The Slanted Door, the Mission District heavyweight that helped drag Vietnamese food into San Francisco’s modern dining spotlight, is officially headed back to where it all started on Valencia Street. After a seven-year absence from the city’s restaurant scene, the flagship is slated to reopen at 584 Valencia Street in early 2027.
The Slanted Door Group, now under the leadership of executive chef Dong Choi, has confirmed that construction planning is underway and that the team is eyeing an early-2027 debut, according to WhatNow. The group expects to have a firmer construction and staffing timeline by this summer, though there is still no official opening date on the books.
Back to the Mission
Charles Phan first opened The Slanted Door at 584 Valencia Street in 1995. The restaurant later relocated to the Ferry Building in 2004, where it picked up a national profile and a devoted following. The current comeback plan to the original Mission address was flagged in 2024 Hoodline coverage.
Phan’s death and new leadership
Phan’s death on Jan. 20, 2025, reshaped the roadmap for the San Francisco flagship, according to an obituary in The Washington Post. In the months since, executive chef Dong Choi has stepped into a more public role, appearing at memorials and industry events while the team plots the Valencia relaunch, as documented by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Ferry Building chapter
The Slanted Door’s Ferry Building flagship shut down at the start of the pandemic in March 2020 and never resumed service there, as the company shifted its focus elsewhere. Reporting in Eater SF and subsequent coverage note that new concepts have since moved into the space while the Embarcadero dining scene retools itself.
What to expect
Early coverage suggests the returning Slanted Door will lean on its greatest hits, shaking beef, fresh spring rolls and classic vermicelli bowls, while also testing new dishes in a more intimate dining room format. WhatNow also reports that the Out the Door takeout offshoots have shuttered several locations, even as Slanted Door outposts in Napa, San Ramon and Beaune, France remain open.
Next steps and timeline
The Slanted Door Group says it aims to lock in construction and hiring plans this summer, and that an early-2027 opening remains a strong possibility rather than a sure thing. Local coverage indicates the Valencia Street reboot is expected to center on honoring Phan’s legacy while still adapting to today’s tighter, more competitive dining market, per SFist.
