If you are in San Francisco, there is one place you must have dinner –The Slanted Door – modern Vietnamese.

The Slanted Door

The only problem is, it’s very hard to get into so try and book in advance.But if you don’t make a reservation, they hold a few tables each night for casual diners. These tables can’t be reserved so it’s first in, when the doors open at 5.30 pm.

The Slanted Door is in the historic Ferry Building at the bottom of Market Street on the waterfront. We caught a tram, yes a tram. I love the antiquated transport that still works so well this very cool city.

Waterfront by the Ferry Building

Slightly panicked, we arrived at 5.45 but were lucky enough to get in. With no tables left we were seated at the long bar, the best place in my view. We could see the cocktails being made and the food coming out of the kitchen.

The simple menu changes daily depending on the produce purchased from the local farms around the San Francisco Bay. Charles Phan, is the executive chef of this owned business.The food is fresh and light. Highlights from our dinner included the Slanted Door  Spring rolls and the Mesquite grilled becker lane pork belly.

Slanted Door spring rolls– gulf shrimps, pork,mint, peanut sauce

Mesquite grilled becker lane pork belly – red leaf lettuce, mint, shiso leaf, lemongrass, spicy gingered tamarind sauce

We were only in San Fran for two nights and couldn’t bear the thought of  going somewhere else and being disappointed so came back for a second night.

With a new menu, it was a whole new experience and one I could do again and again and again.