"Say you only have $20 in your pocket and you need some rich broth to make it through the day—Bac Lieu in Bernal Heights and their giant bowls of rare beef phở táí to the rescue. If you’re feeling like a big spender, then other stand-outs include the shrimp cake chao tom, the crispy and fishy bánh xèo, and the garlic noodles, which are some of the better ones in the city—a high honor. " - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez, lani conway