Pagolac

I’ve been trying other restaurants’ 7 beef courses, but none of them can beat this place! The service was slow, and they had a very challenging bathroom, but who cares now? If you have the best 7 beef course in the city, I need you to be back!

Besides being a brunch connoisseur I’m also a phở connoisseur. Don’t ask why I was in the tenderloin after dark but I stumbled in here so I would be safe from the scary bums and hookers. Turned out to be amazing phở. Their beef carpaccio and fresh spring rolls are amazing also! Did a shot out of coffee mugs with one of the cooks while waiting in line for the bathroom and this little old lady crawled out of the basement with fresh veggies. Weird, but the food made up for it and at least we know their ingredients are fresh. I hope they open back up again soon!

Have given it a 2^nd chance it was very impressed with shredded chicken salad, and noodle bowl. Not kid friendly though great for ordering out, family vietnamese style food

7 course beef — Pagolac such a fail.
My girlfriend and I went to Pagolac because we heard and researched that this was the other place in the city that served the 7 course beef. We were extremely disappointed with Pagoloac’s 7 course beef.
Course 1: Carpaccio — The meat was odd. It was in a darker color and the «lemon juice sauce» didn’t compliment the meat. There was more onions than meat. We couldn’t even finish the carpaccio.
Course 2: Slice of beef cooked in a fondue pot — You can’t go wrong with this, right? Wrong! The broth tasted extremely bland even with the «onion and vinegar». As well, the meat portions was less than Anh Hong.
Course 3: Beef cooked over a grill — My girlfriend enjoyed the grill. Not because of the grill, but the grill itself (how it looked). One problem we had with the grill was the oil, we were constantly being burned. Maybe, there was too much oil or they should switch out the grills.
Course 4: Grilled beef sausages — No complaints here.
Course 5: Grilled beef wrapped over scallions — The onions here was too overpowering and a little bit under cooked.
Course 6: Beef skewers — Decent beef skewers.
Course 7: Vietnamese rice porridge — It didn’t taste like how «Vietnamese rice porridge» supposed to be. The color of the broth was more brown meaning the meat color has overpowered the soup. And the porridge smelled and tasted funky like old meat was thrown in. The porridge tasted extremely salty.
Sorry, Pagolac I will not be coming back for your 7 course beef, ever.
Head down a couple of blocks and go to Anh Hong for the REAL 7 course beef.

I went here since a friend of a friend chose this place as his restaurant on Check Please Bay Area.
The service was pretty bad and put a poor tone on the evening. We waited a lot at every step: getting menus, getting drinks, getting food, etc. They gave us some tapioca pudding gratis to make up for it, but even after that we waited a really long time for getting the bill and getting change.
There was a mistake with our drinks and our entrees. The waitress didn’t speak English well and neither of us could make out what she was trying to tell us.
The food was OK but nothing great. I won’t be back.

Worst food I’ve had in a while.
Ordered 7 beef course for $ 37/​two people. Poor quality of food, and value not that good either. Two people minimum.
1^st: raw beef salad, just a little meat, mostly onions.
2^nd: make your own wrap/​rice paper soak in warm water, they bring romaine lettuce, pickled carrots and daikon, cucumbers, soy been sprouts, mint. Raw meat and a burner with boiling water to cook meat. Meat quality if very bad, tasteless, cheapest least flavorful cut (round).
3^rd: the same as second course but burner with an oiled grill, and meat is marinated.
4^th: ground beef wrapped in leaf and grilled, 3per person, wasn’t cooked all the way through.
5^th: onions wrapped in meat and grilled, 3 per person, onions inside were raw.
6^th: grilled beef skewer, 1 per person, was okay.
7^th: beef broth with ground beef, disgusting, smelled like dishwasher water. Couldn’t pass the smell.
Waitress was weird, not sociable, not knowledgeable about menu, didn’t smile once.

Meh. I usually avoid mediocre reviews but I’m on the search for the best hot pot in the nabe (the bar has been set).
This was not it.
While the interior was clean and modern it felt a little sparse and clinical despite the warm undertones.
We ordered the 7 course beef. The first course took over 20 minutes. An extravagantly sweet carpaccio, while definitely a palate opener, think burst taste buds begging for reprieve, the grey color of the meat left much to be desired.
The DIY rolls making up the 2^nd and 3^rd courses were pretty standard although the herbs were cinged with refridgerator burn and a little skimpy.
The 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th courses came on one plate and were good… albeit cold and a little over cooked.
We were full and impatient, as service was crazy slow (they were busy and only two women seemed to be managing the floor) so we ditched out on the beef porridge.
PROS:
–The kitchen and bathroom were exceptionally clean.
–Good deal for 7 Course Beef at $ 19.
–Decent quality
CONS:
— Slow service

Finally made it here for the 7 flavors of beef. One dining companion said it was a lot of food so we split 2 orders of the beef between 5 people and ordered some side dishes. I was pretty full by the end. We got:
#1 fried spring rolls — very hard wrappers that cut up my gums, do not recommend
#3 spring rolls with shrimp and pork — pretty good though mostly stuffed with veggies, definitely needed the sauce to make it tasty, otherwise it just tasted like lettuce
#8 shrimp pork lotus salad — okay, couldn’t really tell there was any pork in this dish
7 flavors of beef (2 orders) included:
* beef carpaccio — really good
* beef in vinegar fondue — you have to cook the beef then make your own spring roll with the provided wrapper, water and fillings (or just wrap it in lettuce to eat — far easier), fun to make, okay to eat
* grilled beef — again you make your own roll, the grill is fun but it really spits oil to be careful
* 4 different beef skewers (½ skewer per order) — my favorite skewer was the one with the beef wrapped around spring onions
* beef porridge — really runny, more like soup, but really delicious
We also ended up splitting a really awesome sticky rice taro pudding coconut cream dessert. The highlight of the meal.
Total = $ 16 per person including tip
It was nice to have Vietnamese food outside of phở and it was fun to assemble my meal but it wasn’t like ‘wow’. Perhaps it’s just home cooking. Which is fine but not what I’m looking for when I go out.

Mmmm, I love their 7 Flavors of Beef. For $ 19 a person, this is a bargain/​good value.
However, I do think that their menu is more accurate, calling it 7 «Flavors» of Beef. The Unilocal reviews who called it out 7 «Courses» of Beef was pretty misleading.
Dishes 4, 5, and 6 were in essence 1 – 2 skewers/​pieces of meat all combined onto one large plate.
Still, for the price, this is awesome. not to mention, a really fun experience. The restaurant is dark and small with probably a dozen tables, so keep this to a party of 2, 4 or maybe 6.
CASH ONLY ;)

It’s been a while since we’ve been to Pagolac, but it still has the same quaint atmosphere that we remember from many years back. Chef David is now at the helm, but he definitely follows after his mom’s footsteps with the flavor and quality of the dishes that he prepares.
We only order the house special here– Bo 7 mon (seven flavors of beef), which contains:
— bo tai chanh (thinly-​sliced beef carpaccio)
— bo nhung dam (beef which you cook in a fondue pot)
— bo nuong vi (beef which you cook in a table grill)
— bo la lot (grilled beef sausages on a stick)
— bo cuon mo (beef wrapped in scallions)
— bo lui (beef skewers)
— chao bo (rice porridge)
Everything was well-​seasoned and fresh. It also came with rice paper and a big bowl of lettuce, mint, cucumber and bean sprouts. $ 18.50 per person (minimum of 2).
Service was friendly and accommodating. Chef David even came out to check how we were doing. When he saw our two little ones finishing off his meal heartily, he offered them complimentary lychee ice cream with fried banana — and he immediately became their best friend. They’re already asking when we’ll be going back…
Oh, and quick notes — they’re only open for dinner, and only take cash…

I had great hopes for this place, but they were dashed with the spring rolls. Yes they were huge, but they had no flavor, and the peanut sauce was horribly disappointing. It was so watered down that it had no flavor at all. How is that even possible?
We also had the 5 spice chicken which was the only flavorful dish. I had the lemongrass beef bun, which was less than spectacular. I’ll stick with Tulan for Vietnamese.
It was very clean.

Came here specifically to try the 7 course beef. We walked in and it was so cold. There was no heater that I had to leave my jacket on to eat the entire time. They did bring us a little fire from burning of the gel they usually use to keep food warm but they brought it out for us after so long. The food came out one after another pretty quickly and the service was just okay. The food was pretty good. All the meats were tasty and marinated well.
The restaurant was not decorated at all and the chairs were mismatching. This place just seems so odd and not well put together. I guess the food makes up for everything it’s lacking in.

Dear god, for a four star rating place. This place is a joke. Maybe its just catering towards those who consider presentation over texture and taste…
Considering the prices for this menu. It clearly doesn’t fit the district. You are in the TL not Nob Hill.
1)10 dollars for ban hoi chao tom chopped into squares for no apparent reason… and the oils were completely soaked into the sugar cane. My throat feels like I swallowed hot vinegar fresh from the grill…[-2].
Esp since i ordered it twice so you could make it up in case your chef screwed up. but no luck. they both sucked.
2)So …what kind of fish sauce do you guys use for your complementary dipping platter and for your rice/​noodle entrees…
Both waitresses have no clue… they admitted that they have no clue because its «chef special mix»…
…man now I’m worried that its the cheap watered down squid brand… how do you not know what your Vietnamese fish sauce you use? …and for the Chef. your mix is all water… I’m so ashamed of you… I cant believe for a Vietnamese establishment even your fish sauce is a pathetic «special mix»…should just label it as sugar water on the menu…
The fish sauce mix made by the chef is placed in a plastic water pitcher in the back room next to the carrots and left out instead of in the fridge… its already bad enough as is… after I saw it. my stomach turned… (–1)
if you can’t inform your staff what’s in the mix or ingredients. what if someone has a dietary issue? There’s your liability right there…[-2]
USE THREE CRAB BRAND!!! problem solved. least the problem I can fix… you can thank me later once you start having a quality control system in your restaurant.
3) Phở Ga – Stick with turtle tower… this place is not up to even Chinatown quality yet with their food. your paying for Mediocre visual appeal. barely adequate digestive satisfaction.(-1).
And don’t get me started on the sanitation issue hidden away from public view… particularly in the lavatories.

No idea why this place gets as many positive reviews as it does. I dined for the first time recently based on Unilocal reviews and it was an utter and complete let down.
1. Lotus root salad — 2 stars. Flavorless and lacking in lotus root.
2. Grilled beef, squid, shrimp plate — the kind you grill yourself at the table — 2 stars. The ingredients were not as fresh as they could have been… See my photo of the beef… It shouldn’t have any brown spots… Sigh… but aside from that, the marinade was bland. Sorry folks but when you grill at the table, the darn stuff should smell amazing as it sizzles on the hot pan. At least it does when I’ve had it at Anh Hong — where the lemongrass is fresh and the mere smell of the items cooking makes your senses melt in ecstasy. Not so at Pagoloc. I was so hoping to enjoy the food at Pagoloc since it is less expensive than Anh Hong, but there is no comparison. I won’t return and will gladly pay more for better food at Anh Hong.

i LOVE bo 7 mon aka 7 courses of beef. It’s as meaty as you can get when eating with Viet people. It is literally 7 courses of beef, where you can cook the meat at your table, and wrap it up in a spring roll to dip into your sauce and eat.
Bo 7 mon always brings me back to the days where my mom would take me out in Socal to celebrate something– a good grade or report card, birthday, or just because! If you have never tried this before, it is certainly a must on your bucket list. Be prepared for a great cultural experience + an explosion of minty, savory, sweet, and sour tastes all in one bite.

Delicious bun cha and great service! I really want to try the phở next time. Service was great too and prices were very reasonable considering the portion sizes.

it’s not quite a four star place, but somewhere in between a three and four.
had the seven course beef.
and side of spring rolls which were good.
the seven course beef was nothing special.
i think this place called anh hong is better.
the highlight of the course was the chao bo which is a type of soup with rice in it. I wish the bowl was bigger.
the raw beef salad wasn’tbad.
i realized that i do not like vietnamese coriander, which to me, tastes like soap.
i always thought that maybe the dishes weren’t rinsed thoroughly and that’s why I tasted soapiness, but now i know its the coriander!

I’ve been dying to try the 7 course beef tasting for ages and finally got around to trying it with my cousin and friend a couple of weeks ago.
The restaurant is tiny, so if you’re here anytime after 7p, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, you’ll probably have to wait a little.
We rolled in around 6.30p and waited about 10 mins before a table was available– score.
The décor is a little interesting.
It is… rustic sparse?
Lighting isn’t like the usual Vietnamese places– bright neon lights. It was more… cave-​like New Mexican with a touch of minimalism. I can’t properly describe it. You’ll have to check it out yourself
Food.
Everything was done with care and minimalistic simplicity.
My biggest gripe is the portion size– tiny tiny tiny.
Granted, i’m a pretty big eater, but portions were so small that we had to order imperial rolls at the end to fill ourselves up. And even then, i was Just OK, not completely full. @ $ 20/​person, I need to be filled Or at least walk away feeling like it was delicious and I’d come back.
The different courses of beef were interesting but I wouldn’t say it’s something I’d crave or want to try again.
Once was good.

Pagaloc is a carniwhore’s wet dream. They offer 7 mouthwatering courses of beef ranging from MmMmm raw, perfectly grilled and bundled to fondued that will make you salivate for more and more.
What’s even better is that it’s cheap. It will leave you with enough money in your wallet should you want a ladyboy outside for the night.
The Bo 7 Mon, 7 courses of beef at Pagaloc is what made them popular, but the bittersweet story behind the restaurant is what will always make me a loyal customer. In 2005, the owner was on her way to buy fresh vegetables at the Farmer’s Market nearby when she was tragically killed in a hit-​and-​run accident. Consequently, Pagaloc closed for several months until her children decided to reopen the restaurant as a tribute to her.
My check-​ins don’t accurately represent the number of times I’ve been here but I was always a fan since my first visit over 5 years ago. Yes, shame on me for using a crapberry for years and waiting so long to write a review.
I favor Pagaloc over Anh Hong, the only other Vietnamese restaurant in SF that offers the 7 course beef because the service is much more welcoming and pleasant, the ambiance is nicer and cleaner, and they use minimal MSG (I didn’t feel any after effects). My review for Anh Hong:
.
The 7 courses of beef is the ONLY thing you should order at Pagaloc. The price has increased to $ 18.50/person and they now also charge $ 2 for vermicelli noodles. However, it’s still a great value given the top-​notch ingredients and über fresh veggies. CASH ONLY.
Sorry for the poor picture quality; it was dark inside Pagaloc.
~ * ~ * Bön 7 Mon/​7 Courses of Beef * ~ * ~
(1) Bo Tai Canh: Beef carpaccio
(2) Bo Nhung Dam: Beef fondue
(3) Bo Nuong Vi: Grill your own beef
and
(4, 5, 6) Bo La Lot, Bo Cuon Mo, Bo Lui: Sausages wrapped in leaves, beef wrapped scallion & beef skewers
(7) Chao Bo: Beef congee
Each course is beautifully presented and the experience is interactive as some courses require you to fondue and grill your own meat. Rice paper sheets and a plate stacked with fresh lettuce, bean sprouts, sliced cucumbers, pickled carrots and daikon, mint and basil are provided so you can roll your own spring rolls with the flavorful grilled meats:
. If it’s your first time at Pagaloc, they will gladly explain to you what to do so don’t worry about looking like a noob.
This fun and interactive cultural dining experience makes Pagaloc a solid choice for a very casual date. Throw in several glasses of cheap wine and you have an even better date. *wink wink*
P. S. — For your convenience, there’s a handful of seedy motel rooms within walking distance to bring your lady or ladyboy to.

I’ve come to Pagolac a couple of times and I always get the must have 7 course beef because it’s good and it’s cheap ($ 16/​person, 2 person minimum). Their 7 courses of beef is also on 7×7’s «100 Things to Try Before You Die» list and this is one time I can say, 7×7 got it right!
7 COURSES OF BEEF:
1. Rare beef marinated w/​lemon juice & peanuts
**Courses 2 – 6 is served with rice paper and a side of veggies (carrots, cucumbers, bean sprouts, lettuce, & mint) so you can roll everything together and make your own spring rolls (option to add vermicelli noodles for $ 2)**
2. Slices of raw beef you cook yourself in a vinegar hotpot
3. Marinated raw beef you cook yourself on a grill
4. Beef wrapped over peanuts on a skewer
5. Beef wrapped over onions on a skewer
6. Marinated beef on a skewer
7. Beef rice porridge
With the exception of the beef peanut skewer (I didn’t eat this because I’m allergic to peanuts), everything is good. My favorites are the raw beef, beef you cook in the vinegar and wrap yourself, and the rice porridge. The rice porridge contains beef, green onions, and what we believe is the crispy rice usually stuck to the bottom of pots… a delicious end to the meal (I wish it came as an entrée).
We also ordered the crispy imperial rolls which were accompanied by vermicelli noodles. The rolls lived up to their name and were very crispy which I loved contained chicken, glass noodles, veggies, and taro inside.
Don’t forget, they’re CASH ONLY!
SERVICE:
The woman who I assume is the owner is nice and friendly. Once the food starts coming, she does check in with you to make sure you know how to make the spring rolls. She regularly checks up on your table without being overbearing.
PARKING:
Meter street parking, you shouldn’t have too much of a problem finding parking after 6pm.