Tay Giang

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Tay Giang is one of those restaurants you may never think twice about going in if you walk by, but it hids a hidden secret - the fried catfish!  Though the service may not be the greatest (the wait for your dish can be really bad), but its so worth it. 

This is the first time I've ever had catfish prepared this way.  Everything about this dish is so perfect.  The catfish is deep fried and drizzled with a sticky, sweet, garlic sauce.  It comes in 3 sizes ($35/$40/$45), but even the smallest size is pretty filling.  This dish is so perfect that even the way the fish is cut, you don't have to timidly look for pieces without the bone.  Its fileted so that the bones are on the bottom so you can enjoy the fish without worrying about choking on bones.  Each piece is super crispy and fleshy.  It compliments the fresh ingredients of the roll so well.   

Each piece is to be eaten wrapped up as a spring roll.  The rice paper here is quality stuff.  No rips or tears when rolling, even by a terrible roller like myself.  Veggies included were basil leaves, mint leaves, cucumbers, carrots, bean sprouts, and lettuce.  For some reason, the vegetable plate only had 3 lettuce leaves. 

Banh hoi (thin vermicelli sheets) are included with your wrapping kit.  It gives the roll a nice spongy, springy texture.

 

The dipping sauce is a little sweet with a tiny hint of garlic.

The bo tai chanh (raw beef salad) is huge.  The serving size is best for 4 or more people.  The layering of the meat did lend to some eating challenges.  A pile of garlic, onions, and cilantro heaped onto the raw meat made it a bit difficult to pull the pieces in a delicate manner.  It ended up just looking like a big delicious mess.  The slices of meat are a little thicker than I like and I wish it had a little more lime flavor.   

Address:                  Tay Giang
                                 2543 Noriega St.
                                 San Francisco, CA                                
 

Type:                        Vietnamese

Popular chomps:      bahn hoi ca bong lau nuong - (charbroiled catfish)

                                  pho
                                  beef stew
                                  bo tai chanh (raw beef)
                                  catfish soup

Chomp worthy:         banh hoi ca bong lau nuong
                                  bo tai chanh