Lily

Luxurious California-Vietnamese food in the Inner Richmond.Chef Rob Lam is fulfilling a dream of cooking Vietnamese dishes from his upbringing, with a luxurious, ingredient- and technique-driven focus (he’s French-trained, so the pâté in his banh mi is next-level). Go with a posse so you can taste a number of dishes since the portions are quite generous. It’s open for weekend brunch and dinner. The busy dining room has an elegant yet approachable style, and there’s a bar where you can perch if you're dining by yourself (enjoy a bowl of sublime beef pho) or just want a casual bite. My favorite seasonal dish is the Bun Rieu with numerous types of crab and dry-farmed tomato. I also love the Cha Ca La Vong—it’s a turmeric-fried catfish with noodles and it's funky-fresh. For brunch, they're making some of the best banh mi in the city, plus a great Saigon breakfast plate and chao (porridge). Their wine list is by James Yu of Great China, so you’ll see some fantastic selections, and they also have a full bar.