The Slanted Door – SF Authentic Vietnamese & Breathtaking Setting

By Laura Denby

Located in the historic Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street, The Slanted Door is a modern, authentic Vietnamese restaurant in a waterfront, light filled space with beautifully unobstructed views of the bay.  Once a transportation focal point for anyone entering or leaving San Francisco, the Ferry Building is now a marketplace that serves locals and tourists alike, celebrating everything from artisanal cheeses and olive oils to the freshest local seafood.  True to its roots as hub for travel and the blending of cultures, the Ferry Building is home to one of San Francisco’s most unique and distinct restaurants, The Slanted Door.

Owner and Executive Chef Charles Phan has set the bar high for traditional Vietnamese food complemented by subtle modern influences.  Born in Vietnam and influenced by his French-speaking Mother, Charles borrows cooking techniques from France and Vietnam, but relies heavily on the fresh, ingredient-driven cooking style of the San Francisco Bay.

An open style kitchen with a raging fire provides an inside perspective into what makes each dish smoky and unique. A perfect spot for a sit down lunch, the menu features small plates like golden beet salad, spring rolls and wonton soup, along with larger entrees like gingered beef sirloin and caramelized wild gulf shrimp. Dishes like this are a reminder of the bounty of fresh and local ingredients available in the San Francisco area, and The Slanted Door proudly supports these local purveyors. The menu features local, organic produce and humanely raised game, meat and poultry.

For a light lunch, the Golden Beet Salad is a perfect combination of textures: piles of shredded raw beet atop cubes of its roasted and soft counterpart. Roasted almonds with mint and Thai chili fish sauce serve up a nutty, tangy flavor profile. Fresh and acidic – this dish is a light and lovely lunch or a fresh and earthy side dish.

For an appetizer to share try the Slanted Door Spring Roll, thinly sliced pork, gulf shrimp and vermicelli noodles wrapped with lettuce, mint and shallot mayonnaise. The rolls are paired with a rich, creamy peanut sauce.

For a larger plate, the Gingered Beef Sirloin Noodles pair smoky, charred steak with roasted peanuts and fresh mesculin mix.  Lightly dressed vermicelli noodles let the intense flavors of ginger beef shine through. This dish is a perfect example of the mission of The Slanted Door: to pair traditional Vietnamese cooking techniques with ethically and sustainably raised products.

The Slanted Door’s success proves that the time-honored techniques of Vietnamese cooking pair perfectly with the fresh, ingredient-driven influences of the San Francisco Bay.  Truly the gem of the San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace, The Slanted Door is a unique, refreshing and innovative spot along the Bay.

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