Gao Viet Kitchen & Bar

One of the few restaurants where the service complemented the food in San Francisco. Sat at the bar and Gabriel took care of us really well. The rolls were very tasty and the coconut salad was interesting but good as well. Finished with Mama’s Claypot and the shrimp noodles, both tasty dishes. The specialty cocktails were incredible! Loved the Vietnamese inspired ingredients in their drinks. The Pho’d Up tasted so similar to actual Pho it was really impressive. Overall loved my experience, will come again if I’m back at San Francisco.

Walking into Gao Viet Kitchen felt like stepping into Vietnam. The decor is vibrant, thoughtfully designed, and creates a warm, immersive atmosphere from the moment you walk in. I visited with my family for dinner, and despite having a party of seven, the staff was very accommodating and seated us comfortably. The service throughout the night was attentive and friendly. The food was the highlight of the experience. The pho was rich, flavorful, and comforting, while every dish we ordered was delicious. The standout for me was the garlic noodles with the 3-way beef — absolutely fantastic and packed with flavor. They also offer a wide variety of beverages, which was a nice touch for the table. Overall, my whole family had a great experience at Gao Viet. Between the atmosphere, quality of the food, and welcoming service, it’s definitely a place I would recommend.

I'll start by saying the food is definitely delicious. Being Vietnamese, I can confirm the dishes we got all were authentic, filling, and mouth-watering. Price is a little high for Vietnamese food, but I understand you go here as a "celebration" type of food experience. Now, there are cons. It's a relatively small and popular place, so don't come here for conversation because it's LOUD! The waiters couldn't even hear my order properly (yes, I asked for bun rieu and they gave me banh canh). The bathroom (at least on the female side) is disgusting. Handicap stall broken, and the stall I went into had used toilet paper still on the seat. Save yourself and use a bathroom before coming here. A lot of the dishware was chipped, water glasses were dirty, the 2nd floor had dust caked all over. Also, being a native SF girly, this place is in a popular area so good luck finding parking. Was the food worth it? Sure, as a first time thing. Would I come again? Only if it's someone's birthday or something. Maybe I'll hit up the other location. Maybe it'll be cleaner with less broken stuff.

Came here on a Saturday for lunch and we had to be on the Yelp waitlist for about 20 minutes. The place was packed and honestly pretty loud inside. Started with the shrimp rolls. Fresh, solid peanut sauce. The lemongrass chicken was amazing here. Huge portion. Salty, spicy, and the spices all came together in a way that made it one of the best Vietnamese dishes I've had. Seriously impressive. We added the garlic noodle as a side but I'd skip it since it was an $8 add-on that just wasn't worth it. The Vietnamese iced coffee is very very strong. Great if you need the caffeine. Staff was attentive and kept checking in even when the place was slammed. Food came out fast too. Solid value overall.

This is, without question, one of the most impressive Vietnamese restaurants I’ve visited, notable for both the range of its menu and the imagination behind it. Luxurious dishes and simpler, more unexpected offerings sit comfortably side by side. The two-level space is lively, and while service can feel hectic at peak hours, it remains admirably efficient. What stands out most is the consistency of the cooking. For a restaurant with this much traffic, the level of execution is remarkable. The pork belly and duck arrived with exceptionally crisp skin and meat that was still tender, juicy and full of flavor. The roasted beef rib was cooked to the point where the bone slipped out cleanly. Every dish was carefully plated, showing real attention to presentation without veering into fussiness. Overall, it is a restaurant of unusual quality, and one that readily invites return visits.