Lily — Restaurant in San Francisco

This was our second time here and we’re so glad we came back. Rob the chef is so thoughtful in every culinary decision and it really shows.

We got the fried shrimp and sweet potato appetizer which was perfectly crispy wrapped inside a baby lettuce leaf. Rob mentioned asking his supplier to harvest the shrimp a little younger than usual so the skin would be softer than normal and you can tell with each bite.

Our second course was the chow fun which at first wasn’t my preferred choice (sounded too basic) but the group was hoping for something veggie and noodle-y so I rolled with it. I’m so glad I did. Unlike typical chow fun dishes, the noodles were rolled into little bite sized chunks and served with cubes of fried soft tofu that melted in your mouth with each bite. The dish was topped off with a mustard soy sauce and a sprinkling of tiny mushroom cordyceps and baby book choy.

Finally, our main was the special: scallops and shaken beef served with pan fried rice topped off with an egg and Vietnamese staples cha lua and lop sung (different types of sausage slices). The dish was served with a side of baguette with pate mixed with chili sauce and a laughing cow slice of cheese topped with fried garlic. This dish was absolutely decadent. We found ourselves literally scraping every last piece on the plate.

For dessert we had the pot de creme with salted whipped cream and the creme brûlée. The creme brûlée had a very thin crunch to custard ratio, making each bite perfectly satisfying. The dude clearly gave this a lot of thought. The pot de creme was the winner here. Not too sweet and just enough salt in the creme to make it addicting.

In terms of price and portions, we were a group of 4 and split everything 4 ways. We had a couple drinks and the total bill came down to $50/person after tip which honestly is totally reasonable for what we’d consider a fine dining experience. The portions were pretty huge and we found ourselves needing to either take a walk around the park or immediately go home and take a nap (we did the former).

The first time we came we got the 2nd place pho. We almost got that again but opted to try something different and were so glad we did. Tell everyone about this place because this needs to become one of those long term SF staples....

Not exactly a hole in the wall, but it can be hard to miss if you walk by quickly. Located on Clement, parking can be a challenge and be careful of the new parking guidelines before putting your car in park.

We came here on a weekend and was surprise they had a brunch menu, typically not seen for an Asian inspired dining experience. For $32, you get to choose a drink (ice coffee, and some non-alcoholic cocktails), an appetizer and a main course (that depending on your options require additional surcharge). Service was very good with the staff they had, and the food overall was exceptional, although a bit deceiving. For Appetizers, you can opt for a duck inspired egg roll, or a Pho (yes, a small portion of Pho). Many options for main course; the one I choose was the vegetarian Chow Fun and I added shrimp. The deceiving part is that the food does not look that plentiful but once you start to chow down it's a very satisfying. Their garlic noodle was in huge portions (meat are extra) that those who ordered needed take out box, and the same can be said for their Vietnamese style sandwich. To sum it up, the food here are delicious and tasty with creativity.

The restaurant has a comfort feel to it was tables and bench on one side with ample bar seating. Base price of $32.00 for a brunch is actually not that bad considering the food and the service....

Lily is my top Vietnamese spot in SF! I've had so many excellent meals here. From an elaborate soft-opening tasting menu right before the pandemic (how simple those days now seem) to takeout fare such as elevated banh mi's and pho. I look forward to each dining experience.

The restaurant is owned by two sweet sisters Lucy and Lily, and they have the talented and equally sweet Chef Rob creating the menu with his high-end take on classic Vietnamese dishes.

One of my favorite dishes is Bun Cha, and the first time I had it at Lily, it literally brought a small tear to my eye. The layering of flavors and the quality of the grilled pork outshone any bun cha I had in Hanoi.

The Rice Paper Pizza is also another highlight. Rice paper pizza is a simple street food dish that I first tried in Dalat. Lily's version is visually stunning and garnished with flowers. The tropical notes of jackfruit are complemented by sambal, pesto, and shallot aioli.

For lunch/takeout, they also have a few different unique banh mi's. My favorite is the Pho Bo, which is like a roast beef french dip sandwich with pho broth - so addictively juicy.

Lily also hosts occasional special set menus and they have a viral crab/wagyu fried rice that you can reserve in advance on select days.

The creative and thoughtful Californian-Vietnamese dishes are a much welcome addition to the...