Beloved Vietnamese restaurant Turtle Tower has closed its Tenderloin location, the restaurant confirmed to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The 23-year-old shop was known for its phở ga, a chicken version of the popular beef broth and noodle soup. The Tenderloin location had its last day at 645 Larkin St. on Sunday.
The owners of Turtle Tower still have one location open in the South of Market neighborhood, at 501 Sixth St. The Tenderloin location’s closure is yet another Turtle Tower that has shuttered in recent years after its second spot at 5716 Geary Blvd. closed in the Richmond District during the pandemic. Turtle Tower’s owners also reportedly closed an outpost at San Francisco State University.
Rumblings of the Tenderloin soup joint’s closure have grown since summertime, when Turtle Tower listed the Larkin Street building for sale at $1.9 million, the Chronicle reported.
Larkin Street in the Tenderloin is known for its wide range of Vietnamese offerings, reflecting the neighborhood’s status as San Francisco’s “Little Saigon.” During its long run, that Turtle Tower location boasted hundreds of five-star reviews on Yelp, and the restaurant promised diners “authentic Hà Nội style Vietnamese cuisine.”
Turtle Tower did not respond to calls for comment.