Mộng Thu Cafe - Review - Tenderloin - San Francisco - The Infatuation
"The noodle soups at this Tenderloin Vietnamese cafe are so big that you might fall in. While taking a swim in some tomato-heavy bún riêu isn’t logically in the cards, slurping it down at this cheery, teal-colored spot in five minutes flat is. Yes, get the soups, but also the bánh mì and specials like the bánh uot chay: perfectly bouncy rice noodle rolls topped with plant-based pork and a heap of crispy shallots. Their hearty portions will fill you up for $15 or less. This is the lunch plan when a plate of sad leftovers is out of the question, or any time you need to defrost over some hot bún bò huế. Note that it’s cash-only. photo credit: Erin Ng Food Rundown photo credit: Erin Ng Bánh Mì Xiu Mai All of the $6 bánh mì here are worth your time. Hone in on the xiu mai version. The pork meatball is saturated with mayo and pâté—we just wish there was a bit more meat. photo credit: Erin Ng Bánh Uot Chay This mound of rice noodles and plant-based pork could feed us two and a half times over. Even if you’re not vegan, you should order this. It’s a texture fest on a plate: chewy, bouncy, and a touch of crispy from the jalapeño and fried shallots. photo credit: Erin Ng Bún Riêu Massive crab and pork balls and big hunks of tomatoes make this the best soup on the menu. Order it." - Julia Chen
