San Francisco Chinatown

I am going to be in San Francisco on Saturday and I am wondering if anyone would have suggestions for a places which shouldn't be missed for lunch and dinner in Chinatown?

I thought it might be appropriate to start a thread just on SF Chinatown since there doesn't seem to be much on the topic recently, unless I have missed it.

Thanks in advance.

I realize this is not particularly helpful, but if there are places that shouldn't be missed in SF's Chinatown, they have thus far managed to elude me. In my opinion, many of the most popular, once-praised restaurants there are running on the fumes of whatever past glories they may have once earned.

If you have transportation, I can make recommendations for the suburbs and nearby towns where all the area's best Chinese food can be found.

I'm sorry to hear that. I won't have a car, but I'd be glad to know about places within a reasonable cab ride.

I took a look at the SF 2013 Bib gourmand and it lists Old Mandarin Islamic, Sichaun Home and Yank Sing.

If it helps I'll be staying on Market Street downtown.

Head towards Clement Street out at the start of the Avenues.

Yank Sing is fairly divisive; I think the food is fine, but you will pay a lot for ambiance, pretty presentation, etc., not necessarily for flavor. Not worth it to me, but it definitely has its fans (i.e., dismissing it as purely for tourists,as some do, is unfair). As a bonus, you can probably walk there.

Within the city, the better Chinese places are in Inner Richmond -- certainly accessible by cab. If you like Sichuan, I can recommend Spices. There are quite a few of them by now (including in Oakland); I don't know that there's much difference between different locations, but the one on 8th Ave is known for serving stinky tofu. I can personally vouch for the one on 6th Ave -- Spices 2 (which happens to be around the corner from one of the best bookstores in the country).

Oh, and speaking of divisive, how could I forget: everyone should try Mission Chinese at least once.

Not what you're looking for, but I had a great, late night at a former opium den - now cocktail lounge in Chinatown.

Li Po
916 Grant Ave
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 982-0072

Old Mandarin is very good, but not in Chinatown and quite far from the city center (relatively speaking in geographically miniscule SF). Northern Chinese dishes with a focus on lamb that might have been more interesting/unusual before the wave of similar places here. Yank Sing is a place I've never understood. Yuet Lee is a board fave in Chinatown proper. Somewhat dumpy (but clean) Cantonese seafood place that to me is classic Chinatown. Like LTH with fish tanks. A simple search will reveal details about each.

Thanks for the responses.

I went to Yuet Lee and I think it was the place I was looking for. I had the Pepper and salt spicy pork ribs (Pork Chop). These were thinly sliced pieces of very tender pork with a coating which, perhaps, is similar to the squid they are apparently well known for. They were fried perfectly and well spiced. I very much enjoyed this dish and the restaurant. Someone called this a board favorite and I can see why.

I was a bit surprised by the number of people on the street in Chinatown on Saturday. The sidewalks were very crowded. I don't know if there was something special going on that day, but in terms of the density of the people on the street, it very much had the feel of an Asian city.

I was just in SF and had amazing Dim Sum for very reasonable $ at the Hong Kong Lounge
5322 Geary Blvd
(Btwn 17th & 18th Ave)
san-francisco, ca 94121

Tel: (415) 668-8836

I was like maybe one of 2 non-Asians there LOL

don't miss the steamed clam-
and coffee-glazed ribs

amazing
amazing
amazing

bw77 wrote:I was a bit surprised by the number of people on the street in Chinatown on Saturday. The sidewalks were very crowded. I don't know if there was something special going on that day, but in terms of the density of the people on the street, it very much had the feel of an Asian city.

People don't appreciate how small a footprint SF has (as well as Chinatown). It's chock full of tourists and you really feel it on the weekends. Did you make it to the Ferry Building Saturday farmer's market? That's my favorite destination. Sort of a ridiculously overpriced food museum, but when on vacation, what the hell?

One nice aside about SF, you can feed their parking meters with your smartphone and the meter will text you when it's about to expire so you can add more time.

cilantro wrote:Yank Sing is fairly divisive; I think the food is fine, but you will pay a lot for ambiance, pretty presentation, etc., not necessarily for flavor. Not worth it to me, but it definitely has its fans (i.e., dismissing it as purely for tourists,as some do, is unfair). As a bonus, you can probably walk there.

Within the city, the better Chinese places are in Inner Richmond -- certainly accessible by cab. If you like Sichuan, I can recommend Spices. There are quite a few of them by now (including in Oakland); I don't know that there's much difference between different locations, but the one on 8th Ave is known for serving stinky tofu. I can personally vouch for the one on 6th Ave -- Spices 2

Saw this relatively old thread....I'd also add Z&Y Restaurant in Chinatown to the list. Their "chicken with explosive chili" would give Tony Hu or Little Li a run for their money, IMO:

Z & Y Restaurant
655 Jackson St (between Cooper Aly & Beckett St)
San Francisco, CA 94133

sdrucker wrote:Saw this relatively old thread....I'd also add Z&Y Restaurant in Chinatown to the list. Their "chicken with explosive chili" would give Tony Hu or Little Li a run for their money, IMO:

Z & Y Restaurant
655 Jackson St (between Cooper Aly & Beckett St)
San Francisco, CA 94133

Greeting and salutations my eponymous colleague!

My Chinatown take away dim sum Apr 2009 notes:
Stockton St
--Good Mong Kok 1039 Stockton near Jackson, the line out the door bakery, great bacony cookies, vg dumplings and excellent sui mai.
--Wing Sing vg pot stickers.
--You's, the price performer, dumplings with handmade wrappers were all very good. Not surprisingly, Those with machine made rice wrappers suffered in all respects. Pot stickers were doughy but good.
Turn downhill onto Jackson St
--Delicious Dim Sum, Jackson st,sticky rice and one Mustard Green/Green Chive/Shrimp round dumpling The sticky rice was clean tasting and well composed. The round dumpling was more--it was perfect.
--Golden Gate Bakery exc egg custard tarts, chocolate chip cookies.

All that said, for the above places their best items are the ones that have just come out of the kitchen--no exceptions.

Also, way out is Hakka Restaurant. Still in 2014 highly recommended, easy bus ride from in town.

I've had many meals at Z&Y. It's good. My main objection is that they really skimp on the spice. Not just heat -- they're very stingy with Sichuan peppercorns. I still prefer Spices or Oakland's Hot Pot House.

Directly across the street from Z&Y is another good place, Bund Shanghai. If you can't get into Z&Y (you probably can't; it's always packed), go here for worthy Shangahaiese. If you have 3 sturdy friends with you, you can try to tackle the red-braised pork shank.