What more can be said about Slanted Door? It vies for the most popular restaurant in SF and you’ll want to make a reservation well in advance, because this Vietnamese starlet is more than worth it. I first experienced Slanted Door in 1996 when it still occupied its small “slanted” space on Valencia St, but after swelling in popularity, relocating multiple times and finally settling into its current 150-seat mecca in the Ferry Building, the food still deserves every accolade. Dishes like the chicken claypot and shaking beef haven’t changed in over a decade because they’re simply that perfect. Though the menu still changes from time to time, most of the outstanding items maintain a permanent place (except the excellent daikon rice cakes, which have returned after an unfortunate hiatus). This isn’t a place to order only one item though, so come hungry and prepare to splurge. NOTE: Parking can be difficult to find around here, so leave plenty of time or arrange an alternate mode of transport, and plan to explore the rest of the Ferry Building before or after your meal (including a farmer’s market on most Saturdays). If you can’t snag a reservation, or would rather avoid the massive room of rapturous diners, try their to-go counter or one of their speedy Out The Door satellite locations.
RECS: Anything and everything, though I’d say the chicken claypot is an absolute must for meat-eaters. Other standouts: shaking beef, daikon rice cakes, green papaya salad, imperial rolls and spring rolls.
