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oChef » Perilla – San Francisco
Perilla - San Francisco
Photo from Perilla
Perilla at a glance
San Francisco Lower Haight
- 🍜 Vietnamese Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $11–$20
mentioned by 35 of the guests
#1871 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#60 Vietnamese Restaurant out of 67 in San Francisco
Good
6.7 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
172
Reviews
61%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Delicious Food
- Generous Portions
- Good Value
Frequently criticized
- Poor Ambience
- Inconsistent Service
- Long Waits
The restaurant Perilla, a delightful Vietnamese Restaurant nestled in the vibrant Lower Haight neighborhood of San Francisco, invites you to discover a culinary experience focused on fresh, healthy options. You’ll find a casual atmosphere perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed dinner.
Whether you’re craving authentic flavors or looking for vegetarian dishes, this spot has you covered. It’s a welcoming place where you can enjoy delicious food in a comfortable setting, making it a local favorite for many.
Overview: Introducting Perilla
Perilla offers a culinary experience where the food truly shines, with many praising its flavorful dishes and generous portions. The overall value for what you receive is also frequently highlighted as a significant positive.
However, the dining environment and aspects of the service can be a mixed bag. Some guests have noted issues with waiting time and a less-than-ideal ambiance for a relaxed sit-down meal.
Good
6.7
out of 10
172
Reviews
61%
Satisfaction
52
negative
15
neutral
105
positive
Perilla earns a Restaurant Score of 6.7, suggesting a generally good experience for many patrons. This assessment is drawn from 172 customer observations, with 105 positive remarks outweighing 52 negative ones.
However, Customer Satisfaction stands at 61%, indicating that while many are pleased, there’s a notable segment with reservations. The Food is a clear standout, achieving a strong (7.7), consistently impressing diners.
The Value (6.6) is also considered fair, offering good portions for the price. Conversely, Service (5) and Ambience (4.6) present opportunities for improvement, as these areas received more critical feedback.
What people like
- Delicious Food Offerings
- Generous Portions
- Good Overall Value
What people don't like
- Subpar Dine-in Ambience
- Inconsistent Service
- Extended Wait Times
Perilla offers a compelling culinary experience, particularly if you prioritize flavorful dishes and substantial portions. While the food is a clear draw, be mindful of the dining environment and potential service inconsistencies during your visit.
With a Recommendation Score of 7.2, Perilla is worth considering, especially for takeout or a casual meal where the focus is squarely on the food. If a polished dining atmosphere and seamless service are your top priorities, you might find it less suitable.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Perilla
Food (7.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 93% of the guests
The food here generally earns high marks, with a solid 7.7 score and a 74.5% customer satisfaction rate, pointing to a good dining experience. Many customers rave about the delicious garlic noodles, flavorful beef, and crispy chicken, often highlighting the generous portions and high quality. With 79 positive remarks out of 106, it's clear the food is a major draw.
However, there are some areas for improvement, as seen in 18 negative comments. A few diners found the noodles bland or clumped, the broth salty, or the chicken overcooked. Specific dishes like the curry chicken received criticism for lacking flavor, indicating some inconsistencies in quality.
Food
106
Reviews
74%
Satisfaction
18
negative
9
neutral
79
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Delicious garlic noodles
- Crispy chicken
- Generous portions
What people don't like
- Bland noodles
- Salty broth
- Inconsistent curry chicken
Often praised
- garlic noodlesMy experience at this restaurant was centered around their delicious pho and garlic noodles. While the food was a definite highlight, the establishment felt more suited for takeaway orders than for a dine-in experience.
- foodThe portions are also very generous! The Lower Haight location's ambiance isn't as nice as the one in the Sunset, but the food is so much better.
- phodelicious pho!! Pho tai so so good!!!
- portionslarge portions for a very reasonable price
- beefthe beef steals the show if you care more about flavor
- brothOne of the best broths I've ever tasted
- chickenthe chicken was crunchy and tender
- five spice chickenThey have a roaring take-out business, and you can always find a table or two of locals. The ambiance isn't ideal for a first date, but it's perfect for small groups of friends enjoying reasonably priced Vietnamese favorites like garlic noodles, five spice chicken, and prawns with vermicelli noodles. You don't need a reservation or to dress up, and you'll get excellent, friendly service.
- five-spice chickenGet the five-spice chicken with garlic noodles. It will change your life.
- food qualityDelicious pho and garlic noodles
Frequently criticized
- brothThe broth was not a cared for broth. The flavor was basically non existent.
- foodfood was overcooked noodles with no flavour
- noodlesAdditionally, the chicken in this dish was in huge chunks that didn't have a kiss of the grill. Overall, the dish was gigantic but really monotonous and bland mushy noodles. From the dine-in perspective, the amount of couriers mobbing the place makes it chaotic to both order and even sit.
- 5 spice chicken PhoThe 5 spice chicken Pho also was not a high quality.
- Curry Chicken Garlic NoodlesI got the Curry Chicken Garlic Noodles, which are apparently a completely different format from all the other garlic noodle dishes. The noodles were in a curry sauce, completely obfuscating the normal garlic and butter flavors. Additionally, the chicken in this dish was in huge chunks that didn't have a kiss of the grill.
- FoodFood is mediocre too.
- PerillasPerillas were not good. Tasted like old noodles, a little burnt in a bad way and not flavorful.
- chickenThe noodles were in a curry sauce, completely obfuscating the normal garlic and butter flavors. Additionally, the chicken in this dish was in huge chunks that didn't have a kiss of the grill. Overall, the dish was gigantic but really monotonous and bland mushy noodles.
- curry chickenskip the curry chicken
- live flymy plate had a live fly crawling in it
Overall, the food here is a strong point, especially if youre after delicious garlic noodles, flavorful beef, or crispy chicken. While there are occasional reports of blandness or inconsistencies, its generally worth a visit for its popular items and generous portions.
Service (5 out of 10)
mentioned by 48% of the guests
When it comes to service, youll find a bit of a mixed bag, with a score of 5 indicating an average experience and customer satisfaction at 42.1%, which is mixed. On the bright side, many guests appreciate the friendly and helpful staff, with 16 positive opinions highlighting quick service, smooth pickup experiences, and helpful cashiers. It seems they do a roaring take-out business efficiently, ensuring delivery orders arrive on time.
However, theres definitely room for improvement, as 20 negative opinions point to significant issues. Customers have reported frustratingly long wait times, sometimes being ignored for 20 minutes, and even rudeness from employees. Poor customer service, including staff focusing on other orders and playing favorites, are recurring complaints, making the overall service experience inconsistent.
Service
38
Reviews
42%
Satisfaction
20
negative
2
neutral
16
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly, helpful staff
- Quick service
- Smooth pickup/delivery
What people don't like
- Long wait times
- Poor customer service
- Staff ignores customers
Often praised
- serviceThank you for kind service
- staffThey were extremely kind and considerate while I waited to grab my order.
- CashierCashier was helpful in explaining a couple choices
- delivery orderThe delivery order arrived on time no complaints.
- excellent, friendly serviceyou'll get excellent, friendly service
- pickup experienceMy pickup went really smooth
- serving utensilsget us some serving utensils which was greatly appreciated
- take-out businessThey do a roaring take-out business
- utensils, platesWe offered a variety of meat and veggie options, and our guests absolutely raved about the garlic noodles. The catering service was exceptional; they thoughtfully provided utensils, plates, and even went the extra mile to supply serving utensils, which was greatly appreciated. I would definitely order from Perilla again for a large party to enjoy their delicious offerings, especially those amazing garlic noodles!
- wait timeWait time:No wait
Frequently criticized
- serviceservice was also rated poorly
- waiting timeMy experience at this restaurant was quite disappointing, primarily due to the waiting time. If you order for pickup and are given a time, be prepared to add an additional 20 to 30 minutes on top of that. This was definitely my last time ordering from here.
- Customer serviceCustomer service needs work!!
- acknowledgementThey wouldn't even look at or acknowledge me
- chopstickstheir chopsticks are bad
- contactPerilla on Irving doesn’t know anything about this location and how to contact it
- customer serviceWorst spot ever for customer service
- employeesThe store employees is rudless behavior with customer
- favoritismplay favorites to particular people who show up
- ignored for 20 minutesignored me for 20 mins while I stood at the register
Overall, the service here seems to be a gamble. While you might encounter friendly staff and quick pickup, be prepared for potential long waits and inconsistent customer service. If you're in a rush or expect top-notch attention, you might want to consider other options, but for a casual order, it could be fine.
Ambience (4.6 out of 10)
mentioned by 34% of the guests
While some diners appreciate the huge open space and consider this spot a hidden gem with a generally comfortable environment, there are 5 positive remarks out of 20 observations. It seems to be a good fit for small groups of friends seeking a casual atmosphere. However, the overall experience for ambience is quite a mixed bag, with a score of 4.6 and customer satisfaction at a rather low 25%.
Many of the 11 negative comments point to minimal seating and a lackluster atmosphere, often made chaotic by couriers mobbing the place. Issues like bad lighting and an icky bathroom also contribute to a less-than-ideal dine-in ambience.
Ambience
20
Reviews
25%
Satisfaction
11
negative
4
neutral
5
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Open space
- Hidden gem
- Comfortable feel
What people don't like
- Minimal seating
- Chaotic couriers
- Lackluster vibes
Often praised
- atmosphereAtmosphere:4
- environmentUnassuming place but just comfortable.
- hidden gemTruly a hidden gem
- localsDon't confuse this Perilla with other locations; this is the one at 525 Haight. They have a roaring take-out business, and you can always find a table or two of locals. The ambiance isn't ideal for a first date, but it's perfect for small groups of friends enjoying reasonably priced Vietnamese favorites like garlic noodles, five spice chicken, and prawns with vermicelli noodles.
- open spaceYou walk into a huge open space
Frequently criticized
- atmosphereatmosphere were also rated poorly
- Lower Haight location's ambienceLower Haight location's ambience isn't as nice
- ambiancedine-in ambiance is sub-par
- ambienceThe ambience is bad
- bathroomBathroom was a bit icky but usable
- couriers mobbing the placeOverall, the dish was gigantic but really monotonous and bland mushy noodles. From the dine-in perspective, the amount of couriers mobbing the place makes it chaotic to both order and even sit. I know this is a problem with gig delivery in general, but they need to wrangle it into the corner better and probably adjust their fire times in the system.
- indoor seatingnot really a lot of indoor seating
- lightingLighting was giving backrooms
- seatingthey have minimal seating
If youre looking for a quiet, intimate dining experience, this might not be your spot, especially with the low 25% customer satisfaction for ambience. Its better suited for a quick, casual meal with friends who don't mind a bustling, no-frills environment, as reflected by its average 4.6 score. Expect a lively, perhaps chaotic, atmosphere rather than a serene one.
Value (6.6 out of 10)
mentioned by 16% of the guests
Many diners are pleasantly surprised by the value here! With 5 positive remarks out of 8 total, folks rave about the fair price, getting a big pho for a steal, and finding it an amazing, affordable meal. Customers appreciate the value for the portion, often noting high quality for a reasonable cost.
The overall score is an average 6.6, with customer satisfaction at a mixed 62.5%. However, not everyone is convinced. With 3 negative remarks, some feel the price has gotten WAY too expensive and that it was more expensive than I expected.
A few even felt it was a waste of money. This suggests that while many find good value, others are finding the cost a bit steep for what's offered.
Value
8
Reviews
62%
Satisfaction
3
negative
0
neutral
5
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Fair pricing
- Large portions
- Great value
What people don't like
- Too expensive
- Higher than expected
Often praised
- priceMy experience at the restaurant was fantastic! I had some of the best garlic noodles in the city, and the portions were large for a very reasonable price. The five-spice chicken had amazing lacquered, crunchy skin.
- affordable mealamazing, affordable meal
- big phoa big pho under $14.
- value for the portionI loved dining here. The food was of high quality and offered great value for the portion. I will definitely come again :)
Frequently criticized
- priceThe atmosphere was no frills, but the portions were large and the food was decent. However, it took a long time to be served, and it was more expensive than I expected for a place of this caliber.
- moneyWaste of money
So, is it worth your hard-earned cash? If youre looking for generous portions and a potentially great deal on dishes like pho, youll likely be pleased. However, be prepared that some find the pricing a bit higher than expected, so manage your expectations on cost.
How are the prices at Perilla?
You’re looking at roughly 20 per person – reported by 35 diners. That puts it in the $11–$20 category. For a Vietnamese Restaurant, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Looking at the full picture, most guests happily spend within this $11–$20 range, showing a clear sweet spot for their pricing.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 35 reviews.
How this restaurant’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Francisco.
Overall, we think the pricing here feels quite fair for a Vietnamese restaurant in San Francisco. It offers good value for a casual, delicious meal without breaking the bank.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Perilla
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
10
Best Five Spice Chicken and Garlic Noodles!
My experience at the restaurant was absolutely incredible, primarily due to the five spice chicken and garlic noodles. I honestly believe it's the best thing on the planet and I would happily eat it every single day of my life if I could. The food itself received a perfect score of 5, and the service was also very good at a 4.
The atmosphere was rated a 3. We were a group of 2 people and experienced no wait time.
- five spice chicken and garlic noodles10
- food10
- service8
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Delivery
9
Phenomenal Food, Kind Staff!
My experience at this restaurant was phenomenal! I've ordered twice via DoorDash, once for pickup and once for delivery. The delivery order arrived on time with no complaints.
The food portions are large, enough to split one garlic noodle plate for two! My pickup experience was also very smooth. This location is clearly geared towards delivery orders as they are very popular, so showing kindness and graciousness to the staff is appreciated.
They were extremely kind and considerate while I waited for my order. If you give kindness, it's much easier to receive it! I wish them continued success and hope they can optimize their flow to cater to their clientele, perhaps by implementing reservations and hiring more servers for dine-in guests.
It's easily a favorite of mine in the Bay!
- delivery order9
- food portions9
- pickup experience8
Price per Person
- $31–$40
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
Noise Level
- Quiet
5
Large Portions, Slow Service, High Price
My experience at this Vietnamese place was okay. The atmosphere was no frills, but the portions were large and the food was decent. However, it took a long time to be served, and it was more expensive than I expected for a place of this caliber.
- portions7
- food6
- wait time3
- price4
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Takeout
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
9
Great Garlic Noodles, Huge Portions
My experience at Perilla in Lower Haight was primarily focused on takeout, as they offer minimal seating. The service was incredibly quick and efficient, running like a well-oiled machine. I consistently order the garlic noodles with pork, and I'm always impressed by the huge protein portion.
It's a reliable spot for a satisfying meal, especially if you're looking for a generous serving of their signature dish.
- service10
- garlic noodles with pork10
- protein portion10
- seating3
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
9
Best Bone Broth in the Bay Area
My experience at this restaurant has been consistently excellent, making it my go-to pho spot. The beef bone broth is truly the best in the entire Bay Area, so pure that it turns to gelatin when refrigerated. While the atmosphere is lackluster, the food more than compensates for it.
My only minor complaint is the quality of the chopsticks; I recommend bringing your own.
- beef bone broth10
- food10
- atmosphere3
- chopsticks3
What Perilla offers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
Children
- Good for kids
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Healthy options
- Vegetarian options
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Catering
- Dessert
Service Options
- Dine-in
- Takeout
- Delivery
Parking
- Usually somewhat difficult to find a space
- Paid street parking
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
What kind of dining experience and dietary options does Perilla offer?
At Perilla, you can enjoy a casual dining experience for lunch or dinner, with catering options also available. The menu thoughtfully includes healthy and vegetarian options, ensuring there’s something delicious for everyone. It’s also considered good for kids, making it a family-friendly choice in San Francisco’s Lower Haight.
What service options and accessibility features are available at Perilla?
Perilla provides flexible service options including dine-in, takeout, and delivery, catering to your convenience. For accessibility, you’ll find a wheelchair accessible entrance, seating, and restroom, ensuring a comfortable visit for all guests. Planning ahead? You can also accept reservations for your visit.
What is the overall assessment of Perilla?
Perilla holds a Restaurant Score of **6.7**, indicating a generally good experience. Its Food is highly rated at (7.7), and Value is considered fair at (6.6). However, Service (5) and Ambience (4.6) are areas noted for potential improvement.
What are Perilla's culinary strengths?
Perilla is frequently praised for its delicious garlic noodles and five-spice chicken . Many customers also highlight the quality of the pho, particularly the rich broth, and the generous portion sizes.
How is the dine-in experience at Perilla?
The Ambience at Perilla (4.6) is often described as more functional than ideal for a relaxed dine-in experience. It’s noted for being busy with takeout orders, which can sometimes make the seating area feel chaotic or less inviting.