I was finally able to find a parking spot in the tenderloin that look safe enough for me to get some breakfast here. i got me a banh cuon ($12), because it seem to be highly recommended by the other yelpers. the banh cuon which is rice noodles sheet serve with a really good, crispy shrimp pancakes, and pork ham. The crispy shrimp pancakes was pretty good, and went really well with their fish sauce. their pork cake was okay. there was also a side of lettuce, spearmint, beansprout, and cucumber that made the meal relatively healthy, and refreshing. the fish sauce that came with the dish was not bad, it was stronger on the salty component, and less on the sweet side compare to the other vietnamese restaurants, which I always thought they need to stop making the nuoc so dam weak and sweet for white folk, and more toward the authentic flavor that the vietnamese folk actually eat at home, which is alot more stronger on the saltiness, more garlicky, spicy, and tangy. overall for my effort, the meal was huge, the food was good, and the price was reasonable for the amount of food. I would definitely come back to try their other items. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - banh cuon ($12) (after plating) - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Despite of its location in the chaotic Tenderloin, the food of this small local business is AMAZING. No. 1 Banh Uot Cha Lua - Sliced cured pork and fried shrimp pancake with thick rice noodles (score 5/5): In my opinion this is the must-order dish. It's rare to find thick rice noodles in Vietnamese restaurants in SF. The crispy pancakes fried with whole shrimps are delicious. No. 6. Banh Mi Bo Kho - beef and carrot stew served with fresh bread (score 5/5): Rich flavored, tender beef stew. Fresh bread dipping into the sauce is the perfect combination. Taro coconut pudding (score 4.5/5): Was planning to try the corn pudding dessert but they ran out. Cold and hot options both available - thick texture, not too sweet, a very fulfilling dessert read more

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Bun bo hue - huge bowl came out piping hot. Lots of meat. I prefer a little more beef flavor in the soup but it satisfied my bun bo hue craving at the time. I've had the bun mam here in the past and it was always on point. read more

I came here on a weekend for lunch. The space is tiny and cute and it looks pretty modern inside. I waited probably 15-20 minutes before I was sat down. The lady was super accommodating and sweet, especially since I forgot cash and had to run around looking for an atm I ordered bun bo hue and it was really delicious: the meat was really tender and the broth was flavorful and hearty!! read more

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

I dare you to come here and not fall in love. It ain't an easy trek but definitely worth it. I always feel like I'm transported to a secret happy place when I'm here. It most definitely gives me early SF vibes from the 90's. Their meatball banh mi's and meatball soup are my faves. read more

The best. Limited speaking owners but they're the most gracious. Great ingredients all around and hardy dishes. Still thinking of the banh mini I had from weeks ago! read more

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

The best bun bo hue I've had in SF! For $13, you get a good portion with a lot of meat (I didn't even finish all the meat). The broth is not watered down unlike many other places. They have some other noodle options but since their bbh is so good I don't know if I'll ever want to try anything else lol. This place is super cute - which caught us by surprise since it's in prime tenderloin. Even during broad daylight, be on the lookout for sketchy people and don't make eye contact. There's only a few tables so don't come with more than 4 people. Seems that a lot of Vietnamese older ladies coming in here with their friends which is confirmation that this place is legit. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - $13 bun bo hue - good amount of meat and great broth! - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Mong Thu Cafe certainly deserves the high ratings. I am Vietnamese & most of the patrons were also Asian. They only accept cash, there is limited seating, yet worth the energy. It is bright decor, authentic flavors resembling a very well home made family meal. I tried the Hu Tieu Nam Vang. It is accompanied with a shrimp crispy pancake triangle pieces on the side. The service staff seemed to be the family & not many people yet locals were all engaged with the friendly staff. It was nice to see such a diverse customer base & everyone was chatting w the owners. I shared a table & did not mind at all. It is my fav Viet restaurant in the city so far. I am happy I tried this place again because the first time I visited they were closed. They also have very short hours btw. I also took home the dessert: : Chè Đậu Trắng. Super nostalgic of my upbringing. I highly recommend you visit! read more

Delicious and cute. This is a great little lunch spot in the TL. Super nice and accommodating owners. Cash only annoyed my companion, but too bad! It was delicious. read more

This is seriously one of the best bowls of noodle I have ever eaten. Order the #5 with shrimp and pork. Let me tell you -- the magic is all in the broth. The prices here aren't bad either (~$11 for a bowl). The interior decoration is really kitschy and reminds me of a 1950s diner! There's limited seating so it's not great for groups and it's in the TL. Ya know... Don't skip on the dessert! The $2 cups of tapioca with coconut milk was a great finish to a very satisfying bowl of noodles. CASH ONLY. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Soooo good. #5 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Definitely a once a week kind of place. I'm able to get my vegan Banh Coun fix. The little aunties are always so sweet.

Great business that is family owned. Love their vegetarian options. Good place to go for a quick work lunch.

BOMB I'm from LA this spot was so good especially after a wedding hangover. Very authentic

Very good! I had the meatball banh mi and it was a flavor BOMB super juicy just great! The pho was great as well and the dessert was light not too sweet and interesting, not a huge fan of boiled banana but the tapioca and flavor of it was really good. It's in the tenderloin so best to come in the morning when it's calmer outside. read more

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Authentic and done well. The flavors were just right. Love this place and definitely will come back read more

They have the best chao long in SF. Period! I must admit that a lot of time I have to bring all of my courage to walk through Tenderloin to go to the restaurant. But this little hole in the wall does have really good banh uot cha lua, hu tieu nam vang. The owners there are really nice too. I wish they do have delivery options :(. Oh, it's cash only restaurant. read more

If you are looking for authentic Vietnam food that is the spot. If you are thinking you will be able to use English to order you are wrong - I suggest download translator on your phone :) The place is small (max 4 people for a table) and there are 5 tables only. Food is great :) comes out quick and hot. It is worth it. Come hungry as their bowls of food are huge and fresh. Come hungry and be ready for language barrier. read more

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

Amazing. It's no secret the Vietnamese food in SF is lacking. I grew up in SoCal where excellent vietnamese food is everywhere so my expectations are high. Enter Mong Thu Cafe. Food is fresh with generous portions. Most importantly, its very tasty. I'm Vietnamese and the food here is authentic as it comes. They specialize in Bun Mam which is a special fish stew, but for those less adventurous, their Banh uot (Rice noodle sheets with meat and shrimp cake) is phenomenal. I need to try their pho ga and other dishes but the Banh Uot is my favorite so far. My only caveats are that this place is only open for lunch and the area is dirty (try walking here). Prices are more than SoCal but cheap for SF. This place was on my radar for 2 years, I'm glad I finally tried it. If you're reading this don't hesitate! Highly recommended. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Banh Uot (number 1 on the menu) - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Going in, the place doesn't look like a typical hole in the wall Vietnamese place, but the place is small and is fairly clean. I didn't check out the restroom so I don't know how clean that is, but I think there's only one. We ordered a pho ga ($10) and bun mam ($11), and the food came out pretty quick. You can request for complimentary cold or hot tea. The chicken in the pho ga was silky soft and yummy and the broth it comes in was delicious. The bun mam came with 2 small pieces of fish and a couple shrimp. I tried a little bit and has a slightly spicy flavor to it, and they use a different type of noodles in it, aside from the typical vermicelli noodles. They don't have those little dishes to mix the Sriracha and hoisin sauce, so make sure to ask for a bowl if you want to mix sauces. This place is cash only and the price on the menu already includes tax, so don't forget to give tip~ Cleanliness: 4/5 Food: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Would I come back? Yes, if I was nearby, but be careful of the neighborhood~ read more

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I was disappointed that they didn't have anymore Pho Ga (was late lunch time) but I got to discover and try out a dish I never had before, Bun Bo Hue. The soup was a little more spicy than what I'm used to with Pho but it really added to the flavor and seasoning. The noodles reminded me of soft ramen but it didn't disintegrate when picked up with chopsticks. I love the big pieces of beef in there. Don't forget to bring cash with you as this place is cash only. read more

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

One of the best places for Vietnamese food in the bay area. The few low star reviews are funny and also vacuous and so out of touch. Owned by a sweet mom and pop in an unfortunate location. I've been coming since before their daughter helped do renovation with the cute logo and nice menus and didn't want it to blow up but seems the streets are doing that already. I remember the days when tents stayed beyond the park boundary because dealers would slang beyond the glass door while you're inside this sunny tranquil turquoise lined cafe surrounded by smells of Vietnam, then the illusion would shatter when the dealer would come in and use the bathroom. Everything is spectacular and the closest equivalent to SoCal Vietnamese food I can find. I've never been impressed with SJ Vietnamese food, maybe bc the VN population isn't as dense, but it always felt lacking so I come here because it tastes like SoCal. My favorites are the bun rieu, chao long, and the chè is also very good. Of course they do their own style like with the bun mang and I prefer it over the usual way it's served. I wonder how much longer they'll stay seeing how bad the TL is becoming but bless them. It really is a nice haven to be inside having great food and service. read more

10 star Pho Ga. Neighborhood is tough but worth it. We walk up the street to Aces and enjoy.

Great vegan banh mi and also the vegan noodle dish. Will be back for sure! Service was personal and very considerate. Cash only but there is a cash machine nearby. read more

Pho Ga before consumption. Very rich and meaningful. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Pho Ga with sides/toppings - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Talk about a hidden gem in SF. We had a craving for some Vietnamese food before we checked out of our hotel. This spot was within a decent walking distance from our hotel so we walked on over. Word of advice, if you have 2 kids in tote, I recommend bringing a stroller. Haha. I will honestly say I was a little hesitant at least because as you walk up, it does not look like the safest location. Mong Thu is a small in size but more than makes up for it in down home feel and hospitality. The quaint shop signage and menu give this place a modern feel but everything about the food is authentic. This is a mom and pop shop that made me feel like I was eating in my mom's kitchen. We ordered the Pho Ga, Cafe Sua Da, and a couple of banh mi sandwiches. Pho Ga some of the best i've ever had and the coffee was nice kick to get our day started. Take a chance and don't mind the outside environment, You won't regret it. read more

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

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So delicious! I had such good bun bo hue here. The broth was rich and flavorful with generous portions of beef. Iced coffee with condensed milk was so sweet and refreshing. This cafe is cash only, so make sure you have money on hand. read more

What an odd place. Not bad, just odd. It looks like no other Vietnamese restaurant in Little Saigon. In fact, I would scarcely call it a restaurant. It's a small cafe painted in light pastels as if the owner had a Laura Ashley decorating obsession...where are the paisley-print throw pillows? (photo: http://bit.ly/18pb8gJ). It appears to come with its own set of regulars like an episode of "Cheers" set in Hanoi. Two formica tables were fully occupied by a boisterous crew of Vietnamese yelling and laughing at each other in the most gregarious way (photo: http://bit.ly/13Q0Qop). That just left the front table for me, so I sat down and perused the glossy menu - pictures of eight soup and noodle bowls and combos on one side and eight banh mis listed on the other (photo: http://bit.ly/16KLJHC). It was early Sunday morning, so I just ordered the $8 Hu Tieu Mi, which was a large bowl of shrimp, pork and cilantro swimming with a combination of rice and egg noodles (photo: http://bit.ly/15JnsTd). I didn't personally find it as satisfying as a bowl of pho at Turtle Tower, but it worked in a pinch if you're hungry for something that wasn't too heavy. It came with a complimentary glass of hot tea and another one of ice water with lime (photo: http://bit.ly/15Ok3Vg). The rest of the customers either didn't acknowledge my existence or just presumed I was part of the "family" since one guy was picking his teeth and another was making kvetching noises as if he had a major fur ball in his esophagus. I guess I'll bring my mah jong set next time. FOOD - 3 stars...pretty good bowl of noodles and meat, just not the best AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...the obvious feminine touch makes this a unique place in a dicey neighborhood SERVICE - 3 stars...pretty quiet versus the customers TOTAL - 3 stars...a different side of Little Saigon read more

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Must say, the neighborhood is dangerous and it's a hole in the wall but the food is great and well worth the trek into TL where people peek and peer into your car for valuables while you're sitting right there eating. We always get the Bun Mam [it's hard to find on 99% of Vietnamese restaurants' menus] and Nam Vang. Both broths are clear and so packed w/ flavor that even though I know there's probably a lot of MSG in them, I still slurp 'em up like water. Also recommended is the Pork Xiu Mai for appetizer. Bread that comes w/ it is perfectly toasted to soak up the delish sauce as you enjoy the tender, juicy meat. Love, love, love! read more

From the few reviews I read, it seemed Mong Thu was some gross hole in the wall - I imagined Tu Lan pre-reno (*shudders*). It turns out, Mong Thu is quite clean and tidy, with about 6 small tables and TV playing random Vietnamese things like flowing waterfalls and local ads. I couldn't help but also order the delicious looking Xiu Mai ($5) - 4 STARS: 3 Large Vietnamese meatballs in a bowl of sweet but savory clear broth and topped with diced carrots, cilantro and pepper. It tasted really fresh. The broth was sweeter and thicker than I imagined/hoped. Served on the side for dipping, a large fresh baguette. Pho Ga ($8) - 3.5 STARS: Not comparable to Turtle Tower (and they use thin pho rice noodles here). But it was simple and tasty and hits the spot. Comes with a generous portion of fresh bean sprouts jalapeños and herbs. Cafe Sua Da ($3) - 3.5 STARS: Cheaper in the morning! Good and strong but a bit too sour and not enough espresso. While the meatballs were tasty, they were a bit too sweet for me. I would still recommend it for a nice, cheap lunch. Can't wait to come back to try the rest of their menu! CASH ONLY. read more

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Mmmm this place is great! Located in the Tenderloin but worth going! We ordered their Hu Tieu Mi noodles. It came with shrimp and charsui. Soup was good! This was something different because I usually order pho. Keep in mind this place is cash only! read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Shrimp appetizer was amazing! - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Tiny cafe just a tad outside of Little Saigon, but stll in the middle of all the Tenderloin hustle and bustle. A relatively limited menu, which makes it feel like home cooking. Cozy and tasty! Fried Shrimp Pancake: I ordered off menu, just getting a side of the shrimp cake. Came in three large pieces, cut into halves with about six shrimp total. The shrimp had their shell and tail on, but the deep frying and the pancake made it work. It was a bit doughy, but dunked in some sauce made it all good. Banh Mi Xiu Mai: Three large pork meatballs in a bowl of savory and sweet sauce. A warm and crispy mini-baguette is served on the side to soak up all that good gravy. A very filling meal for a great price. If you're on a budget, you can get just this and be quite full. read more

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Although it's in a rough part of S.F it's the only good Vietnamese restaurant in S.F which is why we go. We're Vietnamese and know what good food is. I've had everything there and it's authentic delicious food! read more

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Mong Thu is a very small, mom & pop Vietnamese restaurant. You can tell the family really cares about their restaurant and they really take care of their customers, even though their English is not very good. The food speaks for itself. We fell in love with this place because of the amazing Pho Ga. The broth is oily and flavorful because they keep the chicken skin on. Unfortunately, this dish hasn't been as good the last couple of times we've been back - not sure if they changed the recipe but it seems to be missing the heartiness and oiliness. However, this has helped us discover a couple of new favorites... The Chao Long is one of the best congees I've had, but I have to admit I'm still not used to eating pork intestines so I have a habit of picking it out. The Banh Uot Cha Lua is a great appetizer to share if you're feeling especially hungry. They keep the skin on the fried shrimp that goes in the pancake. I wasn't sure how I felt about the texture at first but it's really grown on me. The large, wide noodles also absorb the dipping sauce perfectly. Lastly, note that Mong Thu is located in the heart of the Tenderloin so don't expect a pleasant walk to get to there. Pro tip: there's a fantastic Japanese Onsen that's about a block away. It's about $20/hr. I'd highly recommend de-toxing at the Onsen after a big night out, and then heading straight to Mong Thu for comfort food. It will cure your hang over. read more

Mong Thu Cafe - Banh Uot Cha Lua - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Devastatingly good Vietnamese iced coffee. Super strong dark bitter punch balanced with thick sweet creamy condensed milk. It comes in what I think is a 12oz cup (instead of 16oz, which is common for iced coffee drinks in general), and they don't fill it all the way (as you can see in other people's pics here), but that's probably for the best since it's very strong. This is not some Americanized version of Vietnamese iced coffee, that's basically cold brew with sugar, masquerading as caphe sua da. This is legit Vietnamese iced coffee. read more

Delicious authentic Vietnamese food. I love this place cause they open at 7am and their food is always consistent! It's in the middle of TL but definitely worth going. read more

Ever since Covid started, I lost my groove of writing reviews. But this place...I can't keep quiet. It is so good I almost want to keep it quiet but I don't want this place to go out of business so do please give them your business. They really deserve it. I didn't have much expectations ordering take-out from here. To be honest, this whole pandemic has shaken us to our very core. Places we've loved have had to close up shop. And the places that still exist are forced to raise prices to survive. I thought this place would be just standard, mediocre pho to fill us up and move us on to whatever's next. We ordered from them over a week ago and I haven't stopped thinking about this place. This was the best pho I've had in my life. Those are fighting words, I know. My husband's a chef and cooks pho for me all the time. We eat out a good amount. We know our food pretty well. Most places, nowadays, cut corners and what we consume is good enough to fill us up but not memorable enough to really return to much less consume our thoughts after the meal is over. This place really pays attention to detail. We ordered the Viet coffee for $3 which was a good price for what we get. We also ordered the Bun Bo Hue which was very good. They even have pieces of cracked black pepper in their Vietnamese ham. You could taste the care they put into their food. The noodles were perfect, not clumpy. The garnishes they included had so much variety that it really enhanced the flavors of the pho dishes. It wasn't just your standard bean sprouts and jalapenos in a bag. Again, so impressed with the attention to detail. The last dish we ordered was Hu Tieu Mi. The flavors of the broth were just perfect. Not overwhelming to the point where it's too salty but just the perfect complement to all the elements in the dish. They even take the time to cut the tail off the shrimp. Again, attention to detail. I enjoyed every single bite of my food and really was able to savor it. Just can't emphasize enough how sweet it is when you eat, and you can taste the effort and care the people who put it together put in. Every single element was perfect. Pho Element in San Mateo was my go to pho place and has held that title for a while. But this place has dethroned my go to spot. Big props to Mong Thu. Thank you for doing food the right way. Thank you for the care and attention to detail you put in. As a result, your customers feel the love. This was not just a meal to get by but an experience to remember, a highlight for some hard, long days we have, an encouragement to know people out there still care and want to do things right. All restaurants should take note because these guys set the bar high of what real Vietnamese food should taste like. Big, big ups. You guys treat the food you have with care and respect and every element was so thoughtful. As a result, your customers can feel and taste the love behind every bite. So impressed with y'all. Mad respect for what you do. Hope you guys stay for a very long time. read more

Best bun bo hue and bun mam in town period!!! It's ashamed that the location will deter some people from going there read more

Coming from ATL, we have a really large Vietnamese population there. The food there is not only cheap, but it's huge quantity and great flavors. I've also had pho and banh mi down in LA each time I've visited, so I was very excited to find out that I live very close to Little Saigon here in SF when I moved out earlier last fall. One of my first friends, Vietnamese and from OC originally, took me here and said it was one of the better if not the best place to eat here. He likes it so much that he tries to come once a week to get his craving fix. I've already been here three times I believe with him. One of the things that I tried here was bo bun hue. Bo Bun Hue PROS: - good quantity, definitely filling and if you're a light eater, you can get a container to-go. - not overly salty like some places, good balance of flavor - good balance between the meat, noodles, soup, and the other additional add-on vegetables. CONS: - could come out a little sooner but we were seated by the door and so my dish may have cooled faster. Service is good, but the place is small. It's worth waiting for, and to be polite, don't take your time sitting there to chit-chat after your meal. They do also make banh mi sandwiches which I have yet to try. As I've already been here multiple times, it's safe to say that I will come again. read more

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

As a native Viet, born and raised, I have to tell you this is the best Viet restaurant in the Bay. The most authentic and closest to the taste back home. It is located in a pretty ugly neighborhood, but brave it and you won't be disappointed. read more

The best Vietnamese restaurant so far! I have tried so many Vietnamese restaurants in the Bay Area and this is the only one that has strongly taste of Vietnam :) Highly recommended! read more