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There’s never a bad time to eat Vietnamese food. There’s pho when it’s cold, spring rolls when it’s hot, banh mi when you’re starving, and crab when you’re feeling fancy and also starving. Longtime readers know that I’m no stranger to the Vietnamese food scene in SF, so lets take a moment to recognize the stars.
With roots stretching back to the arrival of refugees and immigrants following the end of the Vietnam War, the best Vietnamese restauranteurs excel at merging tradition and innovation, creating deliciously memorable experiences that speak to the past, present, and future of their culture. Dig in:
🦀 Thanh Long / thanhlongsf.com
Roasted crab and garlic noodles // image credit: me
San Francisco is a good place to start over and try something new, which is exactly what Helene An set out to do when she immigrated and created one of the most recognizable dishes in the city’s history: crab and garlic noodles.
The Vietnamese-American fusion masterpiece is one of the best reasons to send it all the way to Outer Sunset, and when you’re basking in that post-crab glow it doesn’t seem too crazy to double down on the garlic noodles.
Order This ⬇️
Mango salad
Roasted crab
Garlic noodles
Eat Here 🔗 Reservations | Takeout & Delivery | Map
NOTE: you can find other An family restaurants across LA
🍥 Bodega / bodegarestaurants.com
Bun cha // image credit: Evan
Having helped his family run Bodega Bistro for 14 years, Matt Ho isn’t the new kid on the block. The new Bodega is vaguely tropical and refined while not taking themselves too seriously, an attitude that extends to the food.
That versatility (and the insanely delicious bun cha pork belly meatballs) lends itself well to a hot date, power lunch, or a chow down with friends. While you’re there you may as well check out their downstairs speakeasy, The Felix
Order This ⬇️
Bun cha
Banh cuon
Nom
Pho
Pandan mochi cake
Eat Here 🔗 Reservations | Takeout & Delivery | Map
FUN FACT: The word ‘bodega’ is a bilingual portmanteau for the Vietnamese words for cow, goat and chicken
🥢 The Slanted Door
Goi cuon // image credit: Broke Ass Stuart
Charles Phan is a highly decorated icon in the San Francisco food community and The Slanted Door is what started it all. Whether you’re looking for a ritzy night out or a quick drink and goi cuon spring rolls while visiting the Embarcadero, many repeat visits have solidified it as one of the best restaurants in the city.
Although they’ve has been closed since the pandemic began, a 10-year lease reportedly signed in 2021 is a hopeful sign for an eventual reopening. In the meantime, you can check out Phan’s latest concept in the Mission, Chuck’s Takeaway.
Order This ⬇️
We’ll see what’s good when they reopen 🤞
Eat Here 🔗 Reservations: N/A | Delivery & Takeout: N/A | Map
ps: if you’re looking for great Vietnamese that doesn’t break the bank, look no further