Eating near the Asian Art Museum
What should you do when you are visiting the Asian Art Museum and discover you’re hungry?
First, the Asian Art Museum has its own Café Asia and the food is delicious. The line moves quickly so you can get right back to the galleries, resource room, North Court or Samsung Hall activities — and of course the gift shop — in no time. If it is a sunny day you are in luck because you can sit outside on the terrace –– one of the very few al fresco dining options in the neighborhood.
Cafe Asia's delicious Chinese Chicken Salad
If you are done for the day or Cafe Asia is busy, there are a number of nearby eateries that are pretty tasty — too many to list in one post. However, the Asian Art Museum is located just outside San Francisco’s official Little Saigon so the selection of Vietnamese food is particularly impressive. Here are some nearby places to try this cuisine:
If you need a quick meal to go do not miss the Saigon Sandwich shop at 560 Larkin (at Eddy). Don’t be put off by the line out the door. These sandwich pros take orders for a dozen people at a time and make the sandwiches in efficient batches, and they never forget whose sandwich belongs to who. I go for the roast pork, but there is also roast chicken, pate, tofu, and various combinations to be had. You can take your banh mi (and a can of mango or coconut juice) back to the Museum and grab one of the outside benches.
Sing Sing sandwich shop 309 Hyde Street (between Eddy St & Ellis St), is another nearby banh mi option (perfect with an iced coffee). You can try and grab one of the 4 tables inside. I have not actually tried this place yet, but it has good buzz.
For a sit down Vietnamese dinner after a day at the museum, try Pagolac at 655 Larkin St (between Ellis St & Willow St) . The 7 course beef is ridiculous; the menu has many veggie dishes as well.
My absolute favorite place for a group lunch is Bodega Bistro at 607 Larkin (at Eddy). The green papaya salad is da bomb, garlic noodles and tiger prawns make a great combo, and the “shaking beef” (bo luc lac) is to die for. This restaurant can be crowded at lunch time so try and get there before noon. The atmosphere at dinner evolves into a white tablecloth affair. Unlike Pagolac, there are not a lot of vegetarian options here.
On a cold and foggy San Francisco summer day, head to Turtle Tower at 631 Larkin St (between Eddy St & Ellis St). Some say TT has the best pho in SF –– pho for breakfast anyone? One of our recent distinguished visitors from Japan went to TT every day during his visit with a mission to try all the different pho variatons. He loved every one of them.
If the line is too long at TT another nearby pho option is Pho 2000 at 637 Larkin (near Eddy).
Look for more chow tips for our museum visitors in future posts.
8 Responses to “Eating near the Asian Art Museum”
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xensen on August 14th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Great tips, Sharon. Looking forward to the next installment!
namastenancy on August 14th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Thanks for the tips – I always wonder among those Vietnamese restaurants on Larkin Street and can’t decide which one to choose. But if you want to go up Polk Street, there are two North African restaurants – one at Sutter and Polk and another just a bit further on Polk.
nico on August 15th, 2009 at 11:58 am
favorites for when I actually leave my desk for lunch:
Morty’s on Golden Gate between Hyde and Leavenworth–
friendly to vegetarians and meatatarians alike
Le Petitt’s across the street–make their own sourdough rolls
What used to be called Wrap Delight on Larkin (Wendy always greets me with “Veggie no mayo extra spicy!) is a favored veg-friendly banh mi
Gyro King on Grove across from the library–I’ve been known to go there nearly daily
Lers Ros up Larkin makes some of the best Thai food I’ve had lately (esp. Silver noodle salad…but it’s not totally veg since there’s fish sauce)
Larkin Express Burmese Kitchen has the best pumpkin stew and rice deal in the former New York deli-space, so you can still get some kind of meatwich
last VietNamwich place on my list is another veg option, Lee’s on Larkin, not to be confused with the downtown chain (although it is a chain).
I’d go to Brenda’s on Polk if I could have a two-hour lunch (and a two hour nap, please).
sharon on August 17th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Nico, well – you beat me to the punch as some of those are also ones that will go into my future posts as well!
bittermelon on August 17th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Nice roundup Sharon.
I also agree with Nico’s list, and will have to be the dissenting voice and say right now that I prefer Lee’s to Saigon Sandwich. That’s where I go for my banh mi fix.
If ever there’s room for explorations into Hayes Valley, Bar Jules is my absolute top pick.
xensen on August 17th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Over in that area I like the Hayes Street Grill, and just beyond, on Market St, Zuni. Both are a little more expensive than the others mentioned.
nico on August 17th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Sharon, please keep on with the list–I only eat the vegetarian/fishatarian things, so my list would not be complete.
J-melon, I actually prefer Lee’s but they never give me enough cilantro or jalapeno: I think I’m just going to have to bring my own.
bittermelon on August 18th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Nico, yay! I always ask for extra cucumbers and jalapenos. It can be done.