January 10, 2010

Tao Café – Best Vietnamese in San Francisco

Tao Café is one of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco. It’s quiet and low-key, and their Vietnamese food is consistently good and made with care. The owner is always welcoming and friendly – she’s a lovely Vietnamese woman who grew up in France.

Complimentary pickled vegetables and shrimp chips begin every meal. I love how their shrimp chips are crispy and flavorful, and never greasy.
Tao Rice Crepe – a tumeric and coconut milk ‘Vietnamese crepe’ topped with chicken, pea shoots, and shrimp. Wrap it in the lettuce with mint and fish sauce…sooooo good. Full of flavor with a hint of sweetness from the coconut milk. Tip: It’s much easier to eat this with your hands, so dig in and enjoy!

With-Broth-Noodle-Soup – like chicken noodle soup, but so much better. Made with roasted chicken, thick rice noodles, and bok choy, this soup has clean flavors but also comforting and hearty. BTW, don't make the same mistake I did the first time - eat the wrapped shrimp crisp first so it doesn't get soggy.

Piping Hot Bass – the claypot fish is my all-time favorite Vietnamese dish and my “test” for Vietnamese restaurants. What I especially like about Tao’s version is they use bass which is a meaty fish (instead of the oilier, bone-filled catfish). The fish is simmered in a sugar and soy sauce mixture until it forms a deee-licious sweet and savory caramel-like glaze over the fish. Mmmm…just thinking about this dish makes my mouth water. I usually request a bowl of black rice to eat with the fish – its firm texture and nutty taste complement the intense flavors of the claypot dish.
This was just one of my many meals at Tao Café. Other dishes I’d recommend are:
- Saigon Salad
- Spring Rolls
- Pot-au-feu Viet (one of the best bowls of pho found in SF)

What I love about Tao is their consistency and their ability to make simple ingredients shine. They show that traditional Vietnamese food in San Francisco doesn’t have to be served in a hole-in-the-wall, nor does high-quality Vietnamese food have to be served in a sterile, overpriced environment (ehem, Slanted Door).
BITE METER: Tao Café – 4.0 bites (out of 5)

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