Famished Girl
The Citrus Club, Upper Haight
The Citrus Club is the perfect destination when you’re running on an empty stomach, and a nearly-empty wallet.
This excellent noodle house — which offers dishes from a variety of Asian cuisines — has a casual and inviting Polynesian vibe. The restaurant’s portions and pricing make it a popular spot. So if there’s a wait for a table, order up a sake martini to help pass the time.
The service is friendly and efficient; the waitstaff is all smiles, and the food comes to the table quickly. I can never resist ordering a couple of appetizers — even though I know how generous the noodle portions are here. (I have yet to come close to finishing an entire bowl in one sitting.) The edamames are a must. They are covered in a garlicky sauce that is delicious, and I haven’t found it prepared like this anywhere else in the city. The classic Vietnamese shrimp rolls, served with a peanut dipping sauce, are a cool and refreshing starter.
Moving on to the main attractions: the noodles. I have a soft spot for the Citrus Club’s chicken noodle soup, listed on the menu as “The Ultimate Mommy Soup.” And it is indeed just like the one my mom used to make. It’s a hearty pho — chicken broth, chunks of meat and rice noodles — for only about six bucks. If soups aren’t your thing, wok-tossed noodles are available, too. My husband almost always orders the chow fun noodles, replacing the shrimp with extra veggies.
I don’t usually have room for dessert when I go to the Citrus Club, but I do prefer to end my meals with a little something sweet. Luckily, I even love the tamarind candies that the servers deliver to the table along with the check.
From start to finish, this is one of the best places in the neighborhood.
Citrus Club
1790 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 387-6366
