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Categories: Vietnamese, Barbeque, Active Life
Neighborhood: Nob HillTue-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tue-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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I've lived in San Francisco for over 12 years and I've driven past this place so many times that it has pretty much become wallpaper to me. I know its there and it would feel wrong if it were gone, but I'd never considered stopping in there to see what this place was about.
Well, at least until last night.
After Italian, Vietnamese is my favorite food. And above all else, I love street food. I love smoke and char and salty and sweet, and this place nails them all. Their chicken is all of those things and it is addictive as hell. It gets even better if you dip that hot smoky meat in fish sauce.
I also love the meat sauce. God knows what they put in it and it took me a few bites for that stuff to grow on me, but it too was damn good. It's kind of a bizarre take on Japanese curry and I could see scarfing down a big bowl of that on a cold night.
I also love how small and intimate the place is. It's every bit a hole in the wall and I love the smalltown vibe and being surrounded by people who are very happy with tearing through the plates of food in front of them.
I can't believe I waited 12 years to eat at CB and I won't let that happen again...
As a native and resident of SF that grew up in this approximate neighborhood, I'm almost ashamed that it took me over 25 years to initially find this spot!
The only time I do stop in here (every couple of years) is if I happen to be driving by, am hungry, totally slumming AND there is a parking space I can immediately see and snag. And I always get it to go.
Grilled chicken is basically already cooked and re-heated on the grill once you order it. Rice with "meat sauce"...well, I didn't actually ask what kind of meat it is, but it's palatable. I think it's better that way...not knowing, that is. Garden salad? Pretty pathetic: maybe if I was a rabbit...
Haven't bothered to try anything else on the limited menu.
Bottom line:
It IS what it is.
Cordon Bleu has only a handful of menu items, but they sure do it well! I keep coming back for their chicken, but their other items are decent to good as well. The price/portion ratio is outstanding!
The only thing that keeps me away sometimes is the fact that it gets crowded and the service is slow as a result (not to be confused with bad service).
For added fun, poll your friends to see what they think is in the "meat sauce"
It was cheap. It was very good. Go there.
:-)
The fresh flowers are a nice touch.
The Best SF Hall in a wall restaurant in 2006.
Vietnamese restaurant without pho.
I am not sure that they are Vietnamese.
Maybe that's why they have no pho.
I don't think they know how.
I don't care.
It's a Ghetto Ethnic Soul Food!
The menu is very simple.
Ghetto Ethnic Soul Food must be simple and cheap!
NOTHING FANCY about it.
They have basic 3 items:
The rice + The gravy + The Cabbage salad.
There is nothing special about the rice and the cabbage but the gravy.
The gravy is SECRET.
It's a red meat sauce. That's all I can tell.
Entree #-5 was $8.65
It's a combo of :
1/4 Roast Grilled Chicken, Shish Kebob, imperial roll, Cabbage salad, and the secret Meat sauce over rice.
Secret Meat sauce over rice.
Secret Meat sauce over rice.
What the hell is that meat sauce over rice?
I don't even understand why meat sauce is on rice?
But It's an Awesome Meat sauce over rice!!!!
The Shish Kebob was a bit charred but smokey and tender.
The Roast Grilled Chicken was juicy.
The twice deep fried imperial roll was big and Fat, I don't really know how much the calorie, but it was dangerously GOOD!
The Cabbage salad was refreshing.
And the Secret Meat sauce over rice.
The Secret Meat sauce. No one knows what's in it.
What's in the sauce?
I think the sauce is very dangerous.
Dangerously GOOD!
It's a great heart fall out addictive deadly combo meal ever!
So, ....
It's not a good idea to come here for lunch 1st and movie for next door after.
I bet you'll be dead sleep.
I like to go the Lumiere 1st, and pop right next into this hole in the wall.
That is great combo!
Cordon Blue, Tu Lan, Naan-N-Curry.
These guys are so similar.
Ghetto Ethnic Soul Food!
Dangerous food,…
Read more »
Don't know what I can add to what fellow yelpers have already said, so the bullet points are:
1) It's not like eating in somebodies house, its more like eating in somebodies hallway.
2) The menu doesn't exactly seem vietnamese to me, but the food sure it tasty and the meat sauce is more than yummy, and I still get the vietnamese food burp after I eat here. (so it must be authentic)
3) People are nice enough. (My wife doesn't feel accosted like the restaurants in little saigon)
4) Cheap.
Great place if you can get a seat and just want to each good chicken.
Keeping it short and simple
4 stars for the food i got the #5 it was very good. The meat sauce is money!!
1 stars for the service. Took them over 15 mins to hand me a menu. Didnt even ask me if i wanted a drink.
1 stars this place is very dirty. I dont even think theres a bathroom.
When you come here its all about the food. Everything else is just weaksauce beside there meat sauce! hole in a wall joint. Very small spot. And parking is hard to find too. Best bet is to call for to-go order.
Chicken, pork, pork-meat sauce-
Small, just as small as you'd think,
but cleaner, brighter, with flowers
Cheap, packed, filling
The owner is such a nice lady.
The place is literally a big kitchen with a counter and some stools.
Menu was simple and the food was delicious. Very afforable also.
The gravy they put on the rice is liquid crack.
Very divey, very neighborhood-y feel. Very my kind of joint.
Apparently has been open for 40 odd years.
Will be back for sure.
The food at Cordon Bleu reminded me of Vietnam -- very simple menu with a few choices that focus on grilled meats. You could have your meats over rice or bun (vermicelli rice noodles). The meats were cooked to order on a charcoal grill that's developed lots of smoky flavor over the years (old towel used to clean it?). The rice is cooked over the stove in some old cast iron pots.
I've never seen such a thick meat sauce served over rice that wasn't the main component of a Viet dish, but it was tasty. The meat sauce tasted almost like the broth used for bun rieu (tomato, crab noodle soup). The imperial rolls were unusually large, but the pork filling with mushrooms and cellophane noodles is how my family makes it (a lilttle diff than other imperial rolls). This is a place I could eat at often... $8 for a pile of food is a good deal.
Meals are all under $10. But you'll be surprised of how filling and yummy they are!!!!!
Pick a bar seat and go for meal No4. Enjoy the BBQ presentation and the delicious dishes!!!
OMG. I have been hearing about this place for so long now, and always forget to visit. Finally, tonight i brought a friend of mine there. Well we ordered the #5..... DELISH! Super filling, tasty... and cheap! They say their chicken is the best, and they were right.
Oh... and they dont serve any alcohol.... BUT you can bring your own drinks in. BYOB. Love it.
Wow! What a great spot! Ignoring the name.... I dig everything about this place. It's has everything I was looking for in a Vietnamese restaurant. I felt like I was in Vietnam, visiting someones home for dinner. No bells, no whistles. Just awesome food at a great price.
They don't have a huge confusing menu, very basic, and they do it right. I had a half chicken bbq'd with rice, meat sauce and a spring roll. My girlfriend had the noodle salad... both were delicious. Quick side note... there is an absence of pho on the menu... which at first I didn't understand, but this place doesn't need it, if you want Pho, go somewhere else...
If I lived closer to this place, I would probably go on a weekly basis... I would recommend it to anyone... go now!!
One of the best hole in the wall places in the city..
Their 5 spice chicken combo rice plate with meat sauce, shish kebab imperial roll and country salad is nothing like anything else I ever had...
There is something about that meat sauce on the rice that make this meal so damn good...
Hey....I love this one.
It's good and it's clean enough. The only critiques from me was, not enough choices though. But, definitely recommended.
From what Ashley H. writes, she sounds like one of those chicks I went on a date with and left her with the bill. What's wrong with you? Do you watch the Hills for inspiration on your dialog? If the validity of each restaurant lies upon the language spoken by the chefs, every damn restaurant in SF would be Mexican...stupid.
Cordon Bleu experience is awesome; you come here when you're happy, sad, hungry, hung over, distraught, enthused; the food is personable and the service is homey. You're not getting white tie service here and honestly, no one credible desire it. The lady will hand you a couple menus, put her elbows on the table in front of you and ask you how you're doing before you order. You want tea, you'll get tea. You want water, you'll get water. You want life advice, she may give you a few. You'll feel like you're sitting at home while your mom's giving you the mothering food experience. If you had a horrible upbringing, I suggest you come here for the therapeutic experience.
Imperial rolls here are huge and delicious; whatever you order you have to get something with it. If you're a monster, order the #5, it has every animal split and grilled over a huge mound of meat sauce and rice. Put some of that hot sauce on it and you're pretty damn close to some Biblical paradise that doesn't even exist, so throw those stupid ass books away and come here and eat some real food.
PS it's BYOB here, so bring your favorite alcoholic beverage! But don't bring your precious lil bottle of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild cuz the food is bold and undaunted. Plus if the flavors don't hit you in the face, then I will.
Mmm hole in the wall. A skinny little restaurant with the cooks behind a counter and a couple of small tables in the back. Love it! 2 stuffed people for under $20: perfect!
This so called Vietnamese place (run by Chinese, but uses fish sauce?) has yummy combos of grilled pork, chicken or kebabs (beef, not on a skewer like you might think), with this "meat sauce", which is a tomato based sauce with some ground meat in it. Also comes with a huge, deeelish egg roll and some cabbage salad. Drizzle the rice and meat sauce with some soy sauce and eat with the meat, dip the egg roll in the fish sauce, and enjoy! A good, filling, reasonably priced, complete meal.
P.S. The ladies that work here are so nice and friendly! Free piece of meat while eating at the counter? Sure!
We were so excited about finally eating here, we decided to celebrate with large amounts of BYOB. I barely recall walking out of this place, but I do recall how freaking bomb-tastic this food was.
I am no conosseur of Vietnamese food, but I do know good food.
I had the Chicken Salad- probably some of the best chicken I've ever had- the flavor was out of this world (and i could taste it over the copious amounts of alcohol i had imbibed), 2 large boys i was with had #1, #3- about 5 lbs of white rices topped with yummy meat sauce and all sorts of meat + delicious spring rolls.
All I can say is $22 later, we walked out drunk, full, and oh so satisfied.
I got the rumbling in my tummy, walked into this joint and stayed there eating for a good 2 hours. The food here is pretty darn good. you can tell when food has been marinated and cooked properly unlike some other places.
Atmosphere:
very hole in the wall family mom and pop shop diner style, with 8-9 stools for seating. Other than that, you can squat outside and eat your food if you like. The kitchen is right in front of you and on a cold day, it thaws you out. On a hot day, get some ice water because you'll be sizzling as you gobble up your food.
Service:
Pretty homely and friendly people. please leave a decent tip, they ain't a hole in the wall place for nothing cuz those big fast food chains are right down the street too. the owner/cook/waiter will give you some life tips if you need it.
Food:
they don't serve alcohol, so BYOBB (BRING YOUR OWN BOOZE BUDDY). they provide all the water you can drink and perhaps soda too. i usually bring a bottle of pear cider from bevmo since it goes well with any chicken and sauce dish. the imperial rolls are HUGE! they look sexier and 3x bigger than the imperial rolls you see at a chinese restaurant that charges the same price.
The chicken dinner is enough for 2 meals unless you're feeling gluttonous. Perfectly grilled & never dry. This is what i eat when i need comfort food.
Hmmm...
I'm not feeling the excitement of some other yelpers, I gotta say. The chicken is good, and the shish kebab is yum. The cabbage salad is surprisingly good -- love that tart dressing. But, back to the chicken -- it was definitely good, but didn't revolutionize my life or anything. It was good chicken, well flavored, cooked on a grill. The meat sauce was kinda meh to my taste, but when I added some spicy sauce and mixed it in, it was pretty special.
I wouldn't recommend, personally, going out of your way to go here, but if I was in the area and craving chicken, it would definitely be the place to go.
I found this place on Yelp-- so I'm going to pay it forward.
YUM YUM YUM! I disagree with places that call Cordon Bleu a 'hole-in-the-wall'. It's small, yes. But it's clean and adorable. You sit at a counter surrounding an open kitchen, as Vietnamese mothers cook up a delicious storm. It's friendly and affordable, and you should definitely eat here!
If you are looking for cheap and quick, tasty food then Cordon Bleu will fit the bill! Service is pretty slow & inattentive unfortunately but hey it's still a good value and the food is solid. I like the no frills aspect and even though it's a 3-star I definitely will be going again when I want something cheap, filling and chill.
Its always the simplest things that are the best. Cordon Bleu's rice with meat sauce is no exception. No idea what they put in it, but its best described as a lighter, sweeter spaghetti meat sauce. I had their #5 which is the 5 Spice Chicken accompanied by rice with meat sauce, shish kabob (really just grilled pork/bbq pork), egg roll, and salad (cabbage). The chicken was a little plain to me, but everything else was excellent. The rice with meat sauce is definitely what makes this place stand out.
I think they speak Chinese, but not sure about Vietnamese. The place is very small and the run by 2-3 people so service is a bit slow.
You walk in and will hit the back wall. My friend and I had time to kill before picking up her son from work. She has fond memories of this place working near by. Super cheap, no meal is over $9.00
I have to admit I was skeptical of the "meat sauce on rice". I'm not anymore. I don't know what is in there, but it's pretty good. It comes covered on all the dishes.
The chicken, "possibly the best outside of Vietnam", was very good too. Everything is grilled fresh, but of course the chicken is previously cooked and given a good heating on the grill.
The Imperial Rolls are some of the best I've had in SF. You won't get it with lettuce to wrap it in like Out the Door, but they are very good.
Seems to be veg friendly, but if you get the Veg Imperial Rolls, I think they are cooked in the same oil as the meat ones. Better to have the Spring Rolls, which I don't think are fried.
Great service, and everybody loves the lady behind the counter. Maybe she's related to the Saigon Sandwich lady?? Expect to wait for your order, and there's not much seating. Cash only.
yelpers, pls don't throw pieces of chicken at me.
i love hole in the walls. and i really wanted to love this place.
i like. i like. but love - maybe not this first time round. maybe i need some more warming up.
cordon what? who related cordon bleu with vietnamese cooking?
and since the sweet old ladies were chinese, this was a baffling mix.
but the crowd which all seemed like regulars were happily chatting and munching away.
i ordered the #4 : 5 spice chicken - two giant pieces of hen. one was juicy and falling off the bone. one was sadly so dry, i could burn wood. i chewed for hours.
the rice drenched in a tomato meat sauce was tasty tasty. gotta love the italian meats, i mean...meets chinese food. i mean, vietnamese. you know what i mean.
the cabbage salad was two thumbs up!!! i'll have to try out the imperial rolls next time. and hopefully, some juicy chicken.
The place is small and not the cleanest place. I came here the other day to try something new. There were 8 counter spots and 3 small tables in the back. The counter, tables and even the utensils were not very clean.
The food tasted nothing like what one would think with the name Cordon Bleu. The food tasted more like stuff out of a Vietnamese home. They have one grill for their meats and one wok for everything else, so food is kind of slow. Even the tap water that they gave us tasted funny. The portions were the only good part of the place. The portions are huge.
5 spice chicken!!! Imperial rolls!!! Thanks to my good friend Dave who introduced me to this little institution in 1999. This is a fantastic dive restaurant in San Francisco. Next door is the Lumiere Theater if you want to catch a movie after dinner. Polk street also provides a variety of entertainment options.
Go hungry. The food is cheap and the portions are large. If you go back every night of the week, your food will be prepared by the same sweet woman and her family. Everything is very consistent, and you can phone in your order to go if you don't want to sit and eat. Get the #5 if you want to try it all on one plate for less than $10.
Be sure to take cash as they do not accept credit or checks. Don't go with a big group because the place is tiny. Don't go on Mondays because they are closed. Parking is a bit of a challenge in this neighborhood, but not if you don't mind walking a few blocks. Sometimes, I get lucky and find parking right on Polk.
Poor, and hungry? Come to Cordon Bleu!
They give you a lot of warm, cozy food. Eating the meat sauce on rice is like eating a dish prepared by the grandmother you never had. The lady who made our food was super nice and hospitable, I want her to be my grandma.
It's really small but warm and fun for a quick, wholesome bite to eat, when the money is low.
I have a feeling, from the other customers that were there, that she has a lot of regulars that simply can't cook for themselves and need a filling, friendly place to go feel like they have a home. It's not depressing, it's cute.
Yum Yum!!
There is nothing better than cheap to-go food to enjoy in the comfort of your own home! The five spice chicken was delicious and generous in portion with loads of other goodies to keep you happy. When you're too lazy to cook, swing by for a quick meal and a great start to a lazy pj evening!
Really?? I'm not sure what all the fuss is about.
The 5 spice chicken is tender, but really not that flavourful. It's MUCH more tasty at Golden Star in Chinatown, and even Pho Vietnam nearby on Polk does a slightly better version.
Imperial rolls taste like they do at any other Vietnamese place.
Shish kebab (aka Thit Nuong) again was just average.
It was reasonably cheap, but the price/quality ratio is not good enough to make me want to return. My search for good cheap options within walking distance of my apartment continues *sigh*
I just moved into a tiny one-bedroom apartment in Nob Hill/Tenderlion -Ajacent neighborhood.
I am sad to leave my cute colorful two-bedroom in the much more inviting neighborhhod of Hayes Valley but I am consolued by having Cordon Blue only two blocks away.
The #4 and #5 are the only things I would recommend ordinaring because they are so amazing.
I also recommend that the first few times you eat this delicious five spiced food you eat in the diner an the counter. You must do this until you can recall from memory the master skills in which these ladies BBQ the chicken and pork.
Okay, so I've given Cordon Bleu two tries to wow me, and so far I've come away with decent meals at a reasonable price, but nothing that will cause cravings come tomorrow or next week. I know some people *love* their meat sauce, but I found it kind of bland. The BBQ chicken was good, but I think it was also a bit under seasoned. Imperial rolls are a highlight if you like crispy, pork goodness... So Cordon Blue is 3 stars (for me, at least).
I do want to try one of the tofu dishes and maybe the BBQ pork to see if I can find something that grabs me...
The best treasures are kept hidden. Needless to say, Cordon Bleu is a hole in the wall Vietnames restaurant that no one ever talks about. But the food is absolutely delicious.
BBQ Chicken or Pork rice plates is their specialty. You might have been to other Viet restaurants in the city, but nothing like this one though. Check this out. Ever had spaghetti meat sauce on top of your rice? How bout a Vietnamese egg roll on top of that? Some coleslaw? You think it's wierd now, just wait until you try it. Some of the best comfort food there is.
I wish this place was opened at 2AM after the club!
HEAPS of food. I, for one, DO NOT really like the meat sauce. It makes the rice even heavier than it already is. The chicken is really great and the deep fried egg rolls are SUPER crispy.
We also like the noodle salad - a 'bun' approximation.
It's not authentic Vietnamese, it's fusion. And I mean that in the literal, not trendy, sense.
Ah cordon bleu. So chill. I went there last night cause I was drinking corona's on an empty stomach. "Can I order some food to go?"
Lady behind the grill:
"Sure what would you like."
Me:
"Umm, I like those egg rolls."
Lady:
"You need the number two."
Me:
"Okay I'll take the number two then."
Cordon Bleu has a great simple menu and fresh grilled vietnamese food to go, or to eat on their simple bar stool counter. I went there last night at 10:05pm and they close at 10pm. But she nicely waved me in to come sit down, no problem.
Lady:
Would you like some tea while you wait.
Me: Tea, yes..please. Umm, This is some good tea, its Jasmine?
"Yes Jasmine, you should drink tea. It has some bitters that help calm your spirit." The sweet lady behind the grill says.
"Yes, I do need to learn more about tea." I quietly respond. Thank you Cordon Bleu for the fresh meat over rice, two extra large egg rolls and sirarcha and sweet and sour sauces to go. Now that hit the spot. I promise to drink more Jasmine tea to calm my spirit. Good night. See you soon.
Not the cleanest Kitchen, But best value for the meal at a dive restaurant award. its just a counter with very few seats where you can watch one cook actually cooking your food right next to you. The chicken is amazing! I think its the best grilled chicken in town! The menu is very limited but, I love the number 4 or 5. the meat sauce on the rice is like this amazing meaty almost tomato like gravy and the imperial rolls are flavorful and CRUNCHY! But its a must try even just for the amazing chicken. Best option get it to go and pig out in front of the t.v!
First of all, I'm so surprised that I don't yet have a review for my beloved "chicken place," since I've been there 20+ times. I was planning on doing a review update, but I guess I'll be writing my first review!
I found this place when I first moved to San Francisco after seeing a movie at Lumiere. The ambiance is not so nice, but the woman working the evening shift behind the counter is so sweet and friendly and the food is to die for. I actually prefer the laid back atmosphere. I've even been on two dates here (I recommended it of course).
I always, ALWAYS get the #4 with all white meat chicken, extra meat sauce, and an imperial roll. This is enough food for two days (or two meals) for $10. Pretty cheap! It's also BYO, so feel free to bring in some beers or a bottle of wine. Usually, everything is so well prepared. The only not excellent meal I received was on Saturday. Yes, I was in hangover hell and really needed my beloved chicken place to pull through, but they didn't. My chicken arrives and I open up the box to find on one piece of chicken (they always give you two) over the usual white rice, without EXTRA meat sauce and the meat sauce was bland! I was soooo distraught, like all day. I'm serious.
So, I guess I'm going to have to give Cordon Bleu four stars instead of five, just b/c of this experience. Next time, impress me again and I'll change my rating to five. I still love you Cordon Bleu, I'm just sad.
Make a circle with your index finger and thumb.
Go ahead, do it now. I'll wait.
Okay good. That circle you just made is the size of Cordon Bleu's tiny establishment. But as guys with small penises like to say, size doesn't matter!
They're right.
Because Cordon Bleu is my favorite Vietnamese hole-in-the-wall dive restaurant. Very large portions for very little money. Add a super-addictive meat sauce and prepare for your boat to be rocked like a hurricane.
If you're a vegetarian, you'll be allergic to this place. But to all you lovers of tasty meats, this is your oasis.
Came for: trying out a dive-y experience
Will come back for: bang-for-your-buck hearty food (yummy chicken, beef, and imperial rolls) to take to-go
It was my fortune that I stumbled across this great find of a dive before I'd heard/read anything about it (this review is a few years overdue). As it happens to be on my commute, I decided to stop by and peak in. The area is tight and consists only of one main bar table and two (?) small tables off to the sides. Despite the limited space, it's crowded with eager folks who've already placed their orders or those onlookers waiting for a table. I opted to order the combo plate of 5-spice chicken, meat slices, and imperial rolls with meat sauce over rice to-go.
And when I finally opened it up back at home -- it was so very good. The chicken was moist and the meat just fell right off the bones. The marinade of the meat was done so well that it made me forget about having waited the extra 10 minutes for it. The imperial roll was crispy and flavored well w/o being too salty. And the meat sauce? Although it seemed kinda ghetto, it was... hearty and good.
Cordon Bleu? It has my vote and I'm glad it's an easy access for me.
I highly highly recommend picking it up as a to-go!
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