Skip to main content
Food & Drink

Beloved San Francisco Vietnamese Restaurant Turtle Tower Closes Tenderloin Location

Written by Liz LindqwisterPublished Sep. 18, 2023 • 1:36pm
Turtle Tower’s Tenderloin location closed on Sunday. | Source: Courtesy Google Street View

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.

Liz Lindqwister can be reached at liz@sfstandard.com


Pickles and Pork? Here Are Some of San Francisco’s Most Unusual Mooncake Flavors

Pickles and Pork? Here Are Some of San Francisco’s Most Unusual Mooncake Flavors


Scott's Chowder House, 1325 Fillmore St., announced its closure with a final day of service Saturday.

San Francisco Chowder House Closing Down With ‘Heavy Heart’


This Family Owns a Century-Old San Francisco Chinese Restaurant. Now They’re Saying Goodbye

This Family Owns a Century-Old San Francisco Chinese Restaurant. Now They’re Saying Goodbye


The 10 Best Spots To Dine Solo in the San Francisco Bay Area

The 10 Best Spots To Dine Solo in the San Francisco Bay Area