For over thirty years, Mai’s Vietnamese restaurant has been a San Francisco staple, serving generations of locals. Tucked away in the non-touristy area of Clement Street, Mai’s is one of my favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants and has been since childhood days of frequenting the place with parents and grandparents. Though ownership has changed hands from one family to another, the recipes have remained exactly the same as it was all those years ago- authentic and traditional.

As a seasoned traveler and foodie, I’ve been fortunate to have dined at many of the world’s finest restaurants, enveloped in luxury and avant-garde cuisine. It is heartwarming to come home to a casual family eatery whose interiors are no nonsense but strangely cozy and whose glass bowls have clouded over from so many years of serving savory, hot Pho (thick rice noodle soup). An extensive menu offers typical Vietnamese favorites including tightly rolled Fresh Spring Rolls with a sweet nutty sauce, Rare Beef Pho, Sugarcane Shrimp and Lemongrass Pork Bun (thin rice noodle salad).

While the menu may sound familiar, don’t mistake Mai’s for its many local competitors. Mai’s is leagues above in warm service with a smile, the staff’s use of fresh produce (apparent in the crisp bean sprouts, bright green cilantro and basil leaves) and the cornucopia of intense flavors in each dish that bursts with as much vigor as diners show when slurping the delicious rice noodles. Eating at Mai’s is as close as we’re going to get to the real thing without venturing all the way to Vietnam.

With a restaurant like Mai’s, verbose descriptions are not needed. A steady and loyal clientele have demonstrated very clearly why this place has thrived for three decades and counting. It’s no wonder that on a daily basis, there are locals of all ages (including native Vietnamese) who saunter through the door and immediately proclaim to the owners “the usual please.” How the husband and wife team remember which usual order goes with which usual customer is a testament to their dedication and passion for this San Francisco favorite.

316 Clement Street
San Francisco, CA 94118
P: 415-221-3046