Tu Lan

photo - insidescoopsf.sfgate.com

Tu Lan, SOMA, Dinner

April 1, 2016

P&J:

Imperial Rolls

Pork Shish Kebab & Rice Noodle

Beef Cubes VN Style

Fried Fish & Ginger Sauce

Notes:

This place is an institution.  It's also an institution that has been shut down by the health department on more than one occasion.  I found this out while perusing the interwebs for their menu prior to meeting up with some friends there, days later.  I didn't pay that much mind, though; the friend who recommended Tu Lan is no fool.

Five of us crowded around a table and ordered food to share.  The beef and fish were known favorites, and the Imperial Rolls and pork I read were "must try" dishes.

Everything was pretty incredible, flavors bright and fresh.  The saucy beef, doused in black pepper that somehow didn't overpower everything, shared the plate with a pile of sauteed onions and tomato.  The pork, caramelized on the grill, was sticky and succulent, served over plain rice noodles with cilantro leaves and grated carrot.  Thin fish filets, lightly breaded and flash-fried were accompanied by a punchy sauce of finely grated ginger and vinegar.  The Imperial Rolls were so-so; they seemed over-cooked and dried out, but tasty nonetheless, especially with the Nouc Cham (a sweet, vinegary dipping sauce) served on the side.

Apparently, Julia Child stopped here for a bite in 1985, her likeness emblazoned on the front of the laminated menus.  The near 30-year old newspaper snippet which made mention of her visit still hangs on the wall.

We'll be back.  At the very least we need to try Julia's favorite, the Lemon Beef Salad.