I often feel more alive on 6th Street than any other street in the city. Maybe it’s because everyone else walking, standing, or more than likely, sitting or lying down on this street looks pretty dead in comparison. I’m on my way to Tu Lan for some serious Vietnamese Soul Food. I check my reflection in the windows of the “Can B Pawn Shop” on 6th and Jessie……yep; I look good on this street.

I cross the street and wade through the confused, if not somewhat needy folks that are always out front of Tu Lan and dive into the dingy linoleum and fluorescent light that illuminates my gastronomical paradise. I receive mixed signals from the staff on whether there is a table for me or not, so I opt for the counter. Side note- I’m not a big fan of eating upstairs at Tu Lan, but it’s better than not eating there, or even worse, waiting on 6th street for a table to open up. Anyone who has been to Tu Lan probably has a favorite dish already and it is probably one of the following:

Vietnamese Style Vegetable, Pork, Chicken, or Shrimp Fried Rice. The fried rice dishes are heavily spiced with a delicious yellow curry and garnished with green onion and cilantro. These are meals unto themselves, unless you’re really hung up on the food pyramid thing. All these plates are $5.00

I’ve never tasted a more gingery Ginger Chicken in my life; it is really garlicky as well so put on your iron stomach for this and Chicken in Vietnamese Herbs. Really tasty, and at $5.50 a pop, it’s tough to beat

I defy someone to eat a whole bowl of the Beef Spicy Noodle Soup. I don’t believe I have tasted anything as hot as this dish, ever. The soup is the color of Bozo’s wig. If you can somehow prove to me that you ate a whole bowl of this soup I’ll give you your 4 doll hairs back.

The Vietnamese staples are good at Tu Lan but not out of this world, the Cold Rolls, Cold Dessert Coffee, and Soda Milk & Egg Yolk are solid, yet not unbelievable.
What are unbelievable are there Vermicelli Noodle dishes, #17 is my favorite, Pork Kebab and imperial rolls over rice noodles. Also, the Shrimp, Pork, Chicken, and Vegetables, and Crispy Noodles plate is to die for. Both of these dishes are $5.50.

So, without hesitation get a table at Tu Lan and fall in love with the grit of 6th Street and the not so sublime flavors of Tu Lan. Tu Lan is located at 8 6th Street between Market and Mission.