Guilin Rice Noodles House
Located at 901 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116, Guilin Rice Noodles House is a hidden gem serving authentic Guilin-style rice noodle soups. This cozy spot offers a delicious and flavorful experience, perfect for those seeking a satisfying, casual meal.
The house specialty is a standout, featuring a rich, braised "lu" flavor complemented by a hearty mix of meat, pickled vegetables, egg, and scallions. This combination of flavors works harmoniously, making each bite a delight. One of the unique features of this dish is the separate presentation of the broth, which is poured over the noodles, allowing you to enjoy the perfect balance of textures and flavors. The noodles absorb the rich broth as you work your way through the bowl, with the last few bites bursting with all the delicious flavors that the broth imparts.
If you're looking for something on the lighter side but equally filling, the rice noodle soups here are a great choice. They aren't too heavy, yet they offer a satisfying and flavorful experience. A must-try is the pork belly noodle soup, which stands out for its tender pork belly and perfectly balanced broth. For those who enjoy a bit of spice, extra chili oil is available to kick up the heat.
In addition to the noodle soups, the restaurant offers crispy and flavorful chicken wings and the unique, crunchy pigs' ears, which are a delightful treat. While the pork belly over rice may not be as moist as in the soup, the flavors still make it a great dish to try.
The atmosphere is relaxed and homey, with spacious seating and friendly, attentive service. Despite being a no-frills establishment, the staff ensures a welcoming and warm experience, making it a perfect spot for a solo meal or a casual gathering with friends. The restaurant's location in a quieter neighborhood does mean parking can be tricky, but the food and service make it worth the visit.
Guilin Rice Noodles House Reviews
Spacious seating and friendly staff. Food was excellent as well! The pork belly noodle soup was fantastic, zero complaints. They have extra chilis and chili oil on the side as well if you like an extra kick on top of the spice. The chicken wings were crispy and flavorful. The pigs ear were crunchy and delicious. We also ordered the pork belly over rice. We thought the pork belly was a bit dry (rice dish) but the pork belly in the soup dish was great!
Very homey experience with light yet flavorful casual Chinese food! They specialize in their rice noodle soups, which are not too heavy but also filling. I liked that the house special came with different kinds of pork and half a tea egg. It was fun to receive the broth separately and then pour it over the noodles! I did feel like my first few bites weren't as flavorful as the last few because the rice noodles didn't seem to absorb as much broth at the top, but once I got to the bottom of the bowl it was delicious. The scallion pancakes were also a little unusual in that they were thicker and fluffier than normal ones and were lacking a little green onion, but they were just so incredibly crispy and flaky that they were yummy nonetheless. The staff were super nice to take me and my friend in less than an hour before closing, and it was nice to be greeted with hot tea!
Delicious noodles, efficient service, warm ambiance. Appreciate having two options for hot sauce. The braised pork belly was tasty and tender. The golden crispy pork was AMAZING.
What a find! We typically go to Mr. Szechuan across the street but decided to try something new and we were glad we did! We both ordered the C1 and it was solid - crispy pork was great and the other assortment of meats as well. Price was good, service was attentive, and parking was pretty easy. The vibe was pretty casual and we will definitely be back!
From what I can taste, this place is legit -- although I'm not particularly familiar with Guilin-style food, I've come a few times, including with my very Chinese parents and the noodles have not disappointed. I've gotten the house special and the flavor is unmatched -- it's got that braised "lu" type of flavor and the meat and pickled veg and egg and scallion work so well together. I also like the romaine lettuce side - very hot (temperature wise) and garlicky. This place is also really good for a solo meal, and service was pretty fast. It's relatively no frills inside and it's in a sleepy neighborhood. Only downside is that it's tough to park in this area. Looking forward to coming back again!