I lived down the block from Tao Cafe for years and never went in. Mistake!
My new favorite meal is their vegetarian “Spring-to-Summer” rolls filled with tofu and warm vermicelli, followed by the “Sweet Mekong Bass” coconut curry dish, all washed down with a cold Ba Moui Ba. The duck confit (pictured) looks pretty good too.
And check out the sweet view from the front window.
 looks pretty good too. […]</p>
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Tao Cafe remains the only restaurant in San Francisco where I have ever seen a cockroach wandering around the public dining area. You couldn’t pay me to go back.
Clearly, you haven’t been to Chaat Cafe on 3rd St.
I was sitting down there one time with some co-workers when a cockroach wandered up from the underside of the table. Guess he wanted to eat with us.
then you should get out more
Yes, clearly I need to spend more time at shitty restaurants. I’ll get right on that!
There is not a place in The City that does not have roaches or mice. Some places are just more aggressive about how they combat them.
Tu-Lan on 6th St / Market. Still the best hole in the wall vietname in the City!
Hear, hear.
Agree: Tao Cafe is way under-rated. The only reason it’s not very popular is because it’s just not that trendy. But there are enough trendy restos in the city, so it’s nice to have some place not pretentious. Just take Beast & Hare right across the street from Tao: that place has a barely readable sign, no advertising, yet is effing packed every night like it’s some top reataurant in the city that everybody knows about but me. It’s called T.R.E.N.D.Y. But not that there’s anything wrong with that ….
Tao is very nice; their menu doesn’t change much which can make it a bit dull for repeat visits, but everything is well prepared. Given how uncrowded it typically is, I am surprised they are still in business.
I live a few blocks away and have been going there for years and think the food’s great. I’ve been there a couple dozen times and never seen a roach. Part of what I like about it is that I know I can go there and it’s nice, and the food’s yummy, and I never need a reservation, but then I’ve also worried about them over the years in that they seem a little emptier than you really want one of your favorite local spots to be and stay in business—and in relation, that little patch of restaurant spots across the street has seemed cursed as years have gone by, with places opening and tanking with depressing frequency (I really liked the Indian place that was there a few years ago. Oh well…) Anyway, I’m happy that they managed to keep going, and typing this is making me hungry for their Around Midnight Craving noodles.
What the hell is up with the Tu Lan love? Interneters love it, but I’ve never known anyone who actually grew up on Vietnamese food give a rat’s ass about that place. Try the old stand by’s like Turtle or PPQ or Pho Clement. Sunflower is atrocious. I will say that the fried rolls at Tu Lan are pretty damn decent.
Tao, never been, but I just might stop by.
Saigon Sandwiches = Mmmmmm…
It replaced Flying Saucer, so it’s dead to me.
What a phucking awesome suggestion!
Been a two blocks away from this place for almost two years. Why did I ever go to sunflower? Sure, it is a few bucks cheaper but the quality here is phenomenal. Went last night and I think I’m hooked.
<3,
M