One of my first time experiences having Vietnamese food in San Francisco's Mission District was at Sunflower . It was my go to place and they served good delicious plates of Vietnamese food. They also had good Pho not only for soup season but all four season ( no such thing as weather seasons in San Francisco). Over the years I expanded my horizons since I lived in over seven different San Francisco neighborhoods and started to migrate to different Vietnamese restaurants all over San Francisco. I did have a chance to walk down memory lane to Sunflower on 16th street but seeing a neon electric sign blinking that said Hawaiian Barbecue. I don't remember Sunflower restaurant offering Hawaiian food. Sunflower has Hawaiian plates which made me curious to try one. It felt strange going inside a Vietnamese restaurant and order just Hawaiian food especially when you have only known them for their Vietnamese soups and plates. I got the BBQ chicken and seafood plate. The chicken was tender and the fried shrimp was fresh and the fish was tasty dipping it into the tartar sauce. The only draw back was they served a very small portion of their delicious mac salad. Overall I now have more good food to choose from at Sunflower whether it's Hawaiian or Vietnamese. Sunflower sells Vietnamese now serves food that's "Hawaiian" I give it a whirl because it's worth "buying"and the fried shrimp is fresh you can see them in the kitchen doing the "frying " and the have delicious plates and worth "trying" Sunflower still sells food from" Vietnam "it hasn't changed much so keep "calm" and their Pho is still "nom nom "if you want to see their menu go to "sunflowersf.com" read more

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Decent food with pretty huge portions! I ordered the Five Spice Chicken rice and it was a 8.5/10 meal. The chicken was seasoned very well but I wish there was more variety in lettuce/greens since there were only a few pieces of cucumber. Can pretty much walk in and get a seat. They're definitely more known for their Pho and noodle dishes. read more

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Came for dinner with a group of 7 to 8 people. Woman was very nice. I had the beef pho some of friends had the Banh Xeo Crepe, Garlic noodles and loco moco (Hawaiian Food in Viet Restaurant, only in SF). It's fine. Ok la read more

I knew of this Vietnamese restaurant that's existed here ...the menu appeared with Hawaiian food ...spam musibi 2 for $7 ...mini Hawaiian chicken ...seafood platter ..fun tasty ..fast and easy ..walk by near the Roxie read more

Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Garlic noodles are fire, fast and super yummy! It's a shareable plate! We did to go and the noodles are best when eaten pip'n hot so don't be afraid to sit in. It's a small sit in and comfy! Will be coming back read more

Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant - 31. Garlic Noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

They got my order wrong. I paid for extra imperial rolls and my order did not even have the shimps I asked and paid for. Then I found meat in the imperial rolls when I asked for vegetarian and no meat . They never gave me the extra rolls I paid for . I spent money for nothing and I' m not happy . They don't listen. Never again read more

Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant - Meat in the " vegetarian " imperial rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This restaurant is great! Delicious authentic Vietnamese. Fast & friendly service. Low price. I ordered Imperial rolls, and absolutely love it. The rolls are big and the wrapper is crunchy. Too bad, I am a tourist, so I can't go there anymore. But if I visit SF again, I definetely will go back and eat there. read more

Me: "Where do you want to eat - around here or drive somewhere else?" Friend: "Let's just stay on 16th." Me: "Ok, Truly Mediterranean (*thinking*: please pick this!), Picaro (or this), or Sunflower (please, do NOT pick this!)? Friend: "Hmmm, Sunflower sounds good!" Me: "Sure!" Cap. But, I didn't want to kill the positive vibes just because Sunflower's food is not my jam. But, maybe they've improved from my last visit? Sunflower has been in The Mission for as long as I can remember (nearly 2 decades) and they also have a location in Potrero Hill. They're open for takeout, delivery, indoor dining, and outdoor dining (dog-friendly). While their name is "Sunflower 'Authentic' Vietnamese Restaurant", they don't serve authentic Viet eats. It's Chinese style Viet food. M E N U Typical Viet menu of apps, phở, bún, and entrees. Online menu is different than the in-person menu. I asked about Viet rice plates and was told, you have to order a side of rice to go with your entrée. They also have a Hawaiian BBQ menu that includes rice plates so that's odd. Beer available. F O O D * Spam Musubi (2pc-$6) // 2 stars 2 stars for the spam (not coated in soy+sugar glaze) because you can't go wrong with spam (if you grew up on it). The rice was very mushy so we didn't eat it. * Bún Thịt Nướng Chả Giò: BBQ Lemongrass Pork & Imperial Rolls Vermicelli Bowl ($13.95) // 2.5 stars: https://tinyurl.com/3fas2wdm --Thịt Nướng (BBQ Lemongrass Pork): Hella salty with no lemongrass flavor. Tasted more like Chinese style pork since it was heavy on the soy sauce and oyster sauce (?). --Chả Giò (Imperial Rolls): Hot and crunchy with savory pork. Menu says, there's taro but didn't taste any. --Bún: The vermicelli noodles were overcooked and broken up into small segments. They don't give you much noodles. --Accoutrements: Chopped romaine lettuce (crisp), cucumbers (fresh), and pickled carrots + daikon (hella sour). -- Nước chấm (fish dipping sauce): So salty, needs more sugar and lime for balance. * Loco Moco: Two beef patties, two fried eggs, rice, gravy (Regular - $13.95) // 3 stars Not my order but non-picky friend said, it wasn't good. At least the eggs were runny! S E R V I C E Super sweet cashier and server, that also helps cooks in the kitchen. We were the only ones there and food took about 20 minutes. A M B I A N C E Dingy hole-in-the-wall with four tables inside and two tables outside. P A R K I N G Very challenging street parking. Overall, if you're used to good Viet food in the TL or in E San Jose, Sunflower is probably not going to cut it. BUT...if you're solely looking for cheap AZN food for sustenance while barhopping on 16th, this may be an ok option. read more

Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant - BBQ Lemongrass Pork + Imperial Roll Bún ($13.95) + Loco Moco w/ two beef patties + fried eggs ($13.95) + Spam Musubi (2 pc-$6) - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I found a metal piece from a metal dish scrubber in my to-go garlic noodles, which is concerning. I am very dissatisfied and will not go back to this restaurant again. read more

Great little Vietnamese spot on 16th at Valencia, right next to the Roxie Theater. I had a couple hours to kill before catching a movie, so I sat outside and people watched while waiting for my food. The staff were very kind and attentive. I ordered the Lemongrass beef vermicelli bowl, which comes with crispy (egg or spring?) rolls on top. The portion size was generous; I took home leftovers and it was just as delicious the next day for lunch. Can't wait to come back and try the Hawaiian BBQ options, too! read more

Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant - Lemongrass Beef Vermicelli Bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

This for the locals It's tasty reasonably priced food in the city! Enough said I'll spare you the pompous bulls*** some of these people are espousing who give it less than 5 stars. At this price point it can't be less. Affordable enough to make you pass on less healthy fast food for all higher quality meal all while experiencing very friendly helpful staff. 10/10 read more

VIETNAMESE OR HAWAIIAN I like these two cuisines, but for this restaurant it represents a dilemma for me. This restaurant is close to the Roxie Theater. One evening I came here to eat before watching a movie at the Roxie Theater. I ordered the imperial rolls and house fried rice. At any Vietnamese eateries I prefer imperial rolls over spring rolls as the imperial rolls are fried. I can make a meal of these imperial rolls. The house fried rice looked small in portion yet was tasty. It also wasn't oily but hearty. After seeing the menu on the wall of the restaurant that includes several Hawaiian dishes I wanted to come here again. About a month later I ate at Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant. I ordered the spam musabi and BBQ beef short ribs. It was great seeing how the spam musabi was made. Most spam musabi I've ordered the rice ends to be too hard. Not at Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant where the rice is warm and soft. Even though this place mostly serves Vietnamese dishes that one Hawaiian dish this is the best spam musabi I ever had at an eatery. The BBQ beef short rib at Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant is better than most BBQ beef short rib I've ate from other Hawaiian eateries. First the portion of the beef ribs engulfs the two scoops of rice as too often I get more rice than meat at other places for this dish. Second the BBQ beef short rib was also flavorful with the combination of meat and fat. I ate here about several weeks later. I knew this time I wanted to order Vietnamese food. I ordered jasmine rice and shaking beef, which I never had. I loved the portion of the shaking beef, but there was something about the taste. I tasted the beef but unlike the BBQ beef short rib the shaking beef lacked flavor. I didn't know if this dish was supposed to be sweet, savory, or spicy. Of all the Vietnamese and Hawaiian dishes I ordered from Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant, the Vietnamese dish of shaking beef was the worst I ate. This place left me in a flux. Is it a Hawaiian or Vietnamese? I was more impressed with the Hawaiian dishes than the Vietnamese dishes from this eatery. I think if this place focused solely either on Vietnamese or Hawaiian the quality of the food from that cuisine would be clarified. read more

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Absolutely goated. Best service there is, best Vietnamese food in sf, honestly best restaurant in sf

Sunflower makes the best summer rolls in the city. Hard stop. As evidenced by the picture, my meal was just two orders of them. One star off because the food took ages, possibly because it seems to be an overwhelmingly takeout oriented operation. The service was very terse, and while I'd never expect the utmost attentiveness in that setting, a little more warmth would take this place to the next level. read more

Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant - Summer rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food still good for the category and price point. Staff still pleasant. That's all that can be said to meet the minimum character requirement for a Yelp review. read more

Low key Vietnamese comfort food. Friendly service. Small space but fine for a casual meal with family or friends.

If you told me you only had 20 bucks to spend out in the Mission, my recommendation for a good time and good food would be a $5 movie at the Roxie Theater, and a meal at Sunflower Vietnamese Restaurant and Hawaiian Barbeque, located next door. Sunflower reminds me of those hole-in-the-wall Asian restaurants with the quaint, but clean interiors and the faded menus. I walked in one Saturday night after a movie and saw Sunflower having a Chicken Katsu plate with a side of rice and macaroni salad for 12 bucks! The price was enough to get me through the door, but of course, now comes the question: "Will I get my money's worth?" You bet I did! Right off the bat, the waitress, a nice lady, served me some water and offered me a menu. I said I wanted the chicken katsu and in no less than 10 minutes I had a homecooked style meal, hot off the grill. The cutlet was crispy, but it was neutral in flavor. Besides the katsu sauce, there were plenty of complimentary sides, like chili crisp, siracha, and soy sauce. I could say I ended up using everything since the chicken did lack some seasoning, but I believe this was done so people could season themselves. For San Francisco prices, and considering value, I would say this cheapskate approves! I will definitely be back next time and try out their Sunflower Prawns, as they looked HUGE and tasty when they were served to another customer. The location is convenient to get to as well; a few blocks from 16th and Mission BART Station. read more

Hard to find place thats literally two restaurants on one. The left side is Hawaiian BBQ and the right is Vietnamese. I must have walked by this place a dozen times and still couldn't find it. It's to the left of the theater. Do not order their thai iced tea. I think mine was contaminated because it tasted like it had some chemical cleaner in it. I took a sip and it burned the back of my throat. I instantly threw it away. The beef pho was skimpy at best. The only good part was that the meat was tender. The soup was okay but it doesn't come with anything. Just some slices of rare beef. No tendons or any other pieces. They don't include any sauces like hot sauce or hoisin sauce to go. Small portions. Will not be coming back. read more

Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place was pretty disappointing. We arrived at 6pm. Our food was only partially brought out at 6:33pm. The remainder of the food we ordered was brought out at 6:45pm. It took over 45 minutes to get all the food we ordered. Part of the problem was the waitress kept bringing out incorrect orders. She mixed up a togo order and our order. Our full order had been packed togo, even though we were sitting right in the restaurant. Then she brought us another patron's order. Then she finally got one of our dishes out. Then finally the last dish. When the check came, it was incorrect at $48. The correct amount was $26. It had items on there that we did not order. The waitress went back and changed some things on the ticket, then brought it back to us. It now read $38. I pointed out it was still incorrect, and she went back for further analysis and calculations. It finally came out at $28, which was only $2 over. So I just paid it because we had to leave. read more

This place is small yet mighty! I've ordered the burger and fries as well as their lunch specials. It is a very small space but this is one of those whole in the walls that is great! The service is normal of what you would expect. They are also quick for phone orders if you're in a rush. read more

Had a 5 spice chicken and bbq pork vermicelli bowls delivered. Both were great. The meat was so flavorful and veggies all super fresh.

I've only been here once but I loved my food and the service. I came on a Sunday afternoon for lunch, the food was great and our waitress was very sweet and helpful. I ordered the Vermicelli with Beef and Imperial Rolls, best one I've ever had. The serving portion was generous and I think worth the cost of $12.95. Those Imperial Rolls were so good, I'd order it by itself for an app too, either way you should try them. We also ordered the Vietnamese coffee and I they served it very fresh, still in the press while still brewing and then you pour it in your cup. I thought that was a nice touch. I will say they have another location just half a block away so I was a little confused on where to go but I still found it and I'm glad I did. I plan to come back when I''m in the mood for a healthy meal. Also love that they have Hawaiian options. SPAM MASUBI FTW. read more

Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant - One of their chicken specials. My friend loved it, especially the soup. - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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There are two locations in SF. While I like the ambiance at the Connecticut St. vs. Valencia/16th, I prefer to order my food at Valencia- my reason may be silly, but the peanut sauce is made so much better at the Valencia location. read more

My friend recommended this place for pho. We both went on Monday and shared the spring rolls as an appetizer. They were good but were kind of falling apart. I got the beef pho and my friend got the veggie pho. I really enjoyed the beef pho. It was very flavorful and was a bug portion. I had to pack some of mine to take back. This place screams authentic rhe minute you walk in. It is very small and there were two women cooking in the kitchen and taking our orders. It is a great local spot! Definitely pay a visit. read more

Very small restaurant right next to the Roxie. The kitchen area seems bigger than the eating area. I imagine that most diners go to the larger eponymous Sunflower Vietnamese around the corner, but I kinda like the casual environment here of watching the takeout customers come and go. Beef Noodle Soup: A no frills pho bo that gets the job done. No choice of beef parts, just thin slices that are transforming from rare-to-well-done as the bowl travels to your table. I'm glad there wasn't any chewy tripe or slimy tendon. But I kinda missed having meatballs. In addition to the traditional accouterments on the side plate, there was a pleasant amount of herbs and thin onion slices floating on top of the broth. I love me some cilantro, so that was perfect. What I really appreciated was the generous amount of broth. I'll gladly trade some rice noodles if extra soup fills the space. Their broth wasn't as amazing as Bodega Bistro's, but was pretty tasty. read more

Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant - Beef Noodle Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Dont have any reason to give them less than 5 stars! Their foods come fresh and big portion I do love the chicken salad ,tender no dry and feel healthy L read more

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I came to Sunflower because my go-to Vietnamese restaurant Jasmine Garden was closed, and I'm so glad I did! Before I get into the food, Sunny and the staff at this restaurant were so great. Everyone eating here knew Sunny's name and said personal goodbyes as they left. It made me appreciate being here and it made me want to return before even tasting the food. We waited for our table for ~10 minutes because everywhere was full when we arrived. Sunny looked apologetic as she waited for a space to clear, but we didn't mind waiting at all! She brought over silverware and waters when we sat down. We started with the shrimp spring rolls, which weren't my favorite, but they were ok. The spring tasted fine and the peanut dipping sauce was fine, but the roll itself was mostly lettuce. It was missing vermicelli noodles or something crunchy, in my opinion. After the rolls we were given our bowls of pho which were great! My boyfriend got the spicy beef and I got the regular beef pho and asked to add broccoli. I really liked both of our broth. The restaurant itself is not the cleanest, and the decor is photos of the menu, but it wasn't too terrible. The prices were reasonable and I would come back! read more

Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant - Beef pho add broccoli - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We got the chicken katsu plate here and the portion was a perfect mid day meal to share between two people. The rice and chicken were cooked perfectly and the breading on the katsu was well seasoned. The katsu sauce and Mac salad were great as well! We got a side of fries as well (not pictured) and the portion was generous. Both items came out to only $15! The staff were sweet and checked in on us regularly. read more

Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant - Small chicken katsu plate - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Have you seen the place? Look at the walls. It felt like a dirty Panda Express. Would never go back.

John Denver comes back from the dead to sing about Sunflower... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eivZd4j5MBs "Sunflower in the Mission makes me nappy Sunflower on my plate can make me cry Sunflower in my tummy feels so gassy Sunflower almost never makes me high..." I have to say I was underwhelmed with Sunflower when I came to eat here last week. I just wasn't feeling a Rocky Mountain High. I ordered one of their $7.95 Lunch Specials where you get the soup in the middle and the barbecue pork, imperial roll and side salad around it. The pork was fine and a hefty portion to boot, but the soup was plain awful, an odd concoction with canned pineapple chunks in a soapy-tasting broth. The imperial roll was a greasy clump and dense to chew. Service was on the lackluster side, especially considering I was the only one in the place at 2:30PM. "If I had a pho that I could give you I'd give to you a pho just like Pagolac's If I had a beef that I could shake for you I'd shake some beef to make you feel this way..." FOOD - 3 stars...just meh to my palate AMBIANCE - 3 stars..."homey" would be a compliment for this place SERVICE - 3 stars...rather bored, isn't she? TOTAL - 3 stars..."FAR OUT!...Thank God, I'm a Banh Mi Boy!"...I'll need to try them again on a good night, I guess read more

Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant - Bar-BQ Pork Lunch Special - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been coming to this little hole in the wall for over 20 years now. If you like Vietnamese food you'll be happy. Their rice plate specials at lunchtime feature a little of soup that is so delicious and I dream about it. Friendly service too! read more

I don't know if Valencia is this massive wind tunnel that makes it pretty chilly but it also only accentuates the warm comforting scents of Vietnamese home-cooking from Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant whenever you walk by. I had my very first Bún here. The "never ending bowl" of Bún to be clearer. We were so stuffed from that big bowl of vermicelli, veggies, BBQ pork, and those delectable Imperial rolls. I really love the Imperial rolls here - just crispy things of yumminess. Most of the dishes here are really yummy too and you can smell it in the restaurant. I will call out the clay pot rice. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/RW6XYLXNxLHZFQKc4bczlw?select=GGfl0I6d3mfKKdcrLboD5g#o_HJ_xRrAn55r3r4XxTi7A) It's just so comforting to enjoy this warm pot of chicken, shrimp, chinese sausage, onions, and rice that soaks up all that hoisin sauce - especially the crispy bits by the side of the pot. On chilly SF days, this is just hard to beat. In the land of tacos and burritos, Sunflower offers a nice change up that is tasty and affordable. Pity it's often so crowded but there's good reason why there is often a line to be seated. It truly is delicious - you can smell it in the air. read more

Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant - Clay pot rice - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

The Tofu Curry is the best ever, the veggie pho is bland and boring- don't bother! Fried tofu stuffed with lemongrass is strong & flavorful. Oh and the veggie vermicelli huge but flavorless. The garlic noodles (add tofu & veggies) is amazing but not gluten free. But OK real talk. A series of stressful and personal events, on different occasions have happened here for me and I now associate this restaurant with stress. Nothing personal Sunflower, I have conditioned myself to dislike you. read more

Two words...Garlic Noodles!!!! Probably some of the most flavorful noodles I've tasted. Add on the shrimp or beef and you are set. Portions are pretty good here so you definitely get your money's worth. There are 2 locations on the same block. I actually have always gone to the one ON valencia versus the one on 16th but I believe they work the same kitchen. read more

I come here at least once every couple of weeks, and it is one of my totally go-to Vietnamese restaurants. I particularly love their imperial deep-fried rolls. I also love the Hawaiian dishes they serve especially the loco moco dish with beef and a couple of eggs on top. It is truly awesome. Their soups are also very good as are their noodle dishes. I am so glad to have this restaurant in my neighborhood and will be there many times in the future. I also cannot say enough tood about their staff who are always welcoming and polite. read more

The pho bo broth is not good here, I think Thanh Tam is better. If I return, it would be for the fried rice, pork noodle-bun, or lunch specials. Came for a vietnamese iced coffee ($3.21 after tax) and it's bitter and sour without milk. Too sweet with milk. Recommend Mau/Tin instead. read more

I've lived half a block from this place my entire life and just started going a few months ago! Everything I have tried so far is delicious. Initially I went in to try a soup. I was not a fan of the hot and sour soup. I then discovered their noodle soups and always go there when I am in the mood for some chicken noodle soup with extra vegetables for about $10 total. I then heard about their garlic noodles. There is no way I can go there without ordering this. It is a huge portion starting at $8 without chicken or extra vegetables. It is maybe enough for one extremely hungry person, plenty for two, and three can still share this with a side of something else. Either way, this is my absolutely favorite thing here, and a must try. If you are looking for some starters, you can't go wrong with their imperial rolls or spring rolls. So happy I found this gem! Just a heads up, they have a small location on 16th street, between Valencia St. and Albion St., and another bigger location right around the corner on Valencia St. between 16th and 17th. They are literally a 30 second walk from each other. Enjoy! read more

My job was having an impact meeting and decided to order food from this spot. Unfortunately for me, I only eat American new food. I didn't want to seem like a non-team player so I ordered something that looked really simple after reviewing the photos on Yelp. I ordered the Lemongrass chicken & green beans that includes steamed rice. Unfortunately, they forgot my steamed rice so I cannot even eat the food. I will say that I smelled the food and it smelled pretty good. I'm always skeptical of trying other cultures' food because it's too authentic and I cannot stomach the smells. My coworkers love this place and eat here at least once a week through delivery. Today our order consisted of food for more than ten people so they declined to deliver through Door Dash to Treasure Island where our offices are stationed. I'm sure I won't eat here again unless I have to but I'd have to ensure I receive the steamed rice. Hopefully my daughter will like it for dinner. read more

Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant - Lemongrass chicken & green beans. They forgot my steamed rice - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Hawaiian BBQ is the best.. Mac salad on point...food is usually got ready and fast great taste..

I think Sunflower is okay in terms of standard Vietnamese food, but they excel in making tasty vegetarian alternatives. My friend is a vegetarian, so we're always on a lookout for a restaurant we can both enjoy. Sunflower is perfect for the both of us. They have great vegetarian noodle soups and a yummy vegetarian banh xeo. You won't even miss the meat! Tips and Tricks -There's a whole back section of the menu for veggie offerings read more