Behind the Scenes with Bac Lieu
In the heart of San Francisco, Bac Lieu has built a devoted following with its authentic Vietnamese menu—a culinary tribute to the Bac Lieu province of southern Vietnam. This family-owned gem is a go-to spot for anyone craving Vietnamese flavors that are hard to find elsewhere in the Bay Area.
We sat down with a second-generation family member, who helps run Bac Lieu to learn more about the restaurant’s story, its standout dishes, and what’s next for this community favorite.
Bac Lieu has been serving the community for over five years. Can you share the inspiration behind opening this restaurant?
My dad has been cooking in San Francisco for over 20 years, working his way up through the kitchens of several well-known restaurants. With all his experience and knowledge, he always dreamed of creating his own menu, one that would showcase southern Vietnamese dishes that weren’t available locally. Growing up, even our family would drive to San Jose just to enjoy some of these dishes. His goal was to bring these specialties to San Francisco, making it easy for locals to enjoy them without traveling far.
Bac Lieu offers such a broad and unique menu. Was there one dish that really put the restaurant on the map?
Absolutely. Our garlic noodles with spicy chicken were an instant hit and are still one of the most popular items today. The flavors are a perfect blend—garlicky and just the right amount of spice with tender chicken. People keep coming back for it, and it’s the dish we often recommend to newcomers. It’s truly a fan favorite!
If you could only have one item on the menu, what would it be?
That would have to be our fried egg rolls. They’re wrapped in rice paper, which gives them a crispy texture you won’t find with traditional egg rolls. The filling itself has over ten ingredients, and we put a lot of love and care into every batch. It’s a family recipe, and the taste really stands out. The egg rolls represent everything we want to share about Vietnamese cooking—authentic flavors, quality ingredients, and a lot of dedication.
Bac Lieu opened just before the COVID-19 pandemic. How did your family manage through those difficult times?
Opening a restaurant was already a huge learning experience, and COVID-19 added another level of complexity. We had to adapt to so many changing rules, especially moving to a mostly takeout model almost overnight. My dad knew how to cook, but we were all learning how to operate a business. After our first nine months, we thought we finally had things down, but then the pandemic hit. The community was incredibly supportive, and our regulars adjusted to waiting a little longer because everything we serve is freshly made. It’s been a journey, but our family and our customers have been amazing through it all.
With such a loyal customer base, do you plan to expand or introduce new items to the menu?
Expansion is on hold for now. We’re focused on maintaining quality at our current location. Each dish on the menu is labor-intensive, with everything made fresh from scratch each day. We occasionally add a new drink or dessert and are always thinking about introducing authentic dishes, but only if it doesn’t compromise quality. Every time we consider a new dish, we think about how it fits into our kitchen’s workflow, so the service and food quality remain our top priorities.
Bac Lieu offers a wide range of traditional dishes. Are there any items you’d recommend for people looking to try something unique?
For something different, I’d recommend the 'Bac Lieu noodle soup.' It’s made with a fermented fish-based broth instead of bone, which gives it a really distinct taste. It’s regional to the Bac Lieu province and is a tribute to the area’s coastal flavors. It’s a favorite for anyone looking to try something authentic and unique. We also have shrimp paste on sugarcane, which is a southern Vietnamese delicacy that we make from scratch in-house.
From the spicy garlic noodles to the carefully crafted Bac Lieu noodle soup, Bac Lieu offers a memorable experience with each dish, inviting locals and tourists alike to enjoy the bold flavors of southern Vietnamese cuisine. At Bac Lieu, every meal is a celebration of heritage, family, and dedication to quality.
Ready to experience Bac Lieu for yourself? Stop by and try one of their standout dishes, like the famous garlic noodles with spicy chicken or the one-of-a-kind Bac Lieu noodle soup!