alpinelight's Profile
Kombu in SF
Just to second that - Rainbow Grocery carries seaweed from a small producer up in Mendocino who harvests various sorts. Have used their kombu, nori, wakame with good results.
(What could go wrong? They pull it out of the ocean, dry it, and drive down to SF from time to time with a delivery...)
Best Vietnamese Sandwich.....
Exactly. Went there today to refresh my memory. The baguette was great, and the inside of the sandwich was pretty decent - which means that it averaged out to really good.
(But not to the point where my head exploded from the sheer amazingness of it, which is what one might expect from some of the print reviews in the past...)
I mean, I love baguettes in general, and toasting can make a decent baguette seem absolutely fabulous - thin, crispy exterior just starting to flake off in spots, and warm, soft inside... honestly, maybe I didn't want banh mi. Maybe I just wanted a toasted baguette.
Best Vietnamese Sandwich.....
Based on 30 seconds of observation while walking around today, Saigon Sandwich still drawing a big line at lunch time, while Lee's seems to be taking business from Baguette Express.
Which is unfortunate, since I don't think Lee's is as good. My #5 roast pork sandwich today managed to be simultaneously a little greasy and a little dry. Not horrible, and as always good value for the money, but would recommend walking across the way to Baguette Express.
Good Sushi in the Castro...?
Although it's not primarily a sushi spot, you can also try Eiji on Sanchez just south of 16th. Tiny, friendly, home-styled husband-and-wife place that among other things is a good place to try fresh tofu. I really enjoy the place each time I drop in.
If you're really on a sushi mission, drive just over the hill to Hamano (Castro at 24th) which despite all the well-documented issues with service and so on is still a far sight better than any sushi in the Castro.
Genki Ramen - Thumbs Up!
Sounds plausible. Did seem bizarrely creamy for a miso broth, so maybe it's not.
Will ask next time I'm there, if nobody else gets it answered first.
Genki Ramen - Thumbs Up!
Went last night, and thought it was pretty good. Couldn't round up any friends at the last minute, so only got to try the Chashu Ramen.
Pickled vegetable nibbles at the outset were a bit too sweet for my taste.
The broth was a very flavorful miso, and particularly rich/fatty. This is great for the first half of the bowl, and really not so great after that. Personally prefer a cleaner, shoyu-type broth.
Green onion was nice and sharp, with stronger flavor than one usually gets. Good match for the strong broth.
Came with half an egg, looking like perhaps it had been cooked in a soy broth or something. Yolk was still tender, not over-done.
Nothing special about the marinated bamboo shoots. The usual quality - did not eat all of them. Noodles were good, did not have any particular opinion one way or the other on them. Were properly cooked and separated easily in the bowl.
Highlight was the pork itself. Each slice seemed to have been grilled or fried before putting in the soup, so just a bit of color and crispyness to the outside. And lots of tender fat! The first couple slices were fantabulous. But just like with the broth, it got to be just a little too rich by the time I was finishing the bowl.
A cold Asahi did wonders to cut through the heaviness - so overall came out in that happy state when the afterglow of a good meal mixes with the cool SF air on Geary, walking along, humming happily to myself...
Is a worthy place. I'll go back again, but the chashu ramen would probably not be my choice. (Keep in mind, this is from a guy who has been partial to Iroha for countless years, which is usually met with clucks of Chowhound disapproval...)
Shanghai House -- Brief update
Had dinner there a few weeks back. Particularly enjoyed the salt and pepper roasted pig knuckle. (Way too rich for ordinary consumption, but every now and then...)
Agree the doujiang is really nice. (Only wish I could get some along the way to work, along with a stick of youtiao...)
Also think the XLB are pretty solid. More to my taste (based on this one instance) than Shanghai Dumpling King (which tastes oddly sweet to me).
Will try the guotie next time around - always hoping against hope to find a good version somewhere.
Finally, ham and melon soup is good, worth trying.
I Know the Hamburger Thing In SF Has Been Done To Death
I'd have to respectfully differ - in large part because the bun was not up to par last time I tried their burger.
In the best of all possible worlds, a burger would:
1. Have a good, lean, hand-made patty grilled with just a little char on the edges
2. Have a kaiser roll or other top-quality bun
Inkas Restaurant (Peruvian food), SF report w/ pics
Nothing much to add - except that I second the recommendation. Friendly owners, but seem a bit overworked and slightly slow on the service.
Really enjoyed the roast chicken (had some flavoring similar to five-spice chicken), as well as the marinated beef heart. Would certainly go back.
Decor is spartan and the space is a bit... expansive for a restaurant.
