My group of 5 walked in with no reservations at 5pm on a Saturday. It had a cool atmosphere and it was nicely decorated. They are one of the few restaurants offering northern style Vietnamese dishes. I used to go to their old location on Bryant St and it looks like the recipes haven't changed. I personally like southern dishes more but once in a while I like to switch it up. My favorite dishes were the nem cua, bun cha hanoi and pho ga. I didn't like the chicken wings but again that's the style. It usually comes in 4 pieces but the staff was able to accommodate and charge extra for 1 piece. Food came out within 15 minutes of ordering. They are very generous with all their noodle dishes. It's too much noodles for me though. Note: tips are added AFTER the grand total. read more

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Honestly, everything we got was really good. It's actually kind of hard to find solid viet coffee in SF, but the coffee here was strong in a good way. I ordered the cafe muoi and the salted cream on top was so good, it really brought out the flavor of the coffee instead of overpowering it. We ordered two pho dishes, but the Pho Ap Chao really stood out to me. It was my first time having pan fried noodles in soup form, and it reminded me of beef chow fun (gon chow ngau hor) but with broth. Super unique. We also tried the imperial roll, which had a really nice texture. Honestly liked it more than a typical egg roll. The spring rolls were also really good. The veggies tasted fresh, which made them really refreshing. read more

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Great location on California Street in FiDi. Went Friday lunchtime. Restaurant with modern design. Service was attentive. *imperial roll was hot and tasty. I think I will order that as entree next time. *3 ppl ordered Banh mi and other 3 ppl ordered pho. *Banh mi felt a bit dry in my opinion. Flavor was mild. *I would have liked condiments (salt/pepper/hot sauce) at the table. *I was expecting basil, bean sprouts, like you usually get at other Vietnamese restaurants, but they didn't offer any with pho. I think they got jalapeño and lime. *I agree with other commenters - I would like itemized printed receipt prior to paying. read more

We were luckily enough to grab brunch right before the lunch rush that quickly filled the restaurant. Service was quick and food arrive fast after ordering. We grab some appetizers: house made crab chips (kid pleaser) and fresh pork & shrimp spring rolls which comes with 4 pieces with peanut sauce. For entree: we got pho ga (chicken pho) which is what they're popular for and Bún Chá Hà Nôi (Hanoi's style grilled pork, patty served with vermicelli noodle & herbs) which was extremely flavorful! Server were tentative to refill our waters and check in here and there during our visit. Bathroom stalls were clean as well. read more

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The reason I'm giving this a 1-star is due to the extremely hostile business practices around tipping and fees. The final bill includes a 5% junk fee that is not present anywhere on their menu (see photos). Not only are they not upfront about this (which is illegal), when checking out, the server did not give us an itemized bill and prompted us to tip. Not only that, but I had to explicitly ask for the receipt, because the server took the device away without letting me choose to print or email it. They apply the tip on top of both the junk fee AND the tax. I was suspicious because the tip options were all far higher than they should've been for 2 bowls of pho ($43). This aside - I would probably rate the overall food a low 3 star. We ordered both the chicken and beef pho; the broth was okay, as far as a light broth goes, but it was odd to pair it with the beef pho as well. The aroma of the raw meat, combined with the chicken broth, wasn't pleasant. The noodles were just okay; not traditional, and also was not as chewy as I would hope for them to be. $21.5 is a steep price to pay for some average pho. I would not come back again. read more

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I've heard so much about Turtle Tower over the years and finally stopped by for dinner recently. The ambience was a lot more upscale than I expected. The food here lived up to the hype! I know this place is probably more known for the pho ga, but I was craving beef instead of chicken. So I went with pho bo dac biet (#4), the beef combination pho instead. It was so good! I loved how light yet flavorful the broth was. I usually find restaurant broth too salty, so this was a pleasant surprise. read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place was so good over 10 years ago when it was still located in the tenderloin. Now, it definitely lost its flavor. Here are my ratings: Grilled oysters 3.5/5 Bun Cha Hanoi 3.5/5 Rice with beef stir fry 2/5 Imperial rolls 4/5 Chicken Pho with giblets 2/5 It was well a well known and delicious chicken pho spot before but I don't recommend it anymore. It was very bland and did not have any good flavor. I would not come back to this place b read more

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Our party of two was seated immediately around 6:00pm this past Saturday. The restaurant had a beautiful and inviting atmosphere, and we appreciated the prompt and friendly service during our visit. To drink, we got a glass of the tortoise creek pinot noir and jasmine hot tea. The wine was good, and the tea came with itty bitty cups that required repetitive pouring. To eat, we ordered nem cua (fried imperial rolls), tôm bọc chiên giòn (crispy shrimp wontons), and pho bo dac biet (beef combo rice noodle soup). The pho was flavorful but there were not enough veggies in the dish. The fried imperial rolls were nice and crispy though the taste didn't really stand out. My favorite item was the crispy wontons with a large piece of shrimp in each, and great seasoning, wrapped in a delicious fried shell. Simple but yummy. All in all, we had a positive experience. read more

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I've always known turtle tower to be a northern pho spot. I went a couple times 10 years ago and remembered they had white vinegar served on the side of their northern styled Pho, which I liked a lot. They have since updated their menu and now serve more modern/ common selection... which I don't think plays to their strengths:/ The chicken pho is bland. But I was able to enjoy mine after adding a half a tablespoon of salt lol. I know a lot of folks who would prefer this type of broth, though. It's just not something I look for. The Pho Ap Chap was a highlight because of the Wok Hei flavor on the noodles and veggies. Unfortunatley the broth was bland. I think the Ap chao could have been a staple of its own, but appreciate them trying to do something new. Service was quick and kind. The space is nice, ready for corporate events in downtown now lol.. I might come back to try their non broth dishes. read more

Turtle Tower - The Pho Ap Chao, very interesting! - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came in part of post Let's Glow as it was one of the restaurants that offer a discount - though the staff weren't aware... Just felt like having warn soup after touring half the illuminations and it was perfect! I got #6 Pho Ap Chao, which is pan-fried veggies with pan-fried noodles. While I couldn't tell the pan-friedness of the noodles, the sautéed veggies definitely came through and it was a lovely addition to the flavor. Different from the usual pho imo. The Thai tea was also not too sweet and a perfect pairing. Especially so since I almost burned my tongue on the soup because it was so good but didn't stop me from chugging it down! read more

Turtle Tower - Thai Tea & #6 Pho Ap Chao (Pan-fried beef with celery, carrots, onions, & leeks pan-fried noodle soup) - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Turtle Tower serves northern style Vietnamese cuisine in downtown San Francisco. The rare beef pho and the chicken rice plates were both flavorful and filling. We were seated immediately upon arrival around lunch time. Our server was very attentive and the ambiance is nice. I'll have to come back and try something else next time. read more

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Found this place while working on Market street and I'm so happy I did! I don't know why but I didn't love the name so I almost didn't go here. ‍ Anyways I am so glad I ended up here for lunch! The veggie Pho and the Thai coffee really got me through my afternoon and it was delicious! The restaurant was really nice and much larger than it looks from the outside. The staff was soooo nice! Even helped me find an ear bud I dropped like a jackass ‍ It bounced and rolled, took a min to find they even moved tables for me ‍‍ I definitely recommend this place and plan to go back. read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Quick take: Yum yum Finally tried out the new revamped Turtle Tower in FiDi. It's a completely different atmosphere. Lost some of the original esthetics. Immediately knew I wanted to order #9 Pho Ga. The noodles were overcooked. Broth was good. The pork spring rolls were good. Good peanut dipping sauce. This place is open late on weekends for all the party people. read more

Turtle Tower - #9 Pho Ga - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I really enjoy the ambiance here, it's unique from other pho places I've been to in the city. The food was good, however, I wouldn't put it above other spots. We got the large pho which was a hefty portion, enough for dinner and the next days lunch. We also got the rice plate with pork. I enjoyed it, but it was lacking sauces. I asked for hoisin to pair with it but they didn't have any which was surprising. Anyways, the service was great and I enjoyed my time but not jumping to go back. read more

Turtle Tower - Large pho - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've long heard about this pho place, but since it was in the Tenderloin of SF, I wasn't particularly motivated to go. It was closed during the pandemic and opened two locations, one in Marina district and the other in FiDi, which is the main store. The main restaurant is beautifully decorated! Very modern, fitting for the FiDi neighborhood. They had plenty of servers and service was quick, friendly, and efficient. I always thought pho uses beef as the main protein but this place's claim to fame is its chicken pho. And wow, its taste was amazing! The broth was clear, not oily, and delicious. The chicken meat was really tender and tasty. I was curious about the name so I asked and researched and learned that Turtle Tower is a real structure in the middle of a lake in Hanoi and is a symbol of peace and pride for Vietnam. That explains their cuisine of northern Vietnam style. read more

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Was quite surprised to see an upscale looking turtle tower in the financial district, as I was only familiar with the old location. Vibes definitely feel great for corporate meals, but it feels like the pricing is also marked up for such. Good portion size and great food if you're looking for standard pho choices - wish they had more options though like rare beef with lemon juice. Nice service and vibes, but might not dine here outside of work setting due to price read more

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Minimal street parking, but it's SF, so you can't expect much. The interior is nicely decorated. More modern than the original spot. The Pho Ga is not as flavorful as I remembered. It's bland and lacking in flavor. The add on giblet was plentiful, but too pricey as an add on (not worth it). The tom boc chien gion was probably the best thing we got. It was crispy and made to order. Loved the side of noodles with the greens to wrap, but too pricey for the amount (4 pcs). The Hau Nuong (grilled oysters) was the second best thing. Lots of flavors and toppings. The Com Ga hoac Bo Xao Ca Chua (number 13) was edible, but that's about it (don't get it, I would not recommend). This was our first time here and will be our last. read more

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Fast and friendly service by team members especially Sarai who made our dining experience memorable. Delicious and crave-able cocktails, appetizers, Northern-style Pho and Banh Mi in a nicely decorated and clean restaurant with awesome lounge music in the background. read more

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FRIED ITEMS IN SOUP I'm not a fan of pho as I tend to find the broth bland. That may be because of the raw meat and cold condiments dilute the broth. I came here for lunch to celebrate my co-worker's one year anniversary at work. When I looked at the menu one item that caught my attention was pho ap chao. It was a pho that included pan-fried beef and noodles. I thought that was unique to have fried items in a soup. When I got my pho ap chao what I noticed was the oil in the broth. How was the pho ap chao? Having fried items in a soup change the texture of the broth. From appearance the broth isn't clear. When I tasted the broth it was hearty. The fat and oil from the pan-fried beef and noodles make the broth robust. Most of the time when I order pho I don't like to finish the broth because it tends to lose flavor. However the pho ap chao I ate at Turtle Tower was one of the most savory and flavorful broth I ever had in pho due to the fried items. read more

Turtle Tower - Phở áp chảo - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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turtle tower in San Francisco was such an awesome visit. Although they didn't have all the fixed ingredients that I remember in the tenderloin, if you're a regular just like me, you would know it would be on the secret menu. I brought my girlfriend with me to her first time and asked if she had anything better than this. The service was awesome, it brought me back to my childhood memories of going after church with my grandmother. And the ambience of the restaurant had a time capsule next to the bathroom as to how this all unfolded read more

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Food - ordered the pho ga, spring rolls and the chips. Pho was pretty good. But they didn't have siracha which was kind of weird. Service - was ok. We were seated quickly but after that, we had to keep flagging staff down for water and to get the bill so they could have been a little more attentive. Ambiance - super nice interior, clean, cozy. read more

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So I do realize we are in the heart of downtown San Francisco and everything is getting expensive so the prices are what they are. That being said there are many other places in SF where you can get a bowl of Vietnamese noodles for half the price. They add on the bill 20% service charge for large party (we had 9) Healthy SF charges 6%? and with sales tax the add on $ to food was $77.00... oh well Total $277 for 9 people = just under $31 per person for noodles. We did have 2 orders of spring rolls (each roll had 2 shrimp where other restaurants will give you 3 shrimp. Beautiful restaurant interior and nice staff. So for a more upscale dinner experience this is pretty nice. But I prefer good value more than ambiance... that's just me I know. We still had a good time and everyone enjoyed the food. Happy New Year folks! read more

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Swung by for lunch on a Saturday. The place was busy and bustling, and all the seats are very close together. I loved the flavor of the soup! The portions were good, but the meal definitely was on the pricier side. The restaurant is open later than most, so I can definitely see myself coming here when I'm craving hot soup on a late night out. read more

Turtle Tower - Pho Tai - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

THE BIG: Vietnamese restaurant in downtown SF. The resetaurant is named after the histroic turtle tower in Hanoi and generally famousfor it's northern style pho. Trippy interior with mirrors all around. Limited parking and recommend ridesharing or public transportation. THE BLACK AND WHITE: The wife and I came here for dinner on a Thursday night. It looked busy and fortunately we were able to grab a table walking in. For food, we got the Large pho chin and the bun cha ha noi. Food came out so fast and the broth is very clean and warming. Great for a windy night in SF. The bun cha was alright. I wanted to be reminded of my bun bo nam bo (bun cha variation) from Vietnam but it didn't. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall the damage done was around $50 for the two dishes. Pretty good vietnamese cuisine and worth a try if you're in the downtown area. read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Tried Turtle Tower with some friends in FiDi SF on a Friday evening. There was a short wait, and the place was bustling! One of the rare SF restaurants open super late -- they stay open till 3am on Fridays and through the weekend, which is perfect for late-night eats. There's also a bar counter if you're looking to grab a drink with your pho. - Pho Ga -- free-range chicken rice noodle soup served in a hot, savory chicken broth; comes with tender shredded chicken and green onion garnish. A delicious northern Vietnamese version of pho that swaps the traditional beef broth for chicken. Be sure to add hoisin and sriracha to level up the flavors and your protein game. Service was friendly and welcoming from the moment we walked in, and the staff gave great recommendations. Turtle Tower leans into northern Vietnamese flavors with their signature chicken broth-based pho, which stands out from the more common southern-style beef versions. Ambience was clean and trendy -- definitely an elevated & slightly pricier take on your typical pho spot, which fits the FiDi vibe well. Portions are generous, and a warm bowl of pho definitely hits the spot on a windy SF night or after a night out. If you've never had chicken pho, check out Turtle Tower!! read more

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I'm going to say it--I miss the Tenderloin location. It had a...how do you say...certain "je ne sais quoi." This location is nicer and gets a lot of finance and tech bros. I like how it's very central and easily accessible via bike, foot, BART, Muni, or cable car. Prices have gone up, but portions are still very large. Came here for lunch with coworkers and there's something for everyone. People enjoyed banh mi, imperial rolls, Vietnamese Coffee, and more. I loved my #4 beef pho with Thai tea. They did not scrimp on meat--beef was very plentiful and I like the veggie toppings. Broth was warm, complex, and smooth. The Thai tea was pretty sweet. Service was friendly and helpful and quick. The new interior reminds me of an upscale breakfast diner with the booths and bar. It's fun! Will be back. I like how they stay open late--10pm, 9pm, or 3am depending on the night! They should get lots of people there! read more

Turtle Tower - #4 beef pho with Thai tea and Vietnamese coffee in back - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wanted a "lighter lunch" since we have dinner plans, so came here. This is the style of pho where there is no hoisin sauce available, no bean sprout or basil that accompanies your pho. I got the pho chay (veggie pho) and flavor was perfect, didn't need any accruements. Tried the grilled oysters, very well seasoned. The sauce was tasty. Service was friendly and helpful. Would come back. read more

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Solid work lunch with generous portions and friendly service! We tried the imperial rolls which were nice and crispy, and the bowl of pho were comforting on a rainy SF day. The broth was fine, and the noodles were well-cooked. The regular size was pretty large. I wish there was hoisin sauce. Total for two for two bowls of pho plus an appetizer were $60. Service was pleasant and we were able to talk our time at chat. read more

===TL;DR=== - 9. Pho ga - 11. Bun thang w/ no greens - G. Tom boc chien gion ===TMI=== So happy to hear that turtle tower has returned! Though I'm lowkey said they went from a homey mom and pop restaurant to now an upscale model. The vibe is definitely different. Onto the pho ga we've all missed! Sadly I feel like the proposition downsized compared to the OG portion but the price went up..... smh. I've had it once as take out and once as dine in..... both versions were on the salty side. I was happy to reunite with bun thang again since I couldn't find a simile version elsewhere but some felt missing. It wasn't as flavorful as before. Lastly the crispy fried shrimp wrap was good but not for that price good. The new restaurant looks nice but parking might be difficult for folks that's not in the FiDi district. Service was also cool, our waters were always refilled. read more

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I personally didn't love anything that we ordered. I ordered the rare beef pho and the meat didn't taste like good quality. The beef was also not cut up properly so it was a little bit difficult to eat. I had to rip it apart myself. The Bahn Mi sandwich wasn't anything special, the bread didn't seem fresh and was dry. The service was good and the space is nice. I don't know if I would come back. read more

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Love the pho and the service! The bun cha was okay in my option. I felt like it was missing some fish sauce flavor. My husband and I came on a Thursday evening and were seated immediately. We ordered a Large #1 and a Pork Bun Cha. The pho is very clean. I liked the broth, soft noodles and the large was huge. Our order came out in 10min, so quick. Overall I would just come back for the pho. read more

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Came in during a weekday lunch rush and luckily got seated right before a slew of people came in! It's not a huge restaurant, but there are plenty of tables + bar seating, although tables are sat closely together. I ordered the pho ga, and my bf ordered the pho chin. I thought the pho ga was very delicious and perfect for the cold weather. The pho chin broth was very different from your typical pho broth. It tasted like the spices were toasted, almost having an earthy flavor. He wasn't a fan, but I thought it was a unique flavor that isn't found at any other place. Absolutely love that the service is fast and attentive, but I'm not sure if the prices justified at $20 a bowl. read more

Turtle Tower - Pho Ga - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm stoked that Turtle Tower is back in SF. The original TL spot was a classic and its pho ga deserved every bit of my original 5 star rating. The new Fidi location might look and feel different, but it definitely didn't disappoint. I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 mainly because the prices have gone up significantly. The food is still great and the space is much nicer, but it feels like it graduated into the "upscale Vietnamese" tier. The TL spot had that charming hole in the wall vibe where you could show up hungover in pjs and still feel at home. I ordered the classic pho ga and obv with extra chicken skin and jalapeños. It tasted just like the original TL version, but in a prettier bowl. The broth was clean, deep, and unbelievably comforting. The noodles were chewy and bouncy in a way that makes you accidentally slurp too loudly, then wish you ordered more after it's finished. It's the perfect dish especially as the weather gets colder in SF I also tried the baked oysters, which were obviously a newer, fancier addition to their menu. They were packed with flavor and the oysters were fresh. But if I'm being honest, I don't know if I'd order them again. The pho is still the headliner here and the generous portions make it an easy choice. Go for the large size - better value and you WILL finish it bc it's that good. Im absolutely coming back but probably won't be popping in or ordering takeout as often as I used to. The new location feels more like a spot for a nice group dinner or lunch spot where you have to wear proper clothes (instead of just sweats/pjs). Turtle Tower has grown up a bit, and I guess the rest of us have to do the same. read more

Turtle Tower - Baked oysters - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I came here on a Saturday night around 6pm and this place was already pretty busy. They have a little iPad that you can use to put yourself on the wait list. I was the third person and while they had tables available, it felt like they didn't have enough staff to seat everyone and take orders. I eventually was seated after about a 10 minute wait. Service was super friendly but not attentive since they seemed spread thin between the number of diners and takeout orders they were dealing with. From getting here, to getting my food, and leaving, this whole meal took a little over an hour. So, it's not your typical pho restaurant that you can pop in and pop out pretty quickly. The pho was still good as I remembered from their previous location. When I first dined with them years ago, I did not appreciate fresh noodles like I do now. The broth is rich and loaded with tons of meat and noodles. I would totally come back again when I am craving Northern style pho. read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

JUST LIKE BEFORE! I've been a turtle tower fan since the Geary days and I'm so glad this location kept up with the Geary standard. Their Pho Ga is phenomenal, of course. We got spring rolls and the pandan waffle as apps/dessert to pair with our own individual bowl of Pho Ga. The space is definitely revamped to be trendy and modern. The price has definitely increased but what's new. Our server can be nicer and not so aggressive when taking our orders and shoving us with the bill. read more

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I MISSED YOU! Turtle tower is back and is better than ever. For as long as I can remember, I wanted to like Turtle Tower on 6th street because the pho ga was delish but ALWAYS made my stomach hurt afterwards. This time around, we ordered from this location and the pho ga was perfect. It must have been opposite day because I had a tummy ache to begin with and wanted some soup. Turtle tower hit the spot. The texture of the noodles was absolutely perfect- nice chew on the fat noodles. The broth was not too salty. The chicken was nice and not dried out. What's most impressive is that pho usually does not travel well, but we ordered via doordash and it made it in one piece! I LOVE YOU TURTLE TOWER. DON'T EVER LEAVE ME AGAIN. read more

think I should've ordered the beef pho over their most popular (which is chicken base). Personal preference read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was finally able to visit the reopened, new location of my all time favorite for Northern Style Vietnamese Pho Ga, Turtle Tower! I've been a fan of brother Phan's dishes their entire existence. I started off frequenting their original location 23 yrs ago, the one on the corner in the middle of Larkin St and the sometimes sketch alleyway. At that time their dining room only had the front portion but they quickly grew expanding with a back dining area. During this time my coworkers from SF HONDA and I would have lunch here at least 3 times a week! Our signature dish ordered was their beef combo add chicken (I know the Phan family will remember me by this statement). Later in the years I visited their other Larkin location, Geary Blvd location, and finally their location close to my heart on 6th St!! In closing, I just wanted to pay respects to the Phan fam and their beloved Turtle Tower. Almost my life long memories of comfort food always their warm welcome, beautiful smiles, and friendship. *if your wondering what I thought of the new location and food, check my pics (kuddos for bringing your original team in the kitchen back ) read more

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I met a friend for lunch. We were seated very quickly and was able to start with our papaya salad which okay, it had very little flavor so I asked for chilies to give it a bite. I had the chicken pho and my friend had the chicken with egg rice dish. Granted this was my first time here and I was expecting it to be great. I have been to many different restaurants that serve this dish and it was better. Service was excellent! Ambiance is very modern and clean. read more

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I've heard good things of this place and finally decided to try it out. The restaurant is very vibe-y inside, and spacious for a SF restaurant. To start, I had some of the papaya salad. It was super fresh and healthy tasting, with a nice crunch from the peanuts. I then had the vegan pho. Overall it was alright, but severely lacking in flavor to me. The noodles were great, and the broth had a subtle flavor, but the vegetables and tofu had no flavor whatsoever. I would definitely come back to try the banh mi or a different pho with meat, but definitely would not recommend the vegan pho. I also thought the prices were on the high side for the quality of the food. read more

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