I've walked by this place a couple of times and finally tried it last night. So glad I did! I ordered the bun cha ha noi. I've only ever had this in Hanoi, so I was pleasantly surprised how authentic the bun cha was here! However, service was a bit slow and inattentive. We had to flag down the staff multiple times to get the bill, and we never got our empty water glasses refilled. Despite poor service, the food more than made up for it. The menu had so many items that you don't typically see at most other Vietnamese restaurants in the city, including lots of seafood that looked pretty good. So I'm interested in coming back to try some more dishes another time. read more

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I've had much better Vietnamese food in the city. I had the vermicelli with pork egg rolls. Lots of veggies in there, but as soon as the egg roll hit the dipping sauce it got mushy. Not just the outside but the inside too. Unsure what was in there... but it was definitely lacking crunch. And the sauce was on the flavorless side of mild. My dining partner had the garlic noodles with grilled shrimp. Nothing beats the garlic bodies at Thanh Long, so why even try? These were just okay, lacking a real garlic punch. Shrimp were on the small side. The worst part? The water. It has that moldy smell that they tried to cover up with a lime slice. I prefer water with my meals so it was really annoying to not be able to drink it. I might go back to try the banh mi. read more

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I came during their soft opening and was pleasantly surprised! We were one of only two tables there for lunch, but the interior is spacious and just renovated so plenty of room for business. The menu here is big and focuses on a lot of different Viet foods besides pho. I tried: * Buttery garlicky Escargot: Interesting flavors! The snail meat was big and chewy and the dressing tasted a bit like thousand island dressing with basil. Snail could have been more tender * Special clay pot rice: Yum, very well marinated meat that was tender in thin slices (reminded me of galbi) over rice * Quail eggs in Scallop: Probably the star of show, with these flavorful garlic crisps on top of perfectly fried little eggs. Highly recommend. Overall, would love to come back and try more dishes. Hopefully more folks come to the Mission to try the place out so that it becomes livelier :) read more

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We wanted to have Vietnamese food, but wanted something different and new. Our friend mentioned Hem By Lequy and thought we'd like it. So we ventured towards the mission area and didn't have to look far for a parking spot. We found one across the street! It was nearly 8 pm on a Thursday, so parking was pretty easy. I think it would take some time to find parking during peak hours. This place has a modern vibe with nice, bright lighting. Even though it was a weekday night, many tables were occupied, but we were seated quickly. The menu had a variety of Vietnamese specialties and seafood dishes. It's not your typical Pho eatery! ***OUR PICKS*** MANGO SALAD WITH GRILLED SHRIMP ~ Shredded green mango, green papaya, and carrot tossed in a tangy lime dressing, topped with peanuts, fried shallots, and a choice of protein. Served with shrimp chips. Vibrantly refreshing with a nice tang! Loved this salad; I kept going back to it even after all the other dishes arrived. 5/5 GRILLED SCALLOPS WITH QUAIL EGGS ~ perfectly cooked tasty scallops with a quail egg on the bottom and a lovely garnish of fried scallions on top. This was a good starter/appetizer. 4/5 BEEF SIZZLING SKILLET/BÁNH MÌ CHAO ~ Beef filet mignon, sausages, egg, and pate on a skillet served with a baguette and mixed salad. Our friend told us this dish is a breakfast staple in Vietnam. Unfortunately, this wasn't a hit. The meat was a bit tough, and it was over-seasoned. 3/5 BÚN CHA HÁ NÔI (Medium) ~ A Hanoi Specialty with grilled pork patties and sliced pork in a sweet, savory dipping sauce, served with vermicelli, fresh herbs, and pickled papaya and carrots. Perfect dish to share! The meat was juicy and delicious! The pairing of lettuce and pickled vegetables with the savory meat gave the dish freshness and a clean finish. This is a must-try dish! 5/5 LEMONGRASS STEAMED SEA SNAILS ~ plenty of large snails in this dish! But we felt it wasn't as flavorful as we had hoped. The broth probably washed away some of the seasoning. Still, it was a hearty dish. They definitely didn't skimp! The snails were done perfectly and had a good chew to them. 4/5 All dishes were beautifully presented! The three of us enjoyed our meal, and we were quite satisfied. The 2 dishes that stood out for us were the mango salad and the bún cha há nôi. So glad we tried Hem By Lequy! read more

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Tried the grilled chicken bánh mì yesterday at Hèm by LeQúy and it really hit the spot. The bread was perfectly crisp yet soft inside, and the chicken was juicy with a nice smoky flavor. Loved the balance of pickled veggies and fresh herbs--everything came together really well. Only small critique: I wish they had cut the sandwich in half for easier eating. read more

Hem By Lequy - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is now my new Vietnamese spot in SF with courteous service, clean comfortable seatings and delicious food. Street parking can be a challenge but it's worth it. Tried combination beef pho with fresh flat noodles - 4.5/5 good portion size and quantity of meat. Broth was tasty and came with jalapeño, bean sprouts and lemon ( would be better with some basil) Mango salad with grilled squid - 4.5/ 5 tartness from mango salad goes well with grilled squid topped with mildly spicy chili sauce. Bun cha Ha Noi - small portion for 1 pp - 5/5 my favorite dish w/ tender pork patties and grilled pork. Came with lettuce, noodles and plenty of herbs. Love the fish sauce that goes with it. read more

Hem By Lequy - Mango salad with grilled squid topped - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place is fabulous and service is efficient and courteous! This place seriously rocks my world Grilled Oysters with Vietnamese sauces and flavors scallions, satay chili sauce,etc). My god I have to get this every time. It's a real treat. Papaya salad with protein choices like squid or clams or others. Amazing presentation Catfish in clay pot, spicy and oily chili and sweet too. It's the stuff of my childhood dreams. I can come here solo and they give me a table for one but I really need a table for two because I fill the whole table with food cus there are just so many good choices. It's a feast! read more

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Had dinner at Hèm by LeQuy and honestly everything we ordered was so flavorful and satisfying. The beef noodle soup had such a clean, comforting broth that tasted like it had been simmering for hours. The beef was tender and the noodles soaked up all that flavor. It was simple but really hit the spot. The grilled scallops with quail eggs were one of the highlights of the meal. The scallops were perfectly seared and the little quail egg yolks made each bite extra rich and savory with the herbs and sauce. The mango salad with grilled squid was also really good and probably the most refreshing dish on the table. The mango was sweet and crisp, the grilled squid had a nice smoky flavor, and the crispy shallots and prawn chips added the best crunch. It had that perfect mix of sweet, tangy, and a little spicy that kept you going back for another bite. Service is great, and the ambiance is modern but still cozy and relaxed, making it a great place to catch up with friends over dinner. The plating is beautiful and everything tasted just as good as it looked. Definitely a spot I'd come back to when I'm craving something fresh and full of flavor. read more

Hem By Lequy - Grilled scallops with quail egg, mango salad with grilled squid, beef noodle soup - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Asked my Vietnamese foodie friend for a recommendation when my Seattle friends were visiting the city Landed on a Saturday night around 6:30 and was lucky enough to snag a table. Within 15 minutes, the line was out the door. We ordered mango salad with grilled squid, grilled scallops with quail eggs, bun cha Ha Noi, claypot catfish, and sea snails. Everything was delicious, but my favorite items were the catfish and bun cha. Will return to try all the other sea snail preparations! read more

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Finally a Vietnamese snail spot that is affordable and not in San Jose! Tried their Canadian sea snails in garlic sauce, which was ~$20. Portions are sizable and the snails are massive and meaty! Excited to come back and order a spread to try more. read more

Hem By Lequy - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

I don't see a lot of Northern Vietnamese cuisines in the Bay Area so i was super excited to try this place over the Superbowl weekend! we came here on a Friday night at 7pm and there were plenty of tables available for our party of three. the real rush of people came in around 8pm, before they close at 9. Lemongrass Canadian Sea Snails - (3/5) i was a little taken back by how huge the snails were, because i'm used to the smaller ones from Vietnam. These were indeed sweeter, but it's just way too big for me **that's what she said ;) ** the broth and flavor itself were wonderful. The Garlic Butter flavor is also recommended Thai Style Clams - (5/5) HUGE clams and very bold flavors. i actually mixed the soups from the clams and the snails and found it even more better Grilled Oysters with Scallion Oil - (5/5) oysters were also big, not the tiny ones you're used to if that is what you are expecting. but the flavors were very good, oysters were well cooked, clean and not fishy or sandy. highly recommend. Grilled Scallops with Quail Egg - (5/5) i've never had quail eggs with a dish like this so i was pleasantly surprised. flavors worked well and the scallops were tender Crispy garlic Shrimp - (5/5) everything in this place is huge! like WTH! perfectly fried with the most perfect garlic sauce. some of the heads had roe as well so make sure you are sucking those heads ;P house special fried rice - (4/5) everything but the kitchen sink in this dish! chinese sausage, calamari, mushrooms, shrimp, and chicken with fish roe! it was a tad salty, but just add a bit of white rice to tone it down overall, experience was great. servers were attentive and provided a lot of the recommendations. i would come back to try their Stone pot Pho next time! read more

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Such a unique Vietnamese spot. I love how they offer a variety of dishes. Friendly service, casual vibes. -Mango salad with grilled squid: Probably my favorite. The mango was very fresh and the dressing was light/refreshing. The grilled squid was tender and cooked perfectly. -Spicy garlic butter sea snails: These snails are huge. Really good buttery flavor. Not very spicy, but still delicious. -Beef sizzling skillet (Banh Mi Chao): Delicious and comforting. The filet mignon was soft and the pate was great to spread on the baguette. -Sweet and sour hotpot with catfish: Very unique and full of flavor with hearty pieces of catfish. Just be careful of the bones. -House special fried rice: Generous portion and great to share. Overall, this is a great spot for unique Vietnamese dishes. I would definitely return for the mango salad and to try another type of sea snails, along with more items on the menu! read more

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So grateful to have found this gem. Came on a weekday afternoon and it was basically empty except for one table. We ordered: - garlic butter Canadian sea snails: recommended by the waiter because he said they're bigger than normal sea snails. Very flavorful and hugeeee. - mango salad with surf clams: refreshing and not very saucy - banh mi chao: great steak + pate but wasn't a huge fan of the sauce (oilier and less flavorful than what I'm used to) - carmelized catfish: came out boiling hot and very comforting The food came out very quickly, and great portions for the price. Our waiter did bring us the wrong drink than we ordered but he fixed it quickly when we asked. Also he did have to clarify our order a couple times. We were rly satisfied with this meal and my friend said this was the best Vietnamese food she's had. Hopefully they get more business and looking forward to coming again. read more

Came here for my birthday since my mom has been dying to come here because of her friends recommendation. We were a party of 9 and I would recommend coming a bit early to find parking. Service was attentive especially for a big group. I got a picture of every dish except my own We got: * 3 orders of shrimp spring rolls $12.50 each * 3 orders of combination beef pho $18.50 each * grilled oysters with scallions $18.50 * 2 orders of beef sizzling skillet / banh mi chao - filet mignon, sausages, egg and pate on a skillet served with a baguette and mixed salad. $23 each * wagyu beef pho $23 * fish sauce glazed chicken wings $17.50 * grilled green mussels with scallions $15.50 * mango salad with surf clam $18.50 * creamy cheese grilled oysters $19.50 each * buttery garlic butter Canadian snails $17.50 * garlic crispy chicken wings $17.50 * beef pho with two toppings - tripe and meatball $17.50 read more

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4/5: The Vietnamese iced egg coffee $8.50 is good; the egg foam is great, but the coffee part is not strong enough. read more

Hem By Lequy - Vietnamese egg iced coffee $8.50 - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you're a seafood lover, Hem by Lequy needs to be on your radar. O R D E R E D * Sea snails mango salad * Surf clam mango salad * Sizzling wagyu pho * Garlic butter sea snails * Thai-style clams / sea snails * Tamarind sea snails * Lemongrass steamed clams * Grilled mussels with scallion oil * Grilled oysters * Grilled scallops with quail egg V E R D I C T This isn't your typical Vietnamese restaurant and it's definitely not your typical seafood spot either. The seafood here is flavorful, saucy, fresh, and seriously addictive. While they do have other great dishes, I personally come here for the seafood and the seafood only. Once you start ordering from that part of the menu, it's hard to stop. The sauces here deserve their own spotlight -- garlicky, tangy, buttery, spicy, and packed with flavor. Every dish feels like it was made to be messy in the best way possible. If anyone ever asks me for a seafood recommendation, this is the spot I send them to. Prices are average in the best way -- meaning you're not breaking the bank, but you're getting great quality and generous portions. The service is also friendly and attentive, which always makes the experience better. I've been here multiple times, and I can confidently say this place is a must-try if you love seafood. read more

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This place is such a gem for fresh Vietnamese food, and honestly, I wish I'd discovered it sooner. It was my first time and I wanted to try everything here after seeing they had seafood on the menu! Of course I went for a full seafood feast and ordered sea snails, scallops, steamed clams, mango salad with squid, and the house special grilled pork with cold vermicelli noodles. The sea snails with buttery garlic were rich and delicious, the scallops had amazing flavor with fried garlic on top (though I do wish they were the king scallops which are a little bigger in size), and the steamed clams with lemongrass were perfect (I loved sipping the broth afterward). The mango salad was so refreshing and tangy, and the house special with grilled pork was the perfect palate cleanser between all the seafood. As for the service, it was great! The staff checked on us often and kept our small table clear, so it never felt cluttered. Seating overall was spacious and comfortable, which made the meal even more enjoyable. This is the perfect spot for when I miss Vietnamese seafood in SoCal and don't feel like driving all the way down there or to San Jose for a fix. Since there aren't many Vietnamese seafood restaurants in San Francisco, this feels like a true hidden find. Definitely worth a visit if you're craving bold Vietnamese food and seafood! read more

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Food - Buncha was good! Though can't beat the buncha I had in Hanoi with pickled garlic, yum! Service - was great! I liked it when I was not rushed to pay and leave! Ambiance - beautiful and spacious! Bathroom is downstairs and very clean! read more

Hem By Lequy - Buncha Hanoi - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow this place made me feel like I was eating in Vietnam. They have all of the classic dishes such as bo ne, grilled oysters, mango salad, etc. everything was fresh and flavorful. The staff is amazing and so sweet. This place is perfect to bring friends and enjoy authentic Vietnamese food. read more

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Came on a Sunday afternoon and it was not too busy. The inside has a good amount of seating. The chairs are a little noisy and make a screeching sound when you move them so be warned. Otherwise, the staff was great, ordering was easy, and the food came out pretty quick! Everything was SOOOO good. The salad and rolls were really refreshing. The mussels were very flavorful in the best way possible. read more

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Growing up in the SF, I didn't think there would be a Vietnamese restaurant in the Mission, but this area is growing so much- I'm happy there's a new place here! Hem By Lequy does remind of the viet food you can get in SJ's Little Saigon, so I definitely would recommend trying this restaurant. We had a party of 4 on a Friday night. We found that they have so many different options that most typical "vietnamese pho restaurants" don't have in SF. I loved the mango salad, very flavorful and refreshing. They had great shellfish. My husband loved the garlic sauce that covered the snails and those snails were HUGE! There were some inconsistencies in some of the food like the shaking beef's beef had all different types of cook and we noticed that rice was a bit dried out. Nonetheless, everything tasted good, and love to see a restaurant sharing an abundant of different Vietnamese dishes that most people probably don't know about! Definitely want to come back and try the other dishes they have! read more

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What a cute new Vietnamese spot in the Mission! It's located on the corner where Alnico was previously. I stopped by tonight for the first time and was impressed by the wide variety of dishes available. It's rare to see snails offered on menus and Hem has a whole section dedicated to them! We ordered the lotus root salad with shrimp & pork (gỏi ngó sen tôm thịt), the large Hanoi vermicelli with grilled pork (bún chả hà nội), and spicy butter garlic sea snails (ốc hương canada sốt bơ tỏi / sốt sa tế) to share. The salad was great! Very refreshing and the tiny lotus root slices were super cute. The spicy butter garlic snails were also quite yummy! You had to work to get the snails out of their shells, but once we mastered the twisting technique, it was very satisfying. The vermicelli and grilled pork was simple but filling and I loved that they included perilla leaves with it. I was really sad when Alnico closed, but I'm glad the neighborhood has another tasty spot in its place! read more

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This place is AMAZING! The food is high quality. The service is friendly (but they do get busy and they seem short staffed). The food is large in size. The ambiance is laid back and perfect for a casual dinner with friends. I recommend getting the Canadian Snails, Roasted Oysters, and hotpot. A lot of dishes you will find here, I've definitely have not seen at other Vietnamese restaurants in the city. Definitely a place to check out if you're craving Vietnamese seafood! read more

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What I like about this place is it's open all day, None of those closing at 2 PM and reopen at 5 PM kind of places. Well, unless if you're a sushi restaurant. If you're a sushi restaurant and open all day without closing between 3 PM - 5 PM then I would definitely stay far away from you. (iykyk) We need more places that stays open all day like this place in SF. I like to eat my lunch or dinner between 2-5 PM when it's a bit more relaxing in slower pace. I came alone today at around 3:30 PM and ordered Bun Cha Hanoi. The rice noodles were nice fresh chewy and the pork patties however little bit bland. The fish sauce and the fresh perilla herbs were fresh and vibrant. Overall I enjoyed this dish, just the pork patties were bland. And then I also ordered Wagyu Hot Stone Pho. Nice presentation with the meat, bean sprouts, broth all are presented in separately. So, you don't have to put all at once. (it's like eating a meat version of Tsukemen) That's good for me a person who like to eat my meat extra rare (or super rare). I can put my meat one by one in the broth for few seconds each and eat it while it was still red. But for those of you who dislike eating rare / raw meat, you better not be too slow by keeping those meat out of the broth for too long because the broth get cold very fast. Overall, for me the broth were too light to my liking and one dimensional without any substantial flavor depth other than relying on the wagyu and the cute presentation. I will come back for the snails next time read more

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New Viet spot in the mission! Loved the two times I've been to this spot. Their food comes out quickly and the food is delicious. We love their sizzling plate, snails, and vermicelli/meat platter. Their Viet dishes taste authentic and are super flavorful. I'll be back :) read more

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This restaurant is bright and clean. Great customer service. The food that we ordered was pretty decent. We all love the grilled oysters. It's so fresh and sweet. The rest of the dishes are tasty, but the sea snails are way too sweet. We love the garlicky idea but there's too much sugar in it. It made the taste so weird. We definitely will come back for more oysters and may try some of the other dishes. :) read more

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I was very excited about this new Vietnamese spot opening up in my neighborhood. I have come in only one time for a quick lunch and we enjoyed our food, but I felt like service was a little slow. I would've liked both of our entrées to come out at the same time. I got my entrée maybe 10 minutes before my friend did. I had the Beef Sizzing Skillet, it's pretty much a deconstructed bahn mi. It was great and I would order it again. I also tried the peach iced tea, which was on the sweeter side, but still really good and I would order it again. read more

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This Vietnamese spot offers a variety of shellfish such as oysters, clams and escargot! In addition they have some pho noodle soup bowls too. Everything was authentic and the pho was one of the most delicious broths I ever had. The staff are friendly and helpful too. The restaurant is clean and modern and offers a casual dining experience. And for perspective, I've eaten a lot of Vietnamese food. From Vietnamese home cooking to restaurants in San Jose, Sacramento, San Francisco and more. read more

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We loved the foods and egg coffee. Highly recommend this restaurant. The ambience and service are pretty nice. read more

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Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but one of the most ridic 1 star review I've read for a Viet resto: "WTH, they don't serve phở here!" *FACE PALM* There's more to Viet food than just phở and bánh mì...and Hem by LeQuy is here to bring it! Soft opening this week, Hem took over Alnico that closed less than 3 months ago. What a quick turnaround! LeQuy, their sister resto started in Campbell (2011) and have expanded to Palo Alto and Noe Valley. I've only been to their PA and Noe locations. Open 11 am - 9 pm for takeout and indoor dining. Closed Tuesdays. M E N U While they have Phở, Hem's specialty is Viet Street Food and Nhậu (drinking food) with hard to find items in the city like Sụn Gà Chiên Nước Mắm (fried chicken cartilage w/ fish sauce), Ốc (snails), Bún Chả (vermicelli noodles w/ grilled pork), Bún Đậu Mắm Tôm (vermicelli noodles w/ tofu, pork, and fermented shrimp paste), and Bánh Mì Chảo/Bò Né (sizzling steak & eggs). Soft opening promo: 20% off bill. F O O D (Prices listed before discount) * Ốc Hương Sốt Bơ Tỏi: Garlic Butter Sea Snails ($17.50): https://tinyurl.com/2bn86jmn - Requested spicy since they don't have sa tế (spicy lemongrass chili) yet. Firm, chewy texture with a flavorful garlicky butter sauce. Mildly spicy. Served with two dipping sauces: muối ớt xanh, a punchy green sauce made with chili, lime, and sugar + nước mắm chấm ớc, a sweet and tangy fish sauce with lemongrass and ginger. * Sò Điệp Nướng Trứng Cút: Grilled Scallops w/ quail eggs ($18.50): https://tinyurl.com/4m9tnfvp First time seeing Viet grilled scallops with quail eggs in the bay. The jammy yolk and crispy shallots perfectly complement and elevate the the taste and texture of the tender scallops. * Cá Kho Tộ: Braised Catfish in Claypot ($18.50): https://tinyurl.com/yc8x3b8x - Add rice (+$3) - a must! A traditional Viet comfort dish, the marinated catfish is braised with fish sauce, sugar, and coconut soda creating a rich, savory, and sweet fish stew. This is by far my fav rendition I've tried. The catfish steaks were SO soft and fall off the bone. The sauce is a lot lighter and less salty, almost broth-like but doesn't sacrifice on flavor. I loved it so much, I ordered an one to go for a friend to try. * Bún Chả Hà Nội: Vermicelli Noodles w/ grilled pork patties, grilled pork, herbs, and pickled papaya (Medium - $24.95): https://tinyurl.com/4znz2zr3 - Medium serves 1-2 people A Northern Viet dish from hà nội, bún chả it's like a deconstructed cold vermicelli bowl served with a warm side of a less concentrated nước chấm (fish) sauce. They give you extra bowls to BYO. Savory, sweet umami and full of freshness from the lettuce and herbs (perilla, mint, cilantro). While tender, the pork patties and pork were on the bland side (I prefer stronger lemongrass flavor). S E R V I C E Warm, welcoming staff. Kevin (manager) was super kind and attentive. I didn't get her name but the other server who used to work at Ben Tre was very sweet. I appreciate that they asked for feedback which I provided for the bún chả proteins. Tho I forgot to mention that I would love to see bột chiên (fried rice flour cakes w/ eggs) on the menu. Arrived at opening time. It was quiet so prompt food service. A M B I A N C E Modern and casual, same vibe and furnishings as Alnico. There's about 16 tables. No more counter seats. P A R K I N G Very challenging metered parking because of the ongoing construction on Valencia. Nearest garage is down the block on 21st and Bartlett. Overall, Hem is such an unexpected opening in The Mission and a welcome addition to the city. I mean, serving mắm tôm (fermented shrimp sauce) outside of E Man Jose is a bold move and I love that. Bring on the funk! read more

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Let me preface this by saying that really like the tofu and mushroom bahn mi. The bread is freaking delicious! But... BUT! They have Vegan Egg Rolls on the menu. That's literally what they're called, and after ordering them once and enjoying them, on my next visit, I was informed they are not vegan and contain egg! Now why in the world would they be called that?!?!? I don't have an egg allergy, nor am I one of "those" vegans who's gonna dramatically freak out that I ate egg weeks before -- I'm on year 17, so way out of that phase -- but that is NOT OK. It's on the menu at their other location as well. So, vegans and those with egg allergies, BEWARE! THE VEGAN EGG ROLLS ARE NOT VEGAN! The tofu and mushroom bahn mi is tho. I triple checked! read more

comfort food home vibes, simple, tasty. staff is friendly and super efficient. one thing is that it took them just a bit longer than expected to provide glass of water. not upset about it, totally understandable since the restaurant was so busy. I went on a cold/rainy/windy Friday night. a perfect night for a hot bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup! I got the bun bo hue (spicy beef noodle soup). It was soooooo tasty - full of flavor, spice, and they put in plenty of meat (brisket, tripe, tendon, meat ball). I felt happy with the portion. the cost including tax/tip was around 23$. not bad for a restaurant with service in SF. relatively expensive compared to what you can find in San Jose or SoCal, but being in the city in a bustling neighborhood (Valencia st, mission), I'm cool with the price. love supporting small business, and I am so grateful there's now delicious Vietnamese food near me in the mission. read more

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Review is for take out lunch. Walked by on a Saturday afternoon and decided to pop in and try their bahn mi. The place wasnt crowded and I was helped immediately. The food came out really quickly and I ordered their traditional bahn mi (with deli meats and pate). Overall great bahn mi- big portion, crispy bread and filled with meat. Couldn't really go wrong! Would like to come back and try their other menu items. read more

Hem By Lequy - Traditional bahn mi - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

TLDR: Sea snails! Bright, new, immaculate Vietnamese restaurant with a large menu and good service. About a dozen optons for sea snails (aka whelks). IMO a bit pricey for what it is, but it is a new place and prices are up. We stopped here after going to OneMedical up the street on a sunny day. I had seen the menu on my way to Gray Area, and was stunned to see sea snails and so many options for them. I attempted to order the sweet and sour tamarind, but the waiter insisted we try the buttery garlic butter version. It was very garlicky, sweet and rich enough to suspect cheese. Sea snails were very fresh-tasting but a bit rubbery for my taste. Curiosity satisfied! The crab fried rice came with just one whole crab claw, so we were forced to fight to the death for it. The fried rice itself was more of a Chinese/soy sauce style than I was expecting. It was serviceable if not exceptional. The Honey Passion Fruit Ice Tea provided a kick of sugar that I really needed at that poin tin the day. Beef Pho with tendon and rare beef was good and plain, although missing the typical condiment plate. I didn't ask for it. This is the main reason for the 3 stars, as well as the annoying 80s-remix music. I don't really know what to tell restaurants to put on music-wise, I personally would prefer no music anywhere unless it's a nightclub. read more

Went here with my sister's during lunch for their soft opening, and were quickly seated. - Location: Ground floor, on the corner of Hill st and Valencia with metered parking in the area. Several convenient bus stops in the area if taking city transit, biking or rideshare. Interior was clean, bright and spacious seating, tall ceilings and large windows. - Service: Attentive and friendly. For a soft opening period, I felt they had enough wait staff for the volume of customers. Food: Overall very enjoyable and recommend sharing to try everything - Side of Garlic Noodle $6.95 - Beef Sizzing Skillet/ Banh Mi Chao $23.00 - Fish Sauce Glazed Chicken Wings $17.50 - 2x Buttery Garlic Butter with Vietnam Sea Snail $35.00 - Caramelized Catfish In Clay Pot $18.50 -- Extra Steam Rice $3.00 Peach Iced Tea $6.50 The top 3 items I enjoyed and recommend are: their Catfish, Snails and Chicken Wings. Perfect balance of sweet, salty and packs a punch of flavor. I read a review to order rice for the catfish (great suggestion since it soaked up all of the flavor). Wings were crispy, moist and finger-licking good. Honorable mention is the beef sizzling skillet... the pate with the juices from the steak dipped in baguette was chefs kiss. Gamey, savory and well balanced with the pickled carrots and radish. read more

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Tried this place out and it's a solid 3.5. There is a large menu so it is definitely going to warrant another visit. I ordered the salmon vermicelli bowl and the traditional spring rolls. The spring rolls were $$ but fairly large in size. Very chewy rice paper wrapping. There was no appreciable mint or basil in the roll that I could tell and overall it was decent if a bit bland. The salmon vermicelli bowl was made with wild caught salmon and it is more lean. The way it was cooked it was pretty good and not too dry. However there was a subtle bitter aftertaste. The volume of noodle and veg was a bit small. Service was very attentive. This space has poor sound barriers and there were some very loud laughter echoing from some people just cracking up for 5 mins straight. Literally had to listen to them because they were so loud. Chairs scrape insanely loudly when you move them. read more

Hem By Lequy - Traditional spring roll with peanut sauce - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place is delicious. Everytime I'm in SF and hungry, it's my go to! Pricing isn't bad either. Service is ok. Food, top-tier Vietnamese! read more

Hem By Lequy - Curry Salmon - special ask from me - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

We tried four different dishes, and all of them were good, especially the pho. I would definitely come back for the pho and the oysters. The bánh mì was pretty good too. I don't think I'd order the snails again, not because the garlic sauce was bad, but because the snails were large and a little too chewy for my liking. That said, I haven't had this kind of snail before, so I can't really judge the texture too harshly. The food came out quickly, but the service could definitely be improved. read more

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Bun cha has been a go-to dish lately at Vietnamese restaurants for good reason. It's so tasty and filling yet still a light dish. The quality at Hem was excellent, and the portion size was perfect for the price point here. This is an exceptionally good, fairly recent addition to SF's food scene. read more

Hem By Lequy - Bun Cha - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Yum! A really great quick and casual spot for Vietnamese. They have a large menu with so many options. I got the pho and it was great. A huge portion with all the fixings. The broth was flavorful and came out very hot. I hope to return to try the other options! read more

Hem By Lequy - Pho - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California