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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Came in as a party of four and were seated right away. Every staff member we encountered was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant has a bar inside and is open super late, until 3AM on Fridays and Saturdays! They had lots of seating options along the wall of one side of the restaurant. We ordered a few different types of their large bowls of pho such as the pho ga, pho bo dac biet, and pho tai lan. The best of the three was the pho ga, with its clean golden chicken broth and the juicy chicken chunks. Our least favorite was the pho bo dac biet because the broth was lukewarm and the meat stayed red and raw the whole time. The pho tai lan had a nice smoky taste, but the soup felt a little too oily since the ingredients were stir-fried beforehand. The appetizers was good as well, and I really liked their chicken wings. They were juicy, big, and plump, just the way I like my wings. The fresh rolls were decent too, though nothing out of the ordinary. Overall, this place is a great option when you're in the area and wanted pho. read more

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Dropped by for dinner after a really near by. We were promptly seated and out order was taken, I haven't had Turtle Tower since they returned and I'm glad they're back. The food was good and I loved the cocktail. Great way to end the night. The dining area has these wicker basket ceiling lamps that remind me of my home overseas, so it felt very homey. read more

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It's back! I remember Turtle Tower closing a few years ago, but it's back in FiDi. The new location rocks a warm, casual hip interior with lots of warm colors. Fine for a date night, or more likely, chatting with coworkers over a meal. Mix of bar seating, table seating and minimal diners in the restaurant just before 6pm on a Monday and we were seated right away. Service was friendly, with a few servers checking in on the party during the meal. The menu is pricier than I recall, but it's FiDi so it fits right in and prices have gone up overall in the last few years at all restaurants so it was expected. My friends and I ordered a few pho and the house made shrimp chips. The chips were great: hot, flavorful and great dipping sauce which comes with them. I tried the pho ga, and it was lighter than I recall it being, but still hot and delicious. The downside was the meat was not as tender even after sitting in the hot broth for a while. My friends loved their orders of pho, with a few also disappointed in how not-tender the meat is and it was inconsistent depending on which pho someone got. The regular size is plenty for one person. We didn't get a large, but everyone was glad they went with a regular, size-wise. read more

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Every experience at Turtle Tower is a great one! The servers are always kind to us; they have great knowledge of the menu and they make great recommendations! Their pho is AMAZING! I always order a large so that I can have leftovers, because the leftovers sit well too! I also tried an oyster this time as well. I was a bit hesitant because the oyster was $5, but it was large and did not disappoint! This is a cozy spot that's open late on weekends, the perfect place for an easy date night or for when you need a pick-me-up comfort food night! read more

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Finally tried this legendary spot in person (rather than takeout). Fantastic pho (I got the beef pho), and a surprisingly good cocktail (18 kings). Great service as well. Lives up to the hype! read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Turtle tower was good! I came here with 2 friends for dinner on a weekday night and we were seated right away. We ordered 2 bowls of the #9 (pho ga), 1 bowl of #6 (pho ap chao), and shared an appetizer of chicken wings. The chicken broth for #9 is on the saltier side but hearty and the noodles were good. I tried my friend's #6 and was pleasantly surprised at the smoky taste from the pan fried noodles! It definitely had a stronger pack of flavor and the broth was heavier + thicker than the pho ga. read more

Turtle Tower - chicken wings (appetizer) - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My 7,500th Yelp review is not as momentous a milestone as I like to think it is, but it gives me a good excuse to review a business that I had patronized since 2000, well before Yelp was born. Even though we've had a rollercoaster relationship over the years, I would return to their Little Saigon and later SoMa locations with some frequency until they both sadly closed toward the end of 2023. Imagine my surprise when I saw they had reopened next door to my dentist's office on California Street as an upgraded FiDi restaurant instead of the working class pho house it used to be. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing as changing economics required a revised targeting of their customer base. Prices needed to increase, and in a nutshell, that's the state of the restaurant industry. Back on Larkin Street, Pho Ga used to cost $6.75 for a small bowl, and they offered Pho Ga Long for a dollar more. That's when they added chicken giblets which was my favorite version. Now Pho Ga costs $19.50, and Pho Ga Long is no longer on the menu. I asked if they still offer chicken giblets to which he replied affirmatively that they do but only served on a separate plate. It also cost an additional $7. So how was the sum of all these parts? Good (Photo 8). The lighter Hanoi-style chicken broth survived the cross-town move as did the noodles which still had the familiar chew. The shards of chicken breast were somewhat overshadowed by all the gizzards and livers I piled into my bowl. Their menu also includes rice plates and banh mis, so there are other reasons to return because after all the turmoil they've been through, Turtle Tower deserves a second chance. FOOD - 4 stars...solid but not an everyday bowl anymore... get used to the FiDi prices AMBIANCE - 4 stars...gussied up for the 'hood SERVICE - 3.5 stars...nice enough TOTAL - 4 stars...I hardly knew ya, Turtle Tower RELATED - Exploring the FiDi? Here's my collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2FO2OZN read more

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Turtle Tower is famous for their chicken pho so I had to order the #9 when I came to try their new location in Fidi. The chicken broth is a bit on the salty side but still light and filling with a rich flavor. Noodles are fresh and I appreciate that the chicken is a mix of dark and white meat. Definitely add the jalapenos that are provided on the side for a spicy kick. Prices have definitely gone up with this new location but I'd say it's still worth visiting for a casual meal. Note: that they don't offer any basil, bean sprouts or other herbs on the side as it's not traditional. Next time I come back I'll need to try the appetizers and the beef pho as well. They recently extended the hours until 4am on Fridays/Saturdays. I could definitely see this as a great spot for late night food! read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Somewhat solid for what you get in the heart of Fidi, and good spot for meeting up with coworkers/friends after work We ordered the Pho Ga--super light broth and I was surprised to see the flatter rice noodles. A decent amount of chicken, but I was a bit surprised to not see bean sprouts or the typical toppings (but now that I'm re-reading the menu, I see that they explicitly say "our soups are served without bean sprouts, basil, and hoisin sauce, as is the Ha Noi tradition" lol). Noodles tasted super fresh and were nice and soft We also got the Pho Bo Xao which I liked better. It was super colorful with the slices of carrots, celery, leeks, onions, and beef. The "no broth" was interesting and I liked the viscosity of the liquid, which the noodles nicely soaked up the flavor. Beef was a bit tough, but there were lots of pieces so I was content Staff were super attentive--we were waiting for our friends to park their car, and I think we were checked in on by at least 3-4 waiters/waitresses to see if we needed anything All in all, each dish was ~$20 which is what you can expect in Fidi...definitely not cheap by any means, but reasonable. I don't think I'd realistically crave this food over a more authentic Vietnamese restaurant elsewhere in the city, but then again: (1) I don't know if I'd go to this restaurant for the food (don't get me wrong, it was good!), but rather the location/ambiance would be more of a reason to visit, and (2) I don't normally have Northern Viet food, nor do I think I have the palette to discriminate between Northern vs Southern Viet food read more

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

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Decided to try this new spot with my coworker at lunch time! We decided to go a bit early at 11:30am to beat the lunch rush and boy was that the right decision. During out meal we slowly saw a large crowd waiting outside to be seated. You have been warned - GO EARLY! We bother ordered pho tais and an imperial roll to share. Before we started eating i asked the waitress for some hoisin sauce and they said they dont have any. I guess i didnt read the menu well enough because it said that is the Ha Noi tradition! My badddd. It was really interesting to try a different style of pho, the rare beef was also more minced then thinly sliced... i didnt not like it - but i didnt love it either! The soup was VERY tasy and i couldve drank it all if i wanted to! No notes on the broth! Imperial rolls were pretty standard, nothing new or amazing but solid tastiness. Overall i would come again, but maybe once the hype dies down! read more

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Dinner review. Vietnamese/pho. D. Nem Cua Fried Imperial Rolls with crab, shrimp, pork egg, wood ear mushroom, jicama 8. Phở Sốt Vang Beef-stewed in red-wine rice noodle soup (Good but a little sweet. Probably stick with the other beef options on future visits.) 9. Phở Gà Free-range chicken rice noodle soup 18 Kings coconut fat washed Japanese whisky, thai tea, cardamom Overall, "I'm a fan." read more

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Sooo overjoyed Turtle Tower is back! SOLID PHO- chicken or beef (Northern Style - important to know before coming (i.e., condiments, noodles etc pho style and flavor are different from what we are used to in SF)). This is the perfect comfort food - made with the freshest ingredients and packed with flavor. You can tell they use high quality ingredients..the broth is just amazing and clean, especially the PHO GA. Huge plus - one of my kiddos' favorite meals. So happy they are in FiDi as they are my quick go to lunch spot now. Sometimes it gets crowded at lunch hour but service is quick. Servers are nice. Ambiance is great. For those of you who complain about the prices, please know that the restaurant industry is suffering and very tough to operate right now. Many restaurants are already working on very tight margins - so if you use quality ingredients, it will cost more. Also, if you want someone to take your order and serve you food, especially in the FiDi area, expect to pay more than the previous TL location. Let's be real - would you even frequent the TL location to pay a few bucks less? Just enjoy the space and food. Price is fair. So happy the Pham family is back with their beautiful family establishments and we get to taste authentic Vietnamese food. Chef Steven is still doing what he loves and we are so privileged to have such good Vietnamese cuisine out here. Congratulations! read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

You don't know what you have until it's gone and that sentiment has never rung truer than with Turtle Tower. When they closed their last location, I was devastated. I tried everything to fill the void: hunting down replacements, even attempting to recreate the dishes at home but nothing came close. I held onto hope, and now, my prayers have been answered. Turtle Tower is back, and better than ever. The new location isn't just a return, it's an evolution. The food is still phenomenal (thankfully!), but now the entire experience is elevated. The inviting aromas, the vibrant and modern decor, the upbeat Vietnamese music that fills the space, and the genuinely warm, positive energy. It's a full sensory celebration. Every visit makes me feel joyful and nostalgic all at once. Yes, prices have gone up, but it's absolutely worth it. They're not selling the same thing at a higher price, they've leveled up the entire experience. Elevated food, elevated space, elevated service. I don't care what they charge, I'm just grateful they're back, and I'll never take them for granted again. Some of my all-time favorite dishes include the imperial rolls, spring rolls, bún chả, and honestly, every single noodle soup. And my new obsessions? The pandan waffle and salted coffee are absolutely addictive. Welcome back, Turtle Tower. You were missed. I Love TT PhoEva and Eva. read more

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I've heard great things about turtle tower and how great the pho is. so a group of us came here for lunch since it reopened in downtown. Unfortunately, the wait was around 20+ minutes because we had a party of five and most of the tables were small so we decided to wait for it. The soup broth was very delicious and tasty but for $20 for pho is just too steep. The portion size was small and there weren't that much meat. Normally I can barely finish a bowl but I still feel a bit hungry afterwards. My partner got the sautéed meat and veggies in the broth and he did not like it at all. It was way too oily. Not sure what kind of oil they use for sauté. I think there's definitely a need to adjust pricing and portion size. With so many other great places, I don't think I will be back. read more

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The folks at Turtle Tower were so accommodating for our large group. They really went out of their way to make us feel special & attended to. I ordered the bún chả Hà Nội for lunch, & the server double checked that it was in fact gluten-free. The meal came out with all of the elements separated, which was a fun surprise for me. It took me a moment to realize that I just had to throw it all together. It was a deceivingly large & filling meal! I was so full by the end of it, but powered through because it was just so delicious. I lived vicariously through my co-worker who ordered Vietnamese coffee. She said it was out-of-this-world good. As for ambience, it was very crowded & very loud, but in a way that makes you feel like you're a part of something really special. I could hear the people sitting next to me, & that's really important. Overall a great lunch & I won't hesitate to come back if I'm in the area again. read more

Turtle Tower - Bún Chả Hà Nội - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We had to come try the new turtle tower and it was absolutely satisfying! The broth was deep and aromatic -- you can tell it's been simmered for hours. I ordered the pho tai and the meat was tender and flavorful. The noodles were soft and silky, with lime and jalapeños was a perfect touch. Everything tasted fresh, and the portion size was more than enough. Whether you're feeling under the weather or just craving comfort food, this pho hits the mark. Beautiful modern decor with long counter bar. Definitely coming back but not driving. Parking is scarce in financial district. read more

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Super conveniently located in Fi-Di for a workday lunch! They have an aesthetic, modern dining space and a bar on the side that seemed surprisingly busy on a weekday afternoon. We ordered both the fresh spring rolls and the pho ga as recommended by our waitress. The fresh spring rolls were umami-filled with anchovy-marinated beef, and the pho ga felt like the perfect comfort food for a windy San Francisco afternoon. The pho was a little pricey ($21) for the portion of chicken as were the rolls ($15) for 4 rolls, but I enjoyed the dishes I ordered. I've never tried chicken pho before, so next time I'll definitely try one of the many other Pho choices on the menu. read more

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

Love that turtle tower came back to SF! I came in at lunchtime on a Tuesday and was lucky they had 1 more long table left for my work group to get lunch. Our noodles came out relatively fast after we placed our orders. I ordered their Pho Ga and while I was satisfied, the soup was not as strong and rich as I remembered at their old locations. Still nonetheless, a solid tasting bowl and the chicken is juicy. Gotta love their handmade rice noodles as well. Price point-wise, after their remodel I can understand why it's pricier than their old locations. But the new store on Montgomery is very spacious inside and definitely more accessible. I would come back to try their rice places and drinks. read more

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Came here just after noon on a Tuesday (3 people) and got lucky with a big group leaving, freeing up tables. Make sure your whole party is there or you might get skipped over. It's how we got a table almost right away after being quoted a possible 30-45 minutes wait. Service was prompt and friendly although I think they didn't hear my appetizer order correctly because we received fresh rolls with tofu instead of the fried shrimp we wanted. The fried shrimp came with 4 pieces and were like deep fried wonton. I thought it would be like the rolled up long shrimp. No big deal and tasted good! I got pho ga because I heard the former Turtle Tower was known for their chicken pho. It was good but felt like it was missing a little something. This is northern style pho though, and I'm not used to it as much. They don't serve the soup with all the sides, just a lemon wedge and some slices of fresh jalapeño. There was fish sauce and hot sauce on the side though. Coworkers got pho tai, but I didn't try the broth to compare. They also got a lemonade and cafe muoi. Both loved their drinks and soup. Overall, it's a good spot to have in FiDi, but be prepared to wait a little for a table if you come at prime lunchtime. I never made it to a turtle tower before they closed so I can't comment on what it used to taste like. But the pho is like $20 a bowl here, so it's not a cheap lunch option! read more

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My husband and I decided to stop by for dinner since I've heard great things about this restaurant. I was told that they had the best pho in the city, so I had high expectations that it will blow my mind. We came in on a Saturday around 6pm (without a reservation), and we were immediately seated. I really liked the aesthetics of the restaurant. We ordered their most popular items - Fresh Spring Rolls, Chicken Rice Noodle Soup, and Grilled Pork served with Vermicelli. They were ok, so don't get me wrong, but if I'm paying almost $20 for the bowls and $15 for an appetizer, I am expecting at least some kind of unique twist to it to make up for the price. I also didn't think the dishes were authentic. Sadly, I don't think I'll be coming back since the food was average at best. I wanted to like the restaurant, so it would be a place that I could stop by for dinner after work if I'm ever craving pho/vermicelli. I hope their prices can be adjusted if they continue serving the same items. read more

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So excited that they finally reopened! I really hope they open many more stores in the future! This is one of my favorite noodle places. Their rare beef is my favorite. I've waited soooo long for this reopening, and yet it's still a soft opening for now they said. Either which way, I'm a huge fan, and I'm hoping they expand Bay Area wide. Their rare beef is like a minced beef with green onions, a lemon slice and noodles, that mix well together in noodle heaven. They have their crispy crab eggrolls back, but mixed with meat inside. Still wonderful, and still one of my favorites! Again, hard to find parking but if you're near Embarcadero then you're in luck because you should definitely eat here! read more

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Flavors are so off! You won't find great Vietnamese flavors from this place. Whoever runs this place needs to find a new chef or something. We had dinner, ordered a good amount of items thinking, yeah, it's Turtle Tower, we can't go wrong since they have a great history. I was wrong, everything we ordered lacked flavor, flavors were off, soup was watered down, staff serving had dirty gloves digging into the soup when serving. All this was off putting. Service was amazing, that was their only salvation. read more

A welcome addition to the Financial District! As a patron of Barbacco for many years, I'm happy to see another great quality-casual option open up in the neighborhood. I walked in at 6pm on a Tuesday with no reservation and was sat almost immediately. This was my first time at Turtle Tower, so I wanted to get a good mix of things to try and decided on: (1) fresh spring rolls w/beef, (2) papaya salad, (3) beef and veggie noodles (no soup), and (4) pandan waffles. The beef spring rolls were very fresh, but lacked flavor and needed more beef. They came with a fermented sardine sauce I was not a fan of, but my server offered an optional peanut sauce that was delicious (it was flavorful and almost chocolatey!) The papaya salad was great; extremely fresh and refreshing with a little spice. The beef and veggie noodles were very tasty. Again, all the ingredients, including the beef, were very fresh and high quality. It wasn't a soup, but was still "soupy" with a lot of viscous sauce. My only complaint about the dish was a heavy taste of liquid smoke on the noodles, which I am not a fan of. The pandan waffles were very unique, smelled and tasted amazing! What a fun treat. They came with fresh whipped cream and my server also drizzled a little condensed milk on top which took it over the edge. Overall, I was happy with my meal and plan to return and try more menu items. The strengths of the cuisine are the freshness and quality of ingredients, although some dishes could use a flavor correction. read more

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Turtle Tower is back, but this time in Fidi! The interior is nice, but tables are pretty close together. I tried the rare steak pho, and it reminded me of the texture from Pho Hanoi in south bay! Super tender and yummy, but the noodles were a but soft/overcooked. Overall yummy but $20 for a bowl of pho is quite steep! Not sure if I'd come here over other pho places in the city. read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

So excited for some high quality Vietnamese to hit the FiDi, since there's been a huge void after Slanted Door left us in the Ferry Building. Soft opening, so apparently still a few kinks. Quite a crowd for lunch! Nem Cua: I wanted to add an imperial roll to my vermicelli bowl, but apparently that's not an option during the soft opening. So I ordered the appetizer, which was priced like a main. The imperial rolls were crispy and meaty. Same lettuce, herbs and vermicelli noodles so it's almost like a vermicelli bowl as well. Gỏi Cuộn Bò: While I usually love Vietnamese beef, I was not a fan of this spring roll. The anchovy sauce was way too fishy for my sensibilities. Way more fishy than nước chấm. Gỏi Cuộn Tôm Thịt: Now this spring roll was perfect. Lots of veggies and herbs, some shrimp on top and pork in the middle. A nice peanut dipping sauce, albeit a skimpy portion. Bún Chả Hà Nội: Really tasty grilled pork slice and smoky grilled pork patties in a small bowl of broth sauce. Same mix of lettuce, herbs and vermicelli noodles as in the imperial rolls appetizer. As an appetizer with the rolls, this configuration felt like a big portion, but as a main it felt kinda small. Phở Gà: I went early one day to ensure they didn't run out of their signature soup or fresh noodles. I'm normally a beef pho type of guy, but had to go with what they're known for. Very flavorful for chicken soup. Mostly white meat and some skin, with a few bits of dark meat. You don't get a ton of add-ins, just a lemon wedge to squeeze and some jalapeño slices. While it's definitely pricier than many bowls of phos, relative other dishes here it felt like a decent price-to-portion ratio. Phở Bò Ðặc Biệt: Their beef pho is solid, but it's hard to live up to their chicken pho which is just amazing. Also, this combo included some tripe, which wasn't mentioned on the menu. Not a fan of tripe. Think I'll just stick with Sai's somewhat nearby for a classic beef pho. Phở Ap Chảo‍: I've never had beef pho prepared this way. It was stir fried beef and stir fried veggies and even some stir fried rice noodles, dumped into the beef pho broth. I was skeptical, but ended up really loving it! The pan searing and oil added a very distinct nice taste to it. Café Sữa: This Vietnamese coffee came out quick and in a glass, so must have been pre-made instead of brewed to order. Strong coffee flavor. Café Muối: Definitely worth the $1 more for all the creamy foam on top of the regular Vietnamese coffee. Not that salty at all. read more

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Wow, TT certainly got a glow up! This new location in the financial district is a very different vibe than the original location. It's definitely more upscale and catered to the downtown demographic. I was happy to see that they've added a lot of dishes to the menu! I was a fan of the oyster appetizer, which is nicely garnished with crispy garlic and has a tangy sauce. I also liked the crab chips. And you can order cocktails here--they were pretty good! Given the menu expansion, I ordered only new dishes, but I kind of wish I tried the chicken pho so I could compare it to the original. Will have to do that next time and report back. read more

Love the Pho here, was super excited and happy to know that Turtle tower was opening in Fidi and a surprise that they are open on weekends (opening hours subject to change I believe). Got the Pho ga (chicken) which was exactly the warm hearty bowl of soup needed for a cold windy day. The broth was rich but not overly oily, and I love their chili sauce too. Chicken was also really tender. Portion size was good for the steep price of $19.50 for chicken pho, but definitely wish the prices were a bit more affordable for a bowl of Pho. Service and interior were really nice and much bigger than I expected. The waiter also said their menu is expected to be much more extensive with cocktails and alcoholic drinks coming soon when they do their grand opening. read more

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

Currently in soft opening, dine in only option but you can take leftovers to go. They open at 11AM & my office is a block away so I was able to arrive around 11:30 to beat the crowd as almost all tables were taken by noon. They are famous for their chicken pho so I ordered that in addition to a Thai iced tea. The chicken pho was delicious & the broth was light but very flavorful. The Thai iced tea was refreshing. Service is friendly & efficient. Come early or make a reservation. I'll be back to try more items. read more

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A great spot in FiDi that's open 7 days a week! (A rarity for FiDi Restaurants). We walked in on a Saturday around noon and there was a small line of people waiting for tables. We could be seated right away though because we only had 2 people for bar seating. They have a great menu with all the Vietnamese classics like pho, rice plates, and vermicelli plates. We both got pho and it totally hit the spot. The service was so fast. The spring rolls came out right away and were delicious with the peanut sauce. read more

Turtle Tower - Spring rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I used to love coming to Turtle Tower, a hole in the wall mom & pop shop in the Richmond district or the TL! Now it's an upscale restaurant with prices that definitely reflect that. On the upside, the food is just as yummy as I remember it. They serve northern style Vietnamese pho so it's clearer, lighter, with minimal garnishes. It tastes a lot more homey! I think Turtle Tower is trying to mimic what Gao is doing - upscale Vietnamese food with great service and a fun & lively atmosphere. Their service is great (went from 1 server & 1 cashier to a whole team), the atmosphere is fun, but the menu needs work. It's solid but it doesn't have that wow factor. The food that they serve doesn't match the atmosphere. I don't mind paying $35 for a bowl of pho & a drink after tax & tip but I need to leave feeling satisfied. I never finish my food - I have a small appetite and prefer to eat several meals a day vs a large meal but I finished my entire bowl of pho & was still hungry afterwards. If you look at old photos of Turtle Tower, they used to be so generous with the protein + toppings. I got like 6 slivers of chicken in my chicken pho. You can see in the photo how little chicken there was. I also asked for extra green onion and compared to their old standards - it was less than the standard amount they used to give. There are A LOT better places in the Bay Area for pho, whether you want a hole in the wall or an upscale establishment. The new revamp misses the mark and I miss what it used to be back then. read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came for a work lunch with some colleagues and it was popping. I'm sure the staff here don't stop. We were a group of about 11 people. Overall, the service was quick and the staff were pleasant. We ordered some apps to share and then an entree each. I enjoyed the spring rolls w/ peanut sauce and the beet salad. I got the #2 Pho - rare beef. A local recommended this because the beef keeps cooking in the broth and what a great hack! So I will share that tidbit of knowledge with yall. I also got the Cafe Muoi, which was a great pick me up for a cold SF day. My only gripe is that I wish they would leave a carafe of water at the table. read more

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One of the newest restaurants to open near the Embarcadero. You wouldn't think that this is a Vietnamese fusion place by its title. Picked up a Chicken Banh Mi here and I have to say I've had better at other places. First, the sandwich was not on a traditional toasted baguette. Second, they seem to replace the mayo spread with butter instead but it might actually work if you had them both together. Finally, my sandwich was cold where it should be a hot one. For nearly $15 I had to shell out, this was a sad experience. Don't know about the other dishes here but the sandwiches are disappointing sorry. read more

Turtle Tower - Plain Chicken Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Conveniently located restaurant in FiDi and was able to walk in and get seated immediately for a Tuesday dinner, though the restaurant was quite packed and a bit noisy. Had the chicken pho and pho bo xao (pan fried rice noodle with beef and veggies). Thought both dishes were quite solid and enjoyed how chewy the noodles were. Especially liked the chicken pho broth. read more

Turtle Tower - Chicken pho and pho bo xao - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I am going to be honest. Best thing here was the drinks and ambiance . This place is overpriced and the food is terrible. Save your self some trouble and money and make the trip down to Sais. Same type of food but actually edible. I had the shrimp wrapped in wonton, it was okay, but the shrimp inside were tiny. Definitely not worth $15. Then the main dish the #15 with pork. Pork was tough and tasteless like a sole of a shoe. Rice was bland, egg was made well but still no seasoning which is rare for this type of restaurant. Plus it was cold. Took two bites and asked for my check. That's how bad it was. The server was very nice and offered to switch it but I doubted anything would have came out right. I paid and left an entire plate of food! I will never go back here. Went to Sais and had the best meal ever! read more

Turtle Tower - The dragon - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Made it to the newly re-opened Turtle Tower and very glad to see Turtle Tower back in SF! Definitely feels like a more elevated dining experience but still with the same quality of food. Not unexpected but the prices have gone up since the last time they were open. Years ago a friend told me to modify their Pho Ga order with pan fried noodles instead of the regular noodles, and I have never gone back! I was able to order it again today and it did not disappoint. The pan fried noodles make the soup richer and adds an extra smokiness. Very good and highly recommend! read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here on a late night (~10p) after a friend's birthday, easy street parking along the road (but probably busier during the day as this is in the Financial District). Pretty empty when we arrived and we were seated quickly. The restaurant is large inside, with at least 10-12 tables, and bar seating. We both ordered pho ga, one regular and one large. The large had probably about 60% more noodles in a much bigger bowl with more broth. Although I'm not usually a chicken pho person, this definitely hit the spot. The chicken tender and the broth had nice flavor. The late night hours are a huge plus (3am on Fri/Sat) - now we always have a spot to get late night pho! read more

Wow wow wow, Turtle tower is back like it never left! Of course, we got the chicken pho, spring rolls, and imperial rolls and all the dishes were fire! The chicken pho was so flavorful, warm, and nostalgic on a cold SF day. The spring rolls were fresh and the imperial rolls were so crunchy! 10/10 would recommend! Also, don't forget to make a ressie if you're coming during the lunch rush, this place is packed and rightfully so! read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm thrilled that this beloved legendary Northern style pho spot has reopened! My boyfriend and I came during the family and friends event prior to the soft opening, and it was touching to see everyone who came out to support. The interior is modern and pretty with the lanterns, red lighting, and rustic brick wall. We sipped on the Thai tea and the cafe muoi, a must-get salted Vietnamese coffee. This sweet and salty drink is absolutely incredible as the salted cream topping gets mixed in! Although they're known for their chicken pho, I wanted to try something new that I've never seen before. The pho ap chao was pan fried and then made into a noodle soup with broth, adding an extra dimension of flavor. I loved how some of the wider noodles had browning from the fry, and the beef used here is a thicker cut but still tender. My boyfriend got the comforting pho bo dac biet, and the meats and broth were top quality. As for the smaller bites, the crispy chicken wings, fried cuttlefish patties, and fried shrimp wontons that we sampled were tasty. Wishing Turtle Tower continued success! read more

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Came here after happy hour with some coworkers in the financial district. So glad there is a good pho spot within walking distance near my office! I remember when they used to have a location in the Tenderloin that closed after covid and glad they reopened again. I remember trying thier chicken pho back in the days and it was pretty good and was surprised to see they had beef pho (Phở Bò Ðặc Biệt) in the menu so that was what I ordered. I ordered a large size and it sure hit the spot. This is northern style pho so I think they don't normally provide Sriracha and hoisin sauce that the typical southern pho places has, which is fine because I've always thought it was weird when people pour those over thier pho ruining the authentic taste of the broth. Northern Style pho also has a cleaner and more simple taste compared to southern pho that has a lot more herbs and spices. Sure the prices here is pretty expensive for pho but it is expected when eating in the financial district. Regardless, this is a good new addition to the financial district. read more

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