0 Followers
Tenderloin-livin.
Sure, it may not be glamorous (and I'm being very generous), but the TL is also known for their great ethnic food options and bar scene!
36 Places
-
Lanie’s 5-star review: Hmmm...No more 3 Potato 4? *Sad Face* Its closing was nothing surprising. They never had any business and the guy who ran that stand was a grumpy fart anyway. I'm not the biggest fan of falafels, *gasp..* I know I know...calm down everyone, but I do appreciate that it is vegan friendly! When The Flying Falafel first opened, it immediately got glowing reviews. I put it off of my "to-try" list since I don't enjoy falafels unless I'm in the mood for them. So I decided to wait until I was in the mood for them. 3 months later, I still never had any craving or want for falafels. So I decided I would just go here when I was starving instead. I walk up to the tiny closet that is located on Market between 7th & 8th. Only 2 people in front of me. Nice. The owner wasn't in shop, but instead 2 guys who were cheerful and throwing falafels into steaming hot pita pockets. They immediately greeted me and asked if it was my 1st time. I nodded. They suggested the Spicy Falafel over the Sesame one. I got the combo: Pita Pocket with the Vegan Banana Milkshake You order on the Ipad, pay with cash or credit, and then choose your toppings on the left. With speed, delicacy, and skill, he grabbed a pita pocket and started scooping falafels in. *1, 2, 3, 4, 5* Then he scooped in an assortment of fresh veggies, hummus, and hot sauce. Then MORE falafel balls! *6. 7. 8.9.* OOPS! One goes Flying into the air! *PLOP* Right into my pocket! Falafels really DO fly here! It was quite impressive how much can fit into one pita. When I received my order, the line was now straight out the door! I happily walked away, juggling my overflowing pita pocket and milkshake. But how does this falafel taste to the girl who doesn't care for falafels? Amazing. The pita so soft and fluffy pairs perfectly with the crispy falafel balls. They are slightly spicy, have a great crunch, but soften once it's in your mouth. The veggies are fresh and the hummus is creamy. Altogether this is one great sandwich. The best part? You get so full off of this! A few times I thought I ate all the falafels, but another one would be buried at the bottom under all the sauce! They really pack it in there! And the milkshake? My yelper friends weren't lying. It was so delicious! It reminds me of a banana horchata. This milkshake is made with fresh bananas, rice milk, and cinnamon. Perfect on the sunny day and a great way to wash down those spicy falafel balls. Will I come back? Definitely. Maybe not soon, because I still never crave it, but much sooner than later. -
Lanie’s 5-star review: It's been two years since I had my first dining experience here at Millennium. As you can read from my previous review, it was almost like a child-like fairy tale experience. I ate things I didn't understand what it was made of. There were ingredients I've never heard of. Vegan food was cooked in a manner I never dreamed of. Two years later, Millennium is now down to its last two days of business here in the Tenderloin of downtown San Francisco. The boring brown interior that shares space with the Best Western Hotel lobby will start to see the last plates of rainbow-colored dishes brought out. And eight visits later, I have just had my last bite of some of the best foods I've ever eaten in my life. Sure sure, this isn't really a "good-bye" for Millennium. The owners are set to retire and the entire building will be gutted and turned into a new ritzy hotel. But the executive chef is moving over to Rockridge in the East Bay to continue on the Millennium legacy as something new. A phoenix going though its next phase. Vegan food constantly being reinvented. But for Kyle H. and I, this restaurant has created so many priceless and meaningful memories for us that we couldn't help but shed a tear over our four-course "Yes we ordered 7 dishes between us to share" dinner. When we first got together, this was one of our first dates. When we celebrated anniversaries, this is where we went. When it was my birthday, or his birthday. You know it was Millennium. When we had family come in to visit-Millennium. When Kyle H. got his dream job...Millennium. When we wanted to have a fancy bourgie date night-Millennium. It was easy too, since we live within a few blocks. We would stuff ourselves silly and walk (or stumble) our wine-induced selves home. We always had perfect service here. It wasn't overly in your face or too trying. They kept their space, made excellent recommendations, and kept the timing of our meal precise. I've eaten dishes here that I though I would never, as a vegan, be able to eat again. Many of them are dessert dishes. Tiramisu, Panna Cotta, Chocolate Eclairs, Cheesecake, etc. I thought these things were near impossible for a vegan to enjoy. Brik Pastry Purses, Black eyed Fritters, Tamales, Glazed Tempeh, Volcano Rice, Potato Tikka Cakes, Fava Soples, Ravioli (OMG probably the best thing I've ever eaten here), Eggplant Napoleon, Potato Gnocchi, Verdas Tapas, and on and on. Everything I've eaten here has just melted in my mouth. Obviously some things I enjoyed way more than others, but I would not change a single experience I've had here. Of course there is the wine. It has taught me to appreciate wine pairings with food and how one takes in the flavors of the dish. Some of the best and smoothest wines I've had here. Then there are the cocktails-especially the dessert cocktails. White Russians? Creme de menthe hot chocolate? And my favorite-The Nocturne-which is the perfect balance of chocolate, espresso, and booze. Thank You Thank You THANK YOU Millennium...for SO many great memories and great food. I will definitely visit the new restaurant in the summer, but alas, I know it will not be the same. I hope that all my friends-vegans or not-have had a chance to dine here at least once. I cannot have more favorable things to say about this place. I wish them nothing but the best as they continue their vegan legacy! -
Lanie’s 5-star review: I walk past Redford almost every single day since it's but a few blocks away from home. Every time I pass by, it is packed to the door, with people smoking outside waiting to get in. With an abundance of bars and restaurants within the same neighborhood, what possibly could people be be wanting to cram inside this small bar for? The first time I came here was right after The Giants won the World Series, and I was bar hopping around the TL to celebrate, like everyone else. I had their cucumber basil gimlet, which was absolutely fantastic. The bartender was getting hammered with everyone else and it was quite a fun atmosphere. I've been itching to come back again after that night, but could never find a time where it wasn't packed. Yesterday, I tried again and saw that there was actually space inside the bar! Woohoo! We started to settle down at the communal table in the back, when one of the servers notified us of a booth that just opened up and cleaned off. Perfect! He immediately got us some water, and I asked him if they had any vegan options on the menu. He said that he would ask the chef and be back. In the meantime, we ordered drinks. They have Happy Hour everyday from 5-7pm and all night on Tuesday! Plus, it was Fat Tuesday, so they were giving out beads to every table and had a fun, festive Mardi Gras Menu! We ordered a round of $4 draft pints when the server came back and told us that we can do the veggie pizza without cheese. He said that we were in luck as they happened to have vegan cheese in their inventory for the night! Wow! Who knew a little bar like this would have vegan cheese in their kitchen? I asked about their veggie burger, but unfortunately it has egg in it, but it would be perfect for vegetarians who come here. I went for the veganized pizza and Kyle H. went for the Mardi Gras Jambalaya. The food was absolutely delicious! My pizza was loaded! Bell Peppers, onions, tomatoes, and so much vegan cheese it was getting everywhere! Super thin & crispy crust-just the way I like it. I only ate 3 slices before I got full. It didn't help that we ordered a basket of fries as well. 2 Beers later and I was STUFFED. I couldn't eat another fry. I left super happy and looking forward to my next trip back. As for the service? One of the best I've ever had. The guy who talked to us about vegan options relayed the information to our actual server, so she made sure all our food was rung in correctly. Plenty of check backs, and refills of beer were brought out promptly when requested. She brought out Sriracha, red hot chili flakes, and everything else I needed to make sure I got my spice buds happy. We didn't feel rushed, but they were always around when we needed something. I can see service being hasty when it's crowded, this place can get crazy with its "First come, first serve" seating style. But I will definitely have to stop by again on a slower night for more food and drinks! -
Lanie’s 5-star review: My bf use to live just right around the corner for this store. We wish our new neighborhood grocery market is this amazing! Clean, bright, and vibrant. They have a great fresh selection of fruits and vegetables. They also have a wide selection of cheese, tofu, and *drumroll* DAIYA CHEESE! It's the closest place in the TL to get vegan cheese! They took it away for a while, but I specifically requested they bring it back, and they did! I checked the other night and they even have Daiya sliced cheeses! That's customer service right there. They have cheap limes. I know California is having a lime shortage, but somehow they still sell them for 8/$1. It might be 6/$1 now but who knows. You'll find unique health food and ethnic food items here that you can't find at other corner markets. Perfect when you can't even think about trekking on over to Whole Foods or Trader Joes The people working there are super friendly and they even take credit card! Plus, they are open late. In short, daiya cheese, limes, and capers. If your grocery list ever looks crazy, California Produce will help you with it! -
Lanie’s 5-star review: My favorite corner market to go when I need to pick up a few produce items for dinner! Service is always with a smile and a friendly "How are you?." For a tiny market, they pack as much as they can, with produce and veggies spilling out onto the sidewalk. Dirt cheap prices, and fresh tasting veggies. No wilted lettuce or darkening fruit here! Plus, they sell Vietnamese baguettes to make banh mi at home! The crazies will come in here a lot, but the owners take no bs. There's no liquor or alcohol sold here so you won't have a problem with drunks coming in and harassing you...usually. I can always count on Amigo's market for helping me out with late dinners. Thanks guys! -
Lanie’s 4-star review: I'm super super spoiled when it comes to Vietnamese/Asian grocery stores. In San Jose, our asian markets are the size of Safeway and you can find everything you need to cook your favorite traditional Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, etc food. Unfortunately, in San Francisco, where even the Safeway runs out of broccoli, don't get your hopes up too high. Hiep-Thanh may not have 20 aisles full of every brand ramen in the world, or a fish market that takes up 2 aisles, but they do their best to pack the most important essentials. Compared to other asian markets in the area (TL, NOT counting Chinatown), there are several variety brands of rice, rice noodles, and frozen products. Canned and bottled items such as broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, etc are also stocked with the most popular brands. You can find fresh produce on the left and seafood on the right. They have fresh tofu, but it's just ok. I go for boxed tofu until I can find a better quality one somewhere else. In the back, you can find bowls, plates, knives, and anything else you need to supply your kitchen so you can feel like you're back at mom's. Prices are decent, but they raise the price of the rice too often. This is my go-to when I need to stock up on pho supplies! -
Lanie’s 4-star review: After their other location on O'Farrell shut down, Golden Era has finally opened up its new location here On Golden Gate & Larkin. Unlike it's dungeon basement old location, this one is spacious, bright, clean, with modern decor and plenty of windows. I love what they did with the appearance. It is very simple, with lots of white, and a foresty/nature theme. Plenty of cushy booths to sit in and you're not super close to other tables. The menu is very big and has tons of choices. If you've eaten at other Supreme Master Ching restaurants (Loving Hut, Vegetarian House, etc), you'll see a lot of the same dishes on this menu. They also have a large selection of fresh juices, smoothies, and healthy non-alcoholic drinks. Prices are fair. They're not super pricey, but definitely not the cheapest for asian vegan food. I'll get more to this later. So far I've tried the Mama's Claypot. A delicious Vietnamese comfort food item with braised tofu, eggplant, and super savory dark sauce. Perfect with rice and hits all the right spots. Definitely takes me back home to my mama's when I eat this. I've also tried the Spicy Noodle Soup. A take on a classic Central Vietnamese noodle dish. You get handfuls of large rice noodles with a slightly spicy broth, plenty of lemongrass, and tofu, and soy meat to add protein. I thought it was very well done, though I personally wanted it spicier. The portion was generous as well. I've also had the Banh Cuon Tay-Ho. If you're not familiar with the dish, it is basically rice flour batter that has been cooked and rolled up with grinded up tofu and soy meat. It's harder to describe than I thought, but I took a photo if you want a good idea of what it is. It comes with fried tofu and all the garnishes-bean sprouts, lettuce, and 'fish' sauce. This is very delicious and very light dish. I wish the portion was bigger, but I still felt full after eating 1 plate. Service can be very slow, since they don't have a lot of servers. Also, they skimp on the rice portions. They overcharge for rice here. $2 for white and $2.50 for brown. When I ordered the brown rice, they gave me a cup of rice that was not even full. It was a pathetic little scoop. Needless to say, I needed more rice halfway through my meal. I didn't want a whole scoop, so I asked if I could just have a little bit more. They ended up giving me another pathetic half-full cup of rice and CHARGED ME DOUBLE FOR IT. I ended up paying $5 for rice that didn't even last me through my 1 entree. That is absolutely ridiculous and they need to be better aware of portions when serving. I mind as well ordered fried rice and gotten 3x the amount of rice+veggies+tofu for a few bucks more. Other than the terrible rice portions and ridiculous prices, I really like the new Golden Era. Definitely serves food that takes me back home and reminds me of my mother's cooking. A few more adjustments and I see myself coming back here very often. -
Lanie’s 4-star review: Kyu3 just opened up here in the Tenderloin about 2 months ago, an extension of their sister sushi restaurant. This location focuses on Noodles & BBQ (just like their name states). You'll find Thai-inspired noodle dishes, such as Pad Thai and Pad Kee Mow. Then you'll find a whole menu full of BBQ. They feature other specialties such as soups, fried rice, and curries. I came here a week ago and it was completely empty. Shame because they are a hidden gem. When you step inside, you almost forget you're in the TL. It's clean, beautifully decorated, and almost upscale. They offer a happy hour from 5-8pm on weekdays featuring 15% off drinks. This is quite the steal, since beers are only $4 to begin with! They offer tofu as a vegan/vegetarian option to most of their noodle dishes. I opted for the Pad Thai with tofu. When the dish came out, it kind of threw me off. It didn't have that iconic yellow/orange color that most Pad Thai dishes have. The noodles remained naturally white. However, it was cooked very well and still very flavorful. The provide generous portions per plate. Perfect for sharing or taking home as leftover. I think I'll come back here. It's a rock's throw away, and it provides a great environment with comforting food and drinks. I don't think it matches up to any of the best Pad Thai's I've ever had, but I do like their variation on it. -
Lanie’s 4-star review: I always found it a little strange that there isn't an abundance of Korean cuisine in the areas around downtown SF. There is plenty of Thai, Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese, and Chinese, but unlike the SouthBay, Korean places aren't popping up. I found Jin Mi on Yelp, and it is located on a quiet street in the TL next to a string of closed down businesses. Despite this fact, they are doing very well. It was a full house when Kyle H. and I came last night, but we luckily snagged one of the last seats. The decor is clean, but very bare. The walls are painted, but aside from a few posters and some food specials on the wall, it is empty. It looks like you walked into someone's home when they first moved in. No worries, they are a newer store anyway. The menu is small and to the point. No appetizers, not many drink choices, but they have all your favorites. We asked for hot tea and iced waters, but only the iced waters came out. The biggest issue with this store is that they are severely understaffed. It looks like there is a woman and maybe her son working as the 2 servers in a full house with 20 tables. They are literally running around, taking orders, dropping off food, cleaning tables, refilling waters, etc. I can tell they were very behind in the tasks they needed to complete, so I didn't bother them about the hot tea. We ordered the vegetarian Tofu Soup, and Kyle ordered the Seafood Tofu Soup. I was a big fan of mine! I thought the spice level was perfect, there was a good amount of tofu, as well as mushrooms, julienned carrots, and onions. The side dishes were also pretty abundant. They offer 9 small dishes if I recall correctly. Unfortunately, with the good food, there was little service to be had. Tables were left dirty for a while because the 2 servers were so busy so people decided to sit down at uncleaned tables.Our waters were left un-refilled, as were other tables around us. We had to go up to the front to pay since they didn't have time to come to us. I almost couldn't blame them. The guy was stressed out and apologized to us several times. But when I walked through the kitchen to use the restroom, I saw that it was 1 guy (the dad?) who was the sole cook in the kitchen, and the grandma (?) was helping prep the dishes and garnish the bowls. This small family was somehow making it work! The price was also very affordable-Only $20 for 2 entrees including tax. Once this place hires a few more staff members, this place can easily be 5 stars in my book. Keep it up! -
-
Lanie’s 4-star review: I always pass by this place and it is always packed! Their front window is decorated with scores of achievements from Michelin, Zagat, and other food-praising companies. My boss took me and a few other coworkers out to lunch the other day and I was thoroughly impressed by my experience. Everything is clean, well-presented, and elegant. It is not really fine-dining, but it is definitely more classy and not like your usual Mexican restaurant. The menu is short, precise, and to the point. There are very very few vegetarian options, and even less vegan options. But luckily our server was very knowledgable and pointed me to some dishes I could enjoy. The salads without cheese and dressings on the side are vegan friendly. They are fresh, beautifully plated, and super delicious! The warm tortillas and fresh salsa are amazing! Loved all the flavors and the spiciness wasn't too overbearing. Guacamole is freshly made and also quite the treat! For my entree, I had the nopales dish-consisting of sauteed cactus and mushrooms. I ate it with the warm tortillas, guac, and salsas. For my drink, i tried the watermelon agua fresca. Super refreshing and tasted just like biting into a watermelon would! Service was spot on, atmosphere very warm and cozy, and great tasting food. Only wish there was more vegetarian and vegan options available. This place can get a very long wait sometimes so maybe try to come in between hours or snag a seat at the bar. -
Lanie’s 4-star review: I've walked past this tiny hole in the wall dozens of times but have never realized that there was authentic Vietnamese cuisine hiding behind these walls! I was coming home from the gym one day and walked down this street when the words "Banh Beo" popped out at me from the window display. Banh Beo? I haven't been able to find that anywhere in the city yet! Unfortunately, they don't have a vegetarian version of Banh Beo, but I noticed they have an enormous menu with over 100 items, and there is even an entire section that is vegetarian friendly! Some options that are featured for us veg heads include: -Pho Chay -Various Rice dishes-Sauteed tofu & vegetables, mushrooms, etc. -Hu Tieu Chay -Banh Xeo Chay (Crispy yellow crepe!) -Goi Cuon chay (Fresh Summer Rolls) There were a few more, but I can't remember right now. I opted for the Pho today. It was windy & cold so the warm broth would be perfect! Unfortunately, the guy heard "Pho Tai" instead and I was served a bowl of beef pho. When I mentioned the miscommunication, he immediately apologized and they whipped me up a vegetarian bowl instead without hesitation. The bowl of soup was fully loaded! Bok Choy, broccoli, fried tofu, cabbage, carrots! So many veggies! And of course, top it with mint, basil, bean sprouts, and jalapenos. It was a green soup machine. Yum! I've never had a bowl of pho that wasn't a generous serving. So obviously, I was stuffed by the end of it-despite the fact that it was all vegetables. Next time, I will have to come back to try the Banh Xeo. They are huge! -
Lanie’s 4-star review: I pass by Soul Groove all the time and have always watered at the thought of vegan chicken and waffles. It is a dish I've never eaten in my life and was unheard of until recently. My Asian mother would scoff at such ridiculous idea to pair a waffle with deep fried chicken. I still think it's a very weird concept. Very. Weird. But I was curious. I first tried Soul Groove when they were at the Eat Real Festival 2014. They had a tiny tent and I opted for the Gardein chicken patty. their waffles weren't vegan, but they promised me that if I visited their store front, I'd be blown away. After being blown away by their Gardein Patty, I was sold. I found a Groupon, and decided to come here the Sunday after Halloween to cure my hangover. I ordered the Vegan Chicken & Waffle Plate with a side of the Jalapeno Coleslaw. The wait took a while, seems like their was only 1 FOH person, and maybe 2 in the back. Once it came out, I was in awe. A perfectly round waffle, kissed with powdered sugar, and a lump of Earth Balance Vegan Butter melting on top. It was so delicious! The chicken didn't seem like Gardein. Looks like they used a different brand that day but it was perfectly round, and not as delicious as the one I had at the Eat Real Festival. And it looks different from other vegan plates other yelpers have posted to this page. So there may be some consistency issues. But I still gobbled it up fast. The Jalapeno Coleslaw was ok. They gave such a tiny little portion. It wasn't that spicy, and wasn't anything great. I wish the portion size was bigger. My experience eating Chicken and Waffles? My mother was right. It IS ridiculous to pair a dry waffle with a dry fried chicken. It's just so salty, and you get full off the waffle too quickly, and then the maple syrup provides dryness relief, but now it's too sugary. It's a crazy concept, but I see why people enjoy it. I needed more coleslaw as I NEEDED some sort of vegetable to help eat this carb-loaded salty-sugary-fried mess. I left full, bloated, and wanting to eat a salad, then take a nap. I get why Americans are fat now. But I left feeling like I was living the American Dream. The dream that told me I CAN eat Fried Chicken with my Waffles, and it was perfectly okay! What's next? Using doughnuts as buns to my hamburger? That's silly. No one would ever think of such crazy idea......... -
Lanie’s 4-star review: Kin Khao reinvents what you think of Traditional Thai Food. Despite being located right across the street from another Thai Restaurant, you won't find any similarities between the two menus. This place focuses more on a refined and complex take on Thai flavors, and features a more upscale dining experience. The menu is small and to the point. You won't find Pad Thai on this menu anywhere! Vegetarian options are limited and Vegan options are just enough to make 1 complete meal with. Today I had: Yum Palamai-A fresh and unique take on a salad. Mostly made up of fruits including Persimmons, apples, pomegranate. It is sauce heavy, made of soy and lime vinaigrette, fried shallots, mint, cilantro, and other herbs. The flavor was very new and pretty hard to describe. It is tart and sweet, but the vinaigrette and fried shallots gave it a more salty and warm taste, reminding me of flavors you'd find eating in a Vietnamese Spring Roll. For our main entree we had the Stir Fried Baby Bok Choy and the Gaeng Som Curry. The Bok Choy was nothing special. It literally was just stir fried with garlic. However, the curry was pretty delicious. We had it cooked with omelet on the side to make it vegan friendly. It is very spicy and had a strong sweet & sour taste. It went perfectly with the fluffy brown rice that is served with it. We also opted for a round of drinks. My cocktail was pretty good, but I don't remember what it was. It was pretty pricey at $12 each. My bf had the chocolate stout and he said that was a delicious choice and unique for a Thai Restaurant to have on choice. The dessert was the winner tonight! Only 1 choice and it is vegan! The Black Rice Pudding remind me of Vietnamese Che. It is coconut milk and black rice pudding served with burnt caramel and puffed rice. Soo warm, and sweet. It hit all the right spots after a spicy meal. Service was friendly, and the timing of the meal was done perfectly. I recommend reservations, as we got lucky and snagged the last table-but they warned us we needed to be out before a certain time before the next reservation came in. Would I come back? Probably not. Even though I had a good experience, their lack of vegan options makes it hard to choose to come back. It was a great way to open my eyes up to new ways to enjoy Thai food. But in the end, I really enjoy "street-style" Thai Food with plentiful tofu and veggie options for a fraction of the price.
-
Lanie’s 4-star review: This review is only for the bar! I come here 1-3 nights a week after work to grab a cold one, de-stress, and catch up with some coworkers and let off some steam. It seems unconventional to go to an Indian restaurant to have shots dance to music, but that's exactly what we do here! The bar area is quite small, so finding seats can be really tough, especially with 10 of us all getting out of work and bombarding this place so quickly. There are many other 20-30 something year olds here all the time too! The beer and alcohol selection here is nothing to write home about, but this place has always provided a good time! Throw a dollar in the juke box and you're bumping throwback music from the 90's, all the way to the brand new releases from last week! There can be a lot of crazies that harass you for change outside or sometimes even will come in. But they get thrown out very quickly. Special thanks to Scotty and Sunny for being so awesome and bearing with us every week. You guys rock! -
Lanie’s 4-star review: These guys are there for you. When you're drunk and you want a burrito. When you're sober and you want a burrito. When you're broke and you want a burrito. When you're lost in the TL and you want a burrito. When you live in the TL and you want a burrito. When it's 2am and you want a burrito. When it's 3am-only-because-of-daylights-savings-time-and-they-still-stay-open-for-you and you want a burrito. (#ThatHappened) When you want a burrito, just because you CAN get a burrito. Vegetarian menu available, spinach flour on request, salsa bar gains, beans tasting better on some days over others. 3.5 round up to 4. It's like the guy you use to date. Nothing special, but satisfied the hunger and was around when you needed him. It was not a total loss when you had to stop seeing him. Thanks El Tesoro! -
Lanie’s 2-star review: If it's not an official "Dollar Tree," "99 Cent Only Store" or "Daiso Japan," these 'dollar' stores really mean that there products sell 'close to a dollar,' rather than everything the same price $1 everything. Knowing that before coming here, it was still very confusing to see their banner say "$1.25", their sidewalk sign saying "$1.35," their window saying "$1.50 most foods," and then I ended up buying a bunch of hairties that cost $1.75." Yeah I felt ripped off and lied to. I assume a plastic bag full of cheapo hairties would qualify for the "$1.35" price, but apparently not. I'm still giving this place 2 stars because they have a pretty decent selection of items. And they have a cat. A fluffy, friendly, furry, orange cat that ran after me down each aisle and let me pet. I would almost come back here just for the cat. -
Lanie’s 4-star review: Brunch in San Francisco means you have to wait at least 45 minutes in line before scoring the cramped 2-top table shoved in the corner where everyone bumps into you because it's right by the door and you always feel a cold wind draft when the door opens. But hey, eggs benedict AmIrite? I was planning on going to Dottie's down the street. But the line winding around the block made me think otherwise. Feeling defeated, I walked back towards market hungry and unsure of where to go. Out of curiosity, I peaked at Homeskillet's menu and was surprised that they have a tofu scramble! Surprise find! It's a super fast-casual diner, where you order at the counter and have food brought to your table. Tables go quickly at this seat-yourself establishment, but luckily they clear up quickly as people seem to eat here very quickly. I ordered the tofu scramble, which comes with mushrooms and spinach. For the sides, you can do breakfast potatoes and toast. Instead of toast, I actually upgraded for a Vegan Donut! They have all sorts of flavors too, including chocolate, strawberry, crumb, blueberry, etc. The cashier even suggested that I can do a tofu scramble breakfast burrito if I wanted to! Food comes out quickly, and is actually pretty tasty. You get plenty of food for the price. I was pretty stuffed and packed the rest of my scramble to eat later. This is not the best place to sit and have long conversations, because the tables are literally touching each other, or are communal style. I've been here twice now and enjoyed both visits. And I'm also pretty sure that the entire timing of both trips still does not equate to the timing needed for 1 visit at Dottie's. Their loss! -
Lanie’s 4-star review: I don't have a car up here in the city. My apartment is located on a busy street where street parking is limited and has tons of rules about street cleaning and other things. So on the occasion that I do have my car up here, I like to park it at this garage. Most days it is $9 all day. Weekends are usually $10, and on holidays/special events they'll raise it a little more. You drive in, and an attendant comes and parks it for you safe in their garage. You either pay in advance or when you pick up-depending on their mood for the day. If you do pay in advance, MAKE SURE THEY STAMP YOUR RECEIPT/CLAIM TICKET THAT SAYS SO. Very very very important. Go about your day not worrying about meter maids, parking police, homeless peeing on your car, crooks smashing your windows, or traffic scraping your side-view mirror. Pick up before it becomes "overnight parking," which is around $25, you're car will be safely brought back to you! They are also open early, which I LOVE!. One time during move-in week, I drove for blocks looking for an open garage at 6am. This was the only one and it's so freaking close to where I live. 6am-9pm all for $9? Even McDonald's doesn't have a value deal like that. -
Lanie’s 3-star review: Now that I've been here a couple times I think I've come up with my overall impression of this place. Decent food-hit or miss. Decent atmosphere. Hit or miss. Decent experience. Hit or miss. Ok....so I guess I haven't made up my mind entirely, but it's partly because this place makes it hard to enjoy it so. I mean I get that there is a sense of peace and relaxed atmosphere here. But it doesn't matter if your servers are haughty and kinda blunt. (Not all of them. But I've encountered it about twice). The food all sounds delicious, but fall flat for me half the time. I feel like I'm stuck in some 90's era environment here, with the pastel blue and the chairs my mother use to have way back in the day. Doesn't help that when I go outside I happen to be on 9th and Market...Nitty Gritty area that seems to still be stuck in the 90's as well. Let me tell you why I DO come here and continue to come back here every now and then. Vegan. Brunch. Hard to find surprisingly. They have Gingerbread Pancakes. YUM. One of the best things I've had here. Vegan Huervos Rancheros. BOOM. Also tasty and worth getting. Side of scrambled tofu? Ditch it. It's dry, tastely, and ugly. Full portion of tofu scramble? A much better deal. The daily soup-the Dal-is quite delicious. Spicy, rich, and comforting. So is the corn chowder. For lunch: Fresh Hummus & Pita is worth getting. Lick the plate clean. Do it. Vegetable Ravioli. Also get it. Things to skip? Ironically, the most talked about dish-The Neatloaf. BLEUAGH. It's dry. It's like a sponge in my mouth that doesn't absorb anything. It's thick. It's...It's...MEATLOAF IN VEGAN FORM FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. Nuh uh. Never again. -BBQ Tofu salad. Basically I find all their sandwiches lackluster, dry, and needing more flavor. So the food as I mentioned before-hit or miss. The service was friendly my most recent trip, but I've had some bad apples serve me. Also I don't think I'm the only person to have trouble with their hours. Sometimes I'll show up and they won't be open. Even if Yelp and their window shows otherwise. Weird. -
Lanie’s 3-star review: Everyone who lives in SF knows what Philz Coffee tastes like, so I will focus on the storefront instead. Convenient location on the corner of Larkin & Golden Gate. The interior is verrryyy awkwardly set up. Whoever did the interior designing for this location needs to be fired and brought back to school for Designing 101. It's a HUGE space, but is very poorly used. The result is a lot of open space that is not used. You walk in and there's a huge line leading to the baristas. But so much open space to the left & right. The barista counter does a weird "V" angle, so there is a lot of unused open space behind the counter to their back room/storage area. The limited amount of chairs, tables, and couches seem scattered in a disarray and definitely could be moved into a more streamlined way to maximize space, while adding more seating area. The colors are drab, and makes the store feel very crowded and tiny. The bathroom is the worse. It is basically a reminder that you're still in the TL. I saw needles in there one time and a pair of dirty, disposed pants. So gross. Yeah, this place basically needs Robert Irvine or the folks over at the Home & Garden Network and fix this place up. But the free wi-fi, good coffee, vegan cookies & donuts, and close location to my home means I'll have to continue to face this eyesore of a store. -
Lanie’s 2-star review: After reading such great reviews and wanting to try a new Indian place out that is close to home, we decided to ditch our usual Shalimar and come here instead. Lahore Karahi tries to be modern and user friendly, by offering online ordering through their website as well as through Eat24. Bad thing is that the prices are different on every site I go to. Of course, the more expensive menu prices you see are what is currently the price they sell for. It is $9 a dish now, which is very expensive for Indian cuisine... They have an extensive vegetarian menu, which is nice. But the flavors are lacking here and the consistency very watery. I tried the dal Masala and their Chana Masala. The Roti and Naan breads are chewy, not crisp, and hard to swallow. It also wasn't piping hot when we got it, which made it seem like it's been sitting out for a while. The rice was tough and some was already dry and hard. We ordered at 6:30pm, so we don't understand why they wouldn't have fresh bread and rice to offer. It's all too bad. But the quality of the food here just wasn't enough to bring me back, especially with the constantly rising and contradicting prices! -
Lanie’s 2-star review: Everyone knows Lee's is like the fast food of Vietnamese food. Sure there's Banh Mi, and Che, and Goi Cuon and other yummy things, but it's pretty bland, tasteless, and overpriced. I still enjoy grabbing a Banh Mi Bi Chay from time to time (Vegetarian Sandwich), but this last visit isthe reason I will stop going to this location. Some locations are better than others. (The ones in SoCal are HUGE and actually pumo out decent stuff). This one? Not so much. It's in a weary neighborhood with a lot of beggars outside. The pre-packacked food options are limited and prices are marked up. (The label will say $3.95, but they'll slap a sticker over it saying $5.95 instead...SF inflation I guess). The sandwiches are wayyyy overpriced now. $4.50 for 1 sandwich? $7 for a croissant sandwich?! Yesterday I bought the veggie and they gave me ONE SLICE OF CUCUMBER! I was so sad trying to stretch it to cover the entire length of my baguette, but science didn't let me. :( I also bought an Avocado & Cheese Baguette for my SO, and it came...WITHOUT AVOCADO!!! AHHH!!! Imagine our surprise and frustration when we get to the park a mile away and realize we got nothing but a plain baguette with a slice of American Cheese on it and some lettuce and mayo. FOR $5.50!! We were so angry, but there was nothing we could do. What a waste of $10... -
Lanie’s 1-star review: -No mail drop off -They don't sell anything here (stamps, boxes, etc). -No security -Homeless & Crazies wander inside to sleep, and seek refuge. (They WILL approach you!) -In a terrible area of the TL. (Drugs being sold on the corner) -Smelly -Dark Basically, this is a mail jail. Mail arrives and is left here to be forgotten until the owner is desperate enough to brave the trip here to pick it up. Tear this place down. Another liquor store would be less blight. -
Lanie’s 3-star review: I pass by this place on a daily basis but never go in. There is usually a crowd outside and it looks pretty touristy. I also see that they have the Dueling Pianos her, which is a reason for their popularity. I came here with coworkers to celebrate her last day on the job. It seemed like a good venue that was large enough to accommodate a large group, and there is no cover. Likes: -Plenty of seating and standing area -Food options if you come early enough -Pretty decent draft selection -Live music! The band playing when I went was lively, fun, and got the crowd dancing. -Dueling Pianos on certain nights -Central location. Right next to 38 stop and close to Bart/Muni Dislikes: -EXPENSIVE. $8-9 for draft beer not including Tax! $14 for a signature cocktail. Absolutely ridic prices. -Gets packed quickly. -Crowd can be hit or miss. It was super touristy and several men kept trying to impress me when I clearly was not impressed by them. It's maybe a fun stop if you're having a night out, but with the prices, I could not imagine going for more than 1 drink here before wanting to move onto the next bar where I can get a drink for half the price. -
Lanie’s 5-star review: Yes! A new Banh Mi shop right in my hood! And it is actual Banh Mi! Not one of those hipster sandwich shops that call themselves 'banh mi' and then charge you $8 for it. In this tiny Mom & Pop shop, you get a fluffy baguette that is toasty and crunchy on the outside, and it is filled to the brim with the protein of your choice, and all the traditional fixings. And the best part? *$4. YES!!! The tofu option is perfect. It is warm and very tasty. You can tell these are great quality ingredients and they all just go together. They are a bit small, so if you're really hungry, you can grab two. Luckily, even when you buy 2, it's still cheaper than 1 entree anywhere else in the city. Of course, it being in the TL, be aware of your surroundings. Also, there is definitely a language barrier. I didn't know how to say "mayo" in Vietnamese, so it took a bit of pointing and wild hand gestures. But they eventually got it and everything worked out. Lastly, they have a frequent visitor stamp card. Buy 10, get 1 free. This deal just gets better and better. With my actual mom in San Jose, it's good to know I have another "Mom" here in the city I can get some pretty tasty authentic Vietnamese Banh Mi from. (*$4 reflects the price of a Tofu Sandwich, other meat options range from .50-$1 more) -
Lanie’s 4-star review: Formally known as Thai House Express, this restaurant had a face lift about 2 years ago because I think people thought it was a 'take-out' only establishment. It is a full service restaurant that serves homey delicious thai food at a good price! Compared to the many other Thai restaurants in the area, I actually love the quality and options here. They don't skimp on the tofu when you order vegetarian or vegan. I've had all the comforting staples here-from Pad Thai to Pad See Ew, from Pumpkin Curry to Tom Kha, from Veggie Spring rolls to Deep fried tofu! This place can get really crowded depending on whether there is some event going on nearby downtown, but thy are really fast and efficient at getting tables turned and cleaned and I've never had to wait too long for a table. They even have a full bar if you want something cold and refreshing to wash down that spicy noodle soup you're eating. One more plus: They do delivery! So when you're feeling reaaal lazy (like me today), all you have to do is order through Yelp and get piping hot Thai food at your door in no time! -
Lanie’s 3-star review: X-press Market is just one of many corner liquor/grocer stores in the TL area. From first glance it doesn't seem any different than other ones nearby. I will say that in a pinch, their wine selection is pretty decent, though O'Farrell Liquors 1 block away has the win over wine. Beer selection is also decent, though Econo Market 1 block the other way on O'Farrell gets the win on beer. Small selection of grocery items are also available here. What I do like about this place? It's no bs. They don't take bs from people here. I can get in, grab what I need and get out and not worry about other people getting in my way. -
Lanie’s 5-star review: A pho restaurant that has so much more to offer! Classic Little Saigon Hole-in-the-wall restaurant that offers multiple pages of authentic and comforting Vietnamese food. This is my go-to on a rainy day. When I have a small sniffle. When I'm hungry but still want to eat light. And ESPECIALLY when I don't have to dance that night and can loosen the belt buckle a little bit. Sit down, order a "small" bowl of pho and a few minutes later a bowl that can be mistaken as large is brought out. Top with all your favorite garnishes and herbs and dig in! Although most people here eat the beef pho (Kyle H. claims it's the best he's ever had..except maybe my mom's), I eat the Veggie pho. The broth is very light, but I just love how loaded with veggies it is! Broccoli, carrots, tofu, zucchini, onions, etc. Once I load up my bowl with mint, cilantro, bean sprouts, and jalapenos, I have an overflowing bowl of soupy goodness. When I finish the entire bowl, I am thoroughly stuffed, but not bloated. I feel great! Other vegetarian offerings include: Banh Xeo Chay (Vietnamese Yellow Crepe)-Really good and oversized! Goi Cuon Chay (Vietnamese Rolls) Cha Gio Chay (Veggie Egg Rolls) Bun Chay (Vermicelli Noodles with Tofu) Various Vegetable & Rice Dishes So even if you're not in the mood or a fan of pho (these people exist??), there are things you can eat while your friends gorge on oversized bowls of noodles and broth. Oh, and like a true small sized Vietnamese gem, this place is easy on the wallet! Less than $10 for most items! -
Lanie’s 4-star review: After passing by the Orpheum Theater countless times over the past few years, I decided to check it out when Wicked came into town. I tried my luck at the lottery everyday for a week, but lost every time. :( I didn't get my hands on those juicy $25 tickets, but luckily they still had $40 tickets left! They said that the $40 tickets would be limited viewing seats, but I got lucky! They were further towards the back, but not too off to the side so I still had a full view of the stage. For the price I would say it was more than worth it! Wicked is an incredible production with such talented performers. I hope everyone gets a chance to see it! The venue itself is gorgeous, but very crowded in the lobby area. Plan on coming very early in order to use the restroom and enjoy your drink. Lines get very long quickly and there is not much seating area. Also, you cannot bring your drink into the auditorium unless you buy one of their plastic sippy cups for $5-7. Which is expensive when you're already paying $14 for a cocktail. Huge tip: When you enter, there's a room immediately to your left called the Blue Room (can you guess why?). There's a bar in there that is less crowded than the main one and extra seating space too! If you're lucky, Scotty will be your bartender. He is super friendly, provides quick service, and makes delicious drinks! Overall, no matter what show you go to, and if you try the lottery or not, it is worth a visit. You will leave with a smile and be singing the entire way home!
About
Discover
Languages
Countries
Copyright © 2004–2024 Yelp Inc. Yelp, 
, 
and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp.