Really been missing this amazing culinary landmark! Hoping they reopen for takeout soon and wishing Katie the best! I've been coming here since the 80's! Best Imperial rolls and order the #5 combo and an extra roll, with plenty to eat! read more

Small diner making great food. You won't leave feeling hungry. Great portions and soul warming food. Cash Only ! read more

Cordon Bleu - 1 Piece Chicken, Country Salad, Meat Sauce on Rice - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I know everyone loves this place. I had multiple friends recommend it before I finally went. My boyfriend even pays *double* because he loves it so much, and he will hate me if he finds out about this review. I'm giving it 4 stars just in case, so he won't break up with me. My opinion is the food here is just not that good. It's actually kind of gross: greasy, salty, flavorless. I'm not a fan. But much of this is just due to my own personal tastes. It is cool how one lady makes everything. It feels very authentic. Again, I just don't like the food here, and I don't really understand the appeal. It also takes a very long time to get service, probably because it seems like only one lady makes everything. read more

Cordon Bleu was so good but that was so long ago, it's sad to see how bad it's become. The place is filthy and disgusting. There is old, grimy grease everywhere. The grill is caked with carbon and the oil in the fryer was probably changed when the place used to be good in the 80s. I went back because their meat sauce on rice and 5 spice chicken used to be incredible and now it's inedible. Their once awesome meat sauce is now some watery pink slime that's stored in a burnt-on-the-bottom pot. And the chicken is now onger flavorful, just burnt on the bottom and slightly charred on top. Don't know how they've passed any health inspections. read more

Bring cash and don't wear anything you aren't planning to launder in short order. You'll smell like your dinner long after it's finished but the meat sauce over rice alone is worth the stench! If you're claustrophobic, don't eat meat or require a side of ambiance at every meal, DO NOT come here. However, if you now and again appreciate cheap, tasty BBQ (especially 5 spice chicken) and don't mind bellying up to a crowded counter to get it, COME HERE! read more

I was exploring my new neighborhood and actually on my way to another place when I strolled past this gem. I was intrigued because the view I saw inside reminded me of the mom and pop shops I eat at when in south east Asia. So, dinner plans changed and I decided to try this place. I was not disappointed! First, this place is a mom and pop shop and I love the feel of being in someone's kitchen that you get from sitting at the counter. Secondly, everything is made to order and the imperial rolls are really good here. Third, the portions are huge so come with an appetite. I actually could not finish all of my plate, but I did not really expect to. Fourth, this place is really affordable especially in such an extremely high cost city it's great to find a restaurant that does not charge a 500 percent markup on the food. If you are a local or an out of towner looking to try a local gem then this is your place--and make sure you bring cash! read more

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Wife and Matt were deciding, "Where to eat for dinner along the busy intersection of Polk and California?" And we decided to check this place out for dinner. With a recent review and another inspiring choice from a couple of Yelpers, in Matt's mind saying, "Matt, you must eat @ Cordon Blue!" Accepting the advice, we ate here for dinner, and surprisingly a couple has just finished their meal and left the counter, in which we had no choice to take from this extremely small restaurant. Although it's not a large menu, Matt had the Combo Special #4. The $7.30 hefty meal had a piece of Five-Spice Vietnamese Style leg and Thigh, 2 thinly-sliced steak kebab, 1 crispy egg-roll, and a big scoop of rice blanketed with their specialty meat-sauce. The Chicken was very tasty, although he wanted to eat the leg/thigh piece like a barbarian, but couldn't with the busy patrons dining and glancing at the hottest couple of this tiny restaurant. That is "Us"! She had the Cold-salad w/ sliced chicken pieces. The $6.25 cold noodle-bowl had sliced chicken meats, assorted slice vegetables, 1 crispy egg-roll and covered with Cold Vermicelli noodles. Our respected meals were very tasty and largely immense. And our soothing warm tea was very comforting. We also chatted with the Cantonese-speaking workers and owners there, including one, who was looking at Matt's uniform. "Damn, Matt wishes he was single!" This tiny restaurant has won numerous coveted awards, including the Bay-Guardian voted the restaurant as "Best Hole-in-the-Wall" restaurant for 2003 & 2004. Considering the busy location, this eatery is not a "Hole in the wall" establishment by all means. A very good restaurant . read more

Katie, we miss you and hope you re-open soon! Our whole family from all over the Bay have been customers for over 30 years. We miss and love the food here! I've been trying to call and no answer. We hope you see this & see how much we all miss your food! Hope to eat here again soon! read more

So yummy. Huge portions and it's not expensive. Good price. Service is slow, limited seating, and CASH ONLY but I love it here. #5 has everything. Five spice chicken (breast/leg), Grilled pork and a huge Imperial roll. I think its too much for just me, therefore I always order #1 grill pork or chicken with imperial roll. It comes with a side of slaw-ish and MEAT SAUCE. So good with rice. I can just eat that all day long. I have never had over cooked chicken and their imperials rolls are so good. Crispy and flavorful. My favorite "hole in the wall" comfort Vietnamese food. read more

What? I haven't reviewed Cordon Bleu yet? How could that be? This is one of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants in SF. I will gladly hike up to California Street for their molten imperial rolls any day. We usually end up here after an evening of drinking & the food always hits the spot. I love that it's BYOB so we are able to keep the buzz going while filling our tummies with delicious 5 spice chicken vermicelli bowls. The place is teeny tiny & you are practically sitting right next to the stove, grill, & deep fryer. The humongous pot of bubbling meat sauce kind of scares me cuz I can imagine it knocking over & scalding half the customers. But it is interesting watching those ladies cook up food in a flash. They know their stuff. I go home smelling like Vietnamese food which is OK by me. read more

Cordon Bleu - The counter & stove/grill/fryer - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

The only issue is not good for groups only yourself and someone else. Great food. Cheap. Good service.

My favorite restaurant in SF. Always stop here when I'm in the city. I always get entree 5

Yes, this is not really a Vietnamese restaurant. It more like a Hawaiian restaurant, where there is a mixture of ethnic foods. Their menu is simple and there is really not many items to choose from, just different combinations of the same things. Their charbroiled chicken is good, but not really that great. The kebab is not kebab, but just pieces of grilled beef. Their meat sauce is somewhat bland and watery without much meat. I am also not sure how clean they are. I noticed that their fridge's temperature gauge was reading way over 41 degrees as the Health Department sticker on the door said the temperature should be UNDER! YMMV! read more

I thought this place was a tad overrated. It was nothing special, just large hearty portions. Tried the spicy pork chop which wasn't spicy. Maybe they mean it's made with lots of spices which I didn't really taste either. The green onion oil-infused rice was too mushy in my opinion but not bad taste-wise. The mint and cucumber salad that comes with is is pretty refreshing. The entree combo #5 comes with 5 spiced roast chicken, imperial roll, shish kebab, country salad, and meat sauce on rice. The imperial roll wasn't bad. The shish kebab (or actually a few thin slices of meat) tasted similar to the pork chop. The roast chicken wasn't as flavorful as I'd thought it would be but it wasn't bad. The meat sauce tastes similar to Spaghetti O's. The fresh spring roll tastes like the imperial roll but not fried of course. So it's not like your typical nem nuong or shrimp/pork filled fresh spring roll. We made a mistake by going to this resto on a hot day. The resto is pretty small and the heat from the open kitchen keeps the place warm. read more

Cordon Bleu - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Hole in the wall. Lots of delicious delicious meat. Cash only. #5 meal. That's all you need to know!! 28/ 30 yelp challenge read more

I was hoping for so much more! Maybe the reviews and stars set my expectations too high. I ordered the Number 5. I liked the idea of them grilling right in front of you. It was cool too see and it meant the food was fresh. BUT all the meat I got was burnt; not the greatest taste and also carcinogenic. The imperial rolls had a great flaky skin, but lacked flavor. So did it's dipping sauce and the meat sauce that drenched the rice. I expected a tangy, stronger flavor. I think the place is good if you're looking for big portion size and decent taste. It just didn't blow me out of the water. The flavor palette has been Americanized and wasn't as traditional as I hoped it'd be. read more

I've been going here for 50 years. I delivered in Northern California anymore, but it's a must when i visit. I hope Maggie is still there and remembers me. read more

I wish I could give it a better rating, but this mom and pop shop was no good. It's a very small hole-in-the-wall place with little seating. You can see your meal getting prepped in the little kitchen area. The food was not great. There was nothing memorable about it. Wouldn't come back again. With so many places to try in the city, I can't justify coming back here again. (And I've had better imperial rolls elsewhere). read more

Cordon Bleu - #1 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Mmm hole in the wall. A skinny little restaurant with the cooks behind a counter and a couple of small tables in the back. Love it! 2 stuffed people for under $20: perfect! This so called Vietnamese place (run by Chinese, but uses fish sauce?) has yummy combos of grilled pork, chicken or kebabs (beef, not on a skewer like you might think), with this "meat sauce", which is a tomato based sauce with some ground meat in it. Also comes with a huge, deeelish egg roll and some cabbage salad. Drizzle the rice and meat sauce with some soy sauce and eat with the meat, dip the egg roll in the fish sauce, and enjoy! A good, filling, reasonably priced, complete meal. P.S. The ladies that work here are so nice and friendly! Free piece of meat while eating at the counter? Sure! read more

Cordon Bleu - menu as of 03/09 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I actually found this place on yelp and bookmarked it, and babe saw their food pictures and has been wanting to try it. I got the number 1 entree, with the imperial roll, shish kebab and meat sauce on rice. Babe at the entree #5 which had the same thing I had but with the 5 spice chicken. I think my favorite thing would be the imperial roll, nicely deep fried lol I'm such a fatty. The shish kebab was pretty good too, but it also didn't seem that special to me. The 5 spice chicken that I tried wasn't bad either, but I don't think I had enough to give it a really good judgement. I think I would probably want to come back for their imperial rolls. Next time, I'll get the #2 entree with TWO imperial rolls. lol read more

Cordon Bleu - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

(See pics) Review #1307. This place reminds me of Yamo- mostly women operated, small kitchen and hole-in-the-wall, bar seats only, poor ventilation, but delicious food! Wait time could easily be an hour during dinner time and you will be waiting either in cold outside or steam packed inside. Best would be call and do a takeout. Fiery grill with the five spice chicken was hot tasty but the deep fried imperial roll was definitely a must have. read more

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Holy Imperial Roll, Batman. The flavor of everything I've had here is amazing. Service is great, the owner is SO nice. It's the type of place you come back to again and again and pray they stay packed because it would be a personal tragedy if they ever closed. read more

*FIRST TIMER alert* I finally made it to cordon bleu today! My friend and I stumble upon polk street and decided to stop there for lunch. Luckily there's not many people in there. She wasn't kidding, it is literally "HOLE-IN-THE-WALL" but everybody knows my love for these places! My friend warned me that it would be a lot of food. We ordered the lunch special with 1 piece 5 spice chicken leg and rice with meat sauce. The meat: I love the seasoning. the meat was cooked to perfection. The skin is super crispy! You can choose white or dark meat. The meat sauce: not to sweet, it's like a gravy on top of the rice. I really like that. We caught the meter maid taking a short nap after the meal, who wouldn't?! Perfect combination of protein and carb will give you a perfect food coma in this summer-like spring weather! There's probably a capacity of 10 people for this place. They've got a few seats around the bar and maybe 1 small table in the walk way. They have hooks underneath the bar which is a + for us ladies! It seems like a lot of the customers know the owner of this place. They are all on first name basis. She was super friendly and attentive. She almost made me feel like I was just at her house eating a meal. She even showed us pictures of her dog! Now who doesn't love a cute puppy?! It's got a homey feel and hearty food, what's not to love? read more

Cordon Bleu - One piece 5 spice chicken over rice with meat sauce - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a good example of how you can thrive on a business with good social skills! The owner is super friendly and has a strong customer base who keep coming back just to talk. The food is horrid. You sit there and you can see the process....it's worse than the leftovers I eat from at home....yuck!!! Everything is made from stock and is disgusting! ...and because I was a new customer, I was not given free peanuts to go with my food...such bias! I would not even come out on a poor student's budget either.... read more

Awesome. A truly great meal. I got the #1 with Imperial Roll and Skish Kabob. Country Salad and Rice in Meat Sauce. What a meal. The Imperial Rolls were awesome. The meat was great. BTW - The real treat was watching the grilling. And, smelling the grilling. OMG. It was really awesome. Good hall of food for a good price. Recommend it. read more

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CASH ONLY Best imperial rolls ever! My boyfriend and I loove this place! It's fun getting to sit at the counter and watch them make the food on the stove. The restaurant gets crowded since there's limited seating (best if you have only 2 people) but so worth the wait! I also saw a ton of people calling in to pick up their order. Ordered the #5 (imperial roll, shish kebab, five spice chicken, meat sauce with rice, and small salad) which is ENORMOUS for only $10. Honestly that dish alone is enough to feed 2 people. It is so flavorful and the meat sauce over rice is really comforting and hearty. The imperial rolls are huge, deep fried and packed with meat/veggies. The chicken is so soft and perfectly spiced! My boyfriend got the noodle salad which comes with an imperial roll and shish kebab ($9). Seriously up there for the vermicelli bowls I have had but I think the meat plates are the way to go. We finished both our meals but were so full afterwards. One of my favorite hole in the wall restaurants and love the amount you get for the prices. I highly recommend you check it out!! read more

Cordon Bleu - Noodle salad ($9) - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I might have ordered the wrong thing so I'm not sure I understand the 5-star hype but I'm willing to try it again. PORK CHOPS: the pork is super lean and didn't have a lot of flavor. I was hoping for that super flavorful pork and even with a fried egg on it but it was just pork on rice with a salad. I wanted to like it more but unfortunately it was an average piece of pork on rice. NOODLE SALAD: this is the tastiest "salad" I've ever had since it was mostly a huge mound of meat! Comes with iceberg lettuce as the base, with rice noodles, an imperial roll, and "shish kebob". But in reality the shish kebob is more like thinly sliced marinated pork. This pork was a lot more flavorful than the pork chops and with the fish sauce was really good but seemed a little overcooked. The imperial roll was crispy and flavorful. It was a little burnt for my taste but it was good enough that I would totally try it again. Overall I think all the meats seemed a little on the dry and overcooked side but I can see how the flavor could be really good and it's like a huge portion of comfort food. I'd try it again and maybe I'd be more adventurous and try the combos that come with "meat sauce" on the rice next time too. Cash only. Counter seating only and it's tiny so if you're eating in, there could be a wait. I called in a takeout order and they told me 20 minutes and it was ready totally on time! read more

When you first walk in, you may be a little caught off guard by how small this place is and I SMALL, and just a tad bit rough around the edges. Oddly enough, I think this is what makes the place so intriguing. There are quite a few combinations, noodle dishes, salads, and vegetarian options. I went with option #1 which had the yummy meat sauce on top of white rice topped with pork kabab, a side of cabbage, and a deep fried spring roll, WOAH!!!! The food is cooked right in front of you and literally grilled to perfection. Not sure what seasoning they use on the meat but it was divine. The meat sauce kind of threw me off at first but seriously it is worth trying. The flavor was so good, the perfect sauce to dip pretty much anything into. The pork was perfectly sliced thin, but it was a tad bit salty, almost too salty even. I LOVE spring rolls and egg roles so having this deep fried delight was like an added bonus. Prices are good, but space is super limited so I suggest ordering ahead of time and taking it to go. read more

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Sigh . . . another old review mysteriously gone. Yelp, can you hire some more DBA's with your IPO proceeds? ------------------------- Cordon Bleu is your quintessential hole-in-the-wall. They do a lot of take-out because seating is just a couple of tables or the "chef's counter" overlooking the "open kitchen" (these folks were on the cutting edge of modern restaurant design). I used to live on Bush St, 2 blocks away, and ate here pretty regularly because it's good and cheap. My standard order was the combo with 5-spice chicken, grilled pork, imperial roll and meat sauce over rice (#5?). 5-spice chicken is what they tout on their outside sign; this version has crispy skin and very nice flavors. The pork is also well marinated and grilled. Imperial rolls are in bubbly rice paper are in a big pre-cooked pile which they reheat with each order. It was here that I was first introduced to the rice-paper wrapped Imperial roll. I don't think I've seen the meat sauce on rice at any other Viet joint, but I like to ask for extra. It's like a thin, but tasty spaghetti sauce or no-bean chili. OTOH, people I've come here with have been grossed out by the meat sauce so YMMV. One plate is usually enough for 2 meals. read more

Oh. My. Goodness. A woman single-handedly runs this tiny little shop with counter seating and a few tables. The chicken is *perfectly* spiced every time, the broccoli is *perfectly* steamed and salted, the rice is great, the sauce is heavenly. Quality of meat awesome, too. What else can I say. Great for healthful meal without the sauce, or a bit of a treat with the sauce. Go, and go often! read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE! A classic hole in the wall spot in The City, where the food is still delicious and the price is right! A humble little joint, with friendly people working there, and lip smacking yum food! read more

The food is cheap and big portioned. The imperial rolls are huge! The meat sauce reminds me of chef boyardee. Hole in the wall but good cheap food! read more

Some of the best non-pho Vietnamese food I've ever had! A true San Francisco experience - hole-in-the-wall counter seating, cooks right in front of you and cheap! Chicken here is really good, but I'm sure everything is. That mystery meat sauce is disgustingly delicious. $5 can get you really full here. JONASAPPROVED! read more

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First of all, I'm so surprised that I don't yet have a review for my beloved "chicken place," since I've been there 20+ times. I was planning on doing a review update, but I guess I'll be writing my first review! I found this place when I first moved to San Francisco after seeing a movie at Lumiere. The ambiance is not so nice, but the woman working the evening shift behind the counter is so sweet and friendly and the food is to die for. I actually prefer the laid back atmosphere. I've even been on two dates here (I recommended it of course). I always, ALWAYS get the #4 with all white meat chicken, extra meat sauce, and an imperial roll. This is enough food for two days (or two meals) for $10. Pretty cheap! It's also BYO, so feel free to bring in some beers or a bottle of wine. Usually, everything is so well prepared. The only not excellent meal I received was on Saturday. Yes, I was in hangover hell and really needed my beloved chicken place to pull through, but they didn't. My chicken arrives and I open up the box to find on one piece of chicken (they always give you two) over the usual white rice, without EXTRA meat sauce and the meat sauce was bland! I was soooo distraught, like all day. I'm serious. So, I guess I'm going to have to give Cordon Bleu four stars instead of five, just b/c of this experience. Next time, impress me again and I'll change my rating to five. I still love you Cordon Bleu, I'm just sad. read more

Came here for lunch today. Not bad. Small old hole in the wall diner in Nob Hill. The place probably only seat about 10 folks at the bar and 6 at the tables. Menu is very limited. Pretty much you are there for the 5 spice chicken. We ordered the plate special #5. Seems like the popular one. Came with one large piece of chicken (leg or breast), iceburg lettuce, giant imperial roll (pork) and white rice with meat sauce (pretty much a meat pasta sauce over the white rice). The meat sauce over rice reminded me of HK cafe diner dish. Very popular. I really don't see how this place is labeled as Vietnamese food but I have to admit that five spice chicken was really good! Great place for cheap eat! All the plates are less than $10. Huge portions. Good enough to share! If you plan to share order an extra chicken. Warning: cash only read more

Cordon Bleu - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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SOMEONE'S GONNA NEED TO GO ON A DIET AFTER THIS MEAL! This hole-in-the-wall restaurant serves up some damn good BBQ rice plates AND it's cheap too. You also get A LOT of food, and I emphasize on the "ALOT" part. [http://s3-media4.px.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/lfpxL9X3ePs834Z2drXC6w/l.jpg] HUGE BBQ chicken thigh, imperial rolls, [Americanized] tomatoey-meat-sauce, and salad -- all over rice. Literally, you get ALL of that and it weighs in at about 5 pounds of food for under $10. The only con is that it's practically a hallway with diner stools and a small table in the back and it DOES get packed during lunchtime. However, they redeem themselves for carrying the epic rooster hot sauce, Sriracha! read more

Cordon Bleu - BBQ chicken + Imperial roll + meat sauce over rice - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Don't ask...don't over think...just know this place exemplifies under the radar/hidden gem/tasty/inexpensive Anti trendy, not a bell or whistle in sight. Since I moved to San Francisco in 1985 nothing has changed except the prices. If their are three places in the city I would walk a mile for they are Cordon Bleu Vietnamese, Shanghai Dumplings on Taraval, and pizza of the day at Arizmendi Bakery read more

One of my favorite low-key spots in SF! I come out to SF every now and then and this is usually one of the first places I eat at - the chicken is delicious and yes they give you huge portions for a decent price This isn't a place to come for ambiance, it's got that classic hole-in-the-wall feel to it (in a great way) and the woman who runs the place has been very nice every time I've come here. If you love unique flavorful chicken spots with great portions at a fair price and you don't care much for ambiance, this is the spot for you. I love this dam place! read more

It's a lot of sloppy food that is oddly satisfying yet doesn't cost a lot but I'm still undecided as to whether I really like Cordon Bleu or not. I've heard so much about the 5 spice chicken. Perhaps I should have ordered that instead but I needed forkable food since I was on the run so I ordered the #1 - kebabs, imperial roll, served with rice and mystery meatsauce plus a cabbage slaw. I have to admit I'm a little confused by said mystery meat sauce. It definitely doesn't feel very Vietnamese ... and definitely not French. But the kebabs were nicely grilled and had a nice sweet BBQ flavor. I also loved the super delicious and crispy imperial roll. In fact, I will gladly do away with the rice and sauce and just snack on Imperial rolls all day long. You get a lot of food on your plate for the price you pay. My takeout box lasted me two meals. Don't think I'll crave it ever though but I might come back to try the chicken that everyone seems to rave about. read more

Probably 2.5 stars if we could give out demi-starlets. Paid about $8 for a pile of rice with orange meat sauce over it (too moist), and shish kabob pork slices draped over it. Weird that for all the BBQ char that it nicely had on it, flavor was lacking. Underspiced and underseasoned, it was like warmed up jerky. The country salad was a cole slaw of some sort and it was kind of nice to have a sour kick after the meat sauce oozes everything into tasting th same. The imperial roll was mighty tasty though, and almost had that same fatty thick mouthfeel like the ones from Tu Lan. The regulars seemed to request a separate plate for the roll, probably a good idea so it doesn't get soggy from the meat sauce. Seating is a little strange since it's all counter and then three little tables in the back. I plopped down at one and had a woman just invite herself over to be my lunch buddy. Poppin' em personal space bubbles. read more