Your guide to the 5 top spots in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood

Your guide to the 5 top spots in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhoodBrenda's French Soul Food | Photo: Stephanie C./Yelp
Hoodline
Published on November 25, 2019

Looking to uncover all that the Tenderloin has to offer? Get to know this San Francisco neighborhood by browsing its most popular local eateries, from a noodle house to a comfort food spot.

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in the Tenderloin, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results.

1. Hai Ky Noodles

Photo: Lucy L./Yelp

Topping the list is noodle house Hai Ky Noodles. Located at 707 Ellis St. (at the corner of Ellis and Larkin streets), it's the highest-rated business in the neighborhood, boasting 4.5 stars out of 930 reviews on Yelp.

The family-run noodle house, which has been in business for more than 30 years, specializes in Teochew cuisine, offering noodle soups and other dishes that feature Chinese, Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian flavors. Check out the house soup with homemade noodles, pork, shrimp, fish cakes and chicken.

2. Brenda's French Soul Food

Photo: Dean C./Yelp

Next up is Cajun/Creole spot Brenda's French Soul Food, situated at 652 Polk St. (between Turk and Eddy streets).

Open since 2007, Brenda's French Soul Food serves New Orleans-inspired breakfast and brunch daily, with dishes like shrimp and grits, eggs and andouille sausage, bananas Foster French toast, po'boys, gumbo and more. Most days, it's also open for dinner, and with four stars out of 10,830 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite.

3. Saigon Sandwich

Photo: John K./Yelp

Vietnamese spot Saigon Sandwich is another top choice. Yelpers give this hole-in-the-wall banh mi shop, located at 560 Larkin St. (near the corner of Larkin and Eddy streets), 4.5 stars out of 3,222 reviews.

"For the quality and amount of meat and the portion size of the sandwich, a very filling meal for $5 is something that I can only dream of finding in Vietnam. The pate in the combo was amazingly moist and rich, I loved the spicy zing that the fresh slices of green pepper added to the sandwich as well as the rich honey mayonnaise," wrote Yelper Victoria W.

4. Rum & Sugar

Photo: Rum & Sugar/Yelp

Rum & Sugar is another much-loved neighborhood go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 111 Yelp reviews. The rum-focused cocktail bar mixes up classic and signature drinks; it hosts jazz performances, too. Head over to 823 Geary St. (between Larkin and Hyde streets) to see for yourself.

5. Rusty's Southern

Photo: Kyle B./Yelp

Las but not least, check out Rusty's Southern, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 975 reviews on Yelp. The comfort food spot, which opened up in 2015, serves fried chicken and blackened catfish, as well as selections of beer and wine. You can find it at 750 Ellis St. (between Polk and Larkin streets).


This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.