Tanglad

"This Vietnamese restaurant in the Castro is a great place to pop into on a chilly day, thanks to its variety of noodle soups, like bun rieu, phở, and beef meatball. If you want a lighter protein though, go with the chicken phở. The hot bowl of soup comes with a ton of vermicelli and chicken strips, and a super comforting broth that tastes like the equivalent of getting wrapped in a weighted blanket." - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez

"You could head to Tanglad and order anything on their menu of Vietnamese standbys, like phở, bánh mì, and pretty solid vermicelli plates. But the dish that makes this place a Castro destination is hands-down the garlic noodles. Stir-fried with bok choy, broccoli, scallions, parmesan cheese, and enough garlic to make an Altoids tin cower in fear, they’re simply iconic. This counter-service place is the area’s most efficient weeknight dinner spot, so order up front and let the platter of steamy noodles come to you. " - lani conway, julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez

"This counter-service spot in the Castro serves Vietnamese staples like phở, bánh mì, and vermicelli plates. They’re all solid, but you’re here for the incredible garlic noodles. Stir-fried with bok choy, broccoli, and scallions, and finished with parmesan, this dish works just as well as a gateway back to reality after a night out as it does for quick dinners under $20. The egg noodles are thick and chewy, and the ideal vehicle for the mini aquarium’s worth of garlic butter and cheese they’re drenched in. The other good news is you can customize what goes on top, like five-spice chicken or lemongrass beef. Know that the flawless charred BBQ pork is the way to go. " - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez

"Soup: Chicken Phở Tangled is a casual, counter-service restaurant offering a variety of Vietnamese noodle soups in the Castro. Think bun rieu, phở, and bún bò huế. You won’t be disappointed with whatever you end up with, especially since everything is well-seasoned and comforting. But we prefer the lighter chicken phở. This hot bowl comes with a ton of vermicelli, a beautiful fragrant broth, and no shortage of chicken strips. " - Julia Chen 1, Lani Conway, Ricky Rodriguez

"This counter-service spot in the Castro serves Vietnamese staples like phở, bánh mì, and vermicelli plates. They’re all solid, but you’re here for the incredible garlic noodles. Stir-fried with bok choy, broccoli, and scallions, and finished with parmesan, this dish works just as well as a gateway back to reality after a night out as it does for quick dinners under $20. The egg noodles are thick and chewy, and the ideal vehicle for the mini aquarium’s worth of garlic butter and cheese they’re drenched in. The other good news is you can customize what goes on top, like five-spice chicken or lemongrass beef. Know that the flawless charred BBQ pork is the way to go." - Julia Chen