My Canh - San Francisco

Set in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, on the fringe of China Town and North Beach, is My Canh (yelp link). A little Vietnamese restaurant that is holding its own against all the other food options in the area. Their USP -- crab udon, aka Banh Canh Cua!

Yes, udon, and yes, Vietnamese!

Banh Canh noodles, unlike udon, are typically made with rice or tapioca flour (or a mixture of both) instead of wheat flour. The thickness of the noodle however is similar to its Japanese counterpart. And though it is a "noodle soup", the flavors are completely different than Pho. 

The most popular version of this dish, needless to say is Banh Canh Cua (crab), other popular versions include and Banh Canh Gio Heo (pork ham hock).

The Banh Canh Cua at My Canh comes complete with plenty of crab meat -- a treat any time of the year, but especially now, with crab in season and cooler temperatures! The broth, thickened with cornstarch, is silky, and the chopped cilantro adds a freshness to this soup. The flavors so balanced, that you really don't need to add anything to it.

My Canh
(Banh Canh Cua)

Of course their menu goes beyond just Banh Canh, but this is the go to dish at My Canh. So good, and so filling in fact, that we didn't even order an appetizer!

If you are ever in the area, do stop by, I am told they are also open really late. Midnight snack anyone?

Bottom Line:

Price - $
Ambience - Casual
Vegetarian Friendly - No