This cozy, cash-only Vietnamese gem serves up mouthwatering pho and massive imperial rolls, proving it's a hidden culinary treasure worth braving the sketchy neighborhood.
"Almost 50 years after they first opened, Tú Lan is still serving the same last meal-worthy imperial rolls, huge bowls of phở, and grilled meats over rice and vermicelli as they did back in the day. The Mid-Market Vietnamese spot is pretty straightforward—it has just a few seats in the long space, a kitchen where you can see pork sizzling away on the grill, and quick service that’s efficient while still feeling personal. The best part? Portions are huge, and you can get in and out for about $10, making a meal here one of the most cost-efficient in the city. photo credit: Melissa Zink photo credit: Melissa Zink Food Rundown photo credit: Melissa Zink Imperial Rolls We need these daily. They’re fried, bubbly, crisp perfection every time. Douse each piece in fish sauce and consider grabbing round two to-go. photo credit: Melissa Zink Wonton Egg Noodle Soup A solid bowl of soup that always gets the job done. The pork wontons are well-stuffed and tender—we just wish the noodles were a little chewier. photo credit: Melissa Zink Ginger Chicken Saucy, heavy on the ginger, and ideal if you want a dish on the heartier side." - Julia Chen
"Tú Lan’s imperial rolls alone earn it a spot on this guide. They’re fried until bubbly and a deep golden brown, and loaded with enough pork and noodles to constitute a meal. But visit this decades-old, classic spot in SoMa for their other entrées, too—like the saucy ginger chicken, and anything involving the charred pork straight off the open kitchen’s grill. Snake your way to the tables in the back of the long space if you want to stay a while, or swing by and take home a fragrant haul in a plastic bag." - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez
"Almost 50 years after they first opened, Tú Lan is still serving the same last meal-worthy imperial rolls, huge bowls of phở, and grilled meats over rice and vermicelli as they did back in the day. The Mid-Market Vietnamese spot is pretty straightforward—it has just a few seats in the back of the long space, a kitchen where you can see pork sizzling towards charred perfection on the grill, and quick service that’s efficient without feeling impersonal. The best part? Portions are huge, and you can get in and out for about $10, making a meal here one of the most cost-efficient in the city. " - lani conway, julia chen 1
"This Mid-Market Vietnamese spot has run a straightforward operation for almost 50 years, and they show no signs of slowing down. On an average day, the casual place is bustling with workers grabbing lunch to-go and folks stopping in for a quick meal at a table in the back. Everyone is there for one thing: the imperial rolls, which are fried and shatteringly crisp. The umami-packed pork filling and bubbly exterior make these worthy of a last meal in the city. Tú Lan also does huge bowls of phở, pork or beef over rice, and vermicelli as more filling options. And the best part about this place is that the portions are huge, and you can get in and out (with leftovers) for less than $20." - Julia Chen 1, Lani Conway
"This downtown destination for Vietnamese food opened in 1977 and is on its third generation of family ownership. Crab cakes, myriad phos, and vegetarian vermicelli soup are all on the menu — and worth a try." - Paolo Bicchieri
