Best dim sum san francisco full#
Best dim sum san francisco plus#

There are two main streets in Chinatown: Stockton Street and Grant Avenue. Li Po’s take on the Mai Tai consists of three types of rum, a Chinese liqueur, and pineapple juice. Li Po is a dive bar where locals and tourists alike hang out - it’s been voted the best dive bar in San Francisco for two years. The Mai Tai was invented in nearby Oakland, California, and originally consisted of aged Jamaican rum, fresh lime, a splash of orange curacao, simple syrup, and orgeat (a syrup made from almonds and a little orange flower or rose water).Īnthony Bourdain visited Li Po Cocktail Lounge in 2012, so you know it’s a good one. You absolutely must sip an authentic Mai Tai at a lounge in Chinatown. You might want to order an extra meal for your party, however, since the portions can be small. The famous salt-and-pepper chicken wings are considered the best in town, and the black pepper vinegar that’s available at the tables is also a hit. It’s in an unassuming location, but you can get a great meal for a reasonable price. Locals often lunch at Capital Restaurant. The truffle-braised noodle is rich and savory, served with crabmeat and scallops. Try the Crispy Culver Farms duck salad with ruby grapefruit, pine nuts, and pomegranate, or the aubergine, tofu, and mushroom claypot served with chili and black bean sauce. One of the newer locations is in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Every location has signature dishes only available at Hakkasan as well as items created exclusively for that particular location. The menu selections are traditional Chinese dishes prepared from local and seasonal ingredients. This international chain Hakkasan draws inspiration from all over the world.

Best dim sum san francisco plus#

Many restaurants in Chinatown serve dim sum, but a few of my favorites are Great Eastern, which serves up Hong Kong-style dim sum plus fresh seafood City View, which offers dim sum cuisine in an upscale, contemporary setting and Oriental Pearl, which has been in business since 1992. Dim sum is a great way to sample a variety of Chinese dishes. At one of Chinatown’s dim sum spots, you’ll enjoy small plates of steamed buns, rice noodle rolls, and dumplings filled with everything from pork to prawn to chicken to vegetables. The words dim sum literally mean “to touch lightly your heart,” but also “to barely fill your stomach.” It’s an apt description, as a dim sum meal consists of bite-sized portions of steamed dumplings and other fried foods.

Also on the second floor, you can enjoy craft cocktails such as the Shengliang Highball or Kung Pao Kitty at Bar Central. On the second floor, enjoy a fine-dining experience at Eight Tables Restaurant, where you can sample a tasting menu for $225, a chef’s menu for $325, or a seven-course menu for $175. On the ground floor, sip a cup of Chinese tea at Oolong Cafe visit the marketplace to purchase spices, teas, condiments, and cookware or view the charcuterie and oven station, the dumpling station, and a dessert bar. This 30,000-square-foot culinary destination offers shopping and dining on two floors. In 2018, Time named China Live one of the world’s greatest places. Lee helps to demystify China’s regional cuisines and discusses each area’s distinct style of cooking - Cantonese, Shanghainese, Hunanese, Northern, and Halal. As you walk, you’ll learn about the history of the Chinese restaurants and how they became popular with Gold Rush miners as well as wealthy San Franciscans looking for exotic meals. Lee has offered tours since 1983 and knows the streets, the people, and the food.

Best dim sum san francisco full#

You can easily become overwhelmed by all the options, and a tour guide can give you an idea of where you should return for a full meal - and what you ought to order, since many of the menus are not in English.Ĭonsider following along as Linda Lee of All About Chinatown takes you through the streets of Chinatown to sample delicious bites. Start with a food tour to get a feel for the area and try some new dishes. Here are some of the best places to eat and drink in Chinatown.Īndrey Bayda / Shutterstock All About Chinatown Tours There’s no better place to experience Asian-American culture, sample dim sum, sip a Mai Tai, purchase fresh fish and vegetables, or visit a fortune cookie factory. From its busy seafood markets to its medicinal herb shops, San Francisco’s Chinatown offers an up-close glimpse at Chinese-American culture and food. San Francisco’s Chinatown is not only the largest Chinatown outside of Asia, but it is the oldest Chinatown in North America.