So, a few years back, some friends and I stumbled upon a lovely restaurant in Chinatown. Pretty sure it was Grant Street. Inside the door was just an elevator lobby, and the actual dining room was up on the fourth or fifth floor, and had awesome views of North Beach, etc.
I can’t, for the life of me, remember what it was called. Any help?
If it was on Grant St - was it in Chinatown proper? Lots of the restaurants there have the kitchen on the first floor and you walk up to the actual dining floors.
If the waitstaff was obnoxious, was it Sam Wo’s? The infamous Edsel Ford Fong was the head guy there for years and it was tradition for him to rag on the gwai-loh tourist trade - a good laugh for all…
I remember that there were pics of famous people, like GHW Bush, and that the dining room was large. There was a party room on the third or fourth floor, as it was New Year’s Eve. The waitstaff was very courteous. We had an awesome view of Coit Tower from the table.
Sounds to me like Empress of China. I was there many years ago and it matches your description.
Exactly! Thanks. It was filed under “Emerald Palace” in my brain, but I knew that wasn’t right, which was confirmed by google.
You’re welcome. Happy to help.
Avoid the scallops.
Maybe I can piggyback off this one - another Chinatown SF restaurant that I went to a couple years ago. Crowded and smallish dining room at ground level, seating that looked like a cheap diner or cafeteria, with tables crammed together in places. I think the walls had black and white tile on them or at least partway up the wall, and there were photos of stars who’d been there and framed restaurant reviews.
I don’t remember the name or street, as friends and I wandered in while meandering through Chinatown and figured why not. The man who came to take our order asked if we’d been there before, and when we said no, he identified himself as the head chef and asked if we trusted him. We said “sure!” and I clarified that I was a vegetarian who did eat eggs and dairy. An assortment of dishes came out to our table, interesting and yummy stuff, and enough options for me to feel very pleased with. My husband and I have been back since but don’t know where that restaurant was - does this ring bells for anyone?
Sounds to me like you are describing House of Nanking. Always a fun place to bring visitors since I don’t think I’ve ever been allowed to order in there. They give you a menu, sure, but then they just take it away when they come to take the order if you show any hesitation at all.
Ah, I think that’s it! One of the newspaper reviews linked had photos, and I see the checkered tile was on the floor, red and white. (When I was writing that post, I was thinking about red as well, but that is such a common color for Chinese restaurants to have in them.) Thanks!
the House of Nanking is decent Chinese food - it is more famous for being a tourist attraction and dependable place than anything else. For some reason, I tend to think of it as the Wiener’s Circleof SF’s Chinatown, but HoNK tells you what to order without yelling at you (that link is to a restaurant review of Chicago’s legendary Wiener’s Circle - where every night-clubber and bar-hopper ends up drunk at 3am to order from belligerent staff…). A fun experience, but you are going as much for that as for the food…
if you want EXCELLENT cheap Chinese food - where they actually make your meal fresh AFTER you order it, not just scoop it out of pre-made pots - go to U-Lee (link to review). Best damn pot stickers outside of China. And it is on the Powell & Hyde cable car line, so you can get your Tourist on while sampling the food the locals love. Oh man, the Asparagus Chicken, the Curried Prawns, the Beef with Broccoli…smacking my lips just thinking about it
I can’t believe I am actually giving away this secret - but trust me, it is the best…
The wife loved the Empress. Great wonton soup, decent egg roll, and the mongolian lamb was spiced just right. And fabulous atmosphere.