portland , Maine

678 reviews

I travel alot and love to try new restaraunts in new areas..particularly ethnic food. this one is a winner! this place is good choice for viatnamese food. friendly personal serving large portions, nice interior decoration, and last, but not least, really tasty (the food, not the restaurant).

San Francisco , California

24 reviews

The best bang for the buck bar none for this type of food. the exterior is foul and the street is sketchy but the food is great. Do not miss the imperial rolls and crispy noodles.

56945 reviews

The food is outstanding and not to be missed. If you don't like cramped quarters just order take out.

2 reviews

This place is way too overrated.Im not adverse to salty foods but, all the items Ive tasted here are much too salty.Ive been to dozens of Vietnamese restaurants in the Bay area and believe me ,this place is below average.People like because its cheap.

45 reviews

I read with amusement the variation in the previous reviews. This is a place which you either love or hate. A lot has to do with your tolerance of the atmosphere, or lack thereof. It is undeniably unappetizing, but the food is good. I think most regulars know to avoid sitting upstairs. I work nearby and we eat there on average once or twice a week. I resisted this place for awhile but have come to enjoy several of their dishes, namely #17, the shrimp fried rice and the pan fried noodles. The service is often somewhat rushed and the communication can be trying, but the staff isn't rude. People who appreciate a good cheap meal and are okay with the surroundings keep coming back, and that says alot.

56945 reviews

Ditto that last reviewer up there. Some people are gonna avoid this place, because they want cleanliness and no vermin in a restaurant, and they don't want to step over homeless people to get in the door, or have crack offered to them while they're waiting (see above, ditto again). But then, some people miss out on a lot of great things. The restaurant and its fans make a big deal of Julia Child's having eaten here, and the food IS really good. One word of advice: DO NOT go upstairs to the restroom - you're liable to see some things that'll make you lose you appetite. And the atmosphere really IS the pits; on the bright side though, the donut shop next door makes Tu Lan look like a palace. (Oh, and hey, while you're in the the hood, check out The Luggage Store Gallery/509 Cultural Center around the corner on Market).

56945 reviews

The Vietnamese equivalent of House Of Nanking. For all the obvious reasons. Crowded, noisy, unhealthy looking. Atmosphere = 1 Star. Great chow! Food = 7 Stars. Average = 4 Stars. Go in a group, so you can try lots of dishes, and share! Try and sit downstairs, I sat upstairs and the waiter declined to order #77 (Ten Things In Pot), said that could only be served downstairs (smoke / ventilation). The neighborhood is definitely a concern. In no way would I drive and park anywhere nearby. Plan to leave your car somewhere safe, then walk, or take cab / BART / Muni. Go in a group, and / or during daylight hours regardless. But go. Do not miss this. The Ginger Beef (#38) is pungent and spicy, yet sweet as only ginger dishes are. The Crispy Noodle (#20) is a real experience too! :) Allow extra time ("1/2 hour extra" said the waiter for Golden Half Moon Pie, or Ten Things In Pot) :(

35 reviews

Tu Lan can easily be overlooked due to its location and appearance unless someone introduces you to it. The food is vastly superior to the fancy Vietnamese restaurants I have eaten in coast to coast. Since Vietnamese food is my favoriete Oriental food, I eat it frequently. You owe to yourself to eat here but overlook the ambience. A must--the Imperial Rolls!!!!

56945 reviews

After all the hype, the food was a disappointment. The #17 is good, but not the best in the Bay Area. The goi cuon (fresh spring rolls) was probably prepared hours ago; the wrapping was dried and hard on the outside. I do have to say it was lotsa fun sitting at the counter watching the stir-frys being prepared 2 feet away. And the cook was nice, he would get the attention of a waiter if he saw me looking around for one.

10 reviews

Unlike the other people who have reviewed Tu Lan, my experience was pretty negative. I thought the food was greasy and unremarkable (though at least cheap), and the neighborhood is the worst in SF. While I was waiting at the bar for a table, drug dealers came in and tried to sell us their wares.