Mong Thu Cafe
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The best beef stew egg noodles I've ever eaten! I missed Little Paris Cafe's beef stew noodles so much, which my family bought a lot from in Chinatown when I was a kid but it closed. This one is yummier because the beef was so tender. They didn't give much fatty pieces only 1-2 pieces but I like fatty pieces cause it's even softer. A reasonable price for $17 and free hot tea. I also bought dessert to go for $3. The dessert is good and has sweet bananas and sago. My dad didn't like his shrimp and pork clear noodles that much, because it had too many char siu which wasn't flavorful after soaking in the soup. The fried shrimp patty was so crunchy and yummy though! He said he would order the beef stew next time instead. They also have free Vietnamese candy on the counter. I'll definitely come again for the beef stew and really want to try their bun rieu too which I don't see at a lot of Vietnamese restaurants. It's only 5-6 tables though so come early or would need to wait for a table. They're only opened from 7-4 Tuesday-Saturday.
Dropped off my car for service and went in the Yelp app to see what Vietnamese restaurants nearby. This one popped up so I started walking there. I ordered a Bun ho hue and the menu stated it's from Central Vietnam. It came with braised beef and pork ham and thin noodles. They also served with jalapeños, Vietnamese basil, bean sprouts, slice of lemon. It's a cash only place and most of the ladies speak only Vietnamese. Fortunately, someone understood me :) It's a small and quaint place and they probably also do a lot of take out. The menu offers dry and soup noodles and sell as Vietnamese sandwiches.
Mong Thu Cafe is a small mom and pop shop that is a TL staple. It is a tiny space that only seats about 12 to 15 people. Sometimes they'll ask if you could share your table with other people if there's room. Just a heads up that they get very busy during lunch time. Since there is no space to wait inside, you will have to wait outside on the sidewalk if they are full. I highly recommend taking public transportation or a ride share because finding street parking in this area isn't the greatest. This is a great little spot to grab high quality Vietnamese food. I always come here for the Banh Uot Cha Lua. Note that they are cash only. While the area is not the best, the food is absolutely worth the trip.
Came here for lunch with some friends and got a chicken banh mi. I do appreciate that this restaurant has seating, but unfortunately the food was not as good as some nearby banh mi spots (Saigon Sandwich). I found the banh mi to be a bit dry and lacking in flavor, and definitely on the smaller side. The restaurant itself is a bit run down, but has great natural light. The service was good overall. Really annoying they don't accept credit card, fortunately I had cash on me.
I have been coming here for a while now and it is one of those spots I keep going back to. It is small, locally owned, super clean, and they do Vietnamese comfort food really well. I usually get the Pho Ga (Chicken) and it is always consistently great! The soup comes out boiling hot every time, which is exactly how pho should be and something I expect with all the herbs and bean sprouts on the side. Their sandwiches are also very very good, especially the meatball banh mi. The coffee is strong too and it will wake you up! :) There are only four tables that seat 4 people each inside, though some can split into two so it still works for solo eaters and pairs. The staff is super friendly and quick, and the food comes out fast. This is a CASH only spot, but the prices are very affordable and some of the best in the bay area. Street parking can be rough right nearby, so if you were to come here by car, I would recommend parking a bit farther out closer to Van Ness and walk over. Luckily I just live a couple blocks away. This place is a solid neighborhood spot with good food and good value. Opens early at 7am but closes at 4pm everyday and closes on Tuesday.
I've been on the hunt in finding more hidden gems and my palate is yearning for more soup spots. I read a few reviews for this place and since I was in the area, I stopped by to see if this bowl they call Bun Mum met my palates expectations. First slurp of the soup, WOW! It had so much flavor and depth, everything that I look for in a bowl of happiness!! Nice little hole in the wall in the TL. The ladies were very sweet and welcoming making me feel like family that was just getting up from a long night out in the city!!! *Extra kuddos for the ladies calmness even while there was a person just outside in need of mental assistance which is a sign they have compassion for the people in the area they serve
Authentic and great Vietnamese food. Try any of the soups. The #1 has pork spam and shrimp pancake. Delicious. Baum Uot chao lua The soup # was shrimp and pork was also delicious Hu Tieu Mi Love the shrimp pancakes. The Vietnamese coffee is good but very strong Family restaurant and very good service. Only has four tables. So call for take out. Cash only so bring money
Cash only! Walked in on a Saturday around 1:30 PM and it was completely full. Fortunately, a table of two was leaving and we only had to wait about five minutes. The restaurant itself is pretty small. There's only about six tables and most of them are for either four people or two so if you're thinking of going in a big group, maybe try to go when it's not rush-hour. Re-ordered a #7 Hu Tiem Nam Vang and 6C Hu Tiem Bo Kha. #7 was my favorite as it came with minced pork, a cha siu like pork and shrimp, super clean broth with glass noodles and side of shrimp pancake... would definitely get that again. The slow braised beef in the Bo Kha was super tender, just had lots of noodles that soaked up the delicious broth. I wanna go back for some of their plated dishes and try their corn dessert.
Nice cute tiny shop run by Vietnamese ladies. Great authentic food being served here. I tried the Bun Mam, fermented fish soup. It was amazing omg. Some pork belly, shrimp, and fish in a funky, pungeant broth. Comes with lots of fresh veggies like mint, rau rum, bean sprouts, lemon, and jalapeño. The neighborhood is a little rough, but that's the Tenderloin for you. Will come back for more.
Came here for a quick bite since we were in the area. The place is tiny, but the waitstaff are super nice. Note it is CASH ONLY so we had to pull out our wallets to make sure we had enough to cover 4 people. Whew! Just made it with $10 bucks to spare! So I won't spell things wrong I'll just tell you the numbers we ordered hahahah. We had a No. 1, 2, 17, 18. My son had the No. 1 and it was surprisingly good! Never had the shrimp inside the rice flour like that so it was different. I was skeptical of the flat rice noodles as I thought they would be all hard but they were warm and pliable. It was a dish I've never experienced before so I'd come back just for that. I ordered the No. 2 and even though it was good, there were a couple of bites where the meat smelled a little funny and I wasn't sure if it was me or what. Cuz of that I didn't enjoy the meal as much. Hubs and friend had the other dishes which I didn't try but they did like it. Overall the portion sizes were decent and I liked that the cost listed included the tax! I'd stop in again if I was in the area. Just don't forget the CASH!
** CASH ONLY ** This is a little hole in the wall spot in the Tenderloin, it's a little small inside with few seating so you may have to wait or share tables with someone. I ordered the Bun Bo Hue and the Che Bap. The Bun Bo Hue is a beef soup with pork slices and rice noodles. I'm a huge fan of rice noodles and really enjoyed this dish, it tasted great with a squeeze of lime to make things a little sour and savory at the same time. The soup was hearty and savory but I was not a huge fan of the pork slices, I found it a little tough. I also tried the Che Bap, which was their corn pudding dessert with coconut milk. I never had this before but I really loved it, it's definitely a very unique flavor and might not be for everyone. The dessert is sweet, a little salty and a little savory, and the corn itself is kinda chewy. It tastes like a salty and sweet corn dessert.
Came by a Sunday around noon. It's a very small spot, and it was a bit busy, but they cleaned but a table very quick and we were able sit down within 5 minutes. The staff was kind and attentive. I ordered the bun thit zoo. It was good, but the stir fried pork has a lot more grease than actual meat, so I was a bit disappointed by that. However, the actual flavor was good. As expected the rice noodles had a neutral flavor, but the combination of the pork, veggies and noodles was good. Overall, I would be down to revisit; they have a decent selection of Vietnamese dishes worth trying. Also, keep in mind that it's a cash only spot before visiting!
Came here around 12:30 PM on a Sunday. There's not a lot of tables inside, but they were able to clear a recently vacated table for our party of 3 very fast. It's a bright, cleanly painted store with beautifully large windows for sunlight to stream in from, which made the small room feel bigger. They are cash only, so keep that in mind before coming. I got the 4. Hu Thieu Mi, and I loved it! Loved the mix of noodles, and the broth was clear and fresh yet robust. There were plenty of slices of pork and peeled shrimp, and it comes with lemon and jalapeño slices. Very satisfied after! The waitstaff were very kind, efficient and friendly with customers. I wish they were open later so I could come for dinner, but I'm willing to come in the middle of the day just for their food. Can't wait for my return!
Reviews are largely positive. People praise the authentic Vietnamese food, friendly and efficient service, and clean, bright space. Many also appreciate the affordable prices.
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5 years ago
This.. is not an ordinary Vietnamese restaurant.. I ordered #18 (red beef noodle soup - I am not Vietnamese, can't remember the name) and it was OUT OF THE WORLD DELICIOUS. I received a bowl with a very generous amount of meat (noodle to meat was 50:50). The bean sprouts side came with a variety of herbs I haven't seen, and the soup tasted so flavorful with the meat and authentic Asian spices. Noodle was cooked perfectly. I found a hidden gem in the middle of tenderloin! Remember cash only. No tip. read more
3 years ago
Service was fine, and they give a generous portion of meat in bun bo hue, but I mainly did not really enjoy the lack of flavor in the broth, tasted very bland and too sweet for my liking. read more
Delicious, affordable, nice staff, what else can you ask for? This place was recommended by a friend who came here and loved it. It really was incredible! It's a small, cash only cafe that tastes authentic, fresh, and homey. We tried a few things (Hu Tieu Nam Vang, Banh Mi Thit Va Cha, Banh Uot Cha Lua) and truly enjoyed each one. The Vietnamese coffee wasn't my favorite and was too intensely burnt but it was so nice they remade it and it was better. The desserts were good but I would just get more bahn mi next time. Now it's hard not to compare bahn mis to how it's made here (not shown because it disappeared so fast) but I was truly wowed. I'm already planning my trip back. The prices were amazing and it's now my new favorite Vietnamese place to eat at. read more
I was finally able to find a parking spot in the tenderloin that look safe enough for me to get some breakfast here. i got me a banh cuon ($12), because it seem to be highly recommended by the other yelpers. the banh cuon which is rice noodles sheet serve with a really good, crispy shrimp pancakes, and pork ham. The crispy shrimp pancakes was pretty good, and went really well with their fish sauce. their pork cake was okay. there was also a side of lettuce, spearmint, beansprout, and cucumber that made the meal relatively healthy, and refreshing. the fish sauce that came with the dish was not bad, it was stronger on the salty component, and less on the sweet side compare to the other vietnamese restaurants, which I always thought they need to stop making the nuoc so dam weak and sweet for white folk, and more toward the authentic flavor that the vietnamese folk actually eat at home, which is alot more stronger on the saltiness, more garlicky, spicy, and tangy. overall for my effort, the meal was huge, the food was good, and the price was reasonable for the amount of food. I would definitely come back to try their other items. read more
5 years ago
Despite of its location in the chaotic Tenderloin, the food of this small local business is AMAZING. No. 1 Banh Uot Cha Lua - Sliced cured pork and fried shrimp pancake with thick rice noodles (score 5/5): In my opinion this is the must-order dish. It's rare to find thick rice noodles in Vietnamese restaurants in SF. The crispy pancakes fried with whole shrimps are delicious. No. 6. Banh Mi Bo Kho - beef and carrot stew served with fresh bread (score 5/5): Rich flavored, tender beef stew. Fresh bread dipping into the sauce is the perfect combination. Taro coconut pudding (score 4.5/5): Was planning to try the corn pudding dessert but they ran out. Cold and hot options both available - thick texture, not too sweet, a very fulfilling dessert read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
I came here on a weekend for lunch. The space is tiny and cute and it looks pretty modern inside. I waited probably 15-20 minutes before I was sat down. The lady was super accommodating and sweet, especially since I forgot cash and had to run around looking for an atm I ordered bun bo hue and it was really delicious: the meat was really tender and the broth was flavorful and hearty!! read more
The best bun bo hue I've had in SF! For $13, you get a good portion with a lot of meat (I didn't even finish all the meat). The broth is not watered down unlike many other places. They have some other noodle options but since their bbh is so good I don't know if I'll ever want to try anything else lol. This place is super cute - which caught us by surprise since it's in prime tenderloin. Even during broad daylight, be on the lookout for sketchy people and don't make eye contact. There's only a few tables so don't come with more than 4 people. Seems that a lot of Vietnamese older ladies coming in here with their friends which is confirmation that this place is legit. read more
3 years ago
This is seriously one of the best bowls of noodle I have ever eaten. Order the #5 with shrimp and pork. Let me tell you -- the magic is all in the broth. The prices here aren't bad either (~$11 for a bowl). The interior decoration is really kitschy and reminds me of a 1950s diner! There's limited seating so it's not great for groups and it's in the TL. Ya know... Don't skip on the dessert! The $2 cups of tapioca with coconut milk was a great finish to a very satisfying bowl of noodles. CASH ONLY. read more
4 years ago
The best. Limited speaking owners but they're the most gracious. Great ingredients all around and hardy dishes. Still thinking of the banh mini I had from weeks ago! read more
3 years ago
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7 years ago
If you are looking for authentic Vietnam food that is the spot. If you are thinking you will be able to use English to order you are wrong - I suggest download translator on your phone :) The place is small (max 4 people for a table) and there are 5 tables only. Food is great :) comes out quick and hot. It is worth it. Come hungry as their bowls of food are huge and fresh. Come hungry and be ready for language barrier. read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
Amazing. It's no secret the Vietnamese food in SF is lacking. I grew up in SoCal where excellent vietnamese food is everywhere so my expectations are high. Enter Mong Thu Cafe. Food is fresh with generous portions. Most importantly, its very tasty. I'm Vietnamese and the food here is authentic as it comes. They specialize in Bun Mam which is a special fish stew, but for those less adventurous, their Banh uot (Rice noodle sheets with meat and shrimp cake) is phenomenal. I need to try their pho ga and other dishes but the Banh Uot is my favorite so far. My only caveats are that this place is only open for lunch and the area is dirty (try walking here). Prices are more than SoCal but cheap for SF. This place was on my radar for 2 years, I'm glad I finally tried it. If you're reading this don't hesitate! Highly recommended. read more
3 years ago
Very good! I had the meatball banh mi and it was a flavor BOMB super juicy just great! The pho was great as well and the dessert was light not too sweet and interesting, not a huge fan of boiled banana but the tapioca and flavor of it was really good. It's in the tenderloin so best to come in the morning when it's calmer outside. read more
3 years ago
Going in, the place doesn't look like a typical hole in the wall Vietnamese place, but the place is small and is fairly clean. I didn't check out the restroom so I don't know how clean that is, but I think there's only one. We ordered a pho ga ($10) and bun mam ($11), and the food came out pretty quick. You can request for complimentary cold or hot tea. The chicken in the pho ga was silky soft and yummy and the broth it comes in was delicious. The bun mam came with 2 small pieces of fish and a couple shrimp. I tried a little bit and has a slightly spicy flavor to it, and they use a different type of noodles in it, aside from the typical vermicelli noodles. They don't have those little dishes to mix the Sriracha and hoisin sauce, so make sure to ask for a bowl if you want to mix sauces. This place is cash only and the price on the menu already includes tax, so don't forget to give tip~ Cleanliness: 4/5 Food: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Would I come back? Yes, if I was nearby, but be careful of the neighborhood~ read more
I was disappointed that they didn't have anymore Pho Ga (was late lunch time) but I got to discover and try out a dish I never had before, Bun Bo Hue. The soup was a little more spicy than what I'm used to with Pho but it really added to the flavor and seasoning. The noodles reminded me of soft ramen but it didn't disintegrate when picked up with chopsticks. I love the big pieces of beef in there. Don't forget to bring cash with you as this place is cash only. read more
5 years ago
2 years ago
What an odd place. Not bad, just odd. It looks like no other Vietnamese restaurant in Little Saigon. In fact, I would scarcely call it a restaurant. It's a small cafe painted in light pastels as if the owner had a Laura Ashley decorating obsession...where are the paisley-print throw pillows? (photo: http://bit.ly/18pb8gJ). It appears to come with its own set of regulars like an episode of "Cheers" set in Hanoi. Two formica tables were fully occupied by a boisterous crew of Vietnamese yelling and laughing at each other in the most gregarious way (photo: http://bit.ly/13Q0Qop). That just left the front table for me, so I sat down and perused the glossy menu - pictures of eight soup and noodle bowls and combos on one side and eight banh mis listed on the other (photo: http://bit.ly/16KLJHC). It was early Sunday morning, so I just ordered the $8 Hu Tieu Mi, which was a large bowl of shrimp, pork and cilantro swimming with a combination of rice and egg noodles (photo: http://bit.ly/15JnsTd). I didn't personally find it as satisfying as a bowl of pho at Turtle Tower, but it worked in a pinch if you're hungry for something that wasn't too heavy. It came with a complimentary glass of hot tea and another one of ice water with lime (photo: http://bit.ly/15Ok3Vg). The rest of the customers either didn't acknowledge my existence or just presumed I was part of the "family" since one guy was picking his teeth and another was making kvetching noises as if he had a major fur ball in his esophagus. I guess I'll bring my mah jong set next time. FOOD - 3 stars...pretty good bowl of noodles and meat, just not the best AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...the obvious feminine touch makes this a unique place in a dicey neighborhood SERVICE - 3 stars...pretty quiet versus the customers TOTAL - 3 stars...a different side of Little Saigon read more
From the few reviews I read, it seemed Mong Thu was some gross hole in the wall - I imagined Tu Lan pre-reno (*shudders*). It turns out, Mong Thu is quite clean and tidy, with about 6 small tables and TV playing random Vietnamese things like flowing waterfalls and local ads. I couldn't help but also order the delicious looking Xiu Mai ($5) - 4 STARS: 3 Large Vietnamese meatballs in a bowl of sweet but savory clear broth and topped with diced carrots, cilantro and pepper. It tasted really fresh. The broth was sweeter and thicker than I imagined/hoped. Served on the side for dipping, a large fresh baguette. Pho Ga ($8) - 3.5 STARS: Not comparable to Turtle Tower (and they use thin pho rice noodles here). But it was simple and tasty and hits the spot. Comes with a generous portion of fresh bean sprouts jalapeños and herbs. Cafe Sua Da ($3) - 3.5 STARS: Cheaper in the morning! Good and strong but a bit too sour and not enough espresso. While the meatballs were tasty, they were a bit too sweet for me. I would still recommend it for a nice, cheap lunch. Can't wait to come back to try the rest of their menu! CASH ONLY. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
Talk about a hidden gem in SF. We had a craving for some Vietnamese food before we checked out of our hotel. This spot was within a decent walking distance from our hotel so we walked on over. Word of advice, if you have 2 kids in tote, I recommend bringing a stroller. Haha. I will honestly say I was a little hesitant at least because as you walk up, it does not look like the safest location. Mong Thu is a small in size but more than makes up for it in down home feel and hospitality. The quaint shop signage and menu give this place a modern feel but everything about the food is authentic. This is a mom and pop shop that made me feel like I was eating in my mom's kitchen. We ordered the Pho Ga, Cafe Sua Da, and a couple of banh mi sandwiches. Pho Ga some of the best i've ever had and the coffee was nice kick to get our day started. Take a chance and don't mind the outside environment, You won't regret it. read more
2 years ago
8 years ago
Mmmm this place is great! Located in the Tenderloin but worth going! We ordered their Hu Tieu Mi noodles. It came with shrimp and charsui. Soup was good! This was something different because I usually order pho. Keep in mind this place is cash only! read more
Tiny cafe just a tad outside of Little Saigon, but stll in the middle of all the Tenderloin hustle and bustle. A relatively limited menu, which makes it feel like home cooking. Cozy and tasty! Fried Shrimp Pancake: I ordered off menu, just getting a side of the shrimp cake. Came in three large pieces, cut into halves with about six shrimp total. The shrimp had their shell and tail on, but the deep frying and the pancake made it work. It was a bit doughy, but dunked in some sauce made it all good. Banh Mi Xiu Mai: Three large pork meatballs in a bowl of savory and sweet sauce. A warm and crispy mini-baguette is served on the side to soak up all that good gravy. A very filling meal for a great price. If you're on a budget, you can get just this and be quite full. read more
5 years ago
Although it's in a rough part of S.F it's the only good Vietnamese restaurant in S.F which is why we go. We're Vietnamese and know what good food is. I've had everything there and it's authentic delicious food! read more
Mong Thu is a very small, mom & pop Vietnamese restaurant. You can tell the family really cares about their restaurant and they really take care of their customers, even though their English is not very good. The food speaks for itself. We fell in love with this place because of the amazing Pho Ga. The broth is oily and flavorful because they keep the chicken skin on. Unfortunately, this dish hasn't been as good the last couple of times we've been back - not sure if they changed the recipe but it seems to be missing the heartiness and oiliness. However, this has helped us discover a couple of new favorites... The Chao Long is one of the best congees I've had, but I have to admit I'm still not used to eating pork intestines so I have a habit of picking it out. The Banh Uot Cha Lua is a great appetizer to share if you're feeling especially hungry. They keep the skin on the fried shrimp that goes in the pancake. I wasn't sure how I felt about the texture at first but it's really grown on me. The large, wide noodles also absorb the dipping sauce perfectly. Lastly, note that Mong Thu is located in the heart of the Tenderloin so don't expect a pleasant walk to get to there. Pro tip: there's a fantastic Japanese Onsen that's about a block away. It's about $20/hr. I'd highly recommend de-toxing at the Onsen after a big night out, and then heading straight to Mong Thu for comfort food. It will cure your hang over. read more
More info about Mong Thu Cafe
248 Hyde St
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tenderloin
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(415) 928-6724
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http://mongthu.com
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