Sai’s Vietnamese Restaurant & Bar
Vietnamese restaurant · North Beach ·
Vietnamese essentials like pho, rice plates, and curry
Vietnamese essentials like pho, rice plates, and curry
"Sai’s is where to go when you’re with a gaggle of hungry friends, you’re near North Beach or Jackson Square, and no one booked a reservation. While the vibe at this Vietnamese spot is a bit mixed—perch up at the bar to watch some sports on the TVs or seclude yourself in the opposite end of the dining room for a quiet meal—there are always free tables. The long forearm-sized menu has Vietnamese staples like phở, cơm tấm, and bún. There are more impressive versions of these dishes to be found elsewhere in the city, but you won’t be unhappy with anything that lands on your table—and quick and friendly service makes it go down that much easier. The rice plates are our favorite thing here, though they could do with more meat. Once you’ve had your fill, the staff will reassure you to take your time to settle up, leaving plenty of time to people-watch through the huge windows facing Columbus Ave. Food Rundown Roasted Five-Spice Chicken Rice Plate While the chicken is moist and flavorful, the ratios are off. There’s too much rice, not enough meat, and just a few forkfuls of vegetables. Imperial Rolls They taste fine, but there’s just not enough of the pork and vegetable filling. Vietnamese Potstickers Our favorite thing on the menu. They’re actually balls of fried pork sticky rice. We’re currently petitioning our doctor to see if we can swap them in as our daily vitamin." - Patrick Wong
"More of a relocation than a reopening: Sai’s Vietnamese Restaurant has successfully moved from its former spot in FiDi to a new North Beach location. This place (which has been around since the 1980s) serves an extensive menu of Vietnamese classics like bánh xèo, bánh mì, and phở gà. There’s a new bar menu, too. " - Ricky Rodriguez
"Sai’s Vietnamese, a longstanding downtown San Francisco lunch spot, made headlines in February 2022 when it reached the end of its lease at 505 Washington Street and announced it may have to permanently close. Instead, the restaurant’s landlord helped the owners find a new home not far away at 42 Columbus Avenue, the former home of Bask restaurant, where Sai’s reopened on Monday, October 2, the Chronicle reported first." - Lauren Saria
"A San Francisco favorite for 41 years, Sai’s Vietnamese nearly closed in February 2022 when its lease at 505 Washington Street ended, but landlord real estate firm Shvo helped the restaurant find a new location and it reopened on Monday, October 2 in the former Bask space at 42 Columbus Avenue (a block away from its previous location); an added bonus at the new spot is craft beer on tap, plus wine and soju cocktails." - Dianne de Guzman
"After gaining Legacy Business status in 2022, the time-tested Sai's Vietnamese beneath the Transamerica Pyramid had to find a new home and has now found new life at 42 Columbus Avenue—the former location of North Beach restaurant Bask—where owner Charles Vong, who bought the space with financial help from Shvo, plans to reopen Sai's in about four months. The move followed a notice to vacate from Shvo despite Sai's 40-year lease at 505 Washington Street; Supervisor Aaron Peskin mediated the transition amid local outcry as Shvo begins renovations on the Pyramid, and Vong said he is "very grateful" for Shvo's financial contributions to the move, including forgiving a year's rent." - Paolo Bicchieri