San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest in North America, a dense, rich Chinese community since the 1850s. In these charming, narrow streets, legendary Empress of China began restoration in 2019 and after a long wait and pandemic delays, opened June 2021 as Empress by Boon, a gorgeous Atelier LLYS-designed, 7,500-square-foot space with killer views over Chinatown, North Beach, Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill and the Bay… Read more →
I’ve said it since opening in 2017 and I’ll say it again: there’s no equal to Eight Tables in the country. This upscale-modern Chinese restaurant hidden upstairs inside China Live houses merely eight tables so spaced out, it was meant for a post-pandemic world… Read more →
Published December 31, 2021, in my The Bold Italic column and weekly restaurant reviews: These five notable newcomers cover the gamut, from fine dining pop-ups to Peninsula food halls housing Michelin-starred chefs:
My latest article for The Bold Italic, published August 13, 2021 (my regular Bold Italic articles here), covers six neighborhood restaurants — from fine dining Chinese splurge to vegan sushi destination — worth feasting at and supporting now.
In addition to my regular dining column in Bob Cut magazine (details and my philosophy here; last month’s column here)… In late 2020, my article, The Taste of Home: Sichuan on the Table, was published in print, with PDF below. RUYI Gastronomy dinner from my travels in Chengdu, China, studying Sichuan cuisine — here, a peppercorn and ingredients display; more on my China travels below:… Read more →
During pandemic, our beloved dining and drink communities continue to struggle to survive, so my dining column includes takeout/delivery and outdoor dining standouts, alongside our increasing indoor dining as we move from red to orange tiers. I have vetted, visited and/or ordered directly from each place and all working hard adhering safety guidelines: Read more →
During pandemic, our beloved dining and drink communities continue to struggle to hang on, so my dining column includes takeout/delivery and outdoor dining standouts. Here are the best of this month (great to try anytime): Read more →
My latest article for The Bold Italic, published October 14, 2020, covers 10 of SF’s best brunch/breakfast spots, all comforting us in pandemic:
My latest article for The Bold Italic, published September 4, 2020 (my regular Bold Italic articles here): https://thebolditalic.com/support-chinatown-restaurants-with-these-outdoor-dining-spots-e0ee6566a82 China Live Washington Bakery Mister Jiu’s/Jiu’s Ho Ho Spicy King Dim Sum Corner Read more →
My Bob Cut Magazine dive into Sichuan/Szechuan cuisine in San Francisco here — all in takeout/delivery mode during pandemic — after my November 2019 travels through Chengdu, China, home of Sichuan cuisine