the best pan fried egg noodles you'll ever have. if you like it crispy and piping hot -- this is the place. try their pan fried noodles over tomato beef or the seafood combination. the 4 stars is for the quality, the value of the meal, and taste of the food. one less star for the service and ambiance.
(4)
Janelle H.
viet and chinese. decent, but not the best. go to a real pho place for vietnamese. there are some original things from here that u can't get many places. like the bun bo hue. its pork feet with vermacelli noodles in a spicy soup. dad's fave.
(3)
carebear l.
This is kind of a grubby place. I feel like I need to wash their dishes for them and vacuum the floor. The only reason why we came here was because my bf's grandmother wanted to come here. I came here for the first time the other day. The waiters are pushy here. We sat for like two minutes and the waiter came over to take our order and we asked if we can have more time. Another waiter came over like 2 minutes later. Their menu is huge. Tons of food to decide on. I ordered their Pho Ga- Chicken noodle. A plus was that there were a ton of noodles, but the minus was that the broth did not have much flavor. Needless to say, it doesn't matter if there is a big bowl of noodles if the broth isn't good, right? My bf ordered the the Cambodian style noodles(egg noodles and broad rice noodles)-dry. He didn't like it very much. There was barely any broad rice noodles mixed in. There was no sauce to flavor the noodles, very bland. The cup of broth that the noodles came with was mediocre. Grandmother had the seafood wonton egg noodles. She really enjoyed it and ate the whole thing. The only thing she did not particularly like was the fish balls. We also ordered the Salt and pepper squid. This is the only reason this place gets the extra star. The squid is yummy. Most places that make this dish make it with too much batter. Just enough batter and the squid was cooked just right, not even rubbery. I would come back here to order the squid to go and to try the bbq items based on the reviews though.
(2)
Chris C.
When all else fails, I end up here for some dependable food. I've tried their Chinese and Vietnamese and it's all worth the low price. When you can't decide where to go for some cheap food, just drop by here and you can choose what you want and not worry about your friends since there's gotta be something on the menu they like. It does get pretty packed in there and the only reason I give this place only four stars is because they close early and have run out of "chow fun" of all things on two separate occasions that I've been there.
(4)
Valerie N.
i like their vermicelli over here. i've came here many times either with boyfriend or friends. dine in or to go. this place looks dirty, but the food is pretty darn good! the price isn't that bad either. i'd stick with #109!
(4)
Connie P.
As authentic and as good as it can get around here. The pho is delicious and the fried pork is to die for! The skin is light and crunchy while the meat is soft and tender.. doesn't get any better than that. The prices are extremely reasonable. Don't come here if you're expecting first-class service though.. the waitstaff is your typical Chinese waitstaff- gives you what you want and nothing more. However, I came here once and the fried pork wasn't that good. Probably just an unlucky day though.. I wouldn't doubt their fried pork. Mmm mmm good. Come here if you're like me and have crazy cravings for fried pork.
(4)
christy w.
this is one of my favorite chinese restaurants that serve food fast and cheap! you can get full with leftovers for only 12-13 dollars. and the food comes out fast and hot. i usually order the steamed egg over rice or the chicken wet chow fun and drown it in hot sauce! the portions are huge,oh and you might have to share the long tables with other people.
(4)
Kristofer B.
Hoa sheeet! this place serves THE BEST chinese cuisine (they also do Vietnamese which I have not yet sampled). Their House Special Won Ton is exceptional, and the Mongolian beef and combo fried rice are also super yummy! Good-sized portions of tasty deliciousness...Eat here and leave happy!
(5)
Rita Y.
Have not dined here in a long time but I do come here to purchase the take out roast pork or roast duck to take home. We came here for lunch and I got the seafood pho for about 8 dollars. The broth is not as flavorful as what Kevin's Noodle House serves a few blocks away. There was a lot of squid, some shrimp and a couple of fish balls. The noodles are the wide noodles, but thinner than the ones at Kevin's. I like the much wider ones. They didn't give you any basil and there was a sprinkling of bean sprouts in the soup. Hubby had the beef tendon over rice. Came with chunks of baby bok choy and a lot of rice. I tried a bite of the beef and didn't like it. The gravy was too heavy. Not sure I'd eat here again but the place is hopping and one of SFPD's finest was having lunch there too.
(2)
Jules L.
cheap 99 cent homemade soy drink. option of hot or cold. I was craving bitter melon, so I went here knowing they serve this. it is not on the menu but you can order it. I asked for bitter melon and beef with black bean sauce. I asked for less beef because I don't like eating that much beef. they still gave me a good amount so they probably didn't adjust the dish like I've asked. no biggie. the soy drink was not too sweet. which is how I like it. the rice and sauce on dish was pretty good. bitter melon wasn't too bitter. the beef was soft but some pieces had a weird taste to it. I can't explain it. they gave me hot tea in a glass but there looked like a mold stuck on the glass so I didn't bother to drink from it. it looked like mold but it could have been something else. regardless, it was not a clean glass. they have disposable chopsticks at the table, I suggests you use that over the regular chopsticks. the table was sticky, so I wipe the table down with my own wet wipes. service is non existing. I wanted to order a side dish of roast duck but the waitress must have misunderstood me, and abruptly replied with a NO, grabbed the menu off the table and walked away. i also had to bring the cash to cashier when done because no one bother to come on by to pick it up even though they were doing nothing and just standing around. luckily I had the right amount of cash so I didn't have to wait for the change. when I handed it the waiter. no thank you or come again. they just don't give a fak I guess. the worst thing is I had stomach pain afterward. I can't tell if it is from the soy drink or from the rice dish. never again.
(1)
Manda Bear B.
********************* 1322 ********************** I used to co-own the restaurant Coco's Crawfish next door to Lam Hoa Thuan back in 2008-2011. I used to eat here a lot more than now. What they are famous for is the Soy Sauce Chicken, request the ginger, onion dipping sauce with it. Every Chinese New Year, the line to get this chicken is around the block. They usually sell out 1,000 Soy Sauce Chicken on that day, crazy right!? Besides that, I like the fried rice. Their noodle soups are mediocre. CASH only, typical casual Asian restaurant service, what service? But they are always nice to me!
(3)
Elena N.
It was around 3:30pm on a Friday afternoon. My parents and I were planning on having dim sum, but lost track of time, so we had to find a restaurant that was open between lunch and dinner. Remembering I had Lam Hoa Thuan bookmarked for their chicken and duck, I suggested we go to the Sunset. 7. Mi hoa thuan: house special egg noodle soup, dry ($6.75) I wanted the thicker egg noodles, but my parents like the thinner ones. Since I don't eat that many noodles anyways, I was fine with that. Got it dry. Add some sauces and you're good to go! 48. Hu tieu xao thit bo: beef chow fun, dry ($7) I see a dry theme in my food. Lol! I love beef chow fun dry fried. It reminds me of being young. Definitely comfort food for me. Nua con uit quay: half roasted duck ($9.50) So good! The duck was perfectly roasted. Nua con ga dai: half free range chicken ($9.50) This is also one of my favorite dishes. The ginger scallion sauce is perfect for dipping. The chicken was moist. Not as meaty as I would like, but still tasty. So why 3 stars when the food was 4-5? This place is dirty, which always makes for an unpleasant dining experience for me. They served our chow fun with a dirty spoon. And the table was sticky. I just made sure to wipe everything down with hot tea and napkins. For me, I think this place is better for take out. I'd be perfectly happy taking the roast duck and chicken home. Ignorance is bliss?
(3)
Crisy G.
Service really SUCK tonight.. I'm here cuz I crave the spicy beef noodle soup.. So worth it here..we came in n sat down with no menu.. N other 3 tables have ??? Also ask for fork.. I had to go up request for one..after asking twice already !!! I been coming here off n on since they opened?!! Wake up staffs.. !!! Oh yea CASH only toooo...
(2)
Chris Y.
I ordered a roast duck with rice. Even though the duck is a little bit fatty, it's delicious. The service is okay. The downside is CASH ONLY. I will come back and try other stuff
(4)
Bernard W.
Service is not the best. The noodles for the beef chow fun were over cooked and although the roast duck was delicious, i wish there was more meat on and less bone. The upside is the portion size for the price and the quality is slightly higher than the average asian restaurant.
(4)
Tiffany H.
There are really 3 places one can go to get roast duck or roast pork in Outer Sunset: Cheung Hing, Guangdong BBQ, and Lam Hoa Thuan. I'm a fan of all three for different reasons and while I think Cheung Hing is probably the best of the bunch, I find myself coming to LHT the most because it's the closest to where I live and because they make a very satisfying bun bo hue. Expect big portions, minimal service, and a line. Bring cash and order with the butcher before you pay if you are planning on getting your BBQ items to go.
(4)
Michelle C.
Take it from a Chinese American who grew up in San Francisco with parents who grew up in Vietnam--Lam Hoa Thuan is everything it should be; nothing more, nothing less. The food is is delicious, quick, and generously portioned. I would suggest sticking to the Chinese dishes over the Vietnamese dishes, and the BBQ items used to be great, but in recent years has been hit or miss. My favorites are the Beef Chow Fun, Scrambled Egg with Shrimp over Rice, and House Special Noodle Soup ordered with both Rice and Egg Noodle. If you know Cantonese, USE IT. The staff will treat you like their own and call you a pretty girl/pretty boy.
(4)
Raymond D.
The pho sucks. The Chinese dishes are alright. Get the bbq pork. Whenever you eat at place like this, best to see what everyone else is having; their customers are usually regulars and enjoy the same dishes over and over.
(3)
Linda N.
The boyfriend and I stumbled across this restaurant after a hot and sunny day hiking in Marin Headlands. Please be aware, this place is CASH ONLY! This restaurant comes with a BBQ station where you can order BBQ pork and roast pork to go. Their customer service is lacking but I don't expect any more when it comes to hole in the wall restaurants with workers who barely speak English. I'm here for the grub! Although this restaurant offers Chinese and Vietnamese dishes, 75% of the menu consisted of Chinese dishes. I ordered the #7 Dry Egg Noodle Soup with broth on the side. I normally get the Vietnamese version and felt the #7 was closest to the Vietnamese version. The portions were so huge I barely put a dent in my bowl! The broth, on the other hand, was bland. I can only say for this dish. My boyfriend got the roast pork and Empress chicken combo and it was ON POINT! Do come here for the roast pork and Empress chicken but my noodle dish was a bit lacking.
(3)
Eric T.
This place can get packed, especially on the weekend. I don't eat here but love to get their roast duck and road pork to go. They have some of the best roast duck in Irving and their Roast Pork are very tasty and the crispy skin are not overly burnt. Unfortunately, if you do come here, be prepare to fight, get elbowed and rowdy older folks cutting in front of you and yelling next to you. If you can put up with this and don't mind the wait, go for it!
(5)
Shawn N.
I don't know about others think, the service at this restaurant is worst than I've expected. Plus, their attitude toward customer was disrespect. My family and I went today 05/25/15, after we paid for our checks and get ready to leave, the employees talked among themselves and one of the cashier asked my sister " why didn't you give us the tips?" Common, where in the world employees have to ask for the tips. That was ridiculous! Just for the heads up guys, think about it when you decided to go there.
(1)
Michelle H.
3 stars for the bun Bo hue hue! Huge portions but the broth was was ehhh, not bad but not great. Id probably come back to try something else on the menu!
(3)
Tomoko C.
worst customer service with ok food. My mom and my grandmother came here all the time, but wasnt able to get good customer service. People who works there doesnt seem know how to smile. When my mom asked nicely to give us non fatty pork on the vietnamese bbq pork rice plate that we ordered. They imediately gave us the attitude. My mom was saying that the other 2 plates we orders already contains more fat than meat, but we didnt say anything. Finally, I ordered the same dish without knowing the story because I wasnt come in at the same time as my family. They said "it's too late, and questioned why didnt you order non fat earlier?" wth...how am i suppose to know the meat that they are going to give me is all fat with little meat? This is ridiculous! I ate this dish since I was little from Vietnam and knew exactly how the dish supposed to look like. They asked us to to order something else and insisted not going to change it for us. A male employee who was eating his lunch shouting out in Vietnamese saying that we were being difficult. The language they used was completely disrespectful. They really thought that we didnt understand what they said. Of course, that basically pissed everyone off, so I didnt even want to eat there. When we were on our way out, they were imediatly started to talk shit about us in VIETNAMESE. This is the worst experience that I have ever had.
(1)
Kelly L.
Check your bill before you pay. They secretly cheat you by tacking on items hoping you won't notice. Also service is horrible. Don't even think about ordering party platters from here especially from the old woman at the counter. If you're considering eating here I'd suggest to find another place unless you want hair in your food.
(1)
J W.
its ok, the workers are rude as hell, food is ok. Fast for the incall of food, but man the workers at the front,,,rude....
(3)
Sharon T.
Delicious! I have been coming here since they opened. (I used to eat at New Hai Ky but switched when the staff switched.) Favorites: crispy shrimp cakes, tomato beef stew egg noodle soup, kidneys, duck, bbq, and a recent fave is the bún bò huê.
(5)
Eliza C.
So disappointed this time. I ordered a roasted duck and chicken over rice. They suppose to give me the yellow fur chinese chicken, but i got the american steam chicken. I am a old customer with them in the pass 10 years. And end up they give me this salty chicken.the roasted duck is ok like average, that is the 2 star for. But there are other places has better roasted duck. And the side source for chicken, green onion ginger in oil, taste sour. I think it is not in good condition anymore! And it cost $10.33. I don't expect it comes out in the quality. I am not going to eat there anymore.
(2)
Sandi C.
Hubby suggested here for dinner. The place was pretty crowded, service was a joke. Preserved Orange-Flavored-Skin Duck with Flat Egg Noodles - mother in law came here specially for this duck. It has a lightly orange flavor, very tender and juicy. She said the duck leg is getting smaller :P Roasted Duck & Chicken Rice - This was for me, originally wanted to order Roasted Duck, but sold-out! So I got the Roasted Pork and Chicken. Portion was pretty big. I loved the roasted pork, the skin was so crispy and meat was tender. Chicken was average. Fish Ball & Fish Cake Flat Noodles - fish ball taste like hand made, not the ones from store. The soup base was so-so. Around 8:45pm, 95% BBQ items were sold out already.
(3)
e. w.
Our standby comfort food hangout. Soup noodles, pho, roasted meats....yum. Don't let the spill out lines scare you if you are sitting down for a meal. That is just the take out line. Great food, cheap prices. A steal: $.99 cent fresh, and I believe made on premises, soybean milk, served hot and sweetened. Cash only!
(4)
Josie D.
Honestly, the food isnt that great and CERTAINLY not for the price. Its just some foods that are worth the $ and 85% of their food, isnt. Ive been here for years, especially my dad since his work place is near. Idk why he loves this place, but I dislike it. I wanted to order something different other than pho or wet seafood noodles, so i got the Szechuan shrimp over rice for 7.25. It sounded tasty, but when I got it, THE PLATE WAS 55% rice, HELLA ONIONS AND SLICED CARROTS, SOME GREEN BELL PEPPERS AND LITERALLY 5 SHRIMPS!!! I ATE THIS IN LESS THAN 5 minutes and IM NOT FULL. they should either add more to the plate or lower their price by ALOT. So not happy and hopefully I dont ever return. Their service is okay, clean place, also sells roasted meat to go, but gotta work on killing the flies.
(2)
Cal G.
Get the flat steamed noodles with pork or chicken, it will change your life. Been coming here for 4 years now, and it's the tastiest thing on their menu. Other places don't have it, can't make it, or make it poorly.
(5)
Fannie S.
Good food. Soy sauce chicken was tender and flavorful. Egg gravy with beef = my childhood. (Okay, mine was with ground pork, but they did a great sauce!!!) Crispy noodle dish = okay. It needs greens! Decent service. Expect limited service when they're busy, because they're short-staffed. Prices = cheap.
(4)
Angela M.
Before they are famous of their Chinese bbq items. We always come here since we are college students. Didn't been here for a long while. Come here for lunch with family. Service is bad bad bad. U ask for soy milk one of the guy pass by and talk to another guy hey hey hey they want bah bah bah and he just walk away. The lady took our order and force us to take the food order first. What is the difference between taking food order or drink order. After she took our orders another guy come over and ask again how many soymilk and how many cold and how many warm.... Really.... Again.....???!?? My plate of rice is plain with meat. Long time ago it come with veggi to make ur diet balance. Now it just plain plate of rice.... So sad.....
(1)
Lily W.
Yum. I like this place for exactly what it is: Chinese/Vietnamese food that's done right. No frills. No pomp. Just get you that food! Their BBQ Pork is delicious, and perfectly made. Most Chinese people ask for half/half fat and meat to get that deliciousness. A lot of places consider it half/half when the thing is literally dripping in chunks of fat. No. Good half-half is more evenly spread so you don't chew lard. Duck. DELICIOUS. Seriously. Get the duck. Duck also has that delicious fat, and they do it right here. There's a small layer of fat, but the duck skin is still crispy and the duck itself perfectly roasted. I also got a bun bo hue, which is quite solid. It's not the best I've had (hello Orange County!), but it's really good. Pigs blood is really well cooked. Overcooked blood is really gross. It comes piping hot, so it "cooks" all the veg it comes with. Gotta love this place!
(5)
Debbie T.
I still think this is a very good place for roast duck, roast pig and bbq pork. The quality of the noodle dishes has gone south, however. The House Special Hong Kong style noodles hardly had any meat or seafood. The portion was smaller, too. On the other hand, the Singapore rice noodles portion, was huge. Here again, hardly any meat. I am aware that this dish does not have much traditionally. It was bare bones, to say the least. Where or where can I find the good stuff, anymore?!
(3)
Peter C.
One of those Chinese BBQ restaurants that I always went to since I was a kid. I normally come here to get take out which consists of their Roast Duck or the Soy Sauce Chicken. The Roast Duck here is very crispy and tender which is very good which I would highly recommend getting. I would also suggest their Soy Sauce Chicken also has good flavoring and was not overcooked. If you dine in, you have the option to get a side anything from the BBQ with rice or noodle soup which is nice. They also have Pho and Vietnamese dishes on their menu, but that is not their specialty, I would recommend sticking with the Chinese BBQ portion of the menu. Service here can be a hit or miss depending on the time you go, especially during lunch and dinner time. I would recommend coming in the afternoon to avoid the crowds.
(4)
Stephen D.
Lam Hao Thuan is a hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese/Chinese restaurant that absolutely delivers the best bang for your buck!! For $6.00, I was provided with a heaping place of cha su (BBQ pork) and rice, accompanied by tea and water. My friends each had a giant bowl of soup that was similarly affordable, and just as massively portioned. The other neat thing about the soups was that they were full of tons of green veggies. By no means is this the cleanest or healthiest place to eat, but if you're looking for some good Asian comfort food at a very decent price, by all means eat here! Finally, don't forget: -cash only!-
(4)
Amanda C.
I've been coming here since I was in middle school. I love the authenticity of the Vietnamese and Chinese food here. Service may not be it's best and sometimes they're hard to communicate with, but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I personally love their bun bo hue and rice plates! 4 star because of their food and quick service!
(4)
Calvin Y.
This is the premier spot for pho. The Pho bo kho's soup is to die for!! My favorite in all of the world! The tomato paste beef stew is my favorite. I would come here just to eat the pho and the soup. I don't even need the beef! Haha Bun ho hue is their signature meal and its a common favorite amongst the population as that's what Lam Hua Thuan is known for. The roast duck and the bbq pork is so smooth and flavorful that I can't come here without at least a side order of them! All in all, the food is bomb but the service might be lacking a bit. However, I don't mind the wait and the lack of hospitality when it gets busy. As long as I get my bomb food it's A OK!
(5)
Alice L.
Can this be true? That I haven't written a review for this place yet? Preposterous! I've been a regular customer at this restaurant for at least the past 6 years, and even after moving to San Diego for school for the past four years, I still make it a point to visit this place every time I'm home. Yes, every. single. time. My personal favorite that I get every time, without fail, is the house special ho-fun soup (aww shucks! how can I forget what number it is! #willupdate). The flat thick rice noodles mixed with a combination of ground&sliced pork, fishcake, fishball shrimp (not the cheap, dried shrimp, but real shrimp, might I add!), sprinkled with fried garlic, garnished with cilantro, and ladened with the delicious light and flavorful (or potentially-MSG-laced) broth--- this never fails to hit the spot for me. Some of my other favorites are the salt-pepper-jalapeno fried sea bass and the ginger-green onion tripe. Do remember to tell them to be a little more generous with the flavoring though, if your palates are on the heavier side. As with most "authentic" Asian restaurants, you really just have squint a little (or maybe a lot) and look past the dirtiness (c'mon, expected) and the mean-looking asian lady who looks like she doesn't want to be there but maybe just had a bad day or is potentially just born this way (expected, again). If you can do that, then you'll realize that this place is definitely a gem for the ultimate cheap Asian comfort food.
(4)
Jen W.
2.5 stars rounded up to 5. Picked up some BBQ pork around 8pm yesterday to make some wonton soup at home...found that the char siu had quite a few burnt spots. Tried to get through it but it just was way too charred for my liking...so I ended up avoiding those areas. No biggie. The char siu itself tasted like, well, char siu. Haha. Seems to be pretty consistent at any other Chinese BBQ place. They had a few ducks hanging in the window...looked like it was the butt end of the night. Just an ok experience for me...nothing too horrible and nothing great. Definitely other fantastic places to go to in the sunset for these items!
(3)
Jason C.
Roast duck and geese are always juicy and tasty here. Roast pork seems hit or miss. Sometimes dry or cold. Tons of carbs if that's you deal. But not me. The duck is good enough for me to return. I would skip the Viet dishes. You can get better else where.
(3)
Al L.
If I'm at LHT for the BBQ items, I go for their for their delicious bbq pork, roast pork and roast duck. My favs. If sitting down for a meal, you can any of the BBQ items over rice or choose something from their extensive menu from rice plates to soup noodles to congee to fried noodles or rice to some Vietnamese items. They come by pretty quickly after you are seated to take your order and your food comes amazingly quick. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are large. Their service is decent for a typical Chinese restaurant. Recently they replaced their plates and bowls with Corelle and put in granite table tops and new vinyl chairs. Some of the old cloth chairs were dirty and torn. So these changes are a major improvement. LHT is my "go to" place for good Chinese BBQ deli and good/inexpensive Chinese/Vietnamese food in the Sunset District.
(4)
William L.
Food OK. Not bad but the service is so terrible. The way they talk to you is just like you are not a customers but a beggar. I had a experience that one of the gentleman who cut the food at the front door yelled at me. and one of the gentleman who serve me inside talk behind me that how can he pay just $2.00 for tip. I ate a soup noodle which is only like $7.50. Their boss need to look into it.
(2)
Cheston W.
This place meets all the criteria you'd want when eating Chinese style BBQ meats: cheap eats, succulent meats, and the casual atmosphere that comes with eating at any Chinese restaurant in the Sunset. The BBQ meats are delicious here and seeing that line out the door for the take-out orders already says something about this place. The roast pork is delicious - the skin is incredibly crispy and the meat is super lean and soft to the bite. The roast duck is awesome as well - it's as savory and flavorful as one would expect and was served still hot (unlike some other places I've unfortunately been to throughout my quest for roast duck). I would definitely recommend both the roast pork and the duck - I'll have to try the BBQ pork next time but I'm sure it is just as tasty. I can't speak to the Vietnamese food that this place offers customers, but sticking with the Cantonese style dishes definitely won't hurt you or your appetite. The Chinese meat over rice dishes were just over $6 so not bad at all honestly for the quantity and the quality. As a side-note, the BBQ meat dishes that my friends and I ordered didn't come with any vegetables on the side in case you're the type to feel a bit better about a meal with some fiber intake...then again, just save room for the meat instead!
(4)
Akoni L.
Would have given higher stars if they had what I wanted but when we arrived they had no more roast duck and no more of the type noodle I liked!
(3)
Preston L.
This place still has the dirty hole in the wall feel with rude service but the food is hella good. Can't deny it. Crazy extensive menu. The Chinese BBQ here is bomb. Hands down. Pan fried noodles are great, everything on the menu is good. What I usually get is the bun bo hue. Absolutely bombbbbb. Cheap prices and wide range of great food. Love it.
(4)
Vernice T.
This is my usual to-go-to restaurant or a to-go-to place for chicken on Irving. Their chicken aisle is pretty cool, but sometimes the people who serve you act like they could care less what you want and just be rude sometimes, but usually they are pretty nice and keep their comments to themselves. The restaurant side is the same as any restaurant. They take your order and recommend you some things on the menu. Usually pretty friendly about it and spark up a conversation sometimes. They sometimes forget I asked for something, but that's fine. The food on the other hand is always good. Never been disappointed after all the times I've went.
(4)
Samantha L.
The restaurant is a mix of Chinese and Vietnamese food. It can get very crowded but don't be deterred by the line outside the door. It's most likely the line to order freshly roasted duck, bbq pork, and roasted pork. And yes, it's hanging on the window - the best kind! A whole roasted duck will cost you $12.75. Usually the waitresses at crowded Chinese restaurants like this barely speak to you or are a bit rude. The ones here are friendly and don't rush you out despite how many people are waiting for a table. On a cold winter day, their #2 house special won ton noodle soup with thick egg noodles is comfort food at its finest. They fill a large bowl with warm chicken broth, shrimp, won tons, fish cake, fish balls, and some pork. I prefer the thick egg noodles over the thin egg noodles they offer. FYI they make amazing Chow Fun as well and give you big portions! Dishes cost an average of $6. So worthy of 4 stars.
(4)
Kenny L.
3 stars at best considering how their service is! i love their chinese bbq but their service is horrible. ordered the following: 1. side of roast chicken from the bbq stand 2. duck and bbq pork over rice 3. vietnamese 5 spice chicken over rice 4. side of cabbage (drenched in oil) 5. soy milk drink the chicken was AWESOME but the duck was really really fatty. Too much fatty parts when we wanted some more lean areas. the 5 spice chicken was really good though and they give you a plate of food that can feed two people easily -1 star for their horrible service. -1 star for the cabbage being DRENCHED in the oil when we just wanted steamed cabbage. that was pretty nasty
(3)
Kevin C.
Service is better than most Chinese restaurants and the food is downright delicious. This is my go-to place for Chinese food in the Sunset. FOOD: Get any dish with the delicious, well-priced free range chicken or anything with noodles. I personally like their Bun Bo Hue -- they do it right with pork blood added. My friends like the vegetable dishes, I have no comment (they're vegetables). But, I don't think you can go wrong with any meat choice at this restaurant.
(5)
Sandy T.
My family and I have been going here for yeaaars. We tried almost all of the main dishes and it never disappointed. The won ton noodles, the stir-fried noodles, the chow fun, the rice. You name it! It's all pretty delicious here! (+) $5-$6 for house wonton noodles and it comes with a ton of meats: shrimp, pork, chicken, fish cake, fish ball, wonton (+) $.99 for homemade soy bean milk, the price has stayed the same since as long as I can remember. (+) you can order BBQ items by the pound I'll add more specific dishes each time I come here again.
(5)
Jay P.
I don't eat pork that often, but when I do want it, I come here. I wouldn't say it's the best in The City but its really, REALLY good and I'm luck to have it in my neighborhood. I get the roast pork with rice, for one (but its actually enough for two), and its less than $7. The sauce it comes with offers a nice, different taste for dipping. While I wouldn't go so far as to recommend someone to commute out here for Lam Hoa Thuan, I would say definitely check it out if you are here or are craving BBQ/roast. It's a great meal for a great deal! #rhyming! I'll have try the items reviewers have suggested. I didnt actually realize they had all that, since I've always stood in line for food to go.
(4)
Eric C.
This is has gone downhill over the past few months. I used to come here every week to eat, since it was a cheap eat and delicious. The food has not changed at all. It's the complete lack of service (except for one waitress there), attitude of the workers, ridiculous increase in food price (when they had increased the price not too long ago), and small portion sizes. The lack of service here is ridiculous. Besides one waitress here, who is pretty attentive, none of the workers here seems to be helping the customers except for take our order and give us our food. One of the workers only gives you tea and comes to take your money even when you ask something else. The service has gotten so bad nowadays that I go and get my own bowl or napkin because they take forever or even forget. Couple that with increase in food prices and smaller portions and you can tell why there has been a lack of patrons dining there recently. I got fed up with the lack of service and having to pay for tip so I decided only to order out from there now. The last time I ordered there, they handed me the wrong order. I asked them "Was this the right order?", I even said the entrees I ordered, and they said yes. I went home, opened it up, it was the wrong order. I called them to let them go and drove back to get the right order, and they had the nerve to say I took the wrong order! The take out orders is behind the counter and they gave me my order. When I asked them to help switch out the orders, they ignored me and just stood around talking. Great way to run a service-based business! They're food is still good, but I'm not going to give them my business for awhile until they start treating their customers with respect.
(2)
Alfred L.
Quick, cheap, and tasty...if you order the right things. And if cleanliness and service is important to you, don't come here lol. Do: order their vietnamese noodle soup and cold vermicelli bowls, chinese rice plates, or their roasted meat. Their pho noodles are very filling and they give you lots of meat. The vermicelli bowls are another great option. Bun bo hue is legit also. Dont: order their chinese noodles I have had been burned more than once when I ordered the seafood combo noodle soup, which was just a weird blend of ingredients thrown into a bowl, and the satay egg noodle, merely a bowl of noodles drowned in a ridiculously salty sauce. There is a separate line for buying roast meats to go. And bring cash for everything in this restaurant!
(3)
M C.
The BBQ pork is good, just the service and everything else is bad.
(3)
Joe M.
My buddy and I decided to meet up after work for some dinner in the Sunset followed by some GTD action. We strolled down the street from his apartment until we found Lam Hoa Thuan. I wasn't in the mood for Vietnamese food, but this place also had Chinese chophouse-style stuff too so I had to give it a try. I ordered the roast duck over rice, something I had been craving since I got back to SF. There was a good amount of fat on the bird but that's just the way I like it and I polished off the whole dish. My only complaint would be that there was no option to include a second chopped meat because I would have loved to add some BBQ pork or chicken to the dish as well. At the end of the meal, my buddy and I jockeyed for the bill and I was first to slam down my credit card to take care of the bill. Sadly though, they didn't accept cards (only cash), and this was a battle I would ultimately lose. Other than that, the food was pretty solid and really cheap and I look forward to coming back to try their other dishes. Food: 7/10 Service: 6/10 Price: $ Atmosphere: 5/10
(3)
Tuck W.
The char Siu and roast chicken are quite good. Other food such as noodles are fine too. But the people there are SO rude, service SO bad and the place is not clean. I would twice before I would come to this place.
(1)
GINGER Y.
I'm giving this place 1 star because they are disorganized and they have bad service. I like the food but too bad the service sucks. I just walked out of this restaurant 10 mins ago still fuming! The restaurant was packed. There were about 8 people in line including my husband and I. A table opened up by the door and people walked right in and sat down. The whole line was upset and told the workers but no one asked the people to get up. The workers just ignored everyone's complaint and told us to wait. How rude!!!!
(1)
Jeromy G.
If you want your BBQ items, this is the place to go. Duck, pork, whatever you want they got and it's good. We came during Chinese New Year so hella people were buying up the BBQ to take home for dinner so it was a miracle we even got any to eat. We sat down in the way back and it's near the kitchen and you can see everything and it was gross but I tried to ignore it because I've had some of the best food from hole in the wall places. I had the duck and it was glorious. Duck has always been my favorite. The skin was crispy and the meat was tender and juicy and I had to get two servings because I love duck so much. Get the duck. Did I mention they have duck?
(4)
Emilynne A.
Cheap, delicious, and greasy! Portions are huge, though (interestingly) not really served family style. So, basically, you can go in and order a meal just for yourself (weird). Food is not that bad, just pretty darn greasy. And you can usually expect lots of people around. I don't think I've managed to go without waiting to be seated, or waiting to get the takeaway bbq option. Waiter service is efficient, don't expect much service beyond them briskly taking your order, putting the food on your table, and bringing you the check. Also, just a note: I usually prefer to just grab the roast duck for takeaway. It's pretty darn delicious, and you can't beat the price! (Also, I prefer to take home the duck and cook my own choi to go with -- it feels a little more healthy that way.)
(3)
jaclyn g.
this is a classic go to in the sunset. my ex used to live down the street and we'd be here AT LEAST once a week. really solid everything. pan fried noodles? check. roast duck? check. ma po tofu? check. PHO?! check! basically anything you want, perfectly flavored, piping hot with no frills. cash only. wish this delivered in NYC!
(5)
Tiff C.
Back in the day, in high school we would roam the streets of Irving to find lunch on the cheap. The portions are the typical Chinese size... that meaning pretty big, with tons of rice. I've always gotten the roasted meat... like duck or roasted pork and that whole category. Everything has really good flavor. Over the past few years my parent's have been ordering to-go from this place and we've always gotten the fun noodles with grilled chicken and also comes with a fried potato and shrimp thing which is really delicious and amazing.
(4)
Jerold C.
This is my preferred Chinese deli take out and eat in restaurant. It has been my favorite Chinese deli restaurant for years. I always get the Cha Sui and Roast Pork over rice. If you eat in, the choppers usually give you the better parts of the meat. I usually get a hot soy milk with my meal. If you're eating along, you might have share a table. Service is fast. Food comes out fast for the BBQ item rice plates. They also serve Vietnamese noodle soups, rice plates, etc. Crispy shrimp cake is also not bad for an appetizer or side.
(4)
mui d.
Love this place. Roast duck, soy sauce chicken and the taste of their soup. A lot of variety for some good and quick fix cravings.
(4)
Victor U.
Lam Hoa looks like the typical hole in the wall asian restaurant. It's been around in the Sunset forever. The food is definitely the best part, it's been consistently good for as long as I can remember. The food is basically entirely what my 4* rating is based on. My favorite is the Bun Bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup). It's the best I've had anywhere in the Bay Area. If you like Pho, can handle spicy food, and haven't tried Bun Bo Hue, you should try it because you'll probably like it! The empress chicken (yellow chicken) is also a winner - I think they're actually famous for this. The roasted pork is good as well. Honestly, there are a lot of good items on the menu, the food is just good. It's also very inexpensive, most dishes are under $10 - that's like the cost of fast food, but it's soooo much better. The drawbacks like most asian restaurants, it's not the cleanest establishment. The bathroom could use an upgrade for sure. They're cash only, so that's kind of a pain. Being in the Sunset, parking can be difficult as well depending on the time of day. All things considered, this place is a great spot to get a delicious meal at a very reasonable price.
(4)
Jessica T.
No matter what we have ordered, it's always very good. The roast duck and roast pork are my favorites.This place is usually crowded, although we have gone a couple of times when it's relatively quiet. It is a good sized restaurant. The bathrooms could be cleaned better.The servers are hit and miss. The one lady server is not so friendly...bordering on rude.
(4)
Nicky C.
This is my little gem for go to seafood ho fun noodle soup! I love this place and will continue to be a customer. The ambiance reminds me of Chinatown but cleaner! :) comfort food at its best and cheap too. Service is great and fast! Don't forget to order their fresh soy bean drink (hot).
(4)
Erica L.
I come here at least twice a month. Even though it's about half an hour away from where I live. My favorites: -Anything from the steam rice noodle plates (basically sheets of noodle, wider than ho fun, with meat, bunch of veges, mint, and fish sauce) its so GOOD. Always craving it. -fried shrimp cake is so yummy! -roast duck -bbq ribs -bbq pork is really tender -soya chicken -tomato and beef with fried egg noodles -their homemade soy bean drink!!! hot or cold is great! 99cents Their menu is huge! It's a chinese/vietnamese restaurant, but they also sell bbq items togo. Prices are very good considering how much food they give you. It only gets a bit average price when you order family style They recently remolded, and the place looks much nicer. New tables, chairs, floors, plates.
(5)
Shirley T.
This is my go to place for cheap Vietnamese-Chinese food. The portions are big and the food is pretty good. It has that dirty Asian/Chinatown restaurant feel and look but you can't expect too much for cheap food. The dishes aren't too salty or oily. The one thing I do notice is that there are always long lines here for their roast pork/duck and chicken. I've tried the roast duck and pork and they are finely seasoned. Don't expect great waiter service here. They'll take your order and give you your food, tea and take your food away when you're done. It's all about business and getting people in and out as fast as they could. The workers can get rude so don't expect too much. Ordering to-go food here might be the way to go to avoid the lines and the bad service.
(3)
Peter K.
Great BBQ. Duck or pork over rice always good. I like the egg and shrimp over rice.
(3)
Charmian W.
Like what most reviewers had said, this place is well-known for their roast duck, and with good reason too. It's not as salty, dry, and bony as the ones in Cheung Hing and other places. If a sit-down meal is in order instead of buying a whole entire duck, then beware that their roast duck portions for their rice/noodle soup meals are a hit or miss. Sometimes I've had meals with barely any duck meat, other times I've had some with a good amount of duck meat. When it gets super busy, it's hard to get the waiters/waitresses' attentions - some of them are just plain rude; when you sit at the tables closer to the door, it's even harder to enjoy your meal without getting knocked into by people standing in line for the Chinese BBQ take-outs or waiting for the tables.
(3)
Andi I.
Typical chinese place dirty feel to it bathroom smells like failure but is CHEAP! if you dont mind the quality and want something fast? come here. eat and get out because they will place the bill on your table asap. i do have to say that. their egg noodle combination soup... pretty damn good! I usually get that because the noodles reminds me of back home in Indonesia havent been back here in a long while. is probably the same. the the different type of animals hung by the window, they're all pretty good too. is worth a try
(3)
Gordon O.
In Chicago I had my Sun Wah, in my new home, I have Lam Hoa Thuan! This is the first time I've seen a chinese-vietnamese joint all in one! They serve your traditional pho noodles alongside with panfried noodles. I've tried the panfried noodles, the servings are a killer! But this is my go-to place for chinese roast meats. From roast duck, roast pork, bbq pork, steamed chicken, this place is a gem for traditional chinese roast meats! Did I mention that stingy isn't in their vocabulary? Your plate is plied up with rice which is topped with a mountain full of your selected meat. You can mix and match too which makes it even better! Their chiu chow chili is the best I've ever had, just enough bite but tons of flavor! Be prepared to share your table with folks you don't know. This place is really busy and they pack in everyone on the long tables.
(5)
Patra B.
I'm on a mission to see if anyone has better roast duck than Cheung Hing( yelp.com/biz/cheung-hing… ). Whenever I go to Wamu, I always see a line of people out the door to Lam Hoa Thuan. I finally decided to try it tonight. I walked in, and the restaurant was pretty empty except for people ordering the BBQ items. I ordered my roast duck over rice togo( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ). It came out to $7.54. Hmmm...the menu says $5.95. Even with tax, that doesn't come out to $7.54. Maybe their prices went up and they didn't change their menu?? I came home and got ready to dig into my duck dinner. The pieces looked pretty big and meaty. I took a bite of the duck, and I knew right away that Cheung Hing is still #1 in my book. The duck just didn't have enough flavor to it. They give you some duck sauce, but that still didn't give it the flavor I was looking for. I ate all of the duck....I'm not one to waste food....but I don't think I'll be back for more. It seems like other Yelpers like the pho here, so I'll give that a try one day.
(3)
Z G.
One of the best chinese bbq places. Definitely Roast duck, it is juicy and with good amount of inner fat giving that grease taste... but does not overwhelm you to feel disgusted, Really good Roast duck and my second choice was crispy pork, it was a bit dry the meat, maybe I could have order a specific part of it, the skin was definitely crispy. The lai fan (noodle) soup goes so well with it. The meat is serve separated so the soup does not make the meat or crispy skin soggy. Guess what, all this is on dish.... really a perfect combination.
(4)
Gelene V.
I LOVE this restaurant simply because I've been eating here ever since I was young. It's not the cleanest place ever, but we all know the best foods don't always have to come from the cleanest restaurants. There are a bunch of noodles and rice plates that are really good from this place - I've yet to try something I didn't like. Their food is definitely the perfect blend between Chinese and Vietnamese food. Besides eating at the restaurant, my family also love coming here to get our ready-to-eat meats, including their BBQ Pork, yellow or soy sauce chicken, roasted pork, and duck. It's definitely a good option as a quick dinner since they're already cooked and chopped into small pieces for you.
(5)
Michelle Q.
If you don't like roast pork or roast duck then you are shit out of luck at this place I've been coming here for years. I've tried countless dishes and spent infinite hours chowing down on cheap, Chinese grub. Here's the thing: Lam Hoa is great for quick, tasty Chinese food but sucks when it comes to atmosphere and grease-free cooking. Like most Chinese hole-in-the-walls, Lam Hoa gives little thought to ambiance. That in mind, I find Lam Hoa to be a little dingier than most. Tables are always sticky and chopsticks have residue of meals past. The floor has DEFINITELY seen better days and the chairs are torn and uncomfortable. The food itself is decent. Excessive use of oil and msg. But hey, that's what we love about Chinese food right? However, the roast pork and roast duck is PHENOMENAL. I absolutely love this place for those two things alone. The roast duck is flavorful and fatty and crisp and the roast pork is juicy and tender. Whenever I come here I order anything that includes duck or pork, which is usually noodle soup or a rice plate. If you want to get pork or duck to-go, expect a line of pushy Chinese folks. I include myself in that category. The other great thing about this place? The prices. Generally everything is under $8 and you get huge portions. I usually get 2 meals out of each order. Also, the food comes out ridiculously fast, which is great when you're in a constant state of hunger (as I seem to be).
(3)
Eric C.
This place is awesome! And very very nice to the wallet, which is always a good thing. Two things I always order: 1. BBQ pork and white rice 2. Bun Bo Hue ( I think thats how you spell it) I just pick at both until my stomach refuses to have anymore food stuffed into it. The bun bo hue comes in what looks like a giant family sized bowl, so be prepared for that. As far as the broth, it is oily goodness. I'm always happy when I leave but for some reason I always get bubble guts later on in the day...But this place is definitely worth some time on the toilet!!
(4)
Anthony W.
Hands down the best roast duck and Chinese BBQ joint on Irving Street or all of Sunset District, period. Their roast duck is well marinated, the meat is juicy, and overall just looks great, unlike the sad birds you see in some of the other BBQ shops on the same street. On weekend mornings, the line goes out the door (w/ old Chinese ladies & gentlemen) so be patient.
(5)
Misha T.
Don't totally understand what the lines are always for on some days because while their duck is tasty, it's not line worthy. Other than that hu tieu isn't bad, though it's somehow too garlicky (who knew such a thing were possible). Banh Uot wasn't bad but the noodles fought pretty hard to stick together and I though the ratio of noodle to meat wasn't very good in that by the end you're left holding a big ol bag of noodles...
(3)
Chris C.
Great dive! Nice and a bit of a dive, but the food comes out quicker than McD's. The fresh kidneys pan fried with ginger and green onions is my fav here. Cafe su da is very good here too, for that caffiene fix (they use an espresso machine). And the soy milk is made fresh here, it's not from a can from what I saw.
(4)
MickYee M.
I use to come here at least 3 times a week and my favorite dish is roast duck over rice. They are famous for their roast duck and they use to be generous with the duck. I understand the economy plays a major factor with don't cut the portion down. That was the first thing I noticed. Increase your price but don't cut the portion... I rather pay alittle more to get the same portion. Guess I'll have to take-out to get my roast duck fix. They still have the best roast duck despite the much smaller portion
(1)
Denise C.
Interesting blend of Chinese and Vietnamese food. I got noodles with peanut sauce and I didn't fully like it. My dad got noodle soup with meat and I thought his dish was better. Bought a duck. It's farther down Irving and the only reason we stopped by was because we found a parking spot nearby.
(3)
Shane R.
an unusually big restaurant for the sunset. chinese-esque curt service. duck and pork hanging from hooks at the front of the restaurant. theyre chopping it right there. extensive menu. all meat was fresh. bbq pork was tender and not overly artificially flavored. sweet sauce on the side. roast chicken over vermicelli was tender. soy based flavoring i think. noodles were fresh. fish sauce had less of a vinegary kick than most places. 3-color dessert with coconut milk was just the right thing to finish off the meal.
(4)
Clifford L.
Hella jaMM-pact AT LUNCH TIME DURN sPRING BREAK! I did 2 errands, came back in 15 minutes & got my share table with old guy, barely paying, still nursing his 1/2 glass of T! Everything else had been cleared & formica toweled off B4 you could blink half-a-blink. It was a cacophonous clatter of hum and chatter and clinking melmac dishes, just like over there! Go for broke! the spicy spaghetti in red orange broth, marvels of VietNam bobbing about, tearing in basil leaves, mint leaves, slices of jalapenyo, bean sprouts, and squeeze the lemon half into the steamy hot concoction. For texture, ordering the deep fried fish cake rolls, little bits of winter water chestnut adding to the delicate outer crunch. to go- a pound of the Chinese BBQ pork, 1/2 White range chicken, 1 pound of the luscious crunch-skin roast pig. 1/2 Lb spit roasted chicken livers. Gotta have chicken livers.
(4)
Stacey C.
If you like duck, chicken, BBQ pork, or crispy skinned pork, definitely come here. If you are a sweet, 4th generation Asian American like myself, who can't stand being groped by the old lady behind you, who tries to cut you during Chinese New Year and shove you with her big lady bag, and then steal your duck while you've patiently waited for 30 minutes outside... then do not come here. Seriously, that's what happened to me. This place has such good food that I was attacked on all sides by crazies over a duck. I mean the worker got me a duck, and the lady in front of me said, "No, that's mine." Apparently she wanted the fatter duck. So I just rolled with it and let her have it. Save me a few calories. By all means, take your food to go. It feels a little grungy in here, as are most places on this street, but you can definitely get some good food from the menu or from the counter. And make sure you have CASH ONLY.
(3)
Carmen L.
Their roast duck and pork are excellent. They're a staple at special family dinners. I also love their noodle soups- in particular, the wonton with thick rice (ho fun) noodles. It comes with lots of meat, fish balls, shrimp, etc and is always piping hot with fresh noodles. Cleanliness and service are just average.
(4)
Cynthia L.
BUSY BUSY BUSY But if you don't mind the hussle and bussle, you'll do fine. I came around noon on a Saturday anyways so maybe it's not that busy on the regular? Anyways, the service is fast and the soup was good. I had the egg noodle house special which wasn't what I expected, but it was yummy. Noodles could have been a little tougher though
(3)
Andrew K.
One of the most comprehensive selection of Chinese and Viet-Chinese noodles and Hong Kong style BBQ and roasted meats in the city. This place was one of my favorite and most frequented cheap eats, when I lived just a block away from here for a few years. The noodle dishes are all pretty good, whether it's dry noodles, wet noodles - either layered with sauce or in a soup. Great deal on the meat dishes. I remember the chicken with garlic sauce sometimes being a little undercooked but I ate it anyway. The duck was a better choice for me and maybe a safer one for you. ;) I really liked the beef lo mein, chaing mai curry noodles (kao soi) and often ordered the pork chops. There used to be this noodle soup dish I loved but cannot remember what it's called. I guess I'm having a senior moment. It's also been a few years now and five geographical relocations ago. The Chinese dishes are better than their Vietnamese selection and more authentic. The pho here was okay but you'll find places that make it better just a couple of blocks from here. Speaking of authentic, if you get headaches from too much MSG, then stay away from this place. Fair warning. Good food, great selection of noodles, cheap and hearty portions. This place is always crowded too, which is an obvious sign the food here is good. Service? You should know better. For those just starting to venture out or to the uninformed, you only go to old Chinese gems like this with a "more ethnic flavor" for good food at a cheap price. That's really all that's important here to the regulars. Just hope that the waiter or waitress will understand what you're asking and ordering. I think you know what I mean. ;) And for the record, they do at this place and I thought the service was generally good enough too.
(4)
Mari S.
In regards to take-out, their roasted meats are great!! They sell 1/2 lb. and 1 lb of roasted chicken, pork and duck. Displayed hanging by the window for your viewing pleasure, these meats are chopped up for you fresh when you order it. The prices are affordable as well! The restaurant itself may not appear as elegant or even pleasant, but I am not there to dine. So far, I've only ordered the roasted soy sauce chicken. It makes for an easy dinner or home lunch meal. I recommend Lam Hoa Thuan if roasted meats are what you are looking for!
(4)
Brian J.
This place always has a line of Asian people for the roast duck and pork. For this reason, I stopped the car, parked, and got in line. My etiquette was incorrect however: Instead of ordering at the cashier, I was told to holler my order to the guy with the big knife. So I did, got back in line, and paid. A Chinese once told me to check if the juice was actually actively dripping from the duck and pork hanging in the window, and if so, it was fresh. This place--unlike so many other places here, on Clement, and in Chinatown--was drip galore. A word of advice: Don't try this place. It's addictive, it's damn good, it's probably not so good for you, AND, you'll be back. I've yet to sit down, so looking forward to the crumby service everyone is talking about. I'll get back to you on that.
(4)
Andrew M.
Piles of greasy, delicious meat with sauces seeping into awaiting and abundant white rice is a recurring craving for me. Roasted duck is a constant craving for me. Lam Hoa Thuan is able to satisfy both cravings. Since the roasted duck deserved a worthy complement, I ordered the roasted duck with roasted pork over rice. Sure, it was a couple dollars more, but when you've already come this far, you might as well go all in. The duck was fresh, juicy, and delightfully fatty, while the pork featured crispy (but not hard) skin and an addictive roasted taste. With a small helping of soy sauce sprinkled over the meat and heaps of rice, the meal became very fulfilling. The restaurant accommodated our party of ten, which looked like the maximum. The atmosphere was bustling, reflective of on-the-go Chinese families stopping in for a quick bite. The servers were attentive, and easy to wave down for ordering, extra water, and our bill.
(4)
Max F.
Vietnamese-Chinese restaurant : probably more Chinese than Vietnamese. I've only had pho at Lam's for the past 5 years which was always consistent, never too bad nor greatest but always reliably good. 3.5 stars. But I've got to add, after ordering the cha gio today, my first not pho order, do not try the cha gio. It's not even close.0 star. Definitely a chinese egg roll with mysterious fillings. True cha gio are about finger sized, filled with minced crab meat, herbs and wrapped in rice paper, lightly fried. Served with lettuce leaves, sweet fish sauce and mint. Curious what's the rest of the Vietnamese menu items are like, does anyone know? Service was ok though the place seemed in want of heat. I noticed the owner lady is wrapped up in a coat by her register. I mean how far does one go to save costs, or perhaps low carbon user? Where's a real Viet food house in sunset-Lincoln ?
(2)
Ellen W.
I love my hole in the wall joints for their super affordable and tasty cuisines. This place comforts my tummy, all the while reminding me of my mom's cooking. Whether it is eat-in or take-in, their roast duck, roast pork, BBQ pork, and soy sauce chicken ($6+) are consistently sweet, juicy, and tasty and perfect over rice. I recommend trying their wanton soup with flat noodle ($7), which comes with a combination of seafood and fish cakes on a light broth base, and their hot soy bean milk ($1), which warms your stomach with its sweet, homey taste. They also have a wide variety or dishes to choose from for their menu is a blend of Chinese-Vietnamese and serves the most popular dishes in both cultures. My cons for this restaurant are the service--not very friendly here-- and the fact that is it is Cash Only...both typical of small Asian places. Yet the food come in generous portions, super cheap prices, and delicious. I never leave disappointed! =D
(4)
Alex T.
i really want to rate a 2 but I don't think I have found another vietnamese restaurant that I am able to keep returning to so until then it's sticking to this place. The waiters are still hard as ever to get a hold of during busy dinner time. The larger waitress was somewhat distracted when we asked for our checks and boxes for our leftovers, almost confused on a simple request. And it wasn't the good distracted it was the "I'm so bored I'll just look away while you talk to me" look. Oh and another thing is that their little sauce plates on their condiment island trays could use a more thorough rinse....they are nasty! you must scavenge for a decent/good plate for your sauces.
(3)
Kylie L.
I really thought I had a review for this place but when I looked for it, it wasn't there. There's a reason why the poultry takeout goes out the door especially Chinese New Year, it goes down the block. The BBQ pork & roast duck is delicious. Not only do they sell meat on the left side, there's also a restaurant in the back. The pho is really good, it's so big you may want to share it with someone but sometimes I think I can eat it by myself. The other item I'd recommend is the vermicelli with beef & imperial roll. I'm not sure what number that is...I'll check the next time I go. Sometimes it gets really crowded so you'll have to share a table with others. Just writing this review makes me want to go now. Oh yeah, CASH ONLY. There are a bunch of banks on Irving, so remember to stop by a bank before you enter. FYI: you can't order to-go and eat it there, they won't let you do that.
(4)
Charlie D.
I've been going here ever since I was a kid and it was at the old location (current Toon Kee) on Irving and 22nd and the quality has never changed. Yes!!! Lots of people come here for the bbq meat which is good, but my favorite is the noodle soup. I think I can live on their #2 special wonton soup with thick noodles and I dream about it when I sleep (ok fine, maybe I don't, but it's a very good dish). They give you a good portion of wonton with your choice of thick/thin noodles along with shrimp, fish balls, ground pork, and some other goodies in a tasty broth for a more than reasonable price. When I'm not feeling like soup, I order it "dry" or with the soup separately. Another favorite of mine is the "Needle noodle with seafood" or some variation of that when I'm in a stir-fried noodle kind of mood. Haven't seen this dish elsewhere. Complete the meal with a glass of their homemade soy bean milk ($1)-your choice of hot or cold, and you'll be a satisfied camper and forget that they'll probably make you share a table with strangers or their very efficient (but brusque) service.
(5)
Casey L.
Lam Hoa Thuan Restaurant serves Chinese and Vietnamese food in Outer Sunset, but it is the hanging ducks and pig that catches the eyes first. They have an extensive menu, so the only difficult process is picking what you don't want to eat. Cheap good eats are the only words I can summarize for Lam Hoa Thuan; I've been here for occasional meal and I've been here with the parental units when they don't want to indulge in San Francisco's tourist spots. Their BBQ items clearly shown through the window for all mouth watering appetites happily gather a line out the door in blistering SF cold temperatures, because it is just that good. Roast pork was amazing with its crispy skin that leaves chicharrónes in the dust. Roast duck is fatty, so be warned for those who like lean meats. I have tried their noodles and rice dishes and can really find no fault with most of them. Thick egg noodle (Dry) topped with meats and vegetables are yummy. Crispy twice fried noodle topped with seafood can never go wrong. Bun Bo Hue, because I was in search for it was not bad. I can literally go on and on, but my stomach is hungry from thinking about it. Soybean milk either Hot or Cold will definitely hit you with food coma paired with the amounts of food one can consume here.
(4)
Cora L.
This place makes me feel dirty. Like, I try to touch as little as possible, and I sit on the edge of the chair. This place probably IS dirty - thank goodness the food comes out FAST! I always get the panfried noodles here. Even though it's not on the menu, I order "beef panfried noodles" and it usually comes out with beef and bok choy. Sometimes the dish comes out with beef and Chinese broccoli, which is equally delicious. Drenched in whatever concoction of gravy they cook up, the crispy and crunchy noodles keep me coming back for more. Don't you dare come here expecting great customer service. The food is too tasty, the dish prices are way too cheap, the portions too generous, and the turnaround is far too quick to expect anything more. Embrace it for what it is. Yeah, I've got mild germophobia - but NOPE, it can't stop me from getting my panfried-noodle-on.
(4)
Nathan L.
My coworkers and my go-to place for lunch and Pho. A chinese owned vietnamese restaurant, you really get the best of both worlds. It's crowded, yes, because the food is authentic and comforting. The BBQ/Roasted meats selection is extensive and extremely fresh. Pho does not get any better than with a side of sliced marbled BBQ pork. Speaking of their Pho, it's broth is flavorful and has tons of meat and tendon. We've scoped out quite a few Pho restaurants nearby (because they are plentiful) but this is the place we've been hitting up, every friday lunch, for the past 6months, like clockwork.
(4)
Tina T.
This Chinese-Vietnamese restaurant makes some mean BBQ items. There's always a line out the door for these items. I come here for comfort food when I'm in the Sunset: a bowl of flat rice noodle (ho fun) soup with a side of roasted duck. The duck has little fat and is perfectly marinated with tons of flavor. It's greasy but that's just the nature of roasted duck. I don't believe this combo is on the menu but you can always ask for it. Their freshly made soybean milk is also really good. They have a ton of other items like Pho, noodles, and combination rice plates. You can eat in or take out. It's cheap and consistently good.
(4)
John H.
My favorite restaurant in San Francisco. A bunch of my friends and I have been coming here regularly for over 5 years, and it's been consistently great. We can never remember the name though, so we refer to it as "Middle Place". The service here isn't great, but the food and prices make it worth it, easily. Besides, you're in the Outer Sunset on Irving. If you're expecting great service, you're gonna have a bad time. I usually opt for BBQ pork over rice, but there are plenty of other great dishes too (combination pan-fried noodles, roast duck over rice, Singaporean-style rice noodles, etc.). Easily the best cha siu I've had in the city. People argue for others sometimes (Cheung Hing?) but those people are FOOLS. The sauce they provide along with the pork, which I believe is the drippings from when they cook it, elevates the pork to the next level. It is phenomenal. The homemade soy milk (served both cold or hot, depending on the weather or your mood) is great too. If you like VitaSoy and all that other pre-packaged stuff, try it and you won't be able to go back. The prices have gone up over the past 5 years that I've been coming here, but the prices still blow anything you'll get from the hipsters in the Mission out of the water. If you want great food, cheap prices, and the authentic Sunset experience, make sure you come here.
(5)
Elizabeth N.
This review is for their catering services only. I ordered a whole roast pig, fried chicken and tofu veggies for my son's birthday. Tho the food was good and the prices were cheap... they have ZERO customer service. Not to be rude, but they don't speak english that well at all. Trying to get them to help me out with the menu was impossible. Everything is priced by the pound so if you're having 100 guests and don't know how many pounds to order.. .DON'T ASK THEM coz they don't know or want to know. OR HAVE YOUR CHINESE SPEAKING FRIEND ask them. lol! Btw, for those curious, 50lbs of fried chicken wings is A LOT. That would feed about 200 adults. Plus if you order from them better have your receipt, even for pick up because my husband walked in, tried paying the balance on a phone order but didn't have the receipt. Again, communication is the issue. They couldn't understand him, he couldln't understand them AND they were yelling at him being all rude. Looking at him like he was bothering them. Funny thing is that when we got the receipt number and they found the order, then there were hella nice and kissing his butt! That was comedy. I'd order another roast pig here coz it was good and super affordable but because of customer service, eh, it was just A-ok. My recap: Pros: -Cheap prices for a lot of food. -Good roast pig and tofu veggies. (the fried chicken was okay, had some type of batter on it, not a huge fan of batter fried chicken) Cons: -They don't speak english that well so not that helpful. Best bet, go in with what you want written down. 20lbs of #4 Chicken with Tofu. -Keep your receipts from them! Everything written in chinese so only they know what's going on.
(3)
Fanny W.
You want authentic? You got it! There's almost always a line when it comes to their cooked meats. But that's not what I came here for, leave that for my mom. PPQ and Kevin's down the street were both closed so my friends and I needed another close by location that offered good Asian food. I've always heard about this restaurant but never got to trying it. The staff here are both patient and friendly, especially with my Chinglish. For those who don't know, that's Chinese and English mixed in one sentence. I was craving some soup noodles so.., #92 bowl of Pho - just as good as PPQ's pho, basic and nothing special. Kevin's is another story... #62 Fried Rice dish - my friend wasn't sure so she stuck with what she knew, a fried rice dish. I tried her dish...MMMMM! That fried rice is as good as it gets! Itty bitty shrimps(?), peas, and some other stuff. If I had enough cash on me, I would've ordered one myself and took it to go. Yea, my eyes are bigger than my stomach. Heads up, this dish is huge! Unless you've got the stomach of Kobayashi (the famous hot dog eater), you best share this dish or plan on taking some home. Must try!!! Forgot the number, but my other friend got the five spice duck dish, which looked delicious. How do I know it's good? She said it reminded her of food back home, her mom's cooking down in Long Beach. That's what I call legit Asian food! We sat for a while and not once did they push us to go. Such a warm and welcoming place! Great environment with great food! Will be back... for the fried rice!
(5)
Vanessa K.
Duck tongue! That's the only thing we consistently order. I know it's strange, and sounds gross to some, but don't knock it till you try it. For real. It's a delicacy. I've come at 10am before, and they're all gone. One time I saw a whole bunch, waited in line and the stupid woman in front of me took them all. So you have to be real lucky to get them. If you think the roast duck is yummy here, imagine the tongue. Yes! Oh yea it's white chicken is good here too. Never had the noodles, not my cup of tea.
(4)
jane f.
Don't know if I'm just tired of the place b/c it is so close by but recently very disappointed by the large "buffet" trays we ordered. Some of the seafood dishes were scary... very fishy smell. The various trays of chow mein were dry. Other dishes were extremely oily. Absolutely do not order the fried chicken drumsticks. They were terrible. These were large 15 lb trays of food. If you must order trays for parties, stay with 7 lbs maximum per tray/item. Otherwise, it's a waste of money. Got burned twice, that's it. Lesson learned. Deli items, roast ducks, chasui, roast pig, still excellent...
(3)
Jeanne C.
Came here to pick up grub for dinner. Cool thing is, you tell them how much you want of each thing, versus having everything pre-made and packaged. The roast bbq pork is awesome - you can even tell them if you want it leaner or fatter meat. The free-range chicken w/ garlic sauce is also so tender and flavorful. Lastly, the crispy pan-fried noodle combination w/ seafood and meat was to die for! Everything was delicious. And cheap.
(4)
Nancy C.
I always always ALWAYS come here for pho when I'm in the Sunset. Each time I come, they have really good service, especially from the manager. I was so disappointed to see that the manager wasn't here! He's very welcoming and treats every customer like they're his old friends; it's completely endearing, and makes the place light up. But I think his wife was here, and she's pretty nice as well. A little on the quiet side, but still amiable. Now, for the food. We didn't have to wait, coming in at 1PM or so on a Monday! It was definitely crowded, but not packed outside the door. We ordered two dishes: a standard "train head" () with the beef strips, tripe, and other things... It was #91. Then we got the vermicelli with grilled pork and egg rolls, #109 (I think). The beef noodle came really quickly! The broth is amazing. A little on the sweet side, but comes with ample noodles and a bunch of different beef cuts. Plus, it's an XL size! However, there weren't any beef balls in it. That's kind of upsetting, but the huge portion and great taste makes up for it. The vermicelli took a little longer, but it was also huge. Not as big as the XL beef noodle, but it was very very filling. It came with two egg rolls (each piece cut up into threes), and a large grilled pork. The grilled pork was a good mixture of salty and sweet, with a lot of flavoring, leaning towards the sweet side. The egg rolls contained TARO, which is unique and unexpected, pork bits, and little pieces of vermicelli. Very crunchy and nice. Now, the service. The waitress was extremely accomodating! She came by once and we weren't ready, but another waitress came by afterwards and got us everything we needed. We were contemplating on getting an appetizer, but she said that what we ordered was definitely more than enough. Very honest. I like that. She took our order and ta-dah, yummy food. As we left, it was really interesting... There was one of the guy cleaning guys/wait staff who was cleaning the table next to us. I guess a nearby table asked for jalapeno peppers and we happened to have some (in the little can thing), and he took it off of our table and gave it to them. We didn't mind, but I guess other people would have minded this. I thought it was funny. :P This place gets five stars! It's my longtime favorite pho place in the Sunset with nice service and big portions. Can't beat that!
(5)
Winnie B.
I came here for their Pig Kidney w/Egg Noodle Soup. Yeah, eff the duck. (Just kidding. The duck was a bit oily, but the meat was pretty good and flavorful. It fell off of the bone effortlessly, which makes eating overall easier. Big plus!) Anyways, back to the pig kidneys!! The noodles weren't as chewy as I like them... They seemed mushy and overcooked, but who cares if they are served with pig kidneys?! I will say that the pig kidneys were deeeeelicious... They had a really strong taste in the noodle soup, but the downer was that they were seriously undercooked. I mean, it was still kind of pink and there was a teensy amount of blood coming out some areas... However, since I really love pig kidney, I tried my best to ignore it because that was probably the reason why it was as delicious as it was. My family and I got the pig kidneys cooked, also. With... sauce, green onions, and all that good stuff. (I'm really, really not good with item names.) That tasted a lot more plain and less pleasing that the pig kidneys in my egg noodle soup, plus the texture was more rubbery when you bit down; thus, I shall stick to my undercooked pig kidneys 8].
(3)
Amiee H.
For some strange reason I really like these run down, cheap, hole in the wall food joints. Makes me feel like I found buried treasure! Food: -#2: House special won ton noodle soup: This bowl of won ton soup is unlike any I've ever had before! First, it was HUGE! And second, it had all types of meat in it, there was chicken, pork, beef, fish balls, you name it! It was a nice change from the typical won ton noodle soups. Very unique! The won tons were ok. I've had better. The noodles were typical flat egg noodles. Not a huge fan. The soup tasted really good (so I'm guessing it was filled with MSG). Overall, I think it was a solid bowl of won tons and noodles. And for $5.95, you are definitely going to get your money's worth here! -soymilk: I think they make it themselves. So fresh! Only $.99!! -gan lan (veggies): can't go wrong with a good dish of veggies! Service: Not much of service but that's typical of a little chinese hole in the wall restaurant that's packed with customers. You know you are there for the food, not to be served. Price: CHEAP! So worth it! Ambiance: busy, noisy, loud, feels like you are in Hong Kong. Overall: I'll totally come again to try the other types of noodles here. They come in such BIG bowls and it's filled to the brim with goodies! :)
(4)
Jolene L.
Roast duck is so yummy. The end.
(3)
Linda T.
best place for teo chew noodles! i always get the noodle soup with thin egg and rice noodles. soup is clear and tasty, lots of fish balls, shrimp, fish cake, pork. HUGE portions that will fill you up. wontons are good, you can get them with noodles or just on its on. roast pork, chicken, and duck are bomb here! always a line whenever its a chinese holiday with asians lined outside. fast service, good food! teo chew noodles!!!
(4)
Karen T.
The wonton fun was good the bbq'd pork is ok not the best I've had, greens were good also. Thus place has solid fast Togo bbqs and Chinese Vietnamese food. Nothing exciting to say though.
(3)
Nancy S.
What can I say about this place? Cheap, good and fast! Love it!
(4)
Doug R.
Been coming to this place for years. GREAT portion size. Supposedly the rumor has it that place has the best roast duck in SF? I have to say it isn't really BAD... but I think I've had much better, specifically at Kam Po in SF - one of the best. But, when I'm in the Sunset this probably my first choice to go ever since Cheung Hing on Noriega i heard went downhill three years ago. I haven't honestly been to Cheung Hing in the last three years (having gone off to college), but I have been to Lam's last month and it was still great. I got to agree some of the waiters are rude, but I don't think it's because they're mean people... but rather it's always really packed and busy. Food comes out fast, and always tastes great. Love it.
(4)
Colleen M.
I have family that works here, so I may be just a bitttt biased. But the people here have always been nice to my friends and I, and the food is always fast and yummy, if not MSG-filled. They never skimp on portions, and this place is seriously dirt cheap for what they give you! Anything with roasted meats and steamed rice should be amazing. Me not being as carnivorous as the rest of the world, Chiu Chow fried rice with tofu is yummy beyond means. Gakinang, what it do! Get the homemade soy bean drink and your taste buds will thank you.
(4)
Brandon Y.
Dudeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. This place is freakin' awesome! I haven't had one dish that I'm not satisfied with. I know my mom usually comes here for their char siu and roast duck, usually that's take out and we eat it at home. Bomb dot com. I've been going here with my friends and tried a variety of their dishes. I ordered the roast duck/char siu flat noodle soup combo.
(5)
William C.
This place is probably the best Vietnamese restaurant in the Sunset area. You get good authentic Vietnamese food for a good price. I come here often, maybe once or twice a week when I'm in the area. It's not usually that crowded, you can probably find a seat. Parking around this area is also pretty convenient. I come here for their great pho noodles, rice plates, and chow fun, but they also have amazing roasted duck, pork and barbecue chicken. I usually order these to go, as the line for these barbecued delicacies can be pretty long sometimes. Overall, this is definitely a plus and I would recommend coming here.
(5)
Nina Y.
Chinese Vietnamese food, but we all got duck. Roast duck was good, but so fatty. Since all I've been eating are salads and sandwiches, i haven't eaten pure fat in a while. To my taste buds it was really too much. To be honest, it was really not the best I'vehad in the states. For it's price though it was a good deal. Meh on the flavor.
(3)
Sarah C.
I wasn't expecting to even eat lunch let alone eating here. I would not eat here if I had the choice but I was stuck because someone drove me. It felt really dirty here and some of the utensils were =/. The bathroom was super disgusting. Pee all over the floor. The food was alright though and they do give a lot. I ordered the won ton soup noodles. I felt like there was loads of msg in there. I kept drinking tea. The service is sad. They gave us two glasses of ice water. We didn't order them and they belonged to the couple next to us. I would like to never come here ever again.
(2)
Junaid R.
This random Sunday night adventure was inspired ealier in the week during a Turkey Jook party I had at my place. My buddy's father in law hails from a small town in China that has a very unique flavor. Lam Hoa Thuan features food from that same town, and when his father in law visited from LA, he was hooked! So naturally we had to try this place for ourselves.... I may need to give this place another try... I made the mistake of ordering a Vietnemese Bun Bo Hue at a Chinese restaurant. That's my bad. The roast duck was really good... the roast pork... not a fan. Still, it was a fun adventure and good company.
(2)
Eric M.
As far as HK bbq goes... its good here, but i'd rather go to Cheung Hing's. The kitchen food is well made and very authentic. I like the grilled pork with egg rolls over rice #109 I think.
(4)
Yvette F.
This place is so reliably good. I've just been reminded of that when we came here for lunch last Sat. After what seemed like a good many years since I've been there, it was with happy surprise to enter the place and see many of the familiar faces still working there, busy as always but looking pretty content to be there, doing their job. And why not, they serve food that makes people coming back, even after many years of absence. What I'd recommend: Ducks in any form. The roasted duck we've ordered was probably the best I've had in a very long time. The meat was just so luscious and succulent, the skin was slightly crisp. They have run out of the "guitar-style" duck by the time we arrived but my mom (who does go there fairly regularly) said those are even better than what we did get. So I strive to make it there earlier next time to get me a plate of those. We also ordered a plate of mustard greens and they used only the best part of the stalks that were crunchy, without the stringy outer shell and cooked with the perfect amount of garlic. We also ordered other items and while they did not stand out as much, they still tasted at least as good as food from the other places I've gone to more often out of convenience. So, yes, do try!!
(4)
cadence p.
I love their house noodle soups with stick noodles. It's amazing! Their duck is okay, I rather go to Cheung Hing for that. But other than that, whenever I come here I always get their house special! OH and I almost forgot about the Pork Kidney! Awesomeeee ^_^
(4)
Laurence H.
Not Hong Kong quality won ton noodles but Irving St. quality. Good size portions. Their take-out and eat-in prices for the BBQ items are significantly wide that one should consider take-out..
(3)
Colin P.
Went here for lunch. Busy place. Food was good. Staff was friendly.
(4)
Jeff W.
good food fair price constant lines for take out bbq items and sit down lunches. this ensures high turnover of food. the manager seats patrons quickly and efficiently. this day I thanked him for seating us and called him "big boss" in Cantonese, he politely acknowledged that he was just a worker and NOT the big boss. which really means that he is. bottom line if you order any bbq item or any noodle dish, you cannot go wrong.
(4)
MissJ J.
If you are looking for great customer service - don't come here. If you are looking for great food (especially the Chinese BBQ) - this is the place!! Comparing to the typical Chinese restaurant, this place has an "average" customer service: unlimited napkins, they will actually bring you tea, they will bring you extra bowls/ plates if you ask. You get your food within minutes of ordering. The food is delicious - especially the chinese bbq items: roast duck, pork, bbq pork. Their cambodian noodle soup is very nice as well - good flavors. We've also gotten other items - a few fried rice, noodles..etc. They are yummy as well. If you like MSG - then you can get their fried fish fillet - you can actually see the MSG.... :( Yea... go for the bbq items!
(4)
Eric S.
The service is kind of what you'd expect: lacking. But the food is quite good. It's a mix of Vietnamese and Chinese, so expect your Chinese to be a little bit Vietnamese. See that line of people out the door? They're almost all here for the spareribs and duck. You should at least try the former. It's awesome. Try the soup, too. I recommend soup with thin Chinese noodles, but the Pho is pretty darn good, too. This is a cash-only operation, but it's incredibly inexpensive. So, tip them anyway, despite the poor service. And come back again and again.
(4)
Erica T.
The bbq food is ok... But there service is the worst service in San Francisco. I am paying to eat here. All I got back is there f...k up face . Never be back again.
(2)
Liz W.
This place is FANTASTIC for all of the roasted goods. Roasted pork, roasted duck, chicken, etc. For that, I give this place 4 stars, the other food, I'd say more of a 3. I've also been here a few times for their pho, I'd give it an average rating, but it sure does come out fast!
(4)
Annie S.
Whenever my dad is having a lazy day and doesn't feel like cooking dinner, he would always order out Chinese food from this place. He loves the roast duck here, it's his number one item on the menu. But of course, he also orders the BBQ pork and roast pork to make it a complete carnivore meal for me and my six brothers. I try not to eat a lot of red meat, but duck isn't considered a red meat... right? The duck skin is delicate and crunchy white the meat itself is juicy and tender. Ah, makes my mouth salivate just thinking about it. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who is looking for some good Chinese food that won't disappoint your taste buds. Hey, the proof is in the long lines out the door. I would know cause I once had to order take out from this place. And let me tell you... it was worth it.
(4)
T H.
Better watch for the scale folks. My friend happened to be at the restaurant and overheard a very unusual exchange between the owner/manager and inspector of weights and measures who was inspecting the restaurant's scale for accuracy. The owner or manager was insisting that the restaurant's scale is accurate by placing an object, presumably a one pound object, on the scale for accuracy test. Unfortunately, this object presented by the restaurant is not in compliance with the the Dept. of Public Health. You can draw your conclusion from this point. I would pay close attention to the scale and weight it again when arrived home with the order. Something tells me that thousands of people were suckered into paying more for less food. It may sound insignificance until you do the math. Imagine that 1000 people were ripoff. Instead of getting one pound, these people were given 13 oz. That's 3 oz. x 1000 = 3000 oz = 187.5 lbs. Let's use roasted BBQ pork as an example. Assuming the cost is $5.75 per pound. 187.5 x 5.75 = $1078.13 x period of one year = lots of money
(2)
Tsz Kuen Caroline H.
I have been going there for take out BBQ pork chop and roast pork. Last time I went there for to go roast pork. I paid extra to buy a certain part of the pork, they completely switched it out for the regular part despite the fact that I paid extra for that! Horrible service! Is that how they treat customers? They just think that we are stupid and can't tell apart the quality and different parts of meat?!
(1)
Dan L.
This place is solid. Don't expect anything too gourmet, but the menu is extensive and most things I've had are pretty good and cheap. They have great roast duck and they usually have a whole roast pig hanging up for the roast pork, which is delicious. Good pho as well.
(4)
Maggy C.
awesome BBQ items!
(5)
H K.
I came last night and noticed they upgraded the appearance by putting in new tables and chairs. Also there are new carpets on the floor. Hope they can keep it clean with the type of food they serve here. My favorite food from this restaurant is still the braised duck. Unfortunately, I arrive at or after 7pm more often than not, and by that time they run out. The later you go, the more items from the barbecue counter is gone. On the other hand, you can always order from the kitchen. Their preserved orange-flavored skin duck with noodles is my favorite from back there. Their Vietnamese beef noodle soup is pretty soup in my opinion also (albeit at times it seemed to be on the salty side).
(4)
fenny g.
I love their roast duck and their combination with gravy over rice. The place always super busy especially during lunch hour. The server not that attentive either but who cares, not that I will leave big tips anyway :-) Their roast duck is roasted to perfection. In some occasions ( yeah, I go there often) it's a bit too salty. However, you can expect the juicy not so thick fat below the skin compares to other duck. I like to take my duck to go so I can make my special dipping sauce at home. Mince garlic, choped jalapeno, vinegar and fish sauce. If I eat there, I always order their combination with gravy over rice. It's 6 bucks. The combination part was squid, scallop (yes scallop), shrimp, BBQ pork, chicken and fish cake. The gravy was this divine brown concoction of tapioca flour and oyster sauce! It serves over mountain of steam rice! So good with their pickle jalapeno. Why 3 stars? Their almost non existent of service.
(3)
Ping N.
I come here when there is no parking at Toon Kee, since its only a block away and they pretty much have the same things. BBQ Pork over Rice, Roast Duck, Roast Chicken. Most of their BBQ items are the same as Toon Kee, and thats all I usually order. I've had their Salt and Pepper Tofu before. Its pretty good. I'll say the same thing I said for Toon Kee. Food is good, portions are large, cost is cheap. What better way to enjoy some good ol' Chinese food.
(4)
Connie C.
mmmmmmmmm who doesn't love fresh chopped meats???? I recently started coming back to this place with my boyfriend and he loves it too! The noodle bowls are crazy huge for what you pay for. They sure give us a lot of noodles and neither of us can finish it without feeling bloated. We also order a dish of cha siu and its sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good. The place is pretty big so there isn't usually a worry about long waits! Get over there already and warm yourself up from the cold SF weather:)
(4)
Gina P.
Ok, I know this place is good & cheap but it's D I R T Y. And I mean, REALLY DIRTY. You can tell right when you walk in that this place isn't very sanitary. So I think to myself, sometimes places are dirty looking but MAYBE their kitchen is kept in decent condition. And because it was close to my home and quick, I continued going back. So I always order duck & won ton noodle soup. When I got my bowl of noodles, I started mixing the soup around with my spoon. And what do I see? A cockroach the size of a dime floating in my soup! UGH.. just thinking about it makes me cringe. I let the waiter know, he was unapologetic and simply took away the bowl and brought me another one. How do I know they didn't just go to the back, took out the cockroach, and brought me back that same exact bowl?? From then on, I'm just too scared and paranoid to ever go back. Eat at your own risk.
(1)
Wendy H.
Their roast pig is still the best in town so why am I giving them a vote of no confidence? Well let's see: 1) The deli people are shysters. Before you can see what they are cutting up but now they cover up the glass counter so you don't know what the heck they're doing. We asked for the ribbed section of the pork (three ribs) and we asked them to cut it up for us. When we got home, we found out they did a bait and switch because we didn't get the rib section, we got the neck section. The meat in the rib section is the best. The neck is not good. 2) Went back today and the guy handed us undercooked roast pig. It's so undercooked that you can see the blood. When we questioned, them, the deli guy said, "Oh it's overcooked!" Yeah buster, if it's so overcooked why is it red? We turned them down flat and came back 15 minutes later. Ordered from another deli clerk and the original clerk saw us and tried to hand us the undercooked meat back to us (it's suspiciously still in it's baggie from the first time he tried to foist it on us). We said thanks but no thanks. Solved the bait and switch problem by saying we didn't want them to chop up the pork for us. However, when we came home, we found out that they gave us over a pound of junkie leftover pork (it's common for delis to give you junk portions of the meat). That pork cost us $20!?!? Yeah their food is good but they've gotten cocky. I'm taking my business somewhere else. You're not the only deli in town!
(1)
Syd T.
My boyfriend & I LOVE their special wonton soup without noodles. We were literally craving it the next day! The soup is really tasty and their wontons are so big! Also, they have some veggies and stuff in the soup which makes it more of a meal. We also ordered roasted duck over rice and it hit the spot. Their roasted duck is really good and tasty, and we didn't get a whole lot of fat. I saw a lot of people ordering soymilk so I shall try that next time. Also, their bun bo hue bowls that I see them serving are HUGE. That may be something to try next time too! Their roasted items are good and their wonton soup is good!
(5)
Albion R.
this place kicks major flavor ass we had: Bi Cuon (2 Rolls) - meat & shredded pork roll $5.69 fat rolls filled with meaty goodness Dac Biet Pho Ga - chicken rice noodle soup $5.69 nice rich broth Bun Chagio - fried vietnamese egg roll with vermicelli $5.69 perfect balance of veggies to noodles. tasty eggrolls Ca Tim Rang Muoi - salt and pepper eggplant $5.00 SO GOOD ~ crispy on the outside, lush on the inside. these were crazy delicious piping hot and just as delectable cold out of the the fridge the next day. fast friendly and efficient service $25 before tip
(4)
Belinda C.
i'm been coming here since i was i kid. They use to be located around the corner. I love their BBQ items here. Usually around chinese new year, the lines are blocks long., if you want to dine you, you can just walk in. The place is not that clean, but it doesn't matter because the food is so good. No matter what you order you can't go wrong. I usually get teh pan friend noodles or the mince beef over rice. I think they have the best minced beef over rice every. I can actually finish the plate! and if you know, you should know i hardly ever finish everything on my plate. The service here differs, i feel that sometimes they are nice and sometimes they aren't.
(4)
Lauren Y.
Whenever I'm out here, you got to try the roast duck with rice. YUM! :-)
(5)
Ami N.
This place was recommended by a friend when I was looking for a decent Chinese place. The food was so good, and the prices are great. We got wonton soup, a whole fried fish, pan fried noodles, fried squid, roasted pork, and fried chicken. I wish it was closer so that I can go back all the time.
(4)
Karen S.
I was finally officially moving into my new place. After a full morning of moving across the Bay & organizing the new place, we had to stop for some food - or as my parents call it, afternoon tea. Without a destination in mind, we stopped at the nearest decent-looking place. My dad got a Mi Hoa Thuan (house special egg noodle soup) with thick noodles. It had shrimp, fish balls, etc. which were good. The most important part of the dish - the thick noodles - however, were not very egg'y. My mom got a Hoanh Thanh Mi Hoa Thuam (house special won ton noodle soup) which was the house special egg noodles with mon tons & it made for a lot of food. My mom got the regular noodles which didn't have the necessary bite. I got the Hu Tieu Ca Vien (fish ball ho fun soup) which was pretty darn decent. The fish balls were a bit dense but the flavor was really close to that I had when I lived in Hong Kong. The ho fun wasn't the wide kind that I like & they were too thick; but overall I was pretty satisfied. The boy got a Pho Tai (rare beef slices) which he thought was just mediocre. We also got a couple glasses of soy milk which were left in the microwave too long after they were reheated (my mom saw it). Although they were only tepid in temperature, the soy milk tasted like it was made in house with a little bit of grittiness from the soy beans. The food here was not super impressive but for an everyday quick bite, it's not bad.
(3)
Amy L.
This is not a place you go for a romantic candlelit dinner or a fancy dinner out with the family. This isn't even necessarily a place you want to sit down and eat. But this IS one of the best places in San Francisco to buy a whole Chinese-style duck, which they will cut up with quick, precise whacks of a cleaver, rice for 4, and for less than a family dinner from KFC, you'll have a far superior meal...Talk about fabulous FAST FOOD!!! Walking by this place, you'd think it was Chinese food, which is mostly what they serve, contrary to the fact it's supposedly a Vietnamese restaurant. There are the ducks and bbq pork hanging in the window, waiting for you to get in the line-out-the-door to purchase them, several other preparations of ducks, chickens, and roast pork, all easily procurred at a very low price to be whisked home for dinner or even to take into Golden Gate Park for a picnic! Why doesn't this place get five stars from me? Well, for one thing, this isn't a place I'd want to sit down and eat dinner - the ambiance is too hectic, loud, and the environment feels a little seedy. People aren't necessarily friendly, orders from employee to employee are barked at top volume in languages other than English, and the clientele who frequent this place have no qualms about squeezing in front of you in line without apology if you're not paying close attention! Also, this joint is cash-only, which is irritating when you haven't had time to run to an ATM, but want to purchase $20 worth of take-out! But overall, Lam Hoa Thuan does what it does well, and that's really what these ratings are all about - we can't compare it to the Absinthes or Citizen Cakes of the city, because they serve different purposes. So, next time you're in the Sunset Parkside neighborhood, looking for something quick to pick up and bring home so as to consume while watching your favorite tivo'd shows, definitely check this place out if it's roast duck or pork that you crave!!!
(4)
Lisa X.
Don't get me wrong...this place definitely has good food. The food is around 4 stars, but the service was atrocious. We got in ten minutes before they closed and immediately we were rushed to order because "the kitchen is about the close". Flashbacks of growing up in the restaurant business watching your mom bend over backwards to make customers happy were going through my head. This is totally unacceptable. The food had big portions and the meat was juicy and flavorful. That's all I'm going to tell you because you can probably get the same at a really good restaurant in the TL. I'm sorry, but it's really disappointing when the service is nonexistent. It's like having a crush on a real cute guy and then you realize he's the biggest asshole on the planet. Yeah, kinda like that.
(2)
Tracy A.
Today was actually my second time coming in here. The first time I came here were with some of my guy friends but I wasn't hungry so I didn't order anything even though the food looked pretty good. Came in here today with the boyfriend and since he loved pho so much why not try a new place right? He ordered his usual, pho with beef on the side and I ordered the beef stew with flat rice noodles along with their homemade soy bean drink. The waitress was nice and said i made a really good choice for my meal and she spoke fluent English! My beef stew was a little too much for my appetite but it was still good and very filling! It came with cilantro which I love so that was a plus. Boyfriend really liked his pho with beef o the side but he thought that the soup base for the pho was a little bland. This place really fits a-hole-in-the-wall category. You'll easily pass by this place but hey thats your own lost for some cheap good Vietnamese/Chinese Food. For $13 you can fill up two tummies! STEAL!
(4)
Vanson N.
I remember when this place was at the corner of 23rd and Irving and at the time it was called Hai Ky. They moved out and a new establishment called New Hai Ky moved into that corner. The new place sucked and I spent a few years finding where old Hai Ky went. I poke my head into this place and I see the same tall balding dude and short lady! I don't know how long it's been at this location, but I'm glad I found it! I've been going to this place (well, this owner's place) since high school. Every friend of mine has their own favorite dish here. This means that just about everything is good here. A great infusion of Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine all found in one restaurant with affordable prices. I love how you can order from one person and ask someone else for the check. And the short lady with the short hair, she gives the best service!
(4)
Sam T.
Cheap, but you get what you pay for! I usually don't go to Chinese restaurants, but that day I had taken my cousin out, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and all his friends "disappeared", so from time to time I take him out to eat or to do something fun. The only problem is that he doesn't eat any other cuisine aside from Chinese, so he suggested we go here because he has been to this place many times. When we got there they were almost closing, but they let us in anyways. We ordered, and as soon as I sat I noticed that the table was "sticky" and dirty, the plates, the silverware, and even the chopsticks were also sticky and dirty, which reminded me of a guy friend of mine who washed all his dishes with boiling water and never used soap because he believed that the hot water would remove all the dirt (seriously, chemistry should be a requirement to get out of high school!), that really upset me. Right after we ordered I went to the restroom, and a few minutes when I came back out, the food was being served, it was ready so fast because they under-cooked everything as they were getting ready to close. My noodles were under-cooked and hard, it didn't even taste good at all. My sister's beef was also under-cooked, it was almost raw. My cousin's food wasn't under-cooked because he ordered the barbecue pork with rice and that was already available, but it was not fresh. I would never recommend this place to anyone unless I really hate you. I didn't say anything to my cousin and I didn't complain because I didn't want to ruin his night, so I just took the food home. I do agree that the prices are very affordable, but you do get what you pay for, so you might as well go to Mcdonalds.
(1)
Jenna T.
Ugh this place is so rude. The waitress was so incompetent. The convo went like this...(fyi, everything was spoken in Chinese) My mom: Hi I wanted to get the beef chow mein. Waitress: The chow mein?? What kind?? You gotta tell me what kind of meat you want in it... My mom: Beef Waitress: *Looks all annoyed* My mom: Also can I get the Bun Bo Hue with the pho (vientamese) noodles instead? Waitress: *Looks even more annoyed* What?? My mom: Can you change the noodles in the Bun Bo Hue to the pho noodles instead?? Waitress: What pho noodles? My mom: *repeats herself* Waitress: Oh yea okay...*snatches menus, walks away* They come back 5 minutes later with the food. The only thing good about this place are the low prices and the food came really fast. That's IT. I get so grossed out seeing the ducks hanging behind the storefront window with the grease dripping onto the other food underneath it. *shivers* The beef chow mein was plain and really soggy. The bun bo hui wasn't spicy enough.
(2)
Ashley I.
A day after eating at Pho Gardens, I decided to hit up Lucca's with a friend and try a sandwich he created. He was sick and couldn't come out. I decided I wanted pho again and he had been ranting and raving about Lam Hoa. The pho was delicious but by comparison to Pho Gardens, Gardens definitely wins. The pho was quick to come out and I was quick to leave...and then hang out at Tutti Melon. Dear god what a horrible day of gluttony.
(4)
Grace J.
My relatives love coming to this restaurant - cheap deals (or should I say steals... ONE DOLLAR SIGN YO!) - for delicious plates of both your standard Chinese and Vietnamese favorites. Perfect when your sister wants chow fun but you'd rather get a Vietnamese styled rice plate. SETTING -Big and spacious for a restaurant in the Sunset = good for a big group! The first time I came here it was for lunch on a weekend (Saturday) with three families. We combined two tables and stuck in a few extra chairs and everyone still sat comfortably. -I've never seen this place incredibly packed, I think it's hard to spot for usual passerbys to catch. This restaurant sorta blends in with everything else. (My cousins can never remember the name of this place either). That benefits the consumers who do eat here - no waiting time! MENU -#26 Roasted Duck. Tasty, juicy, and tender. Can't go wrong with this one. -#71 Eggplant in Hot Garlic Sauce. -#101 Grilled Pork with Steamed Rice. I am down to eat a Vietnamese rice plate any day. #48 Beef Chow Fun. Didn't eat this one that much, but my mom said it was a little too salty for her liking. PROS -Food comes out quickly -Good for groups -Food is cheap so I recommend ordering 1 dish per person in your group but FAMILY STYLING IT. -Add jalapeños (condiments) to your plate. They ain't too hot at allll but will give your meal a little kick :D
(4)
John M.
Come here occasionally, sucks they stopped serving veggies with your rice order.
(3)
Steph M.
YES - I love hole in the wall chinese food. It's the freaking best. This place's selection is vast, with a variety of chinese and vietnamese dishes (including both versions of BBQ). You could seriously order anything and it'd be pretty good. You could probably even make it up a dish and they'd make it.
(4)
Giovani T.
4 stars for having one of the best roast ducks and free range chicken and Chinese BBQ for both eat in and take out. It is also a popular noodle house and offers a decent selection of Chinese and Southeastern Asian dishes for everyday family dining (3 stars for family dining value). I would stay away from the pho noodles, however, as the soup is not clear and the meats tough as card board (2 stars for pho). This place is Cash Only.
(3)
Mike C.
like my previous two reviews, people that rate this place one or two stars may have the wrong expectations - you go in, order, eat, and leave. if you're not assertive, haven't been to other kind of 'old school' restaurants like it, and/or constantly asking for forks, napkins, refill of water, you'll probably think the service is bad. the food though is cheap and delicious. everything that i've ordered - Viet rice plate, Chinese noodles, Chinese rice plate, pho - was spot on.
(4)
james m.
Service and staff may suck but you can't fault the portions for the price Excellent wonton soup
(3)
Andrea G.
I used to come here a lot with my family because the food was good and cheap. Even for Chinese restaurants, we felt that the prices were low for what we getting. It was so worth it to come here for a meal. I haven't been back in a really long time so when I walked in, I was surprised at their upgrade. No longer were there tables that chipped. These tables had a dark marble top. No longer were there chairs that were wearing down. These chairs were new and comfortable. This upgrade made the restaurant appear cleaner and more modern. Of course, with that upgrade, the prices of the food went up too. But it's still pretty cheap so I don't really mind. I ordered seafood pan fried noodles. When the dish came out, I felt that it was huge. The noodles were crispy with sauce on top. It included bok choy, carrots, scallops, shrimp, and fish cake. It was a very generous portion. As usual, I had to add chili sauce to my food because I love spiciness. Their sate chili sauce was very good. Slightly salty from the soy sauce and also crunchy, probably from the chili flakes being fried. My dad ordered a BBQ pork with rice. The portions were pretty big. The BBQ was a little disappointing this time because it didn't have as much flavor. It wasn't as sweet and salty as I remembered it. But it was still good. My sister ordered a beef chow fun. She doesn't like onions and they were very willing to accommodate her. My mom ordered a bun thit nuong (vermicelli with grilled pork). I loved that they gave a generous portion of the pork. They gave more than enough for the meal. So I ate some off her plate. I thought the grilled pork was very flavorful and tender. It was just how I liked it. Not too salty, not too dry. We also ordered a glass of soy milk. I loved that it came out warm. While I was a little disappointed that the milk was only lightly sweetened (I have a major sweet tooth), it was just the right amount for my parents. We also had an order of fried shrimp to share. The minced shrimp mixed with something crunchy like jicama or turnip was wrapped in a tofu skin and deep fried. It came with a sweet and sour sauce. One of the best dishes ever. I would definitely get it again. Overall, I felt that the food were really good and the portions were huge. So for the price that we paid, it was completely worth it. Service was mediocre. The servers were always busy and came by only to take our order and give us our food. However, because the food was so good, I don't really care. I would definitely return in the future. If you're looking for good and cheap Chinese/Vietnamese food, this is the place to go. It does get crowded during rush hour and sometimes, you do have to share a table with other people. But I think it's worth the wait.
(4)
J W.
Arriving at the restaurant, the line for buying food at the BBQ deli station had about fifteen people waiting. They serve Chinese and Vietamese cuisine. The grilled pork vermicelli, Bun Bo Hue, bbq pork and rice, chow mein and fried rice were delicious. Iced coffee was very aromatic and yummy. They have 99 cents cup of soy milk which was ok. Good portions and the food was very tasty except after eating we were very thirsty. I think there's too much msg. Wished that there wasn't. This is a CASH ONLY restaurant. No credit cards. Otherwise, you'll be washing dishes!!!
(3)
Joseph N.
This place is hit or miss depending on who chops your chicken/duck/cha siu. NEVER EVER, EVER EVER EVER!!!! let the guy with the black hair take your order. The guy is NOT legit. This shady ass guy chopped my "slutty" princess chicken and roast duck. The chicken was cool, the see-though plastic box showed that it was legit. BUT...when it came to the roast duck after the plastic box was closed, it fogged up. I should have checked, because when i got home, instead of getting an entire roast duck, chopped with legs/thighs, breast meat, all I got was everything EXCEPT the best part, which is the MISSING DUCK BREAST MEAT. The middle section of the plastic box usually has the breast meat, but it was missing. You can tell if you ordered roast duck often enough, because there was missing space there. WTF is my breast meat? The wall divider here is so high with the view of the chopping blocked off, so that customers can't see how the restaurant skimps off of the customers' orders. Cheung Hing, their "superior" competitor in the Sunset area has a see through divider wall, which allows customers to see what they actually get when they order their roast duck. You get an honest roast duck from Cheung Hing, but not from the shady Chinese/Viet owners of this place. I got a feeling this restaurant double counts each roast duck and skimps the roast duck breast meat from customers' orders for other customers' orders such as roast duck over rice, etc. Eating at this place reminds me of those HK gangster flicks where people always flip the table before a fight. I'm surprised more tables are flipped due to the shady nature of their business operations. The cashier lady is the owner's skanky wife. Like your typical Chinese/Viet woman that evades taxes, she is cocky as f*ck and rude. Oh and one more thing, "Cash Only"? Do I smell unreported revenue to the IRS?
(1)
Harriet W.
After having specialty pho for the longest time, I was craving regular old pho with the beef, tendons and all the good general stuff. And I can say hands down that this is the best place that serves the good ol regular pho. Very tender beef, a lot more high quality than any other place serves. It's not dry, even when fully cooked. Soup base was also extremely delicious! I'd drink the whole bowl if the noodles didn't fill me up already. Whenever I'm having a pho craving, I'll definitely be coming here!
(4)
Kitty K.
Came here on Friday of Lunar New Year's from a suggestion from a friend for good Chinese BBQ. I was bringing it for a New Year's dinner celebration in Sacramento since there's not that many good places in that area. The wait was about 30min (I heard the wait was more than 1hr the day before!). It's a typical Asian BBQ shop with a little dive-y feel. There's a restaurant located in the back if you wanted to dine-in. My order Char Siu / Thit Xa Xiu (BBQ Pork) Siu Yuk / Heo Quay (Roasted Pork) Wong Mo Gai (Steamed Free-Range Chicken) w/ a Ginger, Scallion, Oil dipping sauce Unfortunately since I had to transport it to Sacramento, I didn't get to eat it fresh as when it came out. We had so much food for New Year's as well so I didn't eat much but the pieces I tried were really good. I'm sure if I had eaten them right away, it would've been really succulent. The whole family still loved all the meats though Cash only.
(4)
Brianna C.
This place had iffy reviews, but the smell coming out of the restaurant was impossible to resist. We got a roasted duck. It was the absolute fattiest duck I've ever had, which means that it was both the most flavorful but most annoying. I don't eat the fat (I know, I'm too Americanized) so it was a pill scraping the heaps of it off, and it was beyond oily. But the meat was heavenly and moist and awesome. You can get it to go and they're incredibly fast, they hurt chop it up, throw it in a box, and you're out the door. There was a line out the door and they were still pumping through the to go orders in no time.
(4)
Sara K.
There's a good reason why there's always a line out the door for their deli items! Roast pork, cha sui, roast duck, all kinds of chicken... it's all good! And reasonably priced also. If you want to eat in, be prepared to make a quick decision with quick service. There's usually a small wait during lunch/dinner rushes, but they churn food out so quickly that you most likely won't have to wait too long. Some highlight items: -Dry mix noodles with flat egg noodles. This isn't really "on" the menu, but if you tell the waitress, she'll know what you mean. It's SO good! Their other dry mix noodles are also good (the ones on the menu). -Noodle soups are also good. I've tried a few of them, and none have been disappointing. If you have a problem choosing what to eat, you can always go with the standard deli meat + rice plate. Service isn't friendly and the place isn't the cleanest. But the food is worth it!
We've been coming here for years. They have the best wonton soup in the entire world! Their BBQ items are also fresh and delicious. Their prices are very reasonable as well.
(5)
Ian W.
Probably the best Vietnamese/Chinese comfort food place on Irving. Not quite Jocko's though. If you get anything get pho #95 and a plate of BBQ duck.
(4)
Jana C.
Oh yeah!!!! Soy sauce chicken n crispy roasted pork...all for under $10 Roasties love happening here! But, in humble opinion, that little place on nOriega still the reigning champ:)!
(4)
Denise K.
The roast duck, so moist and flavorful! A definite must. And that fresh soy milk, delicious and the perfect accompaniment to your meal. Another must! I'm dreaming about another cup of the hot soy milk I had here... Very good vermicelli and pho dishes too!! Pretty much a win win on cheap but delicious food. Not so good with the service but mainly because it's so busy and they're trying to get you out fast but with that, it also means your tasty food comes out SUPER fast!
(4)
Philip W.
I have held off in giving this review but after today's service that was my last straw. It is easy to let things go and I have for many years with this place. However from my previous 5 experiences which have disappointed me time after time. The food quality is not so bad and they can turnaround your food in good time. Which is always great and I don't expect stellar service from that since this is expected... The service that I got even going to this place at various time for various times to dining in or grabbing BBQ pork has been above and beyond rude and unpleasant....
(1)
Tiffany V.
I don't usually eat at places like this and rarely review them because I can never ever remember the names so good thing I checked in! My parents were back in town and we had to get some stuff done at Chase next door. We asked them if the vietnamese place next door was good and the lady helping us told us there is no vietnamese place next door but we thought she just didn't know so we came anyways. It really is not much of a vietnamese restaurant and more chinese (they even have my favorite sweet and sour fish!). It honestly took us forever to figure out what to order because nothing sounded that good. My mom and I split a bowl of the shrimp ho fun soup and her husband got roasted duck rice plate which is basically a massive mound of rice and some duck on the side. The soup was definitely enough for the both of us to split. Service is abysmal and this place is pretty dirty but there was a never ending line outside for their bbq so my mom got a to go order of chicken for my grandma and an order of duck for my grandpa.
(3)
Steven G.
Best item we had was won ton soup. Good soup flavor but not enough won tons. Beef chow fun had almost no taste. Quite bland. Barbecue pork over rice also did not have much flavor. Quite bland. We live in another state and sometimes forget to ask for water. (Drought rationing). At this place, it took forever to get a glass of water. Don't count on getting prompt service, after you receive the food that you ordered. People were coming in to the place in droves. Also a huge take out business. Waiters could not keep up with the deluge of people. They got my special orders right. Prices are rock bottom as most places in Sunset and Richmond are rock bottom for Chinese food.
(3)
Dorothy T.
I came here last night with my husband and father-in-law for a quick dinner. Towards the end of our meal, we see a HUGE rat roaming the dining area. I mean huge...about the size of a large eggplant. Other patrons saw it too. The owner sat it and said nothing. So we brought it to their attention, to which the answer was..."The construction next door created this mess. We had people come by already. There's nothing more we can do." I accept that Asian places are not always the cleanest of operations. I still dine at many of them, but I think seeing a rat roaming fearlessly through the dining area is my last straw. I will not be coming back here until they clean up their act, even if their food and BBQ items are good.
(1)
Jonathan S.
As a long time customer (+10 years) the food is normally really good, but after today, fuck this place. Here's why. My lady and I are seated. We look over the menu. We politely wave down an employee who first ignored us. After the second attempt he grunted at us with a stink eye basically saying "Fuck you." We ordered with someone else. Chow fun with gravy, vermicelli, and BBQ pork fried rice with a coke.. The chow fun came instantly. But there was no gravy. we were hungry so we took it. whatever. 10 minutes later or so the vermicelli came out. That was fine. No complaints there, except i was thirsty. Got ignored for a while by that first dickhead and got my coke from a thirst person. I saw our original waitress leave without saying goodbye. Not that she had to, but i don't think she cared to tell her coworkers to take care of us. I digress. After finishing the vermicelli and finally getting my coke, nearly a half hour after ordering we still hadn't got our rice (which should have come first). So fuck it. We got it to go, paid the bill. Overall the food was pretty good even though they fucked up the chow fun. Cant be 100% every time. Just a bad service day. We get home some time later. Grew an appetite for that sweet sweet BBQ rice we both love so much. A single piece of BBQ pork in it. Tastes like shit. It had those dinky little mini shrimp in it. On this day we were disrespected, ignored, and forgotten. Which is normal for any Chinese restaurant. All would have been forgiven, but the food did not pull through. Thank you Lam Hoa Thuan for your years of great food, but you will not be seeing us for a long long time.
(1)
Rae C.
This place is nice. Moderately priced, but service is a little... Yeah. First, when I went inside, they made me wait in the middle of the place instead of seating me, even though half the place was empty. Then, I ordered a roast duck and rice dish here with a coke, but my food was already brought out before even my drink, and when I asked a server about it, he just responded in a somewhat impatient way, "I know." And it was another five minutes later before I got my soda. Though, overall, I did enjoy the food they have here, and it's affordable. Just, the service staff could be a little more... Coordinated and friendly.
(3)
Jenny Q.
This is another cash only, no frills joint that I often find myself at. Pho and the bbq meats served with rice are like comfort food to me. I swear, the sauce that the meat comes with can make anything taste good! It gets pretty packed around lunchtime which is how I found it in the first place, and some people might get put off by the lack of service but I actually find it very refreshing. Just give me my food and let me grub down :)
(4)
Golden H.
There's a reason why I am a regular here. The portions are great, the taste is good, and the price is fairly low. Every time I come, there's a line for the bbq items that usually stretches outside of the restaurant. The roast duck, although fatty at times, is really delicious and the char siu is amazing. Dining in is also great as well. I usually get the #9 or the #91 but I've been trying a lot of other things from the menu recently, all of which have exceeded my expectations. The portion for #91 (pho) is huge. It always fills me up and is great on a cold day. The waiters aren't dead. They are alert and work efficiently. The service is great overall. I've brought my friends here on multiple occasions and they all loved it. Would recommend this restaurant to everyone looking for a good meal with family and friends.
(5)
Jo D.
Very cheap but that comes at a cost, food is not as good as the myriad of other pho places in the area. I'll pay the extra $2-3 for something with flavor.
(3)
Joyce N.
I went there for dinner tonight, their customer service sucks!! Well u can say they don't have SERVICE!!! I've been waiting forever to get my ice water! N waited for a loooooong time to get my to-go boxes!!! Their food is salty n vegs doesn't look fresh!! Overall this is gonna be my first time n my last time there!!!
(1)
Julie L.
Service leaves much to be desired but their roasted items are better than Cheung Hing on Noriega. The duck is more meaty and less burnt. Char sui is tastier and "prettier" looking. Noodle soups are ok. Soy bean milk is good - super great deal at $0.99/cup.
(4)
Suwito S.
The best place for BBQ Pork and Steamed Chicken over rice. Period.
(5)
Mindy C.
Boy, I'm just building the list of "Hole-in-the-wall"! Another dirt cheap place on the list, LHT is great for quick lunch, quick dinner, easy and yummy meal. They are famous for the BBQ items such as roast duck, bbq pork, roast pork and free range chicken with geung yong (chicken is not BBQ'd). They also have a 100+ item menu full of Chinese and Vietnamese food, from Mongolian beef, bittermelon chicken stirfry to bun bo hue and pho ga. I love coming here for their roast duck over rice $6.50, #7 dry (seafood noodle soup) $6 and #12A (combination lai fun soup) $7.50. The roast duck is so flavorful and tender. They give you vinegar and their secret BBQ sauce for the rice plate, I usually ask for Geung Yong (the ginger scallion oil paste) to go with my food, simply because I love geung yong with everything! And they don't charge you extra for the geung yong! one thing tho, I would love to have some veggies with my rice plate. Check out my photo, if only there was some green on my plate! You can always order "ong choy" on the side! That is super yummy, too! Their portion is pretty big, too! The seafood noodle soup is like an endless bowl of noodle! I just keep eating and eating and it doesn't seem like the bowl is getting smaller! I love it! The soup is so refreshing and simple but full of flavor! It's great if you are sick, hungover, or simply just craving for something cheap and yummy! Service is great, too! I ask for a lot of stuff usually, I know, it's pretty annoying but sometimes i just need those things, such as iced water, geung yong, boxes, more iced water, blah blah blah, but they are always so nice to me! ***CASH ONLY - I know it's irving st and i'm supposed to have cash coming here. Enjoy! xo
(4)
Alexis K.
Rude staff. Horrible service , especially for take out . If i can give 0 stars i would .
(1)
Cherylynn N.
I LIKE cheap food. Cheap people? Ehhhh, not so much... "C, your half is $30.17...actually, you ordered an ice tea too so it's $32.67...but oh, you owe more tax and tip now so it's...OPPPS, I forgot to go to the ATM, can you spot me?" WHAT THE HEEZY!?!?!? Foo, no wonder you haven't been on a date since 1981. Lam Hoa Thuan Restaurant is THE place to bring the ridiculously cheap people in your life without breaking the bank. For a mere $21, we got 2 orders of #7 Combo Egg Noodles, a side of Roast Duck, and 2 glasses of Soy Milk. yelp.com/biz_photos/RFN0… Save yourself a trip to SheMaleCrackHeadVille in the TL by requesting the #7 "Dry" (soup on the side) and you will have the perfect substitute to Hai Ky's Teochew Dry Noodle Soup yelp.com/biz_photos/RFN0… (my review: yelp.com/biz/hai-ky-mi-g… ). With a side of the sinfully f*cktastic glistening Roast Duck worth eye-raping from across the room yelp.com/biz_photos/RFN0… and a cold, refreshing glass of Soy Milk to wash down your meal, you have one hellavu ballin' on a budget meal! HOLLA! Actually, if you're cheap, please stay away. Mmmkay, thanks! OTHER NOTES: *CASH ONLY *Extensive Chinese & Vietnamese Menu (over 100 items) *Storefront Chinese BBQ Deli *Service is Hella Chinesey aka Fast, Inattentive, and Rude
(4)
Snoozer T.
Bad service with attitude, seems careless of how many people waits in line or not in line. Pre-ordering doesn't mean you get your orders even after 20 min at this place.
(1)
Drea L.
This is hands down the best Chinese bbq place in SF in my opinion. That's a huge statement given the fact that there are so many places to choose from, but trust me, Lam Hoa Thuan has the tastiest roast pork, roast duck, char siu (bbq pork) and soy sauce chicken. Don't believe me? Then the line spilling out of the door will perhaps tell you this place is worth checking out. I'm from the South Bay and we are lucky to have many Chinese bbq stores around to choose from, but even I would drive the hour to get the items from this place. The roast pork is exceptional, the crispy skin remains crispy and crunchy even hours later. The meat itself is cooked very well and isn't hard like some places. The roast duck is delicious as well. It is not the most glamorous spot to dine in, yes it is a bit disorganized, and you may end up sitting next to some strangers really closely but think of it as a communal place. There are two lines so be careful which one you stand in. There's one line for folks who order the Chinese bbq "to go" from the folks behind the counter. There's another line if you want to sit down and eat. Usually there's someone who will ask how many in your party and you get seated when there's an available table. You don't come here for 5 star service. You sit down, they give you a menu, you order and the food is delivered fairly promptly. No one will ask you how the food is, you're lucky to flag someone down if you need an extra napkin, but seriously the food makes up for it. The food is a mix of Chinese and Vietnamese as indicated by their menu which includes chow fun to pho noodles. They have stir fry dishes and also specials that are posted on the wall. I go in thinking I will order something different, but I always fall back and get the BBQ combo plates (you pick the two bbq items you want) and comes with steam rice and a small bowl of their most delicious umame brown gravy that you drizzle over your steam rice and it is the ultimate comfort food for those with a Chinese palate. I'm drooling just thinking about it. Prices are also very reasonable. Give it a try when you are in the neighborhood!
(5)
Corey W.
The food is just ok. Yesterday night I ordered the pan-fried chow mein with veggies and seafood and when it came out it looked awesome. But upon closer inspection I found a long piece of black hair right in the chow mein. I looked at it and says to myself there's no way i'm eating this. I called for the waitress to show her and she looked at me and she didn't say sorry or anything,i asked for another dish I picked the roast duck over rice. Well, when the roast duck out it was all fat and skin very little meat, I was afraid there might be another piece of hair in it. So definitely I won't be coming here anymore unless I want hair in my food.
(1)
Angela D.
Quick, friendly service and most importantly, good food that comes out quickly. Get the their special wonton soup which comes with shrimp wontons, pork, and shrimp. Also a great place to pick up roasted duck and crispy skin suckling pork! It's good for lunch and it's cheap!
(4)
Ada C.
If you're looking for an authentic Chinese/ Vietnames dining experience... this would be it. It's a butcher- BBQ- meat type of joint at the front. (The line gets pretty ridiculous over the weekend, everyone is trying to get their slab of BBQ pork, roast duck, BBQ spare ribs, etc.) However, once you push your way past that crowd, it's a Chinese- Vietnamese restaurant in the back. This place offers delicious BBQ (combo) plates, pho, noodles, appetizers, fried rice, and the list goes on. The menu is pretty extensive, but my favorite items from here are: - HOMEMADE SOY BEAN DRINK (hot or cold) - refreshing, delicious, and only $.99 - BUN BO HUE- a massive bowl of spicy beef/ pork pho. (i really mean massive- kudos to anyone who can finish it by themself) comes with actual cubes of pork blood :) - don't judge me. - FIVE SPICE TOFU- huge BLOCKS of tofu fried to perfection, served super hot and crispy along with some housemade soy sauce. (not joking on the BLOCK part, not your typical fried CUBES of tofu) - BBQ PORK- my boyfriend absolutely adores the bbq pork here, always served warm with the fat ever so slightly dipping off the crispy outer layer and the dipping sauce is one of a kind. In addition to all that, why else is it an authentic Chinese dining experience? It's CASH ONLY. Portions are huge, but the price is CHEAP. (All the dishes is less than 10 dollars a pop) The tables are all pretty much crowded together, on busy days, expect to share the bigger tables with another party.
(4)
Johnson S.
Compared to other places in the city that serves pre-cooked food (like the roast pig, duck, soy sauce chicken, and the other steamed/boiled chicken) this place is definitely one of the best, HANDS DOWN. Flavorful and because there's always a quick turnaround on food being sold, the quality is pretty good. The skin on the roast pig always has a nice crunch and seasoned nicely. The chickens aren't overcooked and the soy sauce chicken always is full of flavor! YUMMMM. The restaurant aspect is pretty good. I've eaten in a few times and usually do take outs from here. Overall, the menu has a little bit of everything. You're guaranteed to find something that would tickle your fancy... otherwise... you don't deserve to eat (I'm only partially kidding). Portions here are HUGE. I'm usually struggling to finish whatever I get here... yeah, I have the option to stop eating... but come on. I'm a MAN and I'm a cheap China-MAN... those two combos are just deadly, so of course I have to finish everything! Rice plates here are decently made. Pho doesn't blow my mind but its decent for what you pay and you get a lot. The bun bo hue here is pretty good too... mainly because they put so much pork's blood in it (but if you hate that, you probably wouldn't like it). The odd thing about this BBH is that it's not really that spicy... which... kind of defeats the purpose of eating BBH but for me... it's perfect because I sweat like a hog when I usually eat BBH. But, no sweat here! WOOT WOOT. Another one of my favorites is the dumpling and orange duck with noodle soup. Super delicious and extremely filling. Overall, you can't go wrong with this place. For what you pay, you get some pretty good vietnamese/chinese food and you get a lot of it. Service is iffy. Cleanliness... better than most Chinese joints. Worth a try!
(4)
Damian D.
The duck here is just superb as attested by the line formed out the door to take-out. We requested a seafood Pho--no problem. The squid and shrimp were plentiful and the broth delicious.
(4)
Picky E.
Best roast duck in town! If you don't mind eating at the hole in the wall type place.....and you have to scream for service!
(3)
Sarah L.
Don't expect much service. They bring you tea, a menu, take your order, bring your food, and bring your check. But the food comes out quick and its delicious. My dad and I often stop by for a quick lunch. (come early or come late because there's quite a wait during the busy lunch rush) The menu is an assortment of Chinese and Vietnamese dishes so you can decide what tickles your fancy that day.The portions are huge. They've got a wide assortment of Chinese bbq out front that's super fresh (my dad always orders that stuff). The bun bo hue here is huge ( sized) and very flavorful. Oh and they make fresh soy milk! I think they recently changed owners but nothing else has changed.
(4)
Elaine Y.
Definitely one of the best places for Asian roasted/steamed poultry. Their duck is top notch and we also tried their steamed turkey over the holidays, equally tasty. It's also one of the better sit down options when it comes to places that feature a Chinese deli up front. Their Bun Bo Hue and Vermicelli options are on point...but I still prefer Kevin's pho for pho.
(4)
Vincent C.
Good egg & rice noodle combo! Need a good deep cleaning or replace the carpet, cleanliness is a must.
(3)
mengzi w.
I would NOT dine here, place is filthy and crowded, though cheap the dishes are not very good, tons of good restaurants in SF that is better. Wait, why 4 stars, did I have it backwards? No I am ranking for the specific take-outs I order all the time! Their bbq pork and roasted pork are the best in the bay area, bar none, also salty chicken, and roasted duck. Why do you think I drive 1 hour here to get my take-out? Yes I am kind of nuts but I do have high standards, I seldom do any take-out of bbq pork/salty chicken except this place (usually when I am in SF for some other reason). At Chinese holidays you can expect very long lines outside, yes it is for the take-outs, and primarily old folks, they do know what a good thing tastes like, and it has to be cheap. And all my favorites will be gone by lunch time.
(4)
Sherry L.
Solid Chinese-Vietnamese food with big portions. There's usually a line out the door for their BBQ products. The duck is legit. Not quite Peking Duck, but pretty darn good roasted duck. I also got the seafood chowfun with egg gravy. Surprisingly good! It's very simple in flavor but very satisfying. Great for a group. Oh they also have fresh soy milk for a dollar.
(4)
Katie L.
One of my favorite places for fast take out. Just order in advance and ready for pick up in less than 10 mins. Not the best dining ambiance but all of the dishes are quite tasty and reasonably priced. The Bun Bo Hue is one of my favorites and it comes with plenty of condiments. My kids' favorite is the egg over minced beef and rice. The BBQ items are very delicious as well, especially the roast duck.
(4)
Edgar C.
This is our go to place for Chinese BBQ. I wished they would plan a little better to make sure there is more roast pork by the end of the evening for us folks who have to work and can only buy after work... But other than that, I love this place. It's good, it's cheap and the meats are to die for.
(5)
Michelle H.
LARGE portions! If you are more of a quantity over quality person, you'll definitely get the most bang for your buck here. a few things I've tried here are: -pho 91 / pho 92 (XL/R) ~$6.50-7 -- The broth is not always consistent. Sometimes its perfectly flavored and other times its as bland as water. However, what's "regular sized" here is probably an XL order of pho elsewhere. -bun bo hue -- comes with a generous portion of pig knuckles and noodles but its not as spicy or flavorful as other places. -beef chow fun -- flavorless and oily. I had to drench it in a ton of hot sauce to make it taste better. I've definitely had better. You cant really taste the "panfried" flavor which is what I really look for when I eat chow fun. -ROAST DUCK!!! Can't forget the most amazing, succulent, moist, tender, delicious roast duck I've ever had! Yes I know all the reviews below have also mentioned the roast duck. It is really THAT good. So if you do ever come here, dont forget to get the roast duck! I dont think I've ever came here without ordering it. I haven't tried the hot soy milk yet but it seems to be rather popular so I'm assuming its good! Overall, this place is just ok. Sometimes I am disappointed with the rice noodle dishes, but the consistently good roast duck makes up for it.
(3)
David W.
My cousin is IN LOVE with this place and comes here religiously to buy her roast pork and chicken. I always get it second hand since she's the one that buys it earlier in the day. Chicken is good because of their dipping sauce. Roast pork is good but you need to get the right cut. Looking forward to trying this fresh!
(4)
Carol Y.
Love take out from here. service is ok but you cant expect 5 stars service from here because its kinda like a whole in a wall. you have to be a little aggressive when waiting in line for the butcher or even take out service. call ahead for pick up and it will be quicker. huge portions and great food. the place is loud and busy = just like chinatown almost but the food makes up for it. :)
(4)
King L.
This place is my go to place for rice plates. Close to the crib. The combo won ton egg noodle soup is huge and has a consistent soup all the time. Never have the Vietnamese food here tho! The duck and roast pork is a hit and miss....
(4)
Milly H.
This has been and still is one of my favorites places to eat. Delicious food at incredible prices! Some of my favorite dishes to eat here are: roast duck ho fun noodle soup roast pork ho fun noodle soup soy sauce chicken ho fun noodle soup bun bo hue (spicy pork noodle soup, not spicy at all, they just call it spicy) beef chow fun (dry or wet, dry comes sauteed with bean sprouts and onions, wet comes sauteed with bok choy in gravy) beef and chinese broccoli over fried noodles (HK style) All their dishes range between $6-$8. I also love their homemade soybean milk. It's good either cold or hot and priced at only $1! Their service is splotchy, sometimes the workers are not very friendly to people, but that is the level of service expected from this type of "chinese fast food" restaurant. They do however take your order very quickly and the food gets served to you immediately (within 5 minutes or less). I've been eating here for over 13 years so I've become a regular and they've always provided great food with great service. LOVE THIS PLACE!!
(5)
K F.
Good prices on big variety. I ordered roasted duck on rice and got about a quarter of a perfect duck. That was great. My friend got pork chops that we're super tasty too.
(4)
Sassy G.
Lam Hoa Thuan, you so good. I come back for more and love you long time! Roast Duck: Uno number 1 BBQ Pork: A-Okay Roast Pork: Mouthwatering Seafood House noodle (#7 or #8??): Good if you want something on the lighter side (not greesy) Beef Pho: Soup base is only so-so but is the norm for SF. If you want great Vietnamese food go to San Jose. Sorry, even the TL cannot compare to SJ or Los Angeles! Vietnamese Grilled Pork & Deep Fried Egg rolls: Grilled meat is decent but the egg rolls are different. It has taro and can tell they reuse old oil to deep fry sometimes. The fish sauce is a tad sweet for me but my son loves it (he's only 4. I'm not saying he doesn't know his stuff. But he's only 4). Westlake Beef Soup: Pretty good! They use slices of real beef instead of grounded up beef. If you don't like parsley, then you better tell them to hold it. Tomato Beef Chow Mein: If you're not ABC, then you won't like it. Fortunately, I am ABC and think it's fairly good. Duck Noodle soup: Is the bomb (it's delicious)
(3)
Tyler C.
This place is always packed, and for good reason. They serve both Chinese and Vietnamese food, and they're pretty damn cheap. Pho, vermicelli, barbecued meats, stir fry....you name it, they've got it. They're fast and the prices are hard to beat. I almost always get the roast duck over rice when I come here because it's delicious and I start craving it when I walk in the door. I haven't tried much else here, but I'm sure it's decent since this place is always crowded. So I would give this place 4 or 5 stars, but last time I came here, I ordered the five spice duck and my friend ordered the roast duck, and the roast duck came out cold. It wasn't lukewarm or warm, it was just plain cold. I know we look young, but that doesn't mean you can serve us food that someone canceled and you left on the counter. They would never do that to some asian granny, so that doesn't mean that they should be able to do that to us! I might give this place another try, but I'm certainly not coming back for awhile.
(3)
B F.
Went there recently with another family member I haven't seen in awhile and I was pleasantly surprised by how tasty their roast duck was this time around. Maybe it's a hit or miss deal, but grats on getting an extra star this time around.
(4)
Sam W.
If you and your friends can't really decide between duck noodle soup or pho, head over to Lam Hoa! It's the best of both worlds (Chinese and Vietnamese), dirt cheap, and quick. Well, ok, maybe not that quick, and the place is definitely a bit dirty. Then again, you're probably not a run-of-the-mill yuppie or pretentious foodie if you eat here. The only gripes I have is parking can be a b-each ball, and on a busy day, your party can be plunked down at a table with other guests. The practice is a tad bit too HK/Chinatown for my tastes, but eh, if it means I'll get my food faster, all the more power to them.
(4)
William S.
This place's pho has gone DOWNHILL. I dunno if they changed chefs or changed ingredients or changed their definition of what pho is but it's just not good anymore. The broth is like cloudy and bland and no amount of sriracha and hoisin sauce is going to change that. Man what a freakin disappointment. It's still one of the cheaper pho places in the 19th-thru-26th-and-Irving-Asian-district but I think I would definitely splurge and pay an extra 2 bucks to go to PPQ. Their char siu is still good, so still 3 stars for you, lam ho
(3)
Bor C.
We've been coming here for years, even when they were known as Hai Ky two blocks away (dunno what happened, but the crew moved, and I found them here. Anyways, this place is fantastic. I often go for their noodle soups, duck, roast pork, pan fried noodles, catering, everything except the Pho. The Pho is not that good. Prices are reasonable as everyone here states, and service can be pretty bad, but they know we're regulars (it only took 6-8yrs for them to recognize us) so they're always nice to us. Sanitation needs improvement, and I try not to look around too much-just focus on the food. I've once spotted a bug (not a roach) in my bowl once in the 10+ years of coming here. Gross, but given that the occurrence is so low, and the food great, I'm taking chances. Recommended, but only for those that can dig hole-in-a-wall restaurants. Also, try to avoid their bathroom. They need to clean it with fire.
(4)
Dorian T.
Their "deli" section of meat on display is pretty good here and this was the place I came to get their "Sate Fun" or Satay Noodles. They probably let their mediocre taste get to their head because on Chinese New Year, this woman dared to refuse to double bag my mother's order. When my mom first requested it, she ignored her. When requested again she snapped at my mom telling her to bag it herself. What the hell ... should we wash your dishes and wipe your ass too? We didnt buy over $30 dollars worth of food just to do your work for you. Luckily for her I was not there. If she tried to pull that shit on me, everyone in that restaurant would hear about it. Im never coming back here again. And if they were ever rude to anyone else reading this, dont ever go back or they will keep thinking they are a 5 star restaurant, acting like little ingrates.
(1)
Thuy O.
I come here pretty often since the food is inexpensive and right for the quality. The waiters are nice. I often order the combination chow-fun, you should try it. Oh, and the roasted pork is excellent (Best I tasted in town)
(4)
Lawrence L.
Had dinner last night with my family members at a place that my bro-in-law said he liked for the BBQ items. Casual and inexpensive, the quality of the bbq roast pork was pretty good... the skin was crispy and the meat was not overwhelmingly salty. I also liked the taste of their poached chicken... the salt and oil dipping sauce was particularly good. My terse impression is that this is a popular spot for some BBQ items or pho... hole-in-the-wall?... sure, but some of the best food can come from places like this. Food came out lightning fast too.
(4)
Jeremy H.
If you think that this is good roast duck, that you've lived in sad, sheltered existence, probably rarely venturing out of the sunset. as far as i'm concerned, the only good HK style roast duck in SF is at R&G lounge. After going back to London and eating some great roast duck there in Chinatown, I decided to see if I could find a good, cheap place in SF where I could get a cheap duck on rice plate. R&G is good, but I can't really go there for a quick, cheap lunch. I'd already been disappointed by Cheung Hing a couple of years ago, so thought I try Lam Hoa Thuan out based on the Yelp reviews. The duck was OK, but did not have the deep, rich star-anisey flavour I've been accustomed to in R&G lounge, HK and London. Also, the pieces I got were a bit lacking in meat, the sauce was a bit lame, and the rice of poor quality. I'm not giving 1* because I've only tried one dish (be it one of the signature dishes). The place is evidently popular and people were ordering other stuff which may be good. I'd never go back here for duck but wouldn't be averse to trying something else if I was in the neighbourhood.
(2)
Kuankii N.
This place might not be the cleanest Vietnamese restaurant however they have the best roast duck and also really yummy noodles. Every time I come here I order their Lam Hoa Thuan signature either rice noodle soup or egg noodles soup and they are both tasty. Their noodles are about $5 or $6 each bowl and the portions are big. I can have it every week and not get tired of it. I have tried their other stir fried noodle dishes however I still think their noodle soup is the best. Pros- price, food, food comes quick Cons- floor may not be very clean, parking
(4)
kim w.
Their duck was no comparison to Cherung Hings..sorry to say. I only noticed it when i had the two together this week. This one, was just plain salty with no duck taste. Their pho however, is excellent! its different than other places. Their soup is refreshing, and looks healthy, not dark and scary. Try their meatball noodles. Meatballs are bouncy as heck. The beef egg sauce over rice is SOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!! it looks like vomit, but after i had that, i had thoughts about it for a week. and decided to get some more. Things are REALLY REALLY cheap and fast here, you may have to sit with strangers during rush hour, but its so damn worth it.
(4)
Allen L.
Roast duck and BBQ pork hanging in the window? Check. Take-out line full of middle-aged Asians leading out the door? Check. Daily specials posted on the walls written in Chinese? Check. Coming from LA, Lam Hoa Thuan is my replacement for Sam Woo BBQ. Roast duck is the best I've found in the Bay and their noodle soups hit the spot on a cold, rainy day. Try their run free chicken (the dipping sauce is something else) or their orange preserved duck noodle soups. Cash only, but there's a WaMu (excuse me, Chase) next door and a Wells Fargo across the street.
(4)
Jannie Q.
My husband and I come here at least twice a month if not more. It's not that BEST restaurant I've ever been but on Irving, that statement is probably true. And here's why: 1. Their prices are absolutely hard to beat. You can get a big bowl of soup noodles with all the fixings for $4.99. The flat noodles they use are smooth and silky - and don't bunch up like some of the other restaurants. 2. They have fast service. Even when you see a line, don't get discouraged. The lines move fast. I don't think I've ever waited more than 10 minutes there. The Host is super efficient and will squeeze people in between tables. The waitress will come to your table within seconds of sitting down, and your food comes out right after. 3. They have a wide menu. From Chiu-jou soup noodles, all the roast meats, Chinese dishes, to Vietnamese dishes. They will surely have a dish that will satisfy your craving! So I came it only 4 stars because this place is a bit dirty. This is a fast paced restaurant - they move people in and out. Sometimes the food scraps get onto the floor and onto the chairs. So that's the part I'm not too pleased about. But because they are cheap and good, I overlook this flaw. Also, other yelpers mentioned that they lack customer service. I can see that. Some staffers at the restaurant are lazy and/or think they are the nazis so they don't treat their customers right. I must say that thank goodness not all of them are like that. =============== Review #142
(4)
Eva H.
Service: 3.5/5 Food: 4.5/5 Wait: 4/5 Price: $ Presentation of food: 4/5 Presentation of restaurant: 3.5/5 Overall: 4.5/5 thee best Roast Duck Ho Fun soup ever, I'm tellin you this is the dish you need when sick, hungover, or just plain HUNGRY! (: at $6 something a bowl with a side plate of roast duck, can't ask for more. And to top it off their fresh Soy Bean Milk (cold or hot), YUM!!!!
(4)
V. L.
Delicious Chinese BBQ with a long line. Very tender soy sauce chicken and a good price. We had a soy sauce chicken and a stir fry noodle to go and after we finished our dinner, we couldn't help but kept drinking water. It didn't taste salty, so it must have been LOTS OF MSG. I'll try only soy sauce chicken next time. If we still feel the same, we have to be sorry to say no to Lam Hoa Thuan Restaurant. No delicious food is more important than health after all.
(3)
Erica A.
I love this place!!!! First off, their "sook song" is very very good. I love the duck! I used to always have takeout from here when my mom would wander down to Irving after work before coming home. She'd get me the vermicelli and roast pork. Yum yum yum. They also have noodle skin (direct translation from Chinese, I have no idea what it's called in English) which is just a fatter noodle. It smells greasy and the tables are sticky sometimes, so it's probably better to get takeout. The waitstaff is very efficient and friendly. I really like the pan fried noodles here too!! The way they package it for takeout is great. More restaurants should separate the noodles from the sauce!!!
(5)
Rebecca L.
Need a cure for the body after a night of hard pAArtying? Need something light but a salad just wont do? Consider a bowl of noodle soup here at Lam Hoa Thuan. This place serves a good mix of Vietnamese and Chinese food. I'm a noodle soup fanatic and I'm quite picky about my soup base. The clear broth here does not taste like its been used to blanch veggies or meat, rather a subtle and tasty consumme of chicken and herbs. Their noodles here aren't bad either, perfectly blanched and never undercooked or soggy. They actually take their time to separate their "ho fun" noodles instead of leaving it in your bowl of soup in clumps - not attractive and does effect the actual texture of the noodles. Only caveat is trying to find parking during peak hours and a line to get a table.
(4)
Chloe B.
Get your roast duck at Lam Hoa Thuan, one of the best roast duck places in the city. The roast duck was full of flavorful, tasty, seasoned spice in it. Compared to my other favorite roast duck at Cheung Hing, the Lam Hoa Thuan ones were less fat and the flavors were not as heavy. Yummy in my tummy.
(4)
Glen H.
Cheap place for food. I came here when I was younger. The restaurant's pretty clean, I never went into the bathroom to check. For some reason, I just didn't have to go. It's cheap, but the pho isn't extraordinary, I would go elsewhere for that. I love the Bun Thit Nuong here. I had it here recently. That was cool, it was empty and I just watched people come and go. I never tried the barbeque here, but it's so close to Cheung Hing I would rather go there. Why the low stars? The LAST time I came, I had the same ol' Bun Thit Nuong, loved it. I also tried the 3 colored ice, or 3 bean ice, whatever they call it. After I had that, I had diarrhea for what? I can't even imagine. I would say at LEAST a week. I still enjoyed life, but I hated having to misuse public toilets like that. I might come back, but I will need someone to drag me.
(2)
Derrick H.
Kind of like Hong Kong noodle shops but cleaner. I always order the orange skin duck noodle. Once in a while, the duck is too salty, but when its not, the bowl of noodle is mighty tasty! My mom orders their fishball noodles. I think they make their own fishballs and they do it right! They have fresh soy milk which comes out warm and very sweet (rare because they do make their own). Many many things on their menu, but we never get around to trying anything other than those two orders. Suggestion when you eat here. Add some Jalapenos into your noodles. They are on the side with the soy sauce and hot sauce. This makes the bowl of noodles taste even better!
(4)
Mai R.
If you're looking for cheap, good eats, this is the place! I go here because it is very conveniently located a couple of blocks from my house. If I don't feel like cooking or going very far for food, this is the spot. It's always full, but never a line, unless it's for take out. The service isn't the best, but the food's good, fast, and cheap!
(4)
Vien C.
This is my main take out place. They have a fusion of Chinese and Vietnamese food and roast duck. When you go to places like this...the following rules apply: - Cheap prices - Close by to work or home - Good food - Variety of food - Rude waiters... they cell in volumesand you're just one of many customers - Greasy food and table...from the roasted food up front and the high wok heat in the back - Fast food From here i like to order the following for take out: -Won Ton noodle soup (seafood or mixed).. nothing special about it, except it's filling and good. they give you fish cake, pork, shrimp, wontons (lots), squid. - Bun Bo hue - Not bad here... Broth is good with the lemon grass and spicy. Andrew Zimmerman from Bizarre Foods would like this since you get the pork feet and pork blood. - Runny Egg with Beef over rice - yummy..they do this one here well - Fried frice with chicken bits and salted fish - Not bad... would be better if they had more salted fish... but it's a staple for me - Roasted duck - it's good...but i've had better. The flavoring of th skin is good but the doesn't permeated to the meat. Not much more to say, except that the staff probably recognize me now...since I'll eat here one a week... and they seem to be less rude to me now. Wouldn't have mattered if they were..since you don't expect world class service here.
(4)
Lisa M.
Come here for CHEAP and DECENT FOOD.... but don't expect superb services. Some workers are PMSing 24/7.(Especially the cashier lady) ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE!!! I come here for their seafood noodle when I don't feel like driving all the way out to the Tenderloin District. Yeah, it's generic... but, hey better than nothing. ( Oh, and it's cheaper) This place has EVERYTHING on the menu and off the menu as well if you can read Chinese.I think those are the specials.( God damn it, now I regret not finishing Chinese school!!!!!!) It's like the whole strip of Irving restaurants consolidated into one.
(3)
Ian C.
The only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars from me is that.. it's so busy whenever I go (Lunchtime) that it's sometimes a hassle to get a table - especially if you're on a time schedule. Anyways, being busy is a good sign right? I mean, all the food I've had here has been good. The barbeque is pretty awesome. I've had the Chinese Barbeque pork, the roast pork, and the duck. All of them were delicious. I know that Cheung Hing is just down the street, but this is just as good in my book. I haven't had the Pho here, but my wife has and she said it's good. I think what made me write this review was the roast pork over rice. Normally from other restaurants I would expect only a few pieces of that crispy skin. But on the few occasions I've ordered it from this place, I get a very generous portion of that crispy pork skin (which I end up giving to my young child since he loves it so much.. sigh..). Oh how I want to come back again and again for that single dish.. it's that good!
(4)
Jennifer T.
This place has the best Bun Bo Hue! Both my husband and I call this the "Bun Bo Hue Place". The broth is so delicious! I personally get it with the "Pho Noodles" and with seafood instead of the pig feet but it's also good just the way it is. This is also the only place I go to get Roasted Duck, it is juicy and flavorful!
(4)
jason g.
In the city there are a handful of great restaurants and a handful of very bad restaurants. This is just one of those restaurants that falls right in between. These are the type of restaurants you don't want to review on yelp because it's just not worth the time. So ..............here it goes anyway. I went with one of my colleagues "in progress". This guy always gets his food first every time we go out to eat. I really don't mind him getting it before I do, but he gets it first and practically finishes it before I get my food. For example, I can order a salad and he orders some hot food and the same results but at different restaurants. He ordered a combo of noodles. Thick and thin noodles with duck. I ordered a plain won ton soup and we split a fried tofu. The duck comes out first Ala carte style. Then the two bowls. I figured one bowl was his and the other bowl was mine. Instead, both bowls were for him...... they just split his noodles.........unreal!!!!. I waited another 5 minutes and the waitress asked what I was waiting for. I said my won tons. She goes........oops I forgot. UUUUGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!! So...........he finishes the first bowl before I got my order. The food is average at best. The fried tofu was a little plain even with the sauce.
(3)
Audrey J.
As I mentioned to my friend, this is "definitely not a put-your-purse-on-the-floor" kind of place, and you should avoid the bathroom at all costs. However, order Dish #70 (i.e. spicy, salted squid), and you will not be disappointed. My mouth waters just thinking about it...and this is from a distance of 2912 miles. Imagine how wonderful Dish #70 would be were it on your dining table in front of you... :)
(3)
Amy S.
The food here is consistently good, EXCEPT one time my boyfriend ordered a chicken dish and they totally forgot abt it and it was half cold. BOO for that and the sometimes shared seating (minus a star). Definitely a good place for: Pho, Fried Noodles, Cold Noodles. Lots of fish sauce/hoisin/chilis to spice up however way you want it. The servers are pretty nice, esp that old asian guy with the glasses. YUMMY! Parking is a biotch but its irving what can you do!
(4)
Sharon S.
Great Chinese food served here - cheap and good sized portions We loved the following dishes: soy sauce chicken spicy pepper spareribs garlic peasprouts chicken and salted fish fried rice tomato beef chow mein (pan fried HK style) roast duck dry fried beef chow fun This place gets really busy on the weekends so arrive for lunch before 11:30 or else be prepared to wait.
(4)
Jennifer H.
Food is decent and very cheap - 4 stars. Fried whole fish with soy sauce and garlic was awesome. Can't beat the $8 price tag. Pan fried noodles was more like chow mein -- no crispy bottom. Bland tasting too. Also threw in a Viet dish, Bánh uot duc biet - rice sheets with eggrolls, pork slices, and shredded pork. Pretty tasty. I wasn't expecting splendid service, but dang our waitress put the R in RUDE. Minus 2 stars for her "I ALREADY TOLD YOU..." reply when I nicely asked her to repeat what was yummy here. Eh, too many other cheap tasty Chinese places around without the attitude. Probably won't be back.
(2)
Helen L.
Don't tell the owner, they haven't changed the prices like everybody else. The dishes are good size and portion. They don't skimp on what they give you. Service is fast and efficient. They make it the way you asked them. Mine has to be low in salt. They haven't failed me yet. Delicious food that will not break the bank. When you need just a taste of roast duck, this is the place. We've been ordering the chow fun and noodles. Had the eggplant, wasn't very garlicky. The tomato beef brought back memories of childhood. Loved the tomato sauce, which probably was made with ketchup, but that is how it was made. Can't beat the price of the fresh soy milk, this is the real deal! Nice and smooth, no burnt taste.
(4)
Berna T.
Hooray for ho fun! Allow me to elaborate. I am noodle soup girl - pho, ramen, chicken noodle...particularly when the weather is cold and damp, there's nothing like a bowl of hot noodle soup to hit the spot. One of my favorite kinds of soup is the kind with a clear broth and fat rice noodles (ho fun!), which I only found at Vien Huong in Oakland Chinatown up till now. We walked into this Outer Sunset Chinese-Vietnamese place and took in the menu - most items are around $5, including my beloved ho fun soup (special combination: pork, chicken, fishcake, meatball, cilantro). We barely put our order in and the food came right out. My dining companions had the chashu on rice and the meatball pho, and all three of us were pleasantly full to the tune of $17.00.
(4)
Ann T.
they remodeled?! since when?! it's been so long since i've been here! the food here is GREAT. i love it. everything comes out quick and service is swift as well. there's a mix between chinese and vietnamese items on the menu. there's even chinese BBQ in the front of the restaurant. fyi... CASH ONLY. and prices are cheap!! so, this is my go-to cheap eats spot!
(4)
Fritz S.
I ordered the sweet and sour chicken here and all it was was the breading with sweet and sour sauce. There was no chicken inside of the breading. This seems like some sort of prank. Needless to I'm never going back. The people behind the counter seemed like A holes too. I'm actually stepping out to get something else to eat so I can forget this ever happened.
(1)
Rosa W.
its funny how a bbq pork/roast duck restaurant such as this one got on to yelp. it's one of those restaurant that i envision to be the hole-in-the-wall, only-real-chinese-folks-would-know-where-to-go-Âfor-really-good-ducks-and-pigs... but i guess good restaurants cannot be hidden away forever... i always order the same type of dishes at this restaurant - it's their roast duck and bbq pork. it's oily, it's fattening, but it's hella good. there's other good looking dishes on the menu but if i have to drive all the way out to irving, i'm ordering the same thing. i thought their services was pretty good - the couple of times i was there, they actually wrote down the wrong amount (they put less than the meal was worth - we were tempted.... :) but the price was already really cheap.. so yah...) when it gets busy, you would need to be aggressive to fight for their attention. just get up and walk to the front to pay if the waiter/waitresses are taking too long to give you the bill... no biggie. especially when the food is yummy and at a good price.
(4)
Katherine C.
Good bbq items. I used to love their pho, but haven't had that here in like .. 10 years
(4)
Colleen W.
food okay, plates and cups GROSS. they handed us 4 sets of bowls/plates/cups... they all had big chunks of rice stuck on them. the waitress SHOULD've been able to see the dirtiness before she gave it to us... however... not lam hoa thuan is not too bad for takeout. my family used to come here all the time back when the store was owned by another person.. they used to give me and my brother stickers! Better service, quality, and sanitation back then. i believe we called the place Bo-La-Mun, or something along the lines of that... Lam Hoa Thuan has become lousy. They seriously need a new dishwasher. I mean, think of all that bacteria we're eating!
(2)
Wes M.
Hmm, until I read the other reviews I didn't realize that this was some sort of bizarre Chinese-Vietnamese hybrid. I actually had the pho here and thought it was pretty good, though I'm no expert yet. Anyway, it's just one of many pho and/or chinese bbq restaurants to choose from out here, and I honestly have a hard time separating them all food-wise.
(3)
Stacey L.
The service isn't great and the place is pretty dirty. But the cheap, fast, good food keeps me coming back. They offer an extensive menu. We usually get pho and a noodle dish. We eat here often.
(4)
Kimberly H.
This is probably my favorite Chinese/Vietnamese place to take-out food. They offer a great variety of foods and their menu is really extensive. I always order "chicken jiin mein" here because it always fascinates me how they are the only restaurant (at least from the ones that I've ordered from) that separates the sauce from the deep fried noodles. When I'm ready to eat, my noodles are still crispy instead of being soggy from soaking in the sauce. I also enjoy their Vietnamese vermicelli noodles. The picture of the "grilled pork vermicelli" on the menu board was so enticing that I finally decided to order it. That picture was not deceiving; the pork was really tasty! The only thing that disappoints me sometimes is when they screw up my order, but I guess it could be worse, like finding a bug in my meal (don't worry, I've never found a bug in any of my meals from here).
(4)
G P.
Best dang BBQ pork I've had in a long time and some of the cheapest prices I've seen in years. Takes be back 6 years at least and my wallet is super happy 'cause of it! They also have some of the smoothest textured fish balls I've ever had... sweet, fishy balls... mmmm...
(4)
Leon C.
Acutally, I'm starting to like this place a lot more. I recently had their pork chops with rice dish which my mom always wanted me to try. Finally I tried it and I have to say the way they make it, itz pretty good with decent size portions. They have a wide variety of stuff on their menu and good portion sizes. I also like their pan fried noodles which they make it very crispy. Service is decent and prices are inexpensive. Good place for casual dining.
(4)
Court L.
the bbq deli is what i patronize the most, but be warned, there is the occasional "raw" [the bones of the chicken are red] chicken that doesn't get cooked long enough, but nevertheless, this bbq place is one of the best - even beats most of the places out in chinatown. the flavors of the chicken[s] are not too overwhelming or under-flavored. the cha-siu is cooked to the ideal texture and yummy if you purchase the cut you want. too bad the roasted chicken is only made once or twice a day, [max population 3-4], but is the best asian roasted chicken ever...[freshest roasted chicken around 11am- noon] roast pork is alright... somewhat mild sometimes, occasionally very salty... it depends. [in case you ever walk by when it first opens the shop, beware of leftover bbq items from the day before - it's displayed in the taste of the bbq when you eat it... come sometime between 11am to noon and there are the freshest bbq's, but note the line winding outside the window] another note about the line - when 4.45pm til 6-ish comes around, the line is quite long, so be prepared to wait. or come earlier. never later, as what you may want to purchase is sold out.
(4)
Linda N.
came here for lunch with my family. food is pretty good. service is fast. we ordered the wonton soup which was delicious. salted fish fried rice w/ chicken and beef chow fun. both dishes were ok, a tad too greasy. there is also a little bar in the front where you can buy roasted/bbq duck, pig, chicken and some other meats. cheap prices and super busy considering it was 2pm on a wednesday. apparently its always crackin.
(3)
Ezduzit S.
2 1/2 stars... It's a serviceable restaurant for my needs. I think they have over 120 items on their menu!!! I only order one: their "bun bo hue" is damn flavorful. For those who don't know, it's hot spicy beef noodle soup. It's not for the faint of heart. It has pork's feet and blood in it, but I swear this is THE dish. The other 119 items are not worth mentioning, just average. They do have good roast pork, but you have to buy it early PM before all the grandmas get all the choice pieces (the rib section).
(2)
Jan C.
I picked them randomly to get a take out order of roast pork (figuring that the line of old Chinese women already snaking out the door at 11:30 am on a Thursday morning couldn't be too wrong. $5 for a pound+ of tasty, juicy, crispy pork, cut to order == worth crossing 19th street for. The servers aren't exactly bowling themselves over to meet your needs, but given how picky all the Chinese ladies in line are being, I don't blame them.
(3)
HENRY M.
Not much to say about this place but that the food is absolutely delicious and the prices are great! Where else can you get a great tasting rice/noodle plate for just about $5? Not many! The servers aren't the nicest of people but they get the job done and quickly!
(5)
C L.
Good noodles - yum orange preserved duck! I'd come back and try lots of other things. I also got some BBQ pork to go, which actually wasn't fabulous - a bit dry and not as tasty as I'd like. Otherwise, would definitely come here for yum and cheap food.
(4)
Linda H.
First thing first...I've seen a huge rat (size of a kitten) that ran across the xmas lights they have hanging near the doors. Ahhh! I've came here many times before that incident. The food keeps getting worst and worst. I'm thinking that they've changed chef's recently. The service is horrible! Most of the waiter/waitress have attitude! One of the host (not the main one) is horrible with seating you. I went in with a group of 7 ppl and this group came in with 5 ppl after us. The host wanted to seat them first because they were older than us. We had to step in and said "no no no...we were here first and we waited for 15 minutes". He finally said "ok" and sat us down. The other group complained so we pretty much had to argue with them saying we were there first and we waited longer. The host pretty much walked away and ignored us. The group with the 5 people finally sat down and they took their order first and got their food first. When taking our order, we were told that there are no more noodles or bbq items (which was what most of us wanted). That just leaves us with rice and soup noodle. We went in at 8pm and they close at 9pm. We got our food at 8:45 pm and was given our check asking us to pay before we all got our food. All I can say is "horrible service and attitude".
(1)
Joyce L.
It's not the cleanest-looking place, but I s'pose I'm used to that when it comes to down-home Asian food. Their noodle soups are pretty good (my dad loves it, and I think he's a pretty decent connoisseur of Asian cuisine...not that this is exactly "cuisine"!). There's always a line out the door for the BBQ meats and the restaurant itself is pretty crowded. Cheap prices.
(3)
Betty S.
Since its been cold and rainy these past couple of days, my bf and I decided on coming here for some yummy pho. We've been to a couple of pho places, and this has been one of the more tastier locations. We get here around 7pm ish and the resturant is packed. We only waited about 5 mins before we got seated which is great. We ordered a pho, a noodle dish, and the fried stuffed tofu. The pho here is great....the soup is so flavorful! The fried stuffed tofu was so-so. It was stuffed with like a sliver of shirmp meat or something...we didnt even realize it was actually stuffed at first until we really looked at it. This place always has a long line during peak hours for their bbq/roasted to-go food. Their roast pork here is pretty damn good..but sells out quickly! They also have a bbq, roast duck, soy sauce chicken, chicken, etc. This is def. a more casual place, somewhere to go when you want a quick bite to eat. I used to come here all the time after a hard night of drinking..this place would be my choice to get a nice bowl of hot noodles for my hang over! Overall - inexpensive and delicious! What more can you ask for?
(3)
A T.
Fast, good food. Not the best customer service or seating area/s, but good for a quick, hot and cheap meal. Repeat customer.
(3)
Catherine O.
You HAVE to try this place. Cheap, a huge portion of food, and scrumptiousness! I must say, their BBQ pork is their specialty! BBQ pork and rice is always delicious, and they give you a nice portion for roughly $5. I must say their vietnamese bbq pork plate is exceptional as well. The Noodles and other dishes are yummy too! It is a little crowded on weekends, and not the cleanest place. A majority of the people eating there are Chinese...so trying to tell the man your last name to wait for a table was impossible. Of course he didn't know how to write my name in Chinese, gave up...made me write it down, next to the other names all written in Chinese. I take it he mustve not wanted to attempt it again and called me Japan. LOL I didn't know wether to be offended or not, but I couldn't stop laughing. Great food! A must if you are in the outer Sunset!
(5)
Brian L.
I have eaten and bought take out here multiple times, but today will probably be the last. Just FYI, if you don't speak Cantonese here, the staff (especially the butchers) will take advantage of you. While eating Bun Bo Hue, my brother went to order 3 pounds of roast pork to bring home later. We asked for the stomach meat (the fatty, crispy part). They complained and said that we would be taking away all their meat. After arriving back at home (near Burlingame), we found that they ripped us off, giving us the butt meat instead (which is lean, dry, and not crispy), which is NOT what we asked for. Up until now, I never had this problem with them. They probably not we couldn't afford it, but we were willing to pay for it. Way to go, Lam Hoa Thuan, for screwing up dinner tonight. I used to always make it a priority to eat here when I visit my grandma, but now you're on my black list.
(1)
Alice E.
Bleh, I come to order the strings beans with minced pork. I like it because its mainly veggies, and my request for less oil is usually fulfilled. I ordered a beef chow fun today to take home to my husband, and it was so bland. Ugh.. next time I'll stick with the string beans and order nothing else :( Too bad.
(3)
uncle m.
Huge menu. Fast service, workers are cool. taste great. I don't think they have raise the price ever. Every dish is made the same every time. Need to remodel the bathrooms.
(4)
Cristina S.
the hardest part is deciding what you will and will not eat on the menu. great food that's super cheap! my go to chinese food a little on the fatty side that isn't exactly my cup of tea, but most chinese food is that way. Servers are really friendly and will always make sure you have a full pot of tea. It may seem a little intimidating walking into this restaurant simply because of the language barrier, and that really doesn't go away until you sit down and order. highly recommend the mopa tofu, beef and chinese broccoli, the pho that basically equivalent to chicken noodle soap (forget the name), and the hong kong style noodles with vegetables. oh and the best part--unlimited plum sauce!
(3)
Jenny K.
My order: House Wonton Soup with Thick Egg Noodles Consistently good and fast food makes you forgive non-smiling faces and unacknowledged questions by the staff. **Did they just put Sun Hoi Kee out of business????**
(4)
Calvin L.
I was never quite sure what this place was called, but my friends and I refer to it as 25th. I've been coming here ever since they changed ownership. Before it wasn't that great of a place, but now it's definitely my favorite. Besides the hundreds of choices, the food comes out hot and fast. I usually order #104, which is the pork chop with shredded pork and a fried egg on top of rice. The chop is seasoned very well and not cooked perfectly. Although a bit thin, it is neither under cooked or dry. I love shredded pork which is why I enjoy this place a lot too. One of my other favorite plates or bowls, is the orange duck noodle soup. The duck is sooooo tender and it literally falls off the bone when you eat it. The soup is what you would expect, but the duck is what makes it. This noodle soup is served in other Vietnamese restaurants as well and the only other place I've had it wasn't as good as this place. What really makes this place so good is the hundreds of different plates to choose from. Everything I have eaten here have been good. If you love Pho, they give you good sized portions, not like PPQ where their extra large is this place's small. Their oyster pancake and chicken wings (appetizers) are delicious. The chicken wings are also huge and rarely come out smoking hot. They're not really all that friendly there unless you talk to them first in Chinese (It's a Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant), but they're not unfriendly either. If you ask them for something, they'll usually get it to you pretty quickly. The food comes out no longer than 10 minutes. The food comes out in very generous portions and noting is expensive. It is always pretty crowded there. I don't think in the past 5 years or so, it's ever been less than 50% full. Would I ever come here again? I'd eat here everyday, and I really mean EVERY DAY, if my girlfriend let me.
(5)
Nizaria D.
Beats me why they are serving pho here?? It's faux-pho. I only ordered it because I was having a mean craving and my friend assured me it would be the real deal. Tis not! This place is Chinese through and through and should stop with the faux and focus on what they do best. Leave the pho to the Viet-chimese [sic] spots up the street i.e. Pho Hoa Hiep and Pho Phu Quoc. Sure, it's impressive that the menu is 20 pages long, but this ain't no Cheesecake Factory. I am always leery of those places that try to do every dish under the sun with a net result of mediocrity. However there IS a reason though that people stand in line for the barbecue meats: they are sinfully tasty in a greasy kinda way. 1 hot cock for the pho, 3 hot cocks for the BBQ Chinese pork ribs = average: 2 hot cocks.
(2)
Audrey T.
My mom LOVES it here, despite its not-so-perfect ratings from the SF Dept. of Health. Anyway, this place is good from quick grubs and it's cheap. (Good for students, I guess.) I've never had any of the pho (Mama's fave), but I've had some of the soup which has hella MSG in it (migraines, much?). I have had the rice dishes many a times and the portions are huge, and satiating. Also, I've heard that many of the staple Chinese dishes are prepared well here, but I haven't really tried any. Rumor has it, there are cockroaches here, but I haven't seen any for myself.
(3)
Christopher M.
This a ducks-in-the-window sort of place, so if you are one of those squeamish people who can't understand why Asians hang their food up for display, then you should navigate out of this review immediately. You are unreachable and may go through life never knowing what you are missing. Lam Hoa Thuan is a Chinese-Vietnamese version of a diner: nothing much to look at, but a great place for a cheap and tasty meal. The service is friendly indifferent. Eat there enough times and you will be recognized, though to no effect whatsoever on either your food or experience. Below are the four dishes that I always order: 1. Boneless Chicken Vietnamese Rice Plate (#153, I think; order a Chinese rice plate and be disappointed) 2. Steamed rice noodles with grilled chicken (also Vietnamese) 3. Beef Chow Fun (Standard Cantonese fare, but really good and really cheap; order it "dry" when they ask unless gloppy is your desire) 4. Combination Chow Fun (Seafood version of #3; "dry" also recommended)
(4)
Jessica O.
Their bun kicks buns. And me likey the Roast duck.
(4)
Eric Y.
Short on cash? Never fear cuz this place is near. A Chinese/ Vietnamese joint that serves pretty much anything you could ask for as the menu says. (pho, noodles, rice plates, bbq items, and more) Take out if you are short on time, but they cook fast anyway. This local joint is always packed so you can't go wrong.
(4)
Derrick L.
This place has got to be one of the dirtiest shitholes I've ever seen. But the food is awesome! They have an extensive menu, ranging from Pho, to Hu Tieu, Ho fun, BBQ items (Chinese AND Vietnamese style), fried rice dishes, noodle dishes, al la carte items, and the like. It's pretty much a Chinese/Vietnamese traditional kind of restaurant. The food is cheap, and it comes out fast and piping hot, straight out of the wok. Service is pretty rude but there are some nice waitresses in there if you get to know them. One of them seems like she hasn't washed her hair in years. Look for her, I'm sure you'll be able to find her in a heartbeat. (Hint. Glasses) Only thing that I would have to say about this place is the usage of MSG. They use a whole lot of it. I'm one who recently discovered the affects of MSG on my body and after eating at this place, my heart races like a snowboarder from an avalanche. But it's tasty! If you like good food, cheap prices, and can deal with sticky tables, dirty carpets, sitting next to people you don't know, and loud and noisy environments, then this place is for you!
(4)
Michelle Y.
Reasons to love it: 1) It tastes great, one of the best bbq restaurants around. Pretty much everything on the menu I've tried is good! I've had the pan fried noodles, pho, roast duck/roast pork/bbq pork noodle, roast duck/roast pork/bbq pork rice and some other items. 2) It's fast, if you are on the run! 3) Good portions. 4) It's cheap! Only thing I dont like: Sometimes you'll have to be crammed in because too many people love this place. Logistics: I think this place only takes cash, you might want to double check that! I've been coming for years and I will continue to come!
(5)
Tien N.
only ordered the take out havent sat down and ate yet Roast Duck & BBQed chicken livers are excellent The duck skin peeled off the fat and then separated itself from the meat like it was bred for that sole purpose, i dont know who to give credit to that family of duck who now suffers a loss of income or the guy shoving metal rods up god knows what and shoving them in an oven
(4)
Jason K.
Fresh and great Vietnamese, and they have the BEST rice noodles!! Food: each time I go, I end up ordering their broad rice noodles. It's a particular section in their menu: steamed broad rice noodles with BBQ chicken (my favorite!) or BBQ pork/other meats. They make the rice noodles fresh. It's a big sheet of rice noodle then they make it a few folds, then make a few cuts. It's so fresh and smooth. The size is a good half mouthful to hold with the chopsticks with some slight slurping action to eat it. They always make it fresh to order. The BBQ chicken is also very good - five spice chicken broiled (doesn't have the blackened bits like BBQ, but still has the general BBQ taste) with dried, fried onions on top. There's also a side of cucumbers, bean sprouts, and lettuce. There's fish sauce (theirs is a strong tasting, thicker sauce than most restaurants) for dipping. SOoo good, that it's really one of my favorite orders. Atmosphere: usually very busy, and you would usually share a table with other people. There are usually lines, but the line moves quick. It seems family owned and run, so they usually try hard. The restaurant is overall kind of clean. Service: they're pretty quick with things. They get orders and food pretty quick.
(4)
lovetoeat a.
The roast duck is the main star here, it is so good! Long line at the door for take-out orders. The noodles are really good here, we don't have to go to Chinatown any more for noodles. Service is pretty crummy. They forgot to bring my gailan vegetables, and I got a dirty glare when I reminded them. And it is not the cleanest restaurant in town. That's why minus the two stars.
(3)
Alfred L.
The chinese food is good especially roast pork and duck. The BBQ pork and the soy bean milk is just okay. The rice is not fresh. My friend and I found the black long hair in the rice bowl two out of three. and my my another friend found out the owner scratch his hair usually.
(2)
David C.
Excellent roast duck. The duck sauce is better than anything in Texas. The fried chicken wings are pretty good too. We also had the vietnamese bbq pork and the Garlic eggplant. Both were extremely flavorful without over doing it. Yum.
(4)
Donald K.
We ate here for lunch yesterday and it was our fourth visit to this restaurant. We're not Vietnamese or Chinese but we love the food served here. We ordered the roast duck, roast pork and I asked if they would make us a shrimp with beansprouts Chow Fun noodle dish (not on the menu). In minutes the succulent roast duck and pork with crackling arrived with gravy on the side and a few minutes later the Chow Fun was delivered to our table. The food was excellent on each visit and the wait staff and owners were very warm and welcoming. We've nicknamed the restaurant "The Roast House" because we love the roasted meats. We want to order other dishes next time, but it will be difficult to try something other than our favorites. Also, the prices are very reasonable.
(5)
Yew-Hoe T.
The best roast duck and BBQ pork in town. My boyfriend and I have been coming here for over a year now. They also have good noodle soup dishes and the pea sprouts are one of our favorite dishes. For dessert drinks, the three bean drink is pretty darn good. The waiters are always friendly to us.
(4)
Eileen L.
The bun bo hue tasted alright . They have fresh homemade soymilk which I barely see any other restaurants offering . It's warm , good , and cheap !! It's only like $1 !!
(3)
Lil L.
If your looking for service, beautiful atmosphere, and spotless dining area, please stop and don't go here and stop reviewing this place! This is the very best in the sunset for BBQ items and decent vietnamese food. I come here once a week with my boyfriend and we are rarely disappointed. And if you're looking for ready made turkeys, this is the place to go. They finally have it down this year and it was juicy and amazing. Just please, ignore the really loud guy in the glasses.
(5)
Sheren H.
Don't come here for anything else other than their BBQ foods. Their roast duck, BBQ pork, soy sauce chicken are fantastic and the portions are HUGE! I'll keep coming back for more.. oh, in fact I want some right now!
(5)
Ethan L.
Not really a hole in the wall, more like a cave. Huge inside, 15 tables easy. I thought the egg noodles were fairly good, texture slightly on the stiff side but chewable nonetheless. Wontons came by the half-dozen, delicious. The duck leg looked old, but i seriously love the duck aroma. Workers would stand nearby and watch me eat, but it's just their way of maintaining good upkeep service... big potions, $5. dam.
(4)
Mandy D.
It's filling and it's cheap. Whenever my friends and I can't decide to eat, we always go here. They have a good variety of dishes. Yumm.
(4)
Kapo T.
1. CHEAP 2. FAST 3. GOOD!!! If you can't stand dirty chinese place, don't come here If you can't stand strangers sitting next to you, don't come here If you cant' stand rude chinese servers, don't come here Their roast duck over rice and their "running" chicken is the best. need I say more?!? The duck and chicken is always flavorful and never dry. If you go during lunch or after work hour (4-5pm), expect a line out the door just for take out.
(4)
John F.
I ate dinner here with my cousins. There is always line for the BBQ items. My cousin order me the sweet and sour chicken, it was good the chicken is crispy with onions, green pepper and pineapple. The service is fast but chilly in the resturant because the doors always open and people with no respect don't close it after they leave. No credit card just cash there is a bank next door Washinting Mutual.
(4)
Natalie L.
AKA. The Asian McDonalds Not the cleanest, not the nicest, not the yummiest..........but 4 stars! My girlfriends and I have been coming here for the past........8 years? Ever since they opened up. Same staff, same food, close, cheap, SUPER fast = comfort House Special Ho Fun + wonton please. We run into people we know here........all the time
(4)
Marat V.
I have had the worst experience in this restaurant, here's why. I went here with my family years ago on a busy night, we ordered our food which was pretty good, there was no service at all and that's the good news, the waiter did stop by a few times to give us our food, he kept placing the new food dished on top of the old dirty dishes instead of just taking the old dishes away, so i had no choice but not to leave a tip. So we pay our bill and leave the restaurant, less then 10 feet from the restaurant i hear someone saying "hey man, where's my tip" I turn around and it's our waiter looking right at me, he asks again "you tip?" So then i try to explain to him that his services was very bad and our tables were full of dirty dishes. The waiter then replied "whatever" and went back in the restaurant. I felt very embarrassed since there was a line outside of restaurant and everyone was looking at me and my family. I That was the first and the last time i went there, everyone i tell this story to is shocked when i tell them that my angry waiter ran out of the restaurant asking me for his tip.
(2)
Pinky L.
The best roasted pork on the planet. This Chinese,Vietnamese restaurant is one pack hole in the wall but never judge the book by its cover until you try them. One of the best hole in the wall in San Francisco.
(4)
Tito Y.
What is a better clue that a place must be great if, one, its raining; two, a long line waiting to get in, and three, based on its name, not one single person wasn't Asian. It was a Saturday, at around noon, and I was entirely stunned on a patient line out the door, halfway down the block. Inside the traffic reminded me of morning traffic on the 880 maze. It turns out that the long line wasn't anything more than people standing around for take-out only. Ushered in because I was all alone to fill a seat of one, I sat down amongst total Chinese strangers who helped the waiter translate my order. I think more than translate one would need a loudspeaker to blast over the garble of a packed lunch-time dining room. I ended up ordering what seemed to the focus of this restaurant. At first look, the menu appeared more or less what you expect to see an any Chinese restaurant. But staring at the details, a specific glance the BBQ options, you will find BBQ Pork, BBQ Chicken, BBQ Duck, all with interesting words associated to them, such as "guitar" and unique Vietnam names for the various like kind noodles. I first thought guitar was some kind of misspelling, but alas, after trying to order some, they said they ran out. How sad, so I when ahead and checked out how they would make their star dish, with steamed rice. While waiting, smiling and getting into cynical conversations with the total strangers at my table, what I thought was laterally unique was finding three of the restaurant staff members rolling in a 6 foot tall stainless steel rack in the center of the dining room with at least 400 LBS of three fully uncut roasted Pork carcasses. Also gaining spotlight attention in the room were racks of dozen tethered roasted ducks being carried on movable grills. Sinking teeth into such a meal is beyond belief delicious. Mouthwatering and cooked quite perfectly done each dish is authentic down to home cook BBQ meals you would find where-ever in the area. Specialties include noodles, rice, meats, spicy foods including all kinds of vegetables. Don fail to try as many of the dishes as you can, and don't come alone unless you want to brush up on your Chinese.
(4)
William H.
Not a review for "Butterfly" this place is what it is. Chicken heads and all! My favorite is menu item #111 the "Run Free Chicken Rice Noodle" What like no Run Free Dog today! What!? Anyway I had dinner there 4 times in the last few months. I live in the Richmond dist so this place is a drive, SO worth it. I get it to go. The wonton soup is packaged separately from the noodles so when you get home combine and heat. Almost like being there. All the flavor without wait staff attitude or disapproving stares. If your simple and very smart try the (BBQ) roast duck or pork over rice ($4.80). Each is served with a steaming helping of fragrant moist rice and side of sauce. Empty the sauce over everything. Order a side of Brocolli and garlic. Fit for a king. Givem a $10 and lett'em keep the change. Feeling real adventurous? Put down that burrito my friend, try the pan fried noodles. All joking aside. I love this place. If you have lived in SF a while you come to appreciate joints like this. Really cheap, excellent food. The duck is the better than any restaurant in ChinaTown. Its a noodle-rice -plate- cafe type place. Fast, cheap, you get more than your moneys worth. Try the stuff in the window. For me this place is heaven. Come as you are. Plenty of parking weekdays 5pm and later. Yeah, that kind of "good".
(5)
Mark W.
5 stars for the House Special Won Ton Noodle Soup. One of my favorite things to eat in the whole wide world. And what a bargain. People always say they have one of the best BBQ Roasted Meat Items too but I think I've had better. But with their constant lines, I guess I am in the minority on that one. I'm old school and not used to bones in their roast pork which this place seems to always have but the older generation tells me that is good so.... Oh well, just give me an order of that House Special Won Ton Noodle please. $4.70..... Nice........
(5)
Aniko N.
love their roast duck!
(5)
Mike L.
This place has some pretty good roast duck, roast pork, BBQ pork, and soy sauce chicken. Although it is a pho restaurant as well I DO NOT recommend the pho because it's mainly a Chinese BBQ spot.. It's a deal though for the price and don't be intimidated by all the cantos yellin and talkin loud as hell because the food is worth it. 4/5
(4)
Ke-Bear Z.
Like so many other reviewers have noted this place is a Chinese person's view of Vietnamese food. Me being Chinese.....well I like it. Sssooo greasy and overly salty. Decor is awful, but in a place like this I feel like it's ok to slurp my soup and that's a good thing when I'm really hungry like I was. Dirt cheap which is nice also. Service well not so much, but you don't expect service from cheap places. You expect big portions of greasy food which is what you get. Sometimes you need greasy food and that's when you come to a place like this. Very homey for me.
(3)
Tiffany H.
The food at this place is always so delicious! Soup noodles and pho bowls come out SOO fast! Like literally within 5-7 minutes after ordering, you'll be given your dish. Also, if you order bbq'd items in a noodle soup combo, they always put the meats on the side, so as to not let the meat get all soggy/lose flavor in the soup. The roast duck rice plates are deliciously made here! I also really enjoy the seafood noodle soup (fresh seafood!). There are a couple of issues that this restaurant does need to work on. Because the flow of customers starts teeming around the lunch hour, the workers are usually pressed for time and don't really take the time to provide customers with great service. A lot of the whole process is rushed. Additionally, there's probably like one or two female servers who are most courteous, but other than that everyone else sort of just has an emotionless/flustered look on their face. The other think that bugs me quite a bit is that some of the staff who work on preparing the bbq'd meats have to end up serving some of the dishes to customers, and usually come out with blood/sauce stained aprons (which can be a bit disturbing to some customers). I also avoid using the restrooms whenever I come here. The tables are also another issue. Because there's so little time taken to really clean off the tables in between customers, you'll often find that the tables are either sticky or overly wet from the wet cloth used to clean the tables with. All in all, come here for a quick, but super satisfying eat. Just don't expect spectacular service or total cleanliness.
(4)
Michi R.
This restaurant is a great value!! The food is good, it's not anything to die for but has good flavor and let's talk about the portions... oh my God, the portions are huge!! it seems like every dish there is enormous. The dishes we've tried are their pho (Vietnamese) soup, which is really big, and the broth is very flavorful. I really like their noodles that have the curry with the mixed meat. As for the atmosphere, well... not much, it's loud, kind of grimmy and can get very loud at peak times, but that is not why you go there, you go there for the great prices and tasty dishes. Food: gets 2 stars Bang for your buck: 2 stars
(4)
Marisa L.
One of G's mom's favorite Irving Street spots. I'm used to the Vietnamese food of Little Paris in Chinatown. The rice noodles at this place are loads better, especially when topped with a generous portion of chicken and salad. A great bargain and enough to share! As for atmosphere, however, especially if you're lunching on a weekend -- expect to wait, to share a table (in our case, we shared tables with two other parties) and to get jostled. The noodles were worth it.
(4)
Brian P.
One of the best chinese deli's around! They're Cha Siu and Roast duck are top notch and always fresh. The meat is always tender and moist! The food here is definitely good, but presentation is not to beautiful... but damn the food is good!
(4)
Topazskye L.
Usually I come here just to buy the char siew and I love it! However we came to eat in this past weekend and we ordered the combo plate with all my fave meats - char siew, roast pork and roast duck!! Mm it's so tasty and I can still savour the taste of the fatty roasted duck skin ooooo la la! Ordered the combination chow mein which had some seafood and strips of char siew and it was nice and crispy with a good dousing of gravy, I love it! The noodle portion was huge and we could not finish it! Service here is prompt, they just wanna get you in and out and maximize their turnover so absolutely no sitting and chatting afterwards ya. The char siew here is definitely the bomb !!!
(4)
Tadaa T.
Everytime I go, it's always packed. But luckily the wait time was usually no more than 10 minutes. My fixed choice is either the house special combination rice noodles, or the Vietnamese style pork feet/pork blood noodles soup, and hot soy bean milk. Burrrrp..
(4)
Matt S.
My favorite Pho restaurant in the Sunset. It gets a little crowded, and don't expect your ass to be kissed, but for a good, cheap meal come here. Was getting Pho twice a week until I recently tried the Vermicelli. Delicious. Go for #94 or #109, my favorites.
(5)
Robertus S.
Hungry? Want something cheap , generous quantity and delicious? YOU GOT TO COME OVER HERE! You have to try the BBQ Pork over rice! One of the best in the city I might say. The BBQ Pork is just juice, tasty, fresh and amazingly delicious. Plus, don't forget to order your Soy Been Milk, it is only $.99 cent a glass and let me tell you, it is the best soy been milk I have ever tasted. It is really mild, not too sweet but satisfying. Recommended! Try it and you know what I mean!
(5)
Brian C.
This place is always poppin! I usually come here for one thing, their cho mein (thick egg noodles) with all the toppings and with soup on the side. I just wouldn't think of anywhere else to go to get that in the city...maybe the TL, but that's kind of far for me. Everything else they have here is decent food. It's good variety of chinese and vietnamese food. I have to give it three stars based on the cleanliness of the spot. But, the way they can bring your food out so fast just amazes me. Good place to grab a cheap and quick lunch.
(3)
Josh M.
My favorite chinese take out place on irving. This is the place to be. Far outshines any of the other take out/ quickie style places on irving. The roast duck here is pretty good, and not overly priced. The bbq items are consistenly good and tasty. I wouldn't come here for pho tho, there is a place down near 19th ave. that is better at that. Come here and head your traditional Chinese dishes, don't expect anything exotic.
(4)
Anthony L.
This place is great if you're in the neighborhood, and want a quick meal. This restaurant moves the meals out pretty quick, and the quality is good. The prices are decent as well. The customer service is not all that great, especially if you don't speak Chinese (like me). This place get packed during lunch, and the evenings, so be sure to go early! Need a quick Chinese or Vietnamese dinner, take out style? Give 'em a call, I am sure you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Joshua C.
Given that I lived a few blocks from this place, I frequented the establishment quite often. Normally you find a line of people waiting outside for some good ol' BBQ pork. It's great for take-out, but I prefer just grabbing a seat and ordering something from the menu. I love this place because it's great on your own or in groups. You can order up a mess up Chinese dishes and share with friends or simply come alone and get one of the Vietnamese Phos or rice dishes. It's cheap, it's good and it's convenient. Just be prepared to be yelled at in Cantonese and told to sit at a table with other people (no joke).
(4)
Arissa C.
Heading off to Sunset Supermarket on the Irving corridor- we saw this long line emanating from this BBQ /Vietnamese/Chinese restaurant...With the usual fares hanging outside the window- Soy Chicken, BBQ ribs, Roast Pork etc etc...we decided to stop in for lunch...my friend's limited Vietnamese was met by "Oh me chai-neese"...oh ok its 'one of those places'...so now we were met with the duty to find out which one they REALLY do best... Judging from what they were ordering (the people in the line) it was particularly leaning towards the BBQ pickings...Our more adventurous demeanor- had us ordering the - fried cod fish with spicy sauce, shrimp croquettes, seafood soup and the bbq chicken over rice... Our findings: the fish was indeed crispy (thankfully from the batter) but did have an oily texture...the shrimp was unremarkable-soggy and well lukewarm(dont order it) the saving grace was the bbq chicken- ... The learning experience? - Next time you see a long line outside- perhaps- its a sign to simply order to go than dine in ;-)
(3)
Hilland C.
The rice plates and noodle soups are comparable to places like Hoi Kee and Toon Kee. The portions are big enough to make you feel that you are not scammed for what you paid for. My favorite dish is probably the Stir Fried Pig Kidney with Scallions. I know most people shy away from pork kidneys because they give off this stingy taste. (well they are kidneys after all). However, the chefs at this restaurant is able to hide that weird taste well. They also cook it so that the kidneys are crunchy and at the same time tender. This is definitely a good place to take your friend or your partner to. But I would not take someone on a date here because the atmosphere not suitable for it (it is loud in there).
(4)
Edda S.
This is a great place to get a roast duck for takeout. It's not unusual to see a group of people hanging outside and studying the duck lineup from various angles, all hoping to pick the juiciest and meatiest duck. Well, it really doesn't matter because they're always good. This is the go-to place for the BF and I to get Chinese roast duck. I've tried some other items before (wonton with egg noodle and roast pork with rice, but didn't care for them so much. I agree with Amy L. that it's probably not a place you want to sit down and eat. I don't mind the lack of service or atmosphere (it's a Chinese restaurant after all), but really don't appreciate the greasy table and chopsticks. Best bet is to grab a duck and devour it from the comfort of your own home!
(4)
Walt L.
The roast pork, soy sauce chicken and roast duck is very good. When I do dine in, I always get their pho or egg noodle soup. Prices are reasonable and you'll go home full. Food comes out quickly so make sure you're ready to eat.
(4)
Lin L.
Gosh! The service is bad and so is the food. On many occasions, my rice plates to-go would just be boxes of rice with no meat on top! Enough said!
(1)
Vivian L.
Got egg and beef rice, pork chop over rice, 2 thai iced tea, and one soy milk = 20.08. Cheap. Not the best though, but it is ok for that price.
(3)
Jennifer H.
Been walking by and wondered why is there always a line out the door. It's people waiting for the bbq/takeout. We decide to sit down and try the various fried noodles and noodle soup. Hits and misses. Loved the Singaporean fried noodles. Spicy yet flavorful. Not sure if I like the ingredients in the noodle soups. Not the best cuts of meats but good flavors. You do get a lot for the money, and the service was good despite the crowd/bbq counter. Lots of staff, so everything has a very efficient yet not rushed feel. Minus a star for the cleaniness. I didn't expect anything, but be warned that you might need to send some plates and cups back.
(3)
Jake S.
Great place to grab a quick Viet or Chinese meal. I liked the BBQ beef and spareribs, and the Pho was surprisingly good as well. Also you can't beat the prices, $5.45 for a huge meal that totally filled me up. Services is kinda, well, prefunctory at best. They just kinda bang down a glass of tea, and then a few minutes later the lady comes up and throws out a "hey you ready order?". I'm sure there are language barriers at work and she may be perfectly nice to other people, so no stars off for service. One star off for the roast chicken, which I didn't really care for, far too salty for my tastes, but whatever, I will happily order something else. Great value, good food.
(4)
anocha s.
This place is like Hai Ky in the tenderloin. The Charsiu Pork hanging in the window is good. My faves include the rice noodle soup and the preserved orange skin duck with egg noodle soup. The prices are super cheap, the bowls huge, and the service is what you would expect for the food value.
(5)
Jasmine O.
Last time I came here my roast pork was cold and I had to ask them to heat it up for me. It came back still cold. I never went back again. :(
(3)
Dijon Y.
I took out a half roast duck. It was pretty okay. To be honest not as good as I expected. It came with a container of plum sauce. For around 7-1/2 bucks. It was lean meaning little meat, little fat. At least the skin was somewhat crispy and not soggy with oil. Its a step above mediocre. Mediocre roast duck is still tasty food.
(3)
Shirley H.
i use to come here a lot for din because the food is pretty good and the prices are pretty good as well.... theyre a mixture of chinese and viet food and they have BBQ stuff like roast duck and bbq pork to go so if you want to have din at home u can always pick up food to go here. Service is iffy sometimes but i gues it really depends on the crowd. I forgot how the bun bo hue is like here...i think it was oily as well but not bad . I tried chow fun here a few times, and wasn't really my thing, altho their soupy noodles and BBQ food are good so i usually stick to those. I like their viet dishes too, really really good. Simple and delish.
(4)
Anna W.
this place serves one of the best ROAST DUCKS n CHICKEN and my fave BUN BO HUE(pork feet with pork n pork blood in some spicy soup with noodles) !! ive never tried their BBQ pork, but i've heard that they are pretty good. for some reasons, their to-go line is longer than their dine in. also get their homemade soy milk =)
(4)
Billy T.
The food is ok, it's chinese and vietnamese...good prices and quick service. But their roast pork, roast duck, and char sui is off the hook. No pun intended of course. That's probably their forte. The restaurant is usually very busy and since english is the second language for the waiters, please forgive them if they don't get your order right the first time around. Beware of the lady behind the cash register, she's mean and stingy. I'm afraid to ask for more ginger onion oil from her.
(4)
angela n.
The vegetarian dishes I tried were really bland (tofu and Hong Kong-style panfried noodles). But my carnivorous companions said the bbq pork and steamed chicken were pretty good. We all liked the ginger-onion-oil sauce too -- pungent and tasty. The place was totally packed when we came here, but the line out the front door does tend to move quickly. It has the ambience of a loud, efficient cafeteria, and it isn't the kind of place people tend to linger.
(3)
Sarah H.
I spend way too much time in restaurants, but that's beside the point. Here's the deal on this place. It is one of the best places in San Francisco to get those roasted/BBQ type food along with noodles or rice, and order a side dish of broccoli if you feel guilty. Otherwise, dig into some fantastic and CHEAP roast duck. If there are people rating this place low, its because they have "expectations" about how things should look in a sit down restaurant. This place moves food like a cargo ship moves Chinese goods. I love the guy who figures out where you can sit, and by the way, it might be right next to a group of Chinese contractors taking lunch in the middle of some big renovation. It's highly authentic, crowded, noisy and very very good.
(5)
Dennis Y.
Combinations usually suffer as jack of all trades, master of none. Lam Hoa Thuan regrettably holds the mantra true as their Vietnamese is certainly the weakest of all the restaurants that serve Viet food along the Irving Street corridor. I'm afraid this winds up tainting their Canton menu a bit. I have no doubt the cooks in the kitchen have skills, but they need to unhandcuff themselves of the weak Viet cuisine and focus on the potential they have with their Chinese food. Criticism aside, the reason why I will continue to patronize this establishment (and grant them 3 stars) is their phenomenal BBQ. I've had BBQ in NYC, in Toronto, in Chicago (blah), and even HK. But truly, this restaurant stands as the pinnicle when it comes to roast duck. I have yet to have better, and I encourage all to come and challenge this. Consistently, their duck is seasoned and roasted to perfection - and my family is often graced with the fowl for a mere $8.99. Yes, the bathrooms aren't very nice (but they are above average for a Chinese restaurant), the service is definitely spotty, and the ambience feels like its an extension of the kitchen - but the chinese food is acceptable, and the bbq is phenomenal.
(3)
cyndi L.
I've been coming to this place since before they opened up. Weird, huh? Years ago most of the workers here were at the restaurant on the corner of 23rd and Irving. Then one day when we went in to eat at that location, we notice that all the people there weren't familiar and that the food didn't taste quite the same. It was also not as crowded as it used to be. We noticed that a couple blocks away there was a line for a new restaurant and when we went in that's when we realized that the workers had all left to go here. So anyway back on track, the menu does say Vietnamese and Chinese but it's more like a Chinese take on Vietnamese food. The food is tasty and fast. The dcor is standard hole on the wall Chinese restaurant. Fine dining it ain't but you're not here for the scene. You'd go to Betelnut for that. I've sampled lots of things on the menu and off. I unfortunately cannot read the signs on the wall, which is where it's at. Those are the house specials. I suppose you could ask the wait staff what it all says but really there's too many signs. It'd be easier to tell them what you're interested in and have them make a suggestion. There are a couple of waitresses here that can do that very well. The off the menu mention is just me making up combinations that aren't listed but they do have the ingredients, they just don't have them in the combination that I like. They're pretty good about those orders, so it's not like I'm pulling a diva move. I like the Imperial Rolls here. They're stuffed with a taro root mixture. Not everyone likes that but I happen to. The other things I like here is the #27, an egg noodle (thick or thin) soup with lean roast pork, bits of ground pork, minced fried garlic, fish cake, fish ball, shrimp and bean sprouts. The fried garlic is so tasty in this soup dish. I end up eating everything! The other faves are fried rice noodles with chicken and gai lan, crispy fried noodles with seafood, gravy egg and beef over rice, beef chow fun and green onion beef over rice. I'd list more but this is all I can remember at this point. The wait can range from none to upwards 20 minutes. Turnover is fairly quick as the kitchen generally cranks it all out very fast. I've had meals where from arrival to seating to ordering and then eating, it took just 20 minutes, if that. That's not every visit though. It's more like 60% of the time. It's cleaner than most Chinese places but compared to other restaurants not so much.
(4)
Melody M.
Ive been coming to this restaurant since I was like 6 and Im 23 now. It used to be a few blocks up irving but things havent changed since it moved to this location. I love the food here because its a nice chinese-viet fusion. I love their BBQ items, the duck, goose, chicken, pork, etc, all very good but the best is truly the duck and the bbq pork. I like their pho but lately it seems as tho the portions have shrunken but thats okay, still good food. I also love their soy milk that they make themselves. Their chow fun, mein, or rice are all very good. This a place to try that isnt a chain pho place =)
(4)
Boh Boh W.
roast Duck: no good and no taste at all, but the soupy noodles are good
(3)
Mamie J.
Best BBQ foods. Roast duck, BBQ pork, roast pork, pig tongue, BBQ liver, soy sauce chicken. I love how it's not too fat and not all meat, either. I get takeout from here every once in a while. My dad and bro love their "hoy seen jeen mien". Seafood over fried noodles. Yum :)
(5)
Candice L.
Decent Chinese soups and home-style dishes as well as a Chinese take on pho. The house special wontons with thin egg noodles ($4.70) is very similar to the #9 at old school TK Noodles. 1-1.5 inch porky wontons with hint of shrimp and salty broth are ok, but I do love the addition of ground pork and crunchy fat bits to my noodle soup. Spicy beef soup ($5.90) isn't bad, but it came with a ton of liver cubes (not my favorite offal). I love that they call their free range chicken soup "Run free chicken rice noodle." The money makers at this place are the BBQ pork and roast duck, over rice or to-go. The line out the door for the BBQ counter makes this place seem very exciting.
(3)
Katie K.
If you want solid consistent Chinese fast food, come here. To-go BBQ items are also popular for those nights you don't want to cook. Since I mentioned this is "Chinese fast food", don't expect much of any service.
(4)
William C.
best soup noodles and bbq in town
(4)
eddie g.
My friends and I have playfully nicknamed this place "Run Free Chicken" because of the straight translation on the menu for one of the dishes. But all kidding aside, this place is solid and well priced.
(3)
Eric N.
I work across the street from this place and see if full most of the time and during Chinese New Years theres a fat line practically half the block for the BBQ items. The BBQ items are mediocre at best. Since I've worked across the street for over three years I've heard stories from finding a cockroach in their fried rice to pebble in their food from customers and coworkers. When it was time for my break, I decided to give them a chance to redeem themselves. I ordered black bean sauce beef over rice, one of my favorites on chow fun and rice. This was a simple dish and usually hard to mess up. Looking at the dish it was garbage; the beef was really thin(comparable to the ones they used for Pho), there was hardly and blackbeans and the bell peppers were completely soggy. There was hardly any sauce(which was bland) to cover the rice and the rice was soggy and way over cooked. For a chinese/vietnamese restaurant, having shit rice is unforgivable. (which is why i gave it one star) Go to Cheung Hing on Noriega PRONTO
(1)
Amy E.
"Vietnamese and Chinese" restaurant that seems pretty much Chinese. For the vegetarian, a big pile of brown, bland, burned, greasy noodles. It could be better for the meat eater, but my dining companion called his soup noodles average. They do a brisk business in takeout BBQ meats, despite their scoring an 86 in the health department inspection.
(1)
Robin L.
$9 for a bowl of bun. Forget it, I rather not eat, use it on the ride home and make canned chicken noodle soup.
(2)
Bruce S.
We had the same experience as Cyndi L; i.e., coming here when they were down at that other place. What was it's name again? Anyway, don't go there, go here. The food is good. I've had pho (many kinds) and bun here. I like it that the vermicellis in the bun are cold. The broth for the pho is very good. We also like the five-spice tofu. My bf orders #2, which is a combo soup w/ noodles, and raves about it. Sometimes we get bbq items, but not often. We prefer other places for that. From time to time they also have sugar cane juice! The service is also quite good and friendly. One time the waitress explained to me how to use the straw that has the bendable part in it. I don't know if she thought I was too dumb to figure it out, or that I might never have seen one before, but that's how helpful they are. ;) Bottom line: The prices are low, the food is tasty, and the service is good.
(4)
P. C.
A must go restaurant. Prices is reasonable and the food is great, you won't feel like having a cheap meal. Must try the soy chicken & roast duck if you don't mind the grease. A note for the roast duck, either eat there or if take out, must finish them within 2 hours or else the taste will be different (Don't bother microwaving or boiling, will not help). Rice or noodle is good and possible to get away with $6/person including tax, assuming taking out (Trying to cut expenses nowadays). Dishes are good choices too if your budget is $10/person when enjoying with friends @ the restaurant (With tax & tips included). For Non-Chinese pals, although they speak limited English but definitely able to serve you with what you want. For Non-Chinese pals, although they speak limited English but definitely able to serve you with what you want.
(5)
Mike G.
Super cheap for so much good food! less than $40 for 5 entrees. The Spicy Salt Baked Shrimp and Ginger Onion Beef were awesome. Will definitely be returning.
(4)
julia t.
one of my local faves. good chinese and vietnamese food. everything i've had is good here. the usuals: steamed rice noodles with grilled pork - the ho fun is fresh and the pork is quality meat pho (#91) - huge bowl that can feed two wonton lo mein - i get the wide noodles, comes with all the good stuff soybean milk - fresh and 99 cents geen mein, bbq meat, chow fan, noodle soups - all good
(4)
Linda A.
good ass duck! need i say more?
(5)
Wendy L.
Cheap and yummy, but CASH ONLY! This viet/chinese restaurant is where I go when I am in immediate need of a bowl of Bun Bo Hue. It's not the best, nor is it very legit, but it satisfies my cravings for the mean time. Their duck is also very yummy! The bf and I usually get 1/4 along with whatever we order. mMm... off I go to get some duck now! :D
(4)
Jeremy L.
Ah...one of those businesses where the quality of the food comes from the quality of the ingredients! Honestly, it's difficult to comment the better of all Chinese Delis, but the way I see it, each meat, noodle or rice plate has to be balanced. Not too much fat, just enough to put flavor into your meal. Happy to say that this is good, for the most part, as a quick Chinese, or Vietnamese, lunch. I'm sure if you walked in and order anything on the menu, you'll be greeted with generous amounts of rice and just enough meat (Chinese=more rice, less meat). Particularly, the Char Siew is on the dot. Just wish they had cabbage added to the plate. The Pho isn't all that compared with other pho places like PPQ. It is missing meatballs... Even so, I can't argue with places like these. Cheap and satisfying for a quick Chinese, or Vietnamese, lunch.
(3)
Kris L.
Strolled in here around 8pm on a Sunday night with A for a quick bite to eat because I was starving. You don't come here for the service or the cleanliness. Who goes to Vietnamese restaurants for service or cleanliness? You go there to eat. We decided to split the spicy salt squid and some tofu dish with some steamed rice. The food was good and the portions were more than enough for two to share. The bill came out to less than $20, which I managed to pay for when A ran out to the ATM to get cash. Don't get me wrong, it's really sweet that he wants to pay for everything ALL the time, but sometimes I want to do something too.
(3)
Irene H.
This is the best roast duck, roast pork, and ribs. Always perfectly cooked and delicious. Month watering. :)
(5)
Seung Hyun Y.
This place is good for lunch and dinner. I don't know what that dude down there is talkn about, but if you're asian enough, you never order jook (porridge) at a place like this. If you see other people ordering food that has some kind of roasted meat in it, I'd follow the trend and order nothing else. That dude's tripn. lol I usually come here for their bbq or roasted food. I'd avoid the pho if I were you. The soup didn't really go with the noodles and beef. BBQ Duck or soy sauce chicken over rice and a side of Chinese broccoli and it usually hits the spot. And its under $10 too! I usually don't like to pay tip, so its always to go for me. Almost everything on the menu is under $10, so you can go a bit over board with getting a mound of food for $20. Fresh soymilk is made and served here. Can't beat that when its only $1! Lunch time, this place is packed. Dinner time, sorta packed but always a line out the door for roasted good beginning at 4pm. If you plan to get deep fried chicken wings here, you'd better get there at the crack of 10am cuz it'll be gone by 2pm. hahaha BTW, its cash only.
(3)
Elizabeth F.
Favorite roast duck won ton and egg noodle soup restaurant. My favorite comfort food on a rainy weekend day.
(4)
Q W.
2 words: CHEAP, FAST. those two words are exactly what this restaurant is all about. Lunch for under 8 dollars is a pretty good deal nowadays. Parking is pretty easy around sunset, so its not a big deal.
(3)
Kevo M.
What'll we get for ten dollars? Every 'ting you want Everything? Every 'ting Ooh! Don't do that, baby! Ahh! Hold on this! Oh, sock it to me! Aaahh! Ooohh! Ohhh! Me so hungree! Ohhh! Me so hungree! Ohhh! Me so hungreee! Me love you long time! After a night of heavy drinking and debauchery, I'm not a pho fan but gimme a plate of rice and grilled pork chops and I'll gladly watch you eat yours. Throw in an iced coffee and we'll be BFFs. Ohhh! Me so hungreee! Me love you long time!
(4)
H C.
Orange skin duck noodle soup is where it's at!! This place sells tons of stuff - straddling both Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine - but the only thing that we come here for is the orange skin duck noodle soup. I admit the name of the dish is somewhat intimidating, even disgusting. I mean, who wants to look at orange skin, especially on their duck thigh/leg, but that is the (sort of) color that the duck skin is when it arrives in front of you. In reality, the duck has been marinated in something delicious, which totally permeates through the skin into the meat and infuses the soup with its flavor. Anyway, I jab at the meat with my soup spoon in my left hand to loosen the meat (yes it does easily fall off the bone) and use chopsticks in my right hand to gather up the noodles and pieces of duck meat. Delish, especially under $10! p.s. If you're one of those people who likes to order some apps to go along with the main entree, I can recommend their fresh spring rolls. The fried fish cake is aight. Haven't tried anything else.
(4)
Patrick C.
I get the same thing every time I come here...a fresh soy bean milk and their ketchup beef brisket ho fun! Their duck is good but ain't no comparison to Cheung Hing.
(3)
Anita W.
Cheap and dirty, that's the way I love my... Chinese restaurants. This is definitely no ritzy five star; it's loud, blindingly bright, and you have to share tables. It's a piece of Chinatown in the Sunset, really. I love this place though. Rarely do you ever see the wait staff just standing around (particularly at peak hours), and if you think they're rude, don't take it personal it's because they need to turnover the crowd. Since I discovered this place, I stopped going to Turtle Tower. I speak only for the noodle soups here (sorry I always have a "usual order" for places I eat at, so excuse me for being bias). For one, the ho fun noodles are the same, equally as delicious, and full of MSG. Second, it's about a dollar cheaper and you get a big ass bowl of piping hot goodness, which I NEVER finish btw. And third, well there's a wide variety of other Chinese Vietnamese food that would satisfy your friends palates. The #2 Wonton Special with Noodles is bomb diggity. It comes out quick, but be warned sometimes it's fingered. But whatever. Cheap and dirty.
(4)
Coco L.
There was actually a short line to get the BBQ stuff... The BBQ pork was decent, and the soy-sauces duck was good.
(3)
Sam W.
3.90 stars. I come here with the family every Sunday for brunch. Food is cheap, in big portions, and good. Their Vietnamese vermicelli with pork and egg rolls is awesome. I also like their House Special Soup Wonton Noodle (I usually get it with "ho fun" - thick rice noodles.). It comes with different types of meat, seafood, and wonton.Their Viet coffee is good too. They got good BBQ stuff that they sell in the front as well. This place isn't that that clean, but it's not icky-dirty. They use wooden chopsticks that are individually wrapped.
(4)
Jen J.
The food here was served cold to us and the only thing that tasted good was the rice.. I will never eat here again
(1)
David S.
I waddled out of the restaurant, quacking and flapping my wings because the duck is so good!
(4)
Hu J.
I have been going to this restaurant since it first open and the staff are always pleasant to me when they see me. SO I finally decided to write a review after 10 years. This place has some really good vietnamese dishes and I love their roast duck and soy sauce chicken. I noticed recently that they remodeled and are now using marble tables, which is a cleaner and nice touch. I must say though, I'm very sad that they don't have my favorite vietnamese dish, but their selection is a lot better than some vietnamese restaurants. BUT I love their soy milk especially since it's homemade and reminds me a lot of my mother's homemade soy milk. Here's what I think: Cleaniness and decor - is good especially after the remodel Taste - is really good, better than a lot of Chinese or Vietnamese Restaurants Price - cheap Parking - can suck from time to time, because it's street parking. I suggest to carpool Service - fast and friendly (I would say Chinese standard)
(4)
John L.
Came back after years of not living in San Francisco. One lady in particular recognized me, ah... i almost fell to tears :) When our order arrived, it was mountainous fill of noodle :) SCORE! Love it!
(4)
Vicky L.
Yummy BBQ Pork, but BAD business ethics! I ordered 1 lb of bbq pork and watched the guy grab big piece of delicious looking piece of pork. He weighed the pork, printed out the sticker and proceeded to chop up the meat. While he was chopping and chatting away, he started to fill up the plastic container. Great right?...until I saw him pause and put the remaining chunk of meat back into the "for sale" pile. Ummm..call me crazy, but i could have swore the guy weighed that unchopped part too- when he first printed out the price tag! *sighs* not cool. 4 stars for bbq pork, minus 3 stars for crappy business ethics. If you go there for the deli items, make sure to watch them! :(
(1)
DOM d.
Ordered a to go dish, mushroom, bok choy, tofu. Received order and got home disappointed, the order consisted of 3 small canned mushrooms, bok choy, brocoli, bean sprouts, onions, bell peppers, baby corns, and carrots bell peppers over powered the dish.:( Other than that there bbq items are consistant. Also i am not a fan of there broken rice, not sure if they still have it there.
(1)
Bobby P.
The only thing on this menu which I'm not a fan of is the Peking Pork Chop... Bad order... besides that- Everything here is RAD! BBQ items or chef specials over rice, the chow fun, or the soups and pho! The prices are very fair also! I'm a huge Lam Hoa fan!
(5)
Robert J.
In my search for the best value Chinese restaurant in the western San Francisco area, I came across Lam Hoa Thuan located on Irving Street between 24th and 25th Avenues. The front part of the restaurant is dominated by hanging roast meat and ducks. Lam Hoa is adequate but not necessarily my ultimate value. I first came here a few months ago and order a noodle soup dish. However, it didn't look as good as the adjoining table's. The waitress said that I need to order egg noodles which I did the next time. It was good and the price is not that bad. Later on I would order a rice dish with roast pork. The meals do not come with vegetables and you have to order it on the side. Make sure you tell them you only want a small side dish as unfortunately one time we didn't and received a whole plate of veggies that were undercooked. They seem to have a brisk to-go counter and I have ordered roast pork and bbq pork from them and thought it was a good value. The thing I don't like about Lam Hoa is the atmosphere and service. If you go there during busy times (lunch and dinner hours) you are likely to be seated in the middle long tables which you will share with other patrons. You don't get a welcoming feeling from the host or hostess. Generally the service is so-so, but sometimes it is terrible, particularly the very short Asian waitress. She takes forever to bring your bill and change (probably hoping that you might forget) and doesn't even say thanks. On several occasions, I have ordered to-go and she was the cashier and just tossed the change on the counter with not a word of thanks. Apparently she and some others were trained in customer service similar to those at the nearby Sunset Supermarket. The tables are superficially wiped off and many times they leave the back door opened (even when it is cold) which creates a draft. They don't seem to be concerned about customer comfort, though it might be a subtle hint to hurry up and eat, pay, and leave. So in summary - food is good, atmosphere is so-so, service is bad and typical of Chinese restaurants.
(2)
T L.
Super place for Chinese/Vietnam or any BBQ item! The wife loves the Viet flat noodles w/ imperial rolls and fish cake and then drowns the dish with fish and rooster sauce. The fried tofu is awesome also, the long soft one that you dip in the sweet soy sauce. You can't go wrong here from PHO to Soy Sauce Chicken it will satisfy NE 1. The best part is, it's very affordable.
(5)
Justin L.
I love this place, Ive been here since I was just a child and the food here is consistent and great ! Every time I go here, I have to get a plate of their BBQ pork(char siu). I tell the waiter to get me fatty BBQ pork , since it tastes ALOT better and has the perfect mixture of fat and meat. I would recommend this place for anyone wanting to grab a quick and cheap bite of great Chinese and Vietnamese food :D
(5)
Warren L.
People line up out the door for the BBQ stuff... completely understandable. But the restaurant itself... BRILLIANT! CHEAP! TASTY! PORTIONS! WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT? Only downside is Cash Only, but come on, you're on Irving. You should always have cash no matter where you dine if you are on Irving st. Washington Mutual and Wells Fargo are less than a block away even if you forget. A bunch of buddies and I always come here for lunch on Sundays. The stout-hearted of us order that ridiculous blood noodle soup. Me thinks disgusting. But they love it. My personal list of BEST VALUE DISHES: Gravy Egg w/Beef over Rice Combination Pan Fried Noodle GREAT APPETIZER: Fried Tofu (I HELLA don't know what they call it, but it's the one that comes with some kind of meat-flavored sauce that makes the tofu so dang good) Cheap and tasty cantonese/vietnamese food FTW.
(5)
Adelina W.
I have been coming here for years and the quality of the food has gone down. The amount of food they give you is far less than before. I usually call in my order and pick it up. I don't eat here because the place is filthy. The carpet is dirty and the tables are sticky. There is no such thing as customer service here. The BBQ items are good and fresh. The line tends to be long, but that's a good sign. When they ask you what you want, answer quickly or the person behind you will answer. Watch out for line cutters too.
(2)
Luis C.
Delicious noodle soup!! This restaurant is very spacious inside and well illuminated. I just love the taste of the broth in the noodle soups. I haven't found any other place that comes close in taste of noodle soups. Fast service, very cheap prices, and tasty food, makes a great choice for a quick and affordable dinner in the Sunset area after work. Note: This place is cash only.
(4)
Ron W.
After reading the reviews, I decided check this place out for myself. I must say this place has very decent food at very good prices. Consistent with the reviews, the Tomato Beef Chow Mein and BBQ Pork was very good. The Tomato Beef Chow Mein was slightly tangy which I like, and the BBQ Pork was very tender. I also tried Hoanh Thanh Mi Hoa Thuan (House Special Won Ton Noodle Soup). The portion was generous and I was impressed with the variety of things to eat in my bowl. I look forward returning to Lam Hoa Thuan when I'm in the area again.
(4)
Wolfy W.
Been to this Chinese BBQ Restaurant many times and never a bad meal. This place always have people in here, day & night, but never have to wait for a table, The Roast Duck, Char Siu (BBQ Pork) and Roast Pork is probably the Best on this side of the city. Very large menu selection and would cooked items not even on the menu. It also helps if your guest can also read the Chinese specials on the wall like I did!! Very good portions for the money and decent service.
(4)
Andrew P.
Not bad at all. Cheap, fast service, generous portions, and the food is good too (but not great). Their variety is about what I'd expect from a Cantonese/Vietnamese hybrid restaurant, of which there are plenty in the area. Be sure that you walk up to the cashier though, even if the butcher tries to take your order (unless you want to buy in bulk).
(3)
just k.
i call this place LMS with my friends. we love it. i come here all the time. always get cha siew over rice. or #90. cheap food. good stuff, super dirty. buy u know chinese places, dirtier it is, better it is, lol. o i like to get the soymilk, tip: get the soymilk hot cuz if u get it cold get a cup of ice and a little milk.
(5)
natalie n.
My family and I have been going here for as long as I can remember, and we always get the same thing: roast duck + noodles. Tasty, cheap, and fast. The staff here can be a bit rude as they hustle and bustle, though.
(4)
Jay L.
The busiest chinese restaurant on Irving. I come here really often to either buy the bbq meat hanging in front of the window for home or to eat in. They should really consider giving the place a good wipe down and vacuuming, although it doesn't seem to bother most people. The roast duck and roast pork are sooooo good, especially with the sauce! YUM! If you order it with rice I think its roughly $5. Which I think is pretty good considering how much it costs for a filling meal elsewhere. The pho is decent and cheap but you can get better if you walk down 4 blocks. Other things on the menu seem alright, although I have really only had the 'beef and scrambled eggs over rice' (my favorite). Oh and they have a $1 special on homemade soy milk. Its really good, but don't order it to go cause I think you get a smaller cup. ALSO, they do not take credit card here, like most chinese restaurants! ugh.
(4)
Kim Q.
I came to this place at least once a month when I was a little kid. My father is friends with the owner so we usually got a free order of chai siu or roasted duck. After about a decade, I came here with my dad for old time sake. The food is still pretty much the same; cheap and good Chinese and Vietnamese eats. I love their Mi Viet Tim (Broth with Roasted Duck and Egg Noodles). I remember as a child I use to have to ask for a separate plate so I could tear apart the duck.They've changed it so that the duck is served separately instead of having it in the broth, which makes it so much more flavorful! It's still cooked so that the meat is really soft. My favorite part of the dish is the pickled veggies that come with it. The owner told us you have to ask for it now because not everybody likes the side and it ends up wasted. To me, I like the cooling effect of the pickled carrots and daikon. The sourness adds an extra flavor to the savory duck. Another childhood favorite from this place is the wontons! Their filled with shrimp and pork. The Chinese barbecue food is on the fatty side, but they season pretty well. Overall, Service-7/10 Atmosphere-6.5/10 (typical Asian style) Food-8/10
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : No Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
elisa h.
the best pan fried egg noodles you'll ever have. if you like it crispy and piping hot -- this is the place. try their pan fried noodles over tomato beef or the seafood combination. the 4 stars is for the quality, the value of the meal, and taste of the food. one less star for the service and ambiance.
(4)Janelle H.
viet and chinese. decent, but not the best. go to a real pho place for vietnamese. there are some original things from here that u can't get many places. like the bun bo hue. its pork feet with vermacelli noodles in a spicy soup. dad's fave.
(3)carebear l.
This is kind of a grubby place. I feel like I need to wash their dishes for them and vacuum the floor. The only reason why we came here was because my bf's grandmother wanted to come here. I came here for the first time the other day. The waiters are pushy here. We sat for like two minutes and the waiter came over to take our order and we asked if we can have more time. Another waiter came over like 2 minutes later. Their menu is huge. Tons of food to decide on. I ordered their Pho Ga- Chicken noodle. A plus was that there were a ton of noodles, but the minus was that the broth did not have much flavor. Needless to say, it doesn't matter if there is a big bowl of noodles if the broth isn't good, right? My bf ordered the the Cambodian style noodles(egg noodles and broad rice noodles)-dry. He didn't like it very much. There was barely any broad rice noodles mixed in. There was no sauce to flavor the noodles, very bland. The cup of broth that the noodles came with was mediocre. Grandmother had the seafood wonton egg noodles. She really enjoyed it and ate the whole thing. The only thing she did not particularly like was the fish balls. We also ordered the Salt and pepper squid. This is the only reason this place gets the extra star. The squid is yummy. Most places that make this dish make it with too much batter. Just enough batter and the squid was cooked just right, not even rubbery. I would come back here to order the squid to go and to try the bbq items based on the reviews though.
(2)Chris C.
When all else fails, I end up here for some dependable food. I've tried their Chinese and Vietnamese and it's all worth the low price. When you can't decide where to go for some cheap food, just drop by here and you can choose what you want and not worry about your friends since there's gotta be something on the menu they like. It does get pretty packed in there and the only reason I give this place only four stars is because they close early and have run out of "chow fun" of all things on two separate occasions that I've been there.
(4)Valerie N.
i like their vermicelli over here. i've came here many times either with boyfriend or friends. dine in or to go. this place looks dirty, but the food is pretty darn good! the price isn't that bad either. i'd stick with #109!
(4)Connie P.
As authentic and as good as it can get around here. The pho is delicious and the fried pork is to die for! The skin is light and crunchy while the meat is soft and tender.. doesn't get any better than that. The prices are extremely reasonable. Don't come here if you're expecting first-class service though.. the waitstaff is your typical Chinese waitstaff- gives you what you want and nothing more. However, I came here once and the fried pork wasn't that good. Probably just an unlucky day though.. I wouldn't doubt their fried pork. Mmm mmm good. Come here if you're like me and have crazy cravings for fried pork.
(4)christy w.
this is one of my favorite chinese restaurants that serve food fast and cheap! you can get full with leftovers for only 12-13 dollars. and the food comes out fast and hot. i usually order the steamed egg over rice or the chicken wet chow fun and drown it in hot sauce! the portions are huge,oh and you might have to share the long tables with other people.
(4)Kristofer B.
Hoa sheeet! this place serves THE BEST chinese cuisine (they also do Vietnamese which I have not yet sampled). Their House Special Won Ton is exceptional, and the Mongolian beef and combo fried rice are also super yummy! Good-sized portions of tasty deliciousness...Eat here and leave happy!
(5)Rita Y.
Have not dined here in a long time but I do come here to purchase the take out roast pork or roast duck to take home. We came here for lunch and I got the seafood pho for about 8 dollars. The broth is not as flavorful as what Kevin's Noodle House serves a few blocks away. There was a lot of squid, some shrimp and a couple of fish balls. The noodles are the wide noodles, but thinner than the ones at Kevin's. I like the much wider ones. They didn't give you any basil and there was a sprinkling of bean sprouts in the soup. Hubby had the beef tendon over rice. Came with chunks of baby bok choy and a lot of rice. I tried a bite of the beef and didn't like it. The gravy was too heavy. Not sure I'd eat here again but the place is hopping and one of SFPD's finest was having lunch there too.
(2)Jules L.
cheap 99 cent homemade soy drink. option of hot or cold. I was craving bitter melon, so I went here knowing they serve this. it is not on the menu but you can order it. I asked for bitter melon and beef with black bean sauce. I asked for less beef because I don't like eating that much beef. they still gave me a good amount so they probably didn't adjust the dish like I've asked. no biggie. the soy drink was not too sweet. which is how I like it. the rice and sauce on dish was pretty good. bitter melon wasn't too bitter. the beef was soft but some pieces had a weird taste to it. I can't explain it. they gave me hot tea in a glass but there looked like a mold stuck on the glass so I didn't bother to drink from it. it looked like mold but it could have been something else. regardless, it was not a clean glass. they have disposable chopsticks at the table, I suggests you use that over the regular chopsticks. the table was sticky, so I wipe the table down with my own wet wipes. service is non existing. I wanted to order a side dish of roast duck but the waitress must have misunderstood me, and abruptly replied with a NO, grabbed the menu off the table and walked away. i also had to bring the cash to cashier when done because no one bother to come on by to pick it up even though they were doing nothing and just standing around. luckily I had the right amount of cash so I didn't have to wait for the change. when I handed it the waiter. no thank you or come again. they just don't give a fak I guess. the worst thing is I had stomach pain afterward. I can't tell if it is from the soy drink or from the rice dish. never again.
(1)Manda Bear B.
********************* 1322 ********************** I used to co-own the restaurant Coco's Crawfish next door to Lam Hoa Thuan back in 2008-2011. I used to eat here a lot more than now. What they are famous for is the Soy Sauce Chicken, request the ginger, onion dipping sauce with it. Every Chinese New Year, the line to get this chicken is around the block. They usually sell out 1,000 Soy Sauce Chicken on that day, crazy right!? Besides that, I like the fried rice. Their noodle soups are mediocre. CASH only, typical casual Asian restaurant service, what service? But they are always nice to me!
(3)Elena N.
It was around 3:30pm on a Friday afternoon. My parents and I were planning on having dim sum, but lost track of time, so we had to find a restaurant that was open between lunch and dinner. Remembering I had Lam Hoa Thuan bookmarked for their chicken and duck, I suggested we go to the Sunset. 7. Mi hoa thuan: house special egg noodle soup, dry ($6.75) I wanted the thicker egg noodles, but my parents like the thinner ones. Since I don't eat that many noodles anyways, I was fine with that. Got it dry. Add some sauces and you're good to go! 48. Hu tieu xao thit bo: beef chow fun, dry ($7) I see a dry theme in my food. Lol! I love beef chow fun dry fried. It reminds me of being young. Definitely comfort food for me. Nua con uit quay: half roasted duck ($9.50) So good! The duck was perfectly roasted. Nua con ga dai: half free range chicken ($9.50) This is also one of my favorite dishes. The ginger scallion sauce is perfect for dipping. The chicken was moist. Not as meaty as I would like, but still tasty. So why 3 stars when the food was 4-5? This place is dirty, which always makes for an unpleasant dining experience for me. They served our chow fun with a dirty spoon. And the table was sticky. I just made sure to wipe everything down with hot tea and napkins. For me, I think this place is better for take out. I'd be perfectly happy taking the roast duck and chicken home. Ignorance is bliss?
(3)Crisy G.
Service really SUCK tonight.. I'm here cuz I crave the spicy beef noodle soup.. So worth it here..we came in n sat down with no menu.. N other 3 tables have ??? Also ask for fork.. I had to go up request for one..after asking twice already !!! I been coming here off n on since they opened?!! Wake up staffs.. !!! Oh yea CASH only toooo...
(2)Chris Y.
I ordered a roast duck with rice. Even though the duck is a little bit fatty, it's delicious. The service is okay. The downside is CASH ONLY. I will come back and try other stuff
(4)Bernard W.
Service is not the best. The noodles for the beef chow fun were over cooked and although the roast duck was delicious, i wish there was more meat on and less bone. The upside is the portion size for the price and the quality is slightly higher than the average asian restaurant.
(4)Tiffany H.
There are really 3 places one can go to get roast duck or roast pork in Outer Sunset: Cheung Hing, Guangdong BBQ, and Lam Hoa Thuan. I'm a fan of all three for different reasons and while I think Cheung Hing is probably the best of the bunch, I find myself coming to LHT the most because it's the closest to where I live and because they make a very satisfying bun bo hue. Expect big portions, minimal service, and a line. Bring cash and order with the butcher before you pay if you are planning on getting your BBQ items to go.
(4)Michelle C.
Take it from a Chinese American who grew up in San Francisco with parents who grew up in Vietnam--Lam Hoa Thuan is everything it should be; nothing more, nothing less. The food is is delicious, quick, and generously portioned. I would suggest sticking to the Chinese dishes over the Vietnamese dishes, and the BBQ items used to be great, but in recent years has been hit or miss. My favorites are the Beef Chow Fun, Scrambled Egg with Shrimp over Rice, and House Special Noodle Soup ordered with both Rice and Egg Noodle. If you know Cantonese, USE IT. The staff will treat you like their own and call you a pretty girl/pretty boy.
(4)Raymond D.
The pho sucks. The Chinese dishes are alright. Get the bbq pork. Whenever you eat at place like this, best to see what everyone else is having; their customers are usually regulars and enjoy the same dishes over and over.
(3)Linda N.
The boyfriend and I stumbled across this restaurant after a hot and sunny day hiking in Marin Headlands. Please be aware, this place is CASH ONLY! This restaurant comes with a BBQ station where you can order BBQ pork and roast pork to go. Their customer service is lacking but I don't expect any more when it comes to hole in the wall restaurants with workers who barely speak English. I'm here for the grub! Although this restaurant offers Chinese and Vietnamese dishes, 75% of the menu consisted of Chinese dishes. I ordered the #7 Dry Egg Noodle Soup with broth on the side. I normally get the Vietnamese version and felt the #7 was closest to the Vietnamese version. The portions were so huge I barely put a dent in my bowl! The broth, on the other hand, was bland. I can only say for this dish. My boyfriend got the roast pork and Empress chicken combo and it was ON POINT! Do come here for the roast pork and Empress chicken but my noodle dish was a bit lacking.
(3)Eric T.
This place can get packed, especially on the weekend. I don't eat here but love to get their roast duck and road pork to go. They have some of the best roast duck in Irving and their Roast Pork are very tasty and the crispy skin are not overly burnt. Unfortunately, if you do come here, be prepare to fight, get elbowed and rowdy older folks cutting in front of you and yelling next to you. If you can put up with this and don't mind the wait, go for it!
(5)Shawn N.
I don't know about others think, the service at this restaurant is worst than I've expected. Plus, their attitude toward customer was disrespect. My family and I went today 05/25/15, after we paid for our checks and get ready to leave, the employees talked among themselves and one of the cashier asked my sister " why didn't you give us the tips?" Common, where in the world employees have to ask for the tips. That was ridiculous! Just for the heads up guys, think about it when you decided to go there.
(1)Michelle H.
3 stars for the bun Bo hue hue! Huge portions but the broth was was ehhh, not bad but not great. Id probably come back to try something else on the menu!
(3)Tomoko C.
worst customer service with ok food. My mom and my grandmother came here all the time, but wasnt able to get good customer service. People who works there doesnt seem know how to smile. When my mom asked nicely to give us non fatty pork on the vietnamese bbq pork rice plate that we ordered. They imediately gave us the attitude. My mom was saying that the other 2 plates we orders already contains more fat than meat, but we didnt say anything. Finally, I ordered the same dish without knowing the story because I wasnt come in at the same time as my family. They said "it's too late, and questioned why didnt you order non fat earlier?" wth...how am i suppose to know the meat that they are going to give me is all fat with little meat? This is ridiculous! I ate this dish since I was little from Vietnam and knew exactly how the dish supposed to look like. They asked us to to order something else and insisted not going to change it for us. A male employee who was eating his lunch shouting out in Vietnamese saying that we were being difficult. The language they used was completely disrespectful. They really thought that we didnt understand what they said. Of course, that basically pissed everyone off, so I didnt even want to eat there. When we were on our way out, they were imediatly started to talk shit about us in VIETNAMESE. This is the worst experience that I have ever had.
(1)Kelly L.
Check your bill before you pay. They secretly cheat you by tacking on items hoping you won't notice. Also service is horrible. Don't even think about ordering party platters from here especially from the old woman at the counter. If you're considering eating here I'd suggest to find another place unless you want hair in your food.
(1)J W.
its ok, the workers are rude as hell, food is ok. Fast for the incall of food, but man the workers at the front,,,rude....
(3)Sharon T.
Delicious! I have been coming here since they opened. (I used to eat at New Hai Ky but switched when the staff switched.) Favorites: crispy shrimp cakes, tomato beef stew egg noodle soup, kidneys, duck, bbq, and a recent fave is the bún bò huê.
(5)Eliza C.
So disappointed this time. I ordered a roasted duck and chicken over rice. They suppose to give me the yellow fur chinese chicken, but i got the american steam chicken. I am a old customer with them in the pass 10 years. And end up they give me this salty chicken.the roasted duck is ok like average, that is the 2 star for. But there are other places has better roasted duck. And the side source for chicken, green onion ginger in oil, taste sour. I think it is not in good condition anymore! And it cost $10.33. I don't expect it comes out in the quality. I am not going to eat there anymore.
(2)Sandi C.
Hubby suggested here for dinner. The place was pretty crowded, service was a joke. Preserved Orange-Flavored-Skin Duck with Flat Egg Noodles - mother in law came here specially for this duck. It has a lightly orange flavor, very tender and juicy. She said the duck leg is getting smaller :P Roasted Duck & Chicken Rice - This was for me, originally wanted to order Roasted Duck, but sold-out! So I got the Roasted Pork and Chicken. Portion was pretty big. I loved the roasted pork, the skin was so crispy and meat was tender. Chicken was average. Fish Ball & Fish Cake Flat Noodles - fish ball taste like hand made, not the ones from store. The soup base was so-so. Around 8:45pm, 95% BBQ items were sold out already.
(3)e. w.
Our standby comfort food hangout. Soup noodles, pho, roasted meats....yum. Don't let the spill out lines scare you if you are sitting down for a meal. That is just the take out line. Great food, cheap prices. A steal: $.99 cent fresh, and I believe made on premises, soybean milk, served hot and sweetened. Cash only!
(4)Josie D.
Honestly, the food isnt that great and CERTAINLY not for the price. Its just some foods that are worth the $ and 85% of their food, isnt. Ive been here for years, especially my dad since his work place is near. Idk why he loves this place, but I dislike it. I wanted to order something different other than pho or wet seafood noodles, so i got the Szechuan shrimp over rice for 7.25. It sounded tasty, but when I got it, THE PLATE WAS 55% rice, HELLA ONIONS AND SLICED CARROTS, SOME GREEN BELL PEPPERS AND LITERALLY 5 SHRIMPS!!! I ATE THIS IN LESS THAN 5 minutes and IM NOT FULL. they should either add more to the plate or lower their price by ALOT. So not happy and hopefully I dont ever return. Their service is okay, clean place, also sells roasted meat to go, but gotta work on killing the flies.
(2)Cal G.
Get the flat steamed noodles with pork or chicken, it will change your life. Been coming here for 4 years now, and it's the tastiest thing on their menu. Other places don't have it, can't make it, or make it poorly.
(5)Fannie S.
Good food. Soy sauce chicken was tender and flavorful. Egg gravy with beef = my childhood. (Okay, mine was with ground pork, but they did a great sauce!!!) Crispy noodle dish = okay. It needs greens! Decent service. Expect limited service when they're busy, because they're short-staffed. Prices = cheap.
(4)Angela M.
Before they are famous of their Chinese bbq items. We always come here since we are college students. Didn't been here for a long while. Come here for lunch with family. Service is bad bad bad. U ask for soy milk one of the guy pass by and talk to another guy hey hey hey they want bah bah bah and he just walk away. The lady took our order and force us to take the food order first. What is the difference between taking food order or drink order. After she took our orders another guy come over and ask again how many soymilk and how many cold and how many warm.... Really.... Again.....???!?? My plate of rice is plain with meat. Long time ago it come with veggi to make ur diet balance. Now it just plain plate of rice.... So sad.....
(1)Lily W.
Yum. I like this place for exactly what it is: Chinese/Vietnamese food that's done right. No frills. No pomp. Just get you that food! Their BBQ Pork is delicious, and perfectly made. Most Chinese people ask for half/half fat and meat to get that deliciousness. A lot of places consider it half/half when the thing is literally dripping in chunks of fat. No. Good half-half is more evenly spread so you don't chew lard. Duck. DELICIOUS. Seriously. Get the duck. Duck also has that delicious fat, and they do it right here. There's a small layer of fat, but the duck skin is still crispy and the duck itself perfectly roasted. I also got a bun bo hue, which is quite solid. It's not the best I've had (hello Orange County!), but it's really good. Pigs blood is really well cooked. Overcooked blood is really gross. It comes piping hot, so it "cooks" all the veg it comes with. Gotta love this place!
(5)Debbie T.
I still think this is a very good place for roast duck, roast pig and bbq pork. The quality of the noodle dishes has gone south, however. The House Special Hong Kong style noodles hardly had any meat or seafood. The portion was smaller, too. On the other hand, the Singapore rice noodles portion, was huge. Here again, hardly any meat. I am aware that this dish does not have much traditionally. It was bare bones, to say the least. Where or where can I find the good stuff, anymore?!
(3)Peter C.
One of those Chinese BBQ restaurants that I always went to since I was a kid. I normally come here to get take out which consists of their Roast Duck or the Soy Sauce Chicken. The Roast Duck here is very crispy and tender which is very good which I would highly recommend getting. I would also suggest their Soy Sauce Chicken also has good flavoring and was not overcooked. If you dine in, you have the option to get a side anything from the BBQ with rice or noodle soup which is nice. They also have Pho and Vietnamese dishes on their menu, but that is not their specialty, I would recommend sticking with the Chinese BBQ portion of the menu. Service here can be a hit or miss depending on the time you go, especially during lunch and dinner time. I would recommend coming in the afternoon to avoid the crowds.
(4)Stephen D.
Lam Hao Thuan is a hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese/Chinese restaurant that absolutely delivers the best bang for your buck!! For $6.00, I was provided with a heaping place of cha su (BBQ pork) and rice, accompanied by tea and water. My friends each had a giant bowl of soup that was similarly affordable, and just as massively portioned. The other neat thing about the soups was that they were full of tons of green veggies. By no means is this the cleanest or healthiest place to eat, but if you're looking for some good Asian comfort food at a very decent price, by all means eat here! Finally, don't forget: -cash only!-
(4)Amanda C.
I've been coming here since I was in middle school. I love the authenticity of the Vietnamese and Chinese food here. Service may not be it's best and sometimes they're hard to communicate with, but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I personally love their bun bo hue and rice plates! 4 star because of their food and quick service!
(4)Calvin Y.
This is the premier spot for pho. The Pho bo kho's soup is to die for!! My favorite in all of the world! The tomato paste beef stew is my favorite. I would come here just to eat the pho and the soup. I don't even need the beef! Haha Bun ho hue is their signature meal and its a common favorite amongst the population as that's what Lam Hua Thuan is known for. The roast duck and the bbq pork is so smooth and flavorful that I can't come here without at least a side order of them! All in all, the food is bomb but the service might be lacking a bit. However, I don't mind the wait and the lack of hospitality when it gets busy. As long as I get my bomb food it's A OK!
(5)Alice L.
Can this be true? That I haven't written a review for this place yet? Preposterous! I've been a regular customer at this restaurant for at least the past 6 years, and even after moving to San Diego for school for the past four years, I still make it a point to visit this place every time I'm home. Yes, every. single. time. My personal favorite that I get every time, without fail, is the house special ho-fun soup (aww shucks! how can I forget what number it is! #willupdate). The flat thick rice noodles mixed with a combination of ground&sliced pork, fishcake, fishball shrimp (not the cheap, dried shrimp, but real shrimp, might I add!), sprinkled with fried garlic, garnished with cilantro, and ladened with the delicious light and flavorful (or potentially-MSG-laced) broth--- this never fails to hit the spot for me. Some of my other favorites are the salt-pepper-jalapeno fried sea bass and the ginger-green onion tripe. Do remember to tell them to be a little more generous with the flavoring though, if your palates are on the heavier side. As with most "authentic" Asian restaurants, you really just have squint a little (or maybe a lot) and look past the dirtiness (c'mon, expected) and the mean-looking asian lady who looks like she doesn't want to be there but maybe just had a bad day or is potentially just born this way (expected, again). If you can do that, then you'll realize that this place is definitely a gem for the ultimate cheap Asian comfort food.
(4)Jen W.
2.5 stars rounded up to 5. Picked up some BBQ pork around 8pm yesterday to make some wonton soup at home...found that the char siu had quite a few burnt spots. Tried to get through it but it just was way too charred for my liking...so I ended up avoiding those areas. No biggie. The char siu itself tasted like, well, char siu. Haha. Seems to be pretty consistent at any other Chinese BBQ place. They had a few ducks hanging in the window...looked like it was the butt end of the night. Just an ok experience for me...nothing too horrible and nothing great. Definitely other fantastic places to go to in the sunset for these items!
(3)Jason C.
Roast duck and geese are always juicy and tasty here. Roast pork seems hit or miss. Sometimes dry or cold. Tons of carbs if that's you deal. But not me. The duck is good enough for me to return. I would skip the Viet dishes. You can get better else where.
(3)Al L.
If I'm at LHT for the BBQ items, I go for their for their delicious bbq pork, roast pork and roast duck. My favs. If sitting down for a meal, you can any of the BBQ items over rice or choose something from their extensive menu from rice plates to soup noodles to congee to fried noodles or rice to some Vietnamese items. They come by pretty quickly after you are seated to take your order and your food comes amazingly quick. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are large. Their service is decent for a typical Chinese restaurant. Recently they replaced their plates and bowls with Corelle and put in granite table tops and new vinyl chairs. Some of the old cloth chairs were dirty and torn. So these changes are a major improvement. LHT is my "go to" place for good Chinese BBQ deli and good/inexpensive Chinese/Vietnamese food in the Sunset District.
(4)William L.
Food OK. Not bad but the service is so terrible. The way they talk to you is just like you are not a customers but a beggar. I had a experience that one of the gentleman who cut the food at the front door yelled at me. and one of the gentleman who serve me inside talk behind me that how can he pay just $2.00 for tip. I ate a soup noodle which is only like $7.50. Their boss need to look into it.
(2)Cheston W.
This place meets all the criteria you'd want when eating Chinese style BBQ meats: cheap eats, succulent meats, and the casual atmosphere that comes with eating at any Chinese restaurant in the Sunset. The BBQ meats are delicious here and seeing that line out the door for the take-out orders already says something about this place. The roast pork is delicious - the skin is incredibly crispy and the meat is super lean and soft to the bite. The roast duck is awesome as well - it's as savory and flavorful as one would expect and was served still hot (unlike some other places I've unfortunately been to throughout my quest for roast duck). I would definitely recommend both the roast pork and the duck - I'll have to try the BBQ pork next time but I'm sure it is just as tasty. I can't speak to the Vietnamese food that this place offers customers, but sticking with the Cantonese style dishes definitely won't hurt you or your appetite. The Chinese meat over rice dishes were just over $6 so not bad at all honestly for the quantity and the quality. As a side-note, the BBQ meat dishes that my friends and I ordered didn't come with any vegetables on the side in case you're the type to feel a bit better about a meal with some fiber intake...then again, just save room for the meat instead!
(4)Akoni L.
Would have given higher stars if they had what I wanted but when we arrived they had no more roast duck and no more of the type noodle I liked!
(3)Preston L.
This place still has the dirty hole in the wall feel with rude service but the food is hella good. Can't deny it. Crazy extensive menu. The Chinese BBQ here is bomb. Hands down. Pan fried noodles are great, everything on the menu is good. What I usually get is the bun bo hue. Absolutely bombbbbb. Cheap prices and wide range of great food. Love it.
(4)Vernice T.
This is my usual to-go-to restaurant or a to-go-to place for chicken on Irving. Their chicken aisle is pretty cool, but sometimes the people who serve you act like they could care less what you want and just be rude sometimes, but usually they are pretty nice and keep their comments to themselves. The restaurant side is the same as any restaurant. They take your order and recommend you some things on the menu. Usually pretty friendly about it and spark up a conversation sometimes. They sometimes forget I asked for something, but that's fine. The food on the other hand is always good. Never been disappointed after all the times I've went.
(4)Samantha L.
The restaurant is a mix of Chinese and Vietnamese food. It can get very crowded but don't be deterred by the line outside the door. It's most likely the line to order freshly roasted duck, bbq pork, and roasted pork. And yes, it's hanging on the window - the best kind! A whole roasted duck will cost you $12.75. Usually the waitresses at crowded Chinese restaurants like this barely speak to you or are a bit rude. The ones here are friendly and don't rush you out despite how many people are waiting for a table. On a cold winter day, their #2 house special won ton noodle soup with thick egg noodles is comfort food at its finest. They fill a large bowl with warm chicken broth, shrimp, won tons, fish cake, fish balls, and some pork. I prefer the thick egg noodles over the thin egg noodles they offer. FYI they make amazing Chow Fun as well and give you big portions! Dishes cost an average of $6. So worthy of 4 stars.
(4)Kenny L.
3 stars at best considering how their service is! i love their chinese bbq but their service is horrible. ordered the following: 1. side of roast chicken from the bbq stand 2. duck and bbq pork over rice 3. vietnamese 5 spice chicken over rice 4. side of cabbage (drenched in oil) 5. soy milk drink the chicken was AWESOME but the duck was really really fatty. Too much fatty parts when we wanted some more lean areas. the 5 spice chicken was really good though and they give you a plate of food that can feed two people easily -1 star for their horrible service. -1 star for the cabbage being DRENCHED in the oil when we just wanted steamed cabbage. that was pretty nasty
(3)Kevin C.
Service is better than most Chinese restaurants and the food is downright delicious. This is my go-to place for Chinese food in the Sunset. FOOD: Get any dish with the delicious, well-priced free range chicken or anything with noodles. I personally like their Bun Bo Hue -- they do it right with pork blood added. My friends like the vegetable dishes, I have no comment (they're vegetables). But, I don't think you can go wrong with any meat choice at this restaurant.
(5)Sandy T.
My family and I have been going here for yeaaars. We tried almost all of the main dishes and it never disappointed. The won ton noodles, the stir-fried noodles, the chow fun, the rice. You name it! It's all pretty delicious here! (+) $5-$6 for house wonton noodles and it comes with a ton of meats: shrimp, pork, chicken, fish cake, fish ball, wonton (+) $.99 for homemade soy bean milk, the price has stayed the same since as long as I can remember. (+) you can order BBQ items by the pound I'll add more specific dishes each time I come here again.
(5)Jay P.
I don't eat pork that often, but when I do want it, I come here. I wouldn't say it's the best in The City but its really, REALLY good and I'm luck to have it in my neighborhood. I get the roast pork with rice, for one (but its actually enough for two), and its less than $7. The sauce it comes with offers a nice, different taste for dipping. While I wouldn't go so far as to recommend someone to commute out here for Lam Hoa Thuan, I would say definitely check it out if you are here or are craving BBQ/roast. It's a great meal for a great deal! #rhyming! I'll have try the items reviewers have suggested. I didnt actually realize they had all that, since I've always stood in line for food to go.
(4)Eric C.
This is has gone downhill over the past few months. I used to come here every week to eat, since it was a cheap eat and delicious. The food has not changed at all. It's the complete lack of service (except for one waitress there), attitude of the workers, ridiculous increase in food price (when they had increased the price not too long ago), and small portion sizes. The lack of service here is ridiculous. Besides one waitress here, who is pretty attentive, none of the workers here seems to be helping the customers except for take our order and give us our food. One of the workers only gives you tea and comes to take your money even when you ask something else. The service has gotten so bad nowadays that I go and get my own bowl or napkin because they take forever or even forget. Couple that with increase in food prices and smaller portions and you can tell why there has been a lack of patrons dining there recently. I got fed up with the lack of service and having to pay for tip so I decided only to order out from there now. The last time I ordered there, they handed me the wrong order. I asked them "Was this the right order?", I even said the entrees I ordered, and they said yes. I went home, opened it up, it was the wrong order. I called them to let them go and drove back to get the right order, and they had the nerve to say I took the wrong order! The take out orders is behind the counter and they gave me my order. When I asked them to help switch out the orders, they ignored me and just stood around talking. Great way to run a service-based business! They're food is still good, but I'm not going to give them my business for awhile until they start treating their customers with respect.
(2)Alfred L.
Quick, cheap, and tasty...if you order the right things. And if cleanliness and service is important to you, don't come here lol. Do: order their vietnamese noodle soup and cold vermicelli bowls, chinese rice plates, or their roasted meat. Their pho noodles are very filling and they give you lots of meat. The vermicelli bowls are another great option. Bun bo hue is legit also. Dont: order their chinese noodles I have had been burned more than once when I ordered the seafood combo noodle soup, which was just a weird blend of ingredients thrown into a bowl, and the satay egg noodle, merely a bowl of noodles drowned in a ridiculously salty sauce. There is a separate line for buying roast meats to go. And bring cash for everything in this restaurant!
(3)M C.
The BBQ pork is good, just the service and everything else is bad.
(3)Joe M.
My buddy and I decided to meet up after work for some dinner in the Sunset followed by some GTD action. We strolled down the street from his apartment until we found Lam Hoa Thuan. I wasn't in the mood for Vietnamese food, but this place also had Chinese chophouse-style stuff too so I had to give it a try. I ordered the roast duck over rice, something I had been craving since I got back to SF. There was a good amount of fat on the bird but that's just the way I like it and I polished off the whole dish. My only complaint would be that there was no option to include a second chopped meat because I would have loved to add some BBQ pork or chicken to the dish as well. At the end of the meal, my buddy and I jockeyed for the bill and I was first to slam down my credit card to take care of the bill. Sadly though, they didn't accept cards (only cash), and this was a battle I would ultimately lose. Other than that, the food was pretty solid and really cheap and I look forward to coming back to try their other dishes. Food: 7/10 Service: 6/10 Price: $ Atmosphere: 5/10
(3)Tuck W.
The char Siu and roast chicken are quite good. Other food such as noodles are fine too. But the people there are SO rude, service SO bad and the place is not clean. I would twice before I would come to this place.
(1)GINGER Y.
I'm giving this place 1 star because they are disorganized and they have bad service. I like the food but too bad the service sucks. I just walked out of this restaurant 10 mins ago still fuming! The restaurant was packed. There were about 8 people in line including my husband and I. A table opened up by the door and people walked right in and sat down. The whole line was upset and told the workers but no one asked the people to get up. The workers just ignored everyone's complaint and told us to wait. How rude!!!!
(1)Jeromy G.
If you want your BBQ items, this is the place to go. Duck, pork, whatever you want they got and it's good. We came during Chinese New Year so hella people were buying up the BBQ to take home for dinner so it was a miracle we even got any to eat. We sat down in the way back and it's near the kitchen and you can see everything and it was gross but I tried to ignore it because I've had some of the best food from hole in the wall places. I had the duck and it was glorious. Duck has always been my favorite. The skin was crispy and the meat was tender and juicy and I had to get two servings because I love duck so much. Get the duck. Did I mention they have duck?
(4)Emilynne A.
Cheap, delicious, and greasy! Portions are huge, though (interestingly) not really served family style. So, basically, you can go in and order a meal just for yourself (weird). Food is not that bad, just pretty darn greasy. And you can usually expect lots of people around. I don't think I've managed to go without waiting to be seated, or waiting to get the takeaway bbq option. Waiter service is efficient, don't expect much service beyond them briskly taking your order, putting the food on your table, and bringing you the check. Also, just a note: I usually prefer to just grab the roast duck for takeaway. It's pretty darn delicious, and you can't beat the price! (Also, I prefer to take home the duck and cook my own choi to go with -- it feels a little more healthy that way.)
(3)jaclyn g.
this is a classic go to in the sunset. my ex used to live down the street and we'd be here AT LEAST once a week. really solid everything. pan fried noodles? check. roast duck? check. ma po tofu? check. PHO?! check! basically anything you want, perfectly flavored, piping hot with no frills. cash only. wish this delivered in NYC!
(5)Tiff C.
Back in the day, in high school we would roam the streets of Irving to find lunch on the cheap. The portions are the typical Chinese size... that meaning pretty big, with tons of rice. I've always gotten the roasted meat... like duck or roasted pork and that whole category. Everything has really good flavor. Over the past few years my parent's have been ordering to-go from this place and we've always gotten the fun noodles with grilled chicken and also comes with a fried potato and shrimp thing which is really delicious and amazing.
(4)Jerold C.
This is my preferred Chinese deli take out and eat in restaurant. It has been my favorite Chinese deli restaurant for years. I always get the Cha Sui and Roast Pork over rice. If you eat in, the choppers usually give you the better parts of the meat. I usually get a hot soy milk with my meal. If you're eating along, you might have share a table. Service is fast. Food comes out fast for the BBQ item rice plates. They also serve Vietnamese noodle soups, rice plates, etc. Crispy shrimp cake is also not bad for an appetizer or side.
(4)mui d.
Love this place. Roast duck, soy sauce chicken and the taste of their soup. A lot of variety for some good and quick fix cravings.
(4)Victor U.
Lam Hoa looks like the typical hole in the wall asian restaurant. It's been around in the Sunset forever. The food is definitely the best part, it's been consistently good for as long as I can remember. The food is basically entirely what my 4* rating is based on. My favorite is the Bun Bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup). It's the best I've had anywhere in the Bay Area. If you like Pho, can handle spicy food, and haven't tried Bun Bo Hue, you should try it because you'll probably like it! The empress chicken (yellow chicken) is also a winner - I think they're actually famous for this. The roasted pork is good as well. Honestly, there are a lot of good items on the menu, the food is just good. It's also very inexpensive, most dishes are under $10 - that's like the cost of fast food, but it's soooo much better. The drawbacks like most asian restaurants, it's not the cleanest establishment. The bathroom could use an upgrade for sure. They're cash only, so that's kind of a pain. Being in the Sunset, parking can be difficult as well depending on the time of day. All things considered, this place is a great spot to get a delicious meal at a very reasonable price.
(4)Jessica T.
No matter what we have ordered, it's always very good. The roast duck and roast pork are my favorites.This place is usually crowded, although we have gone a couple of times when it's relatively quiet. It is a good sized restaurant. The bathrooms could be cleaned better.The servers are hit and miss. The one lady server is not so friendly...bordering on rude.
(4)Nicky C.
This is my little gem for go to seafood ho fun noodle soup! I love this place and will continue to be a customer. The ambiance reminds me of Chinatown but cleaner! :) comfort food at its best and cheap too. Service is great and fast! Don't forget to order their fresh soy bean drink (hot).
(4)Erica L.
I come here at least twice a month. Even though it's about half an hour away from where I live. My favorites: -Anything from the steam rice noodle plates (basically sheets of noodle, wider than ho fun, with meat, bunch of veges, mint, and fish sauce) its so GOOD. Always craving it. -fried shrimp cake is so yummy! -roast duck -bbq ribs -bbq pork is really tender -soya chicken -tomato and beef with fried egg noodles -their homemade soy bean drink!!! hot or cold is great! 99cents Their menu is huge! It's a chinese/vietnamese restaurant, but they also sell bbq items togo. Prices are very good considering how much food they give you. It only gets a bit average price when you order family style They recently remolded, and the place looks much nicer. New tables, chairs, floors, plates.
(5)Shirley T.
This is my go to place for cheap Vietnamese-Chinese food. The portions are big and the food is pretty good. It has that dirty Asian/Chinatown restaurant feel and look but you can't expect too much for cheap food. The dishes aren't too salty or oily. The one thing I do notice is that there are always long lines here for their roast pork/duck and chicken. I've tried the roast duck and pork and they are finely seasoned. Don't expect great waiter service here. They'll take your order and give you your food, tea and take your food away when you're done. It's all about business and getting people in and out as fast as they could. The workers can get rude so don't expect too much. Ordering to-go food here might be the way to go to avoid the lines and the bad service.
(3)Peter K.
Great BBQ. Duck or pork over rice always good. I like the egg and shrimp over rice.
(3)Charmian W.
Like what most reviewers had said, this place is well-known for their roast duck, and with good reason too. It's not as salty, dry, and bony as the ones in Cheung Hing and other places. If a sit-down meal is in order instead of buying a whole entire duck, then beware that their roast duck portions for their rice/noodle soup meals are a hit or miss. Sometimes I've had meals with barely any duck meat, other times I've had some with a good amount of duck meat. When it gets super busy, it's hard to get the waiters/waitresses' attentions - some of them are just plain rude; when you sit at the tables closer to the door, it's even harder to enjoy your meal without getting knocked into by people standing in line for the Chinese BBQ take-outs or waiting for the tables.
(3)Andi I.
Typical chinese place dirty feel to it bathroom smells like failure but is CHEAP! if you dont mind the quality and want something fast? come here. eat and get out because they will place the bill on your table asap. i do have to say that. their egg noodle combination soup... pretty damn good! I usually get that because the noodles reminds me of back home in Indonesia havent been back here in a long while. is probably the same. the the different type of animals hung by the window, they're all pretty good too. is worth a try
(3)Gordon O.
In Chicago I had my Sun Wah, in my new home, I have Lam Hoa Thuan! This is the first time I've seen a chinese-vietnamese joint all in one! They serve your traditional pho noodles alongside with panfried noodles. I've tried the panfried noodles, the servings are a killer! But this is my go-to place for chinese roast meats. From roast duck, roast pork, bbq pork, steamed chicken, this place is a gem for traditional chinese roast meats! Did I mention that stingy isn't in their vocabulary? Your plate is plied up with rice which is topped with a mountain full of your selected meat. You can mix and match too which makes it even better! Their chiu chow chili is the best I've ever had, just enough bite but tons of flavor! Be prepared to share your table with folks you don't know. This place is really busy and they pack in everyone on the long tables.
(5)Patra B.
I'm on a mission to see if anyone has better roast duck than Cheung Hing( yelp.com/biz/cheung-hing… ). Whenever I go to Wamu, I always see a line of people out the door to Lam Hoa Thuan. I finally decided to try it tonight. I walked in, and the restaurant was pretty empty except for people ordering the BBQ items. I ordered my roast duck over rice togo( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ). It came out to $7.54. Hmmm...the menu says $5.95. Even with tax, that doesn't come out to $7.54. Maybe their prices went up and they didn't change their menu?? I came home and got ready to dig into my duck dinner. The pieces looked pretty big and meaty. I took a bite of the duck, and I knew right away that Cheung Hing is still #1 in my book. The duck just didn't have enough flavor to it. They give you some duck sauce, but that still didn't give it the flavor I was looking for. I ate all of the duck....I'm not one to waste food....but I don't think I'll be back for more. It seems like other Yelpers like the pho here, so I'll give that a try one day.
(3)Z G.
One of the best chinese bbq places. Definitely Roast duck, it is juicy and with good amount of inner fat giving that grease taste... but does not overwhelm you to feel disgusted, Really good Roast duck and my second choice was crispy pork, it was a bit dry the meat, maybe I could have order a specific part of it, the skin was definitely crispy. The lai fan (noodle) soup goes so well with it. The meat is serve separated so the soup does not make the meat or crispy skin soggy. Guess what, all this is on dish.... really a perfect combination.
(4)Gelene V.
I LOVE this restaurant simply because I've been eating here ever since I was young. It's not the cleanest place ever, but we all know the best foods don't always have to come from the cleanest restaurants. There are a bunch of noodles and rice plates that are really good from this place - I've yet to try something I didn't like. Their food is definitely the perfect blend between Chinese and Vietnamese food. Besides eating at the restaurant, my family also love coming here to get our ready-to-eat meats, including their BBQ Pork, yellow or soy sauce chicken, roasted pork, and duck. It's definitely a good option as a quick dinner since they're already cooked and chopped into small pieces for you.
(5)Michelle Q.
If you don't like roast pork or roast duck then you are shit out of luck at this place I've been coming here for years. I've tried countless dishes and spent infinite hours chowing down on cheap, Chinese grub. Here's the thing: Lam Hoa is great for quick, tasty Chinese food but sucks when it comes to atmosphere and grease-free cooking. Like most Chinese hole-in-the-walls, Lam Hoa gives little thought to ambiance. That in mind, I find Lam Hoa to be a little dingier than most. Tables are always sticky and chopsticks have residue of meals past. The floor has DEFINITELY seen better days and the chairs are torn and uncomfortable. The food itself is decent. Excessive use of oil and msg. But hey, that's what we love about Chinese food right? However, the roast pork and roast duck is PHENOMENAL. I absolutely love this place for those two things alone. The roast duck is flavorful and fatty and crisp and the roast pork is juicy and tender. Whenever I come here I order anything that includes duck or pork, which is usually noodle soup or a rice plate. If you want to get pork or duck to-go, expect a line of pushy Chinese folks. I include myself in that category. The other great thing about this place? The prices. Generally everything is under $8 and you get huge portions. I usually get 2 meals out of each order. Also, the food comes out ridiculously fast, which is great when you're in a constant state of hunger (as I seem to be).
(3)Eric C.
This place is awesome! And very very nice to the wallet, which is always a good thing. Two things I always order: 1. BBQ pork and white rice 2. Bun Bo Hue ( I think thats how you spell it) I just pick at both until my stomach refuses to have anymore food stuffed into it. The bun bo hue comes in what looks like a giant family sized bowl, so be prepared for that. As far as the broth, it is oily goodness. I'm always happy when I leave but for some reason I always get bubble guts later on in the day...But this place is definitely worth some time on the toilet!!
(4)Anthony W.
Hands down the best roast duck and Chinese BBQ joint on Irving Street or all of Sunset District, period. Their roast duck is well marinated, the meat is juicy, and overall just looks great, unlike the sad birds you see in some of the other BBQ shops on the same street. On weekend mornings, the line goes out the door (w/ old Chinese ladies & gentlemen) so be patient.
(5)Misha T.
Don't totally understand what the lines are always for on some days because while their duck is tasty, it's not line worthy. Other than that hu tieu isn't bad, though it's somehow too garlicky (who knew such a thing were possible). Banh Uot wasn't bad but the noodles fought pretty hard to stick together and I though the ratio of noodle to meat wasn't very good in that by the end you're left holding a big ol bag of noodles...
(3)Chris C.
Great dive! Nice and a bit of a dive, but the food comes out quicker than McD's. The fresh kidneys pan fried with ginger and green onions is my fav here. Cafe su da is very good here too, for that caffiene fix (they use an espresso machine). And the soy milk is made fresh here, it's not from a can from what I saw.
(4)MickYee M.
I use to come here at least 3 times a week and my favorite dish is roast duck over rice. They are famous for their roast duck and they use to be generous with the duck. I understand the economy plays a major factor with don't cut the portion down. That was the first thing I noticed. Increase your price but don't cut the portion... I rather pay alittle more to get the same portion. Guess I'll have to take-out to get my roast duck fix. They still have the best roast duck despite the much smaller portion
(1)Denise C.
Interesting blend of Chinese and Vietnamese food. I got noodles with peanut sauce and I didn't fully like it. My dad got noodle soup with meat and I thought his dish was better. Bought a duck. It's farther down Irving and the only reason we stopped by was because we found a parking spot nearby.
(3)Shane R.
an unusually big restaurant for the sunset. chinese-esque curt service. duck and pork hanging from hooks at the front of the restaurant. theyre chopping it right there. extensive menu. all meat was fresh. bbq pork was tender and not overly artificially flavored. sweet sauce on the side. roast chicken over vermicelli was tender. soy based flavoring i think. noodles were fresh. fish sauce had less of a vinegary kick than most places. 3-color dessert with coconut milk was just the right thing to finish off the meal.
(4)Clifford L.
Hella jaMM-pact AT LUNCH TIME DURN sPRING BREAK! I did 2 errands, came back in 15 minutes & got my share table with old guy, barely paying, still nursing his 1/2 glass of T! Everything else had been cleared & formica toweled off B4 you could blink half-a-blink. It was a cacophonous clatter of hum and chatter and clinking melmac dishes, just like over there! Go for broke! the spicy spaghetti in red orange broth, marvels of VietNam bobbing about, tearing in basil leaves, mint leaves, slices of jalapenyo, bean sprouts, and squeeze the lemon half into the steamy hot concoction. For texture, ordering the deep fried fish cake rolls, little bits of winter water chestnut adding to the delicate outer crunch. to go- a pound of the Chinese BBQ pork, 1/2 White range chicken, 1 pound of the luscious crunch-skin roast pig. 1/2 Lb spit roasted chicken livers. Gotta have chicken livers.
(4)Stacey C.
If you like duck, chicken, BBQ pork, or crispy skinned pork, definitely come here. If you are a sweet, 4th generation Asian American like myself, who can't stand being groped by the old lady behind you, who tries to cut you during Chinese New Year and shove you with her big lady bag, and then steal your duck while you've patiently waited for 30 minutes outside... then do not come here. Seriously, that's what happened to me. This place has such good food that I was attacked on all sides by crazies over a duck. I mean the worker got me a duck, and the lady in front of me said, "No, that's mine." Apparently she wanted the fatter duck. So I just rolled with it and let her have it. Save me a few calories. By all means, take your food to go. It feels a little grungy in here, as are most places on this street, but you can definitely get some good food from the menu or from the counter. And make sure you have CASH ONLY.
(3)Carmen L.
Their roast duck and pork are excellent. They're a staple at special family dinners. I also love their noodle soups- in particular, the wonton with thick rice (ho fun) noodles. It comes with lots of meat, fish balls, shrimp, etc and is always piping hot with fresh noodles. Cleanliness and service are just average.
(4)Cynthia L.
BUSY BUSY BUSY But if you don't mind the hussle and bussle, you'll do fine. I came around noon on a Saturday anyways so maybe it's not that busy on the regular? Anyways, the service is fast and the soup was good. I had the egg noodle house special which wasn't what I expected, but it was yummy. Noodles could have been a little tougher though
(3)Andrew K.
One of the most comprehensive selection of Chinese and Viet-Chinese noodles and Hong Kong style BBQ and roasted meats in the city. This place was one of my favorite and most frequented cheap eats, when I lived just a block away from here for a few years. The noodle dishes are all pretty good, whether it's dry noodles, wet noodles - either layered with sauce or in a soup. Great deal on the meat dishes. I remember the chicken with garlic sauce sometimes being a little undercooked but I ate it anyway. The duck was a better choice for me and maybe a safer one for you. ;) I really liked the beef lo mein, chaing mai curry noodles (kao soi) and often ordered the pork chops. There used to be this noodle soup dish I loved but cannot remember what it's called. I guess I'm having a senior moment. It's also been a few years now and five geographical relocations ago. The Chinese dishes are better than their Vietnamese selection and more authentic. The pho here was okay but you'll find places that make it better just a couple of blocks from here. Speaking of authentic, if you get headaches from too much MSG, then stay away from this place. Fair warning. Good food, great selection of noodles, cheap and hearty portions. This place is always crowded too, which is an obvious sign the food here is good. Service? You should know better. For those just starting to venture out or to the uninformed, you only go to old Chinese gems like this with a "more ethnic flavor" for good food at a cheap price. That's really all that's important here to the regulars. Just hope that the waiter or waitress will understand what you're asking and ordering. I think you know what I mean. ;) And for the record, they do at this place and I thought the service was generally good enough too.
(4)Mari S.
In regards to take-out, their roasted meats are great!! They sell 1/2 lb. and 1 lb of roasted chicken, pork and duck. Displayed hanging by the window for your viewing pleasure, these meats are chopped up for you fresh when you order it. The prices are affordable as well! The restaurant itself may not appear as elegant or even pleasant, but I am not there to dine. So far, I've only ordered the roasted soy sauce chicken. It makes for an easy dinner or home lunch meal. I recommend Lam Hoa Thuan if roasted meats are what you are looking for!
(4)Brian J.
This place always has a line of Asian people for the roast duck and pork. For this reason, I stopped the car, parked, and got in line. My etiquette was incorrect however: Instead of ordering at the cashier, I was told to holler my order to the guy with the big knife. So I did, got back in line, and paid. A Chinese once told me to check if the juice was actually actively dripping from the duck and pork hanging in the window, and if so, it was fresh. This place--unlike so many other places here, on Clement, and in Chinatown--was drip galore. A word of advice: Don't try this place. It's addictive, it's damn good, it's probably not so good for you, AND, you'll be back. I've yet to sit down, so looking forward to the crumby service everyone is talking about. I'll get back to you on that.
(4)Andrew M.
Piles of greasy, delicious meat with sauces seeping into awaiting and abundant white rice is a recurring craving for me. Roasted duck is a constant craving for me. Lam Hoa Thuan is able to satisfy both cravings. Since the roasted duck deserved a worthy complement, I ordered the roasted duck with roasted pork over rice. Sure, it was a couple dollars more, but when you've already come this far, you might as well go all in. The duck was fresh, juicy, and delightfully fatty, while the pork featured crispy (but not hard) skin and an addictive roasted taste. With a small helping of soy sauce sprinkled over the meat and heaps of rice, the meal became very fulfilling. The restaurant accommodated our party of ten, which looked like the maximum. The atmosphere was bustling, reflective of on-the-go Chinese families stopping in for a quick bite. The servers were attentive, and easy to wave down for ordering, extra water, and our bill.
(4)Max F.
Vietnamese-Chinese restaurant : probably more Chinese than Vietnamese. I've only had pho at Lam's for the past 5 years which was always consistent, never too bad nor greatest but always reliably good. 3.5 stars. But I've got to add, after ordering the cha gio today, my first not pho order, do not try the cha gio. It's not even close.0 star. Definitely a chinese egg roll with mysterious fillings. True cha gio are about finger sized, filled with minced crab meat, herbs and wrapped in rice paper, lightly fried. Served with lettuce leaves, sweet fish sauce and mint. Curious what's the rest of the Vietnamese menu items are like, does anyone know? Service was ok though the place seemed in want of heat. I noticed the owner lady is wrapped up in a coat by her register. I mean how far does one go to save costs, or perhaps low carbon user? Where's a real Viet food house in sunset-Lincoln ?
(2)Ellen W.
I love my hole in the wall joints for their super affordable and tasty cuisines. This place comforts my tummy, all the while reminding me of my mom's cooking. Whether it is eat-in or take-in, their roast duck, roast pork, BBQ pork, and soy sauce chicken ($6+) are consistently sweet, juicy, and tasty and perfect over rice. I recommend trying their wanton soup with flat noodle ($7), which comes with a combination of seafood and fish cakes on a light broth base, and their hot soy bean milk ($1), which warms your stomach with its sweet, homey taste. They also have a wide variety or dishes to choose from for their menu is a blend of Chinese-Vietnamese and serves the most popular dishes in both cultures. My cons for this restaurant are the service--not very friendly here-- and the fact that is it is Cash Only...both typical of small Asian places. Yet the food come in generous portions, super cheap prices, and delicious. I never leave disappointed! =D
(4)Alex T.
i really want to rate a 2 but I don't think I have found another vietnamese restaurant that I am able to keep returning to so until then it's sticking to this place. The waiters are still hard as ever to get a hold of during busy dinner time. The larger waitress was somewhat distracted when we asked for our checks and boxes for our leftovers, almost confused on a simple request. And it wasn't the good distracted it was the "I'm so bored I'll just look away while you talk to me" look. Oh and another thing is that their little sauce plates on their condiment island trays could use a more thorough rinse....they are nasty! you must scavenge for a decent/good plate for your sauces.
(3)Kylie L.
I really thought I had a review for this place but when I looked for it, it wasn't there. There's a reason why the poultry takeout goes out the door especially Chinese New Year, it goes down the block. The BBQ pork & roast duck is delicious. Not only do they sell meat on the left side, there's also a restaurant in the back. The pho is really good, it's so big you may want to share it with someone but sometimes I think I can eat it by myself. The other item I'd recommend is the vermicelli with beef & imperial roll. I'm not sure what number that is...I'll check the next time I go. Sometimes it gets really crowded so you'll have to share a table with others. Just writing this review makes me want to go now. Oh yeah, CASH ONLY. There are a bunch of banks on Irving, so remember to stop by a bank before you enter. FYI: you can't order to-go and eat it there, they won't let you do that.
(4)Charlie D.
I've been going here ever since I was a kid and it was at the old location (current Toon Kee) on Irving and 22nd and the quality has never changed. Yes!!! Lots of people come here for the bbq meat which is good, but my favorite is the noodle soup. I think I can live on their #2 special wonton soup with thick noodles and I dream about it when I sleep (ok fine, maybe I don't, but it's a very good dish). They give you a good portion of wonton with your choice of thick/thin noodles along with shrimp, fish balls, ground pork, and some other goodies in a tasty broth for a more than reasonable price. When I'm not feeling like soup, I order it "dry" or with the soup separately. Another favorite of mine is the "Needle noodle with seafood" or some variation of that when I'm in a stir-fried noodle kind of mood. Haven't seen this dish elsewhere. Complete the meal with a glass of their homemade soy bean milk ($1)-your choice of hot or cold, and you'll be a satisfied camper and forget that they'll probably make you share a table with strangers or their very efficient (but brusque) service.
(5)Casey L.
Lam Hoa Thuan Restaurant serves Chinese and Vietnamese food in Outer Sunset, but it is the hanging ducks and pig that catches the eyes first. They have an extensive menu, so the only difficult process is picking what you don't want to eat. Cheap good eats are the only words I can summarize for Lam Hoa Thuan; I've been here for occasional meal and I've been here with the parental units when they don't want to indulge in San Francisco's tourist spots. Their BBQ items clearly shown through the window for all mouth watering appetites happily gather a line out the door in blistering SF cold temperatures, because it is just that good. Roast pork was amazing with its crispy skin that leaves chicharrónes in the dust. Roast duck is fatty, so be warned for those who like lean meats. I have tried their noodles and rice dishes and can really find no fault with most of them. Thick egg noodle (Dry) topped with meats and vegetables are yummy. Crispy twice fried noodle topped with seafood can never go wrong. Bun Bo Hue, because I was in search for it was not bad. I can literally go on and on, but my stomach is hungry from thinking about it. Soybean milk either Hot or Cold will definitely hit you with food coma paired with the amounts of food one can consume here.
(4)Cora L.
This place makes me feel dirty. Like, I try to touch as little as possible, and I sit on the edge of the chair. This place probably IS dirty - thank goodness the food comes out FAST! I always get the panfried noodles here. Even though it's not on the menu, I order "beef panfried noodles" and it usually comes out with beef and bok choy. Sometimes the dish comes out with beef and Chinese broccoli, which is equally delicious. Drenched in whatever concoction of gravy they cook up, the crispy and crunchy noodles keep me coming back for more. Don't you dare come here expecting great customer service. The food is too tasty, the dish prices are way too cheap, the portions too generous, and the turnaround is far too quick to expect anything more. Embrace it for what it is. Yeah, I've got mild germophobia - but NOPE, it can't stop me from getting my panfried-noodle-on.
(4)Nathan L.
My coworkers and my go-to place for lunch and Pho. A chinese owned vietnamese restaurant, you really get the best of both worlds. It's crowded, yes, because the food is authentic and comforting. The BBQ/Roasted meats selection is extensive and extremely fresh. Pho does not get any better than with a side of sliced marbled BBQ pork. Speaking of their Pho, it's broth is flavorful and has tons of meat and tendon. We've scoped out quite a few Pho restaurants nearby (because they are plentiful) but this is the place we've been hitting up, every friday lunch, for the past 6months, like clockwork.
(4)Tina T.
This Chinese-Vietnamese restaurant makes some mean BBQ items. There's always a line out the door for these items. I come here for comfort food when I'm in the Sunset: a bowl of flat rice noodle (ho fun) soup with a side of roasted duck. The duck has little fat and is perfectly marinated with tons of flavor. It's greasy but that's just the nature of roasted duck. I don't believe this combo is on the menu but you can always ask for it. Their freshly made soybean milk is also really good. They have a ton of other items like Pho, noodles, and combination rice plates. You can eat in or take out. It's cheap and consistently good.
(4)John H.
My favorite restaurant in San Francisco. A bunch of my friends and I have been coming here regularly for over 5 years, and it's been consistently great. We can never remember the name though, so we refer to it as "Middle Place". The service here isn't great, but the food and prices make it worth it, easily. Besides, you're in the Outer Sunset on Irving. If you're expecting great service, you're gonna have a bad time. I usually opt for BBQ pork over rice, but there are plenty of other great dishes too (combination pan-fried noodles, roast duck over rice, Singaporean-style rice noodles, etc.). Easily the best cha siu I've had in the city. People argue for others sometimes (Cheung Hing?) but those people are FOOLS. The sauce they provide along with the pork, which I believe is the drippings from when they cook it, elevates the pork to the next level. It is phenomenal. The homemade soy milk (served both cold or hot, depending on the weather or your mood) is great too. If you like VitaSoy and all that other pre-packaged stuff, try it and you won't be able to go back. The prices have gone up over the past 5 years that I've been coming here, but the prices still blow anything you'll get from the hipsters in the Mission out of the water. If you want great food, cheap prices, and the authentic Sunset experience, make sure you come here.
(5)Elizabeth N.
This review is for their catering services only. I ordered a whole roast pig, fried chicken and tofu veggies for my son's birthday. Tho the food was good and the prices were cheap... they have ZERO customer service. Not to be rude, but they don't speak english that well at all. Trying to get them to help me out with the menu was impossible. Everything is priced by the pound so if you're having 100 guests and don't know how many pounds to order.. .DON'T ASK THEM coz they don't know or want to know. OR HAVE YOUR CHINESE SPEAKING FRIEND ask them. lol! Btw, for those curious, 50lbs of fried chicken wings is A LOT. That would feed about 200 adults. Plus if you order from them better have your receipt, even for pick up because my husband walked in, tried paying the balance on a phone order but didn't have the receipt. Again, communication is the issue. They couldn't understand him, he couldln't understand them AND they were yelling at him being all rude. Looking at him like he was bothering them. Funny thing is that when we got the receipt number and they found the order, then there were hella nice and kissing his butt! That was comedy. I'd order another roast pig here coz it was good and super affordable but because of customer service, eh, it was just A-ok. My recap: Pros: -Cheap prices for a lot of food. -Good roast pig and tofu veggies. (the fried chicken was okay, had some type of batter on it, not a huge fan of batter fried chicken) Cons: -They don't speak english that well so not that helpful. Best bet, go in with what you want written down. 20lbs of #4 Chicken with Tofu. -Keep your receipts from them! Everything written in chinese so only they know what's going on.
(3)Fanny W.
You want authentic? You got it! There's almost always a line when it comes to their cooked meats. But that's not what I came here for, leave that for my mom. PPQ and Kevin's down the street were both closed so my friends and I needed another close by location that offered good Asian food. I've always heard about this restaurant but never got to trying it. The staff here are both patient and friendly, especially with my Chinglish. For those who don't know, that's Chinese and English mixed in one sentence. I was craving some soup noodles so.., #92 bowl of Pho - just as good as PPQ's pho, basic and nothing special. Kevin's is another story... #62 Fried Rice dish - my friend wasn't sure so she stuck with what she knew, a fried rice dish. I tried her dish...MMMMM! That fried rice is as good as it gets! Itty bitty shrimps(?), peas, and some other stuff. If I had enough cash on me, I would've ordered one myself and took it to go. Yea, my eyes are bigger than my stomach. Heads up, this dish is huge! Unless you've got the stomach of Kobayashi (the famous hot dog eater), you best share this dish or plan on taking some home. Must try!!! Forgot the number, but my other friend got the five spice duck dish, which looked delicious. How do I know it's good? She said it reminded her of food back home, her mom's cooking down in Long Beach. That's what I call legit Asian food! We sat for a while and not once did they push us to go. Such a warm and welcoming place! Great environment with great food! Will be back... for the fried rice!
(5)Vanessa K.
Duck tongue! That's the only thing we consistently order. I know it's strange, and sounds gross to some, but don't knock it till you try it. For real. It's a delicacy. I've come at 10am before, and they're all gone. One time I saw a whole bunch, waited in line and the stupid woman in front of me took them all. So you have to be real lucky to get them. If you think the roast duck is yummy here, imagine the tongue. Yes! Oh yea it's white chicken is good here too. Never had the noodles, not my cup of tea.
(4)jane f.
Don't know if I'm just tired of the place b/c it is so close by but recently very disappointed by the large "buffet" trays we ordered. Some of the seafood dishes were scary... very fishy smell. The various trays of chow mein were dry. Other dishes were extremely oily. Absolutely do not order the fried chicken drumsticks. They were terrible. These were large 15 lb trays of food. If you must order trays for parties, stay with 7 lbs maximum per tray/item. Otherwise, it's a waste of money. Got burned twice, that's it. Lesson learned. Deli items, roast ducks, chasui, roast pig, still excellent...
(3)Jeanne C.
Came here to pick up grub for dinner. Cool thing is, you tell them how much you want of each thing, versus having everything pre-made and packaged. The roast bbq pork is awesome - you can even tell them if you want it leaner or fatter meat. The free-range chicken w/ garlic sauce is also so tender and flavorful. Lastly, the crispy pan-fried noodle combination w/ seafood and meat was to die for! Everything was delicious. And cheap.
(4)Nancy C.
I always always ALWAYS come here for pho when I'm in the Sunset. Each time I come, they have really good service, especially from the manager. I was so disappointed to see that the manager wasn't here! He's very welcoming and treats every customer like they're his old friends; it's completely endearing, and makes the place light up. But I think his wife was here, and she's pretty nice as well. A little on the quiet side, but still amiable. Now, for the food. We didn't have to wait, coming in at 1PM or so on a Monday! It was definitely crowded, but not packed outside the door. We ordered two dishes: a standard "train head" () with the beef strips, tripe, and other things... It was #91. Then we got the vermicelli with grilled pork and egg rolls, #109 (I think). The beef noodle came really quickly! The broth is amazing. A little on the sweet side, but comes with ample noodles and a bunch of different beef cuts. Plus, it's an XL size! However, there weren't any beef balls in it. That's kind of upsetting, but the huge portion and great taste makes up for it. The vermicelli took a little longer, but it was also huge. Not as big as the XL beef noodle, but it was very very filling. It came with two egg rolls (each piece cut up into threes), and a large grilled pork. The grilled pork was a good mixture of salty and sweet, with a lot of flavoring, leaning towards the sweet side. The egg rolls contained TARO, which is unique and unexpected, pork bits, and little pieces of vermicelli. Very crunchy and nice. Now, the service. The waitress was extremely accomodating! She came by once and we weren't ready, but another waitress came by afterwards and got us everything we needed. We were contemplating on getting an appetizer, but she said that what we ordered was definitely more than enough. Very honest. I like that. She took our order and ta-dah, yummy food. As we left, it was really interesting... There was one of the guy cleaning guys/wait staff who was cleaning the table next to us. I guess a nearby table asked for jalapeno peppers and we happened to have some (in the little can thing), and he took it off of our table and gave it to them. We didn't mind, but I guess other people would have minded this. I thought it was funny. :P This place gets five stars! It's my longtime favorite pho place in the Sunset with nice service and big portions. Can't beat that!
(5)Winnie B.
I came here for their Pig Kidney w/Egg Noodle Soup. Yeah, eff the duck. (Just kidding. The duck was a bit oily, but the meat was pretty good and flavorful. It fell off of the bone effortlessly, which makes eating overall easier. Big plus!) Anyways, back to the pig kidneys!! The noodles weren't as chewy as I like them... They seemed mushy and overcooked, but who cares if they are served with pig kidneys?! I will say that the pig kidneys were deeeeelicious... They had a really strong taste in the noodle soup, but the downer was that they were seriously undercooked. I mean, it was still kind of pink and there was a teensy amount of blood coming out some areas... However, since I really love pig kidney, I tried my best to ignore it because that was probably the reason why it was as delicious as it was. My family and I got the pig kidneys cooked, also. With... sauce, green onions, and all that good stuff. (I'm really, really not good with item names.) That tasted a lot more plain and less pleasing that the pig kidneys in my egg noodle soup, plus the texture was more rubbery when you bit down; thus, I shall stick to my undercooked pig kidneys 8].
(3)Amiee H.
For some strange reason I really like these run down, cheap, hole in the wall food joints. Makes me feel like I found buried treasure! Food: -#2: House special won ton noodle soup: This bowl of won ton soup is unlike any I've ever had before! First, it was HUGE! And second, it had all types of meat in it, there was chicken, pork, beef, fish balls, you name it! It was a nice change from the typical won ton noodle soups. Very unique! The won tons were ok. I've had better. The noodles were typical flat egg noodles. Not a huge fan. The soup tasted really good (so I'm guessing it was filled with MSG). Overall, I think it was a solid bowl of won tons and noodles. And for $5.95, you are definitely going to get your money's worth here! -soymilk: I think they make it themselves. So fresh! Only $.99!! -gan lan (veggies): can't go wrong with a good dish of veggies! Service: Not much of service but that's typical of a little chinese hole in the wall restaurant that's packed with customers. You know you are there for the food, not to be served. Price: CHEAP! So worth it! Ambiance: busy, noisy, loud, feels like you are in Hong Kong. Overall: I'll totally come again to try the other types of noodles here. They come in such BIG bowls and it's filled to the brim with goodies! :)
(4)Jolene L.
Roast duck is so yummy. The end.
(3)Linda T.
best place for teo chew noodles! i always get the noodle soup with thin egg and rice noodles. soup is clear and tasty, lots of fish balls, shrimp, fish cake, pork. HUGE portions that will fill you up. wontons are good, you can get them with noodles or just on its on. roast pork, chicken, and duck are bomb here! always a line whenever its a chinese holiday with asians lined outside. fast service, good food! teo chew noodles!!!
(4)Karen T.
The wonton fun was good the bbq'd pork is ok not the best I've had, greens were good also. Thus place has solid fast Togo bbqs and Chinese Vietnamese food. Nothing exciting to say though.
(3)Nancy S.
What can I say about this place? Cheap, good and fast! Love it!
(4)Doug R.
Been coming to this place for years. GREAT portion size. Supposedly the rumor has it that place has the best roast duck in SF? I have to say it isn't really BAD... but I think I've had much better, specifically at Kam Po in SF - one of the best. But, when I'm in the Sunset this probably my first choice to go ever since Cheung Hing on Noriega i heard went downhill three years ago. I haven't honestly been to Cheung Hing in the last three years (having gone off to college), but I have been to Lam's last month and it was still great. I got to agree some of the waiters are rude, but I don't think it's because they're mean people... but rather it's always really packed and busy. Food comes out fast, and always tastes great. Love it.
(4)Colleen M.
I have family that works here, so I may be just a bitttt biased. But the people here have always been nice to my friends and I, and the food is always fast and yummy, if not MSG-filled. They never skimp on portions, and this place is seriously dirt cheap for what they give you! Anything with roasted meats and steamed rice should be amazing. Me not being as carnivorous as the rest of the world, Chiu Chow fried rice with tofu is yummy beyond means. Gakinang, what it do! Get the homemade soy bean drink and your taste buds will thank you.
(4)Brandon Y.
Dudeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. This place is freakin' awesome! I haven't had one dish that I'm not satisfied with. I know my mom usually comes here for their char siu and roast duck, usually that's take out and we eat it at home. Bomb dot com. I've been going here with my friends and tried a variety of their dishes. I ordered the roast duck/char siu flat noodle soup combo.
(5)William C.
This place is probably the best Vietnamese restaurant in the Sunset area. You get good authentic Vietnamese food for a good price. I come here often, maybe once or twice a week when I'm in the area. It's not usually that crowded, you can probably find a seat. Parking around this area is also pretty convenient. I come here for their great pho noodles, rice plates, and chow fun, but they also have amazing roasted duck, pork and barbecue chicken. I usually order these to go, as the line for these barbecued delicacies can be pretty long sometimes. Overall, this is definitely a plus and I would recommend coming here.
(5)Nina Y.
Chinese Vietnamese food, but we all got duck. Roast duck was good, but so fatty. Since all I've been eating are salads and sandwiches, i haven't eaten pure fat in a while. To my taste buds it was really too much. To be honest, it was really not the best I'vehad in the states. For it's price though it was a good deal. Meh on the flavor.
(3)Sarah C.
I wasn't expecting to even eat lunch let alone eating here. I would not eat here if I had the choice but I was stuck because someone drove me. It felt really dirty here and some of the utensils were =/. The bathroom was super disgusting. Pee all over the floor. The food was alright though and they do give a lot. I ordered the won ton soup noodles. I felt like there was loads of msg in there. I kept drinking tea. The service is sad. They gave us two glasses of ice water. We didn't order them and they belonged to the couple next to us. I would like to never come here ever again.
(2)Junaid R.
This random Sunday night adventure was inspired ealier in the week during a Turkey Jook party I had at my place. My buddy's father in law hails from a small town in China that has a very unique flavor. Lam Hoa Thuan features food from that same town, and when his father in law visited from LA, he was hooked! So naturally we had to try this place for ourselves.... I may need to give this place another try... I made the mistake of ordering a Vietnemese Bun Bo Hue at a Chinese restaurant. That's my bad. The roast duck was really good... the roast pork... not a fan. Still, it was a fun adventure and good company.
(2)Eric M.
As far as HK bbq goes... its good here, but i'd rather go to Cheung Hing's. The kitchen food is well made and very authentic. I like the grilled pork with egg rolls over rice #109 I think.
(4)Yvette F.
This place is so reliably good. I've just been reminded of that when we came here for lunch last Sat. After what seemed like a good many years since I've been there, it was with happy surprise to enter the place and see many of the familiar faces still working there, busy as always but looking pretty content to be there, doing their job. And why not, they serve food that makes people coming back, even after many years of absence. What I'd recommend: Ducks in any form. The roasted duck we've ordered was probably the best I've had in a very long time. The meat was just so luscious and succulent, the skin was slightly crisp. They have run out of the "guitar-style" duck by the time we arrived but my mom (who does go there fairly regularly) said those are even better than what we did get. So I strive to make it there earlier next time to get me a plate of those. We also ordered a plate of mustard greens and they used only the best part of the stalks that were crunchy, without the stringy outer shell and cooked with the perfect amount of garlic. We also ordered other items and while they did not stand out as much, they still tasted at least as good as food from the other places I've gone to more often out of convenience. So, yes, do try!!
(4)cadence p.
I love their house noodle soups with stick noodles. It's amazing! Their duck is okay, I rather go to Cheung Hing for that. But other than that, whenever I come here I always get their house special! OH and I almost forgot about the Pork Kidney! Awesomeeee ^_^
(4)Laurence H.
Not Hong Kong quality won ton noodles but Irving St. quality. Good size portions. Their take-out and eat-in prices for the BBQ items are significantly wide that one should consider take-out..
(3)Colin P.
Went here for lunch. Busy place. Food was good. Staff was friendly.
(4)Jeff W.
good food fair price constant lines for take out bbq items and sit down lunches. this ensures high turnover of food. the manager seats patrons quickly and efficiently. this day I thanked him for seating us and called him "big boss" in Cantonese, he politely acknowledged that he was just a worker and NOT the big boss. which really means that he is. bottom line if you order any bbq item or any noodle dish, you cannot go wrong.
(4)MissJ J.
If you are looking for great customer service - don't come here. If you are looking for great food (especially the Chinese BBQ) - this is the place!! Comparing to the typical Chinese restaurant, this place has an "average" customer service: unlimited napkins, they will actually bring you tea, they will bring you extra bowls/ plates if you ask. You get your food within minutes of ordering. The food is delicious - especially the chinese bbq items: roast duck, pork, bbq pork. Their cambodian noodle soup is very nice as well - good flavors. We've also gotten other items - a few fried rice, noodles..etc. They are yummy as well. If you like MSG - then you can get their fried fish fillet - you can actually see the MSG.... :( Yea... go for the bbq items!
(4)Eric S.
The service is kind of what you'd expect: lacking. But the food is quite good. It's a mix of Vietnamese and Chinese, so expect your Chinese to be a little bit Vietnamese. See that line of people out the door? They're almost all here for the spareribs and duck. You should at least try the former. It's awesome. Try the soup, too. I recommend soup with thin Chinese noodles, but the Pho is pretty darn good, too. This is a cash-only operation, but it's incredibly inexpensive. So, tip them anyway, despite the poor service. And come back again and again.
(4)Erica T.
The bbq food is ok... But there service is the worst service in San Francisco. I am paying to eat here. All I got back is there f...k up face . Never be back again.
(2)Liz W.
This place is FANTASTIC for all of the roasted goods. Roasted pork, roasted duck, chicken, etc. For that, I give this place 4 stars, the other food, I'd say more of a 3. I've also been here a few times for their pho, I'd give it an average rating, but it sure does come out fast!
(4)Annie S.
Whenever my dad is having a lazy day and doesn't feel like cooking dinner, he would always order out Chinese food from this place. He loves the roast duck here, it's his number one item on the menu. But of course, he also orders the BBQ pork and roast pork to make it a complete carnivore meal for me and my six brothers. I try not to eat a lot of red meat, but duck isn't considered a red meat... right? The duck skin is delicate and crunchy white the meat itself is juicy and tender. Ah, makes my mouth salivate just thinking about it. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who is looking for some good Chinese food that won't disappoint your taste buds. Hey, the proof is in the long lines out the door. I would know cause I once had to order take out from this place. And let me tell you... it was worth it.
(4)T H.
Better watch for the scale folks. My friend happened to be at the restaurant and overheard a very unusual exchange between the owner/manager and inspector of weights and measures who was inspecting the restaurant's scale for accuracy. The owner or manager was insisting that the restaurant's scale is accurate by placing an object, presumably a one pound object, on the scale for accuracy test. Unfortunately, this object presented by the restaurant is not in compliance with the the Dept. of Public Health. You can draw your conclusion from this point. I would pay close attention to the scale and weight it again when arrived home with the order. Something tells me that thousands of people were suckered into paying more for less food. It may sound insignificance until you do the math. Imagine that 1000 people were ripoff. Instead of getting one pound, these people were given 13 oz. That's 3 oz. x 1000 = 3000 oz = 187.5 lbs. Let's use roasted BBQ pork as an example. Assuming the cost is $5.75 per pound. 187.5 x 5.75 = $1078.13 x period of one year = lots of money
(2)Tsz Kuen Caroline H.
I have been going there for take out BBQ pork chop and roast pork. Last time I went there for to go roast pork. I paid extra to buy a certain part of the pork, they completely switched it out for the regular part despite the fact that I paid extra for that! Horrible service! Is that how they treat customers? They just think that we are stupid and can't tell apart the quality and different parts of meat?!
(1)Dan L.
This place is solid. Don't expect anything too gourmet, but the menu is extensive and most things I've had are pretty good and cheap. They have great roast duck and they usually have a whole roast pig hanging up for the roast pork, which is delicious. Good pho as well.
(4)Maggy C.
awesome BBQ items!
(5)H K.
I came last night and noticed they upgraded the appearance by putting in new tables and chairs. Also there are new carpets on the floor. Hope they can keep it clean with the type of food they serve here. My favorite food from this restaurant is still the braised duck. Unfortunately, I arrive at or after 7pm more often than not, and by that time they run out. The later you go, the more items from the barbecue counter is gone. On the other hand, you can always order from the kitchen. Their preserved orange-flavored skin duck with noodles is my favorite from back there. Their Vietnamese beef noodle soup is pretty soup in my opinion also (albeit at times it seemed to be on the salty side).
(4)fenny g.
I love their roast duck and their combination with gravy over rice. The place always super busy especially during lunch hour. The server not that attentive either but who cares, not that I will leave big tips anyway :-) Their roast duck is roasted to perfection. In some occasions ( yeah, I go there often) it's a bit too salty. However, you can expect the juicy not so thick fat below the skin compares to other duck. I like to take my duck to go so I can make my special dipping sauce at home. Mince garlic, choped jalapeno, vinegar and fish sauce. If I eat there, I always order their combination with gravy over rice. It's 6 bucks. The combination part was squid, scallop (yes scallop), shrimp, BBQ pork, chicken and fish cake. The gravy was this divine brown concoction of tapioca flour and oyster sauce! It serves over mountain of steam rice! So good with their pickle jalapeno. Why 3 stars? Their almost non existent of service.
(3)Ping N.
I come here when there is no parking at Toon Kee, since its only a block away and they pretty much have the same things. BBQ Pork over Rice, Roast Duck, Roast Chicken. Most of their BBQ items are the same as Toon Kee, and thats all I usually order. I've had their Salt and Pepper Tofu before. Its pretty good. I'll say the same thing I said for Toon Kee. Food is good, portions are large, cost is cheap. What better way to enjoy some good ol' Chinese food.
(4)Connie C.
mmmmmmmmm who doesn't love fresh chopped meats???? I recently started coming back to this place with my boyfriend and he loves it too! The noodle bowls are crazy huge for what you pay for. They sure give us a lot of noodles and neither of us can finish it without feeling bloated. We also order a dish of cha siu and its sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good. The place is pretty big so there isn't usually a worry about long waits! Get over there already and warm yourself up from the cold SF weather:)
(4)Gina P.
Ok, I know this place is good & cheap but it's D I R T Y. And I mean, REALLY DIRTY. You can tell right when you walk in that this place isn't very sanitary. So I think to myself, sometimes places are dirty looking but MAYBE their kitchen is kept in decent condition. And because it was close to my home and quick, I continued going back. So I always order duck & won ton noodle soup. When I got my bowl of noodles, I started mixing the soup around with my spoon. And what do I see? A cockroach the size of a dime floating in my soup! UGH.. just thinking about it makes me cringe. I let the waiter know, he was unapologetic and simply took away the bowl and brought me another one. How do I know they didn't just go to the back, took out the cockroach, and brought me back that same exact bowl?? From then on, I'm just too scared and paranoid to ever go back. Eat at your own risk.
(1)Wendy H.
Their roast pig is still the best in town so why am I giving them a vote of no confidence? Well let's see: 1) The deli people are shysters. Before you can see what they are cutting up but now they cover up the glass counter so you don't know what the heck they're doing. We asked for the ribbed section of the pork (three ribs) and we asked them to cut it up for us. When we got home, we found out they did a bait and switch because we didn't get the rib section, we got the neck section. The meat in the rib section is the best. The neck is not good. 2) Went back today and the guy handed us undercooked roast pig. It's so undercooked that you can see the blood. When we questioned, them, the deli guy said, "Oh it's overcooked!" Yeah buster, if it's so overcooked why is it red? We turned them down flat and came back 15 minutes later. Ordered from another deli clerk and the original clerk saw us and tried to hand us the undercooked meat back to us (it's suspiciously still in it's baggie from the first time he tried to foist it on us). We said thanks but no thanks. Solved the bait and switch problem by saying we didn't want them to chop up the pork for us. However, when we came home, we found out that they gave us over a pound of junkie leftover pork (it's common for delis to give you junk portions of the meat). That pork cost us $20!?!? Yeah their food is good but they've gotten cocky. I'm taking my business somewhere else. You're not the only deli in town!
(1)Syd T.
My boyfriend & I LOVE their special wonton soup without noodles. We were literally craving it the next day! The soup is really tasty and their wontons are so big! Also, they have some veggies and stuff in the soup which makes it more of a meal. We also ordered roasted duck over rice and it hit the spot. Their roasted duck is really good and tasty, and we didn't get a whole lot of fat. I saw a lot of people ordering soymilk so I shall try that next time. Also, their bun bo hue bowls that I see them serving are HUGE. That may be something to try next time too! Their roasted items are good and their wonton soup is good!
(5)Albion R.
this place kicks major flavor ass we had: Bi Cuon (2 Rolls) - meat & shredded pork roll $5.69 fat rolls filled with meaty goodness Dac Biet Pho Ga - chicken rice noodle soup $5.69 nice rich broth Bun Chagio - fried vietnamese egg roll with vermicelli $5.69 perfect balance of veggies to noodles. tasty eggrolls Ca Tim Rang Muoi - salt and pepper eggplant $5.00 SO GOOD ~ crispy on the outside, lush on the inside. these were crazy delicious piping hot and just as delectable cold out of the the fridge the next day. fast friendly and efficient service $25 before tip
(4)Belinda C.
i'm been coming here since i was i kid. They use to be located around the corner. I love their BBQ items here. Usually around chinese new year, the lines are blocks long., if you want to dine you, you can just walk in. The place is not that clean, but it doesn't matter because the food is so good. No matter what you order you can't go wrong. I usually get teh pan friend noodles or the mince beef over rice. I think they have the best minced beef over rice every. I can actually finish the plate! and if you know, you should know i hardly ever finish everything on my plate. The service here differs, i feel that sometimes they are nice and sometimes they aren't.
(4)Lauren Y.
Whenever I'm out here, you got to try the roast duck with rice. YUM! :-)
(5)Ami N.
This place was recommended by a friend when I was looking for a decent Chinese place. The food was so good, and the prices are great. We got wonton soup, a whole fried fish, pan fried noodles, fried squid, roasted pork, and fried chicken. I wish it was closer so that I can go back all the time.
(4)Karen S.
I was finally officially moving into my new place. After a full morning of moving across the Bay & organizing the new place, we had to stop for some food - or as my parents call it, afternoon tea. Without a destination in mind, we stopped at the nearest decent-looking place. My dad got a Mi Hoa Thuan (house special egg noodle soup) with thick noodles. It had shrimp, fish balls, etc. which were good. The most important part of the dish - the thick noodles - however, were not very egg'y. My mom got a Hoanh Thanh Mi Hoa Thuam (house special won ton noodle soup) which was the house special egg noodles with mon tons & it made for a lot of food. My mom got the regular noodles which didn't have the necessary bite. I got the Hu Tieu Ca Vien (fish ball ho fun soup) which was pretty darn decent. The fish balls were a bit dense but the flavor was really close to that I had when I lived in Hong Kong. The ho fun wasn't the wide kind that I like & they were too thick; but overall I was pretty satisfied. The boy got a Pho Tai (rare beef slices) which he thought was just mediocre. We also got a couple glasses of soy milk which were left in the microwave too long after they were reheated (my mom saw it). Although they were only tepid in temperature, the soy milk tasted like it was made in house with a little bit of grittiness from the soy beans. The food here was not super impressive but for an everyday quick bite, it's not bad.
(3)Amy L.
This is not a place you go for a romantic candlelit dinner or a fancy dinner out with the family. This isn't even necessarily a place you want to sit down and eat. But this IS one of the best places in San Francisco to buy a whole Chinese-style duck, which they will cut up with quick, precise whacks of a cleaver, rice for 4, and for less than a family dinner from KFC, you'll have a far superior meal...Talk about fabulous FAST FOOD!!! Walking by this place, you'd think it was Chinese food, which is mostly what they serve, contrary to the fact it's supposedly a Vietnamese restaurant. There are the ducks and bbq pork hanging in the window, waiting for you to get in the line-out-the-door to purchase them, several other preparations of ducks, chickens, and roast pork, all easily procurred at a very low price to be whisked home for dinner or even to take into Golden Gate Park for a picnic! Why doesn't this place get five stars from me? Well, for one thing, this isn't a place I'd want to sit down and eat dinner - the ambiance is too hectic, loud, and the environment feels a little seedy. People aren't necessarily friendly, orders from employee to employee are barked at top volume in languages other than English, and the clientele who frequent this place have no qualms about squeezing in front of you in line without apology if you're not paying close attention! Also, this joint is cash-only, which is irritating when you haven't had time to run to an ATM, but want to purchase $20 worth of take-out! But overall, Lam Hoa Thuan does what it does well, and that's really what these ratings are all about - we can't compare it to the Absinthes or Citizen Cakes of the city, because they serve different purposes. So, next time you're in the Sunset Parkside neighborhood, looking for something quick to pick up and bring home so as to consume while watching your favorite tivo'd shows, definitely check this place out if it's roast duck or pork that you crave!!!
(4)Lisa X.
Don't get me wrong...this place definitely has good food. The food is around 4 stars, but the service was atrocious. We got in ten minutes before they closed and immediately we were rushed to order because "the kitchen is about the close". Flashbacks of growing up in the restaurant business watching your mom bend over backwards to make customers happy were going through my head. This is totally unacceptable. The food had big portions and the meat was juicy and flavorful. That's all I'm going to tell you because you can probably get the same at a really good restaurant in the TL. I'm sorry, but it's really disappointing when the service is nonexistent. It's like having a crush on a real cute guy and then you realize he's the biggest asshole on the planet. Yeah, kinda like that.
(2)Tracy A.
Today was actually my second time coming in here. The first time I came here were with some of my guy friends but I wasn't hungry so I didn't order anything even though the food looked pretty good. Came in here today with the boyfriend and since he loved pho so much why not try a new place right? He ordered his usual, pho with beef on the side and I ordered the beef stew with flat rice noodles along with their homemade soy bean drink. The waitress was nice and said i made a really good choice for my meal and she spoke fluent English! My beef stew was a little too much for my appetite but it was still good and very filling! It came with cilantro which I love so that was a plus. Boyfriend really liked his pho with beef o the side but he thought that the soup base for the pho was a little bland. This place really fits a-hole-in-the-wall category. You'll easily pass by this place but hey thats your own lost for some cheap good Vietnamese/Chinese Food. For $13 you can fill up two tummies! STEAL!
(4)Vanson N.
I remember when this place was at the corner of 23rd and Irving and at the time it was called Hai Ky. They moved out and a new establishment called New Hai Ky moved into that corner. The new place sucked and I spent a few years finding where old Hai Ky went. I poke my head into this place and I see the same tall balding dude and short lady! I don't know how long it's been at this location, but I'm glad I found it! I've been going to this place (well, this owner's place) since high school. Every friend of mine has their own favorite dish here. This means that just about everything is good here. A great infusion of Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine all found in one restaurant with affordable prices. I love how you can order from one person and ask someone else for the check. And the short lady with the short hair, she gives the best service!
(4)Sam T.
Cheap, but you get what you pay for! I usually don't go to Chinese restaurants, but that day I had taken my cousin out, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and all his friends "disappeared", so from time to time I take him out to eat or to do something fun. The only problem is that he doesn't eat any other cuisine aside from Chinese, so he suggested we go here because he has been to this place many times. When we got there they were almost closing, but they let us in anyways. We ordered, and as soon as I sat I noticed that the table was "sticky" and dirty, the plates, the silverware, and even the chopsticks were also sticky and dirty, which reminded me of a guy friend of mine who washed all his dishes with boiling water and never used soap because he believed that the hot water would remove all the dirt (seriously, chemistry should be a requirement to get out of high school!), that really upset me. Right after we ordered I went to the restroom, and a few minutes when I came back out, the food was being served, it was ready so fast because they under-cooked everything as they were getting ready to close. My noodles were under-cooked and hard, it didn't even taste good at all. My sister's beef was also under-cooked, it was almost raw. My cousin's food wasn't under-cooked because he ordered the barbecue pork with rice and that was already available, but it was not fresh. I would never recommend this place to anyone unless I really hate you. I didn't say anything to my cousin and I didn't complain because I didn't want to ruin his night, so I just took the food home. I do agree that the prices are very affordable, but you do get what you pay for, so you might as well go to Mcdonalds.
(1)Jenna T.
Ugh this place is so rude. The waitress was so incompetent. The convo went like this...(fyi, everything was spoken in Chinese) My mom: Hi I wanted to get the beef chow mein. Waitress: The chow mein?? What kind?? You gotta tell me what kind of meat you want in it... My mom: Beef Waitress: *Looks all annoyed* My mom: Also can I get the Bun Bo Hue with the pho (vientamese) noodles instead? Waitress: *Looks even more annoyed* What?? My mom: Can you change the noodles in the Bun Bo Hue to the pho noodles instead?? Waitress: What pho noodles? My mom: *repeats herself* Waitress: Oh yea okay...*snatches menus, walks away* They come back 5 minutes later with the food. The only thing good about this place are the low prices and the food came really fast. That's IT. I get so grossed out seeing the ducks hanging behind the storefront window with the grease dripping onto the other food underneath it. *shivers* The beef chow mein was plain and really soggy. The bun bo hui wasn't spicy enough.
(2)Ashley I.
A day after eating at Pho Gardens, I decided to hit up Lucca's with a friend and try a sandwich he created. He was sick and couldn't come out. I decided I wanted pho again and he had been ranting and raving about Lam Hoa. The pho was delicious but by comparison to Pho Gardens, Gardens definitely wins. The pho was quick to come out and I was quick to leave...and then hang out at Tutti Melon. Dear god what a horrible day of gluttony.
(4)Grace J.
My relatives love coming to this restaurant - cheap deals (or should I say steals... ONE DOLLAR SIGN YO!) - for delicious plates of both your standard Chinese and Vietnamese favorites. Perfect when your sister wants chow fun but you'd rather get a Vietnamese styled rice plate. SETTING -Big and spacious for a restaurant in the Sunset = good for a big group! The first time I came here it was for lunch on a weekend (Saturday) with three families. We combined two tables and stuck in a few extra chairs and everyone still sat comfortably. -I've never seen this place incredibly packed, I think it's hard to spot for usual passerbys to catch. This restaurant sorta blends in with everything else. (My cousins can never remember the name of this place either). That benefits the consumers who do eat here - no waiting time! MENU -#26 Roasted Duck. Tasty, juicy, and tender. Can't go wrong with this one. -#71 Eggplant in Hot Garlic Sauce. -#101 Grilled Pork with Steamed Rice. I am down to eat a Vietnamese rice plate any day. #48 Beef Chow Fun. Didn't eat this one that much, but my mom said it was a little too salty for her liking. PROS -Food comes out quickly -Good for groups -Food is cheap so I recommend ordering 1 dish per person in your group but FAMILY STYLING IT. -Add jalapeños (condiments) to your plate. They ain't too hot at allll but will give your meal a little kick :D
(4)John M.
Come here occasionally, sucks they stopped serving veggies with your rice order.
(3)Steph M.
YES - I love hole in the wall chinese food. It's the freaking best. This place's selection is vast, with a variety of chinese and vietnamese dishes (including both versions of BBQ). You could seriously order anything and it'd be pretty good. You could probably even make it up a dish and they'd make it.
(4)Giovani T.
4 stars for having one of the best roast ducks and free range chicken and Chinese BBQ for both eat in and take out. It is also a popular noodle house and offers a decent selection of Chinese and Southeastern Asian dishes for everyday family dining (3 stars for family dining value). I would stay away from the pho noodles, however, as the soup is not clear and the meats tough as card board (2 stars for pho). This place is Cash Only.
(3)Mike C.
like my previous two reviews, people that rate this place one or two stars may have the wrong expectations - you go in, order, eat, and leave. if you're not assertive, haven't been to other kind of 'old school' restaurants like it, and/or constantly asking for forks, napkins, refill of water, you'll probably think the service is bad. the food though is cheap and delicious. everything that i've ordered - Viet rice plate, Chinese noodles, Chinese rice plate, pho - was spot on.
(4)james m.
Service and staff may suck but you can't fault the portions for the price Excellent wonton soup
(3)Andrea G.
I used to come here a lot with my family because the food was good and cheap. Even for Chinese restaurants, we felt that the prices were low for what we getting. It was so worth it to come here for a meal. I haven't been back in a really long time so when I walked in, I was surprised at their upgrade. No longer were there tables that chipped. These tables had a dark marble top. No longer were there chairs that were wearing down. These chairs were new and comfortable. This upgrade made the restaurant appear cleaner and more modern. Of course, with that upgrade, the prices of the food went up too. But it's still pretty cheap so I don't really mind. I ordered seafood pan fried noodles. When the dish came out, I felt that it was huge. The noodles were crispy with sauce on top. It included bok choy, carrots, scallops, shrimp, and fish cake. It was a very generous portion. As usual, I had to add chili sauce to my food because I love spiciness. Their sate chili sauce was very good. Slightly salty from the soy sauce and also crunchy, probably from the chili flakes being fried. My dad ordered a BBQ pork with rice. The portions were pretty big. The BBQ was a little disappointing this time because it didn't have as much flavor. It wasn't as sweet and salty as I remembered it. But it was still good. My sister ordered a beef chow fun. She doesn't like onions and they were very willing to accommodate her. My mom ordered a bun thit nuong (vermicelli with grilled pork). I loved that they gave a generous portion of the pork. They gave more than enough for the meal. So I ate some off her plate. I thought the grilled pork was very flavorful and tender. It was just how I liked it. Not too salty, not too dry. We also ordered a glass of soy milk. I loved that it came out warm. While I was a little disappointed that the milk was only lightly sweetened (I have a major sweet tooth), it was just the right amount for my parents. We also had an order of fried shrimp to share. The minced shrimp mixed with something crunchy like jicama or turnip was wrapped in a tofu skin and deep fried. It came with a sweet and sour sauce. One of the best dishes ever. I would definitely get it again. Overall, I felt that the food were really good and the portions were huge. So for the price that we paid, it was completely worth it. Service was mediocre. The servers were always busy and came by only to take our order and give us our food. However, because the food was so good, I don't really care. I would definitely return in the future. If you're looking for good and cheap Chinese/Vietnamese food, this is the place to go. It does get crowded during rush hour and sometimes, you do have to share a table with other people. But I think it's worth the wait.
(4)J W.
Arriving at the restaurant, the line for buying food at the BBQ deli station had about fifteen people waiting. They serve Chinese and Vietamese cuisine. The grilled pork vermicelli, Bun Bo Hue, bbq pork and rice, chow mein and fried rice were delicious. Iced coffee was very aromatic and yummy. They have 99 cents cup of soy milk which was ok. Good portions and the food was very tasty except after eating we were very thirsty. I think there's too much msg. Wished that there wasn't. This is a CASH ONLY restaurant. No credit cards. Otherwise, you'll be washing dishes!!!
(3)Joseph N.
This place is hit or miss depending on who chops your chicken/duck/cha siu. NEVER EVER, EVER EVER EVER!!!! let the guy with the black hair take your order. The guy is NOT legit. This shady ass guy chopped my "slutty" princess chicken and roast duck. The chicken was cool, the see-though plastic box showed that it was legit. BUT...when it came to the roast duck after the plastic box was closed, it fogged up. I should have checked, because when i got home, instead of getting an entire roast duck, chopped with legs/thighs, breast meat, all I got was everything EXCEPT the best part, which is the MISSING DUCK BREAST MEAT. The middle section of the plastic box usually has the breast meat, but it was missing. You can tell if you ordered roast duck often enough, because there was missing space there. WTF is my breast meat? The wall divider here is so high with the view of the chopping blocked off, so that customers can't see how the restaurant skimps off of the customers' orders. Cheung Hing, their "superior" competitor in the Sunset area has a see through divider wall, which allows customers to see what they actually get when they order their roast duck. You get an honest roast duck from Cheung Hing, but not from the shady Chinese/Viet owners of this place. I got a feeling this restaurant double counts each roast duck and skimps the roast duck breast meat from customers' orders for other customers' orders such as roast duck over rice, etc. Eating at this place reminds me of those HK gangster flicks where people always flip the table before a fight. I'm surprised more tables are flipped due to the shady nature of their business operations. The cashier lady is the owner's skanky wife. Like your typical Chinese/Viet woman that evades taxes, she is cocky as f*ck and rude. Oh and one more thing, "Cash Only"? Do I smell unreported revenue to the IRS?
(1)Harriet W.
After having specialty pho for the longest time, I was craving regular old pho with the beef, tendons and all the good general stuff. And I can say hands down that this is the best place that serves the good ol regular pho. Very tender beef, a lot more high quality than any other place serves. It's not dry, even when fully cooked. Soup base was also extremely delicious! I'd drink the whole bowl if the noodles didn't fill me up already. Whenever I'm having a pho craving, I'll definitely be coming here!
(4)Kitty K.
Came here on Friday of Lunar New Year's from a suggestion from a friend for good Chinese BBQ. I was bringing it for a New Year's dinner celebration in Sacramento since there's not that many good places in that area. The wait was about 30min (I heard the wait was more than 1hr the day before!). It's a typical Asian BBQ shop with a little dive-y feel. There's a restaurant located in the back if you wanted to dine-in. My order Char Siu / Thit Xa Xiu (BBQ Pork) Siu Yuk / Heo Quay (Roasted Pork) Wong Mo Gai (Steamed Free-Range Chicken) w/ a Ginger, Scallion, Oil dipping sauce Unfortunately since I had to transport it to Sacramento, I didn't get to eat it fresh as when it came out. We had so much food for New Year's as well so I didn't eat much but the pieces I tried were really good. I'm sure if I had eaten them right away, it would've been really succulent. The whole family still loved all the meats though Cash only.
(4)Brianna C.
This place had iffy reviews, but the smell coming out of the restaurant was impossible to resist. We got a roasted duck. It was the absolute fattiest duck I've ever had, which means that it was both the most flavorful but most annoying. I don't eat the fat (I know, I'm too Americanized) so it was a pill scraping the heaps of it off, and it was beyond oily. But the meat was heavenly and moist and awesome. You can get it to go and they're incredibly fast, they hurt chop it up, throw it in a box, and you're out the door. There was a line out the door and they were still pumping through the to go orders in no time.
(4)Sara K.
There's a good reason why there's always a line out the door for their deli items! Roast pork, cha sui, roast duck, all kinds of chicken... it's all good! And reasonably priced also. If you want to eat in, be prepared to make a quick decision with quick service. There's usually a small wait during lunch/dinner rushes, but they churn food out so quickly that you most likely won't have to wait too long. Some highlight items: -Dry mix noodles with flat egg noodles. This isn't really "on" the menu, but if you tell the waitress, she'll know what you mean. It's SO good! Their other dry mix noodles are also good (the ones on the menu). -Noodle soups are also good. I've tried a few of them, and none have been disappointing. If you have a problem choosing what to eat, you can always go with the standard deli meat + rice plate. Service isn't friendly and the place isn't the cleanest. But the food is worth it!
(4)Mandy L.
This is a Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant on Irving and 25th with Pho restaurants right next door and probably 10 other within the 3 block radius vicinity but that competition does not phase them. They are known for their roasted duck and the take out line is always out the door...rain or shine or that one week when SF was 40 degrees F...yup, still people waiting. It's full house until closing at 9:30. This is the spot for some quick cheap yet the best tasting pho you'll ever have. The portion sizes here confirm why there's an obesity issue in America. Everything on the menu is great. I usually get the Bun Bo Hue..and it's actually done right here! Their imperial rolls are also amazing! So go for a vermicelli plate if you that's your thing. Oh yea, If you are looking for service, beautiful décor, spotless floor...turn and run the other way.
(4)Ryan Y.
We've been coming here for years. They have the best wonton soup in the entire world! Their BBQ items are also fresh and delicious. Their prices are very reasonable as well.
(5)Ian W.
Probably the best Vietnamese/Chinese comfort food place on Irving. Not quite Jocko's though. If you get anything get pho #95 and a plate of BBQ duck.
(4)Jana C.
Oh yeah!!!! Soy sauce chicken n crispy roasted pork...all for under $10 Roasties love happening here! But, in humble opinion, that little place on nOriega still the reigning champ:)!
(4)Denise K.
The roast duck, so moist and flavorful! A definite must. And that fresh soy milk, delicious and the perfect accompaniment to your meal. Another must! I'm dreaming about another cup of the hot soy milk I had here... Very good vermicelli and pho dishes too!! Pretty much a win win on cheap but delicious food. Not so good with the service but mainly because it's so busy and they're trying to get you out fast but with that, it also means your tasty food comes out SUPER fast!
(4)Philip W.
I have held off in giving this review but after today's service that was my last straw. It is easy to let things go and I have for many years with this place. However from my previous 5 experiences which have disappointed me time after time. The food quality is not so bad and they can turnaround your food in good time. Which is always great and I don't expect stellar service from that since this is expected... The service that I got even going to this place at various time for various times to dining in or grabbing BBQ pork has been above and beyond rude and unpleasant....
(1)Tiffany V.
I don't usually eat at places like this and rarely review them because I can never ever remember the names so good thing I checked in! My parents were back in town and we had to get some stuff done at Chase next door. We asked them if the vietnamese place next door was good and the lady helping us told us there is no vietnamese place next door but we thought she just didn't know so we came anyways. It really is not much of a vietnamese restaurant and more chinese (they even have my favorite sweet and sour fish!). It honestly took us forever to figure out what to order because nothing sounded that good. My mom and I split a bowl of the shrimp ho fun soup and her husband got roasted duck rice plate which is basically a massive mound of rice and some duck on the side. The soup was definitely enough for the both of us to split. Service is abysmal and this place is pretty dirty but there was a never ending line outside for their bbq so my mom got a to go order of chicken for my grandma and an order of duck for my grandpa.
(3)Steven G.
Best item we had was won ton soup. Good soup flavor but not enough won tons. Beef chow fun had almost no taste. Quite bland. Barbecue pork over rice also did not have much flavor. Quite bland. We live in another state and sometimes forget to ask for water. (Drought rationing). At this place, it took forever to get a glass of water. Don't count on getting prompt service, after you receive the food that you ordered. People were coming in to the place in droves. Also a huge take out business. Waiters could not keep up with the deluge of people. They got my special orders right. Prices are rock bottom as most places in Sunset and Richmond are rock bottom for Chinese food.
(3)Dorothy T.
I came here last night with my husband and father-in-law for a quick dinner. Towards the end of our meal, we see a HUGE rat roaming the dining area. I mean huge...about the size of a large eggplant. Other patrons saw it too. The owner sat it and said nothing. So we brought it to their attention, to which the answer was..."The construction next door created this mess. We had people come by already. There's nothing more we can do." I accept that Asian places are not always the cleanest of operations. I still dine at many of them, but I think seeing a rat roaming fearlessly through the dining area is my last straw. I will not be coming back here until they clean up their act, even if their food and BBQ items are good.
(1)Jonathan S.
As a long time customer (+10 years) the food is normally really good, but after today, fuck this place. Here's why. My lady and I are seated. We look over the menu. We politely wave down an employee who first ignored us. After the second attempt he grunted at us with a stink eye basically saying "Fuck you." We ordered with someone else. Chow fun with gravy, vermicelli, and BBQ pork fried rice with a coke.. The chow fun came instantly. But there was no gravy. we were hungry so we took it. whatever. 10 minutes later or so the vermicelli came out. That was fine. No complaints there, except i was thirsty. Got ignored for a while by that first dickhead and got my coke from a thirst person. I saw our original waitress leave without saying goodbye. Not that she had to, but i don't think she cared to tell her coworkers to take care of us. I digress. After finishing the vermicelli and finally getting my coke, nearly a half hour after ordering we still hadn't got our rice (which should have come first). So fuck it. We got it to go, paid the bill. Overall the food was pretty good even though they fucked up the chow fun. Cant be 100% every time. Just a bad service day. We get home some time later. Grew an appetite for that sweet sweet BBQ rice we both love so much. A single piece of BBQ pork in it. Tastes like shit. It had those dinky little mini shrimp in it. On this day we were disrespected, ignored, and forgotten. Which is normal for any Chinese restaurant. All would have been forgiven, but the food did not pull through. Thank you Lam Hoa Thuan for your years of great food, but you will not be seeing us for a long long time.
(1)Rae C.
This place is nice. Moderately priced, but service is a little... Yeah. First, when I went inside, they made me wait in the middle of the place instead of seating me, even though half the place was empty. Then, I ordered a roast duck and rice dish here with a coke, but my food was already brought out before even my drink, and when I asked a server about it, he just responded in a somewhat impatient way, "I know." And it was another five minutes later before I got my soda. Though, overall, I did enjoy the food they have here, and it's affordable. Just, the service staff could be a little more... Coordinated and friendly.
(3)Jenny Q.
This is another cash only, no frills joint that I often find myself at. Pho and the bbq meats served with rice are like comfort food to me. I swear, the sauce that the meat comes with can make anything taste good! It gets pretty packed around lunchtime which is how I found it in the first place, and some people might get put off by the lack of service but I actually find it very refreshing. Just give me my food and let me grub down :)
(4)Golden H.
There's a reason why I am a regular here. The portions are great, the taste is good, and the price is fairly low. Every time I come, there's a line for the bbq items that usually stretches outside of the restaurant. The roast duck, although fatty at times, is really delicious and the char siu is amazing. Dining in is also great as well. I usually get the #9 or the #91 but I've been trying a lot of other things from the menu recently, all of which have exceeded my expectations. The portion for #91 (pho) is huge. It always fills me up and is great on a cold day. The waiters aren't dead. They are alert and work efficiently. The service is great overall. I've brought my friends here on multiple occasions and they all loved it. Would recommend this restaurant to everyone looking for a good meal with family and friends.
(5)Jo D.
Very cheap but that comes at a cost, food is not as good as the myriad of other pho places in the area. I'll pay the extra $2-3 for something with flavor.
(3)Joyce N.
I went there for dinner tonight, their customer service sucks!! Well u can say they don't have SERVICE!!! I've been waiting forever to get my ice water! N waited for a loooooong time to get my to-go boxes!!! Their food is salty n vegs doesn't look fresh!! Overall this is gonna be my first time n my last time there!!!
(1)Julie L.
Service leaves much to be desired but their roasted items are better than Cheung Hing on Noriega. The duck is more meaty and less burnt. Char sui is tastier and "prettier" looking. Noodle soups are ok. Soy bean milk is good - super great deal at $0.99/cup.
(4)Suwito S.
The best place for BBQ Pork and Steamed Chicken over rice. Period.
(5)Mindy C.
Boy, I'm just building the list of "Hole-in-the-wall"! Another dirt cheap place on the list, LHT is great for quick lunch, quick dinner, easy and yummy meal. They are famous for the BBQ items such as roast duck, bbq pork, roast pork and free range chicken with geung yong (chicken is not BBQ'd). They also have a 100+ item menu full of Chinese and Vietnamese food, from Mongolian beef, bittermelon chicken stirfry to bun bo hue and pho ga. I love coming here for their roast duck over rice $6.50, #7 dry (seafood noodle soup) $6 and #12A (combination lai fun soup) $7.50. The roast duck is so flavorful and tender. They give you vinegar and their secret BBQ sauce for the rice plate, I usually ask for Geung Yong (the ginger scallion oil paste) to go with my food, simply because I love geung yong with everything! And they don't charge you extra for the geung yong! one thing tho, I would love to have some veggies with my rice plate. Check out my photo, if only there was some green on my plate! You can always order "ong choy" on the side! That is super yummy, too! Their portion is pretty big, too! The seafood noodle soup is like an endless bowl of noodle! I just keep eating and eating and it doesn't seem like the bowl is getting smaller! I love it! The soup is so refreshing and simple but full of flavor! It's great if you are sick, hungover, or simply just craving for something cheap and yummy! Service is great, too! I ask for a lot of stuff usually, I know, it's pretty annoying but sometimes i just need those things, such as iced water, geung yong, boxes, more iced water, blah blah blah, but they are always so nice to me! ***CASH ONLY - I know it's irving st and i'm supposed to have cash coming here. Enjoy! xo
(4)Alexis K.
Rude staff. Horrible service , especially for take out . If i can give 0 stars i would .
(1)Cherylynn N.
I LIKE cheap food. Cheap people? Ehhhh, not so much... "C, your half is $30.17...actually, you ordered an ice tea too so it's $32.67...but oh, you owe more tax and tip now so it's...OPPPS, I forgot to go to the ATM, can you spot me?" WHAT THE HEEZY!?!?!? Foo, no wonder you haven't been on a date since 1981. Lam Hoa Thuan Restaurant is THE place to bring the ridiculously cheap people in your life without breaking the bank. For a mere $21, we got 2 orders of #7 Combo Egg Noodles, a side of Roast Duck, and 2 glasses of Soy Milk. yelp.com/biz_photos/RFN0… Save yourself a trip to SheMaleCrackHeadVille in the TL by requesting the #7 "Dry" (soup on the side) and you will have the perfect substitute to Hai Ky's Teochew Dry Noodle Soup yelp.com/biz_photos/RFN0… (my review: yelp.com/biz/hai-ky-mi-g… ). With a side of the sinfully f*cktastic glistening Roast Duck worth eye-raping from across the room yelp.com/biz_photos/RFN0… and a cold, refreshing glass of Soy Milk to wash down your meal, you have one hellavu ballin' on a budget meal! HOLLA! Actually, if you're cheap, please stay away. Mmmkay, thanks! OTHER NOTES: *CASH ONLY *Extensive Chinese & Vietnamese Menu (over 100 items) *Storefront Chinese BBQ Deli *Service is Hella Chinesey aka Fast, Inattentive, and Rude
(4)Snoozer T.
Bad service with attitude, seems careless of how many people waits in line or not in line. Pre-ordering doesn't mean you get your orders even after 20 min at this place.
(1)Drea L.
This is hands down the best Chinese bbq place in SF in my opinion. That's a huge statement given the fact that there are so many places to choose from, but trust me, Lam Hoa Thuan has the tastiest roast pork, roast duck, char siu (bbq pork) and soy sauce chicken. Don't believe me? Then the line spilling out of the door will perhaps tell you this place is worth checking out. I'm from the South Bay and we are lucky to have many Chinese bbq stores around to choose from, but even I would drive the hour to get the items from this place. The roast pork is exceptional, the crispy skin remains crispy and crunchy even hours later. The meat itself is cooked very well and isn't hard like some places. The roast duck is delicious as well. It is not the most glamorous spot to dine in, yes it is a bit disorganized, and you may end up sitting next to some strangers really closely but think of it as a communal place. There are two lines so be careful which one you stand in. There's one line for folks who order the Chinese bbq "to go" from the folks behind the counter. There's another line if you want to sit down and eat. Usually there's someone who will ask how many in your party and you get seated when there's an available table. You don't come here for 5 star service. You sit down, they give you a menu, you order and the food is delivered fairly promptly. No one will ask you how the food is, you're lucky to flag someone down if you need an extra napkin, but seriously the food makes up for it. The food is a mix of Chinese and Vietnamese as indicated by their menu which includes chow fun to pho noodles. They have stir fry dishes and also specials that are posted on the wall. I go in thinking I will order something different, but I always fall back and get the BBQ combo plates (you pick the two bbq items you want) and comes with steam rice and a small bowl of their most delicious umame brown gravy that you drizzle over your steam rice and it is the ultimate comfort food for those with a Chinese palate. I'm drooling just thinking about it. Prices are also very reasonable. Give it a try when you are in the neighborhood!
(5)Corey W.
The food is just ok. Yesterday night I ordered the pan-fried chow mein with veggies and seafood and when it came out it looked awesome. But upon closer inspection I found a long piece of black hair right in the chow mein. I looked at it and says to myself there's no way i'm eating this. I called for the waitress to show her and she looked at me and she didn't say sorry or anything,i asked for another dish I picked the roast duck over rice. Well, when the roast duck out it was all fat and skin very little meat, I was afraid there might be another piece of hair in it. So definitely I won't be coming here anymore unless I want hair in my food.
(1)Angela D.
Quick, friendly service and most importantly, good food that comes out quickly. Get the their special wonton soup which comes with shrimp wontons, pork, and shrimp. Also a great place to pick up roasted duck and crispy skin suckling pork! It's good for lunch and it's cheap!
(4)Ada C.
If you're looking for an authentic Chinese/ Vietnames dining experience... this would be it. It's a butcher- BBQ- meat type of joint at the front. (The line gets pretty ridiculous over the weekend, everyone is trying to get their slab of BBQ pork, roast duck, BBQ spare ribs, etc.) However, once you push your way past that crowd, it's a Chinese- Vietnamese restaurant in the back. This place offers delicious BBQ (combo) plates, pho, noodles, appetizers, fried rice, and the list goes on. The menu is pretty extensive, but my favorite items from here are: - HOMEMADE SOY BEAN DRINK (hot or cold) - refreshing, delicious, and only $.99 - BUN BO HUE- a massive bowl of spicy beef/ pork pho. (i really mean massive- kudos to anyone who can finish it by themself) comes with actual cubes of pork blood :) - don't judge me. - FIVE SPICE TOFU- huge BLOCKS of tofu fried to perfection, served super hot and crispy along with some housemade soy sauce. (not joking on the BLOCK part, not your typical fried CUBES of tofu) - BBQ PORK- my boyfriend absolutely adores the bbq pork here, always served warm with the fat ever so slightly dipping off the crispy outer layer and the dipping sauce is one of a kind. In addition to all that, why else is it an authentic Chinese dining experience? It's CASH ONLY. Portions are huge, but the price is CHEAP. (All the dishes is less than 10 dollars a pop) The tables are all pretty much crowded together, on busy days, expect to share the bigger tables with another party.
(4)Johnson S.
Compared to other places in the city that serves pre-cooked food (like the roast pig, duck, soy sauce chicken, and the other steamed/boiled chicken) this place is definitely one of the best, HANDS DOWN. Flavorful and because there's always a quick turnaround on food being sold, the quality is pretty good. The skin on the roast pig always has a nice crunch and seasoned nicely. The chickens aren't overcooked and the soy sauce chicken always is full of flavor! YUMMMM. The restaurant aspect is pretty good. I've eaten in a few times and usually do take outs from here. Overall, the menu has a little bit of everything. You're guaranteed to find something that would tickle your fancy... otherwise... you don't deserve to eat (I'm only partially kidding). Portions here are HUGE. I'm usually struggling to finish whatever I get here... yeah, I have the option to stop eating... but come on. I'm a MAN and I'm a cheap China-MAN... those two combos are just deadly, so of course I have to finish everything! Rice plates here are decently made. Pho doesn't blow my mind but its decent for what you pay and you get a lot. The bun bo hue here is pretty good too... mainly because they put so much pork's blood in it (but if you hate that, you probably wouldn't like it). The odd thing about this BBH is that it's not really that spicy... which... kind of defeats the purpose of eating BBH but for me... it's perfect because I sweat like a hog when I usually eat BBH. But, no sweat here! WOOT WOOT. Another one of my favorites is the dumpling and orange duck with noodle soup. Super delicious and extremely filling. Overall, you can't go wrong with this place. For what you pay, you get some pretty good vietnamese/chinese food and you get a lot of it. Service is iffy. Cleanliness... better than most Chinese joints. Worth a try!
(4)Damian D.
The duck here is just superb as attested by the line formed out the door to take-out. We requested a seafood Pho--no problem. The squid and shrimp were plentiful and the broth delicious.
(4)Picky E.
Best roast duck in town! If you don't mind eating at the hole in the wall type place.....and you have to scream for service!
(3)Sarah L.
Don't expect much service. They bring you tea, a menu, take your order, bring your food, and bring your check. But the food comes out quick and its delicious. My dad and I often stop by for a quick lunch. (come early or come late because there's quite a wait during the busy lunch rush) The menu is an assortment of Chinese and Vietnamese dishes so you can decide what tickles your fancy that day.The portions are huge. They've got a wide assortment of Chinese bbq out front that's super fresh (my dad always orders that stuff). The bun bo hue here is huge ( sized) and very flavorful. Oh and they make fresh soy milk! I think they recently changed owners but nothing else has changed.
(4)Elaine Y.
Definitely one of the best places for Asian roasted/steamed poultry. Their duck is top notch and we also tried their steamed turkey over the holidays, equally tasty. It's also one of the better sit down options when it comes to places that feature a Chinese deli up front. Their Bun Bo Hue and Vermicelli options are on point...but I still prefer Kevin's pho for pho.
(4)Vincent C.
Good egg & rice noodle combo! Need a good deep cleaning or replace the carpet, cleanliness is a must.
(3)mengzi w.
I would NOT dine here, place is filthy and crowded, though cheap the dishes are not very good, tons of good restaurants in SF that is better. Wait, why 4 stars, did I have it backwards? No I am ranking for the specific take-outs I order all the time! Their bbq pork and roasted pork are the best in the bay area, bar none, also salty chicken, and roasted duck. Why do you think I drive 1 hour here to get my take-out? Yes I am kind of nuts but I do have high standards, I seldom do any take-out of bbq pork/salty chicken except this place (usually when I am in SF for some other reason). At Chinese holidays you can expect very long lines outside, yes it is for the take-outs, and primarily old folks, they do know what a good thing tastes like, and it has to be cheap. And all my favorites will be gone by lunch time.
(4)Sherry L.
Solid Chinese-Vietnamese food with big portions. There's usually a line out the door for their BBQ products. The duck is legit. Not quite Peking Duck, but pretty darn good roasted duck. I also got the seafood chowfun with egg gravy. Surprisingly good! It's very simple in flavor but very satisfying. Great for a group. Oh they also have fresh soy milk for a dollar.
(4)Katie L.
One of my favorite places for fast take out. Just order in advance and ready for pick up in less than 10 mins. Not the best dining ambiance but all of the dishes are quite tasty and reasonably priced. The Bun Bo Hue is one of my favorites and it comes with plenty of condiments. My kids' favorite is the egg over minced beef and rice. The BBQ items are very delicious as well, especially the roast duck.
(4)Edgar C.
This is our go to place for Chinese BBQ. I wished they would plan a little better to make sure there is more roast pork by the end of the evening for us folks who have to work and can only buy after work... But other than that, I love this place. It's good, it's cheap and the meats are to die for.
(5)Michelle H.
LARGE portions! If you are more of a quantity over quality person, you'll definitely get the most bang for your buck here. a few things I've tried here are: -pho 91 / pho 92 (XL/R) ~$6.50-7 -- The broth is not always consistent. Sometimes its perfectly flavored and other times its as bland as water. However, what's "regular sized" here is probably an XL order of pho elsewhere. -bun bo hue -- comes with a generous portion of pig knuckles and noodles but its not as spicy or flavorful as other places. -beef chow fun -- flavorless and oily. I had to drench it in a ton of hot sauce to make it taste better. I've definitely had better. You cant really taste the "panfried" flavor which is what I really look for when I eat chow fun. -ROAST DUCK!!! Can't forget the most amazing, succulent, moist, tender, delicious roast duck I've ever had! Yes I know all the reviews below have also mentioned the roast duck. It is really THAT good. So if you do ever come here, dont forget to get the roast duck! I dont think I've ever came here without ordering it. I haven't tried the hot soy milk yet but it seems to be rather popular so I'm assuming its good! Overall, this place is just ok. Sometimes I am disappointed with the rice noodle dishes, but the consistently good roast duck makes up for it.
(3)David W.
My cousin is IN LOVE with this place and comes here religiously to buy her roast pork and chicken. I always get it second hand since she's the one that buys it earlier in the day. Chicken is good because of their dipping sauce. Roast pork is good but you need to get the right cut. Looking forward to trying this fresh!
(4)Carol Y.
Love take out from here. service is ok but you cant expect 5 stars service from here because its kinda like a whole in a wall. you have to be a little aggressive when waiting in line for the butcher or even take out service. call ahead for pick up and it will be quicker. huge portions and great food. the place is loud and busy = just like chinatown almost but the food makes up for it. :)
(4)King L.
This place is my go to place for rice plates. Close to the crib. The combo won ton egg noodle soup is huge and has a consistent soup all the time. Never have the Vietnamese food here tho! The duck and roast pork is a hit and miss....
(4)Milly H.
This has been and still is one of my favorites places to eat. Delicious food at incredible prices! Some of my favorite dishes to eat here are: roast duck ho fun noodle soup roast pork ho fun noodle soup soy sauce chicken ho fun noodle soup bun bo hue (spicy pork noodle soup, not spicy at all, they just call it spicy) beef chow fun (dry or wet, dry comes sauteed with bean sprouts and onions, wet comes sauteed with bok choy in gravy) beef and chinese broccoli over fried noodles (HK style) All their dishes range between $6-$8. I also love their homemade soybean milk. It's good either cold or hot and priced at only $1! Their service is splotchy, sometimes the workers are not very friendly to people, but that is the level of service expected from this type of "chinese fast food" restaurant. They do however take your order very quickly and the food gets served to you immediately (within 5 minutes or less). I've been eating here for over 13 years so I've become a regular and they've always provided great food with great service. LOVE THIS PLACE!!
(5)K F.
Good prices on big variety. I ordered roasted duck on rice and got about a quarter of a perfect duck. That was great. My friend got pork chops that we're super tasty too.
(4)Sassy G.
Lam Hoa Thuan, you so good. I come back for more and love you long time! Roast Duck: Uno number 1 BBQ Pork: A-Okay Roast Pork: Mouthwatering Seafood House noodle (#7 or #8??): Good if you want something on the lighter side (not greesy) Beef Pho: Soup base is only so-so but is the norm for SF. If you want great Vietnamese food go to San Jose. Sorry, even the TL cannot compare to SJ or Los Angeles! Vietnamese Grilled Pork & Deep Fried Egg rolls: Grilled meat is decent but the egg rolls are different. It has taro and can tell they reuse old oil to deep fry sometimes. The fish sauce is a tad sweet for me but my son loves it (he's only 4. I'm not saying he doesn't know his stuff. But he's only 4). Westlake Beef Soup: Pretty good! They use slices of real beef instead of grounded up beef. If you don't like parsley, then you better tell them to hold it. Tomato Beef Chow Mein: If you're not ABC, then you won't like it. Fortunately, I am ABC and think it's fairly good. Duck Noodle soup: Is the bomb (it's delicious)
(3)Tyler C.
This place is always packed, and for good reason. They serve both Chinese and Vietnamese food, and they're pretty damn cheap. Pho, vermicelli, barbecued meats, stir fry....you name it, they've got it. They're fast and the prices are hard to beat. I almost always get the roast duck over rice when I come here because it's delicious and I start craving it when I walk in the door. I haven't tried much else here, but I'm sure it's decent since this place is always crowded. So I would give this place 4 or 5 stars, but last time I came here, I ordered the five spice duck and my friend ordered the roast duck, and the roast duck came out cold. It wasn't lukewarm or warm, it was just plain cold. I know we look young, but that doesn't mean you can serve us food that someone canceled and you left on the counter. They would never do that to some asian granny, so that doesn't mean that they should be able to do that to us! I might give this place another try, but I'm certainly not coming back for awhile.
(3)B F.
Went there recently with another family member I haven't seen in awhile and I was pleasantly surprised by how tasty their roast duck was this time around. Maybe it's a hit or miss deal, but grats on getting an extra star this time around.
(4)Sam W.
If you and your friends can't really decide between duck noodle soup or pho, head over to Lam Hoa! It's the best of both worlds (Chinese and Vietnamese), dirt cheap, and quick. Well, ok, maybe not that quick, and the place is definitely a bit dirty. Then again, you're probably not a run-of-the-mill yuppie or pretentious foodie if you eat here. The only gripes I have is parking can be a b-each ball, and on a busy day, your party can be plunked down at a table with other guests. The practice is a tad bit too HK/Chinatown for my tastes, but eh, if it means I'll get my food faster, all the more power to them.
(4)William S.
This place's pho has gone DOWNHILL. I dunno if they changed chefs or changed ingredients or changed their definition of what pho is but it's just not good anymore. The broth is like cloudy and bland and no amount of sriracha and hoisin sauce is going to change that. Man what a freakin disappointment. It's still one of the cheaper pho places in the 19th-thru-26th-and-Irving-Asian-district but I think I would definitely splurge and pay an extra 2 bucks to go to PPQ. Their char siu is still good, so still 3 stars for you, lam ho
(3)Bor C.
We've been coming here for years, even when they were known as Hai Ky two blocks away (dunno what happened, but the crew moved, and I found them here. Anyways, this place is fantastic. I often go for their noodle soups, duck, roast pork, pan fried noodles, catering, everything except the Pho. The Pho is not that good. Prices are reasonable as everyone here states, and service can be pretty bad, but they know we're regulars (it only took 6-8yrs for them to recognize us) so they're always nice to us. Sanitation needs improvement, and I try not to look around too much-just focus on the food. I've once spotted a bug (not a roach) in my bowl once in the 10+ years of coming here. Gross, but given that the occurrence is so low, and the food great, I'm taking chances. Recommended, but only for those that can dig hole-in-a-wall restaurants. Also, try to avoid their bathroom. They need to clean it with fire.
(4)Dorian T.
Their "deli" section of meat on display is pretty good here and this was the place I came to get their "Sate Fun" or Satay Noodles. They probably let their mediocre taste get to their head because on Chinese New Year, this woman dared to refuse to double bag my mother's order. When my mom first requested it, she ignored her. When requested again she snapped at my mom telling her to bag it herself. What the hell ... should we wash your dishes and wipe your ass too? We didnt buy over $30 dollars worth of food just to do your work for you. Luckily for her I was not there. If she tried to pull that shit on me, everyone in that restaurant would hear about it. Im never coming back here again. And if they were ever rude to anyone else reading this, dont ever go back or they will keep thinking they are a 5 star restaurant, acting like little ingrates.
(1)Thuy O.
I come here pretty often since the food is inexpensive and right for the quality. The waiters are nice. I often order the combination chow-fun, you should try it. Oh, and the roasted pork is excellent (Best I tasted in town)
(4)Lawrence L.
Had dinner last night with my family members at a place that my bro-in-law said he liked for the BBQ items. Casual and inexpensive, the quality of the bbq roast pork was pretty good... the skin was crispy and the meat was not overwhelmingly salty. I also liked the taste of their poached chicken... the salt and oil dipping sauce was particularly good. My terse impression is that this is a popular spot for some BBQ items or pho... hole-in-the-wall?... sure, but some of the best food can come from places like this. Food came out lightning fast too.
(4)Jeremy H.
If you think that this is good roast duck, that you've lived in sad, sheltered existence, probably rarely venturing out of the sunset. as far as i'm concerned, the only good HK style roast duck in SF is at R&G lounge. After going back to London and eating some great roast duck there in Chinatown, I decided to see if I could find a good, cheap place in SF where I could get a cheap duck on rice plate. R&G is good, but I can't really go there for a quick, cheap lunch. I'd already been disappointed by Cheung Hing a couple of years ago, so thought I try Lam Hoa Thuan out based on the Yelp reviews. The duck was OK, but did not have the deep, rich star-anisey flavour I've been accustomed to in R&G lounge, HK and London. Also, the pieces I got were a bit lacking in meat, the sauce was a bit lame, and the rice of poor quality. I'm not giving 1* because I've only tried one dish (be it one of the signature dishes). The place is evidently popular and people were ordering other stuff which may be good. I'd never go back here for duck but wouldn't be averse to trying something else if I was in the neighbourhood.
(2)Kuankii N.
This place might not be the cleanest Vietnamese restaurant however they have the best roast duck and also really yummy noodles. Every time I come here I order their Lam Hoa Thuan signature either rice noodle soup or egg noodles soup and they are both tasty. Their noodles are about $5 or $6 each bowl and the portions are big. I can have it every week and not get tired of it. I have tried their other stir fried noodle dishes however I still think their noodle soup is the best. Pros- price, food, food comes quick Cons- floor may not be very clean, parking
(4)kim w.
Their duck was no comparison to Cherung Hings..sorry to say. I only noticed it when i had the two together this week. This one, was just plain salty with no duck taste. Their pho however, is excellent! its different than other places. Their soup is refreshing, and looks healthy, not dark and scary. Try their meatball noodles. Meatballs are bouncy as heck. The beef egg sauce over rice is SOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!! it looks like vomit, but after i had that, i had thoughts about it for a week. and decided to get some more. Things are REALLY REALLY cheap and fast here, you may have to sit with strangers during rush hour, but its so damn worth it.
(4)Allen L.
Roast duck and BBQ pork hanging in the window? Check. Take-out line full of middle-aged Asians leading out the door? Check. Daily specials posted on the walls written in Chinese? Check. Coming from LA, Lam Hoa Thuan is my replacement for Sam Woo BBQ. Roast duck is the best I've found in the Bay and their noodle soups hit the spot on a cold, rainy day. Try their run free chicken (the dipping sauce is something else) or their orange preserved duck noodle soups. Cash only, but there's a WaMu (excuse me, Chase) next door and a Wells Fargo across the street.
(4)Jannie Q.
My husband and I come here at least twice a month if not more. It's not that BEST restaurant I've ever been but on Irving, that statement is probably true. And here's why: 1. Their prices are absolutely hard to beat. You can get a big bowl of soup noodles with all the fixings for $4.99. The flat noodles they use are smooth and silky - and don't bunch up like some of the other restaurants. 2. They have fast service. Even when you see a line, don't get discouraged. The lines move fast. I don't think I've ever waited more than 10 minutes there. The Host is super efficient and will squeeze people in between tables. The waitress will come to your table within seconds of sitting down, and your food comes out right after. 3. They have a wide menu. From Chiu-jou soup noodles, all the roast meats, Chinese dishes, to Vietnamese dishes. They will surely have a dish that will satisfy your craving! So I came it only 4 stars because this place is a bit dirty. This is a fast paced restaurant - they move people in and out. Sometimes the food scraps get onto the floor and onto the chairs. So that's the part I'm not too pleased about. But because they are cheap and good, I overlook this flaw. Also, other yelpers mentioned that they lack customer service. I can see that. Some staffers at the restaurant are lazy and/or think they are the nazis so they don't treat their customers right. I must say that thank goodness not all of them are like that. =============== Review #142
(4)Eva H.
Service: 3.5/5 Food: 4.5/5 Wait: 4/5 Price: $ Presentation of food: 4/5 Presentation of restaurant: 3.5/5 Overall: 4.5/5 thee best Roast Duck Ho Fun soup ever, I'm tellin you this is the dish you need when sick, hungover, or just plain HUNGRY! (: at $6 something a bowl with a side plate of roast duck, can't ask for more. And to top it off their fresh Soy Bean Milk (cold or hot), YUM!!!!
(4)V. L.
Delicious Chinese BBQ with a long line. Very tender soy sauce chicken and a good price. We had a soy sauce chicken and a stir fry noodle to go and after we finished our dinner, we couldn't help but kept drinking water. It didn't taste salty, so it must have been LOTS OF MSG. I'll try only soy sauce chicken next time. If we still feel the same, we have to be sorry to say no to Lam Hoa Thuan Restaurant. No delicious food is more important than health after all.
(3)Erica A.
I love this place!!!! First off, their "sook song" is very very good. I love the duck! I used to always have takeout from here when my mom would wander down to Irving after work before coming home. She'd get me the vermicelli and roast pork. Yum yum yum. They also have noodle skin (direct translation from Chinese, I have no idea what it's called in English) which is just a fatter noodle. It smells greasy and the tables are sticky sometimes, so it's probably better to get takeout. The waitstaff is very efficient and friendly. I really like the pan fried noodles here too!! The way they package it for takeout is great. More restaurants should separate the noodles from the sauce!!!
(5)Rebecca L.
Need a cure for the body after a night of hard pAArtying? Need something light but a salad just wont do? Consider a bowl of noodle soup here at Lam Hoa Thuan. This place serves a good mix of Vietnamese and Chinese food. I'm a noodle soup fanatic and I'm quite picky about my soup base. The clear broth here does not taste like its been used to blanch veggies or meat, rather a subtle and tasty consumme of chicken and herbs. Their noodles here aren't bad either, perfectly blanched and never undercooked or soggy. They actually take their time to separate their "ho fun" noodles instead of leaving it in your bowl of soup in clumps - not attractive and does effect the actual texture of the noodles. Only caveat is trying to find parking during peak hours and a line to get a table.
(4)Chloe B.
Get your roast duck at Lam Hoa Thuan, one of the best roast duck places in the city. The roast duck was full of flavorful, tasty, seasoned spice in it. Compared to my other favorite roast duck at Cheung Hing, the Lam Hoa Thuan ones were less fat and the flavors were not as heavy. Yummy in my tummy.
(4)Glen H.
Cheap place for food. I came here when I was younger. The restaurant's pretty clean, I never went into the bathroom to check. For some reason, I just didn't have to go. It's cheap, but the pho isn't extraordinary, I would go elsewhere for that. I love the Bun Thit Nuong here. I had it here recently. That was cool, it was empty and I just watched people come and go. I never tried the barbeque here, but it's so close to Cheung Hing I would rather go there. Why the low stars? The LAST time I came, I had the same ol' Bun Thit Nuong, loved it. I also tried the 3 colored ice, or 3 bean ice, whatever they call it. After I had that, I had diarrhea for what? I can't even imagine. I would say at LEAST a week. I still enjoyed life, but I hated having to misuse public toilets like that. I might come back, but I will need someone to drag me.
(2)Derrick H.
Kind of like Hong Kong noodle shops but cleaner. I always order the orange skin duck noodle. Once in a while, the duck is too salty, but when its not, the bowl of noodle is mighty tasty! My mom orders their fishball noodles. I think they make their own fishballs and they do it right! They have fresh soy milk which comes out warm and very sweet (rare because they do make their own). Many many things on their menu, but we never get around to trying anything other than those two orders. Suggestion when you eat here. Add some Jalapenos into your noodles. They are on the side with the soy sauce and hot sauce. This makes the bowl of noodles taste even better!
(4)Mai R.
If you're looking for cheap, good eats, this is the place! I go here because it is very conveniently located a couple of blocks from my house. If I don't feel like cooking or going very far for food, this is the spot. It's always full, but never a line, unless it's for take out. The service isn't the best, but the food's good, fast, and cheap!
(4)Vien C.
This is my main take out place. They have a fusion of Chinese and Vietnamese food and roast duck. When you go to places like this...the following rules apply: - Cheap prices - Close by to work or home - Good food - Variety of food - Rude waiters... they cell in volumesand you're just one of many customers - Greasy food and table...from the roasted food up front and the high wok heat in the back - Fast food From here i like to order the following for take out: -Won Ton noodle soup (seafood or mixed).. nothing special about it, except it's filling and good. they give you fish cake, pork, shrimp, wontons (lots), squid. - Bun Bo hue - Not bad here... Broth is good with the lemon grass and spicy. Andrew Zimmerman from Bizarre Foods would like this since you get the pork feet and pork blood. - Runny Egg with Beef over rice - yummy..they do this one here well - Fried frice with chicken bits and salted fish - Not bad... would be better if they had more salted fish... but it's a staple for me - Roasted duck - it's good...but i've had better. The flavoring of th skin is good but the doesn't permeated to the meat. Not much more to say, except that the staff probably recognize me now...since I'll eat here one a week... and they seem to be less rude to me now. Wouldn't have mattered if they were..since you don't expect world class service here.
(4)Lisa M.
Come here for CHEAP and DECENT FOOD.... but don't expect superb services. Some workers are PMSing 24/7.(Especially the cashier lady) ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE!!! I come here for their seafood noodle when I don't feel like driving all the way out to the Tenderloin District. Yeah, it's generic... but, hey better than nothing. ( Oh, and it's cheaper) This place has EVERYTHING on the menu and off the menu as well if you can read Chinese.I think those are the specials.( God damn it, now I regret not finishing Chinese school!!!!!!) It's like the whole strip of Irving restaurants consolidated into one.
(3)Ian C.
The only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars from me is that.. it's so busy whenever I go (Lunchtime) that it's sometimes a hassle to get a table - especially if you're on a time schedule. Anyways, being busy is a good sign right? I mean, all the food I've had here has been good. The barbeque is pretty awesome. I've had the Chinese Barbeque pork, the roast pork, and the duck. All of them were delicious. I know that Cheung Hing is just down the street, but this is just as good in my book. I haven't had the Pho here, but my wife has and she said it's good. I think what made me write this review was the roast pork over rice. Normally from other restaurants I would expect only a few pieces of that crispy skin. But on the few occasions I've ordered it from this place, I get a very generous portion of that crispy pork skin (which I end up giving to my young child since he loves it so much.. sigh..). Oh how I want to come back again and again for that single dish.. it's that good!
(4)Jennifer T.
This place has the best Bun Bo Hue! Both my husband and I call this the "Bun Bo Hue Place". The broth is so delicious! I personally get it with the "Pho Noodles" and with seafood instead of the pig feet but it's also good just the way it is. This is also the only place I go to get Roasted Duck, it is juicy and flavorful!
(4)jason g.
In the city there are a handful of great restaurants and a handful of very bad restaurants. This is just one of those restaurants that falls right in between. These are the type of restaurants you don't want to review on yelp because it's just not worth the time. So ..............here it goes anyway. I went with one of my colleagues "in progress". This guy always gets his food first every time we go out to eat. I really don't mind him getting it before I do, but he gets it first and practically finishes it before I get my food. For example, I can order a salad and he orders some hot food and the same results but at different restaurants. He ordered a combo of noodles. Thick and thin noodles with duck. I ordered a plain won ton soup and we split a fried tofu. The duck comes out first Ala carte style. Then the two bowls. I figured one bowl was his and the other bowl was mine. Instead, both bowls were for him...... they just split his noodles.........unreal!!!!. I waited another 5 minutes and the waitress asked what I was waiting for. I said my won tons. She goes........oops I forgot. UUUUGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!! So...........he finishes the first bowl before I got my order. The food is average at best. The fried tofu was a little plain even with the sauce.
(3)Audrey J.
As I mentioned to my friend, this is "definitely not a put-your-purse-on-the-floor" kind of place, and you should avoid the bathroom at all costs. However, order Dish #70 (i.e. spicy, salted squid), and you will not be disappointed. My mouth waters just thinking about it...and this is from a distance of 2912 miles. Imagine how wonderful Dish #70 would be were it on your dining table in front of you... :)
(3)Amy S.
The food here is consistently good, EXCEPT one time my boyfriend ordered a chicken dish and they totally forgot abt it and it was half cold. BOO for that and the sometimes shared seating (minus a star). Definitely a good place for: Pho, Fried Noodles, Cold Noodles. Lots of fish sauce/hoisin/chilis to spice up however way you want it. The servers are pretty nice, esp that old asian guy with the glasses. YUMMY! Parking is a biotch but its irving what can you do!
(4)Sharon S.
Great Chinese food served here - cheap and good sized portions We loved the following dishes: soy sauce chicken spicy pepper spareribs garlic peasprouts chicken and salted fish fried rice tomato beef chow mein (pan fried HK style) roast duck dry fried beef chow fun This place gets really busy on the weekends so arrive for lunch before 11:30 or else be prepared to wait.
(4)Jennifer H.
Food is decent and very cheap - 4 stars. Fried whole fish with soy sauce and garlic was awesome. Can't beat the $8 price tag. Pan fried noodles was more like chow mein -- no crispy bottom. Bland tasting too. Also threw in a Viet dish, Bánh uot duc biet - rice sheets with eggrolls, pork slices, and shredded pork. Pretty tasty. I wasn't expecting splendid service, but dang our waitress put the R in RUDE. Minus 2 stars for her "I ALREADY TOLD YOU..." reply when I nicely asked her to repeat what was yummy here. Eh, too many other cheap tasty Chinese places around without the attitude. Probably won't be back.
(2)Helen L.
Don't tell the owner, they haven't changed the prices like everybody else. The dishes are good size and portion. They don't skimp on what they give you. Service is fast and efficient. They make it the way you asked them. Mine has to be low in salt. They haven't failed me yet. Delicious food that will not break the bank. When you need just a taste of roast duck, this is the place. We've been ordering the chow fun and noodles. Had the eggplant, wasn't very garlicky. The tomato beef brought back memories of childhood. Loved the tomato sauce, which probably was made with ketchup, but that is how it was made. Can't beat the price of the fresh soy milk, this is the real deal! Nice and smooth, no burnt taste.
(4)Berna T.
Hooray for ho fun! Allow me to elaborate. I am noodle soup girl - pho, ramen, chicken noodle...particularly when the weather is cold and damp, there's nothing like a bowl of hot noodle soup to hit the spot. One of my favorite kinds of soup is the kind with a clear broth and fat rice noodles (ho fun!), which I only found at Vien Huong in Oakland Chinatown up till now. We walked into this Outer Sunset Chinese-Vietnamese place and took in the menu - most items are around $5, including my beloved ho fun soup (special combination: pork, chicken, fishcake, meatball, cilantro). We barely put our order in and the food came right out. My dining companions had the chashu on rice and the meatball pho, and all three of us were pleasantly full to the tune of $17.00.
(4)Ann T.
they remodeled?! since when?! it's been so long since i've been here! the food here is GREAT. i love it. everything comes out quick and service is swift as well. there's a mix between chinese and vietnamese items on the menu. there's even chinese BBQ in the front of the restaurant. fyi... CASH ONLY. and prices are cheap!! so, this is my go-to cheap eats spot!
(4)Fritz S.
I ordered the sweet and sour chicken here and all it was was the breading with sweet and sour sauce. There was no chicken inside of the breading. This seems like some sort of prank. Needless to I'm never going back. The people behind the counter seemed like A holes too. I'm actually stepping out to get something else to eat so I can forget this ever happened.
(1)Rosa W.
its funny how a bbq pork/roast duck restaurant such as this one got on to yelp. it's one of those restaurant that i envision to be the hole-in-the-wall, only-real-chinese-folks-would-know-where-to-go-Âfor-really-good-ducks-and-pigs... but i guess good restaurants cannot be hidden away forever... i always order the same type of dishes at this restaurant - it's their roast duck and bbq pork. it's oily, it's fattening, but it's hella good. there's other good looking dishes on the menu but if i have to drive all the way out to irving, i'm ordering the same thing. i thought their services was pretty good - the couple of times i was there, they actually wrote down the wrong amount (they put less than the meal was worth - we were tempted.... :) but the price was already really cheap.. so yah...) when it gets busy, you would need to be aggressive to fight for their attention. just get up and walk to the front to pay if the waiter/waitresses are taking too long to give you the bill... no biggie. especially when the food is yummy and at a good price.
(4)Katherine C.
Good bbq items. I used to love their pho, but haven't had that here in like .. 10 years
(4)Colleen W.
food okay, plates and cups GROSS. they handed us 4 sets of bowls/plates/cups... they all had big chunks of rice stuck on them. the waitress SHOULD've been able to see the dirtiness before she gave it to us... however... not lam hoa thuan is not too bad for takeout. my family used to come here all the time back when the store was owned by another person.. they used to give me and my brother stickers! Better service, quality, and sanitation back then. i believe we called the place Bo-La-Mun, or something along the lines of that... Lam Hoa Thuan has become lousy. They seriously need a new dishwasher. I mean, think of all that bacteria we're eating!
(2)Wes M.
Hmm, until I read the other reviews I didn't realize that this was some sort of bizarre Chinese-Vietnamese hybrid. I actually had the pho here and thought it was pretty good, though I'm no expert yet. Anyway, it's just one of many pho and/or chinese bbq restaurants to choose from out here, and I honestly have a hard time separating them all food-wise.
(3)Stacey L.
The service isn't great and the place is pretty dirty. But the cheap, fast, good food keeps me coming back. They offer an extensive menu. We usually get pho and a noodle dish. We eat here often.
(4)Kimberly H.
This is probably my favorite Chinese/Vietnamese place to take-out food. They offer a great variety of foods and their menu is really extensive. I always order "chicken jiin mein" here because it always fascinates me how they are the only restaurant (at least from the ones that I've ordered from) that separates the sauce from the deep fried noodles. When I'm ready to eat, my noodles are still crispy instead of being soggy from soaking in the sauce. I also enjoy their Vietnamese vermicelli noodles. The picture of the "grilled pork vermicelli" on the menu board was so enticing that I finally decided to order it. That picture was not deceiving; the pork was really tasty! The only thing that disappoints me sometimes is when they screw up my order, but I guess it could be worse, like finding a bug in my meal (don't worry, I've never found a bug in any of my meals from here).
(4)G P.
Best dang BBQ pork I've had in a long time and some of the cheapest prices I've seen in years. Takes be back 6 years at least and my wallet is super happy 'cause of it! They also have some of the smoothest textured fish balls I've ever had... sweet, fishy balls... mmmm...
(4)Leon C.
Acutally, I'm starting to like this place a lot more. I recently had their pork chops with rice dish which my mom always wanted me to try. Finally I tried it and I have to say the way they make it, itz pretty good with decent size portions. They have a wide variety of stuff on their menu and good portion sizes. I also like their pan fried noodles which they make it very crispy. Service is decent and prices are inexpensive. Good place for casual dining.
(4)Court L.
the bbq deli is what i patronize the most, but be warned, there is the occasional "raw" [the bones of the chicken are red] chicken that doesn't get cooked long enough, but nevertheless, this bbq place is one of the best - even beats most of the places out in chinatown. the flavors of the chicken[s] are not too overwhelming or under-flavored. the cha-siu is cooked to the ideal texture and yummy if you purchase the cut you want. too bad the roasted chicken is only made once or twice a day, [max population 3-4], but is the best asian roasted chicken ever...[freshest roasted chicken around 11am- noon] roast pork is alright... somewhat mild sometimes, occasionally very salty... it depends. [in case you ever walk by when it first opens the shop, beware of leftover bbq items from the day before - it's displayed in the taste of the bbq when you eat it... come sometime between 11am to noon and there are the freshest bbq's, but note the line winding outside the window] another note about the line - when 4.45pm til 6-ish comes around, the line is quite long, so be prepared to wait. or come earlier. never later, as what you may want to purchase is sold out.
(4)Linda N.
came here for lunch with my family. food is pretty good. service is fast. we ordered the wonton soup which was delicious. salted fish fried rice w/ chicken and beef chow fun. both dishes were ok, a tad too greasy. there is also a little bar in the front where you can buy roasted/bbq duck, pig, chicken and some other meats. cheap prices and super busy considering it was 2pm on a wednesday. apparently its always crackin.
(3)Ezduzit S.
2 1/2 stars... It's a serviceable restaurant for my needs. I think they have over 120 items on their menu!!! I only order one: their "bun bo hue" is damn flavorful. For those who don't know, it's hot spicy beef noodle soup. It's not for the faint of heart. It has pork's feet and blood in it, but I swear this is THE dish. The other 119 items are not worth mentioning, just average. They do have good roast pork, but you have to buy it early PM before all the grandmas get all the choice pieces (the rib section).
(2)Jan C.
I picked them randomly to get a take out order of roast pork (figuring that the line of old Chinese women already snaking out the door at 11:30 am on a Thursday morning couldn't be too wrong. $5 for a pound+ of tasty, juicy, crispy pork, cut to order == worth crossing 19th street for. The servers aren't exactly bowling themselves over to meet your needs, but given how picky all the Chinese ladies in line are being, I don't blame them.
(3)HENRY M.
Not much to say about this place but that the food is absolutely delicious and the prices are great! Where else can you get a great tasting rice/noodle plate for just about $5? Not many! The servers aren't the nicest of people but they get the job done and quickly!
(5)C L.
Good noodles - yum orange preserved duck! I'd come back and try lots of other things. I also got some BBQ pork to go, which actually wasn't fabulous - a bit dry and not as tasty as I'd like. Otherwise, would definitely come here for yum and cheap food.
(4)Linda H.
First thing first...I've seen a huge rat (size of a kitten) that ran across the xmas lights they have hanging near the doors. Ahhh! I've came here many times before that incident. The food keeps getting worst and worst. I'm thinking that they've changed chef's recently. The service is horrible! Most of the waiter/waitress have attitude! One of the host (not the main one) is horrible with seating you. I went in with a group of 7 ppl and this group came in with 5 ppl after us. The host wanted to seat them first because they were older than us. We had to step in and said "no no no...we were here first and we waited for 15 minutes". He finally said "ok" and sat us down. The other group complained so we pretty much had to argue with them saying we were there first and we waited longer. The host pretty much walked away and ignored us. The group with the 5 people finally sat down and they took their order first and got their food first. When taking our order, we were told that there are no more noodles or bbq items (which was what most of us wanted). That just leaves us with rice and soup noodle. We went in at 8pm and they close at 9pm. We got our food at 8:45 pm and was given our check asking us to pay before we all got our food. All I can say is "horrible service and attitude".
(1)Joyce L.
It's not the cleanest-looking place, but I s'pose I'm used to that when it comes to down-home Asian food. Their noodle soups are pretty good (my dad loves it, and I think he's a pretty decent connoisseur of Asian cuisine...not that this is exactly "cuisine"!). There's always a line out the door for the BBQ meats and the restaurant itself is pretty crowded. Cheap prices.
(3)Betty S.
Since its been cold and rainy these past couple of days, my bf and I decided on coming here for some yummy pho. We've been to a couple of pho places, and this has been one of the more tastier locations. We get here around 7pm ish and the resturant is packed. We only waited about 5 mins before we got seated which is great. We ordered a pho, a noodle dish, and the fried stuffed tofu. The pho here is great....the soup is so flavorful! The fried stuffed tofu was so-so. It was stuffed with like a sliver of shirmp meat or something...we didnt even realize it was actually stuffed at first until we really looked at it. This place always has a long line during peak hours for their bbq/roasted to-go food. Their roast pork here is pretty damn good..but sells out quickly! They also have a bbq, roast duck, soy sauce chicken, chicken, etc. This is def. a more casual place, somewhere to go when you want a quick bite to eat. I used to come here all the time after a hard night of drinking..this place would be my choice to get a nice bowl of hot noodles for my hang over! Overall - inexpensive and delicious! What more can you ask for?
(3)A T.
Fast, good food. Not the best customer service or seating area/s, but good for a quick, hot and cheap meal. Repeat customer.
(3)Catherine O.
You HAVE to try this place. Cheap, a huge portion of food, and scrumptiousness! I must say, their BBQ pork is their specialty! BBQ pork and rice is always delicious, and they give you a nice portion for roughly $5. I must say their vietnamese bbq pork plate is exceptional as well. The Noodles and other dishes are yummy too! It is a little crowded on weekends, and not the cleanest place. A majority of the people eating there are Chinese...so trying to tell the man your last name to wait for a table was impossible. Of course he didn't know how to write my name in Chinese, gave up...made me write it down, next to the other names all written in Chinese. I take it he mustve not wanted to attempt it again and called me Japan. LOL I didn't know wether to be offended or not, but I couldn't stop laughing. Great food! A must if you are in the outer Sunset!
(5)Brian L.
I have eaten and bought take out here multiple times, but today will probably be the last. Just FYI, if you don't speak Cantonese here, the staff (especially the butchers) will take advantage of you. While eating Bun Bo Hue, my brother went to order 3 pounds of roast pork to bring home later. We asked for the stomach meat (the fatty, crispy part). They complained and said that we would be taking away all their meat. After arriving back at home (near Burlingame), we found that they ripped us off, giving us the butt meat instead (which is lean, dry, and not crispy), which is NOT what we asked for. Up until now, I never had this problem with them. They probably not we couldn't afford it, but we were willing to pay for it. Way to go, Lam Hoa Thuan, for screwing up dinner tonight. I used to always make it a priority to eat here when I visit my grandma, but now you're on my black list.
(1)Alice E.
Bleh, I come to order the strings beans with minced pork. I like it because its mainly veggies, and my request for less oil is usually fulfilled. I ordered a beef chow fun today to take home to my husband, and it was so bland. Ugh.. next time I'll stick with the string beans and order nothing else :( Too bad.
(3)uncle m.
Huge menu. Fast service, workers are cool. taste great. I don't think they have raise the price ever. Every dish is made the same every time. Need to remodel the bathrooms.
(4)Cristina S.
the hardest part is deciding what you will and will not eat on the menu. great food that's super cheap! my go to chinese food a little on the fatty side that isn't exactly my cup of tea, but most chinese food is that way. Servers are really friendly and will always make sure you have a full pot of tea. It may seem a little intimidating walking into this restaurant simply because of the language barrier, and that really doesn't go away until you sit down and order. highly recommend the mopa tofu, beef and chinese broccoli, the pho that basically equivalent to chicken noodle soap (forget the name), and the hong kong style noodles with vegetables. oh and the best part--unlimited plum sauce!
(3)Jenny K.
My order: House Wonton Soup with Thick Egg Noodles Consistently good and fast food makes you forgive non-smiling faces and unacknowledged questions by the staff. **Did they just put Sun Hoi Kee out of business????**
(4)Calvin L.
I was never quite sure what this place was called, but my friends and I refer to it as 25th. I've been coming here ever since they changed ownership. Before it wasn't that great of a place, but now it's definitely my favorite. Besides the hundreds of choices, the food comes out hot and fast. I usually order #104, which is the pork chop with shredded pork and a fried egg on top of rice. The chop is seasoned very well and not cooked perfectly. Although a bit thin, it is neither under cooked or dry. I love shredded pork which is why I enjoy this place a lot too. One of my other favorite plates or bowls, is the orange duck noodle soup. The duck is sooooo tender and it literally falls off the bone when you eat it. The soup is what you would expect, but the duck is what makes it. This noodle soup is served in other Vietnamese restaurants as well and the only other place I've had it wasn't as good as this place. What really makes this place so good is the hundreds of different plates to choose from. Everything I have eaten here have been good. If you love Pho, they give you good sized portions, not like PPQ where their extra large is this place's small. Their oyster pancake and chicken wings (appetizers) are delicious. The chicken wings are also huge and rarely come out smoking hot. They're not really all that friendly there unless you talk to them first in Chinese (It's a Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant), but they're not unfriendly either. If you ask them for something, they'll usually get it to you pretty quickly. The food comes out no longer than 10 minutes. The food comes out in very generous portions and noting is expensive. It is always pretty crowded there. I don't think in the past 5 years or so, it's ever been less than 50% full. Would I ever come here again? I'd eat here everyday, and I really mean EVERY DAY, if my girlfriend let me.
(5)Nizaria D.
Beats me why they are serving pho here?? It's faux-pho. I only ordered it because I was having a mean craving and my friend assured me it would be the real deal. Tis not! This place is Chinese through and through and should stop with the faux and focus on what they do best. Leave the pho to the Viet-chimese [sic] spots up the street i.e. Pho Hoa Hiep and Pho Phu Quoc. Sure, it's impressive that the menu is 20 pages long, but this ain't no Cheesecake Factory. I am always leery of those places that try to do every dish under the sun with a net result of mediocrity. However there IS a reason though that people stand in line for the barbecue meats: they are sinfully tasty in a greasy kinda way. 1 hot cock for the pho, 3 hot cocks for the BBQ Chinese pork ribs = average: 2 hot cocks.
(2)Audrey T.
My mom LOVES it here, despite its not-so-perfect ratings from the SF Dept. of Health. Anyway, this place is good from quick grubs and it's cheap. (Good for students, I guess.) I've never had any of the pho (Mama's fave), but I've had some of the soup which has hella MSG in it (migraines, much?). I have had the rice dishes many a times and the portions are huge, and satiating. Also, I've heard that many of the staple Chinese dishes are prepared well here, but I haven't really tried any. Rumor has it, there are cockroaches here, but I haven't seen any for myself.
(3)Christopher M.
This a ducks-in-the-window sort of place, so if you are one of those squeamish people who can't understand why Asians hang their food up for display, then you should navigate out of this review immediately. You are unreachable and may go through life never knowing what you are missing. Lam Hoa Thuan is a Chinese-Vietnamese version of a diner: nothing much to look at, but a great place for a cheap and tasty meal. The service is friendly indifferent. Eat there enough times and you will be recognized, though to no effect whatsoever on either your food or experience. Below are the four dishes that I always order: 1. Boneless Chicken Vietnamese Rice Plate (#153, I think; order a Chinese rice plate and be disappointed) 2. Steamed rice noodles with grilled chicken (also Vietnamese) 3. Beef Chow Fun (Standard Cantonese fare, but really good and really cheap; order it "dry" when they ask unless gloppy is your desire) 4. Combination Chow Fun (Seafood version of #3; "dry" also recommended)
(4)Jessica O.
Their bun kicks buns. And me likey the Roast duck.
(4)Eric Y.
Short on cash? Never fear cuz this place is near. A Chinese/ Vietnamese joint that serves pretty much anything you could ask for as the menu says. (pho, noodles, rice plates, bbq items, and more) Take out if you are short on time, but they cook fast anyway. This local joint is always packed so you can't go wrong.
(4)Derrick L.
This place has got to be one of the dirtiest shitholes I've ever seen. But the food is awesome! They have an extensive menu, ranging from Pho, to Hu Tieu, Ho fun, BBQ items (Chinese AND Vietnamese style), fried rice dishes, noodle dishes, al la carte items, and the like. It's pretty much a Chinese/Vietnamese traditional kind of restaurant. The food is cheap, and it comes out fast and piping hot, straight out of the wok. Service is pretty rude but there are some nice waitresses in there if you get to know them. One of them seems like she hasn't washed her hair in years. Look for her, I'm sure you'll be able to find her in a heartbeat. (Hint. Glasses) Only thing that I would have to say about this place is the usage of MSG. They use a whole lot of it. I'm one who recently discovered the affects of MSG on my body and after eating at this place, my heart races like a snowboarder from an avalanche. But it's tasty! If you like good food, cheap prices, and can deal with sticky tables, dirty carpets, sitting next to people you don't know, and loud and noisy environments, then this place is for you!
(4)Michelle Y.
Reasons to love it: 1) It tastes great, one of the best bbq restaurants around. Pretty much everything on the menu I've tried is good! I've had the pan fried noodles, pho, roast duck/roast pork/bbq pork noodle, roast duck/roast pork/bbq pork rice and some other items. 2) It's fast, if you are on the run! 3) Good portions. 4) It's cheap! Only thing I dont like: Sometimes you'll have to be crammed in because too many people love this place. Logistics: I think this place only takes cash, you might want to double check that! I've been coming for years and I will continue to come!
(5)Tien N.
only ordered the take out havent sat down and ate yet Roast Duck & BBQed chicken livers are excellent The duck skin peeled off the fat and then separated itself from the meat like it was bred for that sole purpose, i dont know who to give credit to that family of duck who now suffers a loss of income or the guy shoving metal rods up god knows what and shoving them in an oven
(4)Jason K.
Fresh and great Vietnamese, and they have the BEST rice noodles!! Food: each time I go, I end up ordering their broad rice noodles. It's a particular section in their menu: steamed broad rice noodles with BBQ chicken (my favorite!) or BBQ pork/other meats. They make the rice noodles fresh. It's a big sheet of rice noodle then they make it a few folds, then make a few cuts. It's so fresh and smooth. The size is a good half mouthful to hold with the chopsticks with some slight slurping action to eat it. They always make it fresh to order. The BBQ chicken is also very good - five spice chicken broiled (doesn't have the blackened bits like BBQ, but still has the general BBQ taste) with dried, fried onions on top. There's also a side of cucumbers, bean sprouts, and lettuce. There's fish sauce (theirs is a strong tasting, thicker sauce than most restaurants) for dipping. SOoo good, that it's really one of my favorite orders. Atmosphere: usually very busy, and you would usually share a table with other people. There are usually lines, but the line moves quick. It seems family owned and run, so they usually try hard. The restaurant is overall kind of clean. Service: they're pretty quick with things. They get orders and food pretty quick.
(4)lovetoeat a.
The roast duck is the main star here, it is so good! Long line at the door for take-out orders. The noodles are really good here, we don't have to go to Chinatown any more for noodles. Service is pretty crummy. They forgot to bring my gailan vegetables, and I got a dirty glare when I reminded them. And it is not the cleanest restaurant in town. That's why minus the two stars.
(3)Alfred L.
The chinese food is good especially roast pork and duck. The BBQ pork and the soy bean milk is just okay. The rice is not fresh. My friend and I found the black long hair in the rice bowl two out of three. and my my another friend found out the owner scratch his hair usually.
(2)David C.
Excellent roast duck. The duck sauce is better than anything in Texas. The fried chicken wings are pretty good too. We also had the vietnamese bbq pork and the Garlic eggplant. Both were extremely flavorful without over doing it. Yum.
(4)Donald K.
We ate here for lunch yesterday and it was our fourth visit to this restaurant. We're not Vietnamese or Chinese but we love the food served here. We ordered the roast duck, roast pork and I asked if they would make us a shrimp with beansprouts Chow Fun noodle dish (not on the menu). In minutes the succulent roast duck and pork with crackling arrived with gravy on the side and a few minutes later the Chow Fun was delivered to our table. The food was excellent on each visit and the wait staff and owners were very warm and welcoming. We've nicknamed the restaurant "The Roast House" because we love the roasted meats. We want to order other dishes next time, but it will be difficult to try something other than our favorites. Also, the prices are very reasonable.
(5)Yew-Hoe T.
The best roast duck and BBQ pork in town. My boyfriend and I have been coming here for over a year now. They also have good noodle soup dishes and the pea sprouts are one of our favorite dishes. For dessert drinks, the three bean drink is pretty darn good. The waiters are always friendly to us.
(4)Eileen L.
The bun bo hue tasted alright . They have fresh homemade soymilk which I barely see any other restaurants offering . It's warm , good , and cheap !! It's only like $1 !!
(3)Lil L.
If your looking for service, beautiful atmosphere, and spotless dining area, please stop and don't go here and stop reviewing this place! This is the very best in the sunset for BBQ items and decent vietnamese food. I come here once a week with my boyfriend and we are rarely disappointed. And if you're looking for ready made turkeys, this is the place to go. They finally have it down this year and it was juicy and amazing. Just please, ignore the really loud guy in the glasses.
(5)Sheren H.
Don't come here for anything else other than their BBQ foods. Their roast duck, BBQ pork, soy sauce chicken are fantastic and the portions are HUGE! I'll keep coming back for more.. oh, in fact I want some right now!
(5)Ethan L.
Not really a hole in the wall, more like a cave. Huge inside, 15 tables easy. I thought the egg noodles were fairly good, texture slightly on the stiff side but chewable nonetheless. Wontons came by the half-dozen, delicious. The duck leg looked old, but i seriously love the duck aroma. Workers would stand nearby and watch me eat, but it's just their way of maintaining good upkeep service... big potions, $5. dam.
(4)Mandy D.
It's filling and it's cheap. Whenever my friends and I can't decide to eat, we always go here. They have a good variety of dishes. Yumm.
(4)Kapo T.
1. CHEAP 2. FAST 3. GOOD!!! If you can't stand dirty chinese place, don't come here If you can't stand strangers sitting next to you, don't come here If you cant' stand rude chinese servers, don't come here Their roast duck over rice and their "running" chicken is the best. need I say more?!? The duck and chicken is always flavorful and never dry. If you go during lunch or after work hour (4-5pm), expect a line out the door just for take out.
(4)John F.
I ate dinner here with my cousins. There is always line for the BBQ items. My cousin order me the sweet and sour chicken, it was good the chicken is crispy with onions, green pepper and pineapple. The service is fast but chilly in the resturant because the doors always open and people with no respect don't close it after they leave. No credit card just cash there is a bank next door Washinting Mutual.
(4)Natalie L.
AKA. The Asian McDonalds Not the cleanest, not the nicest, not the yummiest..........but 4 stars! My girlfriends and I have been coming here for the past........8 years? Ever since they opened up. Same staff, same food, close, cheap, SUPER fast = comfort House Special Ho Fun + wonton please. We run into people we know here........all the time
(4)Marat V.
I have had the worst experience in this restaurant, here's why. I went here with my family years ago on a busy night, we ordered our food which was pretty good, there was no service at all and that's the good news, the waiter did stop by a few times to give us our food, he kept placing the new food dished on top of the old dirty dishes instead of just taking the old dishes away, so i had no choice but not to leave a tip. So we pay our bill and leave the restaurant, less then 10 feet from the restaurant i hear someone saying "hey man, where's my tip" I turn around and it's our waiter looking right at me, he asks again "you tip?" So then i try to explain to him that his services was very bad and our tables were full of dirty dishes. The waiter then replied "whatever" and went back in the restaurant. I felt very embarrassed since there was a line outside of restaurant and everyone was looking at me and my family. I That was the first and the last time i went there, everyone i tell this story to is shocked when i tell them that my angry waiter ran out of the restaurant asking me for his tip.
(2)Pinky L.
The best roasted pork on the planet. This Chinese,Vietnamese restaurant is one pack hole in the wall but never judge the book by its cover until you try them. One of the best hole in the wall in San Francisco.
(4)Tito Y.
What is a better clue that a place must be great if, one, its raining; two, a long line waiting to get in, and three, based on its name, not one single person wasn't Asian. It was a Saturday, at around noon, and I was entirely stunned on a patient line out the door, halfway down the block. Inside the traffic reminded me of morning traffic on the 880 maze. It turns out that the long line wasn't anything more than people standing around for take-out only. Ushered in because I was all alone to fill a seat of one, I sat down amongst total Chinese strangers who helped the waiter translate my order. I think more than translate one would need a loudspeaker to blast over the garble of a packed lunch-time dining room. I ended up ordering what seemed to the focus of this restaurant. At first look, the menu appeared more or less what you expect to see an any Chinese restaurant. But staring at the details, a specific glance the BBQ options, you will find BBQ Pork, BBQ Chicken, BBQ Duck, all with interesting words associated to them, such as "guitar" and unique Vietnam names for the various like kind noodles. I first thought guitar was some kind of misspelling, but alas, after trying to order some, they said they ran out. How sad, so I when ahead and checked out how they would make their star dish, with steamed rice. While waiting, smiling and getting into cynical conversations with the total strangers at my table, what I thought was laterally unique was finding three of the restaurant staff members rolling in a 6 foot tall stainless steel rack in the center of the dining room with at least 400 LBS of three fully uncut roasted Pork carcasses. Also gaining spotlight attention in the room were racks of dozen tethered roasted ducks being carried on movable grills. Sinking teeth into such a meal is beyond belief delicious. Mouthwatering and cooked quite perfectly done each dish is authentic down to home cook BBQ meals you would find where-ever in the area. Specialties include noodles, rice, meats, spicy foods including all kinds of vegetables. Don fail to try as many of the dishes as you can, and don't come alone unless you want to brush up on your Chinese.
(4)William H.
Not a review for "Butterfly" this place is what it is. Chicken heads and all! My favorite is menu item #111 the "Run Free Chicken Rice Noodle" What like no Run Free Dog today! What!? Anyway I had dinner there 4 times in the last few months. I live in the Richmond dist so this place is a drive, SO worth it. I get it to go. The wonton soup is packaged separately from the noodles so when you get home combine and heat. Almost like being there. All the flavor without wait staff attitude or disapproving stares. If your simple and very smart try the (BBQ) roast duck or pork over rice ($4.80). Each is served with a steaming helping of fragrant moist rice and side of sauce. Empty the sauce over everything. Order a side of Brocolli and garlic. Fit for a king. Givem a $10 and lett'em keep the change. Feeling real adventurous? Put down that burrito my friend, try the pan fried noodles. All joking aside. I love this place. If you have lived in SF a while you come to appreciate joints like this. Really cheap, excellent food. The duck is the better than any restaurant in ChinaTown. Its a noodle-rice -plate- cafe type place. Fast, cheap, you get more than your moneys worth. Try the stuff in the window. For me this place is heaven. Come as you are. Plenty of parking weekdays 5pm and later. Yeah, that kind of "good".
(5)Mark W.
5 stars for the House Special Won Ton Noodle Soup. One of my favorite things to eat in the whole wide world. And what a bargain. People always say they have one of the best BBQ Roasted Meat Items too but I think I've had better. But with their constant lines, I guess I am in the minority on that one. I'm old school and not used to bones in their roast pork which this place seems to always have but the older generation tells me that is good so.... Oh well, just give me an order of that House Special Won Ton Noodle please. $4.70..... Nice........
(5)Aniko N.
love their roast duck!
(5)Mike L.
This place has some pretty good roast duck, roast pork, BBQ pork, and soy sauce chicken. Although it is a pho restaurant as well I DO NOT recommend the pho because it's mainly a Chinese BBQ spot.. It's a deal though for the price and don't be intimidated by all the cantos yellin and talkin loud as hell because the food is worth it. 4/5
(4)Ke-Bear Z.
Like so many other reviewers have noted this place is a Chinese person's view of Vietnamese food. Me being Chinese.....well I like it. Sssooo greasy and overly salty. Decor is awful, but in a place like this I feel like it's ok to slurp my soup and that's a good thing when I'm really hungry like I was. Dirt cheap which is nice also. Service well not so much, but you don't expect service from cheap places. You expect big portions of greasy food which is what you get. Sometimes you need greasy food and that's when you come to a place like this. Very homey for me.
(3)Tiffany H.
The food at this place is always so delicious! Soup noodles and pho bowls come out SOO fast! Like literally within 5-7 minutes after ordering, you'll be given your dish. Also, if you order bbq'd items in a noodle soup combo, they always put the meats on the side, so as to not let the meat get all soggy/lose flavor in the soup. The roast duck rice plates are deliciously made here! I also really enjoy the seafood noodle soup (fresh seafood!). There are a couple of issues that this restaurant does need to work on. Because the flow of customers starts teeming around the lunch hour, the workers are usually pressed for time and don't really take the time to provide customers with great service. A lot of the whole process is rushed. Additionally, there's probably like one or two female servers who are most courteous, but other than that everyone else sort of just has an emotionless/flustered look on their face. The other think that bugs me quite a bit is that some of the staff who work on preparing the bbq'd meats have to end up serving some of the dishes to customers, and usually come out with blood/sauce stained aprons (which can be a bit disturbing to some customers). I also avoid using the restrooms whenever I come here. The tables are also another issue. Because there's so little time taken to really clean off the tables in between customers, you'll often find that the tables are either sticky or overly wet from the wet cloth used to clean the tables with. All in all, come here for a quick, but super satisfying eat. Just don't expect spectacular service or total cleanliness.
(4)Michi R.
This restaurant is a great value!! The food is good, it's not anything to die for but has good flavor and let's talk about the portions... oh my God, the portions are huge!! it seems like every dish there is enormous. The dishes we've tried are their pho (Vietnamese) soup, which is really big, and the broth is very flavorful. I really like their noodles that have the curry with the mixed meat. As for the atmosphere, well... not much, it's loud, kind of grimmy and can get very loud at peak times, but that is not why you go there, you go there for the great prices and tasty dishes. Food: gets 2 stars Bang for your buck: 2 stars
(4)Marisa L.
One of G's mom's favorite Irving Street spots. I'm used to the Vietnamese food of Little Paris in Chinatown. The rice noodles at this place are loads better, especially when topped with a generous portion of chicken and salad. A great bargain and enough to share! As for atmosphere, however, especially if you're lunching on a weekend -- expect to wait, to share a table (in our case, we shared tables with two other parties) and to get jostled. The noodles were worth it.
(4)Brian P.
One of the best chinese deli's around! They're Cha Siu and Roast duck are top notch and always fresh. The meat is always tender and moist! The food here is definitely good, but presentation is not to beautiful... but damn the food is good!
(4)Topazskye L.
Usually I come here just to buy the char siew and I love it! However we came to eat in this past weekend and we ordered the combo plate with all my fave meats - char siew, roast pork and roast duck!! Mm it's so tasty and I can still savour the taste of the fatty roasted duck skin ooooo la la! Ordered the combination chow mein which had some seafood and strips of char siew and it was nice and crispy with a good dousing of gravy, I love it! The noodle portion was huge and we could not finish it! Service here is prompt, they just wanna get you in and out and maximize their turnover so absolutely no sitting and chatting afterwards ya. The char siew here is definitely the bomb !!!
(4)Tadaa T.
Everytime I go, it's always packed. But luckily the wait time was usually no more than 10 minutes. My fixed choice is either the house special combination rice noodles, or the Vietnamese style pork feet/pork blood noodles soup, and hot soy bean milk. Burrrrp..
(4)Matt S.
My favorite Pho restaurant in the Sunset. It gets a little crowded, and don't expect your ass to be kissed, but for a good, cheap meal come here. Was getting Pho twice a week until I recently tried the Vermicelli. Delicious. Go for #94 or #109, my favorites.
(5)Robertus S.
Hungry? Want something cheap , generous quantity and delicious? YOU GOT TO COME OVER HERE! You have to try the BBQ Pork over rice! One of the best in the city I might say. The BBQ Pork is just juice, tasty, fresh and amazingly delicious. Plus, don't forget to order your Soy Been Milk, it is only $.99 cent a glass and let me tell you, it is the best soy been milk I have ever tasted. It is really mild, not too sweet but satisfying. Recommended! Try it and you know what I mean!
(5)Brian C.
This place is always poppin! I usually come here for one thing, their cho mein (thick egg noodles) with all the toppings and with soup on the side. I just wouldn't think of anywhere else to go to get that in the city...maybe the TL, but that's kind of far for me. Everything else they have here is decent food. It's good variety of chinese and vietnamese food. I have to give it three stars based on the cleanliness of the spot. But, the way they can bring your food out so fast just amazes me. Good place to grab a cheap and quick lunch.
(3)Josh M.
My favorite chinese take out place on irving. This is the place to be. Far outshines any of the other take out/ quickie style places on irving. The roast duck here is pretty good, and not overly priced. The bbq items are consistenly good and tasty. I wouldn't come here for pho tho, there is a place down near 19th ave. that is better at that. Come here and head your traditional Chinese dishes, don't expect anything exotic.
(4)Anthony L.
This place is great if you're in the neighborhood, and want a quick meal. This restaurant moves the meals out pretty quick, and the quality is good. The prices are decent as well. The customer service is not all that great, especially if you don't speak Chinese (like me). This place get packed during lunch, and the evenings, so be sure to go early! Need a quick Chinese or Vietnamese dinner, take out style? Give 'em a call, I am sure you won't be disappointed.
(4)Joshua C.
Given that I lived a few blocks from this place, I frequented the establishment quite often. Normally you find a line of people waiting outside for some good ol' BBQ pork. It's great for take-out, but I prefer just grabbing a seat and ordering something from the menu. I love this place because it's great on your own or in groups. You can order up a mess up Chinese dishes and share with friends or simply come alone and get one of the Vietnamese Phos or rice dishes. It's cheap, it's good and it's convenient. Just be prepared to be yelled at in Cantonese and told to sit at a table with other people (no joke).
(4)Arissa C.
Heading off to Sunset Supermarket on the Irving corridor- we saw this long line emanating from this BBQ /Vietnamese/Chinese restaurant...With the usual fares hanging outside the window- Soy Chicken, BBQ ribs, Roast Pork etc etc...we decided to stop in for lunch...my friend's limited Vietnamese was met by "Oh me chai-neese"...oh ok its 'one of those places'...so now we were met with the duty to find out which one they REALLY do best... Judging from what they were ordering (the people in the line) it was particularly leaning towards the BBQ pickings...Our more adventurous demeanor- had us ordering the - fried cod fish with spicy sauce, shrimp croquettes, seafood soup and the bbq chicken over rice... Our findings: the fish was indeed crispy (thankfully from the batter) but did have an oily texture...the shrimp was unremarkable-soggy and well lukewarm(dont order it) the saving grace was the bbq chicken- ... The learning experience? - Next time you see a long line outside- perhaps- its a sign to simply order to go than dine in ;-)
(3)Hilland C.
The rice plates and noodle soups are comparable to places like Hoi Kee and Toon Kee. The portions are big enough to make you feel that you are not scammed for what you paid for. My favorite dish is probably the Stir Fried Pig Kidney with Scallions. I know most people shy away from pork kidneys because they give off this stingy taste. (well they are kidneys after all). However, the chefs at this restaurant is able to hide that weird taste well. They also cook it so that the kidneys are crunchy and at the same time tender. This is definitely a good place to take your friend or your partner to. But I would not take someone on a date here because the atmosphere not suitable for it (it is loud in there).
(4)Edda S.
This is a great place to get a roast duck for takeout. It's not unusual to see a group of people hanging outside and studying the duck lineup from various angles, all hoping to pick the juiciest and meatiest duck. Well, it really doesn't matter because they're always good. This is the go-to place for the BF and I to get Chinese roast duck. I've tried some other items before (wonton with egg noodle and roast pork with rice, but didn't care for them so much. I agree with Amy L. that it's probably not a place you want to sit down and eat. I don't mind the lack of service or atmosphere (it's a Chinese restaurant after all), but really don't appreciate the greasy table and chopsticks. Best bet is to grab a duck and devour it from the comfort of your own home!
(4)Walt L.
The roast pork, soy sauce chicken and roast duck is very good. When I do dine in, I always get their pho or egg noodle soup. Prices are reasonable and you'll go home full. Food comes out quickly so make sure you're ready to eat.
(4)Lin L.
Gosh! The service is bad and so is the food. On many occasions, my rice plates to-go would just be boxes of rice with no meat on top! Enough said!
(1)Vivian L.
Got egg and beef rice, pork chop over rice, 2 thai iced tea, and one soy milk = 20.08. Cheap. Not the best though, but it is ok for that price.
(3)Jennifer H.
Been walking by and wondered why is there always a line out the door. It's people waiting for the bbq/takeout. We decide to sit down and try the various fried noodles and noodle soup. Hits and misses. Loved the Singaporean fried noodles. Spicy yet flavorful. Not sure if I like the ingredients in the noodle soups. Not the best cuts of meats but good flavors. You do get a lot for the money, and the service was good despite the crowd/bbq counter. Lots of staff, so everything has a very efficient yet not rushed feel. Minus a star for the cleaniness. I didn't expect anything, but be warned that you might need to send some plates and cups back.
(3)Jake S.
Great place to grab a quick Viet or Chinese meal. I liked the BBQ beef and spareribs, and the Pho was surprisingly good as well. Also you can't beat the prices, $5.45 for a huge meal that totally filled me up. Services is kinda, well, prefunctory at best. They just kinda bang down a glass of tea, and then a few minutes later the lady comes up and throws out a "hey you ready order?". I'm sure there are language barriers at work and she may be perfectly nice to other people, so no stars off for service. One star off for the roast chicken, which I didn't really care for, far too salty for my tastes, but whatever, I will happily order something else. Great value, good food.
(4)anocha s.
This place is like Hai Ky in the tenderloin. The Charsiu Pork hanging in the window is good. My faves include the rice noodle soup and the preserved orange skin duck with egg noodle soup. The prices are super cheap, the bowls huge, and the service is what you would expect for the food value.
(5)Jasmine O.
Last time I came here my roast pork was cold and I had to ask them to heat it up for me. It came back still cold. I never went back again. :(
(3)Dijon Y.
I took out a half roast duck. It was pretty okay. To be honest not as good as I expected. It came with a container of plum sauce. For around 7-1/2 bucks. It was lean meaning little meat, little fat. At least the skin was somewhat crispy and not soggy with oil. Its a step above mediocre. Mediocre roast duck is still tasty food.
(3)Shirley H.
i use to come here a lot for din because the food is pretty good and the prices are pretty good as well.... theyre a mixture of chinese and viet food and they have BBQ stuff like roast duck and bbq pork to go so if you want to have din at home u can always pick up food to go here. Service is iffy sometimes but i gues it really depends on the crowd. I forgot how the bun bo hue is like here...i think it was oily as well but not bad . I tried chow fun here a few times, and wasn't really my thing, altho their soupy noodles and BBQ food are good so i usually stick to those. I like their viet dishes too, really really good. Simple and delish.
(4)Anna W.
this place serves one of the best ROAST DUCKS n CHICKEN and my fave BUN BO HUE(pork feet with pork n pork blood in some spicy soup with noodles) !! ive never tried their BBQ pork, but i've heard that they are pretty good. for some reasons, their to-go line is longer than their dine in. also get their homemade soy milk =)
(4)Billy T.
The food is ok, it's chinese and vietnamese...good prices and quick service. But their roast pork, roast duck, and char sui is off the hook. No pun intended of course. That's probably their forte. The restaurant is usually very busy and since english is the second language for the waiters, please forgive them if they don't get your order right the first time around. Beware of the lady behind the cash register, she's mean and stingy. I'm afraid to ask for more ginger onion oil from her.
(4)angela n.
The vegetarian dishes I tried were really bland (tofu and Hong Kong-style panfried noodles). But my carnivorous companions said the bbq pork and steamed chicken were pretty good. We all liked the ginger-onion-oil sauce too -- pungent and tasty. The place was totally packed when we came here, but the line out the front door does tend to move quickly. It has the ambience of a loud, efficient cafeteria, and it isn't the kind of place people tend to linger.
(3)Sarah H.
I spend way too much time in restaurants, but that's beside the point. Here's the deal on this place. It is one of the best places in San Francisco to get those roasted/BBQ type food along with noodles or rice, and order a side dish of broccoli if you feel guilty. Otherwise, dig into some fantastic and CHEAP roast duck. If there are people rating this place low, its because they have "expectations" about how things should look in a sit down restaurant. This place moves food like a cargo ship moves Chinese goods. I love the guy who figures out where you can sit, and by the way, it might be right next to a group of Chinese contractors taking lunch in the middle of some big renovation. It's highly authentic, crowded, noisy and very very good.
(5)Dennis Y.
Combinations usually suffer as jack of all trades, master of none. Lam Hoa Thuan regrettably holds the mantra true as their Vietnamese is certainly the weakest of all the restaurants that serve Viet food along the Irving Street corridor. I'm afraid this winds up tainting their Canton menu a bit. I have no doubt the cooks in the kitchen have skills, but they need to unhandcuff themselves of the weak Viet cuisine and focus on the potential they have with their Chinese food. Criticism aside, the reason why I will continue to patronize this establishment (and grant them 3 stars) is their phenomenal BBQ. I've had BBQ in NYC, in Toronto, in Chicago (blah), and even HK. But truly, this restaurant stands as the pinnicle when it comes to roast duck. I have yet to have better, and I encourage all to come and challenge this. Consistently, their duck is seasoned and roasted to perfection - and my family is often graced with the fowl for a mere $8.99. Yes, the bathrooms aren't very nice (but they are above average for a Chinese restaurant), the service is definitely spotty, and the ambience feels like its an extension of the kitchen - but the chinese food is acceptable, and the bbq is phenomenal.
(3)cyndi L.
I've been coming to this place since before they opened up. Weird, huh? Years ago most of the workers here were at the restaurant on the corner of 23rd and Irving. Then one day when we went in to eat at that location, we notice that all the people there weren't familiar and that the food didn't taste quite the same. It was also not as crowded as it used to be. We noticed that a couple blocks away there was a line for a new restaurant and when we went in that's when we realized that the workers had all left to go here. So anyway back on track, the menu does say Vietnamese and Chinese but it's more like a Chinese take on Vietnamese food. The food is tasty and fast. The dcor is standard hole on the wall Chinese restaurant. Fine dining it ain't but you're not here for the scene. You'd go to Betelnut for that. I've sampled lots of things on the menu and off. I unfortunately cannot read the signs on the wall, which is where it's at. Those are the house specials. I suppose you could ask the wait staff what it all says but really there's too many signs. It'd be easier to tell them what you're interested in and have them make a suggestion. There are a couple of waitresses here that can do that very well. The off the menu mention is just me making up combinations that aren't listed but they do have the ingredients, they just don't have them in the combination that I like. They're pretty good about those orders, so it's not like I'm pulling a diva move. I like the Imperial Rolls here. They're stuffed with a taro root mixture. Not everyone likes that but I happen to. The other things I like here is the #27, an egg noodle (thick or thin) soup with lean roast pork, bits of ground pork, minced fried garlic, fish cake, fish ball, shrimp and bean sprouts. The fried garlic is so tasty in this soup dish. I end up eating everything! The other faves are fried rice noodles with chicken and gai lan, crispy fried noodles with seafood, gravy egg and beef over rice, beef chow fun and green onion beef over rice. I'd list more but this is all I can remember at this point. The wait can range from none to upwards 20 minutes. Turnover is fairly quick as the kitchen generally cranks it all out very fast. I've had meals where from arrival to seating to ordering and then eating, it took just 20 minutes, if that. That's not every visit though. It's more like 60% of the time. It's cleaner than most Chinese places but compared to other restaurants not so much.
(4)Melody M.
Ive been coming to this restaurant since I was like 6 and Im 23 now. It used to be a few blocks up irving but things havent changed since it moved to this location. I love the food here because its a nice chinese-viet fusion. I love their BBQ items, the duck, goose, chicken, pork, etc, all very good but the best is truly the duck and the bbq pork. I like their pho but lately it seems as tho the portions have shrunken but thats okay, still good food. I also love their soy milk that they make themselves. Their chow fun, mein, or rice are all very good. This a place to try that isnt a chain pho place =)
(4)Boh Boh W.
roast Duck: no good and no taste at all, but the soupy noodles are good
(3)Mamie J.
Best BBQ foods. Roast duck, BBQ pork, roast pork, pig tongue, BBQ liver, soy sauce chicken. I love how it's not too fat and not all meat, either. I get takeout from here every once in a while. My dad and bro love their "hoy seen jeen mien". Seafood over fried noodles. Yum :)
(5)Candice L.
Decent Chinese soups and home-style dishes as well as a Chinese take on pho. The house special wontons with thin egg noodles ($4.70) is very similar to the #9 at old school TK Noodles. 1-1.5 inch porky wontons with hint of shrimp and salty broth are ok, but I do love the addition of ground pork and crunchy fat bits to my noodle soup. Spicy beef soup ($5.90) isn't bad, but it came with a ton of liver cubes (not my favorite offal). I love that they call their free range chicken soup "Run free chicken rice noodle." The money makers at this place are the BBQ pork and roast duck, over rice or to-go. The line out the door for the BBQ counter makes this place seem very exciting.
(3)Katie K.
If you want solid consistent Chinese fast food, come here. To-go BBQ items are also popular for those nights you don't want to cook. Since I mentioned this is "Chinese fast food", don't expect much of any service.
(4)William C.
best soup noodles and bbq in town
(4)eddie g.
My friends and I have playfully nicknamed this place "Run Free Chicken" because of the straight translation on the menu for one of the dishes. But all kidding aside, this place is solid and well priced.
(3)Eric N.
I work across the street from this place and see if full most of the time and during Chinese New Years theres a fat line practically half the block for the BBQ items. The BBQ items are mediocre at best. Since I've worked across the street for over three years I've heard stories from finding a cockroach in their fried rice to pebble in their food from customers and coworkers. When it was time for my break, I decided to give them a chance to redeem themselves. I ordered black bean sauce beef over rice, one of my favorites on chow fun and rice. This was a simple dish and usually hard to mess up. Looking at the dish it was garbage; the beef was really thin(comparable to the ones they used for Pho), there was hardly and blackbeans and the bell peppers were completely soggy. There was hardly any sauce(which was bland) to cover the rice and the rice was soggy and way over cooked. For a chinese/vietnamese restaurant, having shit rice is unforgivable. (which is why i gave it one star) Go to Cheung Hing on Noriega PRONTO
(1)Amy E.
"Vietnamese and Chinese" restaurant that seems pretty much Chinese. For the vegetarian, a big pile of brown, bland, burned, greasy noodles. It could be better for the meat eater, but my dining companion called his soup noodles average. They do a brisk business in takeout BBQ meats, despite their scoring an 86 in the health department inspection.
(1)Robin L.
$9 for a bowl of bun. Forget it, I rather not eat, use it on the ride home and make canned chicken noodle soup.
(2)Bruce S.
We had the same experience as Cyndi L; i.e., coming here when they were down at that other place. What was it's name again? Anyway, don't go there, go here. The food is good. I've had pho (many kinds) and bun here. I like it that the vermicellis in the bun are cold. The broth for the pho is very good. We also like the five-spice tofu. My bf orders #2, which is a combo soup w/ noodles, and raves about it. Sometimes we get bbq items, but not often. We prefer other places for that. From time to time they also have sugar cane juice! The service is also quite good and friendly. One time the waitress explained to me how to use the straw that has the bendable part in it. I don't know if she thought I was too dumb to figure it out, or that I might never have seen one before, but that's how helpful they are. ;) Bottom line: The prices are low, the food is tasty, and the service is good.
(4)P. C.
A must go restaurant. Prices is reasonable and the food is great, you won't feel like having a cheap meal. Must try the soy chicken & roast duck if you don't mind the grease. A note for the roast duck, either eat there or if take out, must finish them within 2 hours or else the taste will be different (Don't bother microwaving or boiling, will not help). Rice or noodle is good and possible to get away with $6/person including tax, assuming taking out (Trying to cut expenses nowadays). Dishes are good choices too if your budget is $10/person when enjoying with friends @ the restaurant (With tax & tips included). For Non-Chinese pals, although they speak limited English but definitely able to serve you with what you want. For Non-Chinese pals, although they speak limited English but definitely able to serve you with what you want.
(5)Mike G.
Super cheap for so much good food! less than $40 for 5 entrees. The Spicy Salt Baked Shrimp and Ginger Onion Beef were awesome. Will definitely be returning.
(4)julia t.
one of my local faves. good chinese and vietnamese food. everything i've had is good here. the usuals: steamed rice noodles with grilled pork - the ho fun is fresh and the pork is quality meat pho (#91) - huge bowl that can feed two wonton lo mein - i get the wide noodles, comes with all the good stuff soybean milk - fresh and 99 cents geen mein, bbq meat, chow fan, noodle soups - all good
(4)Linda A.
good ass duck! need i say more?
(5)Wendy L.
Cheap and yummy, but CASH ONLY! This viet/chinese restaurant is where I go when I am in immediate need of a bowl of Bun Bo Hue. It's not the best, nor is it very legit, but it satisfies my cravings for the mean time. Their duck is also very yummy! The bf and I usually get 1/4 along with whatever we order. mMm... off I go to get some duck now! :D
(4)Jeremy L.
Ah...one of those businesses where the quality of the food comes from the quality of the ingredients! Honestly, it's difficult to comment the better of all Chinese Delis, but the way I see it, each meat, noodle or rice plate has to be balanced. Not too much fat, just enough to put flavor into your meal. Happy to say that this is good, for the most part, as a quick Chinese, or Vietnamese, lunch. I'm sure if you walked in and order anything on the menu, you'll be greeted with generous amounts of rice and just enough meat (Chinese=more rice, less meat). Particularly, the Char Siew is on the dot. Just wish they had cabbage added to the plate. The Pho isn't all that compared with other pho places like PPQ. It is missing meatballs... Even so, I can't argue with places like these. Cheap and satisfying for a quick Chinese, or Vietnamese, lunch.
(3)Kris L.
Strolled in here around 8pm on a Sunday night with A for a quick bite to eat because I was starving. You don't come here for the service or the cleanliness. Who goes to Vietnamese restaurants for service or cleanliness? You go there to eat. We decided to split the spicy salt squid and some tofu dish with some steamed rice. The food was good and the portions were more than enough for two to share. The bill came out to less than $20, which I managed to pay for when A ran out to the ATM to get cash. Don't get me wrong, it's really sweet that he wants to pay for everything ALL the time, but sometimes I want to do something too.
(3)Irene H.
This is the best roast duck, roast pork, and ribs. Always perfectly cooked and delicious. Month watering. :)
(5)Seung Hyun Y.
This place is good for lunch and dinner. I don't know what that dude down there is talkn about, but if you're asian enough, you never order jook (porridge) at a place like this. If you see other people ordering food that has some kind of roasted meat in it, I'd follow the trend and order nothing else. That dude's tripn. lol I usually come here for their bbq or roasted food. I'd avoid the pho if I were you. The soup didn't really go with the noodles and beef. BBQ Duck or soy sauce chicken over rice and a side of Chinese broccoli and it usually hits the spot. And its under $10 too! I usually don't like to pay tip, so its always to go for me. Almost everything on the menu is under $10, so you can go a bit over board with getting a mound of food for $20. Fresh soymilk is made and served here. Can't beat that when its only $1! Lunch time, this place is packed. Dinner time, sorta packed but always a line out the door for roasted good beginning at 4pm. If you plan to get deep fried chicken wings here, you'd better get there at the crack of 10am cuz it'll be gone by 2pm. hahaha BTW, its cash only.
(3)Elizabeth F.
Favorite roast duck won ton and egg noodle soup restaurant. My favorite comfort food on a rainy weekend day.
(4)Q W.
2 words: CHEAP, FAST. those two words are exactly what this restaurant is all about. Lunch for under 8 dollars is a pretty good deal nowadays. Parking is pretty easy around sunset, so its not a big deal.
(3)Kevo M.
What'll we get for ten dollars? Every 'ting you want Everything? Every 'ting Ooh! Don't do that, baby! Ahh! Hold on this! Oh, sock it to me! Aaahh! Ooohh! Ohhh! Me so hungree! Ohhh! Me so hungree! Ohhh! Me so hungreee! Me love you long time! After a night of heavy drinking and debauchery, I'm not a pho fan but gimme a plate of rice and grilled pork chops and I'll gladly watch you eat yours. Throw in an iced coffee and we'll be BFFs. Ohhh! Me so hungreee! Me love you long time!
(4)H C.
Orange skin duck noodle soup is where it's at!! This place sells tons of stuff - straddling both Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine - but the only thing that we come here for is the orange skin duck noodle soup. I admit the name of the dish is somewhat intimidating, even disgusting. I mean, who wants to look at orange skin, especially on their duck thigh/leg, but that is the (sort of) color that the duck skin is when it arrives in front of you. In reality, the duck has been marinated in something delicious, which totally permeates through the skin into the meat and infuses the soup with its flavor. Anyway, I jab at the meat with my soup spoon in my left hand to loosen the meat (yes it does easily fall off the bone) and use chopsticks in my right hand to gather up the noodles and pieces of duck meat. Delish, especially under $10! p.s. If you're one of those people who likes to order some apps to go along with the main entree, I can recommend their fresh spring rolls. The fried fish cake is aight. Haven't tried anything else.
(4)Patrick C.
I get the same thing every time I come here...a fresh soy bean milk and their ketchup beef brisket ho fun! Their duck is good but ain't no comparison to Cheung Hing.
(3)Anita W.
Cheap and dirty, that's the way I love my... Chinese restaurants. This is definitely no ritzy five star; it's loud, blindingly bright, and you have to share tables. It's a piece of Chinatown in the Sunset, really. I love this place though. Rarely do you ever see the wait staff just standing around (particularly at peak hours), and if you think they're rude, don't take it personal it's because they need to turnover the crowd. Since I discovered this place, I stopped going to Turtle Tower. I speak only for the noodle soups here (sorry I always have a "usual order" for places I eat at, so excuse me for being bias). For one, the ho fun noodles are the same, equally as delicious, and full of MSG. Second, it's about a dollar cheaper and you get a big ass bowl of piping hot goodness, which I NEVER finish btw. And third, well there's a wide variety of other Chinese Vietnamese food that would satisfy your friends palates. The #2 Wonton Special with Noodles is bomb diggity. It comes out quick, but be warned sometimes it's fingered. But whatever. Cheap and dirty.
(4)Coco L.
There was actually a short line to get the BBQ stuff... The BBQ pork was decent, and the soy-sauces duck was good.
(3)Sam W.
3.90 stars. I come here with the family every Sunday for brunch. Food is cheap, in big portions, and good. Their Vietnamese vermicelli with pork and egg rolls is awesome. I also like their House Special Soup Wonton Noodle (I usually get it with "ho fun" - thick rice noodles.). It comes with different types of meat, seafood, and wonton.Their Viet coffee is good too. They got good BBQ stuff that they sell in the front as well. This place isn't that that clean, but it's not icky-dirty. They use wooden chopsticks that are individually wrapped.
(4)Jen J.
The food here was served cold to us and the only thing that tasted good was the rice.. I will never eat here again
(1)David S.
I waddled out of the restaurant, quacking and flapping my wings because the duck is so good!
(4)Hu J.
I have been going to this restaurant since it first open and the staff are always pleasant to me when they see me. SO I finally decided to write a review after 10 years. This place has some really good vietnamese dishes and I love their roast duck and soy sauce chicken. I noticed recently that they remodeled and are now using marble tables, which is a cleaner and nice touch. I must say though, I'm very sad that they don't have my favorite vietnamese dish, but their selection is a lot better than some vietnamese restaurants. BUT I love their soy milk especially since it's homemade and reminds me a lot of my mother's homemade soy milk. Here's what I think: Cleaniness and decor - is good especially after the remodel Taste - is really good, better than a lot of Chinese or Vietnamese Restaurants Price - cheap Parking - can suck from time to time, because it's street parking. I suggest to carpool Service - fast and friendly (I would say Chinese standard)
(4)John L.
Came back after years of not living in San Francisco. One lady in particular recognized me, ah... i almost fell to tears :) When our order arrived, it was mountainous fill of noodle :) SCORE! Love it!
(4)Vicky L.
Yummy BBQ Pork, but BAD business ethics! I ordered 1 lb of bbq pork and watched the guy grab big piece of delicious looking piece of pork. He weighed the pork, printed out the sticker and proceeded to chop up the meat. While he was chopping and chatting away, he started to fill up the plastic container. Great right?...until I saw him pause and put the remaining chunk of meat back into the "for sale" pile. Ummm..call me crazy, but i could have swore the guy weighed that unchopped part too- when he first printed out the price tag! *sighs* not cool. 4 stars for bbq pork, minus 3 stars for crappy business ethics. If you go there for the deli items, make sure to watch them! :(
(1)DOM d.
Ordered a to go dish, mushroom, bok choy, tofu. Received order and got home disappointed, the order consisted of 3 small canned mushrooms, bok choy, brocoli, bean sprouts, onions, bell peppers, baby corns, and carrots bell peppers over powered the dish.:( Other than that there bbq items are consistant. Also i am not a fan of there broken rice, not sure if they still have it there.
(1)Bobby P.
The only thing on this menu which I'm not a fan of is the Peking Pork Chop... Bad order... besides that- Everything here is RAD! BBQ items or chef specials over rice, the chow fun, or the soups and pho! The prices are very fair also! I'm a huge Lam Hoa fan!
(5)Robert J.
In my search for the best value Chinese restaurant in the western San Francisco area, I came across Lam Hoa Thuan located on Irving Street between 24th and 25th Avenues. The front part of the restaurant is dominated by hanging roast meat and ducks. Lam Hoa is adequate but not necessarily my ultimate value. I first came here a few months ago and order a noodle soup dish. However, it didn't look as good as the adjoining table's. The waitress said that I need to order egg noodles which I did the next time. It was good and the price is not that bad. Later on I would order a rice dish with roast pork. The meals do not come with vegetables and you have to order it on the side. Make sure you tell them you only want a small side dish as unfortunately one time we didn't and received a whole plate of veggies that were undercooked. They seem to have a brisk to-go counter and I have ordered roast pork and bbq pork from them and thought it was a good value. The thing I don't like about Lam Hoa is the atmosphere and service. If you go there during busy times (lunch and dinner hours) you are likely to be seated in the middle long tables which you will share with other patrons. You don't get a welcoming feeling from the host or hostess. Generally the service is so-so, but sometimes it is terrible, particularly the very short Asian waitress. She takes forever to bring your bill and change (probably hoping that you might forget) and doesn't even say thanks. On several occasions, I have ordered to-go and she was the cashier and just tossed the change on the counter with not a word of thanks. Apparently she and some others were trained in customer service similar to those at the nearby Sunset Supermarket. The tables are superficially wiped off and many times they leave the back door opened (even when it is cold) which creates a draft. They don't seem to be concerned about customer comfort, though it might be a subtle hint to hurry up and eat, pay, and leave. So in summary - food is good, atmosphere is so-so, service is bad and typical of Chinese restaurants.
(2)T L.
Super place for Chinese/Vietnam or any BBQ item! The wife loves the Viet flat noodles w/ imperial rolls and fish cake and then drowns the dish with fish and rooster sauce. The fried tofu is awesome also, the long soft one that you dip in the sweet soy sauce. You can't go wrong here from PHO to Soy Sauce Chicken it will satisfy NE 1. The best part is, it's very affordable.
(5)Justin L.
I love this place, Ive been here since I was just a child and the food here is consistent and great ! Every time I go here, I have to get a plate of their BBQ pork(char siu). I tell the waiter to get me fatty BBQ pork , since it tastes ALOT better and has the perfect mixture of fat and meat. I would recommend this place for anyone wanting to grab a quick and cheap bite of great Chinese and Vietnamese food :D
(5)Warren L.
People line up out the door for the BBQ stuff... completely understandable. But the restaurant itself... BRILLIANT! CHEAP! TASTY! PORTIONS! WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT? Only downside is Cash Only, but come on, you're on Irving. You should always have cash no matter where you dine if you are on Irving st. Washington Mutual and Wells Fargo are less than a block away even if you forget. A bunch of buddies and I always come here for lunch on Sundays. The stout-hearted of us order that ridiculous blood noodle soup. Me thinks disgusting. But they love it. My personal list of BEST VALUE DISHES: Gravy Egg w/Beef over Rice Combination Pan Fried Noodle GREAT APPETIZER: Fried Tofu (I HELLA don't know what they call it, but it's the one that comes with some kind of meat-flavored sauce that makes the tofu so dang good) Cheap and tasty cantonese/vietnamese food FTW.
(5)Adelina W.
I have been coming here for years and the quality of the food has gone down. The amount of food they give you is far less than before. I usually call in my order and pick it up. I don't eat here because the place is filthy. The carpet is dirty and the tables are sticky. There is no such thing as customer service here. The BBQ items are good and fresh. The line tends to be long, but that's a good sign. When they ask you what you want, answer quickly or the person behind you will answer. Watch out for line cutters too.
(2)Luis C.
Delicious noodle soup!! This restaurant is very spacious inside and well illuminated. I just love the taste of the broth in the noodle soups. I haven't found any other place that comes close in taste of noodle soups. Fast service, very cheap prices, and tasty food, makes a great choice for a quick and affordable dinner in the Sunset area after work. Note: This place is cash only.
(4)Ron W.
After reading the reviews, I decided check this place out for myself. I must say this place has very decent food at very good prices. Consistent with the reviews, the Tomato Beef Chow Mein and BBQ Pork was very good. The Tomato Beef Chow Mein was slightly tangy which I like, and the BBQ Pork was very tender. I also tried Hoanh Thanh Mi Hoa Thuan (House Special Won Ton Noodle Soup). The portion was generous and I was impressed with the variety of things to eat in my bowl. I look forward returning to Lam Hoa Thuan when I'm in the area again.
(4)Wolfy W.
Been to this Chinese BBQ Restaurant many times and never a bad meal. This place always have people in here, day & night, but never have to wait for a table, The Roast Duck, Char Siu (BBQ Pork) and Roast Pork is probably the Best on this side of the city. Very large menu selection and would cooked items not even on the menu. It also helps if your guest can also read the Chinese specials on the wall like I did!! Very good portions for the money and decent service.
(4)Andrew P.
Not bad at all. Cheap, fast service, generous portions, and the food is good too (but not great). Their variety is about what I'd expect from a Cantonese/Vietnamese hybrid restaurant, of which there are plenty in the area. Be sure that you walk up to the cashier though, even if the butcher tries to take your order (unless you want to buy in bulk).
(3)just k.
i call this place LMS with my friends. we love it. i come here all the time. always get cha siew over rice. or #90. cheap food. good stuff, super dirty. buy u know chinese places, dirtier it is, better it is, lol. o i like to get the soymilk, tip: get the soymilk hot cuz if u get it cold get a cup of ice and a little milk.
(5)natalie n.
My family and I have been going here for as long as I can remember, and we always get the same thing: roast duck + noodles. Tasty, cheap, and fast. The staff here can be a bit rude as they hustle and bustle, though.
(4)Jay L.
The busiest chinese restaurant on Irving. I come here really often to either buy the bbq meat hanging in front of the window for home or to eat in. They should really consider giving the place a good wipe down and vacuuming, although it doesn't seem to bother most people. The roast duck and roast pork are sooooo good, especially with the sauce! YUM! If you order it with rice I think its roughly $5. Which I think is pretty good considering how much it costs for a filling meal elsewhere. The pho is decent and cheap but you can get better if you walk down 4 blocks. Other things on the menu seem alright, although I have really only had the 'beef and scrambled eggs over rice' (my favorite). Oh and they have a $1 special on homemade soy milk. Its really good, but don't order it to go cause I think you get a smaller cup. ALSO, they do not take credit card here, like most chinese restaurants! ugh.
(4)Kim Q.
I came to this place at least once a month when I was a little kid. My father is friends with the owner so we usually got a free order of chai siu or roasted duck. After about a decade, I came here with my dad for old time sake. The food is still pretty much the same; cheap and good Chinese and Vietnamese eats. I love their Mi Viet Tim (Broth with Roasted Duck and Egg Noodles). I remember as a child I use to have to ask for a separate plate so I could tear apart the duck.They've changed it so that the duck is served separately instead of having it in the broth, which makes it so much more flavorful! It's still cooked so that the meat is really soft. My favorite part of the dish is the pickled veggies that come with it. The owner told us you have to ask for it now because not everybody likes the side and it ends up wasted. To me, I like the cooling effect of the pickled carrots and daikon. The sourness adds an extra flavor to the savory duck. Another childhood favorite from this place is the wontons! Their filled with shrimp and pork. The Chinese barbecue food is on the fatty side, but they season pretty well. Overall, Service-7/10 Atmosphere-6.5/10 (typical Asian style) Food-8/10
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