June 28, 2023
The sample platter (imperial buns, spring rolls and green papaya salad) at Aux Delices, 2327 Polk St., San Francisco.
Ricky K. via Yelp
Aux Delices, the white-tablecloth Vietnamese restaurant on San Francisco’s Russian Hill, is closing after 36 years, according to the San Francisco Chronicle (Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms).
The last day of the restaurant is Friday 30th June as owners Chris and Thiet Nguyen are retiring. Chris Nguyen’s mother, Sinh Luong, opened the original Aux Delices on Potrero Hill in 1975, when there were few Vietnamese restaurants in San Francisco, the Chronicle reported. Luong closed the original restaurant in 1994 but opened Polk Street restaurant in 1987, which Nguyen and his wife Thiet eventually took over.
Aux Delices is known for serving home-style Vietnamese and Asian fusion dishes, from pho and bo luc lac (ground beef) to garlic noodles, in a sophisticated setting. In 1992, The New York Times praised Aux Delices for its “quiet, cool, and soothing atmosphere” and for dishes like chao tom (ground shrimp grilled on cane sticks), advising readers to “nibble on the shrimp and suck on the sweet cane juices.” .” and try to keep them from dripping down your chin.”
According to the Chronicle, celebrities like “Star Trek” actor William Shatner used to dine at Aux Delices. SFGATE was unable to reach Aux Delices for comment in time for publication.
Madeline Wells is senior reporter for SFGATE, covering food and drink in the Bay Area. She grew up in the Seattle area and received her BA in English and Media Studies from UC Berkeley. Prior to SFGATE, she was Associate Editor at East Bay Express and a freelance writer covering the Bay Area music scene. Email: [email protected]