Beautifully nestled on Mason Street just off of Union Square is the phenomenally delicious and strikingly chic Bodega by owner Matthew Ho of prior Bodega Bistro fame. With an emphasis on elevating traditional Northern Vietnamese classics, Bodega balances modern sleekness with casual comfort, effortlessly exuding a warm ambience of cozy refinement that matches the luxury of downtown.
Taking inspiration from his family restaurant, which humbly served their adoring community in the heart of the Tenderloin from 2003 to 2017, Ho has now tremendously crafted one of the hottest must-visit restaurants of 2022 back in the same neighborhood, all while still honoring the familial atmosphere and uplifting the homestyle cooking.
See also: The Best San Francisco Pho Restaurants
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A genuine sense of care immediately welcomes you as you step into Bodega's intimate lounge-like interior, bathed in a soft golden light and artfully adorned with nostalgic photos of San Francisco. From the decor to the cooking, this consistent reverance for the past is as integral to the restaurant's vision as is their focus on modern innovation, delightfully inviting you to reminisce on homecooked meals while fine dining family-style.
This convivial sense of community is precisely delivered in their shareable curated menu, showcasing traditional meals like Banh Cuon, Bo Luc Lac, and Bahn Khot, all with contemporary reimaginings. The latter Banh Khot, for example, is a classic turmeric cake that has been revamped with generous toppings of caviar and shrimp.
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Other highlights on this cultural adventure include their perfectly spicy Viet Cajun Gambas, their melt-in-your-mouth Chilean Sea Bass Ginger Nuoc Mam, the texturally divine Bo Tai Chanh with seared Filet Mignon and crispy shallots, and their Salted Egg Fried Rice with Prawns.
Whether its vegetarian, with meat or seafood, everything is inclusively supplemented with the most fragrant and freshest herbs, citrus, and produce customary of Northern Vietnamese cuisine, providing meals that are not only texturally complex, but in flavor and aromas as well. With dishes bright as they are umami, herbaceous as they are rich, and contrastingly silky as they are crunchy, such intricate balancing truly lends to a dynamic dining experience that also illuminates the Ho family's precise prowess.
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There are also fantastic off-menu and dessert items as well, as their can't-miss house pho comes in a small serving but is piled high with meat and brimming with an aromatic broth. The desserts also playfully pay tribute to the traditional sweets of Vietnam, with the Pandan Mochi Cake topped with creamy Lychee Sorbet makes for the ideal close to a vibrant meal (especially when paired with their creamy Tiramisu-like egg coffee!).
The creative cocktails magnificently supplement any dish as well, utilizing fragrant ingredients like zesty lemongrass and calamansi, floral chrysanthemum, fruity pandan, and more.
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From Bodega Bistro, to persevering through Covid adversities with pop-ups, Matthew Ho masterfully radiates an undying devotion to preserve and platform his culture and family meals. With over a decade of fine dining experience Chef Ho adroitly understands how to delicately balance homestyle with high-end, community with couture, and with each impeccable bite- a storied past with the present.
See also: The Best Banh Mis To Grab While Exploring San Francisco
Photography by: Courtesy of Erin Ng/Bread & Butter
