, shreds of pickled carrots and daikon, slices of chili peppers, and spears of cucumber (see photo). In other words, it was prepared with nice authenticity and tasted quite delicious. I spared myself half the roll simply to avoid the carbs, but I couldn't help but also order the $4.75 Crispy Tofu as a chaser. In between the same type of French roll with the same toppings were fried tofu shards that reminded me of the French-fried onions you used to get in the cardboard cans, as well as rice noodles and a tofu-based mayo that was vegan-friendly (they call it "vegenaise") (see photo). This turned out to be quite good, too, though I have to say the oil content on the tofu was a bit overwhelming. Good thing I followed the tip of a fellow Yelper and ordered extra cucumbers to moisten the sandwich with a bit more fresh crunch. So here's the deal - they're about twice the price of the sandwiches at Saigon Sandwich on Larkin in Little Saigon where everyone is willing to wait in line and ignore the aggressive vagrants on the sidewalk. And honestly, those gems are the best deal in town because they are done right. On the other end of the spectrum are the more designer banh mi creations at Bun Mee (sic) on Fillmore where you end up paying $6.50 for their special combo. Dinosaurs falls right in the middle which is fine by me. FOOD - 4 stars...authentic banh mis well turned and pretty satisfying AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...generic space in a mall with a few tables SERVICE - 3.5 stars...very quiet and preparation is hidden from view TOTAL - 4 stars...nice ingredients and a fair price point make this outlier a worthwhile place to grab and go -
Ed’s 3-star review: Here's another selection from the "Check, Please! Bay Area" vaults which I only caught recently when all three guests were raving about the Vietnamese dishes served here. I recalled passing by the original place on Encinal, but they recently moved to much bigger digs next to the estuary off Blanding Avenue, which is the first right you make on the island off of Park. Since Jamie W. and I were in the East Bay on Sunday, I thought we should give it a try. It all seemed so promising at first, but then it sadly faded into unexpected blandness. It was like seeing a great production number in a splashy Broadway musical followed by an hour of the cast just sexting each other on their smartphones. We almost missed finding the place because it's in the back of a parking lot, but there it is looking like one of those expansive, family-friendly waterfront seafood places like Kincaid's or Quinn's Lighthouse. We didn't have a reservation, so it took about five minutes for us to get a table, not at all a bad wait all things considered. And a nice table it was right next to the big window looking out to the empty patio and the waterway. I was struck at how spacious the restaurant was with big tables set far apart like the legs on a mid-priced hooker. Jamie almost succumbed to the lure of chicken wings on the menu, but I swayed him to something healthier I saw on the show - the elaborately tropical $11 Pineapple Salad with Shrimp. Like something out of a Trader Vic's wet dream, it was a beautiful creation where they cut a pineapple in half and mixed the chunks of pineapple with an Asian-style cole slaw of shredded cabbage, bell pepper, carrots, cilantro, celery, and a sweet chili vinaigrette (see photo). Much to our joy, it was deliciously fresh and something I would order again in a heartbeat. Where things went into something of a decline were the entrees. Jamie ordered the $13 Dragon Fire Garlic Noodles with Chicken, which was anything but a fire-breathing dish of tongue-burning delight. It was a pile of Olive Garden-looking wheat pasta which was apparently stir-fried in jalapenos, garlic, basil and something they called vegetable seasoning. Now I say "apparently" because we were wondering where the fire was 'cause it wasn't on that plate. It even came with Parmesan cheese. Mine was also strangely bland, the $11 Chicken Curry Bisque (see photo). Once again it was a generous serving and came with quite a few chicken thighs, but sadly, they were overcooked and a tad chewy, a culinary crime when it comes to dark meat. But what was really lacking were the presence of vegetables. There were bits of potato and onion, but it could have used more of a vegetable medley if just for some different texture. There was certainly a lot of the curry bisque itself, but I really wasn't in the mood to have just the watery soup with my brown rice. Oh well, at least we had a stellar pineapple. Spongebob would be proud. FOOD - 3 stars...a first-class pineapple salad followed by sheer blandness...on Blanding Avenue no less AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...lots of space with a view and a parking lot....what more do you want? SERVICE - 4 stars...we had a nice, attentive server waiting on us, but everyone else looked like they were ready for a night of clubbing at Ruby Skye TOTAL - 3 stars...a more spicy kick in the main dishes could lure us back, otherwise just give me the pineapple -
Ed’s 4-star review: I didn't know this was a chain of three, none of them open in the evening when I had a better chance of hitting them for a banh mi. Alas, I was strolling in Hayes Valley late one afternoon for a change and in the mood for a nosh that I'm sure I was convincing myself would be an early dinner. It was, trust me. Anyway, I've walked by this spot numerous times but didn't know it was such a small and popular space. I was relieved to see on the overhead menu not only banh mis (seven of them - photo: http://bit.ly/2rKDdMC) but also fresh bowls, fresh rolls, and green salads. Thank goodness as I'm off bread for now. Now my conscience was telling me to order a green salad, but some rice noodles wouldn't kill me, would it? WOULD IT? Anyway, I ordered the $7.25 Five-Spice Chicken Fresh Bowl, which had shredded carrots, cilantro, pickled daikon, roasted peanuts, and crispy shallots mixed with rice noodles and iceberg lettuce in a deep cardboard container (photo: http://bit.ly/2KZrum1). It was pretty tasty, and despite the awkward vessel it was all put in, the quantity was satisfying for a meal. If they stayed open for a couple more hours, I'd come back here more often. I also think the cheap-seat theater crowd would agree with me. FOOD - 4 stars...a solidly satisfying bowl of Vietnamese goodness AMBIANCE - 3 stars...compact with seating more likely at the counter SERVICE - 3 stars...hardly a word was exchanged TOTAL - 4 stars...an 8PM closing time would be nice -
Ed’s 4-star review: I just like this market. I can't help it. It's not even that close to my home, but when I find myself dawdling on Mission (which I find myself doing after digesting a belly-stretching burrito), I somehow end up here thinking I should get something healthy or at least ethnic. That motivation may come from the fact that it feels like such a global community in here spanning Asia and Latin America when it comes to its packaged and canned foods. It also offers the lure of organic produce, Niman Ranch meats, and Mary's Free Range poultry. You really can't go wrong with that eclectic mix of groceries in a paper bag emblazoned with the slogan, "Go Green! Go Organic!" But who am I kidding? The real magnet for me is the selection of banh mis next to the meat counter. There's a dozen to consider on the side chalkboard, most priced at just five dollars. I went for the Pork BBQ with Lemongrass which was chock full of sliced marinated pork with carrots, cilantro, jalapeno peppers, and daikon with a spread of liverwurst on the soft roll that held the monstrosity together (see photo). It was delicious and such a deal. Now don't expect to eat there since there is exactly one table sometimes occupied by a derelict waiting for a handout. No matter since you have to get home and put that queso fresco and coconut milk in the fridge anyway. FOOD - 4 stars...one of the better banh mis in town AMBIANCE - 3 stars...it's a market for Pete's sake SERVICE - 3.5 stars...an efficient staff TOTAL - 4 stars...go for your groceries, leave with your banh mi -
Ed’s 3-star review: He has a little stand with a roll-away refrigerated display case and red tent awning right near my office. How can you just walk past him? I assume he's Du because he smiles a bit like a Jehovah's Witness but without the suit. He's just selling his banh mis and spring rolls in an increasingly competitive area gunning for FiDi regulars like me to grab a bite. On a recent Tuesday, he ensnared me just as he was starting to pack up. I was late getting lunch that day, so he lured me with his convenient location and friendly demeanor. He kept saying he recognized me, and given my love for Vietnamese food, I wouldn't have been surprised if I saw him at some restaurant in Little Saigon where I was wolfing down Seven Flavors of Beef. I simply peered into his fridge to see what I was going to get. I settled on the $3.55 Vietnamese BBQ Pork Sandwich with mayo, pate, cilantro, cucumber, jalapenos and pickled carrots (photo: http://bit.ly/1H9sGha). Given it was in the fridge for who knows how long, I was expecting it to be a bit hard and stale, but surprisingly it was good and meaty. While it did not reach the heights of what the two ladies could do at Saigon Sandwich, it hit the spot when I got back to the office. Thinking it wouldn't be enough, I also ordered the $4.95 Fresh Shrimp Spring Rolls with the same pickled carrots, lettuce and vermicelli and quite a bit of peanut sauce (photo: http://bit.ly/1I3AwX6). It's hard to screw up spring rolls, and thank goodness Du didn't. Screw up, that is. Convenient spot. FOOD - 3 stars...pre-made stuff but not bad for the price AMBIANCE - 3 stars...well, it's a tent so find your ow place to sit SERVICE - 3.5 stars...nice guy, no complaints there TOTAL - 3 stars...decent Vietnamese fast food offers value in its convenience -
Ed’s 3-star review: I can tell these Chipotle-style Asian fast-food operations are starting to proliferate because the budget-conscious, assembly-line approach works for subs and burritos - so why not noodle bowls and rice paper rolls? By coincidence, I tried the nearby Bamboo Asia the other week, and that takes the same concept but goes for a contrived triple play by covering India, Japan, and Thailand. Freshroll wisely doesn't attempt a far-flung tour of the Far East. Instead, they focus strictly on Vietnam and consequently doesn't suffer from the Jack-in-the-Box syndrome of spreading itself too thin across a continent. I've been twice now - the first time by chance on their opening day, the second a couple of weeks later to see if some of the preparation jitters by the neophyte staff were ironed out. I think it's decent fare, nothing all that extraordinary and nothing that offensive, right in the middle. It's pretty easy to grasp what they're doing here once you study the menu once. You choose one of seven fillings and/or toppings (interestingly, none of them beef) - two variations on grilled chicken, another two using pork, one combo pork and chicken, one shrimp only, and one veggie option with tofu. Then you decide the vessel upon which you want them to place your ingredients - a roll trio, a super-roll, a vermicelli noodle bowl, a rice bowl, or a lettuce bowl. I went with one of the chicken choices in a lettuce bowl both times since I'm trying to watch my carb intake. I thought the grilled chicken in the Californian ($8.45) on my first visit was not as good as it was in the 49er ($7.65) on my second visit. I think the slight kick of the jalapeno and the twang of the pickled veggies were a better match than the blandness of the avocado (see photo). I also noticed an improvement in the execution on my second visit wherein the chicken was more effectively mixed with the lettuce versus simply putting the poultry on top. This enhancement prevented a potential mess on the counter since you minimize the manual mixing needed to produce a truly integrated bowl. At the same time, I still thought the lettuce bowls were a little too light on all the secondary ingredients mentioned in the description and the sauces a bit on the watery side. Interestingly, unlike Bamboo Asia, the bánh mìs and pho noodle bowls listed on the menu are handled separately from the assembly line. They also offer sides, extras and Vietnamese iced coffee to keep it as real as they can. Given the owner's enthusiasm in responding to customer feedback on Yelp, I look forward to seeing continued improvements in this most welcome establishment. FOOD - 3 stars...decent production-line Vietnamese fast-food, fresher than you would expect AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...clean and streamlined (see photo) SERVICE - 3 stars..amiable enough though a bit on automatic pilot TOTAL - 3 stars...solid effort worth checking out over time -
Ed’s 4-star review: Just in time for the much anticipated opening of the spanking new Target Express, Freshroll decided to open a second outlet right across the street. I do ask myself what my life has become when I get excited about the imminent opening of a mini-Target, but then I see Jamie W.'s palpable excitement and realize I am not alone in my cloistered suburban sensibilities. After all, the big breakthrough was when Target opened at the Metreon revitalizing a retail space that previously looked like a prime candidate for the wrecking ball. Perhaps following the same path, Freshroll looks like it's trying to duplicate its own success at the Metreon by arriving on Bush where ironically another like-minded chain, Freshii, previously failed. Judging from the opening week queues, the reality is that there is a built-in appetite among FiDi workers for their Chipotle-style operation. One marginal disappointment with this specific location is that they weren't able to secure a permit to allow them to make the pho bowls. They can sell you the chicken pho broth for what it's worth at $1.99 but not the whole shebang. So I had time to ponder my alternate strategy while in line with the overhead menu front and center (photo: http://bit.ly/1Aa0i73). I decided to go for the $8.49 Specialty Rolls, a trio where I could sample the Lemongrass Pork, Roasted Chicken and Baked Tofu at the same time (photo: http://bit.ly/1MkcOGX). The "standard" packaging would suit me fine - lettuce, bean sprouts, cilantro, cucumber, crispy shallots, pickled veggies and jalapeños. I threw caution to the wind and paid the $0.99 surcharge for avocado, and to top it off, among the four sauces they offered, I went with the richest one, Grandma's Peanut Sauce (photo: http://bit.ly/1E0GioO). Wait, there's more. I also ordered a $1.99 bag of their Homemade Taro Chips to add a little sweet crunch to my lunch (photo: http://bit.ly/18u6Nd7). When I got back to my office to gorge on it, I have to admit I was surprised I enjoyed it, especially the roast chicken selection, since my memories of their Metreon operation are less than charitable when I tried the salad bowl on a couple of occasions there. I have yet to try those here or the sandwiches, but I probably will and hopefully won't be disappointed. Meanwhile, the three roasted chicken rolls will do me just fine. FOOD - 4 stars...the rolls rock for a lunchtime option amid the salads and sammies in the immediate vicinity AMBIANCE - 3 stars...tight quarters for dining in but just fine for a take-out spot SERVICE - 3 stars...new, enthusiastic and predictably programmed TOTAL - 4 stars...a chain that appears to be improving over time by following Chipotle's success formula -
Ed’s 4-star review: Remember when Jennifer Grey got her nosed fixed and then nobody recognized her and soon she was unemployed because nobody could associate her with "Dirty Dancing" anymore? Know what I'm saying? Well, the opposite case has happened with Golden Era Vegan. I had been to the old, subterranean Tenderloin location, and while the food was pretty good, the dark, aged decor made me think it was the set of "The King & I" circa 1967 as if it was being restaged on the cheap in a seedy nightclub. I never went back. So imagine my delight to find the new location inviting enough for me to become a regular customer. It's also a lot more convenient for me logistically since I don't have to go through the bowels of the 'Loin to get here. It's in the same building as Philz on the edge of the unforgiving neighborhood. It's an open space, now very contemporary and almost suburban-looking, where you can park yourself in one of the roomy booths without incident (photo: http://bit.ly/1zN0NWx). The menu is as robust as ever, probably not all that changed from its other location. Jamie W. and I started with the $6.50 Spring Rolls, eight bitefuls of rice paper filled with lettuce, mint leaves, cilantro and seasoned tofu, quite fresh and crunchy with the sweet peanut sauce most plentiful (photo: http://bit.ly/190Fnwu). We also shared the $9.25 bowl of Spicy Thai Fried Rice with tofu, soy protein, mixed vegetables, bean sprouts, basil and various spices (photo: http://bit.ly/1CJJLwg). Comfort food par excellence and the meat was not remotely missed. For his entree, Jamie ordered the $10.50 Spicy Sweet Potato Curry, a tantalizing pool of yellow coconut curry sauce with a mound of sweet potatoes, onion, garbanzo beans, yellow and green peppers and soy protein (photo: http://bit.ly/1zn5ra1). I went with the $10.50 Mama's Claypot, which was filled with big chunks of tofu, eggplant and soy fish immersed in their house special sauce and topped with green onion (photo: http://bit.ly/1vc7RrE). Loved the combination of flavors and textures in that pot. Since we were on good behavior with our vegan eating habits, we naturally felt compelled to order the $5.50 Fried Banana with a scoop of Coconut Ice Cream (photo: http://bit.ly/190FCro). Quite a sweet treat but not too sweet as to jeopardize the good health of what came before. Or so we convinced ourselves. On subsequent trips, I tried a dish I loved from their other location, the $8.50 Rainbow Salad with shredded Romaine lettuce, carrot, cucumber, tomato, onion, tofu and my favorite ingredient, roasted corn (photo: http://bit.ly/1vzuPPj). The $8.50 Pho was a reasonable facsimile of what you could get up a block on Larkin Street, though the absence of beef was more evident as the soy protein didn't taste quite as compatible with the noodles (photo: http://bit.ly/1KEoao4). The $4.95 slice of Mocha Cake was a gluten-free treat but probably nothing I should have with great frequency (photo: http://bit.ly/1vzuV9F). So glad the owners of Golden Era Vegan seized the opportunity to move to Civic Center as I feel like a vegan...touched for the very first time. Like a vegan, when your soy tastes as good as mine... FOOD - 4 stars...the rare vegan spot that offers healthy and tasty in the same mouthful AMBIANCE - 4 stars...a major upgrade from the deep-in-the-'Loin location, more memorable than Jennifer Grey's post-nasal career SERVICE - 3.5 stars...super-efficient, not much on the chit-chat TOTAL - 4 stars...turning over a vegan leaf? here's a place that works as your introduction -
Ed’s 3-star review: Everything is just Golden in the world of Vietnamese restaurants in San Francisco. Golden Star. Golden King. Golden Era. Golden Buddha. I'm just waiting for Golden Girls, and in would walk the Vietnamese version of Rose Nylund telling stories about St. Olaf in the far north of the Mekong Delta. But for now, Jamie W. and I settled for Golden Flower, and "settled" is the right word since the pho was just not up to snuff...fo' sho. We came here just because down the block, Hunan Homes was packed with tourists off a bus on that particular Sunday evening. Alas, Golden Flower was comparatively with the veteran waitress leaning contently against the counter. Of course, I went for the signature pho, the extra-large $5.15 bowl of Xe Lua, which was a combination of rare slices of steak, well-done brisket, flank, tendon, and the proverbial beef balls (see photo). With all that going for it, I was expecting more, but the broth was watery and the noodles somewhat limp. Jamie had relatively better luck with the $5.25 Ga Cari Rice Plate, which featured stir-fried chicken mixed with carrots, onions, and bell peppers in a hot curry sauce (see photo). But again, it was a pretty standard dish, suitable for the quick fix we needed at the time. Honestly, the memory of Golden Flower is fading just as I'm writing this review, and with so many Golden choices around, you'll hardly suffer for missing this particular bloom. FOOD - 3 stars...passable pho, just barely worth a pass AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...the standard Chinatown gig SERVICE - 2.5 stars...served us, left us TOTAL - 3 stars...Golden but not golden...know what I mean? -
Ed’s 3-star review: It does seem a shame that Golden King is viewed as the ugly stepsister to Golden Star across the street. At least I assume they're joined at the hip since they share the same menu. But is this a case of Cinderella wearing dirty undies beneath her Vera Wang knock-off gown? I'm not sure what I meant either...but yes, the ambiance at Golden King is a bit on the dank side compared to Golden Star. Yet, Golden King has a health inspection code of 96, while Golden Star scored just a 90. Can it be that perhaps the glass slipper is on the wrong foot, your Highness? Hmmm, not really. There isn't a hugely marked difference in the pho served at both places, but I do feel I don't get as hearty a bowl of goodness at Golden King. Maybe it's the haphazard way the place looks or the overwhelming use of formica or the plethora of plastic plants. I can't quite put my finger on it, but like many others, I come here when the line goes out the door at Golden Star. As usual, I was in a hurry for lunch today and ordered the $6.50 Pho Ga Dai, which is really a big bowl of chicken noodle soup (see my photo). Hmmm, not bad but not that special either. I had to share a table with a spiky-haired youngster who kept yelling into his cell phone in Cantonese. My God, the 80's are over, my boy. Nope, we didn't bond.... So the Prince may prefer the skinny girl with the smudge on her face over the fat broad with the flat feet, but perhaps that fat broad wouldn't leave the Prince to play with the pool boy at a Sandals resort on their honeymoon. Again, I'm not sure what I meant either ...but hey, I guess I would pick Cinderella after all 'cause you don't care if ugly walks out on ya. FOOD - 3 stars...passable pho AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...kinda on the dank side, even for Chinatown SERVICE - 3 stars...speedy without the how-ya-doin' warmth TOTAL - 3 stars...gee, if I didn't have that stupid meeting at 1pm, I would wait in line at Golden Star -
Ed’s 4-star review: ** The following review reflects my takeout experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. ** If I have a go-to place in Little Saigon for pho, this must be it. That wasn't always the case because I was an early Turtle Tower fan, but they close at 4PM so that doesn't work for me. Turtle Tower used to be in this space until they moved to their current space about eight years ago. Initially I wasn't that impressed, but I eventually figured out what they did best and haven't strayed from that order. I start with the $6.99 Goi Cuon because their fresh spring rolls are stuffed with shrimp and pork and wrapped snugly in the familiar translucent rice paper. It just hits the spot, especially as I dip them liberally in their thick, sweetened peanut sauce (photo: https://bit.ly/34WgFgn). I've been lured by the owner to try the $7.75 Banh Cuon Thit Nuong, a much thicker rice roll with just pork, but they end up on my hips if you know what I mean, and I don't like that. For my main dish, I constantly order the Large $9.80 bowl of Pho Ga Long Trung Non because other than Turtle Tower, it's the only place that serves giblets with their shards of chicken, and their broth has gotten richer over the years (photo: https://bit.ly/3o43KQP). I also get the feeling I get extra giblets because nobody else orders it. Given I've checked in here 33 times, it's about time I upgraded my rating to reflect the groove I've been finding in coming here as often as I do. FOOD - 4 stars...plenty of giblets in their pho ga AMBIANCE - 4 stars...comfortable enough before the pandemic, especially if I score the front window seat SERVICE - 4 stars...always speedy, never wait very long TOTAL - 4 stars...they've earned their four stars RELATED - Exploring Little Saigon? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2U4GQv8 -
Ed’s 4-star review: Now I know you remember the chocolate factory scene in "I Love Lucy" where Lucy and Ethel get jobs on the conveyor belt wrapping chocolates. Well, located smack dab at Portsmouth Square, Golden Star doesn't make me feel like Lucy or Ethel or the foghorn dyke who yelled "Speed it up, Otto!" No, I feel like the chocolate moving about 60 mph on a conveyor belt not knowing if Ethel was going to wolf me down. If you think turnover in your company is high, you should take a look at the customer turnover at Golden Star where you are seated anywhere there isn't a pulse on a chair. I don't mind as I'm usually in a hurry at lunch...as long as the person across from me isn't a heavy slurper that splatters outside his or her slurping zone. The $6.50 Beef Pho (Xe Lua) is very good here...big bowl of goodness with round beef, flank, brisket, tendon, tripe and sausage meatballs...a smorgasbord of red meat (see my photo). Make sure to put a napkin under your chin because the slurping gets aggressive with that much to suck up. I've also been the rare diner to try one of their no-pho lunch specials, the $6.50 Grilled Pork Chop Special (Com Suon Heo Nuong) with a fried egg on top (see my photo). It's actually deliciously prepared - two chops, no less (watch your back, Pork Chop Store!) - if you're in the mood to saw some pig rather than slurp. Now be prepared to share a table if you're alone...but not if you're lonely. People don't want to eat at Golden Star...no one is there to make new friends. Speed it up, Otto! FOOD - 4 stars...so far, so good...pho for no' than show! AMBIANCE - 3 stars...it's clean enough, but it becomes a blur since you're in and out of there so fast...grab an 11am lunch if you really want to take in the surroundings SERVICE - 3 stars...faster than a speeding bullet during the rush TOTAL - 4 stars...oh yeah, I'm getting to be a regular -
Ed’s 3-star review: Are Green Papaya and Miss SaiGon (which is a block and a half away at Mission and the dreaded Sixth ...http://www.yelp.com/biz/miss-saigon-san-francisco-2#hrid:JruY_HSOJPr6wBrmmT5FoA/src:self) identical restaurants? They look alike...they talk alike...at times, they even taste alike...I may lose my mind... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIX5kk24UvA&feature=related Well, not exactly taste alike. I have to admit I prefer Miss SaiGon a bit more, though admittedly the variance isn't that great. But the service ain't alike. They are friendly at Miss SaiGon wearing matching T-shirts emblazoned with their logo. At Green Papaya, they wear starched white shirts with black bow ties. It's not that they're unfriendly. Just kinda stiff, y'know. But they have spiffed the place up a bit since it was the fairly dreadful Asia Chinese Food. I've had their $12 bowl of Beef Pho - which for whatever reason, you have to order off the menu (see my photo). Nothing special unfortunately but certainly enough protein swimming in the broth. On my last visit, I went for the $13 Lemongrass Barbecue Sparerib Pork - which is oddly named since it was really two thin pork chops, nicely tender if a bit fatty - that came with a scoop of rice, some shredded carrots and a sauce that tasted somewhat like mirin (see my photo). It does provide an alternative to the overpriced food court across the street at the Westfield, but I have to admit that the pedestrian traffic can get a bit chancy on a Friday evening with battalions of teens pounding the pavement with no volume control on either their music or their foul mouths. At least it ain't Sixth Street. Miss SaiGon...Green Papaya...they're just two of a kind. FOOD - 3 stars...middling Vietnamese on a middling block AMBIANCE - 3 stars...nothing that memorable but it's clean SERVICE - 3.5 stars...officious TOTAL - 3 stars...there are other fish in the sea, pho sho -
Ed’s 2-star review: Gee, I liked Ha Nam Ninh when it was a much quieter place for a simple bowl of pho on Jones, so I was happy to see they relocated to bigger digs in the former Sao Bien space on the corner of Larkin and Ellis. At least it's a little less scary stretch in the Tenderloin with all the other places to eat in Little Saigon. However, it didn't take too long for my elation to turn into disappointment when I entered the chaos. It was bustling with business for sure, but it was none too inviting with tables piled with dirty dishes and the volume control stuck on high. This was not an ideal place for a solitary diner in search of some pho. I sat myself down at the only empty table which was right next to the front door. It obviously had not been wiped down as the grease stains and water rings made the surface a hazard zone for wandering elbows. One swift wipe by a passing waitress was all I got along with the long-winded menu. I decided to try the $6.75 Shredded Pork Roll (Bi Cuon) as a starter (photo: http://bit.ly/1yEOXfJ). A mistake. A big sooey mistake. First of all, it didn't come until the end of my meal when it was clear they had forgotten to serve it. When I put it in my mouth, I didn't know what that filling was, but assuming it was based in something porcine in the past year, it was awfully mealy and frankly downright inedible. I took two bites and realized this dish could cause havoc with my ample tummy if I'm not careful. I didn't bother returning it since I really couldn't tell if that was the intentional flavor of those rolls. Luckily there was some redemption with the $10.50 Extra Large Special Combo Beef Pho (Dac Biet Xe Lua) which combined rare steak, well down brisket, flank, tendon and tripe into a hearty bowl (photo: http://bit.ly/ZSUpQb). It was at least something that made an attempt to match my expectations even though it was hardly outstanding compared to the bowls to be found at Pagolac or even Turtle Tower (which has been faltering of late). Meanwhile, as the portly woman behind me kept banging her chair against mine, I was constantly ignored by the waitstaff, so I went up to the counter to pay, presumably the only chance of leaving the place before sunrise. FOOD - 2.5 stars...pho was OK but the pork roll was not fit to be served if you ask me AMBIANCE - 2 stars...like Grand Central Station at rush hour SERVICE - 1.5 stars...did I even exist? TOTAL - 2 stars...the move from Jones must have been a rough one as I continue my hunt for good pho elsewhere -
Ed’s 3-star review: I'm not sure I understand the elevated levels of love being expressed for this corner noodle house right next to my favorite Vietnamese place, Pagolac. It's a bustling place on a Saturday morning with people waiting out the door to snag one of the formica tables. I guess I got lucky because there was a table for two against the wall where somebody was cleaning bean sprouts. They cleared it just for me and handed me one of their tattered menus. I knew right away what to order from the previous Yelp reviews - the $7.15 Hoanh Thanh Mi Vit Tim (Braised Duck Leg with Won Ton Egg Noodle Soup). When it arrived, it was indeed what it was billed - a duck leg plopped in a bowl of broth filled with won tons with a bed of egg noodles submerged underneath (see photo). Normally I have no trouble gnawing on a duck leg, but this one was overcooked and hard to chew as I was maneuvering my way toward the noodles. It was quite a balancing act just to avoid the excessive splatter form the broth. I was not altogether successful since I was in a wrestling match with an inanimate appendage of poultry to get the meat off with just a pair of chopsticks and some stamina. I think the duck won...or should I say that the duck won ton? Hehe, that was a regular knee-slapper. Anyway, I finally got to the noodles once the duck leg was devoured, and they were good and toothsome. I just have to say that the broth was the most disappointing part of the bowl because it tasted a bit like salt water. Flavorful salt water but salt water nonetheless. A small side of pickled cucumbers and shredded carrots came with it but to no avail. Meanwhile, the other diners were slurping away with nary a care in the world, so I finished my bowl without incident ready to give up my table for another round of bean sprout cleaning. It did make me wonder if I should have tried one of the more straightforward bowls like the shredded chicken egg noodle soup or the fish ball ho fun soup. But I fully admit I'm a leg man. FOOD - 3 stars...passable egg noodle soup with a duck leg that spent too much time in a tanning booth AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...a bit greasy and a tad chaotic, but I got a table just for me SERVICE - 3 stars...sped by quickly TOTAL - 3 stars....not quite up to the hype from my fellow Yelpers -
Ed’s 2-star review: If you wonder what it would be like to eat lunch shoulder-to-shoulder in a major metropolitan area in Southeast Asia in the middle of the rush hour as you dodge motor scooters - well, this may be the closest you get to that particular cultural experience in the Bay Area. We're not talking about neighborhoods as densely populated and urbanized as Hanoi, Bangkok, or even Hong Kong. No, we're talking about a Vietnamese-dominated strip mall in the Marina Faire neighborhood of San Leandro, and it was crazy-nuts crowded on a Sunday afternoon. The parking lot was completely packed and a complete jam to navigate, so I had to park way down on an industrial road behind the mall. It was quite a hike to the restaurant as I kept dodging people with their shopping carts at the neighboring supermarket, and of course, the restaurant had a line, but I couldn't tell where the sign-up sheet was, so I went inside to find the restaurant bustling with hungry families downing big bowls of pho. I asked the young woman at the counter where I sign up at which point she looked puzzled. I said there was a line in front which puzzled her even more. She said I could have a seat at the big round table in front where a senior was in mid-slurp with his two grandsons and a middle-aged couple were bickering between bites of their rice plates. I squeezed right between them with my number stick waiting for my order. And what did I order? The $11.99 Hainanese Chicken Rice, of course. As I waited for my order, the table turned over completely, and an extended family with young parents, children, babies and aunties were surrounding me wondering how long they have to put up with me. My order finally came, and the scoop of rice bathed in chicken broth was huge. However, the poultry was cold (no choice given on the temperature) and skimpy and the skin was on the rubbery side (photo: http://bit.ly/2umsEUG). The ginger garlic and soy sauce had arrived five minutes earlier in an aluminum server (photo: http://bit.ly/2uin7ym). No reason why as it sat there. When I finished and paid my check, the aunties couldn't wait to converge onto my now vacated space. Now the long walk back to the car. FOOD - 2 stars...Hainan chicken gone wrong AMBIANCE - 2 stars...crowded with no let up and solitary diners need to just deal with it SERVICE - 3 stars...hey, she sat me down quick...give her credit for that TOTAL - 2 stars...not a dining experience I am willing to repeat unless that Hainan chicken was a whole lot better -
Ed’s 3-star review: There was a time when happiness was a warm puppy. At least that's what Charlie Brown thought of Snoopy. Then Bobby McFerrin told me don't worry, be happy, and then Pharrell Williams in his oversized park ranger hat told us he was and that I should be, too... Because I'm happy... Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof Because I'm happy... Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth Because I'm happy... Clap along if you know what happiness is to you Because I'm happy... Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do But I'm not sure anybody told the guy at Happy Donut to be happy. He always looks like he's going to snap at me or maybe recreate the interrogation scene in "The Manchurian Candidate". I've never had a donut here much less a happy one though they appear to have a typical array. Why they feel a need to charge a nickel on top of a dollar for each is beyond me since fiddling with change in my front pocket is never a desirable activity for me at least in public. Anyway, I came for the rice plate. It's probably more accurate to call it a rice tray since you really order it to go. You can hang out among the chipped formica but I'm not sure why you would want to. What's really surprising here is how robust the handwritten menu of pan-Asian dishes is (photo: http://bit.ly/1qq7Ktl). There's ten different noodle soups and eleven hot plates with either noodles or rice. There's tomyum, teriyaki, pad thai, Korean, fried rice...you name the Far Eastern diner grub and it looks like they spoon it out of their warming trays. I decided to have the $5.99 Curry Chicken over Rice and have to admit it wasn't all that bad (photo: http://bit.ly/1prs5sV). Sure, it was kinda soupy-greasy, but the chicken chunks were generous and the sauce, while a bit paltry, had enough heat. You know what would have gone great with it? A smile. Yeah, you can do it. C'mon. Koochy-koo. Hmmm, not gonna happen. FOOD - 3 stars...decent Asian grub on the go if you want grub AMBIANCE - 2 stars...say what? SERVICE - 2.5 stars...don't worry, be happy TOTAL - 3 stars...but the price is right in a pinch and when you're time-challenged -
Ed’s 4-star review: How can you not like a place that serves their spring rolls in a miniature version of the shoulder baskets you would see Vietnamese locals carry using a pole balanced on their shoulders? I knew this place existed but never gave it much thought since I already have my favorite Vietnamese restaurants that are closer to my home. But I decided to give it a try when I had a free evening. Conveniently located adjacent to the Church Street MUNI station and inexplicably decorated with strings of blue Christmas lights (...or maybe they were Hanukkah), it looks to be quite a popular spot since a lot of the tables were filled by 6PM. They also seem to do quite a takeout business since there were several people on chairs staring at their iPhones as they were waiting for their food. I was seated at the table nearest to the front door where I could see the comings and goings of the staff and the customers. I was starving, so I started with the aforementioned Spring Rolls, a tad pricey at $6.50 but quite gargantuan and tasty to boot with poached shrimps, lettuce, bean sprouts, mint, sweet basil and rice noodles wrapped in translucent rice paper and served with peanut sauce (see photo). They were deliciously crunchy, and those baskets were empty in a near-flash. I was in the mood for pho, which they don't have on their dinner menu - but the waiter didn't even pause or try to talk me out of it. He simply rushed to the back to give me a lunch menu to decide on which one. I went with the $7.50 bowl of Bun Rieu, which they dub the Sea Noodle Soup because of the shrimp, I guess. There was egg drop (instead of the usual omelette), fried tofu, and vermicelli noodles in a tomato-based chicken broth (see photo). It was a bit greasy on top, but I enjoyed slurping it. You'd think that would be enough, but I also ordered a $3.50 side of the Sauteed Green Beans topped with ground peanuts (see photo). It turned out to be a great additional ingredient in the soup . So was the hefty basket of steamed rice as I scooped it into the broth as well (see photo). I was getting full, but I still powered my way through the food which overall, was pretty darn satisfying considering I didn't know what to expect from a Vietnamese place in this part of the Castro. With the quick service by the staff there, I think this one will need to move up my list. FOOD - 4 stars...hefty portions and quite fresh and satisfying AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...reasonably spacious and with those festive blue lights SERVICE - 4 stars...pretty darn quick if you ask me TOTAL - 4 stars...another non-Tenderloin place to get pho and spring rolls without having to risk your life -
Ed’s 3-star review: Strolling into Chinatown after work and looking for dinner can be a hit-or-miss proposition if you don't have a game plan beforehand. Hunan Homes is usually my go-to for steamed chicken since they are not stingy with the poultry or the ginger-garlic sauce. Bring it on. But I decided to break from my habit and give Joy a try. Her place is opposite Portsmouth Square on Kearny, so you'd expect it to be bustling at dinner. Nope, it was empty, so clearly they thrive on the lunch crowd since it looked like Joy and her husband were sitting at a booth shooting the breeze when I entered the premises. They got up for action when I sat myself down at one of their formica tables, and I perused their comprehensive menu. Sure enough they have steamed chicken. There it was on the cover for $8.50, the Steamed Chicken Over Rice, a good price I must say, but was that enough for me? I noticed they make some Vietnamese dishes like a $7.95 small bowl of Pho Ga Long, which they dubbed abruptly as Chicken & Organs Noodle Soup. Did I have it in me to have a two-cluck dinner? Why yes, yes, I did. The Steamed Chicken came out first, a good quarter-chicken cut up into six large pieces which were hard to handle without a knife. I suppose I could have asked for one, but I was going to show off my chopstick dexterity and prove unequivocally my Asian roots. There was a lot of rice, not chicken rice, just white, and it all rested on some steamed greens (photo: http://bit.ly/1ea5VgF). It was decent enough but on the lukewarm side. The sight of the ginger-garlic sauce was pleasing though (photo: http://bit.ly/1CQMvt6). The pho was similarly adequate with the cilantro and green onion already in the broth (photo: http://bit.ly/1HDzB0r). There was plenty of shards of breast chicken but a paucity of organs with hearts, liver and gizzards in short supply unfortunately. The noodles were the cellophane kind I don't favor in my pho since they usually aren't substantive enough to hold up to the ingredients, and they're slippery suckers, too. I have to say for a two-cluck dinner, it was a middling find, and it made me long for real Hainan chicken which doesn't really exist up here like it does in LA. I hope somebody someday hears my pleas. FOOD - 3 stars...plenty of chicken but execution was middling in both my dishes AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...typical Chinatown eatery, maybe a bit more space than most SERVICE - 2.5 stars...ok, not much for chit-chat TOTAL - 3 stars...Chinese-Vietnamese cross-breed that doesn't quite stand out enough for an anxious return visit -
Ed’s 3-star review: I wish I had a fascinating story to tell you about Kim Thanh like I lost the Miss Chinatown Crabs contest there because Steve Harvey misread the cue cards, but nope, I don't have one. I only know I've walked by Kim Thanh a number of times over the years and never thought about partaking the live crabs in the tank (photo: http://bit.ly/1SZuAqN). The water always looked cloudy, though it was probably the tank itself. But one night, I decided to get off the 38 and give this place a try. It looks like a pretty standard Chinese restaurant on the inside, but the comprehensive menu is abundant with seafood dishes, more than any you'd find in Chinatown. There was one young guy seated at the next table who was digging into a whole crab with abandon. Then I noticed there were two equally young girls at another table doing the same thing. I couldn't bring myself to order one even though there were at least four variations of crab to choose from. I decided to order the $7.95 bowl of Seafood Noodle Soup (Mì Hi Sn), which had about three pieces of decorative squid that looked like leftovers from another dish plus deep-fried cod which they simply immersed into the light broth (photo: http://bit.ly/1UnLYoP). It was adequate, nothing that particularly impressive. For my main dish, I tried the $10.95 Fish Fillet with Ginger and Green Onion (Ca Bong Mu Mien Xao Gung Hanh), and it was a pretty hefty plate of cod fillets that ended up being pretty satisfying as it sat in soy sauce on the plate (photo: http://bit.ly/1R6b0TW). Not bad overall and maybe I will come back for the crab since the kids were so into it. FOOD - 3 stars...lots of seafood but what I had was not that exceptional AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...pretty conventional as conventions go SERVICE - 3 stars...neither mean nor attentive TOTAL - 3 stars....you should go by the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea... -
Ed’s 3-star review: When is a Perilla not quite a Perilla? I guess when it's a Laksa. This is a modern Vietnamese spot in the Mission on Guerrero right off 22nd, and if you didn't look at the sign, you'd swear you were at another Perilla, the city's more established Vietnamese mini-chain of currently three locations, all of which serve my favorite rendition of Five-Spice Chicken with Garlic Noodles. The secret to their allure is that they infuse their noodles with butter like Paula Deen on a racist-rant shoot-up, and for some reason, the poultry is plump and juicy while the skin is just slightly crisped. It's quite a feat they manage at all their locations. Sure enough, Laksa offers Five-Spice Chicken and Garlic Noodles for $9, a full $2 cheaper than Perilla, so I decided to go for it. Even though the execution looked quite similar with the chicken thigh meat pounded to an inch of its former life with the skin intact and crisped. The buttery garlic noodles were there though in a bit more paltry serving, and even the broccoli florets made a cameo appearance (photo: http://bit.ly/2cMtKLV). However, it wasn't the same. The flavor wasn't quite at the same level and the edge of decadence didn't feel as evident for better or worse. OK, worse. It was decent enough though and hardly the cause for complaint. Before I ate the chicken though, I ordered the $6.75 Fresh Spring Rolls, which I thought were a bit middling as well. I chose the grilled pork and I liked how you could see the grill marks through the translucent rice paper, but the rest of it was a bit by-the-numbers with the vermicelli noodles a bit limp and the lettuce a tad wilted (photo: http://bit.ly/2cS4aaj). The portion was certainly enough for two people, but Jamie W. wasn't with me so devoured it I did. There are a lot more garlic noodle and rice plates as well as pho of which I saw hefty bowls pass by me. I may have to come back and try their $9.25 Pho Ga sometime and see if it compares to Turtle Tower. FOOD - 3 stars...solid executions of tried-and-true Vietnamese dishes but still middling in satisfaction AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...nice open space in the Mission SERVICE - 3.5 stars...certainly friendly and accommodating enough TOTAL - 3 stars...still prefer Perilla but I'm not dismissing it either -
Ed’s 3-star review: Vietnamese sammies in a donut shop? A name like Latte Express doesn't scream "Vietnamese sandwiches served here" to me, which is why I never bothered to go in until I read the Yelp reviews. But I ventured in there today and to my surprise, there is a full menu of sandwiches to be ordered. They say the sandwiches are French...but who cares? The only thing I got confused about is the "8 Flavor Coffee" on the sign...does that mean they have eight flavors of coffee, or do they have coffee with eight flavors in it? My mind just reels... Anyhow, I tried the roast pork sandwich for $3.50, a great deal, and it was really good. They put it on a long, toasted baguette with cucumber slices, julienned carrots and long sprigs of cilantro (which I promptly took out). In fact, it was so tasty I ordered another (slap my wrist)...the $4.25 pate sandwich (you read that right) with chicken slices. Also quite delicious though I saved half of it for a snack later. I haven't tried the coffee or the doughnuts (not my thing). Lots of hard hats come in here, a virtual Village People reunion, so it gets crowded quickly. It's across the street from the San Francisco Center, but it is amazing how the neighborhood turns quickly on this block. I'd order to go if you live or work nearby. FOOD - 3.5 stars...good sandwiches, can't say much else AMBIANCE - 2 stars...manages to look just like an All-Star Cafe SERVICE - 4 stars...quick, quick TOTAL - 3.5 stars...sammies to go
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