Rock-‘n’-roll sightseeing in San Francisco

Golden Era

Eat the most convincing fake meat ever

Golden Era (Tenderloin)

Sure, it’s run by cult members who promote “the Supreme Master Ching Hai” — but at least it’s a cuddly, green-friendly cult that loves animals. This Vietnamese restaurant isn’t open very late and is closed on Tuesdays, but its dishes — noodle soups, stir fries, clay pots — feature some of the most uncannily realistic faux meats, including shrimp that are distressingly shaped and dyed to approximate their crustacean counterparts.