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    Turtle Tower

    3.9 (296 reviews)
    ModerateVietnamese, Noodles
    Open 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Turtle Tower Reservations

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    TURTLE TOWER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Turtle Tower

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    Reviews With Photos - Turtle Tower

    Chicken Rice Noodle
    Brandon T.

    Really incredible and great customer service. Will definitely come back again. It was perfect to have for lunch and just so clean, lean, and so high in protein. Thank you guys so much

    Helen T.

    We were luckily enough to grab brunch right before the lunch rush that quickly filled the restaurant. Service was quick and food arrive fast after ordering. We grab some appetizers: house made crab chips (kid pleaser) and fresh pork & shrimp spring rolls which comes with 4 pieces with peanut sauce. For entree: we got pho ga (chicken pho) which is what they're popular for and Bún Chá Hà Nôi (Hanoi's style grilled pork, patty served with vermicelli noodle & herbs) which was extremely flavorful! Server were tentative to refill our waters and check in here and there during our visit. Bathroom stalls were clean as well.

    Menu. Note there is an unlisted 5% junk fee.
    Zicheng Z.

    The reason I'm giving this a 1-star is due to the extremely hostile business practices around tipping and fees. The final bill includes a 5% junk fee that is not present anywhere on their menu (see photos). Not only are they not upfront about this (which is illegal), when checking out, the server did not give us an itemized bill and prompted us to tip. Not only that, but I had to explicitly ask for the receipt, because the server took the device away without letting me choose to print or email it. They apply the tip on top of both the junk fee AND the tax. I was suspicious because the tip options were all far higher than they should've been for 2 bowls of pho ($43). This aside - I would probably rate the overall food a low 3 star. We ordered both the chicken and beef pho; the broth was okay, as far as a light broth goes, but it was odd to pair it with the beef pho as well. The aroma of the raw meat, combined with the chicken broth, wasn't pleasant. The noodles were just okay; not traditional, and also was not as chewy as I would hope for them to be. $21.5 is a steep price to pay for some average pho. I would not come back again.

    Alice S.

    I've heard so much about Turtle Tower over the years and finally stopped by for dinner recently. The ambience was a lot more upscale than I expected. The food here lived up to the hype! I know this place is probably more known for the pho ga, but I was craving beef instead of chicken. So I went with pho bo dac biet (#4), the beef combination pho instead. It was so good! I loved how light yet flavorful the broth was. I usually find restaurant broth too salty, so this was a pleasant surprise.

    Menu
    Annabelle R.

    Our party of two was seated immediately around 6:00pm this past Saturday. The restaurant had a beautiful and inviting atmosphere, and we appreciated the prompt and friendly service during our visit. To drink, we got a glass of the tortoise creek pinot noir and jasmine hot tea. The wine was good, and the tea came with itty bitty cups that required repetitive pouring. To eat, we ordered nem cua (fried imperial rolls), tôm bọc chiên giòn (crispy shrimp wontons), and pho bo dac biet (beef combo rice noodle soup). The pho was flavorful but there were not enough veggies in the dish. The fried imperial rolls were nice and crispy though the taste didn't really stand out. My favorite item was the crispy wontons with a large piece of shrimp in each, and great seasoning, wrapped in a delicious fried shell. Simple but yummy. All in all, we had a positive experience.

    Mic V.

    This place was so good over 10 years ago when it was still located in the tenderloin. Now, it definitely lost its flavor. Here are my ratings: Grilled oysters 3.5/5 Bun Cha Hanoi 3.5/5 Rice with beef stir fry 2/5 Imperial rolls 4/5 Chicken Pho with giblets 2/5 It was well a well known and delicious chicken pho spot before but I don't recommend it anymore. It was very bland and did not have any good flavor. I would not come back to this place b

    The Pho Ap Chao, very interesting!
    Vy T.

    I've always known turtle tower to be a northern pho spot. I went a couple times 10 years ago and remembered they had white vinegar served on the side of their northern styled Pho, which I liked a lot. They have since updated their menu and now serve more modern/ common selection... which I don't think plays to their strengths:/ The chicken pho is bland. But I was able to enjoy mine after adding a half a tablespoon of salt lol. I know a lot of folks who would prefer this type of broth, though. It's just not something I look for. The Pho Ap Chap was a highlight because of the Wok Hei flavor on the noodles and veggies. Unfortunatley the broth was bland. I think the Ap chao could have been a staple of its own, but appreciate them trying to do something new. Service was quick and kind. The space is nice, ready for corporate events in downtown now lol.. I might come back to try their non broth dishes.

    Thai Tea & #6 Pho Ap Chao (Pan-fried beef with celery, carrots, onions, & leeks pan-fried noodle soup)
    Min C.

    Came in part of post Let's Glow as it was one of the restaurants that offer a discount - though the staff weren't aware... Just felt like having warn soup after touring half the illuminations and it was perfect! I got #6 Pho Ap Chao, which is pan-fried veggies with pan-fried noodles. While I couldn't tell the pan-friedness of the noodles, the sautéed veggies definitely came through and it was a lovely addition to the flavor. Different from the usual pho imo. The Thai tea was also not too sweet and a perfect pairing. Especially so since I almost burned my tongue on the soup because it was so good but didn't stop me from chugging it down!

    Shannen R.

    Found this place while working on Market street and I'm so happy I did! I don't know why but I didn't love the name so I almost didn't go here. ‍ Anyways I am so glad I ended up here for lunch! The veggie Pho and the Thai coffee really got me through my afternoon and it was delicious! The restaurant was really nice and much larger than it looks from the outside. The staff was soooo nice! Even helped me find an ear bud I dropped like a jackass ‍ It bounced and rolled, took a min to find they even moved tables for me ‍‍ I definitely recommend this place and plan to go back.

    #9 Pho Ga
    Nancy C.

    Quick take: Yum yum Finally tried out the new revamped Turtle Tower in FiDi. It's a completely different atmosphere. Lost some of the original esthetics. Immediately knew I wanted to order #9 Pho Ga. The noodles were overcooked. Broth was good. The pork spring rolls were good. Good peanut dipping sauce. This place is open late on weekends for all the party people.

    Menu
    Nicole P.

    Turtle Tower serves northern style Vietnamese cuisine in downtown San Francisco. The rare beef pho and the chicken rice plates were both flavorful and filling. We were seated immediately upon arrival around lunch time. Our server was very attentive and the ambiance is nice. I'll have to come back and try something else next time.

    street view of front
    David H.

    I've long heard about this pho place, but since it was in the Tenderloin of SF, I wasn't particularly motivated to go. It was closed during the pandemic and opened two locations, one in Marina district and the other in FiDi, which is the main store. The main restaurant is beautifully decorated! Very modern, fitting for the FiDi neighborhood. They had plenty of servers and service was quick, friendly, and efficient. I always thought pho uses beef as the main protein but this place's claim to fame is its chicken pho. And wow, its taste was amazing! The broth was clear, not oily, and delicious. The chicken meat was really tender and tasty. I was curious about the name so I asked and researched and learned that Turtle Tower is a real structure in the middle of a lake in Hanoi and is a symbol of peace and pride for Vietnam. That explains their cuisine of northern Vietnam style.

    Junsheng X.

    Was quite surprised to see an upscale looking turtle tower in the financial district, as I was only familiar with the old location. Vibes definitely feel great for corporate meals, but it feels like the pricing is also marked up for such. Good portion size and great food if you're looking for standard pho choices - wish they had more options though like rare beef with lemon juice. Nice service and vibes, but might not dine here outside of work setting due to price

    original chicken noodle soup

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    1 year ago

    The price is overrated for a Vietnamese restaurant. I guess it's high because it's downtown.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Portions are small, i feeling like im getting ripped off with these small portions. No, will not be back

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    Jennifer W.

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    1 year ago

    Customer service is the best. I love the chicken pho. Plus, the setting is AMAZINGGG!!!!! Love it. Love it. Love it.

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    Page 8 of 8

    Turtle Tower Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Turtle Tower

    Does the pho contain MSG?

    No the broth tasted very natural, some may even find it slightly bland, it was so delicious! In my opinion, Msg has very distinct, powerful savoryness no matter how little you use in cooking that is hard to hide. Broth at Turtle Tower didnt have… Read more

    When are reservations going to be open? The website still says two weeks but it's been several weeks.

    Hi Jesse, we currently make reservations by email for groups of 6 or more.

    Is this restaurant related to the same name restaurant that used to be located on Larkin Street?

    Yes, same owners new location/rebrand!

    Are any of the dishes gluten-free friendly?

    Almost all of the dishes are gluten free since they are rice based noodles and not wheat.

    Will the hours be expanding to later times?

    As we ease into our soft opening, we're focusing on perfecting our service and ensuring our staff is fully trained before extending our hours. We'll announce longer hours soon but we certainly plan on opening for dinner. Thank you for your patience!

    Hi, any updates on opening date?

    Hi Raymond, We are targeting for March 15th.

    Hi, will you have the egg soda drink on the menu?

    Of course! We will have the traditional menu plus some new options.

    When are u guys open?

    We are targeting the beginning of March pending approval from the health department with final inspection.

    When are you open in February?

    We are targeting for the beginning of March pending approval from the health department with final inspection.

    View All 11 Questions

    Hai Ky Noodles

    Hai Ky Noodles

    4.4
    (1.3k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    One of my favorite pho/noodle soup places in the city. It's a tiny hole in the wall, but as a…read morelocal who worked in the area, I think you can't get much better dry pho elsewhere. Just make sure to specify if you want dry (no broth). The only knock on this place is they kept messing up our orders (x3), which was a little annoying. I usually order the beef stew rice noodle (#20) but I I also love the House special Wonton noodle (#2). Beef is tender and succulent and noodles are well cooked. Prices are around $15-17 per entree. Seating for about 30 people total, with tables seating about 4 inside. Area isn't the safest so lock your car doors if parking in the area.

    Throughout the years I been coming here and it never disappoints. Always amazed at how flavorful…read moreand delicious the food is. I always get their house special wonton & chicken Lo Mien. I get the soup on the side and I get the thick egg noodles. The service is always quick and it's usually quite busy if you are there during rush hour. Lots of memories and smiles here. Definitely a staple and a must try in the tenderloin. Their pickled jalepeno, orange sauce, hoisin, and chili oil are all bangers. If you feel like splurging their duck leg is also and they also have fresh soy milk. The vibes here is always friendly, but you gotta make sure you have your head on the swivel when walking through the TL, I love my neighborhood but you gotta be smart! Cheers! - IG@BlackTigerEats

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    2. Braised Duck Leg Noodles
    2. Braised Duck Leg Noodles
    This is the thicker egg noodles

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    This is the thicker egg noodles
    Ben Thai Cafe

    Ben Thai Cafe

    4.3
    (1.4k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$
    Casual dining
    Happy hour specials

    OMGGG food was delicious! Khan soi with chicken satay was absolutely delicious! Mango with sticky…read morerice was delicious, too!! Also I loved they had hot Thai black tea straight ( most of places has the iced already sweetened Thai milk tea, so I was so glad to be able to have the Thai tea straight hot!) Service - wait persons were friendly and food came pretty quick! Ambiance- spacious and very clean! They also got bar table, too:) I'd definitely go back!!

    Stopped by on a Saturday afternoon when the restaurant wasn't crowded, and we were seated right…read moreaway. We ordered the Papaya Salad, Veg Spring Rolls, House Favorite Yellow Curry, Eggplant Basil, Pad Kee Mao, and White Rice. The Papaya Salad was a bit disappointing. It was overly sour and tasted more citrusy than fresh and lime-forward. The Veg Spring Rolls were fine, but nothing particularly memorable. The biggest letdown was the Yellow Curry. It lacked the rich flavor I typically expect from a Thai curry, and some of the vegetables seemed undercooked. The Eggplant Basil was also underwhelming. It lacked the distinct basil flavor that the dish is known for. Since we ordered the vegetarian version, it came loaded with a mix of other vegetables, which made it feel more like a generic vegetable stir-fry than an eggplant basil dish. The Pad Kee Mao was the standout of the meal. It had good flavor and was enjoyable, although the portion size felt a bit small for the price. Overall, the food was ok, but nothing really stood out. I've had better Thai food elsewhere, both in terms of flavor and value. While the experience wasn't bad, it wasn't memorable enough to make me want to return. For the price point, I expected more authentic flavors and better execution.

    Photos
    Khao Soi
    Khao Soi
    Chan Pad Poo
    Chan Pad Poo
    Pa-Nang curry

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    Pa-Nang curry
    Taniku Izakaya

    Taniku Izakaya

    4.7
    (344 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    We've been here maybe a handful of times at this point - the food is really good, cute cozy spot…read more However now that there is a soy allergy to account for - I can't easily neccessarily revisit my favorite spots. I've been to plenty of Japanese/Ramen spots and I've been running into the issue where I say I have a soy allegry and there is an assumption that I have a gluten issue (I do not have a gluten issue). I noticed yelp said they have soy-free options and thus called on Friday thinking it might be a bad idea as they're usually busy.. It was defintely hard for the person to hear a bit when they picked up. The staff did relay something about gluten free noodles.. Anyways, they said they could swap out any of the soy soups for salt (but soy can encompass a lot of things so I still wasn't feeling super confident but we're going to give it a go). We go and I asked which 4 of the soups I was eyeballing don't have soy - the staff said they can accomodate and replace any of the soy soups with a salt broth. After we ordered, the staff came back and checked in to make sure that my partner also didn't have an allergy. And my dish came out, they told me there was no egg as its marinated in soy - perfect to me. I'm glad that was caught as not every establishments can account for everything. - Now I have a spot to (more safely) eat ramen! - I advise that if you do have an food allergy, do talk to the staff, and address your concerns such as cross contamination etc. I had a great experience, but I do find that because its not so regulated or understood and there is lack of education amongst the food/resturant industry - you always need to advocate for yourself and there is always a risk. I'm very apperciative of the staff here.

    Came here at around 6 PM on a Tuesday and got seated immediately! It got busier about 10 mins…read moreafter. Super cute & decorated inside, and staff was so nice! Okonomoyaki tater tots - 8.5/10 from a potato lover!! This does have some sort of cheese on it so beware if you don't eat it Hamachi Hand Roll - 9/10 SO GOOD. I think the rice is mixed in with soy sauce. It was super flavorful which I wasn't expecting Scallop Hand Roll - 8/10, the yuzu on top was absolutely delicious & scallop was very soft. Kobe Skewer - 7/10, it was good but nothing extraordinary. It'll hit the spot if you like meat skewers Yuzu Tori Skewer - 7/10, same as the kobe skewer, but the yuzu on top was delicious Niku Ramen - 8/10, good portion & very very flavorful. I'm glad that they gave a lot of meat in this. I shared this & they provided an extra bowl without me asking :) It's also not super spicy. Hokkaido Milk Pudding - 8/10, the pudding itself was so good but the sauce was a little too sweet for me. However, my partner has a sweet tooth and loved it :) Will totally come again, everything was so yummy and so glad to have tried it!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Scallop corn chowder - FIRE !
    Scallop corn chowder - FIRE !
    Calamari

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    Calamari
    Dumpling Story

    Dumpling Story

    4.5
    (472 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    We simply loved this place. The wait wasn't long, despite it being packed when we arrived. The…read morestaff was amazing. The place is small. They have packed in as many tables as they could in here. Yet it didn't feel crowded or like we would bump someone if we breathed. The food. That's what it's all about right? This place delivers. Every thing was as good as the last. They have a pretty extensive menu I wanted to try it all. Sadly I had to settle for Hot and Sour Soup, Wonton soup, Pork Xiao Long Bao 8 Pcs, Chicken Xiao Long Bao 8 Pcs, (8Pcs) Pork Dumpling with Sesame Sauce and Red Chili Oil (6Pcs), Numb & spicy pork Bao, Green Onion Pancake, (Sweet) Red Bean Paste Pockets. We had it family style. The 3 of us shared it all. There was plenty to go around. None of us left hungry. I can't even pick a favorite. Maybe the numb and spicy which wasn't that spicy. It was just so good and flavorful. The soup dumplings were amazing. So much perfect flavor. They held together until the bite. So good. The hot and sour soup was plenty tasty. Not the best I've ever had but certainly among the best. The only thing I will say is that one of my companions can't have seaweed. The wonton soup was amazing but full of seaweed. It wasn't listed on the menu and we have never had seaweed in any other wonton soup so didn't know to ask if it could be left out. That was sad. All she could do was have a tiny spoon of the broth to taste it. The green onion pancake was very good. The red bean paste pockets use the same dough but filled with sweet red bean paste. They were a perfect way to end the meal. Next time I'm in the city I will visit again. Loved it all. It was worth taking the time to visit and eat there.

    Dumpling Story is what I've heard to be Dumpling Home's aesthetic counterpart (sister restaurants)…read more The interior is definitely aesthetic, featuring a bright, modern, minimalist exterior. Menu is relatively the same as Dumpling Home featuring my faves like the numb and spicy XLB and the sheng jian bao. Both very delicious! The remainder of the dishes we got were also good. I will say the green beans left me wanting a bit more from it. But overall, my party had a nice, fulfilling meal. Dumpling Home will always be my favorite (still prefer it a TINY bit), but because there is less of a crowd, service was amazing! I definitely wouldn't mind coming back considering there the difference in wait time to Dumpling Home.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Juicy pan fried pork bao
    Juicy pan fried pork bao
    Pan fried pork dumpling

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    Pan fried pork dumpling
    Mashita Galbi Jjim

    Mashita Galbi Jjim

    4.6
    (161 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    We came to Mashita Galbi Jim on a Sunday and were the first in line. We were anticipating long wait…read moretimes after having tried to eat here a few times before. If you're not able to squeeze into the first wave, the wait is upwards of 2 hours! FOOD: We ordered one galbi jim with extra noodles and rice cakes and a separate garlic noodles for a party of 5. While we initially thought we could finish two galbi jims, our server cautioned us against it, referencing the healthy portion size. We were glad we took her advice because everyone was stuffed by the end of our meal. Their galbi jim was flavorful, with extremely tender beef and chewy rice cakes. We ordered the lowest level of spiciness and while there was still a kick, it was extremely manageable. SERVICE: We were the first to be seated and our galbi jim took almost 20 minutes to come out while others waited even longer. However, they comped our garlic noodles and apologized for turning waits. Overall, I'd definitely return if I'm able to get into the first wave of seating.

    Came here on a Friday night at 7:30. Had to wait about 30-40 min for 2 seats. The restaurant is…read moresmall so unless you have a 4-6 person party, expect to be seated side by side other parties. Typically what I saw was they do waves of seating and ordering so if you aren't there right at open/when they fill up, plan to write your name down and grab a drink nearby. Once we got seated, they were pretty prompt to give us utensils, napkins, cups, and water. The two of us shared the Braise Beef Galbi Stew. It's more than enough for 2 people to go home in food comas (with some food remaining) and for 3 to be sufficiently full. If you have big eaters, order an app alongside if you have 3 people. The Galbi stew was exceptional. I liked that they had various levels of spiciness. We went with spicy and it had a nice kick that elevated the dish for me. The beef was very tender and flavorful and the veggies and rice cakes soaked up all the juices. And the cheese was so stretchy! I'd actually rank this place slightly above Daeho given the shorter wait, the quality, and the price. I'll be back for sure.

    Photos
    Mashita Galbi Jjim
    Complimentary Banchan (clockwise): Salad w/ sesame dressing, kimchi, japchae, fish cakes
    Complimentary Banchan (clockwise): Salad w/ sesame dressing, kimchi, japchae, fish cakes
    Soy KFC, sauce on the side ($22.75)

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    Soy KFC, sauce on the side ($22.75)

    Turtle Tower - vietnamese - Updated July 2026

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