When the group chat is screaming with indecision about where to go for a Friday night group dinner, suggest Bac Lieu. This low-key Southern Vietnamese restaurant in Bernal Heights specializes in rice platters, noodles, and soup that you can either down in 10 minutes or slowly sip for an hour in their simple dining room with loads of seating. Get the shrimp cake chao tom for its chewy sugarcane or the rare beef phở tái for its rich broth. Everything comes out quickly and makes a perfect comfort meal, especially the chewy garlic noodles, which are some of the best in the city.