Best Chinese food in San Francisco (with special details)
June 13, 2016 3:51 PM Subscribe
Hi! We're going to be in San Fran this weekend and are looking for somewhere awesome to eat in Chinatown. Where do you recommend? But there's some considerations...
We is me (I'm a super adventurous eater with no food allergies), my husband (somewhat picky, has a list of food allergies including shellfish but NOT peanut), our son (two, somewhat picky, but will eat things like fried rice and chicken, no allergies) and... my mom, who is not picky but is also not adventurous at all, and whose idea of chinese food for a long time was chow mein from a can.
So we need somewhere reasonably tame, somewhat kid friendly and still delicious that's open on a Friday or Saturday!
We is me (I'm a super adventurous eater with no food allergies), my husband (somewhat picky, has a list of food allergies including shellfish but NOT peanut), our son (two, somewhat picky, but will eat things like fried rice and chicken, no allergies) and... my mom, who is not picky but is also not adventurous at all, and whose idea of chinese food for a long time was chow mein from a can.
So we need somewhere reasonably tame, somewhat kid friendly and still delicious that's open on a Friday or Saturday!
Brandy Hos? Menu here: http://www.brandyhos.com/menus/
Their website says: Please inform us of any food allergies. Most dishes can be modified to fit any dietary restrictions.
You can get adventurous with your order and get basics for others - they have fried rice. My only caution is that when they say hot they mean hot so if you want no spice tell them that. I like it too because the menu has detailed descriptions in english - good so that you can avoid shellfish. I love the smoked ham and garlic.
Otherwise R&G is also good.
posted by oneear at 4:55 PM on June 13, 2016
Their website says: Please inform us of any food allergies. Most dishes can be modified to fit any dietary restrictions.
You can get adventurous with your order and get basics for others - they have fried rice. My only caution is that when they say hot they mean hot so if you want no spice tell them that. I like it too because the menu has detailed descriptions in english - good so that you can avoid shellfish. I love the smoked ham and garlic.
Otherwise R&G is also good.
posted by oneear at 4:55 PM on June 13, 2016
Best answer: Yank Sing dim sum is one of James Beard's American Classics.
posted by brujita at 5:18 PM on June 13, 2016
posted by brujita at 5:18 PM on June 13, 2016
2nding Hunan Home. I'm fairly picky and not a huge fan of Chinese food, but my boyfriend and I go to Hunan Home every time we're in SF and everything I've had has been great.
posted by jabes at 5:40 PM on June 13, 2016
posted by jabes at 5:40 PM on June 13, 2016
I've never been to Hunan Home, but R&G covers all of your reqs.
posted by rhizome at 6:18 PM on June 13, 2016
posted by rhizome at 6:18 PM on June 13, 2016
Peter Fang, who opened House of Nanking and made it famous is no longer there. His current restaurant is Fang, and it's excellent.
However, like most of the great Chinese restaurants in SF, it is not in Chinatown.
If the "in Chinatown" is a hard requirement, I'd put Hunan Home over House of Nanking pretty much any day (and I also deeply miss Chef Jia's, which was nextdoor to House of Nanking, never had a line, and was much better). I've never been to R&G.
posted by toxic at 3:05 PM on June 14, 2016
However, like most of the great Chinese restaurants in SF, it is not in Chinatown.
If the "in Chinatown" is a hard requirement, I'd put Hunan Home over House of Nanking pretty much any day (and I also deeply miss Chef Jia's, which was nextdoor to House of Nanking, never had a line, and was much better). I've never been to R&G.
posted by toxic at 3:05 PM on June 14, 2016
It may not be the best, but I've found Woey Loy Goey to be a hit with those seeking non-adventurous Chinese.
699 Jackson St, downstairs
posted by Rash at 10:24 PM on June 14, 2016
699 Jackson St, downstairs
posted by Rash at 10:24 PM on June 14, 2016
Sam Wo is also now reopened in a new location. Won't be the same, but it's still Sam Wo!
In the same vein, Hang Ah is the oldest dim sum restaurant in the city.
posted by rhizome at 10:39 AM on June 15, 2016
In the same vein, Hang Ah is the oldest dim sum restaurant in the city.
posted by rhizome at 10:39 AM on June 15, 2016
Seconding Rash's recommendation for Gooey Louie's (New Woey Loy Goey). Old school Cantonese. If you go in there during the afternoon, it's all old Chinese men in there. Loved going there when we lived in SF. The menu is pretty broad and should be able to please everyone in your party. (It's also very affordable, so it won't kill you to over-order.) If you want to be adventurous for yourself, I'm pretty sure there was a chinese-only menu.
posted by amusebuche at 8:25 PM on June 18, 2016
posted by amusebuche at 8:25 PM on June 18, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
My suggestion for you would be Hunan Home or House of Nanking. There are more obscure and truly wonderful places in the SF Chinatown, but I think you're the only one in your family who would be thrilled with those.
posted by bearwife at 4:05 PM on June 13, 2016 [2 favorites]