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Yellow Pa Taut - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Burmese Burmese [Edit]
15 Boardman Pl(between Fargo Pl & Bryant St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
Neighborhood: SOMA
(415) 701-8188
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
84 reviews for Yellow Pa Taut
Review Highlights
"Blows Burma Superstar out of the water."
(in 23 reviews)
"...favorite thing is the coconut chicken noodle - damn this is..."
(in 4 reviews)
"Baya Kyaw: Like a falafel, but much more intricate."
(in 6 reviews)
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84 reviews in English
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Review from Luis C.
11/10/2010 1 photo
I only had a chance to eat here once back in February, before it CLOSED recently. Back then the website was already inactive (don't click on it, it has a virus). On that day, very few customers ventured into the tiny hidden yellow awning restaurant, compared to nearby eateries that are packed during lunch time.
Sorry I have no pictures of my meal. Because at the time I was on jury duty and didn't want any trouble with the nazis in the courthouse, who don't allow photography.
My rating is based only on the 2 items I tried, samosas ($5.95) and the super tender curry beef with aloo ($6.95 lunch special/ $10.95 family style). Seems silly to post prices since it's already closed, but that was part of my original unfinished review.Listed in: CLOSED, out of business,…
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Review from Rick H.
San Rafael, CA
6/12/2010
I just don't understand the 2 negative reviews below. I've never had a bad meal here and I think it is much better than Burma Superstar. Too much chicken skin??... coconut noodles too garlicky??? Maybe the toned down westernized Burmese food at B-Star is a better choice for them. But, give me Yellow Pa Taut any day.
Try the Crispy Shrimp Salad or any of the curries. I've spent months traveling in Myanmar and this is as close as it gets to the real thing in San Francisco. -
Review from Keiko S.
6/3/2009 8 photos
4 or 4.5 stars...but decidedly rounded to 5, because our dining experience at this little mom-and-pop Burmese joint was MUCH BETTER than anything we'd experienced at the overcrowded, questionably popular Burma Superstar...at least in my opinion.
* FOOD *
I love it when the tastes, textures and frangrances are all perfectly BALANCED. Everything was deeply rich and uniquely flavorful -- if this is what Burmese food is all about, I might have to plan a trip out to this country.
Our dishes were mostly fried -- and I normally don't eat fried stuff -- but they were amazingly delicious. We were too busy eating to pay attention to the names, but I *think* we had baya kyaw (fried bean balls), pa zune kaut kyaw (fried shrimp), samosa salad, beef curry, chicken curry, coconut chicken noodle soup (YUM!), stir-fried noodles...and a few others that I can't recall. But I'm sure that whatever we order off of their menu will be tasty.
* SETTING & SERVICE *
It's not in the best neighborhood, and the restaurant looks quite shady from the outside, but the inside atmosphere is pleasantly clean and intimate. Again, much better than Burma Superstar. With nearly 15 people in our group, it seemed that we had reserved the entire place. Excellent service -- very very accommodating.
* SUM *
A GREAT FIND by our friends. My stomach probably couldn't take a heavy meal like this so often, but it can be trained. -
Review from carlos a.
6/30/2009
I may get stoned for saying this, but Yellow Pa Taut is BETTER than Burma Superstar.
*ducks for cover*
This part of town is dead after 6pm but it sure as hell beats waiting for an hour at Burma Superstar (which I LOVE).
Yellow Pa Taut is also cheaper than Burma Superstar.
With that said my favorite items on the menu are:
1 - samosa salad -a fave. Spicy $8.50
2- By far my favorite thing is the coconut chicken noodle - damn this is good. $8.75
Also had the Baya kyaw (fried split yellow bean) and fried opu (squash) which were tasty. -
Review from Tracy T.
San Francisco, CA
5/7/2009
At first I was excited that I was finally going to be able to try Burma Superstar, but last minute plans changed. A friend suggested this restaurant due to the wait at Burma and I was bummed, because everyone else agreed to it. 1) No name, because it was last minute and we were just directed to go to Boardman Place. 2) Across from a police station and bail bond shops surround this restaurant 3) Located in an alley and no Burma Superstar for the day. One glimpse of the Yelp sticker on the door, and I knew I was in good hands...
- Tea Leaf Salad (Lap Pat Thouk): We had another salad (forgot the name) along with this one, but this one wins the other one over, hands down. Imported Burmese tea leaves, tomatoes, and a variety of other ingredients. Dried beans or whatever it is add a crunch to this salad. *Favorite dish*
- Curry Beef with Aloo (Amae Tha Aloo Se Pyan): With Indian spices with potato. Beef is tender and flavorful. Delicious with a side of rice.
- Coconut Chicken Noodle (Ohn No Khauk Swe'): Flour noodle, coconut chicken with bean soup served with sliced onion, cilantro, lemon or lime. I loved this noodle dish the best.
I had a few other dishes and they were all bursting with flavor, which left my taste buds yearning for more in the end. In terms of the decor, there was a red golden gate bridge arch above the cash register/kitchen area. They had a flat screen, but no cable. The waiter put on Role Models for us to watch. I really hope kids don't come in when that movie plays again. Just a note: when you look around, it reminds me of a jail cell b/c there are a few mini windows high above, not much light comes in. Next stop, Burma Superstar (i've been told this place is better). I'll have to see... -
Review from Bruce M.
Sacramento, CA
11/9/2008
This was my first time trying Burmese food, and the cooks here surely blew my mind away.
Served piping hot, the potato Samosas were perfectly fried. There wasn't a drop of oil on the plate! The bold chili and mint sauce complemented the samosas well.
The chicken lemongrass curry was delicious. The chicken was "melted off the bone" good, but though without the bones. There's something about Southeast Asian watery curry that hits the spot.
New on the menu, the pork fried rice was forgettable but worth a try.
Yellow Pa Taut has become a favorite of mine. I literally felt I was having a home cooked meal. The bill was a surprise as well. It was under $15 a person, both very stuffed. Woohoo!
Oh so good. I'll be back.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from H C.
Bay Area
8/10/2009
Word to the wise - if you're not used to getting lots of skin with your chicken, this is not the place for you. I didn't expect to get so much skin and chicken pieces all globbed together - it just wasn't an appetizing sight. Hubs was very grossed out. I think this was the first dish on the curry list. Btw, we asked if it came with yellow curry and the employee said it would. It wasn't. A very distinctive ring of oil plus maybe reddish curry, if you could call it curry. Basically just a red sauce and it wasn't good.
The curry coconut noodle soup was decent but not much chicken in it, unfortunately. I wouldn't go back. -
Review from Susan D.
12/9/2008
So a few weeks ago, I organized a Bondage-a-Go-Go night for my friends and then, found a near-by restaurant on Yelp to meet at first.
Enter: Yellow Pa Taut.
It has an awkward location that's easy to miss but we were able to find parking with lil problem (though that may have been because of the late hour). Don't let the outside's of the restaurant untrustworthy look dissuade you, the interior is actually unique and welcoming.
The food was a solid 3.5 stars. I got the biryani chicken and rice which was good but not as good as S.Bay's Gulzaar Halaal. Since I was with more than 10 other people however, I got to try all their dishes as well... most were quite good... some 4 star. I was a little annoyed though when we got the bill and had been charged 1.50 for each person to have rice. What about the dishes like mine that already came with rice and the many noodle dishes at our table... they didn't need rice. I didn't say anything cause I was in a group but, it still kinda annoyed me and added more than an extra 15$ to our bill... 15$ for rice?!
I might go back if someone ask but, wouldn't seek it out again.
Might see ya there. -
Review from Jackie S.
Redwood City, CA
4/12/2010
Called them on a Friday to make reservations, and was surprised when the waitress almost chuckled that reservations were not necessary. They are just slightly off of the beaten track. We showed up with 5 adults and 2 kids and there was no problem with seating- the place was a ghost town.
Usually this would scare me into thinking that the food is not good- but the food is so delicious. I think that they have a busy lunch crowd as they are across from the courthouse.
It is a very modest restaurant- basic chairs and tables, no frills, fluorescent lighting. Doesn't matter.
I loved the food here. I would choose this place over Burma Superstar any day. It's cheaper and tastier.
Samusa Salad- my favorite- OMG!!!! A symphony in my mouth
Tea leaf salad- crispy, very flavorful, delicious
Grand Mix Salad- tasty, yummy
Coconut Curry Prawns- very good
Paratha with Chicken Curry- Parathas were a little heavy and on the oily side, but the chicken curry was so flavorful -
Review from Nessie V.
8/6/2008 1 photo
Staff was very friendly. Food was good. Veg menu is not huge (and mostly salads) but I liked what I got and the server wasn't scared off by vegans. Lots of interesting choices nonetheless. Was a little expensive, though its an expensive neighborhood, but portions are big.
I'll be back. -
Review from Timbo G.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 9/8/2008
Ok. So I'm an addict for this place what can I say...This time I got the Fried Opo w/ special spicy sauce. Never had Opo before this. It has a slight sweet taste. Real tasty! Then for my entree I finally decided on Masala Chic Peas w/ mixed veggies on the spicy side # 68 i think nice thick smokey flavor the chic peas were not over cooked and mushy which would just ruin it for me.
The veggies were still a little crunchy which I like. Yum Yum...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/30/2008
Wow!!! I had the Tea Leaf Salad. What else can I say but Delish!! All these different taste… Read more »
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Review from Norm U.
San Francisco, CA
10/13/2008
One of the advantages of having a brother who works for Yelp is that I get to find out about new places all of the time. So, when he called me up one day and said that we should check this joint out, I was all ears.
Now, it's not in the nicest of all neighborhoods. It's across the street from the Hall of Justice, so I'm sure during the day, it's fine, but at night, it's buried in a sea of neon signs advertising Bail Bondsmen. On the plus side, I now know where to go if I should need their services (knock on wood).
It's a pretty unassuming place from the outside, but it's actually tastefully decorated inside. We came on a Tuesday night, so the only people there were the owners. Being the only customers, they fawned over us more than a Jewish grandmother who only sees her grandkids once a year.
And of course, the food. Being a Burmese food virgin (don't worry, they were gentle), I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. Lo and behold, the food was bomb. Some meal high-points:
1. Samosas: Their samosa's were cooked to perfection, but the real winner was their sauce. Sooooooo good.
2. Burmese Chicken Curry: Apparently, Burmese food is pretty similar to Filipino food. It was just like our grandma makes. Seriously. I had to check in the kitchen to make sure she wasn't working there.
3. Onion Puff: I don't really have the words for it. You just have to try it.
So, if you're looking for a diamond in the rough, or after getting your bail bond on, check this place out. You'll be glad you did. -
Review from Roy C.
San Francisco, CA
8/2/2009
Mandalay. Yellow Pa Taut. Burma Superstar.
That's now my new hierarchy of Burmese restaurants in SF (from best to worst).
For anybody who doesn't want to wait an hour (if only that) in line at Burma Superstar, I highly recommend going to Yellow Pa Taut. Even for those who ARE willing to wait an hour in line at Burma Superstar, I highly recommend Yellow Pa Taut instead. The food at YPT is on par with, if not better than, the food at BS. Is it better than Mandalay? Err... I think Mandalay is still better. But if I'm not looking to drive out to the Richmond area and wait in line, YPT is a very formidable substitution.
We ordered the Tea Leaf Salad, Chicken in Lemongrass Curry, and the Pork Belly in Curry. I think the Tea Leaf Salad was very good, albeit a tad too salty. I think it's actually better than the Tea Leaf Salad at Burma Superstar. The Chicken in Lemongrass Curry and the Pork Belly were both really tasty and had the perfect amount of kick to it. I think it was our fault for ordering two curry dishes, because after a while, the curry flavor just became a bit tired. Still though, the dishes were very good.
We went at 7pm on a Sunday and it was absolutely empty. In fact, there were no customers at all the whole time we were there until closing. So if we had not been there, they would have absolutely zero diners the entire Sunday evening. Now that's sad. I think it definitely has to do with their HORRIBLE location. I mean, any restaurant that is located in between 4 different Bail Bond offices is destined for failure. It's not even visible from the main street -- it's like hidden in this dark and suspicious alleyway.
Thank God for Yelp, because I think that's probably the only reason why they're still alive.
And Thank God for Yelp, because now I've found a great Burmese restaurant that's in my neighborhood.
Good job, Yelp! Keeping businesses afloat since 2004. -
Review from Danny P.
5/3/2009
If you ever needed to get a bail bond and Burmese food at the same time, this is your place. This little hidden restaurant is nestle into a block full or bail bond places. I swear if this place had a prime location, it would do better than Burma Superstar.
I should of took notes when my friend was ordering because I had no idea on what we ordered. I just remember everything was delicious. Like everyone else says, the tea leaf salad is amazing. I can eat that all by myself if I had to. -
Review from Josh K.
8/11/2009
Yellow Pa Taut is great. And it's 2 (big, SoMa) blocks from my house. What more could I ask for? My favorite dish is the pork belly with bamboo shoots, and their lunch specials can't be beat.
But the restaurant is like a ghost town after like 6 and that really disappoints me, because it is one of my favorite restaurants.
Be a man!
Do the right thing!
EAT BURMESE FOOD HERE!
I often shun establishments that have paid Yelp to get the VIP treatment, but I think they really need the publicity here. Don't allow Yellow Pa Taut to be empty for dinner! Eat! It is SO CHEAP, too... -
Review from BAM B.
Boulder Creek, CA
9/13/2010
We had a party of six stumble in the restaurant last September '08.
We were seated immediately as we were the only ones in the place. A bit worried to start as this was our first time here and the business is located down trodden area kinda..
The staff were friendly and very helpful. I don't think we ordered anything off the menu. We explained that we were new to Burmese style cooking and gave a couple likes and dislikes. The staff made us a wonderful meal. Everything was fresh and done to perfection...
Great place for a night out or a group. -
Review from Tom Y.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2009
Have I been to all of the burmese restaurants in SF yet? I actually really like this place, but I can't give it the same rating I gave Burma Superstar or Mandalay.
I don't remember how I ended up here the first time, but its a small hole in the wall joint near my friend's place. Both times I've come, there weren't any other customers there which is cool because we don't have to wait to be seated, but a little unsettling?
Always gotta try the samosas to start off the meal and it hasn't disappointed yet. I was clumsy enough to drop half of mine into my cup of water tho... It was a little wet, but I still ate it! It looked like most of their dishes were curry and we ended up getting the curry prawns and the pork belly. I'm a big fan of the pork belly. So fatty and bad for you, but oh so good. The garlic noodles didn't have very much flavor to it, but I really like the noodles they used. Don't really know what they are called though.
Although the dishes were similarly priced as the other burmese restaurants, the damage was only about $13 each person! Can't beat that...but I also wouldn't go out of my way to end up here when I live next to two great spots in Inner Richmond. -
Review from Lola X.
San Francisco, CA
6/22/2010
I would give this place 4 stars, because I've been twice and liked what I had a lot. I'm not a Burmese food expert and have only been to Mandalay in SF. No Burma Superstar, no Bagan yet.
Tea leaf salad -- addictively yummy.
Curry with fishcake -- dreaming about it still.
Stir-fried Curry Rice Noodles with Pork -- not sure if I had the Pun Thay Khauk Swe or the Pun Thay Kya Zan as they show the same ingredients, but out of the park!
I'm docking 1 star because I just tried to go a 3rd time, and they were closed. There was no sign saying why and no sign giving the hours of the restaurant. Their website says they are open every day.
I HOPE they're not falling on hard times and may need to close soon. -
Review from Carolyn J.
San Francisco, CA
12/4/2009 1 photo
Another great Burmese food find. Very authentic according to my friend, who is from Burma. Right across the street from the SF Hall of Justice - so you know it's safe to eat here. cops everywhere!
Was craving the Moh Hinga (catfish soup) and tried their Samosa Thouk (samosa salad) and of course Lap Pat Thouk (tea leaf salad).
I was warned the food may be a bit heavier because of the authenticity. They were right, but it was so worth it. Flavors blended well in the tea leaf and samosa salad. Moh Hinga satisfied my craving down to the last bowl scrapings.
Place is kind of small, and the decor was "eclectic"=kinda random but whatevs, I'm here to eat. Lunch wasn't that busy. A lot of people came in to pick up their togo orders. Like another reviewer pointed out, it's better than going to the avenues and Clement street. Parking is limited if you're going for lunch. There's a parking lot nearby but it's $10 for an hour. I hear parking in the area for dinner is much easier.
Give it a try! -
Review from Charles B.
Oakland, CA
4/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm really surprised this place closed down. I used to work right across the street from this restaurant and it is hands down the best Burmese food I've had. Blows Burma Superstar out of the water. Not much for ambience but a good place to get take-out. It was clear they used high quality ingredients in their dishes. Was secretly hoping they just moved. RIP.
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Review from Brandon Y.
San Leandro, CA
12/4/2009
Food
The items we had were:
- Catfish Noodle Soup - Little bit spicy but just about right. Bit too much Chili oil in the soup
- Burmese Curry Catfish - Catfish steaks in a nice tomato broth. Quite good for catfish.
- Burmese Curry Chicken with Opo - Chicken also in the tomato broth. Cooked the right amount to get the flavor of the chicken in the broth.
Atmosphere
Nice modern look and feel. Although the chair and tables could be upgraded.
Service
Fast service but food tends to take a while for it to come out. Strange because the place was empty at the time.
Prices
Under $10 for lunch and under $15 for dinner.
Most of the menu is online but it may be slightly different when you see the menu there. -
Review from Chris T.
5/21/2009
Four and a half stars. The food and service are excellent and if it weren't for the somewhat obscure location (across from the Hall of Justice), I'd bet that Yellow Pa Taut would be full for dinner.
We started off the meal with perfectly crisp samosas filled with curried potatoes and spices. Our party of three had varying degrees of tolerance for spiciness, so we sought guidance on choosing at least two dishes that were not too spicy. So we went with the Burmese curry chicken with opo squash (see http://seereeves.blogs...), the garlic noodle with sliced pork, and the curry beef with aloo. All of the dishes were tasty and none of the spices were overpowering.
The chicken with opo had a little kick, but it was more on the mild side. The chicken was succulent and the opo, which I hadn't had before, added a mild and sweet complement to the spices in the curry base. This was my first time (knowingly) having opo and I was quite pleased with it; it reminded me of Chinese fuzzy melon (see http://chinesefood.abo...), which, if you haven't had, is also a very tangy and mild variety of squash that similarly melts in your mouth. The savory and tender garlic noodles had a fragrant garlic aroma and taste, though the sliced pork was a bit dry. The curry beef came with generous slices of beef and potatoes steeped in a spicy and flavorful brown curry.
We departed from dinner fully satiated. We'll be back for more! -
Review from Adam B.
10/7/2009
Sandwiched between two Bail Bonds offices and hidden on a street that most people have never heard of, this is definitely a trek to find... but at least you don't have to go to the Avenues! The menu seemed pretty authentic since there weren't any telltale dishes from other Asian nations. Part of the fun here is being able to try dishes and flavor combinations you've probably never had before. There are definitely some misses amongst the hits. The hits, like the Tea Leaf Salad, are huge hits and will have you coming back for more if the unexplored menu items weren't enough motivation.
Tea Leaf Salad: So many tastes and textures that all magically work well together for one of the most awesome salads I've ever had. I especially like the crunchy aspects of the fried lentils and peanuts against the fresh crisp cabbage. Didn't really taste the tea leaves individually, but I'm sure they made their influence on the complex result.
Baya Kyaw: Like a falafel, but much more intricate. There were a ton of spices in the pasty center, some of which were refreshing like sweet like cinnamon. The outside was nice and crunchy, so I'd bite off a bit before adding the complex hot sauce to ensure it really soaked in. Pretty filling so be prepared to share or take some home since you don't want to spoil your appetite for the main course(s). My only issue was that it was a tad dry, so have a drink handy.
Fried Opo: Opo is also known as a Calabash Gourd and is like a savory honey dew. This was a pretty boring dish with some batter thrown over the gourd slices and a hot sauce not nearly as good as the one served with the baya kyaw. Since the gourd is a bit slimy, it felt really weird biting through the crunchy fried shell into it: think fried pickle consistency.
Burmese Curry Pork Belly: YUCK! You ever wrap something in bacon and then attempt to bake it, but pull out before the bacon crisps? The result is pretty nasty since completely soft bacon just tastes like a fatty blob. Well think of this pork belly as a hugely thick chunk of soggy bacon! I couldn't even finish one piece. If only they braised this a bit for some crispness before adding it to the curry...
Fat Rice Noodle with Coconut Chicken: Like udon with a yellow chicken curry. I liked the effect of the very thinly sliced fresh red onions since any onion cooked in the curry will lose their potency. The chicken was decent, but not nearly as fall-off-the-bone tender as people Yelped about for other chicken curry dishes. It was cool eating udon-esqe noodles in a sauce rather than a soup.
Falooda: When I asked the waiter for the most authentic Burmese dessert, he recommended the falooda. It was similar to Indian faloodas I've had except for the noticeable absence of vermicelli. The rose syrup on the bottom, creamy soup in the middle and floating vanilla ice cream created a great triplex that could be enjoyed separately or in one deep scoop. A bunch of chewy and colorful jellies sunk at the bottom to remind me of Vietnamese-style desserts. Also, it comes in a HUGE martini glass for a cool presentation.
Creamy India Tea: I wasn't sure what to expect, but my thoughts were leaning towards masala chai. Turned out to be like the non-spicy milk tea found in bubble tea, but warm. Was ok, just didn't impress. -
Review from Lucinda W.
San Francisco, CA
4/20/2010
First off, this restaurant is definitely NOT better than Burma Superstar.
Secondly, I had one bite of my garlic noodles and didn't touch them after that. They were gross. The coconut curry chicken was alright, but the chicken came with more skin than meat, and that was kind of gross too. -
Review from Hiromi N.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 5/14/2009
Sorry, must deduct a star for slow service. The last visit that I had on Saturday, 9 May 2009, left me a little disappointed. 1st, there was only one other group of people dining and it took us over 40 minutes to get our appetizer (tea leaf salad) and a little longer for the entree (curry). All in all the food was okay, but the inconsistent, slow service was not what I was expecting since we had such a great experience during our last visit. In addition, I was underwhelmed by the Tea Leaf Salad, which tasted a lot less flavorful than normal.
After Saturday's visit, I most likely would think twice before going back.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/8/2009
My boyfriend and I are big fans of Burmese food. What I love about trying various Burmese places in… Read more »
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Review from Patrick H.
Santa Clara, CA
5/18/2009
The food was great and I would say it's better than Burma Superstar. It's less expensive too. Everything was good, but the biggest hit at the table was definitely the fat rice noodle with coconut chicken. Samosas by themselves are always a treat, but here you can get a somosa salad, chopped up and tossed with cabbage and mint. It takes somosas to a whole 'nother level! The chicken and beef curries were tender and very flavorful without being too spicy.
The decor is modern and quirky (and clean), with each wall having something different going on. They also have a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge suspended above the front counter. The restaurant is small and tucked into a side street but just look for the bright yellow awning amongst the bail bonds signs.
Bottom line -- if you like Thai, Indian, and Chinese food, you will love Burmese food. Give it a try! -
Review from Christina C.
Berkeley, CA
11/12/2009
There are a few problems with my eating experience today. I openly admit that it wasn't Yellow Pa Taut, it was me. I have some flaws that seriously interfere with any kind of long term relationship.
For instance: I don't like to take out the trash. It should magically take itself out. Even if I live alone.
Today, I brought my lunch. It was a delicious spaghetti alla puttanesca with luscious olives, capers, tomatoes, scrumptious noodles and I made it myself. But to be social, I followed the girls out to lunch. I thought maybe I'd get a green salad, round out my balanced diet, you know.
When we sat down and looked at the menu, there was nary a green leafy dish offered. So I decided to order dessert. I thought it was dessert. It was steamed sweet rice. There was a photo of it. In my limited and ignorant experience, this has been a dessert. With sweetened condensed milk and maybe coconut milk.
Here's what I brought to the experience. I do not like milk, coconut or beef. Not goat, nor bear, nor almond, I don't like milk! I don't like coconut. I don't like curry, except for japanese curry. I don't like soupy saucy dishes. I don't like salty rice with yellow beans on it when I was expecting a sweet sticky bite of carb-infusion. I was sorely disappointed.
But now I can say that I've had Burmese food. -
Review from Joann C.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2009
I really don't get the 4 star reviews. This place isn't horrible, but for Burmese food it's pretty bland. I went for lunch, and the place was virtually empty (two other tables than ours). They do have a lunch menu, but the prices were a little high still for lunch. You can order off the dinner menu during lunch if you desire.
I had the Grand Mix Salad which is basically a cold noodle salad. It wasn't bad, but there was barely any flavor. I've had Burmese food before, and it's always been super flavorful. Needless to say I was disappointed. My companions had the curry chicken (also bland), curry noodle soup (huge portion, but not a whole lot of flavor still). It's odd because the food looks like it should be flavorful, and yet it's not.
I might be back; there aren't that many options for lunch in this area. -
Review from Leslie L.
San Francisco, CA
6/2/2009
A solid alternative to Burma Superstar when you don't want to drive all the way out to the Richmond and wait over an hour for a table.
Don't get me wrong, Burma Superstar has delicious food, but sometimes you just want quick and dirty Burmese food, and Yellow Pa Taut is just that - doesn't the name just sound like something that's beggin' to be Rule 34'ed? (Google it.)
Don't be deterred by the sketchy block full of bail bonds. The inside of the restaurant is actually nice, though it is also usually eerily empty. Most people get take out, I presume.
The tea salad is a good standby, the egg and okra dish we tried on a whim was surprisingly tasty, and their catfish noodle soup had great flavor (don't expect any chunks of fish though, as it is all shredded in the broth.)
Their spice level seems to vary a lot, even for the same dish, so I would recommend specifying when you order if you want it particularly spicy or not so much.
My main critique would be that some of their food tends to run on the greasy side, but it also seems more like real home cookin' when compared to BS's fancified, fusionized fare. -
Review from albion r.
Oakland, CA
7/2/2009
Not better than Burma Superstar.
We had:
Partha with Curry Chicken (Kyat the Palatha)
$8.95
Panfried layered bread with Indian curry chicken and yellow split bean.
Tasty buttery almost croissant-like bread. Chicken was greasy and fatty with skin on.
Eggs with Okra (Be' Oo Chin Hyin)
$7.25
Half boiled egg in Burmese curry sauce, Okra, tamarind sauce and cilantro.
Fantastically addictive. Simple and delicious.
Beef Biyarni (Amea Tha Dun Pout)
$13.95
Beef cooked with Indian spices served over Basmati rice.
Delicious. Bone tender meat in a rich sauce.
Tea Leaf Salad (Lap Pat Thouk)
$9.95
Imported Burmese tea leaves, tomatoes.
This tasted pre-made. There was an unpleasantly cloying shrimp taste. I know that dried shimp is a part of this salad and I usually quite enjoy it, but this one was fishy in the wrong way for me.
Creamy India Tea (Kala Let Pat Ye) $2.25
Yum. Tea and condensed milk. Always a winner to me.
I'm not sure if I'd return.
We arrived at 8 and they close at 9.
We were wrapping it up to get out of there for them but I still felt pressured to leave and I don't really appreciate that. -
Review from Francisco G.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 7/15/2009
I love Yellow Pa Taut.
I did their website a while back and am still hooked on the food.
I like it better than Burma Superstar now, and I liked it better than Burma Superstar then.
I want to say more about my philosophy of food, but. Come here and have some Burmese food first and then we can talk a little bit. I think a good follow up to Yellow Pa Taut is Nihon or Tulan.
But... When can't you have a little Tulan?1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/12/2008
This is what SF is all about good food from different cultures at affordable prices. If you're… Read more »
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Review from Sheena S.
Daly City, CA
Updated - 12/9/2009
And they keep me coming back weekly...
Even if i dont like huge chunks of chicken with my opo....(like the flavors just dont like how its cut up)
Other dishes that dont fail stir fry shrimp and burmese curry tilapia
minus a star for saying they open at 11... really they dont take calls till about 11:15-11:20.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/17/2009
my comfort food near work.
get the burmese curry shrimp and/or the chicken curry over noodles and it… Read more »
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Review from Brian M.
San Francisco, CA
1/21/2009
This place actually introduced me to Burmese food and I'm glad because I'm now a fan.
They have a good lunch menu and several seafood and vegetable dishes which is what i'm into. I recommend the rice-curry-ish dishes as those were able to fill me up without making me feel all heavy and gross, which is what curry usually does to me.
Stay away from the fish with sweet and sour sauce - they kinda drenched it in the sauce and I kept getting that gagging feeling from having too much sticky stuff in your throat. (i hope you don't have a dirty mind.)
It's kinda in a random place, but if you happen to be at the Mars Bar getting a drink or at the courthouse because you did some bad deeds, Yelloew Pa Taut is probably the best place to get a good and interesting bite to eat.
3 stars!! -
Review from Leia K.
San Francisco, CA
9/24/2009
I was excited when they arrived. It's kinda dry if you live in the parts of SOMA that I do, and any new venue is cause for excitement. Dinner was tasty, priced well. But not a date place as far as ambience or romance. The decor was questionable, kitschy, remnants of layers of multiple owners or handymen (hand-persons ...) excited to build a deconstructed wooden wall then stain it, or erect a small model of the Golden Gate that will have any knowing Trader Joe's jealous (do they all have GGB's or is it just the one on Bay Street). Get discount furniture you'd find at a suburban buffet or a church basement, very odd fluorescent pendants and downlights not really relating to anything (hey it seems to fly with Sushi Rock). And a slate fountain that's dry (must have been the same work of whomever did Bowser's Pizza on 11th).
Friends or guests in town, I'm still going to Burma. Easy, dependable, walkable, I'll choose Yellow. -
Review from Paolo D.
Los Angeles, CA
11/12/2009
Quite a random place for a restaurant, especially at night - but the urban adventure in the sparsely lit area of bail bond agencies totally paid off. This family-run place has some really good treats up their sleeves! We had really good duck curry and clear noodle salad - but the kicker was the meatball curry, no joke - try it!!!!
We were really happy about this find! -
Review from Kim N.
San Francisco, CA
3/5/2010
I heart this place. I had lunch here today and it was delicious. The location is a little bit odd-decorated with a yellow veranda at a corner of Boardman Place (an alley off of 7th and Brannan.)
We had the tea leaf salad, Catfish Curry, and the Thick noodles with coconut sauce. It was all very delicious. It's definitely much smaller than Mandalay in the Inner Richmond. Mandalay has a much sharper and flavorful dishes.
Pros-
Great food
Affordable
Nice ambiance
Neg-
Discreet location, difficult to find
Parking -
Review from Tim C.
San Francisco, CA
1/27/2009
My parents immigrated to the US from Burma so I'm used to Burmese home-cooking. This stuff tastes pretty close to what I've had at home, though I think they could stand to use a bit more spice in their dishes. The stand out dish for me is the chicken curry with palatha. None of the other Burmese restaurants in the city do it quite right - they usually end up emulating something more like roti. I would go here just to buy stacks of their palatha. If I could I would give it an extra half star for that.
I've tried Burma Superstar, Mandalay, and now Yellow Pa Taut, and they all have things that they do well. If you can stand the wait, Superstar has the best Coconut Chicken soup but most of their other dishes have been tweaked to appeal to a wider crowd. Mandalay does the best across the board without the wait. Yellow Pa Taut would be a great place for a cheap and delicious lunch. -
Review from zz z.
Bay Area
8/24/2009
Very good food, especially the coconut chicken curry - but be prepared for some slimy chicken skin in the curry, along with the actual meat. I don't mind the skin myself, especially because the curry and the chicken are INCREDIBLY GOOD ...but just letting y'all know since most of you probably aren't cool with the skin!!!
The beef curried meatballs were really tight, too.
Bad location ~ not so much for me, but for the restaurant. It's kinda' off the beaten path, so not really easy to find. I don't know how they stay in business, but I really do hope they stay around.
It's kinda' like eating at yo' Burmese mama's house. Very cozy and casual.
Expect to spend about $10-15 per person. -
Review from Andre C.
San Francisco, CA
9/15/2008
First Burmese food I've ever had!!.. and luvvved it!!! Beef Paratha is a big fave, for sure! The beef was as succulent as filet mignon, and the lentils were like a cross between the best Thai curry spices and spicy yet fragrant Indian spice. The paratha is a savory crepe-like naan style bread that ties it all together.
The Beef Skewers were amazing..as well! They were so good a vegetarian in the house ate them.. Super Delish!! Alright, one more time.."Mmm!!!" -
Review from Brian M.
San Francisco, CA
9/15/2008
I just tried this place because the lunch options around 4th and Brannan are getting old. From the outside it looks like it might be a dump with the dark windows and dirty yellow awning, but inside it's clean and simple. This isn't a place for a date but it's great for the lunch crowd. It's not too crowded, service was quick and friendly and it has awesomely terrible music which I find entertaining.
I ordered the coconut curry chicken, which was less coconutty and more buttery than I expected. That being said, it was tasty and the portion size was just right. There was some skin in there which was easy to remove, but overall I was happy. This place won't blow you away, but it's as good as anything like it in SOMA so I'll be back for more.
