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Category: Vietnamese [Edit]
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
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I've been working in the TL/Civic Center for 2 years now and I finally got to eat at Mangosteen! It is usually packed inside and seeing as how I strictly have only 1 hour, I couldn't take the risk.
Lucky for me, it was quiet inside yesterday. My dear friend taught me that Mangosteen actually makes bun rieu the newer way (with sliced pork etc). I'm used to the traditional style without all that stuff.
I had the pho with my flank steak on the side. It wasn't the thinly sliced flank steak that I am used to!!! It was in chunks and suuuuuuuuper tender. My friend told me that's how it is supposed to be!! I LOVED IT. OMG. And plus the broth was juuuuuuuuust right. No MSG headache afterwards. Hear that ladies? You won't get that stomach bloat either!
LOVED IT. Plus they accept card.
Having walked and driven past Mangosteen for years with mild curiosity, I finally resolved to march in and find out if it is as yummy as I hoped. It was, is and I suspect will remain yummy.
Lotus root salad. The bomb! Almost tasted like papaya salad, with a sweet tang and refreshing crunch. The MBGITW thought my BBQ pork was super tasty, although I thought it just OK. To me the real standout dish was the filet mignon with potato and onion. My god whatever they do to that meat must be magic. So soft, so savory, so .. so... so gone in 2 minutes! And the mini dish of magical dipping sauce was, dare I be redundant, magical.
I want more
Thoroughly mediocre food with prices that are too high for mediocre food. Considering the competition around the neighborhood, there are better places to eat for less money.
Most egregious were the traditional rice paper shrimp/pork rolls for $6.95 and all you got were two small rolls cut into four pieces. Ridiculous.
Verdict: Mangosteen - more like Mangled-steen.
Went here on a whim and had fried rolls, tamarind shrimp and the beef plate that had potatoes and filet mignon. The food was really very good.
The service was weird. They were very attentive at first. When there was no longer a wait and there was little to do they disappeared. We were not offered dessert and had to flag them down to box up the leftovers and to give us the check. And it was not personal as the next table was also ignored. Regardless I would go back.
Mangosteen.
Mangosteen.
You leave a warm imprint on my heart, tummy, and sometimes my groin area.
While their pho broth is definitely lacking, the meat inside the broth is WONDERFUL. I've never had such good meat inside pho... the brisket is MELT IN YOUR MOUTH SO FREAKIN GOOD I CLOSE MY EYES AND MOAN softly WHEN I EAT IT like "mmm..."
One thing I always appreciate at restaurants is cleanliness, and they excel in this department--the food tastes fresh and is always plated very beautifully. The bbq pork is BOMB. The filet mignon cubes... eh, they're so-so. Not bad, not great.
And avoid the creme caramel. She's a cheapy.
The service is attentive and friendly. I think this is one of the few Vietnamese restaurants that I've been to that actually asks how you're doing. Hehe, and okay this is probably mean and totally off topic but there's a lady there, who seems like she might be the owner, but she looks really witch-like and creepy. C'MON I KNOW YOU NOTICED HER TOO.
All in all...I mean... the food isn't blow-you-away, but there's definitely a lot of love put into it. I know, it's so Karla from Top Chef... but it's true.
Although this place has been interpreted as having Saigon or Southern Vietnamese cuisine, their use of thicker noodles, selection of vegetables and broth are remarkably Hue--the imperial capital of Nguyen Dynasty in Central Vietnam. So for those who expect to fulfill their Southern-trained palates will either walk away intrigued and curious or somewhat baffled and disappointed. A good friend brought me here for dinner last night after an unsuccessful wait at another restaurant close by. The place was very cute as the walls were decked out with automated fans, large photos of mangosteen, and each table had a nice set of red table cloths for fine dining.
It was definitely a refreshing experience to get away from Southern style pho for once. We shared an order of banh xeo ($7.95) which I thought it was okay. The crepe texture had crispy edges and could have been thicker with more robust fillings other than bean sprouts. The stranded pieces of shrimps were quite good and the side dish of mixed Southeast Asian vegetables was fresh, wide ranging, and perfectly assembled.
Our order of bun bo hue ($6.95) was very delicious. The broth was intensely rich and spicy with thick slices of tender beef and pork and a very generous portion of thicker noodles. I thought the use of shrimp paste was not too strong and the tangy taste from lemongrass definitely had its presence. For some reason our dish did not have congealed pigs blood like it was shown on their photo display, but it was still very good. The side of thin sliced cabbage, jalapenos, and lime were decent and fresh.
Our order of com ka kho to was quite flavorful ($8.95). Although portions could be more, but the thick slice of steamed fish topped with thick slices of mushrooms, crisp onions and ginger was light and flavorful. I kept scooping the sauce onto my rice for added flavor. It was very delicious.
Overall I thought their food was straight four stars. For some reason they were playing the same Vietnamese song again and again for the entire hour that we were there. In addition, service was very attentive but not consistently responsive the whole time. Since my friend does not like his food spicy, we opted for the hot sauce to come on the side. Instead, our noodle soup was plenty spicy while our side of hot sauce never arrived along with the fish. I also thought the fish sauce for the banh xeo had plenty of garlic and red pepper to entertain, but the innate flavor could still be more potent in order to keep it real. Lastly, as a suggestive idea, they should try to carry mangosteen ice cream. Their current selection of green tea and vanilla ice cream were not enough to entice me to have dessert there.
3.5 stars for the overall experience. I would love to come back to try their garlic noodles and beef salads.
An oasis in the desert! I am not referring to the Tenderloin, I'm referring to the fact that whenever I walk in I feel immediately at ease. The place is so pleasantly decorated, the staff always nice and gentle, the bathroom is always very clean and the food is always reliably delicious. Generally I do it up when I go there and get beer and apps but it's so nice that even when I'm broke I can go and spend 10 dollars and get a very filling entree.
Cute place, ok food. Good service.
Clay pots are good, pho is ok. I've been hearing about their garlic noodles but I haven't had the chance to try those.
A business with no integrity, I signed up for yelp just to write this review.
I had a stomach ache and I wanted to get some soup. I went in during the lunch hour so it was busier than normal, but I really wanted some soup and I didn't mind waiting.
I waited for 15 minutes and no one was leaving, so I went to the back to use the bathroom. The woman at the counter stopped me in front of the bathroom door to tell me that the bathroom wasn't open to the public, I told her that I had been waiting for a seat for 15 minutes at the door and that I had a stomach ache and just wanted some soup.
When I came out of the bathroom they were seating a european couple. I told the server that I had been standing and waiting for 15 minutes but that I had gone to the bathroom, they said the next table. (no apology)
I stood there and waited for 15 more minutes (feeling sick, remember) a group of 3 business people in suits walked in and were seated within 5 mins at the very next table that opened up! I was so appauled; when I pointed out to the server that I had been standing at the door for 30 minutes she SHOUTED at me that their group was bigger and needed the table that opened up. Humiliating.
In other words a minority in sweat pants wasn't going to spend as much money as a European couple or a group of people in suits.
If you have any respect for humanity, please do not give this business your money.
Came here about 2 months ago for lunch on a Friday. The place was packed. I was lucky to get a table almost immediately. The people behind me waited for at least 20 minutes.
The place is much nicer than your typcial Vietnamese restaurant. It actually has some ambiance. The lunch items were very reasonably priced ranging from $6 to $10. I ordered the five spicy Chicken which was 6.95. It was good but not great. The sauce on the chicken looked and tasted like it was added after the chicken was cooked (rather than a marinade) and it was also too sweet. The chicken was cooked nicely and was moist and tender. The lunch special came with a salad and garlic noodles which were nice.
The service was fast and efficient but a bit rushed and as they were panicking a bit with the lunch hour rush.
mmm, I always crave the pho from this place (I am a big meat eater). The broth has a nice flavor and hits the spot on a cold day in the TL. The vegetarian clay pot is also really good -- even I like it -- and that's what the bf always eats when we go. There are little fried tofu bits that sort of resemble meat and are super tasty!
Mangosteen and I have had a battle brewing for awhile. They're front door a mere 76 steps from mine, and for some reason I just didn't want to try them. I don't know why, maybe it's the phlegmy green color of the building or something, who knows. But they're on my turf, and I wasn't gonna back down. (If there are any drug dealers reading this then I'm totally kidding, it's not my turf, you can have it)
So I decide tonights the night it goes down and snagged the Garlic Noodle with Tofu/Veggies. Only one problem with it: second damn time today I ordered something with "spicy" in the description and it wasn't in the least. But unlike the earlier place, I didn't have to cover this in hot sauce because the flavor of the dish was good anyway. It's not like I'm a person who eats freakishly hot foods all the time and then says "oooo I can't taste the spice" when every normal person's mouth is burning. It wasn't spicy at all, I'm just sayin..
The taste was really good and I knew I'd be back again to try something else. I figure that's a four star, I'll be back very soon, even though I still have no idea what I generally didn't like about it in the first place. Just stop lying about your spicy soy sauce please.
if you're looking for authentic vietnamese food, then Mangosteen is one of the restaurant you should definitely check out.
my favorites here is the Bun rieu, spring rolls, Steam garlic noodles (not the oily fried ones), Filet mignon w/ potatoes, and the 5 spice chicken dish.
They specialize in everything but pho. They have it. But I have yet to see anyone order it. I highly recommend their garlic noodles.
Five Spice Chicken Garlic Noodle: (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) Huge portion. The chicken was beautifully cooked and flavored. The garlic noodle had the right amount of garlic. Not too overwhelming, but definitely garlic breath for hours to come. Loved how all the ingredients were separated and had to mix everything in myself. Plus, it was only $7 for this dish.
The coworkers had the Eggplant with Shrimp Rice Plate (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and Spicy Lemon Grass Chicken Garlic Noodles (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Yummy!
Mangoteen is a Vietnamese culinary tour of Saigon. It's amazing. If you really want good Vietnamese food, you have to be able to stomach the Tenderloin, where you get the best and most authentic Vietnamese food in San Francisco. I have to admit that the drive there is depressing....full of the usual suspects in the TL, the hookers, the crack heads, the people guiding you into your parking space as if they are helping you. You should tip. You don't have to, but you should.
Mangoteen is proud. They give you their all and it's worth it. They bring you Vietnamese cuisine from the far east. Each Pho, or dish is brought out with different accompaniments that compliment the dish that you are ordering. A lime green paint ornate the walls, lanterns and moving fans adorn the ceilings.
Whatever you're looking for they have, but in an authentic flavor. If you're looking for a regular pho, you won't find it here, because they have specialized chicken broth, and beef, all different flavors....and noodles. Try it. Try the REAL thing. It's good. You'll love it.
They also offer fresh squeezed lemonade, carrot juice, and coconut juice served in a real coconut.
You get what you're looking for here and it's the price that is too good to be true.
You can tell that the staff loves the food and are proud to serve it.
The bathroom and the restaurant are not like the hole in walls that you're your used to when you go to eat Vietnamese food. It's clean and beautiful. The bathroom has fresh flower arrangements and a bamboo water fountain. Are you kidding me? Am I really in a dive Vietnamese restaurant in the Tenderloin? Oh gawd, yes I am and it's fabulous!
I loved my Asian food adventure!
Thank you! Best of luck to you Mangoteen! I will most definately be back very very soon with more friends. Thanks, again for a great dining experience!
Wearing soccer cleats
She brings water but no bill
Mangosteen waitress
_____
I noticed halfway into my meal, that our server was wearing soccer cleats. I was confused by this, and asked her about it. She mumbled something incomprehensibly about being able to walk faster that way.... I was confused, still. I imagined puddles in their kitchen that she needs cleats to walk through... or something.
Nonetheless, the food was quite good and other than taking forever to bring the bill, the service was great. Our waters never went empty and that's important. It's probably the fanciest, classiest, most expensive restaurant in the neighborhood, which is to say that the food costs about $10 per person for dinner. I appreciated that their menu included more than just pho and bun and rice plates.
being the newb to sf ~ I haven't heard of too many places past powell or china town. I went to cal but venturing out into the tenderloin wasn't exactly on my to-do list during my 4.5 years in the bay area (which was sadly 5 years ago). Back in the bay for a fellowship with hastings and the girls who go to this school have been raving about mangosteen.
We finally had a group lunch there today~ and after my prior experiences with other hole-in-the-wall viet restaurants, I was pleasantly surprised. Normally I like bun bu hue? (rice noodles with some type of meat). Through one of my co-worker's suggestion - I ordered the spicy garlic noodles with chicken. It was really good! The other girls got some sort of vegetarian dish that looked like it had very fresh veggies. They all had good things to share about this place. I really liked the dish. It sort of tasted like chow mein noodles with garlic.. but tossed with the chilli sauce. Yum! One person had the curry which smelled amazing! A man at the next table got the curry but with noodles.. thought that was an interesting combo and it looked yummie too!
I loved the décor and the service was great too! I would most definitely come here again. Next time I'm going to get my usual with rice noodles .. a sign of a good viet restaurant is their nuhc mam (fish sauce). I just loved the fact it was momma and her two daughters running around to manage this lil joint. A must try. Not the best viet food in my life (spoiled from westminister and my bf's auntie) but so far the best I've had in sf while up here for the summer!
Stopped in for a late lunch. Wasn't crowded and service was great. I am giving this place four stars with consideration that it's not suppose to be a fancy dining experience and it's CHEAP. Still, much much nicer and cleaner than the place two doors down (turtle something...)
Boc Luc Lac was tasty with the garlic noodles. Beef noodle soup was just ok. It wasn't what I was expecting so I can't give negative points for that. The Vietnamese coffee was amazing. I sucked down the first glass and wanted more but wouldn't let myself. That's like ordering a heart attack!
Vietnamese isn't all about the Pho! This place has a great selection of other dishes. Will return to try the rest.
EXCELLENT Vietnamese food in a cozy, clean and cute place with competent (heavily accented) service. The neighborhood sucks but is getting better. If you prefer greasy Vietnamese then go to Tu Lan, where grease is your friend and the neighborhood REALLY sucks.
For the price, this place is the best!! Try the garlic noodles
Fairly good and inexpensive Vietnamese cuisine, not bad for a quick lunch whilst downtown. On the plus side the space is cozy and cute, the service is pleasant and the portions are huge. On the minus side the quality of the chicken is bad, no white meat whatsoever and lots of fat (which could be a plus if you're into the fatty stuff). We ordered the lemongrass chicken rice noodles, which were not bad par the chicken. The tofu papaya salad was better.
4 stars: Yay! I am a fan!
To be clear-- I am a bun bo hue fan, & this place has good bun bo hue! It's not quite the authentic bun bo hue (doesn't have the pig feet/bones in broth, and less spicy than usual), but it's really a great mix of flavors and textures. One of my favorite places for bun bo hue.
I always tried this sparerib (? meat) thing (I'm sorry I'm not that helpful, next time I'll get the name) dish and it wasn't as satisfactory. The texture was a little rough, and the portion was small.
BUT the great thing about this place is ambiance. It gives me a more Americanized feel of Vietnamese restaurant (meaning it's more clean than other Viet restaurants), and has a nice bathroom. It may be one of the nicest places in TL.
Here's another heads up: not open on Sundays. I was moded, twice. shame on me!
It's so simple [at least for the meatatarians]. I'll check for veggie options at some point.
Step 1: Come here for lunch. From what I hear, the dinner menu is a little pricier for the same portions.
Step 2: Order the Filet Mignon over Garlic Noodles [comes with a healthy serving of broccoli] or Rice. The Lemongrass Beef over Garlic Noodles is another option.
Step 3: Nom. Quickly now, others are waiting!
Step 4: Pay ~$10 [plus drinks and tip] and leave.
Lessons learned from other reviews: Do not order pho.
Date: March 27, 2009 @ 11:30 AM
Occasion: Lunch Treat by my GF Janetita
Ambiance: Bright and energetic. Crowded.
Decor: Modern Asian that's fading with age. Tightly packed tables.
Social Scene: Tenderloin/Civic Center Professionals.
Food: Cold noodles with barbecue pork and rolls
Cold noodles with prawns and rolls
Overall:
1. We waited for our food for at least 30 mins. Thank God my GF was chatty and a fun company.
2. The cold noodles were still hot when they were placed at our table. The bowl was huge but mostly filled with noodles. The rolls were skinny.
3. The fish sauce was lacking in flavors.
4. This place is not the best Vietnamese food I've had. It's okay. My friend actually really likes this place but favorite is the one next door to Mangosteen.
Tab: $18.00 including tax and tip.
Thanks, Janetita, for a wonderful lunch. It really made my day!!!!
Mangosteen, your chicken pho was subpar the one and only time I ate your food. A year and a half later, I came back to see if your other food was better. You failed to impress.
Your imperial rolls were eh, nothing to brag about. Your green papaya and chicken salad was good, although a bit blander than it could have been, and this was with fish sauce?!? You also messed up our papaya and chicken and actually served us papaya and beef so that we had to have the orders taken back (one in the party didn't eat beef). I ordered the #25, garlic noodles with cubed beef. The noodles weren't all that garlicky, but I thought the beef was good and tender. However, I have no idea why there were potatoes with the beef because they in no way went together.
Also, with a party of 8, one person was served about half an hour after the first person was given their entree which was really bad. Not to mention, one person came by to say, "Your order is coming soon" and then another came right after and asked, "What did you order?" Oh, and did I fail to mention that there was a roach swimming in another person's glass of water? The thing is, I'm not even going to deduct a star for the roach because it actually seems quite normal to me.
So three stars it is, although I think you really deserve 2.5, or a 2, but the other people seemed to enjoy their food so I'll be generous.
I was supposed to go have lunch with the hubby next door at Red craw fish but realized they don't open until dinner on a SATURDAY??!!
So given my groveling stomach, we decided to try this place out. Service was pretty slow and we felt pretty ignored by the staff.
We decided to split the fried spring rolls and the garlic noodle with fried tofu and vegetable dish. I also decided to try their Vietnamese coffee.
The coffee took a while to come out and was more than half way filled with ice cubes and crushed ice. served in a small wine glass. I thought that was a rip off for $3 and less then 1/4 of that glass actually being coffee. Despite hardly having any actual coffee in there, the coffee itself was pretty good and strong in flavor.
The food seemed to take ridiculously long. I saw people getting theirs even though they ordered after us. Our main course was the first to arrive, while we were hoping to start with the actual appetizer, being the rolls since everyone else got that first too.
The garlic dish we got, unlike what people said, did in fact have enough garlic flavor in it, which was a bit spicy at the same time. It was a rather small portion of noodles but still pretty good.
It took another 10 whole minutes for our "appetizer" to come out. The rolls were a bit small, still OK tasting but nothing like PP Q's or Mihns Garden.
I also tried bringing the coffee up to the server, stating it was not fair that we should have to pay for a glass filled 3/4 way with ice. She seemed to ignore us and make it seem like everyone's was the same. I know for a fact others did not have that much ice after drinking it and seeing very little ice left over. Still, you shouldn't be that cheap with the coffee especially when the glass was already small and clearly overly filled with ice.
All in all, after 45 min just waiting for our food, only liking one dish and absolutely dreading the service, I can only award this place an average rating and this is only to reflect the noodle dish. Everything else was nothing special, although I liked the decor, despite some thinking it was "trying to be fancy." If the prices reflected the decor, I would be agreeing, however, most of the stuff was priced at $5-$6 a plate. Not a bad price.
Just be weary of the service and the long wait.
Friends and I were in search of tasty eats near the financial district last night. We were short on time, hungry and wanted something tasty. Unfortunately this place did not rock my taste buds but I was full when I left.
The six of us ordered family style and ended up with too much food. Service was good and friendly!
The most popular dish were garlic noodles. One of my dining companions said she could eat it for an entire meal. I thought the noodles were indeed garlicky and unique but everyone else loved them.
My fave dish was a tangy seafood soup. Reminded me of thai tom yum soup.
Their menu was unique to me because it didn't offer pho or vermicelli, but instead focused on stir fry dishes. The dishes were decent but it felt more like panda express than vietnamese food to me.
Other observations:
- the place was clean
- service was friendly and english-speaking
- they serve wine
Very tasty charbroiled pork!
My colleague brought me here yesterday for lunch and it was pretty good! I only had 40 minutes max to eat and make it back to the office so that being said, I ordered, received food, ate, and walked back to the office within that time.
The only hard part was getting the attention of a waitress to take our order, but after that, everything went well.
The order: Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio (rice vermicelli w/ fish sauce, salad, charbroiled pork & an egg roll) for $6.95.
The egg roll was pretty good dipped in fish sauce. It had a very thin, crispy wrap filled with meat and vegetables. I'm a real sucker for anything fried, but I did share a piece with my coworker and we both thought it was lip smacking good. I was just disappointed that they gave me half an egg roll (3 one-inch pieces). WTF? That's never happened to me before and I order this dish a lot at various Vietnamese restaurants. What happened to the other half? Did the chef get hungry?
The fish sauce was like any other fish sauce. Nothing different there.
However, the charbroiled pork was AMAZING! I really enjoyed the sweet soy sauce marinade they used on the pork and it was cooked perfectly. They also included a good helping of meat in the dish that I suppose made up for the lack of half an egg roll.
Overall, 3.5 stars for being a quick, affordable, and tasty lunch.
So far, this is my favorite place for Bun Bo Hue. Nice and spicy, a bunch of different kinds of meat, a shrimp ball, and a nice broth. Their Vietnamese iced coffee is also rich in flavor, even though you didn't get much. Also, nice and cheap which is always a bonus. The vegetables that come separate with the bun bo hue weren't super fresh (there were little brown marks on the cut tips of the lettuce), but they had banana leaf, which is a nice authentic touch.
The previous time that I was here, I had a wok tossed noodle dish and thought it was a little too greasy for my taste, but this time, I was very satisfied with my meal.
Perhaps they're also getting a good review from me because the very next day, I went to Jasmine Garden for the exact same meal (bun bo hue and iced coffee, my appetite whetted by Mangosteen) and was utterly underwhelmed. The contrast made me appreciate the care and complexity of the flavors even more.
Please don't order the pho here, you can get a much more flavorful and authentic broth at other places. But please do try the Goi Du Du (papaya salad) and the Bun Rieu (crab noodle soup).
Not many Vietnamese restaurants serve Bun Rieu. My mom always had to order this from a "Bun Rieu lady". We would leave a huge soup pot at her house, and the next day there will be a pot of noodle soup with a layering of flavors ready for us to take home and devour for the next two days. It's a vermicelli noodle in a tasty tomato and crab broth with fried tofu and an assortment of meats, such as a Vietnamese-style pork cold cut, shrimp balls and ground crab meat. Similar to pho, you put in bean sprouts/lemon/jalapeno slices, but there's also a mix of cabbage, herbs and flash-fried red onions that adds a slight crunch and brightness to every bite. I like to add a heaping scoop of chili/garlic paste, which I'm sure some would say alters the original flavor, but I love that extra nose-running spice.
I haven't had the Bo Luc Lac myself, but my boyfriend, who has become a shaking beef specialist in the Tendernob area, says it's decent but more tender and flavorful next door at Bodega Bistro.
Mangosteen isn't the cleanest looking place, but their Bun Rieu and always friendly service brings me back. Plus they're always playing fun 60's French pop music.
I really have no idea why people come here often. I know plenty that do.
The interior is okay, not too bad for a joint in the TL. I've been to much worse.
I had the lemongrass chicken b/c I think I'm allergic to some ingredient used in Vietnamese cooking regularly. It didn't even taste very good, but I imagined eating something delicious and swallowed it instead. haha. Anyway, I ended up getting a stomachache later on that day. Go figure.
On the plus side, they had good service for a big party.
Just got back from lunch with the co-workers. Got the yellow chicken curry....the vegetables were mushy and included brocolli, zucchini, onion, and green beans. The chicken was sliced nice and thin and the sauce and rice were good. Otherwise, meh for mush mouth.
Do yourself a favor if you plan on eating their Pho Tai.
Go to the local market and pick up a box of MSG.
Sprinkle some in your broth.
This was the most bland Pho Tai ever. My homie ordered the same thing and felt the same way. When you put a few tablespoons of hoisin and sriracha and it does nothing to enhance the flavor ... then we have a problem.
Also, that vietnamese coffee looked like a thai iced tea. No dripper, no condensed milk at the bottom, no cubed ice. It came out mixed up in tiny pieces of crushed ice filled to the top of a wine glass.
I knew I should of stuck to the main menu. However, the service was pleasing. I want those painting on the wall though.
.
Had lunch here three times with friends. Nice clean and modern interior. Service was good the 1st time, horrible the 2nd time, OK the 3rd time.
Bun Bo Hue was kinda bland. The garlic noodles with lemon grass beef was good. The Vietnamese Crepe (Banh Xeo) was OK.
Defiantly not a Pho' place....kinda bland and veggies were not real fresh (bean spouts, basil etc.).
Nicer interior than most places in the 'Loin, not as good food as many places in the 'Loin. I digress, but if you ever visit S.E. Asia / Vietnam....do try a Mangosteen - a delicious fruit that that when perfectly ripe has a balanced tart and sweet flavor.
Veg spicy curry sans milk good, spicy, good mix of veggies and taro!!! but i can never have enough of those. Fair price i spose but check didnt come for minutes minutes and MINUTES! Restaurant clean, service friendly, the whole floor was packed at lunch. Eh
I don't feel bad for giving them a so-so review, because I am likely to keep going back regardless of the lack of quality. I only went it for take-out, so I can't comment much on the service, except that everyone was polite in the brief interaction we had. Since I seem to be on the blacklist at most of the noodle places in the area, I am happy with mere politeness.
The dish I got was the tofu, vegetable noodle combo and it was reasonably priced for a big portion, but it was nothing exciting. I would have enjoyed more vegetables and less salt. But the Pho looked good and the restaurant itself had a lot of windows (it's a located on a corner) so it had a nice airy feel that Bodega doesn't have so I think I'd eat in and try another dish.
I've eaten here quite a few times because its really close to my school. You can definitely tell they're trying to make it more upscale and trendy, but the food isn't THAT spectacular. It is good for sure, but nothing that amazing. I've had the pho, and a couple meat dishes, and nothing is too memorable.
But I'm sure I'll be back again soon :)
This place is a nice little Vietnamese diamond in the rough TL. It does a good job of serving above average food in the stank TL. It definitely beats Turtle Tower and Pho To Bay.
I've been here about a dozen times and the pho tai is always solid, except my last bowl which just didn't hit the spot. But, I have recently gotten the curry there and it is top notch. The curry is the great Vietnamese style curry that I've been looking for ever since Pho 2000 in Saigon. It is hard to find a pho place that serves amazing curry. It is fully flavored and all the veggies really soak up the flavor. If you don't like the pho or just need a change - def try the curry!
My girlfriend cannot get over this place, so hopefully I can get her a Christmas gift card from Mangosteen for Kwanzaa. I also hope that she doesn't read this before Hanukkah either. The decor is very high end for a Vietnamese restaurant. It threw me off - I thought the pho would be like $20 the first time I walked in. And most highly unusual for a Vietnamese restaurant - the bathroom is NICER than the dining area! If they covered up the toilet and served me in there, I wouldn't even know.
Never in my life have I eaten at so many Vietnamese places in a one-month period. My mom in Hawaii would be so proud. Unfortunately, with the exception of Saigon Sandwiches, none of them have been worth writing home about.
Mangosteen is just another Vietnamese restaurant in the TL. Yes, it's cleaner, but take away the green walls and I could've been at Vietnam 2 down the street for all I knew. I had the imperial rolls with vermicelli noodles, which were pretty good--I wanted more rolls and less noodles for seven bucks, though. My friends had the BBQ pork with vermicelli noodles and a tofu and veggie stir-fry.
It's probably not a good sign when during lunch at Mangosteen, we were talking about every other restaurant in SF except Mangosteen, from dim sum to Gary Danko. This place just wasn't very remarkable.
I have to add that whenever I'm at a Vietnamese restaurant, I order in Vietnamese. When I did this here, the waitress had no idea what the heck I was talking about despite that the menu was in Vienglish. What kind of people run this place?
Date & Time: Tuesday September 2, 2008 @ 7:30pm
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Company: Michael
Crowd: Mixed- Older Adventurous White Couples, Young Asian Guys & Us
Vibe: Chill
Decor: Small Space w/ Light Green Walls & Maroon Ceilings & TableCloth. Unique Lanterns Hang from the Ceiling. Tightly-Packed Dark Wood Tables for Deux & Quatre.
Service: Courteous & Efficient
Imbibe: Pomegranate Juice & Wine
Devour: BBQ Pork & Chicken, Sea Bass, Garlic Noodles
Total: $45. 31
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Vietnamese
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