Best Bánh Xèo in San Francisco

Tu Lan's banh xeo is a thing of beauty — a large, golden crêpe with a perfectly crispy edge that extends beyond the filling like a lacy skirt. The batter is thin and light, fried until shatteringly crisp, with a subtle coconut flavor from coconut milk in the mix. The filling includes generous chunks of pork belly and whole shrimp, along with plenty of fresh bean sprouts. The accompanying herb plate is massive — lettuce, mustard leaves, mint, and cilantro. Their fish sauce mix is well-balanced and bright, with visible shreds of carrot. This is banh xeo done right.

Bac Viet's banh xeo is smaller and more delicate than Tu Lan's — a Northern Vietnamese interpretation that's lighter and less greasy. The crêpe is thin and crispy, with a smaller surface area and a higher filling-to-crêpe ratio. The shrimp and pork are high quality, and the bean sprouts are fresh and crunchy. The herb plate includes Vietnamese perilla (perilla) and mint alongside the standard lettuce. Their fish sauce mix is lighter and tangier — a Northern-style preparation.

Yummy Vietnamese serves a generous, satisfying banh xeo that's closer in style to Tu Lan's Southern version. The crêpe is large, crispy, and golden, with a good lacy edge. The filling is generous with pork and shrimp. The herb plate is substantial, and the fish sauce mix is well-made. A solid choice on the west side.