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Vietnamese Restaurants in San Francisco

by Contributing Writer

The famous cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square and Chinatown are all widely known attractions in the city of San Francisco, but there is a large Vietnamese community in the city as well. The Vietnamese commercial district in San Francisco, also known as Little Saigon, has a wide variety of restaurants in the area, and there many fine Vietnamese eateries throughout the city.

San Francisco, California

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Crustacean San Francisco

The award-winning and critically acclaimed family-owned Crustacean San Francisco opened its doors in 1991 to much celebration. The restaurant sits in the middle of Nob Hill and offers a bistro-style ambiance with outdoor patio dining, which is a rare site in San Francisco. The menu---which boasts a fusion of Asian, European and Vietnamese flavors---includes popular "Secret Kitchen Specialties" that may take longer to prepare. Some of these items include royal tiger prawns, which are butterflied and charbroiled and come with An's well-known garlic noodles made from egg noodles infused with An's famous garlic sauce. Another popular dish, the drunken crab, is a whole Dungeness crab simmered in a three-wine broth with scallions and cracked black pepper. The attire at Crustacean San Francisco is business casual, and the staff highly recommends reservations. Nearby and valet parking are available. Crustacean San Francisco 1475 Polk Street San Francisco, California 94109 415-776-2722 anfamily.com

The Slanted Door

The Phan family opened Slanted Door on Valencia Street in 1995 and is now located in the restored Ferry Building across from The Embarcadero with a view of San Francisco Bay. It attempts to recreate the authenticity and feel of Vietnamese street food but enhances it with influences from the West. The restaurant is a modern Vietnamese restaurant that highlights ingredients that are organic and locally grown such as produce and ecologically farmed meats. The Slanted Door serves lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Popular items on the dinner menu include fresh Dungeness crab paired with cellophane noodles; caramelized tiger prawns with chili sauce, garlic and onions; and crispy vegetarian imperial rolls with taro root, cabbage, glass noodles and peanuts. The Slanted Door 1 Ferry Building #3 San Francisco, California 94111 415-861-8032 slanteddoor.com
Saigon Sandwich

Saigon Sandwiches is a small, casual establishment serving fresh and affordable Vietnamese sandwiches called banh mi, which are Vietnamese versions of French-style sandwiches for take-out. It is popular during lunch hours, so arrive early and be prepared to stand in line. The staff carefully prepares each made-to-order sandwich with fresh ingredients. Popular items on the menu include the roast pork banh mi sandwich with a toasted but soft roll, perfectly flavored and thinly sliced roasted pork and pickled and fresh vegetables with slivers of carrots, cucumber, and jalapeños, cilantro and tangy Vietnamese nuoc cham sauce. Other favorite variations of banh mi include the meatball, chicken and tofu. Saigon Sandwich is a cash-only establishment and has available street parking. Saigon Sandwich 560 Larkin Street San Francisco, California 94102 415-474-5698