Financial District, San Francisco · restaurant
No hoisin, no basil, no herb plate. Turtle Tower runs Hanoi-style pho the Northern Vietnamese way: a clear broth simmered for hours until it stops needing to prove itself. The free-range chicken pho became the cult order for a reason, lighter and more precise than most versions in the city, the kind of bowl regulars order without looking at the menu. The FiDi location adds a full bar and a kitchen open until 3 AM, which is either an anomaly or the most honest thing happening downtown.
Pan-seared beef over pho broth. Crispy noodles, savory slow-cooked base. Built for the regulars.
Hanoi-style vermicelli soup with chicken, shredded pork, and egg. Rarely found this good in SF.
Free-range chicken pho, Hanoi-style: clear broth, no hoisin, no herb pile. The signature order.