easy to miss, but once you try, hard to forget. where else can you get a nutritious, authentic viet-food-with-a-twist for $15 (cash only) in the city? the service is quick and ambiance is intimate - you're 5 feet away from the grill! they're speedy, you can see exactly the preparation and grilling process, but the magic behind the dishes remains in their unseen craft expertise. the 5-spice chicken is so tender, flavorful, and pairs wonderfully with the meat sauce on rice. for $15 flat, i left feeling like i could conquer the world with all the protein power on my side. it'd be a shame if you leave the city without having try cordon bleu! read more

Cordon Bleu - 5 - Spiced Roast Chicken 1 - imperial roll - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

This iconic spot for Fice Spice BBQ Chicken is still my favorite Chicken meal in town. The Chicken is delicious and plentiful and reasonably priced these times. I was just there last week and it's as delicious as it ever was. Service was prompt and left with tummy satisfied!! ***** read more

This might be my new favorite meal in the, no joke. It's a small little restaurant tucked away in Nob Hill, and there's about 7 bar seats and one small table inside. You sit in front of the grill and watch them cook your meal unceremoniously, and service is not the fastest because they're cooking as they're serving. I came here as a solo diner since I knew seating was difficult for bigger parties. I sat next to a friendly stranger who told me he's been coming here longer than I've been alive and recommended the Number 5 Combo. With a recommendation like that, how could I order anything else? I chose to get chicken breast over the chicken leg. Because the restaurant was at capacity, my food took about 10 minutes to get, which is still super fast. It's served on a paper plate and has no ceremonious plating, but when I tell you I've never had a first bite so good! The meat sauce on the rice was so savory and rich. The chicken was so tender I hardly needed my knife to pull it off the bone, and the skin had the perfect amount of charring. The imperial roll is the biggest I've ever seen, and the outside was so crispy while maintaining the juicy meat inside. The shish kebab was peppery and sweet. It's a huge portion and could easily be two meals. I can't believe it was all under $20! They're cash only, so keep that in mind when you come. I definitely will be back, and even as good as the food is, I wouldn't want to have it except dining in -- the casual, friendly conversation with other patrons and with the cooks make the experience so homey and warm. Can't wait to be back! read more

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I have eaten here since it opened. I love the quality and consistency of everything on the menu. My go to is the pork kabobs and noodle salad. They have some of the best chaio gao I have had and over the years I have had plenty. This place is clean, no frills and limited seating but excellent food. I go by myself and have a meal order a to go and eat for two days all for about $40.00 tip included. Remember cash only. It's worth it. read more

Cozy little spot tucked away in California street. We walked in with a party of 4 and took half of the bar seats (that's how small it is) it's big enough for the 3 cooks to grill and a few customers to sit at the bar with a small table in the back for 2. We all got #5 which includes their chicken, imperial egg roll, and pork slices on top of a bed of rice with a meaty bean sauce + salad. The charred chicken was my favorite especially paired with the sweet fish sauce. One of the main cooks or owner? said they've been here for 15 years and haven't changed the recipe. Quick and friendly service with huge portions and it comes with an intimate grill experience. Would come again to try their egg rolls! read more

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This place is still great and one of a kind. It's not quite the same with the new owners (new being a few decades ago), the flavors are just a bit off the old recipes, but these women have a lot of talent!! read more

I ordered the #5 and spicy porkchop both of them are spot on and the price is reasonable. Good portions. Place is packed service is good owner is very nice, ambiance is for quick to eat not for sitting long term though. Will be back again read more

Cordon Bleu - #5 grilled chicken - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Had the chicken salad, it was an enormous portion of super fresh ultra thinly shredded cabbage and super moist and flavorful 5 spice chicken. My sister had noodle salad which came with the very delicious Imperial roll and shish kebab. We enjoyed watching the food prep while waiting at the counter. The woman who owns Cordon Bleu was kind, friendly and generous in spirit. I would definitely return. read more

My friends brought me here because they have been eating here for years since they live so close. We came for lunch around 11:30 AM on a Wednesday with a group of 4. The restaurant had just opened so we were the only ones there but after we sat down more and more people stared coming in. The restaurant is small with a few counter space and one small table in the back. It has a very hole in the wall appearance which is understandable since it has been open since the 60s. We had a nice chat with the owner who was very friendly and told us she has had this restaurant for the past 28 years! Service was good. And food came out quite quickly. I was told by my group to get entree five which I did. The chicken was tender and had a nice flame grilled flavor to it as did the kebab. The imperial roll was huge and very tasty - definitely my favorite part. My friends really like the meat sauce over rice but it wasn't my cup of tea. However, the plate overall was great! They are cash only but can take Venmo if needed but the owner prefers not to. All in all, I can definitely see why this place is an institution and really makes for a nice, comforting lunch spot. read more

Cordon Bleu - Entree 5 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you asked me what my favorite reasonably priced cash only restaurant in the us is I would probably say cordon Bleu. The food, although simple is so satiating. Don't expect table service or for that matter quick service but trust me it'll taste good. I always order the number five. What makes it so good? The charring of the meat? The vibe- you're literally sitting over an open fire watching the sole proprietor work her Magic. Or is it the perfectly crispy imperial roll? Wait could it be the rice with meat sauce? I love this place, sometimes it can be a little chaotic, and sometimes you may have to wait for your check. But trust me it's worth it. Oh btw the chase atm is no longer functioning so plan ahead. read more

Cordon Bleu - #5 and salad - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wonderful hole in the wall restaurant that SF could use more of! The whole block smells amazing when their chicken is on the grill. I've only had the noodle salad so far and it'll be hard to try something new when this dish is so good. The chicken has more flavor cooked into it than I thought possible. The portion size is plentiful and food comes out quickly. I had a bite of my friend's meat sauce (what meat is used to make it?) and thought it was alright. I can see why it's reserved for the rice dishes to act like a gravy. I'd love to try the pork chops some time, but it'll have to be with a big group because I can barely finish one dish on my own! read more

There are so many restaurants that go all in on curb appeal and in-house ambiance but then the food tastes like it should cost half of what you're paying for it. This place is the exact opposite. All of the effort goes into the consistent high quality of the food. That's it. And that's what you pay for, so it's reasonably priced. Keep in mind, this is a very small restaurant so don't try to come here in a group to dine in; sometimes it's hard to find a seat when you're alone. However, they do take out and there's a bar next door if you want a drink while you wait. It's also cash only. read more

Cordon Bleu - #5 - Spiced Roast Chicken, 1 Imperial Roll, 1 Shish Kebab, Country Salad, Meat Sauce on Rice - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

5/5 -- Cordon Bleu on California is an OG spot and still one of the best deals around. I always get the dark meat chicken with imperial rolls, and it never misses. The meat sauce over rice is the perfect combo--simple, comforting, and ridiculously satisfying. A classic for a reason. read more

The meat sauce! You will not be disappointed. I took a few friends here and they told me I greatly undersold the place. It's a family run place with the most tender bbq chicken and the imperial rolls are huge! read more

Cash only! One of my favorite places in SF that I regularly go to. The only reason why it's not 5 stars is that the taste can be a bit inconsistent -- sometimes being too salty. Get the chicken (duh) or mapo tofu. The portions here are generous, especially for the price. People rave about the imperial rolls -- they're good and heftier than your typical egg roll, but I also find it MUCH oiler so I'm not a huge fan. Everything is made to order and service can be slow, so don't come here when you're in a rush. Limited seating read more

Sheeeeeeeesh, I finally stopped by and it's a big-time hit! Cordon Blue is this SMALL mom and pop shop. The chef is a vibe and she's grilling these to order. Food: everything is extremely well-seasoned. The chicken fell right off the bone and was so moist. The grilled pork was seared to perfection. The meat sauce on the rice is what you call exquisite. Service: this place is all cash so make sure to bring that! There's a chase bank right next to the restaurant so it's no problem if you forget. Ambiance: the restaurant is so quaint. The counter sits around 8 ppl and I look forward to doing that soon!! All you can ask for! read more

Cordon Bleu - Number 1 Piece 5 - Spiced Roast Chicken, 1 Imperial Roll, 1 Shish Kebab, Country Salad, Meat Sauce on Rice - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is one of the best hole in the wall restaurant I've been at in the city! This place is really small with only a couple of counter seats but the food is so delicious, especially the chicken that is so tender and comes off the bone easily with so much flavor! Their imperial roll is also amazing!!! Recommend coming here at lunch for their combo meal and the price is really good for the portion too 10/10!!! read more

Cordon Bleu - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Fantastic pork chops and BBQ chicken limited seating but with the wait. Everything cooked fresh over the grill and large potions

HOW THE HECK HAVE I LIVED IN SF FOR 25 YEARS AND NEVER BEEN HERE?? So many times when i have driven or walked by, I have wanted to go here. I have looked at the reviews dozens of times. Anyway - suffice it to say I am an Idiot for not going here sooner. Yes - it is a dump inside, only about 9 counter seats, and one is currently sheared off., which would make for a mighty uncomfortable meal. After a couple of happy hour cocktails on a Thursday night, 3 of us headed over, the counter was full, but people were finishing up - so we waited. Hubbs and I ordered a #5 to share - it was Plenty!. It includes a crispy imperial roll, rice with beef sauce, and a piece of BBQ chicken (on the bone) and 2 pieces of boneless pork. WOW, it hit the spot in my belly like a nuclear missile, in a good way. The meal is cooked right in front of you by 2 ladies who have been doing it for years and years. This is NOT fine dining, but a perfect meal after a couple of cocktails. The chicken was juicy, the roll was crispy and the meaty rice was a great sponge for it all. I cannot wait to go back - the ladies highly recommended the chicken salad, though it will be difficult to stray from good ol' #5! read more

No frills, pretty good portion size for the price. Reminiscent of a Vietnamese family backyard bbq. Katie, the owner seems down to earth and has good rapport with all the customers that dined in. It's cash only tho so just remember to bring some 20's before you come here. Definitely will come back :) read more

Cordon Bleu - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This lil hole in da wall joint, literally... lasted through earthquakes, COVID, inflation and is still here after 50 years! So good to see it still alive and serving the community! The food is as good as it looks ! That meat soss is da Boss, something gramama would make from scraps for your lunch... savory, delicious over the rice. I had the #1) Imperial Roll, Shish Kebab, Country Salad, Meat Sauce On Rice. There used to be a stick in the kebab but eliminated that cost, hence the namesake. One of the best thit nuong I have tasted! Very lean, no gristle like the other guys, the imperial roll is made with rice paper so the shell is a bubbly crispity crunchity delight! But that meat sauce is addicting like made with crack or MSG?(Chinese crack) Soooo good I wanna drink it. The ladies working are like my Chinese Aunties and the grillwork is perfect as expected with years of grillinnnnn... plates are served pretty quickly and the interior, well prolly hasn't changed much in the years gone by. And the value can't be beat, you can get a samich/burger or get a whole plate of food for less $$? This is the kinda spot my old dear friend Anthony Bourdain would have liked to visit, an old Asian not so greazy divey diner joint and he would have BYOB to boot! read more

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Just the best little hole in the wall this city's ever seen. No frill or fanciness just fantastic food. Run by the two nicest little ladies who know how to cook a fantastic roast chicken, and provide great service. I don't know what I'd do without this place anymore. Cash only! So make sure to be aware of that when coming but definitely an amazing local spot if you're new to the area. read more

Cordon Bleu - 5 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

great service and amazing food. we ordered the #4 (pictured in the front) and #1 (plate in the back). food was super flavorful and filling. will definitely come back next time i'm in the city read more

Cordon Bleu - amazing vietnamese food, ordered the #4 and #1! super sweet staff and cozy feeling. they accept cash and venmo only so keep that in mind! - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

great tasty food + not pricy, accepts cash and venmo :-) theres 14 seats total, its pretty small n cozy, food was fast too

Got there at 630 on Saturday night and got a table for two straightaway although others that came later had to wait. The food is delicious. We got two number 5s - seems like the most popular item on the menu. Imperial rolls very crispy and delicious, chicken is yum, shish kebab very tasty although a tad too salty, the sauce over the rice is tasty but I might ask for it without the sauce next time. Cozy, no frills ambiance. No rush in the cooking, lots of takeaway orders to fill as well as for eat-in customers. This place will be a regular for us for sure! Btw they take Venmo as well as cash. read more

Spot on greasy spoon Vietnamese comfort fare such as roast chicken, imperial rolls & spicy pork chops with counter only seating. Best to eat here when not in a hurry but when your super hungry, slow service offset by Big portions! Plenty of to go orders constantly fly out of this place while the dine in crowd lines up for late lunch & dinner. As far as I know, this is a one of a kind fusion of Vietnamese/southern US bbq flavor profile I never had before and have yet to see anywhere else! Uniquely American & Vietnamese but all delicious! Mama's and aunties run this place so please tip kindly! read more

Alrighty, I've been back to try more menu items from here, and here are my power rankings for menu items... 1) Ma Po Tofu (spicy) - a cold day or night, this dish just warms the soul. The flavor is so good, and you know it's made with love, never disappoints. The portions are big, and easily enough for two meals. Although you might need more rice, which I cooked at home. 2) Imperial Rolls - this is a can't miss item for me. I can't make a trip here and not order some. It's $4.50 for one, but it's pretty large and when you cut it up into pieces, it makes for a great addition to the meal. 3) Spicy Pork Chops - I got this on my recent visit and really enjoyed it. You get some big pieces of pork chop and when you add an imperial roll to the order, you'll be stuffed. While it's kinda dry.... The trick is to get a side order of gravy to pour all over the chops, there's no other way. The #5 combo is obviously good if you are looking to get a little bit of everything. But going for the special menu items is the way to go for me. Don't sleep on the ma po tofu, that's something I could eat everyday in the winter. As a reminder, it's cash only and it looks like they have delivery app setup. I don't like delivery for the most part, and find it's better to call in your order and pickup yourself. I believe it's hard to fairly judge a place when it comes through a delivery app bc these drivers often have multiple stops and your food is not as fresh. If you can, eat it there, its the quintessential SF experience. read more

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This hole in the wall is a classic San Francisco gem. Amazing Vietnamese food with generous portions and reasonable prices (cash only). The imperial rolls were some of the best I've ever had outside of Vietnam. If you want good authentic Vietnamese food, without the frills and pretentiousness, this is your place. Cash only! The place is small and you will sit right up at the counter and watch your food being prepared. The lady has been doing this for decades and knows all the customers by name! read more

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Agree with everyone else... just what a hole-in-the-wall Asian restaurant should be. Close quarters, visible grill, somewhat dirty, and lots of great food for a reasonable price. Cash only, and in a pretty good location on California just off of Polk. See my pics and captions. read more

Cordon Bleu - Entree plate #4 - Five Spice Half Chicken (dark) with rice and meat sauce and cabbage. I'm hankering for more of it right now! - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The tagline is that this may be the best chicken you'll have outside of Vietnam, and it's not a hyperbole. Came here with my friend for lunch on a Friday around noon and jabbed two seats. The restaurant is very small (it fits about about 10 people) and it's situated around the kitchen where you can watch the lady cook. Everyone seemed to have ordered the Number 5, and so that's what we did. It's a huge split so we split it between the two of us. The egg roll included was the best I've had in a while - it came piping hot and was so delectable. The five spice chicken and the shish kabob were well-seasoned and juicy. You get rice with a gravy on the side as well as coleslaw. Cash only. There is tea available or self-service water. There seemed to be a lot of regulars and I would absolutely be one too if I lived in SF. Definitely come here for a cheap, delicious, homey meal. read more

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A couple of friends and I were trying to pick a place for dinner and I suggested we check out Cordon Bleu since its been on my list for years. We walked in and realized there was basically only dining seating for 7-10 people here. Luckily there is a small table in the back where they let us pull up chairs so us 3 could sit. This place is the definition of hole in the wall spots with delicious food. Go with the number 5 so you can sample all the different roasted/grilled meats plus super crispy imperial rolls. Remember its cash only, but its so worth it. read more

Overall: A Heads up: Cash only! Food: A The go-to is a grilled chicken paired with beans and rice. Be ready to use your hands on the chicken but trust me it's worth it! Vibes: B Cramped but speedy turnaround for an amazing meal. Cash only is a bit of a bummer but it keeps the prices a bit lower and there's a BoA atm a couple blocks away. Don't let the casual cramped diner style throw you off - the owner is a friendly woman and you get to watch the grill right in front of you. read more

I've been patronizing this place since its beginning. It has always been my "to go" place for Vietnamese comfort food. On this recent visit, I found the food rather disappointing. The sauce was watered down with very little meat. The taste was still there but rather weak. In the past visits, the chicken marinade went to the bone, was tender and so tasty. The time, the chicken was not well marinated nor did the meat fall off the bone. The beef was dried and not marinated well. The only thing that tasted the same was the egg roll. read more

Cordon Bleu - Combo plate - beef, egg roll, chicken and salad. - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Call them to order, don't do Doordash, which takes 25% as a fee. Very friendly staff, fantastic food. Eating inside is... an experience. Very small place, but loved getting to watch the two women behind the counter work. Ordered the 5 spice chicken (obviously) and the noodle salad which totally went way beyond my expectations. Will 100% be coming back. read more

the place is super hole in the wall vibe, BUT they are insanely popular on yelp + google so you're going to have to expect a wait at popular times - especially since there are only like ~10 seats total. the food speaks for itself though - very good, filling, and made in front of you. super worth for the price, i couldnt finish everything in one sitting. read more

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Excellent, tasty food and very good service ambiance is nice and clean. It's small. Run like a mom and pop business.They have been in business for many years. read more

Delicious hole in the wall spot on California st. We loved the friendly woman running the joint, and the very local atmosphere inside. Food was also incredible! read more

Counter/bar-style seating which makes the atmosphere much more homey and casual. Love the free hot tea. Imperial roll was delicious and crispy. Food was filling and affordable. The ladies working here are really funny too! read more

Cordon Bleu - Noodle Salad (sub kebab for 5 spice chicken) - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

OK, you know when you go to a sushi restaurant and the Japanese food is being made by an entirely Hispanic staff or Taiwanese . . . Yeah, that's what you get here you're getting pseudo Vietnamese food made by 2 - 3 Cantonese Chinese ladies. And they are working hard. they should probably be retired by now. It's cash only but it looks like one of their grandkids hooked them up with a Venmo account so they can take bank transactions. so let's get into the food. Imperial Ruelas these were some of the crispiest imperial roles I've ever had in my life so I'm gonna give those a five stars. Those are awesome and they're sizable. They're also about like one and a half times the average size imperial role. The meat sauce is great for what it is. I suspect it's kind of like pork and beans with a little meat in there, but the lady swears there's no beans. I don't know I'm a little suspect.. and then the meat I hope you like your meat charred because you're gonna get it charred maybe even blackened. I don't mind Charred meat but the person I went with was not into it so know what you're getting into there. And you're definitely gonna smell like smoke when you walk out cause it's an open grill and this place is tiny. The shish kebab is basically Vietnamese grilled pork and the country salad is lettuce with a little dressing on it like I don't know ranch or mayonnaise or something but it shredded lettuce. Overall great value for the price. The plate of food was gigantic even if you don't include the pieces of charred meat that were overly charred. Flavor profile was pretty good overall too. read more

Cordon Bleu - noodle salad basically a Bun - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I'm dating myself here but how many of you remember growing up and learning about a restaurant the "old school" way or through word of mouth before Yelp or "google it" came into existence? Cordon Bleu (SF) is a place I have been going to on and off for about 20 years! No frills and a true " hole in the wall"! You are not here for the ambiance! Old tables, old stools, and your meal is cooked and made in your face with all the charcoal grill smoke and smell! I'm here for the juicy grilled meat, the extra crispy imperial rolls, the rice heaped on with piles of meat sauce. Plate of heavenly deliciousness for $13.75. They claim their grilled chicken is " the best chicken you will ever have outside of Vietnam". I've never been to so can't tell you if it's true! Service is fast and quick. Parking is very difficult. read more

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