Tú Lan

I have been going here since I was a kid and it has not changed one bit - and that is just perfect.One of the best places to eat at in SF but just by careful when getting to this rough area. It could be a little sketchy even for a formal local like me.Positives: - authentic CHEAP food- amazing service- extremely quick service- one of the best food I've ever eaten. Definitely unbeatable.Negatives:- extremely sketchy area (watch your surrounding including your steps.

Tu Lan is a San Francisco institution. I have been coming here for many years and it still hits the spot. One of my favorites is the grilled pork with egg rolls and rice. A lot of the items on the menu is under $15 which is very rare for San Francisco restaurants nowadays. The Thai tea is really good, yet small. I would need two of these LOL. The staff is extremely nice and friendly. The best parking would be the 5th and Mission parking garage and walk fast to the restaurant because the area is very questionable, especially at night. But you'll definitely enjoy your meal and it's such a cozy spot with plenty of seating downstairs and upstairs as well. One of my friend's favorite items is the curry fried rice and it's really good! So next time you're looking for a delicious yet inexpensive meal near downtown or Soma, I would highly recommend Tu Lan!

Stopped by for a quick snack, but ended up making a meal out of it. Both the Summer Rolls and the Imperial Rolls (fried spring rolls) were delicious. It's a bit stuffy in here and I was a bit confused on how to dine in the first time around (pick an open table and someone will come over). However, it's a very solid option for food (especially Vietnamese spring/summer rolls) if you're hungry and happen to find yourself in this part of the city.

Julia Child and Herb Caen loved this place, and so did I. Some of the best and freshest Vietnamese food I've ever had. Everything is flavorful and nothing is greasy or heavy. Service is terrific.

Hidden gem? hole in a wall? Instant classic? I would say all the above and then some. Tu lan is a bistro that cranks out some of the best Vietnamese/Chinese classic dishes in SF. Picture this: it's lunch hour and everyone and their moms are in line (including me). Delivery drivers, cops, construction workers, finance bros. I could go on & on with the eclectic patrons that visit this place and they all have one thing in common. It's to get a plate or two of bun thit nuong (grilled pork), wonton soup or their famous no.17 the grilled pork, imperial roll (absolutely delicious, crunchy & peppery) over rice noodles. I doused mine with nuoc mam (fish sauce) and completely destroyed it. Will be back for all of eternity.

Ate here because we were going to attend a performance at the Golden Gate Theatre. There were 6 of us and they sat us upstairs. This is the epitome of a greasy spoon hole in the wall! We each ordered something different and everyone seemed to enjoy their dishes. Portions were very big, so maybe two dishes would be enough for three people if you came with your family or good friends.I ordered a combination plate with fried rolls and pork. The rolls were delicious, especially with the fish sauce that came with it, but the pork was really dry; it seemed like maybe the pork had been cooked earlier and not freshly cooked. The items came with a large amount of rice and some salad. As I mentioned, each person ordered something different and, I have to say, everything else looked better than mine except the "chow mein", which I would never order at a Vietnamese restaurant anyway. The chow mein came with very crispy noodles and the person who ordered it expressed concern over it, so they brought her a separate plate of just plain noodles. This was an indication that the restaurant really tried to please their customers, so that was a plus.The chicken with vegetables came with rice and looked really good. The other dishes looked good, too! All said and done, I'd go back if I'm in the area again. Have to say, the prices were very reasonable!

I tried the following dishes:Pork Shish Kebab/Imperial Rolls over Vermicelli: The imperial rolls were delicious and flavorful, definitely worth a try! However, the pork kebab was a bit too dry and overcooked.Shrimp Spring Rolls with Fresh Salad: The rice paper wrappers were a bit dried out and not as chewy as expected. On the bright side, the dipping sauce was great.

With a reservation, my party of two was seated immediately. The menu is simple, and I ended up choosing #17 which came with grilled pork over vermicelli and pork imperial rolls. The pork was deliciously seasoned and tender and went well with the noodles and sweet sauce. The imperial rolls were HOT and crispy. Service was quick and no frills. They kindly allowed my friend and I to finish our meal 15 minutes after closing. Overall:- Simple, delicious food- Kind waitstaff and prompt service- Large portions!

Came here before hitting up a show at the golden gate theatre. It's a tad confusing since they're so busy, but you have to make your entrance known. Very small and tight. Great tasting flavorful food at good prices and portion.

I tried Tu Lan for lunch while at work, just a short walk away from the Civic Center. Looking at the menu, I was immediately impressed by the prices: almost everything was around the $12 mark, and almost all the dishes seemed to be under $15, a nice sight to see these days!I ended up getting the #17, grilled pork with imperial rolls and bun noodles and my friend got the #19, chow mein with mixed seafood.For only $12, I was impressed by the large portion of pork, imperial rolls, noodles, and fresh veggies. Everything tasted incredibly hot and fresh, especially the fried imperial rolls which weren't greasy, but were piping hot and crispy. It all came together beautifully when I poured the nuoc cham (dipping sauce with fish sauce, water, sugar, etc.) over it, with the mint and fresh herbs providing great texture and a fresh bite throughout. My friend loved his chow mein also, which was loaded with seafood and noodles. Overall, our check ended up being $28 for a two-person lunch.Highly recommend this place for a flavorful and fresh meal, at a great price!