Tú Lan Reviews

In and out. The food came beyond fast and was delicious. Nothing spectacular but definitely satisfies the appetite. The portion sizes are huge and the prices are great Beware of the homeless nearby

THIS place- WOW So So So So GOOD. Cheep and fast. It was my first time eating Vietnamese food - and I think that I am hooked! The service was great - very friendly.

This restaurant has extremelly tasty vietnameser food and it is cheap! Extensive meny and the service is high class.

The location of Tu Lan restaurant is convenient if you are staying around town area. The space downstairs is limited and may be smokey...However dining upstairs will be a quieter environment. The toilet is superbly clean if you compare with the front door downstairs plus funny characters near the area. ... Have enjoyed the dining experience and certainly you can have a try The bill is also attractively cheap. Imperial roll as entree can be served half if you are on your own and wanted to try other items on the menu.

I live about two blocks from this place located on this filthy 6th street SOMA slum, hitting Tulan's whenever my friend, a HUGE fan of this place, is in town. From the outside, and inside, this nondescript restaurant exudes your average old, greasy, low-quality skid-row economical eatery energy. Looks can be deceiving. I walk past this place on my way home sometimes and I often see its cooks smoking cigarettes in front amongst the omnipresent blight, meth addicts walking to and fro in their hyperactivity. At the entrance you see a yellowed ancient review of the place posted by the long-deceased Julia Child. You enter, walking along a narrow stretch with stooled bar on your left separating you from the exposed kitchen, squeezed between that and the seating against the wall to the right, stained white apron cooks speedily hacking-away at the various entrees, throwing noodles and rice on the steaming grill, pouring oil on top with ladle from grease bucket. Towards the back is a small open table seating area, flies buzzing about, fish sauce molecules permeating the air forming covalent bonds with your clothes. We sat at the bar - something I recommend for those that want the full Tulan's experience. The menu, extensive - a thick, Cheesecake factory-esque book containing dishes that are not necessarily just Vietnamese, with a Vegetarian section that suits the vegan in me JUST FINE with things like tofu rolls, mixed veggie rice dishes and vege noodle soup and vege fried rice to name a few. I ordered the bean cake & bamboo shoot with mushroom entrée, whipped-up lickidy split right there in front of me. My friend ordered a litany of carnivorous dishes, indulging in BBQ pork rolls, beef cube dishes and the like. I am sure the fact that we blazed beforehand catalyzed our experience but, as both of us were devouring our food, our eyes were rolling to the back of our skull in decadence. This place is an eastern epicurean ecstatic eating experience on the cheap. Don't fool yourself in believing that it's good for you tho; chances are that you may feel bloated soon after and, if you pig-out, you may find yourself the next morning with a puffy face because of all the oils, MSG or god-know-what they use. I mentioned this negative externality to my friend and he agreed: "It's worth doing once a year." I agreed. Looking forward to the next time he is in-town.

Everything I've ever ordered here is amazing don't ever miss ordering the crispy noodle dishes. The sauce and consistency of the noodles are everything. EVERYTHING is good.

This is a great find but it is at 6th and Market in a slightly edgy area. We always get the combination that comes with imperial rolls, pork kebab and noodles. Not a great atmosphere for dining in, but you can get it to go and take it to one of the many fabulous parks that Sf has. This is usually the first place we go after we check in. Diandra's for their St Honore cake is the second place we head to.

We walked over from the Int'l arts museum (1025 Market), and of course lots of homeless on 6th ave. First thing we noticed, full of young people, so should be good. The portions are generous, the prices are low, and the most important thing - my friends approved my choice. The food was really good. Of course not at all a fancy place, not for foodies, but for a casual inexpensive meal served its purpose.

I love this place, but I can only do take-out, lol!

Last time I had Spring Rolls and Beef with vietnamese pickled cabbage. Absolutely fantastic. With drink, just over $10. The area's not great but isn't particularly dangerous either. Tu Lan is only a few steps south of Market and a lot of people will be going to the same place you are. Enjoy.

No one cares that this is in a seedy neighborhood because the food is so damn good! Fresh ingredients, friendly wait staff, HUGE portions and CHEAP! Plenty to eat and leftovers to take home. I asked for something that wasn't on the menu and they were more than happy to make it. You will not be disappointed!

Got food from here many times. Me love. Thanks. Stay close. I leave in that building. Stay clean and organized.

The setup is much like an American lunch counter. The service is fast and friendly but the food was just above average, however the prices are phenomenally inexpensive. Nice range of items on the menu. Be sure to visit before dark to avoid the night life that starts to venture out in that part of town.

Small family run business. No frills, excellent food well prepared. Servings are very generous. It is a bit basic but the fare more than compensates.

They were really friendly and the food was ready quickly. I had take out .All in all though, food was typical take out. Wasn't extremely impressed. You do get a lot of food though for the money.

Best Vietnamese I've ever had, and it is relatively unknown because it's on a bad street. But if you are adventurous and don't mind stepping over passed out bums or being hassled for money, Tu Lan is a treat.

Tu Lan was the first culinary destination in SF following my intuition for spectacular authentic down to earth food. It's awesome to watch how spectacular the food is prepared in front of you at the bar. Some superficial gourmet might call it to cheap for the huge plates you get.

I was not super impressed with the food. We got Pho and Bun Bo Hue - the noodles were not authentic rice noodles, and the broth of the soups was not up to par of great vietnamese food. However, the summer rolls were good, and this place is super cheap. Overall, a good choice. The location is pretty sketch and the inside is hot, busy, and nothing special. I, however, love this local hole-in-the-wall sort of feel, though my parents did not. In conclusion, a good choice for some inexpensive, solid Vietnamese food. Great for group gatherings, grab a few beers and enjoy good food.

My sister who was working at a nearby place brought me to Tu Lan once for lunch and it was the time I started loving vietnamese food so much! You have to walk over street junkies to get there (the area is not the best in the city), atmosphere and decoration might not attract you go there have a meal but once they serve you your food...you won't be disappointed at all. In total we ordered about two dishes each of us and If I'm not mistaken the bill went up for no more than $12 for the two of us. What a great choice! Make sure to stop by and order the vietnamese rolls whenever you're around downtown SF!

The food here is fantastic! Small and crowded little place but such a gem. Staff always friendly to us and the kids and the food order is fast. HUGE servings that we never can finish. Sweet and sour pork is my fave with veggie noodles. Go early like 5/6 coz this place gets full fast. It is in a weird area of San Francisco but just try to ignore what is going on outside and enjoy your food. Great prices too. We always go here. Oh ...and order the iced coffee...it is spectacular.

OK...so you will NOT be dining in a 5 star restaurant, BUT it does not matter because the food and flavors more then make up for it. The spring rolls and the beef or chicken with mixed vegetables are amazing. You can never go wrong with the beef salad or the vietnamese shrimp fried rice OR the ten things in a pot or the beef with bamboo shoot and mushrooms. Yes...I have been here a few times, ok, more then a few...the food is THAT amazing and I am all about new and delicious flavors. Tu Lan is on 6th and Market in SF and it can be a bit rough looking, but I promise you that nothing will happen to you. Never jugde a book by its cover and this place will hold true to that statement. The price is ridiculously low and you get so much delicious food. You actually have to take the rest home if you want to eat all the food you are served in one serving. You have to have the vietnamese coffee and the Imperial rolls...you just HAVE TO because they are to die for. You can easily come in starving with 5 people...eat till you cant eat anymore...have drinks and dessert and pay $40-50 for FIVE PEOPLE!!!! If you truly enjoy delicious food and are on a budget or just want to enjoy a great meal and be adventurous..please do yourself a favor and go to Tu Lan if you are in SF.

I'm a local but haven't been here since it was closed..not a part of town usually visited,but since we were in the area,thought we'd give it a try. Knew it was always good..expected a line but fortunately got there around 730 and able to sit at counter to watch the cooks. When we left, there was a line so definitely a late night place. mixed crowd of couples and friends...like someone else said, mix of theatre and street. The pho looked good and will have to try next time. All portions are very substantial so go in with appetite. Good pricing too. local hole in the wall that's been here forever. Fresh food, clean now and efficient.

The best vietnamese restaurant in Sf, period!

Friendly Service Food was tasty and had a large satisfying amount Nice vibrant atmosphere really good value for the amount of food I received First visit to a Vietnamese restaurant and will certainly return

I've been going to Tu Lan for years. Great family run place. Always, always super busy. Everything cooked while you watch, cheap and best viet. in town. They say Julia Childs used to come here. It's pretty low key looking, they upgraded a few years ago, but still sort of clean but funky. In an edgy part of town, buy you'll see almost homeless guys with the opera crowd on any givien night.

I don't want you to go here, because the restaurant is small and sometimes there is a wait for a table. Two of the three times I have been here were before seeing a show and time was of the essence...so, yes, I am being selfish! The first time I came, there were four of us, and three of us ordered the ginger fish, not realizing that this restaurant serves things family style, and one dish is more than enough to feed one person. (we had to take the leftovers to the show because we were NOT going to leave them behind!) I have been back a couple of times since, and always order the ginger fish, but also branch out to other dishes. Yes, the restaurant is dingy and un-pristine. The bathroom is up a narrow staircase and smells of a bad mop job. But the service is quick, the prices are surprisingly reasonable and, most of all, the food is delicious! (Did I mention the ginger fish?) I will be back again and again and I hope I don't see you there!

the deals are as good as it is sketchy

Food was really good, I would especially recommend the imperial rolls!! My partner and I also shared the beef with bamboo and mushrooms and the spicy beef noodle soup. Both were delicious with lots of crunchy vegetables, and portions were big enough that we couldn't finish it all!!

Tu Lan is the best value in San Francisco! Do not hesitate the food is that good. The location is center of Market St so expect homeless folks and drug addicts as you make your way but do NOT let that detour you. The food is that good!

Not exactly a diner, but the greasiest restaurant in SF, just love this place!

I often visited the place with my girlfriend who introduced me to this cuisine, for that i cannot thank her enough, just love the food out here. Looking forward to visit again when i head to SF in the near future for sure.

We were a little worried about the "seedy" area Tu Lan was in but it's actually not that bad. Ordered the fresh shrimp rolls, beef pho and dry noodles with barbecue pork/imperial rolls. We've had the dry noodles once before in Hanoi and perhaps it's just our luck but that wasn't very good at all. I'm glad we didn't let that stop us from trying it again at Tu Lan (afterall, Julia Child liked it!) as it's really tasty here - much better than what we had in Hanoi! Generally, very good Vietnamese food. What really impressed me was the service though. At such a place, I wasn't really expecting any. We were offered free imperial rolls - cos we were waiting in the cold outside for 20 mins! They were giving out water to the people in the queue too. We waited for > 1.5 hours at Mama's and got nothing (food there's really good too though). So for a cheap little food place in the "armpit of SF" this is a really pleasant surprise. Kudos Tu Lan!

If you are short on time, or cash, this is definitely the place for you. It delivers what is hard to find: great food and great prices. I have eaten there a couple of times and have tried about 8 dishes. None disappoint. The noodle dishes and soups are particularly outstanding. The only thing that I was not enthusiastic about was the two fish dishes I tried. The atmosphere is basic, to say the least. But, it has its own charms -- no pretense, no nonsense, and eclectic in its own way.

We were looking for a place to eat. Every place we went was full and expensive. Perry a street vendor recommend Tu Lan. What a home run! A hole in the wall place! Great food and a lot of it. Actually it could be split between two people. I will come back and eat here again. Thanks

I have been going to Tulan with my family every time we were in the Bay Area. This establishment has been around since the 70's my grandma told us when we first went here in the 90's. I was alone this time and decided to eat this sice I just love the the crispy fish and the spring rolls with the vermicelli salad. Prices arw decwnt but not as low as it was 5 years ago when we were last here.

Best Fried rice!!! & Screaming Emperial rolls

I've traveled a lot, and this is still my favorite restaurant in the word. The place is just as dumpy after a recent renovation, but that's part of the charm. The street is a bit scary, too. But the food is delicious and arrives to the table before you've blinked. Now that I live on the other side of the country, I miss this place. It's one of my first stops on any trip to San Francisco. And the prices can't be beat. Always enough for a doggie-bag, which you can give to a homeless person.

We live in one of the greatest multi-cultural cities in the world and we have our fair share of good Vietnamese restaurants, but nothing compare to Tu Lan's authenticity and deliciousness. We have been to San Francisco twice and ate at this restaurant three times. Julia Child's picture was on the front of the menu because every time she came to the city she would eat here and she authorized them to use her image on the menu. If it is good enough for Julia, it is good enough for me.

Julia Child's favorite hole in SF...yeah, I know... The one time I wen there and ordered fish, they brought the whole thing out with the head and eyes still on it. So sad

I never miss a chance to eat here. Total dive on Skid Row, but I love the food.

Hearty meal. Good food. Worth the money. Always consistent and taste amazing. Be sure to go for lunch or dinner.

I am from laredo tx i was at the treasure island job corps center at the time, studiying culinary arts, i went to eat there at least twist a month, the plates are very good serve, and the prices ar excellent for san francisco, i never go wrong with the chowmein, just to remmber those times i feel very nostalgic,the food is very tasty, you cant be wrong going to eat to this place. If one day i come back to san francisco i will come back to eat to this place increible moments i remeber from that place First tsintao lol

food a little greasy

Everyone had something different and huge plates of wonderful Vietnamese food. Fresh veggies and bean curd for me as a veggie but heaps of meat and fish dishes as well. Friendly hosts and servers and very fast!

Fantastic food. Hole in the wall, nothing fancy at ALL, but the food absolutely speaks for itself - as well as the price!

This restaurant is famous because Julia Child used to eat here, and I understand SF's wealthy Mayor, Gavin Newsom, does occasionally, too. This is worth mentioning because it's in a not-so-nice area of SF (on 6th off Market) and is a very tiny little restaurant. When I first started working in this neighborhood, I was told Tu Lan's was quite famous and had incredible food for very cheap. Here's my experience: Tu Lan has tasty food, but I can't call it incredible. It's good...but remarkable in my experience only for the quantity you get for the price (you get enough for at least two lunches for between $6 and $8). That's cash only folks - true of many little restaurants in the vicinity. That being said, the quality far exceeds many of the little Asian restuarants that populate this area. As a restaurant, Tu Lan is CROWDED - very popular, and in extremely cramped space. I won't go there for a sit-down lunch any more, it's take-out only for me! Get your hands on a take-out menu (near the door) one day and call ahead for lunch the next. Strongly suggest you call to arrange your take-out by 11; pick it up by 11:30, or you'll more than likely encounter quite a line.

I come here every time I visit San Francisco. The food is cheap, fast, and served in huge portions. The food is also, really good. Slightly greasy, but overall excellent value. A good place to go with friends, if you want a classic place slightly off the beaten path, with Julia Child's face on the menu! (She apparently ate there once back in the day.) Bon appetit! Also great take-out.

my officemates and friends always eat here. lunch and dinner. make a line outside the entrance as it is always packed. huge servings. you can request if you want low salt, no msg, more garlic, additional shrimp, egg (for fried rice) (surcharge ), fast service with a smile. love coming here.

I had the really tasty good value imperial roll with pork kebab and rice noodles.The flavours were excellent and the dish well balanced. Yes the place is a bit frayed at the edges and some of the clientele are quite colourful - that is all part of the fun and if you get a seat overlooking the kitchen it's great for people watching.

cheap!

Great place to grab a quick, inexpensive meal before a show at the Warfield. 4 of us had 4 beers each, two appetizers and three mains and could not finish it all. Imperial Rolls are a must as well as the $2.50 beers. Service was super friendly especially surprising in such a sketchy neighborhood. We were greeted by every employee as we walked in the door and thanked by everyone on the way out. Decent bathroom too! We left behind a great tip for all this food and drink and spent $20 a person. That would be about 3 beers at the Warfield!

The food is great at this place. U can eat there or get take-away. Divers menu and good service!! For a good and healthy bite.

Best food I ate in 4 months in the USA. Price of fast food, taste and quality of a Michelin restaurant. And quantity of a barbarian. Its was a sublime experience. Thanks you!!

Stumbled upon this spot with friends due to decent prices and want to try Vietnamese food. Lovely tasting food with soo much on offer. Portions are big too which satisfied us! We were drawn back the next day!

This is a great hole in the wall spot, it reminds me of what you see in movies, the first floor is small you walk in there seems to be a hidden set of stairs in the back and you head up and there is a little dinning room. The lunch menu is wide and great.

There are better (cleaner + more tasty) hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese restaurants.

As the other reviews stated, this place is small but has additional seating upstairs which is where we ate. There are big fans but no AC. I did not get hot though. We shared a big bowl of pho and spring rolls which came super fast. Pho was $8.10. Spring rolls were $6.25, so we (two people) ate for for $15. My only complaint: they did not initially provide us the side plate of accoutrements (jalapeño, cilantro, bean sprouts) so we ate the majority of it without until I finally asked for it. Secondly, i am accustomed to pho being served a little hotter but i liked that we were able to dive in right away. The beef was super tender and the pasta was awesome. My boyfriend loved the spring rolls too. I would absolutely go back. Such a great value.

... and yes... still not for the squeemish! Although the interior is greatly improved (I'm sure the bugs will eventually return.. .but not yet!), the neighborhood is as disgusting as always; the smells you have to deal with on your way to get in the door of Tu Lan are enough to put you off your meal before you even see a menu! but the standards: #17 (BBQ pork/imperial roll rice noodle salad bowl) VN Beef Steak Shrimp Fried Rice Iced Coffee are still some of my favorite dishes in the whole City, regardless of price. The imperial rolls, as long as they haven't been sitting for more than a few minutes before they are cut and served to you, are the best I've ever had. The chow mein and other noodle dishes just look too corn starch gloppy... so even though I've been going to Tu Lan since the early '90s, I never order them. If you are like me and averse to stodgy, gluey old-school American Asian sauces, avoid those dishes.

Total dive, hole-in-the-wall near the Mission District. The Vietnamese sandwiches are fresh, tasty, and cheap at about $3. There's always a line out the door. Be sure to specify hot sauce- it's otherwise not advertised.

can take 20 mins or 2 mins to prepare; don't hang about on the street while you are waiting. very tasty food, I liked the vietnames rice best but they also have lots of good vegetarian choices

Seedy hood, but good food.

Tu Lan is one of my favorite Vietnam restaurant in the world. Pho is good. When I visited San Francisco, I always went to Tu Lan. Cost performance is GOOD. By the way, Tu Lan has been closed for long time. Maybe, at least from Dec 2011 to Dec. 2012. I would like to know Tu Lan re-opens or not. Thank you for your information.

We were going for a show at the Golden Gate Theatre so decided to come here for dinner. Restaurant is nothing fancy but decent at least. Service is very good. Food here is excellent. Among the best Vietnamese restaurants I've ever tried. We had the imperial rolls which were crispy and peppery, lemon beef salad which was very tasty and light, and shrimp fried rice which was pretty generous with the shrimp and also tasty. Next time we are back in the area we will definitely consider it again.

I just tried this for the first time a few months ago and was pretty impressed. It definetely lived up to the hype it has.

Dirty as all heck, but nothing's cheaper or more delicious!

Upon the recommendation of a SF native, we ate lunch here (mostly because it was across the street from Golden Gate Theater). What a treasure! The Imperial Rolls alone are worth the trip, even without a ticket to the theater. When we arrived at noon, there was one table left. This place is for the person who loves Anthony Bourdain type dives...AKA hidden gems!

This Vietnamese restaurant is cheap and good. It's a bargain "fast food" type place. It's a small, tight and crowded place that works on volume, so don't go if you are looking for a cozy, leisurely lunch. However, service is quick and the food is good. Perfect place for tourists who are looking for cheap good food served fast so they can go on to exploring the sights.

This is a quintissential dive and oh so good. The family who took us there said it used to only be cash pay but even though they now take cards, the prices are still low, especially compared to anything else you'll find in the area that's worth eating. The ginger chicken was my favorite, the pho was fantastic, and the Imperial rolls were a hit with everyone. We did have some who ventured into new territory with an egg/soda/milk drink and they weren't impressed so that's one not every palate will appreciate. The service was good and really, you can't beat the cost.

Great greasy spoon Vietnamese! Stepping over the crackheads on 6th to get into the front door is part of the charm. Very Inexpensive!

Walked passed this place before and finally gave it a try on the weekend with friends and it was definitely worth it. It's located on 6th Street which is in the "Tenderloin" area, but if you can look past that the food is amazing, especially considering the low price compared to the average places in San Francisco.

lived in san francisco six years ago, still consider going back just to visit this place.... have fond memories of sitting at the counter in Tu Lan, munching away on whatever delicous concoction they had prepared, watching the rain pour down outside....very comfortable, relaxed, good quality and good value.....

Absolutely the best Vietnamese food in San Francisco!!! I'm not kidding! This little "hole in the wall" is a busy little dinner located in sixth and market street in SF. CASH ONLY. They have been around for years and there is never been a time where they they are not busy. It's not fancy by any means but, if you like good authentic Vietnamese food that is cheap and comes in large amounts then, this is your place! I eat here all every time I come to SF.

Narrow and quite dark neighbourhood restaurant, it was very busy and I sat at the counter. Large menu of Vietnamese favourites, service was fast but food arrived even faster. Large portions and nice spicy food. Great value for money.

trek to 5th and Market and eat the imperial rolls that Julia Child loved so.... read the back of the menu. getting there is half the fun! tucked in the "arm pitt of San Francisco" ----Tu Lan is a culinary delight----- just don't think about might run around the walls and tables at night --and you'll be fine! service was quick and the food was fabulous--- dining rooms small & crowded and a bit too warm for comfort (80 degrees or so.)--- forget the fu fu places on Nob Hill and roll your sleeves up for a true experience that you won't forget. a true gem in the Tenderloin and all of San Ffrancisco for that matter.

I ordered rice vermicelli with pork to take out. I have been ordering the same thing every time I dine at a Vietnamese restaurant. The rice vermicelli from thus restaurant, I like the sauce, the pork, but I would like to have more vegetables. In addition, the noodle is not fully cooked. The noodle should be soft but the noodle I had was a bit hard. For this reason, I gave them a 4. I would go back to see if the hard noodle is just an isolated problem.

Tu Lan has been one of my favorite restaurants for years. I went there before they closed down and I have continued to go after they re-opened, and the quality has not diminished! Definitely order the fried rice and lemongrass salad. Also, the noodle bowls are amazing... really everything on the menu is delicious. You wont ever pay too much for your meal. The seating arrangements are tight but I dont mind sitting near other lunch-goers.

This is a good spot before theatre. Quick service. A very broad menu. Decor is Chinatown pre-1935. Like others say huge servings determined by the plate size, not calorie count. We'll be back.

Best Vietnamese dishes I've ever had.

yummy in my tummy! large portions at low prices. really small place. i mean really small. you can watch them cook and everything is always fresh. yes.

Lemon Beef Salad, Ginger Fish, Bun Cha Gio Thit Nuong!

The Bun Cha Gio (Imperial Rolls) is out of this world!! The decor might not be the best, but for huge portions of truly tasty food that is very cheap, Tu Lan can't be beat!!!

This place is divy in every sense of the word. The block you walk through, in any direction, to get to Tu Lan is quite dodgy too.

This place is well worth having to step over the crackheads to get in the door. Very authentic Vietnamese food, and dirt cheap.

Cheap. Imperial rolls are good and huge. Not a good place for the squeamish.

I was a regular client of this small restaurant while I live in SF, and every time I come back to the city I make sure I come and eat some Hanoi soup or fried rice here

Great prices, great flavors. The block it's on is a little seedy, but it's just a few steps off Market Street. Just make sure you go right back to Market when you leave (and not the other way). Well worth the adventure. Best Imperial Rolls I've ever had anywhere!

We were looking for something quick to eat. Found this Restaurant. The staff was very friendly and the portions are huge. Reasonable price, defiantly worth it!

Very good food, huge portions, Very reasonable price, very quick service. This place is just a hole in the wall but it will not disappoint your hungry tummy. If you're looking for an upscale and trendy place, then this is not your place. Just don't mind people hanging around near the entrance of the restaurant. They will not bother you. Stopping by there before theater time at Golden Gate is very convenient. No street parking in front. Location is on a very busy 6th street near Market St. This place is one of my favorites in San Francisco.

We went to this place because all the reviews were positive but it is not as good as people say. The location is a little sketchy since its market street, there can be a lot of homeless folks and drug addict it can be a little scary at night. I ordered the chicken pho and my girlfriend got the shrimp fried rice. The fried rice was okay, it had a seasoning that was too strong. The chicken pho was probably the worst i have ever had. It had chicken bones and fat and lots of garlic crumbs on top and mushrooms. I have never seen mushrooms on chicken pho before. I do not recommend.

good for meat eaters, sleazy on 6th street

I ventured in early on a Saturday evening and sat at the counter. I just beat the crowd because shortly after I sat down with my son, the place filled up and a line formed outside. Based on the reviews...I selected the lemon beef salad, imperial roll and pork kebob. My son had the beef Pho. No sooner than we ordered our food magically appeared in front of us in a blink of an eye. Super fast service. Now came time for the big test. Would Tu Lan live up to the hype? It sure did. The imperial rolls were crispy and flavorful. The lemon beef salad was zesty yet had a hint of heat which complimented the beef very nicely. The thinly sliced pork served on top of white rice although tasty was my least favorite of all three. I had a bite of my son's pho and it was average, certainly not up to par with the rest of our selections. While sitting at the counter, we were able to watch the very able chefs whip up the various plates with ease. The most popular dishes coming out of the kitchen were the pan fried noodle plates and the shrimp fried rice. They looked delicious! I will have to try them next time I am in town. The best part is we ate all of this plus two beers and two soft drinks. Total:$28 unbelievable value. I'm sure you've read all about the neighborhood being seedy but it is like any other part of a big city. And as you snake your way through the pan handlers and other undesirables, it will definetly be worth it. Bon Appetit!

Hidden in a corner of the main market street is this very decent and affordable Vietnamese restaurant.. No frills but their pho is great! The broth is slightly spicy but very appetizing. Had the pho, spring rolls and the grilled pork... All for 33 dollars. Recommend!

Great food and huge amount. I've been served a bowl of beef with bamboo and mushrooms and I filled my dish five times with that. The food was too good to leave a single rice grain. Highly recommended considering also the very reasonable price. Also people are very friendly. Beware that trip advisor gives the right address but the location on map is wrong.

"I know just the place," my friend said when I expressed interest in Vietnamese for dinner. As the out-of-town guest I relied on his judgment. Walking to Tu Lan my friend told me the place is a health-code challenged pit, but was well worth it. Tu Lan is a two-floor dive: crowded, cramped, claustrophic, uncomfotably hot (especially the upstairs) and don't ever let your gaze fall on the floor or you may lose your appetite. Having said that, the food was very good, the ingredients were fresh, the portions were large and value was great, espsecially by SF standards (lots of choices under $9.) Nothing fancy here, just straigth-forward, order-by-the-number Viet menu. The platings are perfunctory but who cares when you're enjoying the flavors. The Imperial Rolls are crispy and meaty, although a bit greasy. Still, we enjoyed them a lot. My friend's entree arrived in just few minutes. Ten mninutes passed with no sign of my entree and the friendly server apologized, saying there was an error with my order and they would bring in a few minutes. The staff was friendly and courteous. I would happily return, but would wait for seating on the first floor.

My husband and I ate here right after checking in to our hotel a few blocks away, after seeing the great reviews here on Tripadvisor. It was everything we hoped, especially the quality of food and the low prices. The quantity of food was generous too. The only drawback is the location -- not a great neighborhood so travelers be aware!

Wow, it was delicious. The place was packed but they found a spot for 8 of us. Service was fast, food was very filling.

Pretty damn good if you're drunk or sober

This place isn't fancy and you have to walk through the Tenderloin district (through a sea of pee and weed) but boy is it great and cheap! The lemon beef salad was incredibly fresh. The pho was fantastic with layers of flavor, the number 27 with beef, pork and Tofu was savory and rich.

This is a classic hole-in the-wall eatery in SF that serves up some of the best Vietnamese food in the city. The atmosphere is stripped down to the basics, but the food is the real draw for this place. I recommend the Imperial roll noodle bowl, but there are really many great dishes to choose from.

This is a classic "hole-in-the-wall" with a small upstairs dining room. It's a fun place to eat. Prices are dirt cheap, portions are huge, and though far from gourmet the food is satisfying. The neighborhood is "skid row" with lots of homeless, but you take the good with the bad in SF!

Best viet in the city.

This place is awesome... awesome... awesome. The food is amazing! And depending on who you are, so are the surroundings. 6th is still pretty lively, but the food is some of the best in the City. If offered the chance to go, I'll take it.

During our trip to Japan, we have stayed in SF for 7 days and tried to have some good Vietnamese foods nearby our hotel. On the recommendations of hotel staff, we ended at Tu Lan restaurant. Small restaurant and family owned, we found some good Pho and Vietnamese/Chinese mixt foods. Portion are huge and the prices were reasonnable. Not 100% Vietnamese style (especially the Cha Go which was quite greasy) but acceptable in the context to get some asian style food. The services were excellent and you can be much quiet on the second floor, Duy N. Quebec Canada

Hole in the wall, the kind one loves to discover in a city and go there often with friends... large portions, delicious, and friendly service with low prices... an obvious choice!

bang-for-buck is good