If you've never had dim sum, I highly recommend that you eat it while you're here. SF has many excellent dim sum places, many of which have been mentioned in previous posts. When you eat dim sum, you'll see some things that are the usual appetizers found in chinese restaurants - pot stickers (aka dumplings at many places back east), egg rolls, etc. In addition, there are many other really tasty (much better than potstickers and egg rolls!) items. Just note that if you are a vegetarian, dim sum might not be a good choice (lots of shrimp and some pork dishes). Also, it is not usually served after 3pm.

NOrth beach is a neighborhood in SF, down the hill from Nob Hill. YOu could get there by cable car, cab, or walk. Japantown is a neighborhood also. There is a mall there which has the bulk of the restaurants and shops. It is near Post and Webster streets. It is close to Fillmore street which has nice shops and other restaurants. You can easily get there by public transportation.

You can take the ferry to sausalito and a drive to monterey might take about 2 hours one way.

Dishes from the carts:

By all means, try the barbecue pork buns

Then, if you or your family are not allergic to shellfish, order the HAGOW ("ha - gow" gow is pronounced like "how"). This will come in steamer baskets and you have to tell the lady "hagow" and she'll indicate whether she has them or not.

Another thing to order is the green vegetable, the Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce. You will need a vegetable to offset all the meat and seafood dishes.

Other than these, there will be anywhere from 50 to 100 different kinds of dishes to choose from.

Boy! You are making me hungry! Have a great trip!

Hi easyT!
Tell me where we can eat dim sum
in SF on Christmas Eve or Day or New
Years Day.
We're thinking about a "road trip"

R5

Dim Sum sounds like fun! So, the best place is Yank Sing? I will definitely try that. I read on a SF news website there is a tea place in chinatown (where they just serve tea)? Any good?
How about some favorites? Favorite italian in North beach? (my husband loves veal parmigiana and it is not very good anywhere in our country town of VA.) Best view of water or city restaurant? Best Japanese-where they have the tableside cooking?
I think I have best dim sum as the Yank sing? We are not the most daring of eaters. We tend to eat more basic foods. I still think we would all like the dim sum.(We like pork, beef and chicken dishes and my husband is more of the fish person.)Thanks for all of the great replies!

Hi, R5!

Sooo good to finally meet up in Yountville! Still savoring the great memories!

(Got to do a quickie here! Half my posts have not been getting through!)

Holidays! Them be the worst times to go for dim sum! Crowded! Busy!

TBC

testing testing testing

Fifth time typing this!

Try Harbor Village in the Embarcadero

Or Mayflower out on Geary

The best is Koi Palace out in Daly City. On a holiday try to arrive by 9:30am, even then you may have an hour's wait.

In Oakland there is the Jade Villa, but not as good as the ones in SF and Daly City.

Go early!

Holy Cow! It's been really difficult answering your query, R5! You'd think I'm still drinking that "Bastardo"!

Oh easyT, Thank you!!!
Lots to choose from!
R5

There is a Benihana in Japantown where they cook in front of you. I think that's the only type of place like that in Japantown.

Good dim sum which is closest to your hotel would be Harbor Village (http://www.harborvillage.net/sf.html), Yank Sing (www.yanksing.com) which is also within walking distance of the Ferry Building, or places in Chinatown. One that comes to mind is City View on Commercial Street between Montgomery and Kearny Streets. All of the ones I listed are a bit nicer (i.e., have tablecloths) and more expensive (dim sum can be super cheap, so "expensive" in this case is relative). Expect to pay around $2.50 - $4.50 a plate at these places. The beauty of dim sum is that you can eat what looks interesting to you and skip the rest.

For good water views, Slanted Door in the Ferry Building is one of the most popular restaurants in SF (call way ahead for reservations. It's easier to get in at lunch) - www.slanteddoor.com. Greens in Fort Mason (www.greensrestaurant.com) has great views. It's vegetarian but you really don't miss the meat, it's that good. McCormick and Kuleto's is in Ghiradelli Square and has great water views but is very touristy. I can't speak to the quality of the food since it's been years since I ate there.

Japantown is a neighborhood in SF, and, like Chinatown, has a unique "flavor" that's worth experiencing while you're there. There is a Benihana; however, you should know that "tableside cooking" isn't exactly where it's at in Japanese food. No offense intended--if that's what you like, go for it. But as long as you're traveling, you might consider trying something like sushi, which may be harder to find where you live. It's served in small portions consisting of 2-6 small bites; so if you hate it, you can order some cooked food without investing a lot in the experiment. Have fun!

Here's another vote for dim sum at Yank Sing. Our kids (now 6 and 9) love going there any time we visit San Francisco.

Japantown is an interesting little area of San Francisco; we haven't eaten there, but I saw several sushi-type places that looked good.

There are good/great Italian places all over S.F., but the most fun neighborhood is North Beach. It seems that not everyone feels the Italian food there is "authentic," but we like walking the area, and being able to stop for gelato and/or coffee. We've been to the Rose Pistola several times, and feel it's good northern Italian cuisine.

Unless you live on a coast already, I'd probably skip steak and focus on seafood and other food that's known to be good in S.F., such as chinese!

Dear girlonthego,

Yank Sing is indeed a good place for a first-time dim sum experience. There's a branch close to where I work, and it's a popular place either to take clients or to get to-go lunches.

If you are staying near Union Square, try going to a place called Sanraku Four Seasons for sushi. It's on Sutter Street near Taylor. Not huge, not tiny, very friendly and authentic without being austere or snotty. You can get teriyaki chicken or tempura in addition to the sushi dishes. There are a lot of sushi bars in the area around Powell/O'Farell - they are a so-so lot, IMHO.

If in North Beach for dinner, do stop in one of the coffeehouses afterwards. The Trieste on Grant Avenue is a classic - it is VERY funky and low-key. Steps of Rome or the Puccini are a bit more "upscale". At the Trieste, I always order an "africano", which is like a latte but stronger on the coffee and served in a glass.

Have a good time - stay flexible and the fun will find you!

Another question about Japanese restaurants.We only have the type where you have table-side cooking by us. Is there a good japanese restaurant where you take off your shoes and sit on the floor? We are not sushi people, but we like the terryaki stuff.

Dear girl on the go,
Some Japanese restaurants do have a tatami-matted room where the diners sit unshod at low tables. You generally have to reserve ahead of time and there may be a minimum number of diners required to make the reservation. One caution - sitting at this kind of arrangement can be very tough on your back if you are used to the support of a chair.

I wasn't thinking about the back. That could be uncomfortable. I guess I will stick with standard chair fare. Thanks

dovima is correct. I do not like Japenese food but have been to a couple of Japenese restaurants.

I thought I would die before the meal was finished as my back ached so bad. And I do not have bach problems etc.
I would never try sitting on the floor again.

Do have a wonderful trip!

Hey R5~we'll be at Yank Sing on CHristmas Day probably around noonish. The rest of the Krewe will be heading to the movies but las I have to return to Berkeley to attend to the sick and the infirmed. You are most welcommed to join us if you so desire. It's quite an eclectic mix of folks.
I have heard, btw, Kong Tiang out on Geary (I think at 25th) is really good and Kikhead likes it better than Yank SIng(to my memory).