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Category: Vietnamese [Edit]
Neighborhood: Civic Center/TenderloinMon-Sun. 8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
"Tao Cafe is an amazing place in every respect. The location is nice, the restaurant is very cozy and nice, the food is breathtaking and the…" read more »
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A friend took us to Turtle Tower for lunch. He put his name on a list, and a few minutes later, a staffer directed us to their rear dining area, away from the crowd out front.
This Little Saigon eatery is one of my friend's lunch haunts; our waitress recognized him and asked if he wanted the usual. He did.
I had their noodle soup #4 combo, pho bo dac biet ($6.50 for a small bowl), with rare beef, tripe, well-done flank, and brisket. Their cooking style is Northern Vietnamese, their execution American steakhouse: imagine big, buttery noodles in a rich broth, surprisingly soothing, even with jalapenos thrown in.
Hoisin sauce isn't available - that wouldn't be traditional Hanoi - but there's enough going on in the bowl to keep busy. To wash away the delicious grease, we liberally drank hot tea.
Just get the noodles, they're the star of the show!
For the longest time, I didn't know that Pho Ga was more of a northern type of pho while the usual beef pho with brisket and sweet tasty soup is a Southern Vietnamese thing.
Needless to say, this place is great on those cold days or nights where you just want a nice savory yet clear broth to warm those hands on the bowl and go down your stomach as it heats up your entire body. But even better yet, it's got that hint of lime and basil with just enough chicken to do magical things with just the soup. Add in the noodles and a few slabs of chicken white meat, and this meal is golden!
I must say I wasn't that impressed with the pho here. It wasn't the usual pho I normall eat, I have heard that this place serves more of a different version of pho (dependent on location in Vietnam, etc.). The flat noodles were yummy because they seemed more fresh but when first walking into the place, it was a bit sketchy (even more so than when you walk into a normal pho restaurant). I got the beef pho and added chicken to it because we went for the pho ga (on the 7x7 100 things to eat in sf list). All the people I went with were ok with the pho but were not absolutely blown away and didn't believe it should have made it on the list.
Given, maybe this is amazing pho for the style that it represents, me personally? I like the typical pho style that I always crave (at least once a week). Also, the service wasn't that great, they took forever and then yelled at us to sit back down when we tried to pay at the counter.
So from my opinion, not my favorite, but then again could be a completely different perspective if you know this type of pho and enjoy it more.
It's early, you're starving. You're vulnerable. So vulnerable the guy bursting out of the Turtle Tower front door sends you off to the back door without letting you look at the menu you asked for, handing you a ticket in some sort of useless act of generosity. But you heard it was good, a certain chef at Absinthe claimed it was her favorite pho spot (http://tinyurl.com/yll...), so you go along with it. You're hungry, it's early. Vulnerable.
You're seated and it smells terrible. Sticky table. Where's the hoisin sauce? Dingy menus with a dozen or so kinds of pho, a handful of rice/noodle dishes, and oh look! intestines on the side. It's okay, you heard it was good. It's busy; it's gotta be good.
Your fatty, low-grade beef looks like it's sitting in chicken broth with pale fettuccine noodles, garnished with green onions and roughly three cilantro leaves cut into miniscule pieces. The other diner, who ordered beef stewed in wine sauce and rice, sadly pokes at his meat that looks like it could either be fed to a cat or scooped up after a cat. You can't decide.
You don't have basil. You don't have hoisin. You just have a giant bottle of Sriracha and you desperately squirt some into your bowl, hoping it might kill whatever pathogens are living in the beef because the broth certainly isn't hot enough to do so. You are sad.
But you're also hungry, so you eat some of it because some of it is edible. After a few minutes the bitter taste of disappointment overwhelms you and you turn to your coffee. It's lukewarm and good. You smile at the person eating cat product across the table, hoping they don't hate your guts ($2.50) and get the check. Then you leave.
The end.
Hanoi-style pho. Awesome. There is no going back to regular, run-of-the-mill southern-style pho.
I believe I've been about 75 times; roughly weekly.
#2 w/ extra rare beef. Something is magical about the broth--the fresh ginger, perhaps.
imperial rolls are amazing as well.
the iced coffee w/ condensed milk might as well be heroin.
needless to say i've formed quite a habit.
expect pounded, not-sliced, meat, and non-clumping wide rice noodles. expect no add-ons like basil or sprouts. they would merely get in the way.
enjoy.
Like many others I'm also a fan of this noodle shop.
It has good food at reasonable prices, although I'll admit that this place is not as clean as the places next door. But while many other restaurants in the area offer dinner, they close at 7:30pm.
The taste of their chicken broth has made them famous, so the Pho Ga (#9) is often touted as a must try (you also get a cup of the chicken broth with any of their rice plates). I think that you'd be missing out by not trying other items also. Note that the soups have some MSG, no different from many other Vietnamese places, just in case you're sensitive to that stuff. http://static.px.yelp....
Some people might complain because they charge $2.15 for EACH imperial roll, and that they are smaller than what you can get elsewhere (other places give 4 rolls for $4 or $5). True, but I should mention that the rolls have visible crab meat inside, in addition to pork, and they seem to be made (assembled/filled/rolled) to order. http://static.px.yelp....
Another important detail is that they charge 25 cents per container for to go orders. A funny thing I noticed in the fine print, was the following warning: "If you break - you pay." http://static.px.yelp.... LOL! charming old-fashioned ways.
Cash only.
Hello, my name is Ruben and I am a Tutle Tower addict.
My co-worker (Anita W.) goes here at least once a week and introduced me to it on a random outing. It all started with the beef pho (#4?), which I ordered so that I would not copy Anita W. who got the #9 that everyone talks about. Eventually I tried the #9 and was hooked on how delicious it is. Now, I am on a #6 kick (stir fried beef w/ celery, carrot, onion and leeks pan fried noodle soup). Everything I have eaten at TT is like heaven in a bowl w/ broth.
If the soup at TT was a woman, I'd put on soft music, whisper sweet nothings into its ear and make sweet love to it. What?
Umm, I've been itching to try this place for a couple years, when one of my Vietnamese friends have repeatedly said how good this place was. So I finally tried it a few weeks ago.
Maybe I was expecting more (due to all the hype and raised expectations on a WOW-pho experience), but I personally thought the beef pho was OK. Yes, it IS different. And I'm sure it's really really good North Viet beef pho. But the overwhelming taste of ginger in the broth threw me off. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE ginger. But now I know that I'm not a fan of gingery beef pho broth.
The chicken pho, on the other hand, was absolutely AMAZING! It is probably the best chicken pho I've had, that was not made by my best friend's mom (who is through and through Vietnamese). Note to the general public though: the chicken pieces come with fat/skin.
I grew up eating more of a southern styled Pho with all the embellishments of additional vegetables and herbs like bean sprouts, mint, additional basil. So you can imagine I was initially disappointed to be presented a bowl of Pho with only a side of lime and peppers. I am a food lover so I did not let that stop me from tasting on and hoping that this northern-style cuisine would be great.
The meat slices and selection was acceptable, nothing out of the ordinary here. The noodles were a little too thick for my taste and a little too over-cooked and soft. The broth however was amazing, well flavored good spice and character.
Overall, okay but I will try the other places in the neighborhood first before coming back.
Nahh, I didn't like it :-(
I guess it's authentic Northern-Style, but not what I was expecting. I did not like the thick soft noodles or raw beef chunks (instead of sliced beef). Sorry, but I will look for other place.
It all started with a search on Pho 2000 since this is the chain restaurant in Saigon; but of course, it isn't the same one here. Anyway, then I was led to the Turtle Tower. With over 600 reviews and 4 stars... good sign #1.
Parking was not bad for Sat morning, and the place was full at uh-huh, 10:45am. Good sign #2
Ordered the Pho Ga since this is what everyone was raving about. Hmm...it is good; but not wow. Also, tried the pho with beef; which is just ok. Not sure why they use the thicker noodle here even for the beef Pho. Also, it doesn't come with any bean sprout?! I don't know, maybe this is from different region and therefore, they have different practice? I being to doubt myself and my Pho experience, maybe they are actually Americanized version and not the authentic one.
Note to self, Loi's on Irving is still the best. And my next adventure will be heading to Ho Chi Ming city to try the authentic one!
Decent Pho place... but VERY different from what I was expecting. My friend said that this place serves a more Northern style pho.
I got the combo pho #4 with all the good stuff (tripe... mmMmm). I think the thing that was really weird was the slice (yes, singular) of rare steak - it looked like something placed between saran wrap, pulverized with a tenderizing mallet, and then placed on top of the broth. Granted, it tasted okay, but it was very different from the usual. Also, straying away from my pho standards were the thicker noodles and less salty broth. In the end, it was a decent bowl of pho, but not everything I was expecting.
Decent, but dunno if this is a must do every time I come to the Civic Center...
Pho is like an Asian comfort food for me and Turtle Tower does it right every time. This location, since it's in the TL, is kind of a hole-in-the-wall place. The service was fast and the prices were reasonable.
small pho ga ($5.95) - The broth was a tad TOO salty but lighter tasting than the normal beef broth. It contained REAL pieces of chicken (Chinese style) and was temperature hot which is the way I like to enjoy my pho. The bowl could have used more noodles but it was just filling enough and wasn't too heavy. I think I prefer the wide rice noodles over the traditional pho noodles. And I couldn't complain since it was less than $6.
They had sriracha but no hoisin sauce, but luckily it didn't really need much added flavoring. Will come back for sure!
I was a little disappointed when my phone showed Turtle Tower as being closed for lunch on the day I wanted to go but, lo and behold, it was open. I sat at the round table in the back - for singles and doubles and anyone else who doesn't mind sitting at a communal table. Perfect.
My food seemed to take a while - others at my table who ordered after got their food before mine but, it was worth the wait (and I was super hungry!).
I thought my dish was a little pricey - I ended up spending around $11 for lunch, which in my mind is a bit pricey for Vietnamese, but still, the spring roll I had was super light, crispy, and yummy. And, my pork dish with noodles, lettuce, etc. was good.
hmm...cold.
no, body, no!
what to do?
ding ding ding!
turtle tower chicken pho
no more cold
feel better, and full and happy
Chicken noodle soups are second class citizens in my pho world. Chicken (unless it's fried chicken) is just not my favorite thing.
Give me tendons, tripe, rare beef, etc, in my pho anytime. The weirder the better. But why do I always end up getting Chicken Pho? Because it is healthier than beef or pork (I think!)
So, I read so much about how awesome Pho Ga is at Turtle Tower. C'mon, chicken pho is chicken pho. How much more awesome can a pho get?
Until I braved the pee-splashed streets of the TL to get my to-go Pho Ga at Turtle Tower.
I was thinking, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Another overhyped food."
After the first slurp, I was singing a different tune. The BEST CHICKEN PHO I've ever tasted!!! The broth was so flavorful that it did not need to be doctored with oyster sauce and hot sauce!!!! Just a splash of lemon and jalapeno and you're good to go! I liked it so much that I went back again the next day just to make sure. Sure enough, Pho Ga rocks!
I stand corrected--not all Chicken Phos are created equal. Turtle Tower's Chicken Pho Ga is definitely not a second-class citizen in the Pho world. It is the PHO GA-DESS that other chicken pho's are just mere mortals!
$6.29 for probably the best Pho Ga you'll ever taste (medium-sized including tax)!
After hearing rave reviews from my friends, my friend and I finally found our way to Turtle Tower. I mean that, literally. For the life of me, I couldn't find Little Saigon. I suck at directions, and that crazy Love Evolution thing was going on. I can only locate things in perspective to City Hall, darn it.
Anyhow, we walked and it was packed. Darn it. I was starving. The guy working there gave us a number and summoned us to head to the other room. He told us to go outside and keep walking straight towards the other door in the alley. What the hell kind of shady business is this!
We walked there, and we found another room and more tables. Woot. I looked around and everyone was eating pho so me and my friend decided to go safe and follow the crowd.
The pho was delicious. No bean sprouts though and oyster sauce. Weird. The noodle was different (other part of Vietnam?). The price was great. :)
If I'm in the area, I'll come back!
So far the best Pho I've had in California.
What does it for me:
- thick soft noodles
- rare beef is actually rare and delicious
- soup is not too salty
I'm not picky about my pho like some of my friends are, but after hearing about how good this place is I decided to try their PHO GA. I thought it was good, but then again, I'm NOT picky about my pho. My boyfriend had the beef soup, and he said it was nothing out of the ordinary. I'd give this place 3 stars cuz I do like bean sprouts in my pho =[
I'm not a pho connoisseur, and I rarely eat pho. Infact, I discovered pho only 5 years ago when I was 23 years old and right when I moved to California (very few pho restaurants in NY). This pho tasted pretty much the same as in any other pho restaurants. One difference that I did notice was that the pho here did not have as much msg as other places.
My boyfriend, who loves pho, was not impressed.
You must know what you're getting yourself into when you go here:
1. it's northern vietnamese style pho,
2. prices are reasonable,
3. is it just me or is there a ton of MSG in the soup? If they used a lot of bone, then the broth couldn't be so sweet and yet so clear...
15 minutes following my bowl of pho, I was really thirsty. So I grabbed a bottle of water from the venue next door before I headed to a show at the Orpheum Theatre. One hour later, my mouth was so dry (felt like I had cotton mouth) but I had finished the bottle of water already...if you ask me, that's sure signs of TONS OF MSG.
But....if you like points 1, 2, and 3 above, then this is the place for you. As for me, I am going to pass. Thanks.
After hearing the God of SF Vietnamese cuisine, Charles Phan (Slanted Door, Out the Door, Heavenly Dog & Moss Room), eats here, I knew I had to try this place!
The house specialty is Chicken Pho (Northern style w/ no bean sprouts or basil). The soup comes already seasoned with herbs (scallions & cilantro) so all you have to add are jalapenos and a squeeze of lime (or hot sauce if you like it spicy). I was hooked after the first bite! This is by far the best tasting chicken pho I've had! The soup is seasoned well, the chicken is nice and tender and the flat rice noodles are damn tasty! Try Chicken Pho (#9) with NO SKIN. It's $1 extra but totally worth it! This is the best $8 pho you'll find in the city! Not to mention it's a great hangover food.
Chicken Soup Pho is the best!!!
The soup is so good that I can't help but finishing the entire bowl even though I'm already full.
It's not a super clean restaurant, but it has the best chicken soup pho in the city!!!
Now, this is pho.
Don't get me wrong, I love Vietnamese-American pho with it's rich cloudy beef broths and piled high tendon and offals and thin slices of meat, all that delicious cilantro, basil, bean sprout and jalapeno goodness...
But, this is pho. Legit, from the homeland, pho. This reminds me of street vendors I had crossed paths with in Ho Chi Minh; I have memories of a very late, sweltering night, wandering with friends in the city after the tourists had gone to bed and the graveyard shift of Ho Chi Minh's constant buzzing work life had just waken. On a corner across a beer hall I had probably one of the best examples of pho I've had. It was so simple: clear broth, fresh noodles, some white pepper, a sprinkle of vegetables, some slabs of processed meat and a side of lime. It was fantastic. That was Vietnamese pho to me, and one of only a handful of meals I recall with real relish and tenderness.
The difference appealed to me... Was it just a regional methodology of how to cook this dish now so ingrained in Bay Area eating culture? Was it simply fact of life, street corners were not the safest place to provide meals with uncooked meat and by this fact, the recipe modified? Or, is this how it should be done? I have no idea. It was good, and I loved it enough to enjoy street pho several times for breakfast, lunch and dinner through the rest of the trip.
Turtle Tower's pho ga strongly resembles the meal I had so many nights ago. A purity about the chicken broth, simple and clean and yet still... a wealth about it, savory, bright, good to the last drop. The simplicity of this pho was both refreshing and heart warming, and I would definitely come back again.
I still love pho as we know it today, but when I have a craving I now often think first of Turtle Tower.
I don't know how in the five years I have lived in SF, none of my Vietnamese friends had ever taken me to this little gem. Did I not introduce you kids to Beef Noodles? Shanghai Soup Dumplings? Scallion Pancakes? Huh, huh, huh???
So I finally got to eat here as my first meal post Oktoberfest last week. In addition to being simply delicious, the chicken broth tastes like a homemade bowl of yumminess that one expects an Asian mom to serve her child who has partied hard the night before, and is now seeking some comfort food to deal with a hangover. The food was filling yet light, and I loved every spoonful of it.
Oh, and thank GOD for the Lovefest mess holding back the traffic of its usual weekend lunch crowd, we got a table almost right away. I am so coming back, Turtle Tower, hungover or not.
Pho has saved and revived me many a time. Living close by, I had heard of Turtle Tower and heard many great things about it but I was hesitant to try the place out. I've heard varied stories about the wait for a table. What can I say? I live in close proximity and yeah, ok when it comes to pho I can be an impatient little brat. Blame it on growing up in the South Bay, too much good pho in too many random places.
Anywho, I finally got my happy pho lovin' self over there. Although its kind of bland inside (simple tables, stackable seats, no real decorations), you can feel the local love. All sorts of praise from CItysearch, 7 x 7 and our beloved Yelp is posted along the walls and not much else. Speaking of Yelp, you can feel the Yelpy love just by looking at the patrons. On one solo visit, after taking a glance around the dining area, I could have sworn that all was missing from turning my lunch into an elite event was some booze and name tags.
But back to the food. I've ordered a few different versions of pho and I have to admit I wasn't exactly uber familiar with Northern style pho. I'm going to go with the majority of reviews and say that yes, the #9 pho ga is delicious. The texture of the noodles combined with the flavor of the broth was as soul warming and flavorful as the homeless dude singing Motown jams a couple of blocks away. Seriously, this is chicken soup for the soul, liquid combat for a cold or hangover or just yummy comfort food to please the mouth and fill the belly. The beef pho was passable but not incredible. Maybe I'm just used to Southern style with the hoisin and sprouts but I wasn't impressed. The beef stir fry was better but then again not so fab that I would order it repeatedly like I would the pho ga.
The service was super speedy and friendly enough. Definitely worth the under ten dollar price tag for a super filling lunch.
Came here with my boss, after an audit session a few blocks away at the Federal Building. Food was great. I tried the Vermicelli Noodle Soup, with chicken, finely sliced egg, ground pork and shrimp paste. It was a very hearty meal.
If you don't have any regard for your personal space then you'll probably love this place for it's no frills food and amazingly beefy pho.
The Pho Tai Lan would be 4.5 stars because it was so good. The broth is super fatty and flavorful. I still like the pho at Bodega Bistro next door better though. But now I know why there's a line here out the door of all vietnamese old people.
They don't have much else in the way of food like Bodega either. They don't have Bo Luc Long. They do have bun and some other rice plates but there just wasn't the variety. If you want really tasty beef noodle soup though and that's all you want, I'd say go here and test for yourself whether you like it better than Bodega.
Service was choppy and a little rude and they were switching out the condiments at my table while I was still at it. I felt like I had hands in my face the whole meal which bugged the shit, which is why this place gets three stars and not four or five.
Best hangover cure is a bowl of chicken pho! ( dark meat only with no green onions please) haha
I have always been a fan of Turtle Tower...not many places will allow you to just have dark meat...the usual answer would be...NO.
YUMMY!
I knew this place was going to be good because this is my housemate's favorite restaurant. He lives in SF, so I am sure he knows his way around. Yelp 4 stars, legit. But I never expected this place to be THIS GOOD. Every single time I come here... I leave satisfied and full. It almost feels like I am in the movie Harold & Kumar go to White Castle, except this isn't a fantasy and the place is called Turtle Towers...
I think I finally got an explanation for the name, Turtle Tower. I always kill the pho in less than 10 minutes time. The turtle is a reminder to slow down, enjoy the flavor, and have some self-control! The second half of the name Tower, well like the name suggested... What do you get when you have a turtle climbing a tower? Higher of course. Seriously, I wouldn't be surprised if they laced the broth with drugs... but at the same time, the soup is so pristine. The best part about the pho though is the meat. So fresh, non of that frozen subpar stuff like other pho places. I love their beef patties, so succulent, juicy, and all things flavorful packed into one...
Important note, the noodles are different than typical pho places. They are the thick kind, love it or leave it. And I have been taught by the pros, if you really want a kick of flavor... Dip your meat with the addition of jalapeños with fish sauce. It is the awesome, only for the daring of course. Too many good words to describe this place, by far one of the best pho I have ever tasted in my life...
p.s. The location is kinda ghetto, but trust me it is worth it. SF parking? Well, it's SF.
My favorite pho place in SF.
Thick flat noodles.
I always order pho with rare beef with EXTRA tendon, I can eat that at any meal on any day!
[=
Maybe it's inauthentic, but I need hoisin sauce for my pho. They have none. Something sweet to balance out the flavors. And, I opted for the chicken pho. And there were lots of slimy pieces of chicken skin in it, which may also be authentic.
This Turtle Tower is supposedly better than the Turtle Tower on Geary. It isn't! The prices and the broth is exactly the same, except at this location, you get a lot less. My boyfriend ordered a rice plate he had gotten before on Geary, and the portion was significantly smaller.
And is coming to the Tenderloin REALLY worth it when you can go to 20something and Geary and not have to deal with street fights and homeless guys? (Except for the one who is always sitting outside.)
It was just okay. It wasn't a bad bowl of pho, but different then what I was used to (which is what I'm told is the draw of this place). Thicker noodles, no hoisin, different broth, probably many more differences I'm not aware of.
Luckily I was able to get a table as soon as I got there, but I was shocked that people were actually waiting in line to get in, when there has to be at least over a dozen places that serve pho in the area. I mean, I know this is a unique kind of pho, but really? One of the best things about pho is that once you enter a pho restaurant, you can conceivably be eating within ten minutes. There isn't a lot of seating here, so you might have to be sitting with strangers.
If you prefer Turtle Tower's pho over the other kind, then it might be worth the wait. But if you prefer the other kind or don't care either way, walk for maybe half a block and you'll already be at another pho restaurant.
IF you are a fan of southern vietnamese style pho, you might get converted once you try this place! I was convinced I loved pho with hoi sin sauce but now I can't go back to pho places on Irving anymore. Bf gets the #1- which is well-done beef. I usually get the #10- chicken with intestines. I think their noodle distinguishes them from other places. The texture is so soft and their broth is flavorful. We come here at least twice a week! Cleanliness isn't much to be expected- the neighborhood speaks for itself. Watch ur steps when parking in the alley way, might find human s**T! CA$H ONLY but they do sell gift cards?! It is open DAILY contrary to what it stated that it closes on Tuesdays!
I'm always so torn by the Tenderloin. I like avant-garde theater, but dislike crack heads. I gravitate towards fancy mixology speakeasys, but shy away from the residentially challenged. I love the smell of pho from all the Little Saigon restaurants, but loathe the wafts of urine coming from the streets and sidewalks. Turtle Tower drew me in because of all the Yelp reviews about Northern Vietnamese-style pho. With those expectations in mind, I was able to get over hoisin, basil and bean sprout notions and focus on the food for what it is. It was decent, but nothing worthy of me defecting from the South.
Chicken Pho w/ Intestines: I would have never ordered this had it not been for the rave reviews on Yelp. I'm a simple everything but the tripe and tendon type of beef pho guy. However, if this truly represents Northern-style pho, then I'm glad I made the switch. Very complex broth, especially for chicken pho. Lots of different pieces of chicken. I enjoyed the bits of white and dark meat attached to the slimy skin. The innards scared me a bit. Enjoyed the thicker noodles, making the soup seem heartier than Southern equivalents. Added sriracha on instinct, but that overpowered the complex and subtle flavors... I should learn that not everything *has* to be spicy.
Imperial Rolls: Kind of small for the individual side order. Fresh out of the fryer as the oil almost burnt my tongue. Standard, nothing exceptional.
Catfish: We had a part-time pescatarian in our group who wasn't in a land locked meat mood that night and thankfully he was generous enough to share tastes from this dish. Definitely worthy of the wow factor for presentation: catfish chunks, scallions and dill are cooked on the table in boiling oil in a cauldron over a flame. After a few minutes, you place this deep fried goodness over some thin vermicelli with typical Vietnamese veggie toppings. There is also a grainy purple sauce that adds a sour and somewhat fishy taste. Be warned, a little goes a long way. The interactive presentation and use of dill in an Asian dish make this quite unique. Once you get over that, the taste is just ok. I found the Catfish too be a little tough.
Went back again yesterday after at least a year. WTH? I didn't recall this place being that freaking delicious! But it was. If you have a friend, you should share a chicken pho and chicken porridge--best decision ever!
The soup was again super chickeny; the small bowl is a perfect portion when you're not too hungry. Nice noodles with bite to them, yum. The side of raw beef is a must as well. I miss the hoisin sauce, but it's all good because at least there's sriracha. The chicken porridge was just as delicious, but with porridge instead of noodles.
I'm not sure if my friend is just a regular here so they accommodate her and her party, but we called at around 7pm and said we would get there a little before 7:30, and they agreed to stay open for us. We got to eat after they were supposed to be closed, which is pretty freaking cool!
Two Words: CHICKEN PHO!
I usually prefer beef pho, but when I get my chicken pho craving once in…
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Just what we need...the 600th and something review of this place!.
Really, really good pho in the Tenderloin. Obviously a popular spot with the local Vietnamese community.
Go so the Asian Art Museum up the road before or after lunch here. A perfect way to spend half a day.
How did I end up at a place I vowed off forever?
1pm on a lazy Sunday afternoon:
(BLING - instant message on my computer)
W: Yo! I got so drunk last night. I even threw up.
G: You did? Wow. (I have never seen him throw up in all these years, ever!)
W: Yeah - I feel ill.
G: Did you eat? You should eat.
W: I need Pho. Wanna go?
G: OK, I'll go.
W: Really?
G: Yes.
W: Turtle Tower?
G: ... Have fun, I gotta go.
W: Come on - try it again, it's so good and I need it.
G: No.
W: Try the chicken Pho this time, it's good - you might like it.
G: No.
W: I'll buy lunch.
G: No.
W: Please?
G: No.
W: I'll buy Pho ANDcoffee.
G: Man, you're desperate.
W: I am. Well?
G: Really - coffee too?
W: Yes.
G: OK - see you in 15 minutes.
God - I am a sucker for coffee.
Okay, okay, okay.
I hate being wrong.
I absolutely hate being wrong.
And - I make it a point (successfully, I might add) to not be wrong - EVER. My success rate is not 100% but nothing is perfect in life, so I give myself some room for error. I don't like apologies, giving or receiving them, and strive to not do a thing to require an apology of any kind.
But I was wrong.
Sort of.
About Turtle Tower.
#9 Pho Ga (Chicken) is quite good.
In my book, it's not pho (and yes, I am aware this is the Northern Pho, not the typical Southern Pho one has become accustomed to expect in California). While I cannot call it "Pho" - it is a good bowl of noodles in a very tasty broth.
I can't give it 5-stars because I am certain I can make this at home as I make one killer chicken soup - - but altogether, for the small price and convenience - Turtle Tower's Pho Ga is good. I should also note that service was very friendly and efficient in the back room.
The place is still a dive.
And I still prefer my southern-style Pho.
But I'll be back for the chicken pho - - pretty tasty, if I do say so myself.
So yeah - I stand corrected.
I'm sorry, Turtle Tower. You do make good chicken pho.
I went here for the first time a couple of months ago, when a friend of mine touted, "Best pho in… Read more »
When I stared down my big bowl of pho ga (chicken noodle soup)...
It reminded me of my trip to Napa when I relished the steam room as I see the steam rise from the bowl
The long white noodles looked like the streamers from the kite I flew with my nephew as he cheered me on while I raised it higher and higher
The tangy, salty pho broth revived my taste of the salty winds at Stinson beach with my first love
I remember watering my grandmother's garden full of herbs and cilantro...the same ones I see floating on my soup right now
Do you know how it feels when you're curled up in your bed, under the thick covers while you listen to the pitter, patter of the rain on your window?
Comfort.
It's funny how you can conjure this feeling over a good bowl of pho like the simple moments in your every day life
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
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: Chinese
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