Vietnam Restaurant, San Francisco

The look is spare, but the greeting is friendly whether first thing in the morning or just before closing in the wee hours. Find a good selection of down-home cooking Vietnamese-style with rich and hearty bowls of 'pho' full of noodles, beef and veggies. It is a favorite with the local crowd for breakfast or a late-night snack. Also on the menu are huge Imperial Rolls bursting with shrimp and pork as well as Vietnamese sandwiches, a baguette hollowed out and filled with tasty barbecue pork, beef, or chicken (watch out for the extra hot whole chilies). Payment is in cash only.