Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
oChef » Tin on Kearny – San Francisco
Tin on Kearny - San Francisco
Photo from Tin on Kearny
Tin on Kearny at a glance
San Francisco Union Square
- 🍜 Vietnamese Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $11–$20
mentioned by 43 of the guests
#281 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#9 Vietnamese Restaurant out of 67 in San Francisco
Excellent
8.4 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
242
Reviews
87.2%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Delicious food
- Efficient service
- Good value
Frequently criticized
- No seating
- Long waits
- Limited menu
The restaurant Tin on Kearny offers a delightful Vietnamese dining experience right in the heart of San Francisco’s vibrant Union Square neighborhood. You’ll find a casual atmosphere perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed meal.
Whether you’re seeking healthy options or a comforting coffee, this spot caters to your cravings with authentic flavors. It’s a fantastic choice for anyone exploring the city’s diverse culinary scene.
Overview: Introducting Tin on Kearny
Tin on Kearny consistently delivers on its promise of flavorful, fresh preparations, making it a reliable choice for many. Customers often praise the quality of their main offerings and the overall good price point, especially for a quick meal.
While the efficient service ensures a swift experience, be aware that the setup is more for a grab-and-go meal. Some have noted the no seating arrangement, which might influence your visit if you’re looking to dine in.
Excellent
8.4
out of 10
242
Reviews
87.2%
Satisfaction
18
negative
13
neutral
211
positive
Tin on Kearny earns a solid 8.4 overall, reflecting a generally positive customer experience. With a strong 87.2% customer satisfaction, it’s clear that most patrons leave content.
This positive sentiment is built on a substantial base of 211 positive opinions, significantly outweighing the 18 negative ones. The Food (8.8) stands out as the primary draw, consistently receiving high marks for its quality and taste.
Service (7.9) is also well-regarded for its efficiency and friendliness, while the Ambience (7.6) is considered pleasant despite its practical limitations. Value (7.1) rounds out the scores as a good, if not exceptional, aspect.
What people like
- Delicious, fresh food
- Efficient, friendly service
- Good value
What people don't like
- No on-site seating
- Occasional long waits
- Limited menu availability
If you’re seeking a quick, flavorful meal, Tin on Kearny is a strong contender. Its impressive 8.9 recommendation score suggests a high likelihood of satisfaction, particularly for those prioritizing taste and efficiency.
This spot excels for a convenient takeaway lunch or a swift bite. However, if a sit-down dining experience is what you’re after, its practical setup might not align with your expectations.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Tin on Kearny
Food (8.8 out of 10)
mentioned by 98% of the guests
The food here is a definite crowd-pleaser, earning an 8.8 score and an excellent customer satisfaction rating of 92%. With 150 positive remarks out of 163 total, diners consistently rave about the delicious Banh Mi, flavorful 5 spice chicken, and the use of fresh ingredients, all served in generous portions. It seems like a truly satisfying culinary experience awaits!
However, a small handful of 7 comments did note some minor issues. A few found certain dishes, like the lemongrass chicken, to be less impressive, and one mentioned a poorly constructed sandwich. There was also a specific preference against the strong flavor of fermented shrimp paste in one dish.
Food
163
Reviews
92%
Satisfaction
7
negative
6
neutral
150
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Delicious Banh Mi
- Flavorful 5 Spice Chicken
- Fresh, generous portions
What people don't like
- Some dishes disappoint
- Banh Mi construction issues
Often praised
- foodIt is worth the wait. Very delicious, fresh and consistently excellent. Highly recommend!
- 5 spice chickenMy usual orders are the lemon grass pork bahn mi or rice plate, which are around $15. The 5 spice chicken and pork belly are also very good. You get lots of food!
- Vietnamese foodBest Vietnamese food I've had in the city in a while
- portion sizeMy experience at the restaurant was so, so, so delicious! Everything was fresh, perfectly cooked, and well-portioned. The staff were also very nice and quick, which made for a perfect lunch.
- FoodFood:5
- Banh MiMeet the best Banh Mi in San Francisco! Dang it is so good
- banh mitheir banh mi, they are so generous
- lemongrass porkordered the lemongrass pork and I was offered some homemade chili sauce
- meatthe meat was cooked and seasoned perfectly (so delicious)
- pickled veggiesthe pickled veggies were a good palette cleanser
Frequently criticized
- Banh miBanh mi is not good
- SandwichSandwich wasn't very well constructed
- banh miout of banh mi’s and other plates
- duck sandwichshame they don't have a duck sandwich
- fermented shrimp pasteThe turmeric catfish (cha ca la vong) was just okay; there wasn't a lot of fish. It typically comes with fermented shrimp paste, which I believe is smelly, so I opted for fish sauce instead. Overall, the food was great, and the atmosphere was enjoyable.
- lemongrass chickenlemongrass chicken is not that good
- other platesout of banh mi’s and other plates
If youre looking for a place with consistently delicious and authentic Vietnamese food, especially their Banh Mi and 5 spice chicken, this spot is absolutely worth a visit. While a rare dish might not hit every note, the overwhelming positive feedback suggests youll leave happy and full.
Service (7.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 65% of the guests
The service here truly stands out, earning a good score of 7.9 and a strong customer satisfaction of 78.3%. With 36 positive comments, folks consistently praise the friendly service and attentive staff, highlighting how quickly they get their food and the good recommendations provided. It seems everyone loves the kind and efficient team!
However, among the 6 negative comments, some experiences werent as smooth. A few patrons mentioned a bit of a wait or long line, and unfortunately, there were isolated incidents concerning phone service where customers felt yelled at' or hung up on. These seem to be isolated issues rather than a widespread problem.
Service
46
Reviews
78%
Satisfaction
6
negative
4
neutral
36
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly, kind staff
- Quick, fast service
- Good recommendations
What people don't like
- Rude phone service
- Occasional long wait
Often praised
- serviceI placed my order and was able to get my to-go food quickly. Although the place was buzzing, the service was fairly quick with not much wait time. The Bahn Mi itself was flavorful and refreshing.
- ServiceThe gentleman working offered a house made chili lemongrass paste
- stafftheir staff super attentive and will always make sure to help you
- waitAnytime before noon there is not much of a wait at all.
- wait timeI have to give it to them hands down. I ordered the lemongrass pork banh mi and the line is long but it goes by very quickly. It's a family-owned hole in the wall joint in two locations, and the food was cooked very well and tender.
- friendly serviceMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I had a great sandwich and enjoyed the friendly service. The staff also provided a good recommendation on what to get.
- EveryoneEveryone is so kind
- StaffStaff extraordinarily congenial
- customer serviceImpeccable customer service
- dude at the counterDude at the counter is cool and kind
Frequently criticized
- hoursclosed Saturdays, Sundays, and only open mon-fri
- hung up onand hung up on
- long linedue to long line
- phone servicephone service was incredibly rude
- waitBit of a wait (20 min)
- yelled atI was yelled at
Overall, the service is a major plus, making your visit enjoyable. While there might be an occasional wait or a rare hiccup with phone service, the friendly and efficient staff generally ensures a great experience. It's definitely worth trying for their excellent in-person service.
Ambience (7.6 out of 10)
mentioned by 44% of the guests
When it comes to the vibe, this spot generally hits the mark! With a solid score of 7.6 and a customer satisfaction of 76%, its clear most folks enjoy the atmosphere. Out of 25 comments, 19 rave about the overall atmosphere, the interior and exterior design, and how its a perfect spot.
Many appreciate the clean space and quiet noise level, making it enjoyable. However, its not all perfect. A few customers, 4 to be exact, pointed out a significant drawback: the lack of seating.
Terms like no seating and eat on-site frequently appear in these comments, indicating that while the place looks good, its primarily a grab-and-go option, which might disappoint if you're looking to dine in.
Ambience
25
Reviews
76%
Satisfaction
4
negative
2
neutral
19
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Enjoyable atmosphere
- Clean space
- Quiet noise level
What people don't like
- No on-site seating
Often praised
- atmospherethe atmosphere was enjoyable
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:5
- clean spaceclean space and layout
- family-ownedI ordered the lemongrass pork banh mi and the line is long but it goes by very quickly. It's a family-owned hole in the wall joint in two locations, and the food was cooked very well and tender. I wish I could have taken a picture, but I ate it so fast and the portions were generous.
- interior and exterior designthe interior and exterior design of this restaurant looks suspicious, but they proof me wrong!
- layoutclean space and layout
- locationI've been eating here since it opened and have consistently enjoyed the great food, good price, and excellent location. My usual orders are the lemon grass pork bahn mi or rice plate, which are around $15.
- looks goodLooks good
- lunch spotsMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! It's one of the best lunch spots in the area, offering very reasonable prices. I was particularly impressed with their lemongrass pork, which was consistently incredible.
- noise levelNoise level:Quiet, easy to talk
Frequently criticized
- seatingThere is no seating
- eat on-siteCe qui est dommage est qu’on ne puisse pas manger sur place.
- no seatingNo seating on site!
If youre looking for a great spot with a pleasant atmosphere for a quick pickup, youll likely be very happy. Just be aware that if you plan to sit down and enjoy your meal on-site, you might be out of luck, as seating is virtually non-existent.
Value (7.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 17% of the guests
When it comes to value, this spot generally hits the mark! With a solid score of 7.1 and customer satisfaction at a strong 75%, many diners consistently praise the reasonable prices and generous portion sizes. It seems youre getting a good bang for your buck here, with 6 positive remarks highlighting the good price and overall prices.
However, its not universally perfect. While most comments rave about the good price, one customer out of 8 total did feel that certain dishes, despite the general positive sentiment around price, were simply not worth the price. This suggests that while overall value is strong, a specific item might occasionally miss the mark.
Value
8
Reviews
75%
Satisfaction
1
negative
1
neutral
6
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Reasonable prices
- Good value
- Generous portions
What people don't like
- Some items overpriced
Often praised
- priceI've been eating here since it opened and have consistently enjoyed the great food, good price, and excellent location. My usual orders are the lemon grass pork bahn mi or rice plate, which are around $15.
- Price per personPrice per person:$10–20
- good pricegood price
- pricesMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! It's one of the best lunch spots in the area, offering very reasonable prices. I was particularly impressed with their lemongrass pork, which was consistently incredible.
Frequently criticized
- priceThe 5 spice chicken was pretty good. While the catfish was good, I felt it was not worth the price. The lemongrass chicken was not that good, to be honest.
If youre looking for a place where your wallet wont feel too light, this restaurant is definitely worth checking out. Most diners agree you get great value for your money, making it a solid choice for a satisfying meal without breaking the bank. Just be mindful that a rare dish might not hit the value sweet spot for everyone.
How are the prices at Tin on Kearny?
You’re looking at roughly 17 $ per person – reported by 43 diners. That puts it in the $11–$20 category. For a Vietnamese Restaurant in San Francisco, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Looking at what people actually spend, most guests stick to this $11–$20 range, with just a few venturing slightly higher. So, prices are pretty consistent around that average.
This chart shows what people usually spend per person, using the 43 most recent reviews.
How this restaurant’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Francisco.
Overall, we think the pricing feels quite fair for a Vietnamese spot in San Francisco, especially given the consistent spending patterns we see.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Tin on Kearny
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Dine-in
Noise Level
- Quiet
9
High-Quality Meat, Great Atmosphere
My experience at this restaurant was overwhelmingly positive. The meat was of high quality, and there was plenty of it. The atmosphere was also excellent, rated a 5 out of 5, and it was quiet, making conversation easy.
While the food and atmosphere were top-notch, I did notice the absence of a duck sandwich, which I've enjoyed elsewhere. Overall, I highly recommend this place.
- meat9
- atmosphere10
- noise level10
- duck sandwich4
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
9
Fantastic Food, Worth the Wait!
I am amazed there are not more reviews for this place. It is fantastic and consistently has long lunch lines. I usually have the Bun Thit Nuong (Pork Shoulder Noodle Bowl).
The service is friendly and they do their best to keep things moving despite the lines. It is worth the wait. Very delicious, fresh and consistently excellent.
Highly recommend!
- Bun Thit Nuong (Pork Shoulder Noodle Bowl)9
- service8
- wait7
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
9
Massive and Flavorful Grilled Pork Banh Mi!
My experience at this restaurant was centered around their grilled pork banh mi, which was absolutely massive! The flavors were on point, and I appreciated the inclusion of radish, carrots, and cucumber. While it gets quite busy during lunch, I'd definitely return for another one.
- grilled pork banh mi9
- flavours9
- radish, carrots, and cucumber8
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
8
Fresh Ingredients and Great Portions
My experience at the restaurant was very positive. I ordered the lemongrass pork vermicelli and was extremely pleased with the dish. The fresh ingredients and generous portion size justified the price.
I ate at the corporate building next door, which has a few tables and chairs. I definitely recommend this place, but be aware that they ran out of banh mi and other plates about 45 minutes before closing.
- lemongrass pork vermicelli9
- fresh ingredients9
- portion size8
- banh mi3
- other plates3
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Takeout
Wait Time
- Moderate (16–30 min.)
7
Kind service, decent sandwich
My experience was marked by incredibly kind service. While there was a bit of a wait, which is understandable for such a popular spot, it's takeaway only. The sandwich itself wasn't very well constructed; it would have been better with a paper wrap to hold it together.
However, it was pretty good overall.
- service10
- wait6
- take away only5
- Sandwich4
What Tin on Kearny offers
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Offerings
- Quick bite
- Healthy options
- Coffee
Dining options
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Catering
Service Options
- No-contact delivery
- Onsite services
- Takeout
- Dine-in
- Delivery
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
What dining options and accessibility features does Tin on Kearny offer?
Tin on Kearny provides a range of dining options including lunch, dinner, and catering services. You’ll find it’s a great spot for kids, and for accessibility, it features a wheelchair accessible entrance, ensuring a comfortable visit for everyone.
Can you get food to go from Tin on Kearny, and what's the general atmosphere like?
Absolutely! Tin on Kearny offers convenient service options including no-contact delivery, takeout, and standard delivery, alongside dine-in. The atmosphere is casual, making it a perfect, relaxed setting for you to enjoy your Vietnamese meal.
How does Tin on Kearny rate overall?
Tin on Kearny holds a strong overall score of **8.4** with **87.2%** customer satisfaction. Its **Food** (8.8) is highly praised, followed by **Service** (7.9), **Ambience** (7.6), and **Value** (7.1).
What are the standout features of the food at Tin on Kearny?
Customers frequently commend the food for being delicious, fresh, and well-portioned. Specific items like the lemongrass pork and Banh Mi are often highlighted for their quality and flavor.
Is Tin on Kearny suitable for dining in?
While the food and service are highly rated, customers frequently mention that there is no on-site seating. It is primarily set up for quick takeaway orders, so it’s not ideal for a sit-down meal.