Sit, Eat Good Food, Get Out. ...oh and You Better Like Chinese Beer
Written: Oct 07 '03 (Updated Oct 08 '03)
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Pros: The best Chinese food I have ever tasted.
Cons: Not the best looking decor, but my eyes were on my plate.
The Bottom Line: One of the best dining experience in S.F. because it's different than most and backs it up with great tasting food.
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| lynus's Full Review: House of Nanking |
Whenever I think of San Francisco, I think of two things. Sony's Metreon complex and House of Nanking. Okay, yes, I now live in Fresno, but at one time I lived close to San Francisco and so like many locals I avoided the heavy tourist attractions (and didn't care to think of them). But that's off subject.
I was first introduced to House of Nanking by a friend who lived in Berkeley. He swore this was the best food he had ever tasted and had no problem making the pilgrimage across the congested Oakland/Bay bridge for some 'din 'din at this restaurant. One night he took me there and since then I've been back on four different occasions, each time loving the experience.
House of Nanking is located at 919 Kearny Street (near Jackson St.) about a 10 minute walk from the Montgomery BART stop. Like most things in San Francisco, the restaurant is small with little outside decor besides a sign. If you are not paying attention you can easily walk right past it. Normally there is a wait. So seeing people standing outside it is a beacon that you are getting close to it. The longest I have ever waited was about thirty minutes which isn't bad unless it's winter since S.F. is normally foggy, misty, breezy, and cold all at the same time.
Once you get inside the experience is unlike anything I have seen before or since. Situated in the center of the restaurant is the main cooking kitchen. Small cheap no fancy tables line the walls on either side with four chairs crammed together. Upon request you can have the tables merged together to make room for a bigger group but a lot of time they are so busy that your better off just splitting up and eating separately.
After a bit, a waitress comes to get your drink orders. Now, House of Nanking has this little thing that the waitresses and especially the owner himself just brings you whatever they feel like and catching him or a waitress to get it corrected can be difficult. I once ordered a Heineken, and instead got Chinese beer. My friend ordered a Bud Light and got Chinese beer. Although they list other beers on the menu, I think they will only bring you Chinese beer.
The menu is full of several delicious items that are served family style. My favorite has been the Mongolian beef and House of Nanking is the only place I know of that cooks sweet potatoes in a way that I actually find appetizing. The prices are modest, about $6 to $7 a plate, and they are large servings enough for four people to get stuffed on especially if you order a couple of dishes together. Anything on the menu that starts with "Nanking" is especially good. Plus the soup comes hot and the tea of free. Similar to the beer issue - sometimes you may not get exactly the food you ordered. Once we ordered a chicken dish, a rice dish, and we tried to order something else but the owner wouldn't let us. All he said was "too much starch! too much starch!". So instead of fighting with him we left him in our hands for he recommended a perfect dish that would balance out what we had already ordered and would, I guess, have less starch. Frequently the owner does this to his guests. He either recommends something to go along with what you ordered, or he just brings it out weather you like it or not. Honestly, this could peeve someone off a lot - but we rather enjoyed the fact that he was looking out for us and his actions made the dining experience even more enjoyable.
Once dinner was complete, the bill comes so fast you get the impression they are trying to kick you out. They are! Being a small place they need you to eat and then get out so that someone who has been waiting outside can come in. House of Nanking is not a place to sit at the table and read a book, work on a manuscript, or chat about your recent relationships. Dinner lasts about 20 minutes or less from the time you sit down, order, eat, and pay the bill. And again, we didn't care. In fact we respected it. We were once those poor souls standing out in the cold so we respected them and got out so they can get in out of the cold.
Everytime I go to San Francisco and I'm in the area and feeling hungry, I will stop by House of Nanking. One of the hardest things to find here in Fresno are small eateries with personality and great food. Everything is chain or fast food. I highly recommend to anyone if you are in S.F. and in that general area to stop on by and try the food and relax if they push you around in what you order and how fast they want you to get out. Honestly, you'll love it.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Anything that starts with "Nanking". Sweet potatoes are good, Mongolian beef. Great soup.
Best Suited For: Friends
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Epinions.com ID:
lynus
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 - Top 200 |
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Location: Las Vegas, NV
Reviews written: 584
Trusted by: 169 members
About Me:
Slowly trying to get back to the thick of things.
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