Where's the best Chinese food in SF?

I'm often asked, "Where do you like to eat in San Francisco Chinatown?" The answer is, I generally don't chow down in C-town. Though fine for finding groceries and some speciality items such as fish bladder, bird's nest, and the like, Chinatown presents a restaurant scene that is largely geared towards tourists, and gems are few and far between. In my experience, foodies seeking Chinese fare congregate on Clement Street in the Inner Richmond. Though it's still hit and miss, the average quality is much higher, and there are some excellent places (anybody care to divulge a favorite spot?). And no tourists, only locals. Simply by walking around Clement Street, you can discover many good places to satisfy your Chinese food cravings.

One spot I like is the cramped hole in the wall known as Spices II (one case where the sequel is actually better than the original, unless you are a big fan of stinky tofu). Spices II specializes in Taiwanese-style Sichuan food that will set your mouth on fire. If you like it hot, order anything with 3 chilis next to it on the menu, or with the word "numbing" in the name of the dish (translated from Mandarin ma la). The food is solid, if not spectacular, and inexpensive.

This short film (under 4 minutes) covers the Clement Street eating experience pretty well (courtesy of TurnHere).

Spices II
291 6th Ave
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 752-8885

Comments

[Chris Yeh]

Everyone knows the best Chinese food is in LA or Vancouver!

[Steve Winkler]

I'll add Jasmine Tea House (http://www.jasmineteahouse.com/) as a place worth checking out for delicious and inexpensive chinese delivery.

[Gus Tai]

I'm not a big fan of authentic Taiwanese cuisine. I do like Ton Kiang (http://www.tonkiang.net) for its Hakka dishes.

[Howard Ting]

TC: it's all about Jai Yun, baby--the dishes may be repetitive, but it's still the best, especially in SF Chinatown. Definitely an honorable mention in my book for Hunan Home's on Jackson Street.