China Live

Rating
10/10

Wait
Reserve

Value
$13 per dish

Where
SF

Sesame Soft Serve, Mango Shaved Ice
I’m not sure why China Live removed it from the menu, but they need to bring it back. It’s a delicious, beautiful, and refreshing dessert. The shaved ice is, “Taiwanese ice,” which is an infused mango ice that’s shaved into thin layers giving it a velvety texture. The ice is layered on top of the delicious sesame soft serve and tapioca balls that burst in your mouth. They really need to bring this dish back.

Siu Yuk
The pork skin has a nice crunch and the meat is juicy and tender. The pork is cut into bite size cubes which makes the dish consumed even quicker.

Sichuan Blistered Green & Yellow Wax Beans
The beans have a nice bite and are cooked well, but overall the sauce is a bit sweet for my taste. Overall, it’s a good dish but not as rememberable as the others.

Sheng Jian Bao
A must order. The skin isn’t thick on the Bao, so it doesn’t feel like you’re biting into a loaf bread. The bottom is pan-fried to create a nice crisp crust to give the Bao a bit of structural rigidity for the soup and meat inside. The meat literally melts in your mouth, which then is washed down by the pork soup inside. It’s an amazing dish of porky goodness.

Taiwan “27 Spice’ Braised Beef Noodle Soup
A solid beef noodle soup. I’m not sure I can taste 27 spices, but the broth is delicious with great depth. The beef is tender with a mixture of tendon and regular cuts. The relish garnish on top is a nice light complement to the meaty and savory broth. If there is a bit more spice or a kick I believe it would take this dish to the next level.

Basket of Fried Scallion Bread
Imagine a scallion pancake and “mantou” had a kid – this is what the dish would be. It’s flaky and crunchy like a scallion pancake but fluffy and dense like the mantou. This is a great reinterpretation of two classic Chinese dishes.

Lu Rou Fan Braised Minced Pork Rice Bowl with Egg
A must order. The dish is served with each of the components separated which needs to be mixed together on the plate. The “Lou Rou” is bursting with flavor and the spices are well balanced. A nice compliment to the savory dish, is moments of sour and crunchiness from the pickled relish. I’m a bit disappointed that you have to order the egg separately, however, the egg adds a richness and creamy texture to the whole dish.

China Live is a pioneering destination for the Asian community – imagine the Asian version of Eataly. It brings a mixture of a restaurant, a cocktail bar, a tea stop, and a retail store that supports Chinese designers. China Live concept is to foster an environment that elevates Chinese culture and food to the same level of perception of that of Western cuisine. Why is it acceptable that French and Italian food can be expensive but not Chinese food? What better place to do that in the heart of China Town.

China Live takes traditional street Chinese/Taiwanese dishes and modernizes them into interesting but familiar flavors. Each dish has the right amount of experimentation with a strong foundation of simply being delicious. The dishes on the menu are readily accessible for everyone with a few that could be considered “acquired taste.”

Much like their food, China Live’s interior is modern and hip but with touches of traditional elements. It’s balanced mixture of concrete ceilings stamped with Mandarin characters, contrasted by porcelain cladded walls, copper counter tops, and designer wooden furniture. It’s definitely a much different restaurant than their surrounding neighbors.

I admire China Live in their mission to not just create a restaurant but a destination. A destination that challenges the antiquated Western perception of Chinese culture – where Chinese food has to be cheap or the Chinese restaurant has to be raggedy. As China Live continues to expand, I hope they are able to also bring their community with them.

Website – https://chinalivesf.com

Taiwan Bento

Rating
8.5/10

Wait
5 Minutes

Value
$11 per dish

Where
SF

Beef Noodle Soup
For me the broth is the most important part of the Beef Noodle Soup. Taiwan Bento’s broth has depth and a rich flavor with a note of sweetness from the relish. The noodles are medium thickness and cooked to the perfect “QQ” consistency. To nitpick, it would be awesome if some pieces of beef tendon could be thrown into the mix.

Braised Pork Bento
A must order if you love pork belly. The pork belly consistency is perfect, the flavors are complex with savory mixed with a touch of sweetness, and the portions are quite generous. A nice addition to the braised pork is the cilantro garnish, which makes the overall dish feel a bit light and refreshing. The only random thing about the bento box is the edamame, not to sure why it’s added.

When someone mentions a Taiwanese restaurant, you can count on me being there ASAP. We quickly headed over to the East Bay, and to our excitement Taiwan Bento serves up classic Taiwanese dishes. The menu has a good mixture of street market food like the Taiwanese Sausage, traditional dishes like Beef Noodle Soup, and the all to known Taiwanese soft drink Apple Sidra.

What is quite noticeable about Taiwan Bento is how quick the service is. We probably received our order of Braised Pork Bento and Beef Noodle Soup within 5 minutes of ordering. Although we came on a weekend, I can imagine during a lunch rush hour the fast service can be a godsend. Don’t let the “quick service” deter you because the food is delicious. It hits all the right spots with flavor, generous portions, and affordable prices.

Although the food is amazing, the overall space is a bit lacking. The space is lofted and if you’re sitting on the second floor and look down, you can see gigantic cobwebs between each of the beams. It seems as if they have never cleaned or dusted the space. Also, the area where the trays and dishes are returned seem to pile up and become a unsightly mess. It’s understandable that Taiwan Bento is a fast-casual take out joint, and also that not everyone has the luxury or budget to create an impressive space. However, simple things like keeping the space clean and managing the trash can have a significant impact on the dining experience.

Overall, Taiwan Bento is a great restaurant with good tasting traditional Taiwanese food. I can’t wait to find another excuse to head back to the East Bay to try the other items on the menu. Hopefully by then, Taiwan Bento spruces up the interior a bit.

Website – http://www.taiwanbento.us

Marafuku Ramen

Rating
7/10

Wait
45 Minutes

Value
$12 per dish

Where
SF

Hakata Tonkotsu
Not a huge fan. The flavor of the broth is not very strong/deep – it tastes a bit watered down. You’re only given two/three thin slices of pork and the pork is not very tender or flavorful. I feel the addition of the bean sprouts and mushrooms did not compliment the ramen very well. However, the thin noodles were cooked well and probably the best part of the dish.

Mentaiko
The sole reason I would come back to Marafuku Ramen is for the Mentaiko. It’s a deceivingly simple dish with lots of flavors. The cod roe is a bit spicy, salty, crunchy from the sesame seeds, and bursting with cod roe goodness. All together, the bowl is extremely light and refreshing.

Having never tried a Hakata style ramen, I was eager to give Marafuku Ramen a try. Tucked away in the corner of the Japantown mall, it’s easy to spot Marafuku Ramen as there is usually a large crowd of people hovering around the entrance. The wait is about 30-45 minutes, however, it’s not so bad as there is a lot of shops around to kill the time.

Marafuku Ramen is a sleek and stylish ramen joint. The space is definitely hip with a grey scale tone which accents the interesting uses of darks woods. There is an interesting O shaped communal bench seating in the center of the restaurant, with back lit glass as the seats. There’s a lot of elements going on in such a small place but it’s never too distracting.

Hakata style is not my preference when it comes ramen. It’s hard to justify the long wait when the ramen just isn’t that good. However, I would come back to Marafuku Ramen just for the Mentaiko.

Website – https://www.marufukuramen.com

Anchor Public Taps

Rating
8.5/10

Wait
No Wait

Value
$7 per pint

Where
SF

Raspberry Mint Stout
Who knew raspberry and stout would work so well together. This experimental beer should become part of Anchor’s standard rotation.

With all the breweries and tap rooms in the Bay Area, it’s hard to distinguish yourself. Anchor Public Taps shares many characteristic that can be found in most tap rooms; it situated in a large industrial warehouse, there is an outdoor patio space, and a curated food truck rotation. At first, it’s hard to find what this O.G brewery has to offer that all these other breweries with less resources can’t. To our surprise, what we discovered is Anchor Public Taps is an “experimental tasting room.”

Anchor Public Taps carries the standard classics that made Anchor reputable like Steam and the California Lager. They also carry exclusive collaboration beers that were made together with other local breweries. But what really sets Anchor Public Taps apart, is they intermittently throughout the day open a small 5 gallon batch of experimental beer for the public to try for free.

I’m not fan of the standard Anchor beer line, but the experimental beer that I did try really made me a fan of Anchor Public Taps. Supposedly, a new experimental beer will be tapped every weekend, and it runs out fast! Not only is the experimental beer amazing, the brewmasters are there serving you and asking for feedback and any questions that you may have. Possibly with enough good feedback, maybe these experimental beers may make it in the standard rotation.

Overall, the space and setup is quite ordinary to most other breweries. However, the concept of the “experimental tasting room,” is what takes Anchor Public Taps to another level and generates a stronger reason to go back.

Website – https://www.anchorbrewing.com/publictaps

Chocolate Chair

Rating
5/10

Wait
5 Minutes

Value
$7 per dish

Where
SF

Dragon Breath
Essentially it’s cereal mixed with liquid nitrogen to get the “dragon breath” effect. The cereal balls have a crunchy texture with a very faint fruit loop taste.

We ended up at Chocolate Chair by chance because as we were walking by, there was a large crowd of people laughing and giggling while taking photos of cold air being blown out of their mouths. It looked intriguing enough that we went out of our way to try whatever those people were having. Even though Chocolate Chair sells other items, everyone seems to only order the iconic “Dragon Breath.” Even their small storefront seems to dedicate over 60% of their space to the production of “Dragon Breathe,”

When you think of “Dragon Breath,” you have to categorize it in the same group of carnival food. The great thing about carnival food is that it’s usually fun, quick, and unexpected. You’re essentially purchasing a novelty, similar too fried twinkes or fried kool-aid. Admittedly, the “Dragon Breathe” is fun to eat and watch others and yourself blow out a stream of cold air. The “Dragon Breathe” has a texture and constitency similar to Captain Crunch but doesn’t have any real flavor – it’s like eating crunchy cold air.

Dragon Breath is worth at least trying once. It’s fun and you can snap some cool photos and videos. It’s a great thing to order during a break after walking around the Japantown mall or something interesting to do while killing time while you wait in line for a neighboring restaurant. In the end it’s a gimmick, and you shouldn’t expect anymore than that.

Website – https://www.chocolatechair.com

Andytown Coffee

Rating
10/10

Wait
5 Minutes

Value
$5 per dish

Where
SF

Snowy Plover
I was skeptical when I was told that there’s an amazing coffee drink that is a mixture of expresso, simple syrup, homemade whip cream, and sparkling water. I had to go try it myself as my mind couldn’t imagine all these ingredients coming together. I was proven wrong and this cold coffee drink is amazing.

Cheddar Scallion Scone
A must order. The scone is fresh, dense but fluffy, and most importantly cheesy. Its different than “traditional” scones in texture and flavor. The Cheddar Scallion Scone has an interesting balance between sweet and savory flavors.

Andytown has a very cozy living room feeling. There’s tchotchkes all along the walls and potted plants peppered throughout the space. The space is not large, but all the natural light reflecting off the white walls make the space feel larger than it is. Do keep in mind there isn’t much seating so it’s not the most ideal place if you want bring your laptop and work.

Andytown is a great local corner shop and would be a hit in any neighborhood. I highly recommend the Snowy Plover and the fresh pastries.

Website – https://www.andytownsf.com

Hardwater

Rating
8/10

Wait
None

Value
$15 per dish

Where
SF

Spicy Nashville Style
This isn’t the best fried chicken and corn cake, but it is a solid dish. The fried chicken isn’t that crunchy but it does have nice subtle spicy flavor. The corn cake is the definitely the star of this dish.

Bourbon Lift
A must order. Essentially an alcoholic version of a Snow Plover*. Beyond tasting delicious, the presentation of the Bourbon Lift is also very striking. There’s a large layer of foam “lifting” from the rim of a glass, with only a small metal straw sticking through the foam.

Hard Water is one of the cooler places along the Embarcadero. It feels like a place where the hip bougie sailors would go to drink and snack on some upscale home cooking. Beyond the food, the most striking feature is the interior which is a good example of adaptive reuse, the art of repurposing an old space into a new function. There is a good balance between the modern finishes and the various accenting nautical elements. Hard Water feels hip and trendy but not out of context.

Right when you enter, you’ll be confronted by a wall of whiskey. A very large wall as the ceiling are quite high. Your eyes will pan across the sea of whiskey bottles and it’ll eventually settle, dead center, on an amazing horseshoe shaped marble bar. Hanging above the bar, a sizable light pendant has been made by repurposing a mooring buoy. As you scan the rest of the space, you’ll notice that there is only bar type seating. By now the concept is understandable, Hard Water is a place to drink and the U-shaped marble bar is the “fashion catwalk” for the whiskey.

The whiskey list is extensive and exotic. I didn’t try any whiskey but did scan over the list and noticed quite a few good selections. Instead, I ordered cocktails which were delicious. It’s worth noting that there is only a handful of cocktails on the menu.

Hard Water is a great whiskey bar. It breaks away from the old idea of whiskey bars being filled with cigar smoke, dim lighting, and leather chairs. If you’re looking for an unique space that serves stiff drinks and small bites, you can’t go wrong with Hard Water.

Website – https://www.hardwaterbar.com

Son’s Addition

Rating
9/10

Wait
Reserve

Value
$13 per dish

Where
SF

Tuna and Uni Tostada
There’s no better way to describe this dish than it tastes like “California.” It’s amazingly fresh with a touch of sourness from the pickles, served on a light but crunchy tostada.

Bacon and Kim-Chi Deviled Eggs
A solid and decadent deviled egg. My only critique is that there isn’t much of a kim-chi flavor.

Fried Chicken Sandwich
By far one of my favorite fried chicken sandwiches in SF. The chicken is cooked perfectly and the breading is light yet extremely crunchy. I’m not a huge fan of the sourness from the slaw but it does make the overall dish taste fresh and light. I prefer Alta MSP’s sauce/slaw which is a buttermilk flavor.

Son’s Addition is now on my list of “go-to” brunch places. Everything on the menu sounds appetizing and the dishes we ordered tasted amazing. There is an evident core set of flavors throughout the dishes: tanginess, freshness, and lightness; which gives the meal a cohesive feeling.

If you’re a fan of Marlowe than you’ll love Son’s Addition. There are quite of few similarities between Marlowe and Son’s Addition but what sets Son’s Addition apart is the more relaxed atmosphere and the fusion oriented cuisine. Son’s Addition, much like Marlowe, is a small trendy space with seating packed to the brim. The difference with the interior of Son’s Addition is the industrial/NYC look is toned back, in favor of a more minimal and brighter color pallet, making the space feel roomier and brighter.

I am huge fan of Son’s Addition and wouldn’t hesitate to go back. There are definitely many more dishes on the menu that I can’t wait to try. If you’re left with the choice between Marlowe or Son’s Addition, I would say you can’t go wrong with either choice. It’s a win-win.

Website – http://www.sonsaddition.com

Plow

Rating
10/10

Wait
1 Hour

Value
$17 per dish

Where
SF

The Plow
Imagine the best Denny’s Grand Slam you every had and times that by 1,000,000 – that’s how good this dish is. Every component of the dish is amazing in taste and preparation. The crispy potatoes are probably the best potatoes you’ll have in the city. The Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are creamy, fluffy, with a subtle lemon flavor. Hands down all pancakes should be made with ricotta. The homemade pork sausage patties are full of flavor. Lastly, the eggs are cooked perfectly and seasoned well. To put simply, this dish is perfect.

If you love traditional classic breakfast, Plow is the perfect place. Plow isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, what Plow does it takes the classics and makes the best version of it possible. The food is so refined that it’s hard to imagine how Plow could improve upon their dishes. I suppose the price could be a bit lower…

The rustic and refined qualities of the food carries all the way through into the space. Although the interior is small, Plow feels spacious with large operable windows allowing natural light and ventilation to flood the entirety of the space. Plow’s interior is minimal with warm accents of rustic decor, must notably the angled dark wood floor. With only a handful of tables and counter seating, it’s obvious why the wait can reach upwards of an hour.

Admittedly, deciding to dine at Plow boils down to one question, “Am I willing to wait over an hour for brunch?” I must say that I wavered a bit while waiting but after the meal I can confidently say that it’s worth the wait.

Website – https://www.eatatplow.com

Deli Board

Rating
9.5/10

Wait
15 Minutes

Value
$17 per dish

Where
SF

Boca
This is an amazing sandwich. The flavors of all the meat are distinct and flavorful. What I enjoyed most is the way the meat was sliced. It’s sliced paper thin that the meat fold on itself to create a wavy texture which adds another sensation when eating.

Leroy Brown
This sandwich has it all – salty, sweet, tangy, and spicy. As mentioned previously, the meat is sliced in similar manner which adds another dimension. On top of that, the Dutch Crunch roll adds the crunchy texture which is perfect complement to the tender meat.

Pickles
Each of the sandwiches are served with a side of deli style pickles. They are a perfect palate cleanser when all that meat from the sandwich becomes a bit overwhelming.

Deli Board is like the Rolls Royce of sandwiches. Everything from the meat, bread, cheese, and vegetables taste of luxury. You would think with such great tasting ingredients the portions would be small, but, Deli Board packs a mountain of food in-between two slices of bread. I would even say half of the sandwich would be enough for lunch.

If you plan on arriving around lunch time, be aware that Deli Board’s line is consistently out the door. Don’t be surprised waiting in line 10-20 minutes before placing your order. Upon arriving, the most noticeable thing will be, the ever changing menu hanging on the wall. The menu is extensive, however, the wait in line will give you plenty of time to read it over.

The space is small and sparse. There’s not much seating inside and there’s only a couple tables right outside on the sidewalk. If you plan on eating in, be prepared to wait again for seats to open up. I can’t wait for Deli Board to move to a larger space and revamp their interior to be equal to the quality of their sandwiches.

Website – http://www.deliboardsf.com

Neighbor Bakehouse

Rating
9/10

Wait
10 Minutes

Value
$5 per dish

Where
SF

Everything Croissant
Flaky, buttery, but chewy on the inside is how a croissant should be. The Everything Croissant is the epitome of those characteristics plus the addition the everything seasoning on top.

Pistachio Blackberry Twice-Baked
After having this, I’m set on believing that all pastries should be twice-baked. The outer layer is a nice crunchy mixture of pistachios and mashed blackberries. The inside, much like the croissant, is flaky, butter, but chewy inside.

If you plan on heading to Neighbor Bakehouse, be on the lookout for the line snaking out onto the sidewalk. The line length is a bit misleading, as there is only a small ordering area for customers. Also, the line does move quickly as the Neighbor Bakehouse staff is efficient with the orders. Majority of the space is dedicated to their baking operations, therefore Neighbor Bakehouse does not offer any interior seating but has a handful of tables on their patio.

Neighbor Bakehouse is one of those types of places where you leave questioning, “If pastries are supposed to taste like this, what have I been having my whole life?”

Website – https://www.neighborsf.com