1. Happy Donuts

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San Francisco, CA

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Happy Donuts

3.6 (226 reviews)
InexpensiveDonuts, Vietnamese, Thai

Happy Donuts Photos

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HAPPY DONUTS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Happy Donuts

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chicken curry yum!!
Sam M.

Today I got my chicken curry plate! Food is great and excellent service. My go to place for lunch, coffee and donuts.

Beef pho
Keizzel C.

With a place like Happy Donuts you can say that I was shocked to find this restaurant sold pho and other Vietnamese food items like rice plates! By the time we came for lunch there were no more donuts in the case so take it as a good sign that they probably sold out - definitely need to come in the mornings one day to grab a couple. As for lunch, we luckily didn't catch too much of the lunch rush and were able to nab a table. Surprisingly for being located in downtown they have a decent amount of tables for you to sit down and enjoy your pho. I ended up getting the beef pho for ~$9 and the bowl was huge! Within 5 minutes of ordering the staff brought a large bowl of the beef pho with a side of lemon & the basil/onions already soaking in the tasty broth. They also have legit spoons for your pho. The bowl is filled with TONS of noodles which I was happy about since I'm a noodle fan, a layer of beef to cook in the broth on top, and some thinly cut onions. The broth here is flavorful and when you add some hoisin makes it even better. The bowl comes out pretty hot, but since I loooove my food on the extremely hot side of the scale I thought it could have been hotter, but there weren't any issues of the meat not cooking in the broth. Staff here is super friendly and quick to take your orders & bring you your food. I will be coming back to try their other dishes during a different lunch!

Korean noodle soup.
Kev H.

Don't get fooled by the name of this place because it doesn't serve only donuts, but also a good variety of lunch items including noodle soups, rice plates, and sandwiches. And they're pretty tasty too. The place is pretty small but provides a decent amount of tables and chairs for customers to dine in. The price is less than 10 bucks per plate or bowl. My fave is their Korean noodle soup. It comes with Korean glass noodles in a clear but very flavorful chicken broth, with Vietnamese pork slices and ground pork as toppings. It's refreshing and tasty at the same time.

So many donuts!
Katie T.

Really delicious donuts & A+ customer service - will absolutely be going there again!! I had to cater a last minute work event for 70+ people and decided to cater donuts. John (the owner I think) answered the phone as they were closing and was beyond accommodating for our order of 7 dozen donuts + 4 dozen donut holes for the NEXT morning. They already had multiple large orders the next morning so he was worried they wouldn't be able to make it happen - he took my cell# to check with the bakers and called back promptly to confirm! They were gone before we knew it and multiple people asked where we got them. 10/10 recommend if you're catering an event or even just waking by and want a treat. THANK YOU JOHN and team!

Dozen donuts
I-Lin L.

Got a dozen donuts here to bring to the office. Service was fast and efficient. They take American Express, yay! Donuts were fine, nothing spectacular, but your standard variety.

Donut holes
Elena N.

To my surprise, one of my coworkers decided to bring donuts into work on Tuesday, October 24th. Apparently she got off the bus and Happy Donut was just there, calling her name. She arrived at the office with the treats around 9am. Doughnut holes for breakfast?! Yes please! I am known to have dinner items for brunch, so these were the perfect dessert. Soft and sweet. Sometimes a whole donut can be a little too much in the morning, so these were a good size. I kinda wished we were able to try other varieties, but I'm just being greedy by saying that. I do love my custard filled donuts. I always have issues finding a donut shop close to work. Glad my coworker put Happy Donut on my radar.

Beef Pho
Vanessa S.

I am so amused by the people upset about the donuts. GUYS this is actually a legit Asian restaurant that just sells donuts on the side. So that being said... If you come around breakfast time and want a little pick me up definitely try their Vietnamese Iced Coffee or their Thai Tea. And really, only try the iced coffee if you're looking to get a real BUZZ. Plus side is there isn't usually a long line. If you come for lunch, definitely try one of their soups or rice plates. There's usually seating too, so take it as an excuse to eat there, reduce your use of disposables and take a BREAK. I was so pleasantly surprised when I first tried their beef pho! Huge portions, flavorful broth & meat. Would definitely try again. That was actually my plan when I headed over today, but then I saw someone else get the delicious chicken curry rice plate. I had to try it, and I'm so glad I did. Delicious and hit the spot while making me a lil nostalgic as well. Food is amazing, the way it can do that to you. Anyways, give this spot a shot! Local, family owned and all that good stuff. Plus they accept credit cards. No excuse not to!

Look at that tasty pad Thai
Chris S.

I stopped by here mid-afternoon and got a chicken pad thai. Yes, I know that's kind of funny for a place that's called Happy Donuts...and they were actually completely out of donuts when I went by! That said, at $10, their pad thai is pretty cheap for the neighborhood. I don't think it's going to win any awards (the flavors involved weren't super complex), but it was still quite tasty. The serving size is very generous, and I ended up taking it home and having it be lunch the next day. The guy who runs the store is super nice, which definitely made me like it more. They also were very quick at preparing it. It's kind of funny to me that they have Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai all in a doughnut shop, but hey! Good prices, tasty food, and a killer location - a great little neighborhood spot for a quick lunch.

Thomas D.

I'm bummed that I didn't do my homework! I did not know that they have a lunch menu with Vietnamese and Korean dishes. Sandwiches too! I stopped in to grab a maple iced donut and a cup of their hazelnut Peerless Coffee. Both were delicious. I love Peerless Coffee-almost as much as Peet's! Nice people here. Next time I'm getting lunch.

Vietnamese Pork Sammitch
Rebekah T.

I'm trying to be budget conscious, so when I consulted yelp for lunch the other day, I went for something new and inexpensive. I ordered a BBQ pork Vietnamese sandwich. It was pretty big, toasty, fresh and tasty for $4.50. I enjoyed it very much and so did my wallet.

Montage of images from Happy Donut
Ed U.

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

Ritz B.

I usually go to Lee's for soup because it's just around the corner from where I work. One time, a guy stopped me after I got out of Lee's to tell me that there is an amazing pho place called Happy Donuts. I was like, wait, what - but it's a donut shop! I thanked him and said I'll give it a try next time round. Well today, I'm feeling under the weather so naturally I want some soup to make me feel better so I remembered to try Happy Donuts. Walked it at around 12:45 and no line...that's a plus already! Got to the counter and ordered the Korean Noodle Soup. I didn't bother to ask what's in it, I just want to try it. Went back to work and opened the container - it was packed with potato noodles, fishcakes and ground meat. But the champion was the broth. I took one sip and I immediately felt better. It was soooooo good! Definitely coming back to try the rest of their menu! Bonus: the staff are very friendly and got a sense of humor. That counts for something

a sandwich and a drink on a table

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5 years ago

Excellent reasonably priced Vietnamese soups and rice dishes. Don't be fooled by the name.

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4.2(977 reviews)
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Based on the meal I had at the one in San Mateo, I can't say I would've predicted I'd be writing…read moreabout this Gao for my 1,900th review nor that I'd be giving it five stars. Not that my experience was bad or anything; I just didn't think the food was as impressive as others made it out to be. That being said, part of me always wondered if we just didn't try the best of what they have to offer. Now that I've enjoyed multiple meals here, I KNOW that was very much the case! If you didn't know beforehand, you'd never guess that this place used to be a KFC/Taco Bell. However, as awesome of a job as they did to completely change the look of the space, the menu is even more impressive. Not only was it easier to read than the one in San Mateo (I remember it felt cluttered), but everything just sounded more appealing. From their Vietnamese street eats, starters, and cocktails to their seafood entrees, specialties, and noodle soups, nearly every dish sounded too good not to try! -- BIG GAO PHO - Beef Rib, Filet Mignon, Bone Marrow, Onion, Green Onion, Cilantro, and Rice Noodles...$41 Honestly, I get why everyone says good things about Gao's pho. More than how obviously loaded the bowl was, the rib and filet mignon were terrific and the broth was rich and flavorful yet not heavy/greasy. -- BO NE - Filet Mignon, Sweet Sausage, Pate, Fried Egg, Ham, Tomato, Onion, Green Onion, BBQ Sauce, and Bread (or Rice)...$45 Not only was the portion huge, but it tasted great! The beef was super tender, the eggs were cooked perfectly, the bread was soft yet crusty, and I really liked the sauce that everything sat in. -- SAUSAGE SPRING ROLL (Nem Nuon Cuon) - Pork Sausage, Rice Paper, Vermicelli, Lettuce, Cucumber, Mint, Beansprout, Fried Egg Roll Wrapper, and Pickled Carrots and Daikon with Peanut Sauce...$15 While this wasn't the best I've had, it's not far behind. Along with how plump the rolls were, the pork was really juicy and the veggies were super fresh. Too bad they don't have a dipping sauce like Brodard's! -- IMPERIAL ROLLS (Cha Gio) - Ground Pork, Wood Ear Mushroom, Vermicelli, Carrot, Taro, Onion, Rice Paper, Lettuce, Mint, Pickled Carrot, and Daikon...$16 Nothing amazing, but no less delicious. Each time we've had this, the rolls have been crispy and fairly sizable. Plus, I love how the egg rolls have never been all that oily either! -- BEEF BOY PHO with Beef Rib Cubes, Filet Mignon, Bone Marrow, and a 24-hour Beef Broth...$36 As intrigued as I was by their other varieties, I couldn't resist trying the smaller version of the Big Gao Pho. Surprisingly, I actually thought this was better - no bones to deal with and still just as delicious and meaty. -- BUN CHA - Fatty Pork Meatball, Pork Belly, Chili, Fish Sauce, Lettuce, Vermicelli, Cucumber, Mint, Green Onion, Pickled Carrot, and Daikon...$30 I was pretty excited to try this and, thankfully, it turned out great! The pork meatballs were juicy and the pork belly was so luscious. I also liked how they didn't skimp on the vegetables either! So good. -- WHAT DA DUCK PHO (Pho Vit) - Duck Breast Marinated in a House Sauce, Roasted and Pan Seared, in a Pork & Beef Broth...$36 This didn't amaze like some of the other dishes here, but it was more than solid. The noodles had a nice bite to them and it came with a fair amount of duck, which was tender and quite flavorful. -- FISH SAUCE CHICKEN WINGS with Vietnamese Coriander, Garlic, Chili, Jalapeno, Bell Pepper, Lettuce, and Onions...$17 So, so good! The wings were really crispy and moist, but the fish sauce glaze/sauce on this was what made this stand out - a bit salty, a bit spicy, and lets of umami. -- TURMERIC FISH & DILL - Tumeric-Marinated Fish Pan-Seared with Dill and Onion, Served Sizzling with Vermicelli, Herbs, and Dipping Sauce...$37 Not as good as my favorite in San Jose, but still so tasty. The fish was crispy and flaky with the right mix of dill and turmeric to it. Plus, the portion was so big, I easily got two meals out of this. -- UBE COFFEE - Vietnamese Iced Coffee Topped with Ube Sweet Cream...$8.50 This was a little sweeter than I prefer, but it was delicious! The coffee tastes so good and is well complemented by the ube. Yum! Beyond how good the food is, the other thing that has stood out about Gao has been the service. In addition to just being able to take large party reservations (we've been here twice with 14+ people), the servers have always been so patient and friendly. Plus, one time, when our server realized that she gave us the wrong beers, she ended up taking them off our bill even though we told her we didn't mind - so nice! Despite how it's pricier than your average Vietnamese restaurant (it's also a lot nicer), it's safe to say I'm now a big fan of Gao. So much so that I feel like I need to go back to their San Mateo spot just to update my review...and to have another excuse to try even more of the food. FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded up.

It's always amazing to be here. Amazing food and vibe here all the time…read more Service is always on point. I haven't had anything bad here NGL and that my experience. My most recent order is their five spiced chicken with garlic noodles. Juicy chicken steak, flavorful, and perfectly cooked noodles. Just so good! Bartender is friendly!! I highly recommend this place!!

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4.1(3.6k reviews)
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Thanh Long is a San Francisco legend for a reason! Ever since opening its doors back in the 1970s,…read morethis Sunset District institution has remained as reliable, comforting, and delicious as ever. The cozy, warm interior dining room sets a great mood, but it's the food--and the iconic plastic bibs--that make it an unforgettable experience. Breakdown of our order off the menu: STARTERS * Dungeness Crab Puffs: Flaky, light wonton shells packed with minced crab, pine nuts, and herb cheese, served alongside a delicious peanut-mustard dipping sauce. * Lemongrass Chicken Satay: Charbroiled, beautifully seasoned skewer chicken garnished with fresh mixed greens--a great bite to start the meal. LARGE PLATES * Shaken Beef: Tender, juicy cubes of marinated Filet Mignon wok-tossed with red wine and served alongside potatoes over greens. THE MAIN ATTRACTION * Roast Crab: Simply legendary. A whole, sweet Dungeness crab roasted in An's famous secret garlic sauce and spices. It's savory, rich, incredibly flavorful, and worth every messy bite! * Garlic Noodles: Absolutely essential. Rich, perfectly cooked noodles tossed in their iconic garlic sauce and secret spices. Pro tip: soak up every bit of the leftover roasted crab garlic juice with these noodles. If you are in SF and love seafood, Thanh Long is an absolute non-negotiable. Fantastic food, welcoming atmosphere, and a true local classic that never disappoints! How lucky am I to live so close to this place! Solid 5 stars!

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