San Francisco: Kung Pao Kosher Comedy
Dec 26th, 2008 | 01:55 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,419
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San Francisco: Kung Pao Kosher Comedy
I am an old grouch 
Summary: this is a San Francisco Jewish experience. Get there, be done with it, and don’t come back.
THE RESTAURANT. The New Asia restaurant is on Pacific @ Stockton, good bus connection, we had no problems going to and from, despite the buses being on holiday schedule.
The restaurant is nicely decorated, liked the chandeliers, plus Hanukkah décor. All tables with “lazy Susan,” food served family style, cloth napkins. The whole restaurant was “closed for special event” and the dinner show was sold out.
The kids took care of the tickets; the tables assigned. All tables for 10, the 6 of us shared the table and food with 2 other couples. Sweet corn soup, prawns, chicken, vegetables, rice, noodles, tofu, fish.
The food was just OK, tofu was good, fish was dry. Fish served with broccoli, tofu with carrots, same broccoli and carrots in the mixed veggie dish. Tea and iced water.
Same menu for all, you don’t order, they just put the dishes on the tables. Fortune cookies with Jewish jokes.
It was a cold day, the doors were open, some people didn’t even take off their coats. The seating was tight, 10 people to a table felt too many.
There is a stage in the middle on the main level of the restaurant, and several large-screen TVs, so you can see at least a tiny image of the person on stage. There is a balcony with tables, and the restrooms are on that level.
The bar is inside, the children got us drinks, beer and wine. I didn’t go, so can’t tell more about the bar.
THE COMEDY. We were done eating in half an hour. Another half hour to sip drinks and use the restroom.
“Oy-vey” was my main impression of the “jokes”. It was nice they lit the Hanukkah candles first. There are lots of jokes on the Internet, mostly witty, and the punch lines make your face muscles hurt from laughter. Didn’t happen here.
For example, “they tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat” was told this way: “there is actually only one Jewish holiday: they tried to kill us, we got away, let’s eat” is not the best variety, and it was funny the first 5 times I heard it.
I am Jewish, and I don’t have a problem to laugh with Jews at Jews. When lesbians get on stage, announce they are lesbians, and want me to laugh with them, I don’t feel I have the right to do that, and don’t get all jokes.
One of the comedians was an old man whose age had affected his speech. I was looking at others during the comedy – it seemed, mostly young people were laughing.
People had drinks, and of course many went to the bathroom during the show, and of course the comedians made fun of them. Must be a never-ending source.
To finish on a positive note, it was nice to see the kids who live “over the bridge” in other cities, to see that the older son is healing well, and part of what we paid for dinner will go to the food pantry, for me donations are very important, and this time we all participated.
Summary: this is a San Francisco Jewish experience. Get there, be done with it, and don’t come back. THE RESTAURANT. The New Asia restaurant is on Pacific @ Stockton, good bus connection, we had no problems going to and from, despite the buses being on holiday schedule.
The restaurant is nicely decorated, liked the chandeliers, plus Hanukkah décor. All tables with “lazy Susan,” food served family style, cloth napkins. The whole restaurant was “closed for special event” and the dinner show was sold out.
The kids took care of the tickets; the tables assigned. All tables for 10, the 6 of us shared the table and food with 2 other couples. Sweet corn soup, prawns, chicken, vegetables, rice, noodles, tofu, fish.
The food was just OK, tofu was good, fish was dry. Fish served with broccoli, tofu with carrots, same broccoli and carrots in the mixed veggie dish. Tea and iced water.
Same menu for all, you don’t order, they just put the dishes on the tables. Fortune cookies with Jewish jokes.
It was a cold day, the doors were open, some people didn’t even take off their coats. The seating was tight, 10 people to a table felt too many.
There is a stage in the middle on the main level of the restaurant, and several large-screen TVs, so you can see at least a tiny image of the person on stage. There is a balcony with tables, and the restrooms are on that level.
The bar is inside, the children got us drinks, beer and wine. I didn’t go, so can’t tell more about the bar.
THE COMEDY. We were done eating in half an hour. Another half hour to sip drinks and use the restroom.
“Oy-vey” was my main impression of the “jokes”. It was nice they lit the Hanukkah candles first. There are lots of jokes on the Internet, mostly witty, and the punch lines make your face muscles hurt from laughter. Didn’t happen here.
For example, “they tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat” was told this way: “there is actually only one Jewish holiday: they tried to kill us, we got away, let’s eat” is not the best variety, and it was funny the first 5 times I heard it.
I am Jewish, and I don’t have a problem to laugh with Jews at Jews. When lesbians get on stage, announce they are lesbians, and want me to laugh with them, I don’t feel I have the right to do that, and don’t get all jokes.
One of the comedians was an old man whose age had affected his speech. I was looking at others during the comedy – it seemed, mostly young people were laughing.
People had drinks, and of course many went to the bathroom during the show, and of course the comedians made fun of them. Must be a never-ending source.
To finish on a positive note, it was nice to see the kids who live “over the bridge” in other cities, to see that the older son is healing well, and part of what we paid for dinner will go to the food pantry, for me donations are very important, and this time we all participated.
Oct 20th, 2010 | 10:04 AM
#3
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
Debit, it is a fun evening. It's a definite tradition in Sf to go to this on christmas eve, jewish or not. Like she said, the food isn't the best,but it's fine, not very expensive and very festive. I always like the comedians, to each their own.
Oct 20th, 2010 | 03:12 PM
#5
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 20,709
Likes: 0
Deb, the Jewish Museum will be opened Dec 25, free day, and 2 interesting exhibits:
http://www.thecjm.org/index.php?opti...&task=upcoming
http://www.thecjm.org/index.php?opti...&task=upcoming
Nov 18th, 2010 | 11:49 AM
#6
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Hi,
I'm the creator, producer, and MC of Kung Pao Kosher Comedy. Now in its 18th year, with repeat customers for 2-18 years.
We started with one show one night in 1993 and grew to 8 shows over the course of 4 nights (2 shows a night) in 5 short years and have 2000-3000 people in attendance each year.
Henny Youngman performed his last show there. Shelley Berman and David Brenner have performed at Kung Pao.
This year's show run Dec 23-26 (2010).
We've been written up in the NY Times, LA Times, Chicago Tribune. covered by NPR...
Come check us out at http://www.koshercomedy.com and decide for yourself!
If you have ANY questions, feel free to email me: [email protected]
Lisa
I'm the creator, producer, and MC of Kung Pao Kosher Comedy. Now in its 18th year, with repeat customers for 2-18 years.
We started with one show one night in 1993 and grew to 8 shows over the course of 4 nights (2 shows a night) in 5 short years and have 2000-3000 people in attendance each year.
Henny Youngman performed his last show there. Shelley Berman and David Brenner have performed at Kung Pao.
This year's show run Dec 23-26 (2010).
We've been written up in the NY Times, LA Times, Chicago Tribune. covered by NPR...
Come check us out at http://www.koshercomedy.com and decide for yourself!
If you have ANY questions, feel free to email me: [email protected]
Lisa
