I was excited to hear that Turtle Tower was back, so figured I swing by for an early dinner before work. I heard their new location is at Financial District. But to my surprise, the location came with the increase of prices. I ordered the Pho Ga and Vietnamese Coffee. The Pho was $19.50 and the coffee was $8. The Pho was delicious like how I remembered and the coffee was strong. But, I felt that the serving size didn't match the price. Idk maybe it's different for a to go order but I felt that with the price I paid, I should at least get a large bowl of pho. Since it was located in the Financial District, parking sucks unless you work in the area that you can stop by for lunch. But that in itself, is so pricey to spend $30 just for lunch. Honestly, I don't think I'll be coming back given the location and price increase. read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Coffee - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I came here when I was craving a bowl of soup and no where else was open on a Monday night. I had heard so much about this place, but I think those reviews were for when it used to be a tenderloin hole in the wall. Sigh, this was a complete disappointment. I had a feeling this wouldn't be the best pho when I entered and it was giving fine dining. Although the ambience was really nice, I have to say the service and the food was lacking. The pho was not authentic at all. You expect to have hoisin sauce, chili sauce, and condiments on the table. Also, they only gave us jalapeños for topping and no bean sprouts, basil, etc. that you usually get with pho. The broth was just okay, didn't have the flavors that you expect from a comforting bowl of pho like the star anise. We asked for sriracha and they brought us a couple spoons of it on a small plate, which was disappointing. I also saw multiple people around me request the same. We also ordered oysters, which actually were super flavorful. Too bad they don't make all their items like that! I even saw one guy pour the sauce from the oyster into his pho bowl finally, price is not right. We ended up spending 80 dollars on two bowls of pho, oysters, and a beer. Will not be coming back here, too many other great pho spots in town! read more

First time trying Northern Pho and saw that this place rebranded. We decided to check it out in the city! Beautiful decor and it was packed on a Sat lunch time. The service was good. They mixed up delivering our orders around the table but I believe some staff were still training and it was Soft Opening at that moment. Wait time was longer than I've expected since we all ordered soup. Pho Tai - The biggest differentiation that I noticed from regular Pho that I'm used to were their noodles (soft and thicker), clear broth (hint of saltiness but comforting), cut of meat, and their sides. It doesn't come with their regular beansprouts, basil, etc.. Overall, it was enjoyable and glad I was able to try something new! Thai Tea was okay - small portion for its price. read more

See all

Excellent as always - so glad they reopened...I was devastated when I heard they were closing. Their Pho Ga is the star - you can get in either a regular or large size. Broth is tasty and homey with a good balance of noodles to chicken - on a cold or warm day it is excellent. Best in the city! read more

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

The best pho ga in the city. The soup is incredibly flavorful and absolutely delicious. The rice noodles are the thicker kind and have a great texture. Don't bother getting anything else - the banh mi is overpriced and below average and the beef pho is also mid. read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here for a weekday lunch and was seated within 10-15 minutes. Inside the restaurant, it is pretty dimly lit, but it has a nice atmosphere. We ordered both the pho ga and pho bo dac biet as we heard many good reviews at Turtle Tower's pho ga, but still wanted to compare their pho dac biet to other places. Both of the pho came out piping hot and was perfect for the cold weather! Each bowl came with a very light broth as well, so if you're looking for something more flavorful and heavy, this might not be the right place for you. The pho ga looked like it came with shredded chicken breast pieces, but I think it'd be nice if a variety of dark and white meat were given. The pho dac biet was actually my favorite as the meat was super tender. I'd come back again if I'm in the area. read more

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

See all

It was good. Tasty in fact but I guess I was hoping for a traditional bowl of pho. I ordered shrimp chips & a type of beef pho. Inside was well decorated and created an almost cozy atmosphere. Service was good & friendly. They really checked on me throughout my meal. I guess bottom line is would I come back? It's walking distance from my hotel. Convenient If I had to, I would come back but there are so many food places to eat, in the area (Ferry building), I think I'd head else where. I guess I forgot to take pics! Sorry! read more

I never went to the original location so can't compare, but the chicken pho here was amazing. I haven't really even tried to get it at other SF restaurants because it's so difficult to find made well but it was great here. From the meat to noodles they use, it reminded me of home! I will say there could be more chicken lol. Overall an amazing meal, I only tried the pho so can't say much for anything else! read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Absolutely Amazing food! The noodles are pristine in texture and taste. Flavor of the Pho is on point and better than anywhere I've tasted. Coffee is strong and flavorful The ambiance is warm and friendly. Felt like I was being treated like family while dining there. Will Definitely be making Turtle Tower my go to place when visiting the city. Wish I could give it more than 5 stars read more

I went to the original Turtle Tower growing up and was happy to know they found a second life. We came on a Saturday afternoon and it was busy, but no wait. I was very surprised to see how modern and trendy the restaurant is now. The prices are fair at $18. I ordered the pho tai. Keep in mind this is Northern style pho so the broth is very simple and not as aromatic as Southern style. The broth came out piping hot. I like that they serve only fresh cut wide noodles. The meat was not super tender though. I also hate that they don't give all the condiments or veggies. They only provide fish sauce, sriracha, jalapeño, and lemon. I want my Thai basil!! The tables are also far too close together. The table next to you is inches away. The service is also just okay and could be improved. Overall not as good as I remember, but decent to satisfy a craving. read more

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

The food here lacks... do not come here if you're looking for traditional pho. The noodles are wide and too soft. The broth lacks flavor and the meat is served in a weird way. They don't bring out bean sprouts or basil as well. The service is good and it's a cute place, but the food is not a vibe. read more

I was so happy when Turtle Tower returned! Chicken pho and Vietnamese ice coffee here is the best! I have many Vietnamese ice coffee's all over the United States and Vietnam, and their coffee with salt whip cream is my favorite. And service is fast and attentive. Check this place out if you are in the fidi area! read more

I visited Turtle Tower with some co-workers on a chilly San Francisco afternoon and I have to say the vibes were on point. When it's a bit cold and cloudy all you really want is a nice big bowl of pho and Turtle Tower can make that happen for you. When you walk in you'll notice it's not a huge restaurant but they do a good job of fitting folks in without you feeling too cramped. I've heard they don't take reservations usually so be prepared to wait as it was packed with folks trying to get a table. Our group was lucky and was already seated by the time I walked in, but I think had we not timed it right it would have been a long wait. We ordered some appetizers for the table and they were all solid. For my main I wanted to do something classic so I went with their OG beef pho. Reading their menu you'll learn that this place is proudly authentic and they don't serve up hoisin sauce or sriracha like some other pho places. I appreciated them mentioning it on the menu, and the opportunity to really dive in and try something a bit more real. I'm kind of a condiment gal so I was worried the broth would taste bland without some extra pizazz but I have to say I really enjoyed my pho exactly as the chef had it prepared. Overall the food was tasty, the conversation great, and the service on point. I'd return! read more

See all

I've been eating at turtle Tower since the early 2000. I followed them from Gary Street to Little Saigon. I moved away from the city during the pandemic and was my first time to visit. To my surprise, they opened up again in the financial district. One of the owners Mr. Steven came out to greet us and he remembered us from years ago. He spent time talking with us and discussing the new restaurant. The staff bent over backwards to make us feel welcome. And Wha was really encouraging. Was the food taste the same! If you want northern style Vietnamese noodles this is your go to place in San Francisco hands-down. I would give it 10 stars if Yelp would let me! read more

See all

I was so sad when Turtle Tower on Larkin closed --and I missed the pho so much I'm happy to say they are now open in a beautiful space on California Street and the food is as great as ever. They have a long counter and a full bar and a lovely new space. We had what we used to always order at the old location - the number 6 pho with all white chicken and pan fried noodles. Comes with lots of celery and carrots and leeks and a really good chicken broth. It would be perfect if you had a cold but it is also perfect when you don't. We tried the fresh spring rolls and they are good too. Service was good. Lovely to see the owner there too. Go -- you won't regret it! read more

See all

Glad to have a Vietnamese restaurant in the financial district. This place was originally in the Tenderloin and is now an elegantly decorated restaurant in the former Barbacco Restaurant location. We had the rare beef pho (rice noodle) soup which is served Northern style so there are no condiments such as bean sprouts, chiles & basil. The beef was very tender and the portions are generous. The pho was plenty enough for sharing. We also had the crab imperial rolls which came with 4 rolls, and lettuce leaves, & condiments to eat the rolls wrapped in the leaves & sides. We also used some of the condiments in our soup which worked out nicely. read more

Turtle Tower - Nice interior. - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

First time going to this new location after being a regular at the old Bryant location many years ago. It's not the same taste I remember. It has definitely toned down the flavors and feels less authentic and more aesthetic. You also don't get the veggies unless you ask. I do appreciate the beef to noodles ratio being just right but I have been very disappointed with the broth. read more

I leave this review advisedly-I last went to turtle tower around 2019 ish and the broth in the pho was delicious. [I'd like to add, I'd definitely come back again and try more of the menu but this is just based on what I had on a solo lunch during the week] This time around, trying their new financial district location, I'll be honest -- the pho wasn't quite as flavorful as I remembered, but maybe it was just this dish. Maybe I have to try other dishes? This pho I got was kinda watered down lacked taste. The nem cua was flavorful, I'd get it again. Fresh spring rolls with shrimp and pork, the pork gave it some flavor but overall dry except for the peanut sauce. The service was great Should I come back and try something else? Here's what I ordered: The 1/2 & 1/2 appetizer:  * Nem Cua - fried imperial rolls with crab, shrimp, pork, and egg ($11)  * Goi Cuon Tom Thit - fresh spring rolls with shrimp and pork ($8) Pho Áp Chảo - pan-fried beef pho ($19) And a Thai tea, of course ($7) What should I try next time? read more

See all

The service here is pretty bad and the place is overpriced. I went here for happy hour on a Saturday, and got a round of drinks, oysters, and other appetizers. The food isn't bad and drinks have a decent selection. Some of the happy hour is worth it like the $4 beers and $2 oysters. But other appetizers like the $8 fried wontons are definitely not worth it, you get 3 little wontons for $8 which makes no sense. That's about $2.67 per wonton and with each wonton being about 3 inches long that's $0.88 per inch of wonton. Really makes no sense when you break it down. Also they added someone else's orders to our bill and gave us a hard time when we tried to bring it up to them. Overall, not a very nice place. read more

NO ONE does it like Turtle Tower. I can't find any other Vietnamese place that does Northern style pho the way they do. They're back with a vengeance. The ambience is trendy, upscale, comfortable, and welcoming. Service is ALWAYS great. They're so efficient and friendly. Their new menu keeps all of the old classics. I normally order Pho Bo Dac Viet. Their bowl sizes are huge, noodles are fresh, broth comforting. Amazing place to eat after late night of partying. They really take care of you. Welcome back, TT! We missed you!! read more

See all

Conveniently located spot for northern style pho. Food is fine and tasty but very overpriced, to be expected given location. Service was a pretty big miss. Despite the restaurant being mostly empty and at least 8 employees we saw working the floor, we didn't get menus, didn't get water cups, food took forever to arrive, didn't get condiments, and our water cups were never refilled once. When we asked for the bill, it took over 10 min for someone to come by; we saw him chat with other customers, refill water pitchers, etc while we waited for our check. read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I want to love this place and I want it to stay, but it's been so many misses lately. Pho ga, used to be my fave back in the old days, but my first bowl here was a bit disappointing, I could hardly see the shredded chicken and its lack of flavors. BBq Pork over rice with Egg, thumbs down, egg was so runny, not just the yolk but the white part is still jiggling, yikes. And the pork has a lot of burnt parts. Imperial Rolls, this one has always been good but today it's a bit oily and missing the fish sauce. Buncha Hanoi, this also comes with too much of burnt parts, the black pieces was all over the sauces. Pho Bo Dad Biet , is good, beef is soft and noodle soup is hearty and flavorful just like pho should be. It's just small. I'd come back but not anytime soon. read more

See all

We came here after hearing that it had been reopened. Personally i have had a lot of Pho in the city and this is one of my least favorite ones. There was not that many pieces of meat which was a bit disappointing. On top of that, it was expensive and the broth did not taste like other types of broths that I've had in the city. read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

We had such a lovely group lunch here. The restaurant kindly accommodated our group of twelve. This was probably one of my favorite meals of the week during a recent work trip to SF. The space is cozy with a variety of seating styles. If I weren't with a big group, I would have saddled up at the bar to watch all of the action behind the counter. The setting reminded me of a cozy ramen shop tucked away in Tokyo (yes, I know this is a northern Vietnamese restaurant ;). The menu boasts extensive drink options like Thai tea, Vietnamese coffee, etc. along with a range of appetizers, pho, etc. I appreciated the clear notations on the menu for vegan and vegetarian dishes. Vietnamese is one of my favorite cuisines but it can be extra-tricky for me to safely eat given a seafood/shellfish allergy. I thoroughly enjoyed the vegan tofu fresh spring rolls and my vegan pho. The broth was packed with flavor and the veggies were plentiful. The cherry on top? Great service - both friendly and thoughtful about allergies. Highly recommend dining here! read more

If you're craving a comforting, no-frills bowl of pho in SF, Turtle Tower is the spot. I came here for their chicken pho and it hit the mark. I went with the large bowl and the portion was generous -- perfect if you're really hungry. What I loved most was the broth. It's light, clean, and flavorful without being overly salty (a problem I've run into at a lot of other pho places in the city). You can really taste the freshness of the ingredients -- it feels balanced instead of heavy. The noodles were soft and easy to eat, and the fresh green onions and herbs gave it that extra lift. Service was quick and efficient, and the food came out steaming hot. The vibe is casual and straightforward, which makes it great for a quick meal or a low-key dinner spot. Overall, Turtle Tower serves up pho that feels both authentic and refreshing. If you're in the mood for quality chicken pho that won't leave you thirsty from salt overload, this place is worth checking out. Highly recommend! read more

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

See all

Not your typical Vietnamese restaurant, if you want authentic pho this place may not be the best for you. Very expensive compared to other pho places in SF. These chicken wings were $18 for 3 pieces, and they didn't even have hoisin or siracha sauce! Very nice staff, but I wouldn't recommend if you are craving pho. read more

Turtle Tower - Singha Beer - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I ordered their famous pho ga for dinner and it was great! Filling yet light, it was a comforting bowl of noodles for a typical windy SF day. I came on a weekday night at 6pm and was able to get fast seating for 2. Heads up: they don't offer basil, bean sprouts, or hoisin sauce as this isn't traditional to northern viet cuisine. Still tasty tho! read more

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

I was very excited for Turtle Tower to open again, I remember when they had a location in the outer Richmond before it closed down. I went one weekday during lunch with my coworkers and it was packed, one of the waitresses mentioned that we can call ahead to make a reservation. The next week, we tried calling and no one picked up. We went in on Tuesday to try to make a reservation for Wednesday lunch and they said, "we don't do reservations." We got there early on Wednesday before the lunch rush and it took them 45 mins to seat us when they told us it'll be a 20 minute wait as well as telling us that we can do reservations ahead of time. It was frustrating to hear the differing things multiple times from the same group of people working there. When we were finally seated, we ordered a few appetizers and pho (obviously). The food came out quickly which was great considering we had a shorten lunch and had to rush eat before going back to work for meetings. I didn't think there was anything special about their broth like everyone raves about it. For the price and how it tasted, I felt like I've gotten better pho elsewhere. read more

Finally tried Turtle Tower after hearing all the hype. Service was rushed, unfriendly, and no one came to refill our water throughout our meal. I ordered the noodle soup with grilled beef but it was hard to enjoy since the broth was thick and oily. $20 is a steep price point for a bowl of pho so I was expecting more meat, at the very least. The most disappointing part of our dinner was the peanut sauce that accompanied the spring rolls. It lacked any peanut/hoisin flavor and was extremely acidic. Might have caught the restaurant at a bad time but I'm not sure if I'll be back anytime soon. read more

Turtle Tower - Grilled beef pho - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Back on the streets of California this time in the FiDi. I like strolling around the Towers of San Francisco ( some towers are leaning in SF). I like to stroll slow like a turtle in SF to admire the view. This tower is located on California street and in the state of California and you can eat inside. I am not talking about Coit Tower or Salesforce Tower but Turtle Tower. This newer location surpasses the atmosphere of the older location in Tenderloin. The ambience is more welcoming and although it's surrounded by towers of sky scrappers the menu has towers of flavors. I got the Pho Ga and requested the thinner noodles. The broth had tons of flavor no need to drown it with the different sauces , lemon squeezes, or add jalapeños or any mints and cilantro. It's great as is ( best litmus test for Pho). There are tariffs for Vietnam at 46% which take place during restaurant week in San Francisco. Although I went to Turtle Tower on the starting date of restaurant week and they are not participating in restaurant week , I felt this may be the time to go before the tariffs kick in. Overall the food is still consistent to their former locations around San Francisco. Turtle Tower has a new home among the San Francisco skyline towers. Come for the food during the lunch and dinner hour inside you see a decor of flowers and pho noodles made with rice flour It's located on California street between Coit Tower and Salesforce Tower it's the new San Francisco location of Turtle Tower read more

See all

Favorite pho spot growing up , I always get their pho ga !! It always hit the spot depending on the weather ~ service is quick , and I love to see how packed the place is! The price is steep tho, $19.50 for pho ga *cries* , Richmond district northern pho spot is $15~ , will still go when I'm around the area because I love this spot ! read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Just tried Turtle Tower for the first time at their new location. The inside had a nice diner vibe to it. We got both the pho ga and the beef pho. The pho ga was hands down my favorite! The pho ga's broth was flavorful and the chicken was incredibly tender! The only downside was a bit of a wait, so I'd recommend avoiding peak times if you can. read more

Turtle Tower - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great location for me! Thank you choosing the location because I work only a block away. I always crave for any kind of noodle soup and having Turtle Tower nearby is a dream come true! I been there 3 times so far after they opened. (It's not much given they are so close) I would love to come more often but a lot of times I skip lunch. I tried their Pho Bo Dac Biet (beef combination) for take out. It was so good! The soup has great flavor. Noodle was a little overcook since it breaks easily. There was no meatballs in it. I was used to having different ingredients in a beef combination pho. But later I found out why. Second time, I tried their pho ga ( chicken noodle) and dine in this time for lunch. It's exactly what I was expecting. Chicken pho with soup. Soup was flavorful. When I placed the order, I asked the waitress about not having meatballs in the pho bo Dac Biet and her explanation was reasonable. She said because authentic beef combination pho does not include beef balls. They try to be as authentic as they can. We also ordered their pandan waffle. They make it by order. It was fresh and they sauce that came with it tasted so good when you dip the waffle in it. Today, we had really great weather so I ordered Bun Cha ha noi (pork vermicelli). They soak the meat in the sauce and serve with vermicelli & lettuce on side. They sauce was fantastic. Definitely will order again! Tip for weekday lunch, come early. It starts to get busy around 1130 am. People had to wait for tables. read more

My go to lunch spot whenever I'm in the area. Service is great, food is always delicious and comes out quickly, piping hot! No other restaurants top their pho ga. Drove over on a Sunday for lunch and there was ample free parking! Score! read more

Turtle Tower became an institution in SF with its Pho Ga and other delectable dishes, so when it closed all its doors in the Tenderloin I was devastated... when it was announced it was returning, you could imagine my glee, but when it was announced it was opening in FiDi a sense of gloom set in. Nothing against FiDi, but it only means that dishes would be pricier and the ambiance would be too posh. After walking in, we were greeted warmly. Service was quick and friendly. For the dishes, we ordered the spring rolls with shrimp & pork (Goi Cuon Tom Thit), the Tom Boc Chien Gion), and the Pho Ga. All dishes were good, but my greatest fear came to fruition, especially with the Pho... the rationing of chicken was disappointing, especially compared to what you got at the original joint. The broth lacked a little something, the portion was smaller, and the price was more expensive. It was good to go for nostalgia sake, but now that it's upscale, it lacks a certain charm and taste that the original location had. read more

See all

The new location is bigger, better and well worth the visit to FIDI. As soon as you walk into the new restaurant, all you can say is wow! The ambiance is unlike the other previous locations. This new place is moody, inviting and sexy. The food is the same same which is what we all wanted back. Service is the same same which is great and welcoming. I noticed that as soon as you entered the restaurant, they immediately welcomed us all back. We were missed and we definitely missed them. Welcome back, Turtle Tower! read more

Turtle Tower - Combination Beef Pho (#4) - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

The new location in the financial district is definitely more high scale and bougie looking however, the noodles are the same. They are still amazing as they were when they were still located then tenderloin they have a pan and cocktail of some sort and that is a must try it is absolutely delicious. Service is wonderful as always. read more

I was surprised to be greeted with top notch service and excellent drink selections! Sure, the food was good but I think I was really taken aback by how friendly and attentive everyone was (felt like one of those reservation-must places, not a quick lunch type spot), and THE VIETNAMESE COFFEE!!! SOOOO GOOD!!! It had the perfect balance of condensed milk and coffee -- no hint of bitterness, fairly sweet, and no weird tap water taste. I got the pho ga and absolutely loved their noodles. Soup was a little bit oily for my taste but still good. I do wish they had more chicken pieces but the noodles!! I'm excited to try their other noodle dishes (perhaps the ones without soup?) with their Vietnamese coffee. I enjoyed the texture of fried cuttlefish. Fish cake with fun texture. Since they just opened, it does get crowded with a line around lunch time. Coming around 11 AM might be the move. read more

See all

So happy Turtle Tower is back!! Absolutely love this new location, it's vibrant, clean, and love the decor. Service was super friendly and efficient. They specialize in Northern style pho, without bean sprouts, hoisin, sriracha, basil, etc. I ordered the pho tai, and the type of meat is a bit more minced (vs. slices of rare beef), but it's so so tender. The dishes here are a bit more expensive than the typical pho spot. read more

See all

I was really excited to learn that turtle tower has made a come back. The restaurant space is nicely decorated and gave an upscale dining vibe. The new decor and location might explain the price inflation. I came on a Saturday around 12pm and luckily was seated within 5 minutes. I ordered number 9, pho ga with white meat only and a pho ga with giblet (off menu item). The food arrived about 5-7 minutes after we ordered and it came with a side of jalapeños and lemon. The quality of the noodles and soup were similar to how I remember it to be except there seems to be less chicken and green onions/ cilantro. Taste wise, it was similar to how it was but because there's less green onions/ cilantro, it didn't taste exactly the same as I remember it to be. The giblets was not incorporated with the noodles like how it used to be. A plate of giblets arrived a couple minutes after the bowl of pho arrived. The giblets were cold so they tasted a bit fishy. When the bill came, we were a little surprised to find that the white meat only has a $1 surcharge and that the giblets were $7 extra. Overall, it was nice to see that turtle tower back in business but because of how far it is located, I may not be able to come back as often. read more

Turtle Tower - Pho ga with white meat only - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all