Hai Ky Mi Gia
Categories: Chinese, Vietnamese [Edit]
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin707 Ellis St
(between Larkin St & Polk St)
San Francisco, CA 94109 (415) 771-2577
- Hours:
Mon-Tue, Thu-Sun 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: None
26 reviews
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow
"mmmm. Banh Mi Dac Biet!!!!!!! 5 stars for their tremendously good combination pork sandwich! Sweet Aroma serves a well constructed…" read more »
99 Reviews for Hai Ky Mi Gia
Stopped by for lunch here the other day. I had the house special. I didn't find the broth to be very flavorful, I added a couple spoons of soysauce to it. Other than that, the noodles were cooked just right (I had the thick noodles) and the pork and shrimp were yummy. I much prefer hu tieu mi down south at Trieu Chau in Santa Ana.
San Francisco's best Vietnamese restaurant? I agree. This place is in a very ghetto part of the city, the tenderloin, but they serve absolutely the best bowls of noodles. The broth is clear and clean. The noodles are cooked perfectly. The service is fast.
I insure this building so I inspected this property and trust me.............they run a very clean and efficient kitchen. I usually come here or to Pho hoa tan. My two favorites in the tenderloin. I really don't like turtle tower but my friends are crazy about that place. I guess it's just preference.
A great comfort food after a nite of partying.
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Yes, the food here is great and the service was top-notch. It's my second time here and the broth is clear and delicious. Noodles are cooked perfectly. I did not get any MSG sickness though. It's tough to get a seat during lunchtime, but the owner takes your order when you are waiting in line outside, and by the time the table is ready, the food is delivered promptly. My staff loves this place, and don't let the ghetto scare you off. I will be back!
I've been goin here since i was four. And they still have the best noodles, after i've been to china and vietnam.
Amy the owner of this place is nice, she actually smiles and remembers what I had last time. However, I hate the lousy waitress here, since as I was slurping down my noodles she came by and took the jar of Jalapeno peppers away. She then came back and gave me a dirty look. I wish I could put a hex on that bitch.
I didn't get the MSG symptoms and headache I usually get with some noodle place so I think in that regards they are ok. I also went to another noodle place in Oakland and this place is way better than that place so I guess this place is pretty good after all.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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06/24/2008
Not bad noodles. I thought the Duck leg was kind of dry. Overall not the best noodle I ever had… Read more »
3.5 stars.
We came for lunch today and I tried the braised duck leg with wonton egg noodle soup. I opted for the thick egg noodle and found them ok, nice and al dente, but I'd try the thinner next time. I tried my SO's hofun noodle and those were better, but not as silky as I've had.
The broth tasted like a mix of pork and chicken broth, it was a tad salty and a dark brown color with a bit of fat floating on top.
The wontons were average, nothing special, but I did get about 5 or so. The braised duck leg tasted of your typical 5-spice and soy seasoning, but it was nice and tender. It came with the skin on, so you can indulge if you're in the mood.
The condiment tray featured soy sauce, vinegar, fresh pickled jalapenos, a sweet hot sauce, hoisin sauce, and chili oil. I mixed the chili oil with the hot sauce for dipping and used some jalapenos in the broth for extra acidity and heat.
They give each table a plate of sweet pickled cucumber and carrots. They were pretty cool and refreshing in between bites of noodles and hot broth.
Overall, it was satisfying, but I'd give some other places in the TL a shot before returning.
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This is like finding a treasure amist all the shitty asian restaurants around the greater bay area. Seriously! this is the place to go for great chinese/vietnamese dishes - Authentic, tasty, no msg, real good son! Must try - I'll make you a believer.
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Hmm... I'm not sure why, but I never really liked the noodles here. ?. Everyone else I know does though. For their wontons and egg noodles, I'd seriously rather go to Chinatown.
A nice change if you want something soupy and you're sick of all the variations of pho you've eaten.
I've only had the Duck leg with egg noodle soup (Mi Vit Tim), which is super yummy. Very flavorful. Portions are okay; I had room in my tummy for a little more though.
I will be back.
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I wanted to take my friend to Them Ky next door, but apparently they're closed on Mondays.
First thing I noticed as I walked in, was people eating thick noodles. Yuuum. I love thick noodles. And I can't remember the last time I had those. I ended up getting the Satay Beef with Thick Noodles. It was not bad. It was a bit greasy, but that's satay for you. It comes with a small bowl of broth, which I was very grateful of.
The food was satisfying. But a bit pricey and portions are smaller compared to next door.
I hate the drive there, hate the parking, the ghetto-ness, the dirty blocks. But once I start slurping my noodles, I forget why I hate the location so much.
I have yet to eat there after a hangover...( maybe because I can't drive that far with a killer headache).But when I'm not intoxicated, I am here at least once a week. Their seafood fat noodle soup is good as well as the dried thin noodle.
I'm sure EVERYTHING on the menu is YUMMMAY.. but those two are my fave. Need proof? I've been growing up with Hai Ky for the past 26 years (...and going)
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"Ga gee nang!" This place is where a lot of my fellow chiew chow people gather! I've been coming here since I was a kid with my family. My typical meal includes: either the duck leg with rice noodles and soup on the side or the combination with rice noodles and soup on the side, a cup of homemade hot soybean, and a dish of chinese fried donuts. Yum. Nothing like good old comfort food.
Just a tip: sometimes it is a hit or miss and the soup can be a little bit bland. That's why I prefer to get soup on the side because the noodles are usually more flavorful. Try dipping the Chinese fried donuts in the soymilk as well..it's deeelicious to me :)
Excellent noodle dishes at a bargain price! It's a quick walk from my office so I've been able to have lunch here several times and I've always enjoyed it. Came back this past Monday to have lunch with my sis and parents.
We arrived around 12:20 and the place was full - we managed to grab the last table for four. A few minutes later, the line was out the door! Our waitress brought tea and menus pretty quickly and came back a few minutes later to take our order. My sister and I shared the warm soy milk, which was delicious! Highly recommended! The fish cakes are ok. I didn't order them this time but had it previously. Nothing really special about them.
My parents went with #7, Mi Hai Ky, with thick egg noodle, soup on the side. This came with some pieces of fried garlic, shrimp, fish balls, and fish cake, with cilantro and green onions sprinkled on top. Minus the last two ingredients this dish was yummy - It is very similar to a Burmese dish that is served with fried garlic, garlic infused oil, and shredded pork.
My sister had #22, Hu Tieu Sa Te (Satay Beef Soup), with thin egg noodle soup. This dish was very unique in that it was rather quite thick, with a peanut based sauce. It also had sliced beef that was very tender. It's served with lime and pickled carrots/daikons, and soup on the side. Also recommended.
I had #4, braised duck leg with wonton egg noodle soup. The duck was a combo leg thigh piece and was full of flavor, as was the soup - I think there was star anise in the broth base. It was a tiny bit too salty for me this time. The dish came with about 5 wontons, which were ok. I also recommend this dish if you wanna try something different.
I like eating here because the food is consistent, cheap, and good! The walk through the neighborhood to get here is sketchy, BUT it's worth it.
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To me a good bowl of pho evokes images of a beaten down shack on the side of a street in Saigon. We are talking about large carcasses of pork and beef with the pungent smell of broth wafting through the air. A place where locals gather to slurp large bowls of hearty soup. Where OSHA would have a heart attack if they ever peeked inside the kitchen.
Hai Ky noodle house comes close. I think being in the tenderloin adds to the pho's character. Why the heck do people not like the tenderloin? The broth had a meaty punch though a bit saltier than I wanted. The beef was tender, the noodles firm. Service was quick, akin to a vietnamese short order cook barking out orders during the busiest hours in Saigon.
Pho must have character. It must bring you in, deliver you euphoria, and leave you craving even more. Yes, pho is the new crack and this place delivers.
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I like Vietnamese food.
It's not hard to please me (with food people...) but the ingredients have to be fresh and the broth not too oily. Hai Ky Mi Gia is cheap, delicious and MY GOD have you tasted the warm soy milk? As a card carrying insomniac I think it is good enought to put me asleep like a little baby.
And there is something to be said about the interesting walk through the 'loin that a visit to this restaurant requires. Just a block away I spotted the ubiquitous sign in this neighborhood that said "Don't buy drugs here." And I advise everyone to heed this advice...
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Growing up in Southern California, I've had my share of Chinese/Vietnamese noodle shops. This place is ALL RIGHT, but nothing special. I ordered the combination glass noodle (#9A) and my bf ordered the beef stew with thick egg noodles (#19?). Both had very fresh and delicious noodles, but the broth for both of these bowls weren't great. My clear broth was as bland as water. While the beef stew tasted all right, it only had 2 pieces of meat and several tendon pieces. If you don't like tendons, then you're in trouble. The prices are on average around $7, which is great. Another thing to note when coming to a place like this, don't come expecting customer service. It's not what they're there for! They are there to feed you, take your money and get you out of there for the next set of customers.
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This hole in the wall is a gem. The ingredients are fresh and the place is clean compared to other asian eateries. I find myself there once a week.
A favorite place for my family since I was a kid. The hiu tieu here is HEAVEN... I REFUSE to get anywhere else because it won't match up. SO GOOD! The other noodles are really good too. The portions have downsized over the years but haven't many other restaurants. Overall, a must try for people tinkering for Vietnamese food!
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There is something comforting about simplicity.
For example, Take a bowl of noodles from Hai Ky Mi Gia. You got egg noodles, broth and a duck leg. Easy. Light. No fuss... no hassle. It hits the spot just right.
Great broth. The kind where you can slurp the whole bowl without having to dunk your head into a bucket of water for the rest of the day.
This place gets busy during lunchtime but people get in and out quick.
Good noodle house!
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Quick, dirty and delicious.
Closer to Chinese food than Vietnamese.
Lately I have been coming to Hai Ky becuase I am craving their noodle soup. Personally I like the beef ball egg noodle soup, its so yumm! I love how you can eat the soups with their pickled jalepenos to make it a bit spicer. My new goal is to come here for lunch at least once a week for some good cheap soup!
Hai Ky is closed on Weds (I learned that the hard way) and they take cash only.
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Where else can you get lunch for two people for under $20? And GOOD lunch at that??
We used to have a Sunday ritual which included two Hai Ky special noodles, one order of their fried donut and two hot soy milks (it tastes like they make it there, but i'm not positive).
The only down side to Hai Ky is that it gets really packed during prime time lunch time. So try going before or after 12.
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after a grueling hike up mount diablo today to the top of one of the peaks, as soon as i stepped off the escalator at BART, i knew what i wanted:
free-range chicken soup with thin egg noodles. in the bowl, there is a combo of white and dark meat with a couple of lime wedges served on the side. the broth is clear, and the only herbs are the few pieces of cilantro leaves gently floating at the top. nothing else. seriously.
the ONLY ingredients!?
-egg noodles
-white and dark chicken meat (with a wing thrown in there for good measure)
-cilantro
-broth
virtually no oil and the chicken broth is one of the most flavorful i have ever tasted outside of my grandmother's kitchen.
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I know I rave about this place too much to anyone who will listen. And to my chagrin, each time I finally get to bring someone to try it, they're closed.
My most recent trip was no different:
So I tell Sam T. about this place all week and we're both looking forward to devouring some noodles. When we finally get there, not only is the place all gated up, but there's also this sickly looking guy hurling on the side.
Oh well, at least Them Ky is open.
It's really too bad since everyone should taste how good the noodles are here. I would recommend getting the one with duck leg or the seafood combo, thick egg noodles, and with the soup on the side.
I've often said if this place is only going to serve noodles, it better be some out of this world noodle. And it is.
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A robust bowl of Vietnamese yum, served at the unassuming Hai Ky Mi Gia in the Tenderloin, this dish ($6.45) is basically an Asian mulligatawny, containing shredded chicken and pork, fish balls, delectable wontons, and strips of Spamlike pressed meat served over a bed of thick or thin egg noodles and doused with one of the most delicious chicken-based broths I've ever had the pleasure of slurping down. (Yes, I tipped the bowl.) Also available in an equally slurpable vit tm version ($6.95), with a whole braised duck leg tossed into the bowl. Difficult to navigate with chopsticks but, I'm proud to tell you, entirely possible.
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This place has some of the best noodles in the city. Everyone talks about how cheap it is, but I would still pay if the prices were higher. I always order the noodles dry, with a bowl of soup and you can wet them however you please. Did that sound wrong? Throw in some hot sauce and it's the best meal of the day. If I'm feeling dangerous, Vietnamese coffee does the trick. Otherwise soy bean milk will do it, if they haven't already run out. Only open for lunch, so be sure to get there before the rush.
As Jim A. mentioned below. The prices have definitely gone up and a bowl of noodles now start at $5.99 (yes, $6!!!) - hey, that's expensive compared to to good 'o days... Anyhow, I digress...
Good: Name your own noodles, you can make your own combo. My friend's fav is "fish ball, fish slices & pork kidney with [choice] noodles in clear broth with beef stew sauce". Or just order number 1 (hai ky special).
Service: Efficient and fast.
It's a great lunch place and very authentic. I can eat here every day (okay, maybe every other day).
This is good clean noodle soup. One of the best one I've been to ever. Forget about TK noodle. The broth has no flavor. This is the place you'll get the bang for your bucks. Love this restaurant.
I'd give it 5 stars, but this place needs to remodel. It's always packed with people, but in terms of decor it could use some work. Also, the entranceway is a little difficult to find. You can't tell if the restaurant is opened, closed, shut down, or what. This place is definitely worth a try though as the flavor of their soups and noodle dishes are awesome!
If you're looking for a good egg noodle soup, look no further, Hai Ky Mi Gia is the place to go! The staff is very friendly and accommodating and they serve an excellent beef and meatball soup. Next time I'm definitely trying the braised duck leg soup. Also on my short list to try are the seafood egg noodle and silver rice noodle soups. If you work anywhere near the tenderloin then definitely have lunch here and if not, well that's what Muni is for!
My man took me here about a half year ago, he said I should try the fishcakes here. Because I am always bragging about the food in Oakland. He's from the City of course. The owners of this place are very friendly, even when there's a line, they still always come up and check this and that. I had the duck leg with thick egg noodles. The duck leg is the special recipe there. I see tons of people order it. It's good....and as for the fishcakes, no joke, straight up the best fishcake I have ever had. So when you are in the ghetto of Tenderloin next time, try this place out.
Man, I love it when lunch is GOOD and CHEAP. Well, more my honey than me...hehe. Been there twice and he always gets the thick noodles/duck leg/with broth. I always order my noodles dry with the soup on the side. As a side, we have the bo vien (meatballs) in broth--extra delish.
The star of the lunch is my hot soy bean milk. Reminds me when I used to watch my uncle make fresh soy bean milk, by wringing out the juice of the beans using a cheese cloth. Labor intensive and makes me really appreciate this tastiness of this drink.
First time we went there was a short line, but second time, no line. Guess it's hit or miss. Definitely worth the wait.
Oh hai.
Feeld trips from Finanshul Distrik to oh Hai r supr fun.
Noodlez gud.
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Yesth hai. Hai is the whole reason myself and Derek B. ventured into the 'Loin for chow time and I must say, every smell, sight and scream along the way was worth it. For $8 we each got a delicious bowl of Pho'; a perfect start to an afternoon of relating to the public. Kthanxbai.
The "People love us on Yelp" sticker on the door says it all. Everyone does love this place. There is every kind of noodle soup known in the Vietnamese world here. Very authentic and tasty. They give you an ample amount and the soup isn't too salty or sweet. Just the perfect taste. I often just pick up my food from here since its always busy there. Parking is tough, but the food is worth it!
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I'm about as Vietnam as they get when it comes to the cuisine of my motherland. I've always enjoyed a nice bowl of Mi Vit Tim, thin, ramen-like noodles with a big, braised duck leg swimming among the soft, springy carb-fest. Even in SoCAL I wasn't able to find this great Cholon **click**http://en.wikipedia.or... style noodle soup, which to me is the culinary love child of Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine. So far this dish has been my best find in SF's Little Saigon. Hooray! SF finally takes LA on the foreign foodie front with Mi Vit Tim, the me love you longtime wet your pants they're so good noodles!
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I walked pass this place one day and wondered why they were so packed at lunch. So, I tried it. No wonder, noodle soup and fish cake are so good. I definitely have to come back to try other items on the menu. Oh! they close on Wednesday
I hesitated to write a review here, since I was afraid that it would be "discovered" cleaned-up and the prices raised. Alas, this appears to have happened recently, so I am willing to grudgingly share my find with my fellow Yelpers.
This is by far the most good food you are going to get for $4 in San Francisco. It is a heaping bowl of egg noodles in a delicious broth, with your choice of various meats. I always get the mixed seafood. No, it is isn't real crab (at this price?) but it is very good. And no, it is not quite Pho, but a different kind of soup that my Vietnamese wife calls "Mi," for the name of the noodles.
For the longest time, I was the only white guy I ever saw here, which is always a good sign. They aren't very polite in here, at least the first ten or twenty times you go, but over the years they have learned who we are and are very nice, especially now that we have a cute daughter.
Been here ever since I was what 4? 5? Always got their Seafood combo soup. Make sure you get fat (wide) white noodles. Always been good and always filling. My dad got to know some of the workers here since we are frequent eaters here, always nice and friendly.
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