Small unassuming hole in the wall Vietnamese cafe. Only caveat is that it's CASH ONLY! I got a bowl of shrimp and pork soup, sliced roasted pork, bean sprouts, pork meatballs, shallots, garlic and tons of medium sized shrimp (6-7). Comes with 4 pieces of deep fried shrimp pancake with shrimp in every bite. $17 Not simply because it was a lot of food but it was a homemade dish where you could taste all the ingredients. Fresh and flavorful with great textures in crunch and noodle bite. Must try! read more

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Came here twice in two weeks, I enjoyed the flavor and the warm vibes. We got here a little before 12pm to beat the rush hour. There's only a total of 16 seats so don't be shocked if you're sitting with strangers. First time I came I got their chicken pho (delicious). Second time I wanted to try their Banh Uot Cha Lua, it's like a Vietnamese churng fun. I enjoyed the cured pork and the crispy shrimp cake. This place is cash only so don't get caught lackin. They also have a $3 taro sago drink in the front. Affordable and delicious, check em out -IG@BlackTigerEats read more

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Dropped off my car for service and went in the Yelp app to see what Vietnamese restaurants nearby. This one popped up so I started walking there. I ordered a Bun ho hue and the menu stated it's from Central Vietnam. It came with braised beef and pork ham and thin noodles. They also served with jalapeños, Vietnamese basil, bean sprouts, slice of lemon. It's a cash only place and most of the ladies speak only Vietnamese. Fortunately, someone understood me :) It's a small and quaint place and they probably also do a lot of take out. The menu offers dry and soup noodles and sell as Vietnamese sandwiches. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Bun Ho Hue with braised beef and pork ham. - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Mong Thu Cafe is a small mom and pop shop that is a TL staple. It is a tiny space that only seats about 12 to 15 people. Sometimes they'll ask if you could share your table with other people if there's room. Just a heads up that they get very busy during lunch time. Since there is no space to wait inside, you will have to wait outside on the sidewalk if they are full. I highly recommend taking public transportation or a ride share because finding street parking in this area isn't the greatest. This is a great little spot to grab high quality Vietnamese food. I always come here for the Banh Uot Cha Lua. Note that they are cash only. While the area is not the best, the food is absolutely worth the trip. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Banh Uot Cha Lua & Hu Tieu Nam Vang - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here for lunch with some friends and got a chicken banh mi. I do appreciate that this restaurant has seating, but unfortunately the food was not as good as some nearby banh mi spots (Saigon Sandwich). I found the banh mi to be a bit dry and lacking in flavor, and definitely on the smaller side. The restaurant itself is a bit run down, but has great natural light. The service was good overall. Really annoying they don't accept credit card, fortunately I had cash on me. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I have been coming here for a while now and it is one of those spots I keep going back to. It is small, locally owned, super clean, and they do Vietnamese comfort food really well. I usually get the Pho Ga (Chicken) and it is always consistently great! The soup comes out boiling hot every time, which is exactly how pho should be and something I expect with all the herbs and bean sprouts on the side. Their sandwiches are also very very good, especially the meatball banh mi. The coffee is strong too and it will wake you up! :) There are only four tables that seat 4 people each inside, though some can split into two so it still works for solo eaters and pairs. The staff is super friendly and quick, and the food comes out fast. This is a CASH only spot, but the prices are very affordable and some of the best in the bay area. Street parking can be rough right nearby, so if you were to come here by car, I would recommend parking a bit farther out closer to Van Ness and walk over. Luckily I just live a couple blocks away. This place is a solid neighborhood spot with good food and good value. Opens early at 7am but closes at 4pm everyday and closes on Tuesday. read more

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I've been on the hunt in finding more hidden gems and my palate is yearning for more soup spots. I read a few reviews for this place and since I was in the area, I stopped by to see if this bowl they call Bun Mum met my palates expectations. First slurp of the soup, WOW! It had so much flavor and depth, everything that I look for in a bowl of happiness!! Nice little hole in the wall in the TL. The ladies were very sweet and welcoming making me feel like family that was just getting up from a long night out in the city!!! *Extra kuddos for the ladies calmness even while there was a person just outside in need of mental assistance which is a sign they have compassion for the people in the area they serve read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Bun mam = - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came by for some takeaway lunch as I've walked by this place and was interested in trying! I got the #1 and Viet coffee. The #1 was good though I was the shrimp were already peeled. I would def come back to try their BBH. This place is also cash only so include accordingly! read more

Authentic and great Vietnamese food. Try any of the soups. The #1 has pork spam and shrimp pancake. Delicious. Baum Uot chao lua The soup # was shrimp and pork was also delicious Hu Tieu Mi Love the shrimp pancakes. The Vietnamese coffee is good but very strong Family restaurant and very good service. Only has four tables. So call for take out. Cash only so bring money read more

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This is a wonderful Vietnamese eatery. The restaurant is clean and the food is amazing. We go here often to have our viet food craving fixed. The service is friendly. We highly recommend this place. read more

Cash only! Walked in on a Saturday around 1:30 PM and it was completely full. Fortunately, a table of two was leaving and we only had to wait about five minutes. The restaurant itself is pretty small. There's only about six tables and most of them are for either four people or two so if you're thinking of going in a big group, maybe try to go when it's not rush-hour. Re-ordered a #7 Hu Tiem Nam Vang and 6C Hu Tiem Bo Kha. #7 was my favorite as it came with minced pork, a cha siu like pork and shrimp, super clean broth with glass noodles and side of shrimp pancake... would definitely get that again. The slow braised beef in the Bo Kha was super tender, just had lots of noodles that soaked up the delicious broth. I wanna go back for some of their plated dishes and try their corn dessert. read more

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Nice cute tiny shop run by Vietnamese ladies. Great authentic food being served here. I tried the Bun Mam, fermented fish soup. It was amazing omg. Some pork belly, shrimp, and fish in a funky, pungeant broth. Comes with lots of fresh veggies like mint, rau rum, bean sprouts, lemon, and jalapeño. The neighborhood is a little rough, but that's the Tenderloin for you. Will come back for more. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Menu - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here for a quick bite since we were in the area. The place is tiny, but the waitstaff are super nice. Note it is CASH ONLY so we had to pull out our wallets to make sure we had enough to cover 4 people. Whew! Just made it with $10 bucks to spare! So I won't spell things wrong I'll just tell you the numbers we ordered hahahah. We had a No. 1, 2, 17, 18. My son had the No. 1 and it was surprisingly good! Never had the shrimp inside the rice flour like that so it was different. I was skeptical of the flat rice noodles as I thought they would be all hard but they were warm and pliable. It was a dish I've never experienced before so I'd come back just for that. I ordered the No. 2 and even though it was good, there were a couple of bites where the meat smelled a little funny and I wasn't sure if it was me or what. Cuz of that I didn't enjoy the meal as much. Hubs and friend had the other dishes which I didn't try but they did like it. Overall the portion sizes were decent and I liked that the cost listed included the tax! I'd stop in again if I was in the area. Just don't forget the CASH! read more

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Just had my favorite: their bo kho and it tasted as SO watered down. Their che dessert is still good. I would think twice before coming here :( time to learn to make my own bo kho then read more

Came by a Sunday around noon. It's a very small spot, and it was a bit busy, but they cleaned but a table very quick and we were able sit down within 5 minutes. The staff was kind and attentive. I ordered the bun thit zoo. It was good, but the stir fried pork has a lot more grease than actual meat, so I was a bit disappointed by that. However, the actual flavor was good. As expected the rice noodles had a neutral flavor, but the combination of the pork, veggies and noodles was good. Overall, I would be down to revisit; they have a decent selection of Vietnamese dishes worth trying. Also, keep in mind that it's a cash only spot before visiting! read more

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** CASH ONLY ** This is a little hole in the wall spot in the Tenderloin, it's a little small inside with few seating so you may have to wait or share tables with someone. I ordered the Bun Bo Hue and the Che Bap. The Bun Bo Hue is a beef soup with pork slices and rice noodles. I'm a huge fan of rice noodles and really enjoyed this dish, it tasted great with a squeeze of lime to make things a little sour and savory at the same time. The soup was hearty and savory but I was not a huge fan of the pork slices, I found it a little tough. I also tried the Che Bap, which was their corn pudding dessert with coconut milk. I never had this before but I really loved it, it's definitely a very unique flavor and might not be for everyone. The dessert is sweet, a little salty and a little savory, and the corn itself is kinda chewy. It tastes like a salty and sweet corn dessert. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Bun Bo Hue - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here around 12:30 PM on a Sunday. There's not a lot of tables inside, but they were able to clear a recently vacated table for our party of 3 very fast. It's a bright, cleanly painted store with beautifully large windows for sunlight to stream in from, which made the small room feel bigger. They are cash only, so keep that in mind before coming. I got the 4. Hu Thieu Mi, and I loved it! Loved the mix of noodles, and the broth was clear and fresh yet robust. There were plenty of slices of pork and peeled shrimp, and it comes with lemon and jalapeño slices. Very satisfied after! The waitstaff were very kind, efficient and friendly with customers. I wish they were open later so I could come for dinner, but I'm willing to come in the middle of the day just for their food. Can't wait for my return! read more

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Every dish I've tried here has been authentic and quite tasty. The chao long congee with an array of innards is delicious and hearty. Always included are a huge helping of fresh herbs, bean sprouts, hot sauce and lemons. The older ladies who run the shop are very efficient and polite. It's cash-only but that's to be expected for mom-and-pop businesses. Though the area is typical TL, the inside of the shop is bright and welcoming. Highly recommend the ever-changing fresh desserts that are just $3/each, especially the corn and kidney bean options! read more

Sooo delicious, excellent Vietnamese food. They open up pretty early, so if you're feeling breakfast noodle soup, this is the place to go. I've had their banh uot, bun rieu, and bo kho with banh mi. All delicious and generous portions. I recently tried my friends bun mam and the broth was so flavorful - may just need to get that next time. I love their che options - my favorite has been the che bap (sweet corn pudding with coconut cream). My husband likes their Vietnamese coffee. Their iced water is also great (lemony!). The neighborhood is definitely on the rougher side and it's quite a gauntlet to get through... but you'll be rewarded with some of the tastiest Vietnamese food in SF! (Coming from San Jose, this is high praise. Not many good Vietnamese food options in the city!) read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Banh uot, banh mi bo kho, banana tapioca che - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

A hidden gem in the TL! This restaurant is loved by locals, you'll see plenty of non-English speaking customers drop by. This place is super clean, the staff is helpful and friendly, food and drinks are delicious, and don't pass up on the desserts! read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Bun bo hue and Vietnamese iced coffee, a great combo - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cute little restaurant with authentic dishes, kind workers, and good portions. The food was tasty and the Vietnamese Coffee was strong and a good sweetness level, not too sugary. We ordered the Bun Bo Hue and Bun Rieu and enjoyed the Bun Bo Hue more of the two, it comes with a lot of fresh veggies as well. I will be coming back here! read more

Mong Thu Cafe - From bottom and going clockwise: Bun Rieu 8/10, Bun Bo Hue 9.5/10, Banana Pudding Sago Dessert 7/10, Vietnamese Coffee 9/10 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tasty and homey Vietnamese food. This is a small hole in the wall with fast and efficient service in the TL. Cash only. Ordered the Hu Tieu Nam Vang noodle soup, which came piping hot with a fried shrimp pancake. Good portions. Worth checking out if you're looking for a quick meal in the area. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Hu Tieu Nam Vang shrimp pancake - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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such a bright, clean place. food was fresh and delicious. the servers were so sweet to me!! Bring cash. love it!

4.5 STARS The seedier the area, the better the food? For ethnic food, I think so. Can't say I've ever had a bad meal in the TL. Just stay off your phone, be vigilant of your surroundings, and watch your step. Same goes for anywhere in the city cuz I've slipped on doodoo in The Marina. =T Mộng Thu Café has been a local TL staple since the 90s. Finally made it there after being on my list. They're open for takeout and limited indoor dining only. It's a tiny space so it's not recommend coming with more than 4 people. M E N U Small menu with 25 items, mainly noodle dishes with hard-to-find dishes in the city like Bánh Ướt (steamed rice rolls/noodles) and Bún Mắm (fermented fish noodle soup). There's also Bánh Mì and Chè (desserts). Vegetarian and vegan-friendly (faux meat). Everything is under $15 with tax included in the menu prices. CASH ONLY. Complimentary hot tea or lemon infused iced water. F O O D * Bánh Ướt Chả Lụa: Sliced cured pork & fried shrimp cake w/ thick rice noodles ($14) // 3.5 stars: https://tinyurl.com/2etnbkc6 Since Four Seasons on Larkin closed, I've had to drive to Tay Ho (Santa Clara) or E Man Jose for Bánh Cuốn/Bánh Ướt. So, I was hopeful with the rave reviews for this. Unfortunately, it was kinda a letdown. The Bánh Ướt appear to be store-bought (tastes like the ones at the AZN market) and heated up the in the microwave (heard the ding go off). The thick rice noodles were clumped together so you don't get to enjoy the silky smooth sheets as you normally would. They're topped with two huge fried shrimp cakes that had the doughiness of bánh cóng (the muffin-sized version) w/ shell-on shrimp and chả, Viet ham. Seems like it was pre-fried and kept warm. Served with a side of crisp shredded lettuce, bean sprouts, and mint for freshness. The nước chấm dipping sauce ran on the sweet side but easily solved by adding more of the tableside chili. * Bánh Mì Bò Kho: Vietnamese Beef Stew w/ baguette ($12) // 4.5 stars: https://tinyurl.com/3nepv95r -Option to sub baguette for rice or egg noodles (+$3) Meltingly tender stewed beef (shank) and carrots in aromatic broth made with lemongrass, tomato paste, ginger, onions, and herbs. The broth is on the sweet side. Served with lime and pepper dipping sauce and a toasted baguette - the crispy crackly shell and airy soft interior is perfect for sopping up the broth. Hearty and so satisfying. S E R V I C E Polite but transactional (staff speak limited English). They take your order, deliver it, and you pay at the counter when you're finished eating. A M B I A N C E Cozy spot with 5 tables - 3 four-tops and 2 two-tops. Exceptionally clean. Mainly uncles and aunties dining in and picking up takeout. P A R K I N G Difficult street parking. Nearest garage is half a block away at 469 Eddy street. Overall, Mộng Thu Café serves pretty solid Viet eats for SF standards and a great value. Two dishes with leftovers was only $26 before tip...crazy during shrinkflation times. They're a good place to hit up if you can't get to E Man Jose for Viet food. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - #6 Bánh Mì Bò Kho: Viet Beef Stew w/ baguette | $12 (Cash only, tax included) - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food: 4 Decor: 3 Service: 4 Came here for lunch without making a reservation. Overall had a great lunch and would come back again. Pho Ga -- $15 Chicken soup with flat rice noodles 4/5. Excellent bowl of pho ga. Everything was piping hot. Wished the chicken was cooked a little less, but everything else was solid. Che Dau Trang -- $3 Black eyed pea pudding with coconut milk 3/5. Overall okay dessert. Tasted like I expected. Service was good for such as casual spot. Cash only, no taxes. Was a bit disappointing that they ran out of so many items on the menu (e.g., out of bun bo hue and all desserts except one). Chefs and owners were Vietnamese. read more

Huge fan of authentic Vietnamese cuisine and especially Pho and similar soups. I ordered the hu tieu nam vang and my colleague had the hu tieu nam mi. After both eating quietly for a few minutes, we both looked at one another and said at the same time, 'does your's have any flavor?' The dishes both seemed to have quality ingredients, pork slices, shrimp, veg, etc., but almost totally bereft of any taste. Usually when this occurs, the default flavor is salt, and that was not even the case here. We both added copious amounts of sriracha and chili flakes to no avail. Wish I had better news to report. read more

Pork offal congee -- great value for money! Packed with ingredients, every bite is a pleasant surprise, and there's no trace of any gamy smell -- everything's cleaned really well. The crab roe noodles are just as impressive, with a super generous amount of toppings so much that I couldn't even finish it all! read more

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Cheap eats for sure Dish ($14): hiểu tiêu -enough for 2 meals -loaded with egg & rice noodles, pork, and peeled shrimp Logistics: -cash only (dishes are $6 or $14, while dessert is $3) -limited seating (5 tables) -street, metered parking only -all the viet aunties make it feel like home. The restaurant is SUPER clean. Never seen a cleaner commercial kitchen than theirs. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Hiểu tiêu - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Hole in the wall in the TL, once you step in from the chaos outside it's SO clean and bright. Definitely transported to a cozy mint dining area. Service was good-- take out was ready upon arrival and nicely packed. Loved that prices included tax and was the out the door price + they give A LOT of fresh veggies! The bun Bo hue was good. Meat was a little tough but portions were big (even I got a meal and a half to 2 of it) and broth very flavorful. I'd go back. read more

I have been to this restaurant twice. The first time it was many years ago as this place have lots of positive review. I ordered the bin mam and I didn't like it. And today I passed by this place again as I am waiting to pick up my car from the auto body. The place looks much nicer, clean and freshly painted so I decided to give it another try. I also saw that they have bun rieu which is my all time favorite thing to get at any Vietnamese restaurant. It was terrible. The worst bun rieu I've had. The broth is very bland and taste like shrimp shells. The flavor was not complex. I had to ask for fish sauce and add chili to save it. I really want to like the place but food is not good. The people working there are so nice and friendly. The place looks clean and it's pretty busy but this place totally miss the mark for me. read more

Cozy little spot with really flavorful Vietnamese food and a warm, welcoming vibe. The broth was rich and comforting, and the coffee was strong in the best way. Everything felt fresh, satisfying, and full of flavor. Great place for a casual breakfast or lunch if you want something comforting and delicious. Definitely a spot worth coming back to. read more

We had their Pho Ga, a comforting chicken soup with flat rice noodles, and the Bun Bo Hue, a Central Vietnamese-style beef soup enriched with pork and thin rice noodles. Feeling a bit under the weather, the Pho Ga worked wonders in soothing my body. Generously accompanied by the fresh veggies, as shown in the photo, Pro tip: Be prepared with cash, as it's the only form of payment accepted." read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Pho Ga - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We came to Mong Thu for lunch on Friday. Thanks to other Yelpers, we were prepared for the cash only, and went ahead and ordered the Bun Bo Hue and Pho Ga (chicken pho). Bun Bo Hue - 5/5: I just had Bun Bo Hue from Pho Ha Noi down in San Jose a week prior, and Mong Thu's Bun Bo Hue is right up there in terms of the flavor of broth and noodles. Top notch Pho Ga - 5/5: I'm personally more of a Pho Dac Biet kind of guy, but the Pho Ga was also really great. The broth was rich and hearty, and noodles were great too. I really enjoyed both noodles I had this time, I can't wait to try their banh mi's next time read more

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Cash only. Small Vietnamese place on the corner. Great service and the food was incredibly delicious. The mi Bo kho (beef stew) was hearty, with big chunks of beef, carrot, herbs, and the broth was so flavorful with a nice anise bone broth base that tasted like it had been simmering for days. The banh uot (rice rolls) were nice and thin, served with cha (pork) and crispy shrimp cakes (the shrimp had the shell on, but was so crispy I didn't mind it). Came with herbs and cucumber and fish sauce. Lastly got the corn che for dessert. Solid meal, decently priced. Very happy. read more

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Cannot emphasize how good this place is! I recently came back from travelling to Vietnam and felt like this place is a nice slice of life from there. The hosts are really sweet and friendly and the food tastes pretty authentic. I got the Bo Bun Hue and Bo kho both with egg noodles. Both were delicious. Bo kho is a bit on the sweeter side and I would recommend getting it with the side of bread instead of noodles. I got there near closing and unfortunately they were out of bread. I will be back to try the bread and a bahn mi! Fyi they have very few tabels so there could be a wait. And it seems like they run out of some stuff (bread and dessert in my case) towards closing. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Bon bun hue (front) and Bo Kho (back) - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

After our Double Cross Trail walk, we ended up in the Tenderloin and Mong Thu for lunch as one of us saw the story of this restaurant on the Chronicle's Food and Wine section and that eating at this family owned restaurant was like eating at their family kitchen. Arriving at 12:40, the five tables were occupied. We waited for about five minutes, a table opened up and we were seated. The 25 item menu consists soups, noodles and sandwiches and 4 desserts. Three of us ordered #1, Banh Uot Cha Lua, which consisted of warm clumps of wide rice noodles, similar to Chinese ho fun, with shredded lettuce, bean sprouts, mint, wedges of pork sausage, and cut up fried shrimp cake with a cup of nuoc cham dipping sauce. We liked this dish but wished the shrimp in the shrimp cake was shelled. Since the cake is not fried to a crispness where you can eat the shell-on shrimp, it made it difficult to eat. Friend that ordered the Bun Thit Xao, thin rice noodles with stir fried pork, enjoyed his dish. Service was friendly and efficient. Clean bright restaurant. We walked here, but can see parking can be challenging. Area is not the best, so keep your head on a swivel. Good authentic Vietnamese dishes. Would come back to try other items on the menu. read more

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Cash only, small but clean and tidy restaurant. Price is reasonably. I was craving Bánh Ướt and arrived at this shop. Overall the dish was good. I'm a bit allergic to MSG and felt drowsy soon after. Service is fast and staff are nice. I haven't tried other dishes or bánh mì. I'll come back. read more

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very friendly ladies sadly food here is very mid we had bun bo and bun rieu lacked flavor overcooked noodles

Cute little vietnamese resto in the TL. Haven't been here in a minute...! Careful where you walk. :) Bookmarked Mong Thu for so long and finally got to dine in. Lots of aunts and uncles hanging out here. I was excited to try Mong Thu based on the rave reviews. I got around to trying their Bun Bo Hue and Banh Uot Cha Lua. Bun Bo Hue is okay and it didn't have pork blood. :/ I enjoyed the Banh Uot Cha Lua since I'd never seen it on the menu before for Vietnamese restos. They used wide flat noodles. I enjoyed this with the fresh herbs and sliced cucumbers. The pancake shrimp reminds me of a Filipino dish called okoy. Although I enjoyed this dish, there was something off-putting about the taste coming from the pork cake/beansprouts. They kept the door open and some passersby's would say hello. Ahh good ol' TL. I would definitely come back to try other dishes here not found at most vietnamese restos hehe. Relatively cheap compared to most places in downtown. CASH only. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - bun ho hue - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I come here almost every week on my way to work! Early morning the place is quite empty but by noon it's pretty busy! Compared to other places in the area, it seems a bit more expensive. But honestly it's more than worth it. The portion sizes are hearty and generous, and the topping:noodle and meat:noodle ratio are perfect! They don't skimp on the toppings! The service is also super quick. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Hu Tieu - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California