I was first introduced to Bodega right when I moved to San Francisco- they had a food stall at the Outside Lands Music Festival and served up Pancetta Lo Mein. Needless to say I fell in love. My roommate and I called the restaurant two months later to ask about the dish, and they said it was only served at the music festival. We’ve thought about that dish for the next two years, and finally went to pay the restaurant a visit, only to learn that EVERY dish they have is just as good.

Bodega is an upscale gem in the heart of an area without the nicest restaurants, so it’s somewhat unique for its surroundings. It feels very luxurious and modern inside, and their food compliments the atmosphere well.

Being Northern Vietnamese cuisine, it’s flavors I’m not commonly exposed to, which was a treat to experience. Every dish had so much flavor and unique additions, like shrimp powder that added to flavor and texture of rice dishes. It was really tough for me to pick a favorite to recommend, but I really liked their Bun cha pork belly meatballs that came in a broth with thin noodles. Luckily the plates are meant for sharing, so we were able to try a lot of different things, and each dish was so different from one another, so it was quite the experience.