It is a neighbor, fast food type of teochew food. It is good to satisfy a craving. I only have this option in inner sunset without going to San Mateo or downtown SF. It is heavy proportion, nicely priced but this is not your sophiciated, michillin style of teochew cuisine. The menu is only about less than two pages long and the atmosphere is causal. My sticky rice roll is thick and too filling! read more

SoHoMei - Shrimp and Pork Shantou Steamed Rice Roll - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Overall, a homey local restaurant with good food. The oyster cake had a gelatinous mochi texture with an outer layer of egg. There was a decent amount of oysters. The fried rice contained shrimp and egg with a layer of pork floss on top. It had wok flavor, but the rice was a bit hard. The steamed rice roll was on the thicker side with great balance of meat and egg. The beef balls were bouncy and savory. However, soup was a bit on the salty side. The marinated duck was tender. It paired really well with the side of vinegar as it cut through the fat. The pig stomach pickled cabbage soup was also too salty for my personal taste. The restaurant is small with about 8-10 tables. We (party of 5) had a short wait on a Sunday night. Food was also served on the slower side as they were understaffed. read more

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Our party of 3 arrived at SoHoMei for a late breakfast around 11:45am on a Sunday and were quickly seated. The inside has a decent number of tables for the size of the space, which makes for a little bit of a squeeze between tables, but is nice and clean. We came for some noodles and porridge, so quickly decided what we wanted from the relatively short menu. The worker told us we weren't ordering enough, so we ended up switching from the steamed rice roll with porridge combo to individual orders of each - I'm not sure how much smaller the combo is but we ended up not being able to finish all of the food we ordered. -Shantou Pork and Preserved Egg Porridge: this comes out bubbling hot, overflowing, and so comforting. The entree size serving was definitely enough to share between the 3 of us, and we enjoyed how warming and umami it was. It had a generous amount of preserved egg and pork! -Shrimp and Pork Steamed Rice Roll: this is HUGE, and a bit difficult to split; it sort of comes as a big mound of ingredients under the steamed rice roll sheet, and it's hard to divide so that everyone gets a bit of everything. Definitely a generous serving and filling, with a variety of goodies (especially the minced preserved veggie on top) but not sure I'd get it again to share. -SoHoMei Signature Laksa: this was delicious and also came in a MASSIVE serving that was more than enough for us to share. It came with so much meat, with fishballs, quail eggs and other assorted goods inside, and the soup was rich and delicious. I would definitely come back for this. -Chao Zhou Pan Fried Oyster Cake: also a good portion, with large oysters inside, this wasn't my favorite because the batter seemed to be a little undercooked/goopy in parts, but I don't regret trying it. Overall, SoHoMei is a great place for a group to share some comforting noodle soup and congee together. I'll definitely be back on a cold day where I can't be bothered to cook something on my own to have a warm breakfast with friends. read more

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Still consistent. Had their rendition of Hainan Chicken, Beef Noodle Roll, and Preserved Egg and Pork Jook. read more

SoHoMei - P8. Beef Shantou Steamed Rice Roll w/- Pork & Preserved Egg Porridge 牛肉特式汕頭腸粉 配 皮蛋瘦肉粥. Also Chicken in Foreground. - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is my second time here and I've enjoyed everything we ordered on both visits. The marinated duck was delicious and is a must-order. We also ordered the oyster pancake, which is another must-try. The laksa vermicelli was okay. We also had the beef ball soup, which I forgot to take pictures of. The staff were friendly and attentive, checking on us regularly. The place isn't very big, so if it's full, you'll need to wait. The bathroom is clean, which is a plus. There is street parking outside, but it can be challenging at times. However, if you drive around the block, you should be able to find a spot. I recommend coming with a big group so you can try more dishes. read more

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First time checking this place out and glad we did. Arrived at around 10am before the tables started filling up. Ordered the P7 and P8 - both come with the preserved egg and pork congee. One comes with the beef rice roll and the other is pork and shrimp rice roll. Big portions and filling. The congee was creamy and warmed us right up on the cold and rainy day. The rice rolls were savory - full of meat and bean sprouts. The only thing we didn't care for was the youtiao - didn't seem fresh and more like it was refried to heat it up which just made it too oily. We didn't finish it. We'll be returning to try other items. read more

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Came in still feeling a little under the weather from New Year's, and this place ended up being exactly what I needed. I ordered the preserved egg and pork porridge, and it was a very clutch choice. The porridge was a bit more oily than I personally prefer, but honestly it felt pretty standard for this style. My palate was definitely off that day, yet I still got through almost two bowls before I had to stop because it was filling. Texture-wise though, it really hit: creamy, smooth, and comforting. The pork was well-seasoned, and the preserved egg was bouncy as ever. If I'd been feeling 100%, I probably would've added some white pepper / black pepper to give it an extra kick. Toppings were on point too, spring onions plus chopped Chinese fried dough (youtiao) on top for a nice bit of texture. I didn't try the beef noodle soup myself, but the person I was with said it was really good: firm noodles, plenty of beef, and everything well-seasoned with solid flavor. Ambience is very casual and welcoming, its def a mom and pop shop. I also appreciated that the owners could communicate easily with us (we started in English), and hearing them chatting in Cantonese made the whole vibe feel extra homey. Parking was easy, we found a spot about a block away. Definitely a spot I'd come back to, especially when I'm craving something comforting. read more

SoHoMei - Shantou Pork & Preserved Egg Porridge - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The portions are large and everything is chewier than you'd expect. Got porridge, laksa, oyster pancake, and a rice roll type of dish, and even though we finished everything, it is still a lot for 2 people. I did enjoy the oyster pancake with a lot of hoisin and hot sauce. It's loaded with oysters and held together with that signature cornstarch glue that makes it so chewy. The rice roll was also chewier than typical rice rolls should be. Laksa was a bit bland for my tastes, but had a lot of ingredients. And porridge was pretty standard. I don't think I'll make a return, but it was interesting to eat at. read more

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We came on a Saturday afternoon around 1pm, there was a line waiting, no waitlist to sign up, we waited outside for about 15 mins, staff came out and sit us down bc we have party of 4. But after sitting down for 20 mins, nothing came, no order is being taken, we looked around ppl who has been sitting down before us also got no food/service. That's when we decided to leave, as there is nothing to be expected for at this place. Perhaps they are short of staff, but would appreciate if there is any comms on this matter instead of letting customers just stand/sit and wait. read more

SoHoMei - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious Chao Zhou food spot in Outer Sunset-we tried the oyster cake, shrimp and pork steamed rice roll, steamed beef roll and congee. Everything was delicious! Bonus points for the really nice tea as well. As other reviewers have noted the portions are quite generous, perfect for sharing. The service was fast and friendly and the place itself was wonderfully cozy. Great little restaurant-highly recommend! read more

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I recently found this hole in the wall! What a pleasant surprise! The noodle was absolutely must try! I ordered the spicy one. So delicious and rich! Their beef balls are the best I've ever had. read more

SoHoMei - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food 4/5 This place is definitely worth a try if you're craving rice rolls and porridge. But be warned that this is not the usual Cantonese rice rolls and the usual Vietnamese pho. The dishes have their own take and flavor but not bad! I ordered the shrimp&pork rice roll but there were only two shrimps. Would come back for the porridge! Service 5/5 Waiters can speak English, mandarin, and Cantonese. Ambiance 4.5/5 A nice little spot perfect for small parties. Overall, it gives off a very clean and homey vibe. read more

SoHoMei - Shrimp and Pork Shantou Steamed Rice Roll - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Gee, I get so easily confused. I thought this place was called Pho Sure, but it went through a name change although I don't think the menu has changed much, which made me wonder if it's still under the same ownership. The rebranding probably made sense since it wasn't just a pho house, besides which, Pho Ga is just on the next block. Anyway, I came back. The focus is on the food of Chaozhou. That's somewhere in southeast China between Hong Kong and Shanghai. I don't know the nuances of Chinese cuisine. I just know I like the food they serve here which is why I ended up ordering what I did before. First up was my predictable choice, the $15.95 Steamed Chicken Rice Plate, their version of Hainan chicken rice...kinda (Photo 5). The rice was plain with sesame seeds, not infused with broth. There was also a fried egg on the side. But the chicken was a nice chunk of leg and thigh sliced and with the skin intact. Worked for me. Since it was a tad paltry, I also went for one of their house specialties, the $9.95 Shrimp and Pork Shantou Steamed Rice Roll, a quesadilla-like creation stuffed with chunks of pork and shrimp, lettuce, and sprouts, overflowing with pork juices (Photo 7). Still delish. FOOD - 4 stars...still tasty food, that's pho sure AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...a tad crowded in SERVICE - 4 stars...efficient and responsive TOTAL - 4 stars...the rice rolls are the gets here RELATED - Exploring the Sunset? Here's my collection of places l've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2El8elJ read more

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I've been wanting to try Sohomei for some time now. It's not my husband's cup of tea, so I have to pick a rare time when he's not around to go by myself. I went for lunch. The menu isn't extensive and everything is pretty much entree price / portions. So for a hungry person like me, I went with the chaoshan rice noodle + congee combo with youtiao on the side as well. Even in the combo, the congee is a pretty big bowl. The rice noodle is also slightly larger than normal. The congee was pretty good, with lots of meat, egg drop, and century egg. The rice noodle was really good. I like that there is lettuce and bean sprouts with egg too. It was a lot of food but really delicious. Definitely want to try the laksa and oyster pancake next time! read more

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Best Chao Zhou food I ever tried in SF Chao Zhou Pan Fried Oyster Cake 潮洲煎蠔餅: crispy on the outside, with plump, juicy oysters Chao Shan Beef & Beef Ball Flat Noodle Soup 潮汕牛肉牛丸湯河粉is a must try. The handmade beef balls are so bouncy and flavorful, and those flat noodles soaked up all the rich, savory broth. Highly recommend for anyone craving authentic Chaozhou and Chaoshan dishes! read more

SoHoMei - oyster cake - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Passed by on a Sunday afternoon, walked in and was seated immediately even though it was busier than anticipated. We ordered the following: SoHoMei Spicy Beef Medley Flat Noodle Soup Shrimp and Pork Shantou Steamed Rice Roll The noodle soup really satisfied a certain craving. Beef was tender (raw beef cooked by pouring hot broth over it.) I especially enjoyed the flat noodles and the meatballs were very juicy and seasoned well. The Steamed Rice Roll was interesting because the style was different than the Hong Kong 腸粉 that I'm used to. nevertheless it tasted good and I would get it again! The portions were very generous and food was tasty. 5/5 would visit again read more

SoHoMei - SoHoMei Spicy Beef Medley Flat Noodle Soup - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Portions are huuuge. My parents like this place and they've been here multiple times. Today, they brought me here to try. $16 Laksa is very flavorful. A bit of heat. My mom thinks that it's the best in the city. She gives it a 9/10. My dad who doesn't like the flavor profile of laksa in general still acknowledges that they made it well. It comes with a ton of pork, quail egg, fish ball, shrimp, fried tofu, bean sprouts. $16 Beef ball soup. Like pho but lighter, not as flavorful. My dad gives it 9/10. Mom gives it 8/10. I give it 6/10. Not enough flavor for me personally, but they enjoyed it. $10 Pork shrimp rice noodles: we wouldn't reorder this. The noodle had bit of bounce and chew to it. Different than what I'm used to but it was good. But the flavor itself was just plain and didn't stand out. It's just okay. We all rated it at a 6. It's affordable for the amount of food they give. Plus 5% discount if paid in cash. Their portions are seriously no joke. One bowl of their noodles could feed two hungry people. Probably even 3 people. I would honestly give it a 3/5. Personally wouldn't return but I averaged my rating with my parents'. read more

First time trying this Chou Zhou spot. It was quiet when we came for dinner on a Tuesday, so there wasn't a problem getting a table. The service was friendly, welcoming, and attentive. It was one of those cold, windy nights in SF when a comforting bowl of soup and noodles would hit the spot. So I ordered (N3) Chicken Flat Noodle Soup and my bf ordered (N4) SoHoMei Beef Medley Flat Noodle Soup. I wanted to try other things on the menu, but we weren't super hungry. I think if we had a few more people with us, we could have had the full Chou Zhou experience. However, we got a generous, satisfying, and clean-tasting bowl of soup noodles that made us both warm and happy! We'll definitely consider coming back again to try the other Chou Zhou dishes. read more

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SoHoMei was just okay for me. I feel like our party might not have ordered the best dishes, so we didn't get the full experience. The proteins we tried were decent but nothing special. The laksa, unfortunately, was a letdown. It tasted quite watered down compared to what I was hoping for. Honestly, you might find better options in the pantry aisle of your local Asian market. On the bright side, the staff were super friendly and welcoming, which made the visit pleasant. If I do come back, I'd probably skip the proteins and focus on their carb dishes, like the rice noodle rolls or other noodle options. They seem to have potential, and I'd love to give them another shot with a different selection. read more

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Finally got the try this restaurant, OMG the portions are huge, pretty yummy food, the staff is nice even though he is very busy :) read more

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Came in and tried the shrimp and pork rice roll along with the porridge; both hit the spot on a slightly chilly day. The rice rolls were fresh and flavorful, with a nice balance of texture and taste. The porridge was warm, comforting, and exactly what I needed. Great portions and friendly service too. read more

I recently dined at SoHoMei, a small restaurant offering delicious cuisine from Chaozhao (Teochow) with massive portions. There's metered parking in front, but I was able to snag free street parking a block away. The restaurant is small and wasn't too crowded when I came for dinner on Saturday evening around 6 pm. I came specifically for the Shantou steamed rice rolls (got the beef for $9.95) and the oyster pancake ($17.95). The rice roll was massive, filled with lettuce, egg, bean sprouts, and tomato, topped with a starchy and thick layer of rice roll. It's served in a light sauce (couldn't tell what the base was for the sauce) and was quite different from the usual chang fun I'm used to. For one thing, they probably add more tapioca starch as the rice roll layer was extra thick and chewy. I finished this first and took half the oyster pancake to go. The oyster pancake was honestly one of my favorite things I've ever eaten in SF: a delightful combination of crispy pancake on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside where the oysters are nestled. It's a tiny bit bland on its own, but once you add some hoisin sauce on top, it becomes the perfect bite. It heats up really well the next day too. I'm still dreaming about the oyster pancake as I write my review. The service was quick and efficient, allowing us to enjoy our meal and be on our way within 30 minutes. Overall, SoHoMei provided a delicious dining experience with good value and prompt service in a cozy setting. read more

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SoHoMei is a hidden gem in the Outer Sunset! Their Shantou porridge is the best part of the meal, comforting, hearty, and unlike any porridge I've ever had before. The texture is silky and smooth, and also very flavorful. Served in a bubbling clay pot that keeps it super hot! read more

Loved trying mom and pop shops. The owner was super friendly. Although I was not familiar with their region of food, I thought their entrees were tasty. Their rice noodle was quite interesting, served with tomato, egg and lettuce which was something I was not accustom to. Their oyster pancake was delicious. Their beef balls were al dente. All in all, I will return again because of their service, food and cost. read more

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I got sick mid-December, and the first thing I wanted was some nice, hot, savoury congee. This place satisfied the craving, and the portion size was huge. Definitely recommend for chilly winter days and sick days alike. read more

SoHoMei - chicken congee - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ok chinese food place Originally came here because I saw the Laksa photos online on yelp which looked great! However the inside of the place is not that clean, especially the bathroom which really needs some circulation. The renovation is ok, with nice dark lighting. Service is ok. Food is kind of blend, but portion is big. Price is also ok. Unfortunately after my baby ate here he got a full body of rash. So I will not be able to come back again read more

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It's worth trying if you are craving Chao Shan cuisine. The portions are huge. Chao Zhou Pan Fried Ouster Cake is very good. read more

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I was looking for a place for the family to have lunch after an appointment. The offerings of steamed rice rolls and congee were appealing. We were immediately waved to a table and seated upon entering. Tea was brought first. Server returned to take order. We ordered Chao Zhou Fried Oyster Cake, Beef Shantou Steamed Rice Rolls with Pork and Preserved Egg Porridge, Crispy Donut Sticks, Shrimp and Pork Shantou Steamed Rice Roll with Pork & Preserved Egg Porridge, 2 more Shrimp and Pork Shantou Steamed Rice Rolls, Duck Congee, Chao Zhou Fried Rice, Half of a Steamed Chicken, and a Vietnamese Iced Coffee for the man of the family. The half steamed chicken was accompanied by ginger and green onion sauce. Be careful of shards of bone. I had wanted a rice dish and daughter chose the Chao Zhou Fried Rice which was a huge hit with everyone. There was not much left. The other rice dish was a steamed chicken rice plate. Husband being on a low carb diet only wanted the steamed chicken. The duck congee came before the pork and preserved egg porridges. The duck congee had too much pepper. The pork and preserved egg porridge that come in combo with the steamed rice rolls are smaller bowls of porridge. The steamed rice rolls were not what we expected. Unlike the cheung fun you have at dim sum, these were burrito sized and stuffed with pork and shrimp or beef, cabbage, bean sprouts, tomatoes and garnished with cilantro. The donut sticks were really crispy and did not get soft even when dunked in the porridge. I don't usually eat oysters, but enjoyed the pan fried oyster cake ordered by other daughter which could be a dish in itself rather than an appetizer. There was plenty of oyster. It was served with a pepper and what we initially thought was vinegar but another reviewer said that it was fish sauce. The restaurant got quite full while we were eating. We left with our stomachs filled, an order of steamed rice roll for grandfather, porridge for another meal, and in need of an after lunch walk. read more

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Got to-go order once during holiday season. The service is nice and portion is good. Love the oyster pancake.

Solid 3-stars for the food and friendly service. The rice noodle rolls were a bit different than the commonly seen Cantonese style ones. The oyster pancake was especially yummy! Will return to try more dishes and report back! read more

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Went on a Tuesday for a nice low key dinner and the food was great! The favorite was definitely the fried oyster cake. It was very crispy and had a good amount of oysters. The shrimp and pork rice roll had egg in it and it was pretty good too. Definitely will come back for the fried oyster cake tho! (Sorry for the picture, I was too excited to eat it and only remembered to take a pic after I had some) read more

SoHoMei - fried oyster cake (ate a little before taking a pic) and shrimp and pork steamed rice roll - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Small friendly, very attentive family owned place. Their dishes are of very good quality ingredients, soup base and generous portions. The fish balls and other meats balls are of quality. The hor fun and oysters eggs are really good too. read more

SoHoMei is pretty new and going for teow chow cuisine. Parents and i went, tried out their teowchow oyster pancake, cuttlefish ball seaweed soup, special seafood noodle soup and the shrimp&pork rice roll. All the dishes were very good portions and in hindsight, should've ordered three things instead of four. Oyster pancake and cuttle fishball soup was pretty good. The other two were meh. Total came out $70 (tax and tip included), so very reasonably price given amount of food in SF. Service was ok though there was only one person working. The ambiance was simple and things were generally clean. Will return for take out on the things i like. read more

SoHoMei - Cuttlefish ball seaweed soup - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious food and nice easy simple menu. Oyster cake is a wonderful appetizer, comes with pepper fish sauce if you want extra saltiness. Duck porridge is smooth and comforting for a cold day. Bone is what gives it the flavor so expect to spit them out. Not much meat in there. Also has mushrooms and ginger in it. Laksa noodle soup is a big bowl! This is a more mild taste but good. Love the size of the bowls here! Bathroom in back left. Street parking. Takeout available. Very short staffed. Only 2 people taking orders, cooking, cleaning, bussing tables so be nice! Could take a while to get a table since they're busy in the kitchen and haven't cleaned tables yet. 15% gratuity automatically calculated on bill, may apply to takeouts too. I hope for the best for this restaurant. Happy to see someone serving good teochew food! Very rare. read more

This is somewhat hidden as you make a right turn from 19th avenue going southbound but I suggest stopping by to try their fresh homemade beef balls. Shantou 汕頭 is my parent's hometown and they're known for making beef balls by hand, pounding the beef and all. SoHoMei uses machines which is fair but the whole point of this note is that they're homemade and fresh!!!! Their huge beef balls with great bounce and I just bought two bags frozen to go lol. If you buy it fresh it came with a lot of beef balls (over ten I counted) and they added fried garlic chips to the soup to make the soup taste more flavorful. I ordered takeout recently as well and tried their oyster pancake and my friend tried their beef flat noodle soup. The oyster pancake has a lot of flour and was a little saltier than to my liking but it tasted just like home! The beef ball and beef soup was a huge portion, my friend was able to eat it in two meals since it was sooo much in there. I haven't eaten there yet inside but the interior is casual and calm. This place is small, so not great for really large groups. Service was friendly. The lady was welcoming and want to get to know you especially if you speak teochew or are from shantou! Overall I say this place is worth a try and I hope they stay successful! read more

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Portions are so small that it's not worth the money. I request a brown rice fried rice and what I got is white rice. I was told that shrimp comes with the fried rice but none were found. read more

SoHoMei - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

It was chilly sunset afternoon, so we wanted a hot porridge for lunch. Found this place on Yelp and we were happy with service and foods. We both ordered set of porridge and rice noodle rolls. Rolls were wrapped generous amounts of vegetables and meat combined with eggs. Very tasty! Porridge served very hot and delicious too. read more

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Food: not my cup of tea Service: Good Ambience: fair This resto could be fine with others, it just not for me. read more

Not much of a wait on a weeknight, so we got seated right away. The interior is modern and cozy; good place for a casual meal. The staff took our orders and brought us tea/water quickly. We ordered: - (E1) Chao Zhou Pan Fried Oyster Cake: there were 4 pieces with a big oyster in each piece. The pancake is egg-based and very yummy if you love eggs. Seems to be a popular dish to try! - (N1) SoHoMei Signature Laksa Vermicelli: my fave from the 3 dishes we ordered! So flavorful and not that spicy even tho it looks like it might be. They don't skimp on the ingredients, would recommend trying it! - (P5) Shrimp and Pork Shantou Steamed Rice Roll: first time trying steamed rice roll where the roll is chewy rather than soft. It was an interesting and new texture (not in a bad way). I think this style of rice roll is from a different region than the types I'm used to. Overall, I would recommend this place which has a variety of dishes like porridge, steamed rice noodles, rice plates and noodle soups. Portions are generous and shareable so you can try different dishes! read more

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2/2/23 UPDATE: Unfortunately, I have to drop it from 5 stars to 3.5 stars rounded up. Ordered delivery when I was at a nearby bar and the Shantou Steamed Rice Noodle was like night and day from my first visit just a week ago. The steamed noodle sheet was dense with tears and no elasticity, and the filling was sparse. The amount of filling was about 50% less the second time around. Maybe it was a very off day?! =( ******************************************** When the noodles are as stretchy as your spanx you know, it's going to be bomb! SoHoMei's Beef Shantou Steamed Rice Noodle ($9.95) is like bánh cuốn on steroids or a cheung fun x bánh xèo-like hybrid: https://tinyurl.com/t7neaddj and https://tinyurl.com/5n8hwtez. The rice noodle sheet was soft, supple, slightly translucent, and hella stretchy. It's filled with soft+savory ground beef, egg, blanched bean sprouts, and lettuce (reminds me of the filling in bánh xèo). It's topped with tangy+crunchy chaozhou pickles and served with a wedge of tomato and a side of sweet soy sauce w/ hot oil to slather all over. SO ho mei...ho mei = good tasting or delicious in Cantonese. And, this was dinner #3 (no shame). Go figure that the cheapest and most humblest item was the best thing of the night. If you're a fan of cheung fun or bánh cuốn, it's viet cousin, don't sleep on SoHoMei! Other notes: * Open for takeout, delivery (under name "PhoSure"), and indoor dining (~8 tables). * Link to chaozhou menu: https://tinyurl.com/mpzmpsan * Separate phở menu available. * Fast service! Called in for takeout and the made-to-order steamed rice noodle was ready in 8 minutes. * Metered parking can be tricky at peak hours. read more

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