jeevfiancée and I are headed to San Fran this weekend to meet with jeevbro. We’d like to do dim sum for brunch on Sunday, but the sheer number of places to choose from is a bit overwhelming. Does anyone have recommendations?
We’re staying at the Hotel Palomar on Fourth Street in San Fran, and jeevbro is a gradual student at Berkeley who lives near the campus. We’re meeting a friend of ours who lives in South San Francisco as well, so something sort of between Berkeley and South San Francisco would probably work. I’m not totally clear on the geography, but I think that Chinatown fits the bill. But, again, so many choices.
Well, I normally just wandered about Chinatown and let my nose do the choosing… never had a bad experience this way. (There is one place I don’t really reccomend, for while the food was fine, the selection was rather slim and the price a bit high: unfortunately, the only thing I remember about it is that the foyer was on street level, but the resturant itself was on the second.) The ones I enjoyed the most were on the side streets, not the main drag (such as it is) itself.
Or, if you’re willing to head down the peninsula a bit, down by San Mateo, on El Camino Real, is a really good place: you can’t miss it when driving by. Lots of oriental onrnamentation outside, right on the corner of a major intersection. (Hillside? No, that road doesn’t sound right.) Any SF Bay Area dopers know of the place I’m talking about?
I don’t know the specific place you’re talking about, but I think you mean Hillsdale? (Just past the Highway 92 interchange?)
I’d love to help you out, but I know absolutely zero about ethnic food. If you needed help finding a bland chain restaurant though, I’m your gal! (For example, further down El Camino near the Hillsdale mall are: TGI Fridays, Macaroni Grill, and California Pizza Kitchen.)
The Chinatown location is a bit of a hike from your hotel at roughly 12 blocks, but after all that dim sum, a nice walk would be in order. If you want to go to Ton Kiang, the #38 Geary bus is a good way as parking out there is challenging.
The last time I wanted good dim sum in Chinatown in SF, I just asked a random shopkeeper where the best dim sum could be found. They were happy to oblige.
Yank Sing is tops. Other good bets are Harbor Village, Canton, Ton Kiang and Yet Wah in the Richmond. Dol Ho in Chinatown is unique. Gold Mountain can be good. My Chinese hairdresser, Miss Lily, always spoke fondly of New Asia, but I never went. It generally takes hours to get into Pearl City.
In Oakland: Legendary Palace is tops. Tin’s Tea House is fantastic. Peony is supposed to be very good but I haven’t been. L and L and Happy Family are good, but not as good as the others.
The place down on the Peninsula is probably Koi Palace. I’ve heard wonderful things about it but alas I’ve never been.
Thanks for all the help. Yank Sing seems to be the winner. Citysearch echoes the favorable review, and they take reservations, which was something I was concerned about.
eyes link to Koi Palace Mmm, that one doesn’t seem to be it (and thanks voguevixen for jogging my memory on that road). I’ve poked Mapquest, and I think the cross road is Millbrae. Boy was I off on the city. (If there’s a rental-car sales dealership close to 101 there, then yup, that’s the cross road.) Unfortunately, this was also about four years ago, so hopefully it’s still there. (Even though it’s a moot point now for jeevemon.)
Nightsong, you may be thinking of either ABC or the Hong Kong Flower Lounge down near 101 and the San Mateo bridge.
Here’s a link to my old dim sum thread. Scroll down for a directory of common dishes.
Hey jeevmon, Whistlepig and myself will be in the San Francisco and Berkeley areas this Friday through Sunday. Contact me via email and maybe we can all meet for a micro-dopefest.
