OK, where should I take my family for an authentic Chinese dinner in SF or Berkeley after a game? What style/region cuisine is it? What would you order for a Chinese-American family (grandparents, parents, children)?

I'm not of Chinese descent but I want to know what they are eating.

Thanks for your input!

FuzzyWuzzy;842716362 said:

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OK, where should I take my family for an authentic Chinese dinner in SF or Berkeley after a game? What style/region cuisine is it? What would you order for a Chinese-American family (grandparents, parents, children)?

I'm not of Chinese descent but I want to know what they are eating.

Thanks for your input!

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You can try Great China on Bancroft which is new and has a nice interior. But for genuine, authentic Chinese (Cantonese) food with the fish in the aquariums, try Daimo at the Pacific East mall in Richmond but very close to Albany/El Cerrito.

It's not just knowing the right place, but what to order at the right place.

Night game = Sunday morning Dim Sum. Yank Sing if you want to impress them with your wallet. Otherwise there are plenty of tasty places to go in SF and pen, less so in the east bay.

rkt88edmo;842716421 said:

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It's not just knowing the right place, but what to order at the right place.

Night game = Sunday morning Dim Sum. Yank Sing if you want to impress them with your wallet. Otherwise there are plenty of tasty places to go in SF and pen, less so in the east bay.

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OneTopOneChickenApple;842716363 said:

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You can try Great China on Bancroft which is new and has a nice interior. But for genuine, authentic Chinese (Cantonese) food with the fish in the aquariums, try Daimo at the Pacific East mall in Richmond but very close to Albany/El Cerrito.

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Echoing these two, if the game is either an afternoon game or a night game, I would actually suggest going to dim sum before the game. Asian Pearl at Pacific East Mall has rather expensive but higher-quality dim sum if you want to splooge. If not, Oakland Chinatown has many great dim sum options.

packawana;842716422 said:

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Asian Pearl at Pacific East Mall has rather expensive but higher-quality dim sum if you want to splooge

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Um.

Splooge is apparently a dim sum offering

Does anyone remember the name of a Chinese restaurant that was just above People's Park in the early '80s? Really good hot and sour soup. Think a dry cleaner may be in that location now.

FuzzyWuzzy;842716362 said:

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OK, where should I take my family for an authentic Chinese dinner in SF or Berkeley after a game? What style/region cuisine is it? What would you order for a Chinese-American family (grandparents, parents, children)?

I'm not of Chinese descent but I want to know what they are eating.

Thanks for your input!

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Z & Y Restaurant in SF Chinatown if you want authentic Sichuan cuisine. Rated as a Top 100 restaurant in Bay Area by Michael Bauer. Moderately priced too.

BeggarEd;842716436 said:

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Z & Y Restaurant in SF Chinatown if you want authentic Sichuan cuisine. Rated as a Top 100 restaurant in Bay Area by Michael Bauer. Moderately priced too.

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In SF, I'd much rather go to Richmond district than Chinatown for Chinese food.

One of my favorite places in SF is Henry's Hunan, especially the one on Church Street. Friendly staff and great food.

When I want authentic Chinese food I head to Panda Express. :facepalm Seriously. I'm easy to please.
Actually I second the idea to head to the SF Richmond district. Don't have any recommendations but having grown up there I know that there are so many Chinese restaurants there with lines out the door that the food has to be good. It has to be authentic because the bulk of the population in the Richmond is Asian. While crowded the Richmond is less claustrophobic than Chinatown. BTW, Church St. is nowhere near the Richmond district.

OneTopOneChickenApple;842716363 said:

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You can try Great China on Bancroft which is new and has a nice interior. But for genuine, authentic Chinese (Cantonese) food with the fish in the aquariums, try Daimo at the Pacific East mall in Richmond but very close to Albany/El Cerrito.

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I actually prefer Saigon over Daimo in Richmond. If you have a large party, go for their dinner specials ($199 or something to feed 10+).

(I'm Chinese.)

FuzzyWuzzy;842716362 said:

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OK, where should I take my family for an authentic Chinese dinner in SF or Berkeley after a game? What style/region cuisine is it? What would you order for a Chinese-American family (grandparents, parents, children)?

I'm not of Chinese descent but I want to know what they are eating.

Thanks for your input!

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This is a loaded question.

1. Authentic Chinese food doesn't necessarily equal best tasting as this will depend significantly on the palettes of those who are eating. Decide if you don't mind going to excellent tasting and not quite as authentic restaurants, which I think there are several more of. Speaking of my own family and friends, the only ones who really want "authentic" are the oldest generations that weren't born here. Most of the younger folk, even my parents who are in their 60's, can appreciate the "Americanized" Chinese dishes

2. You can trim down your list by selecting style of food. Hot and spicy Sezchuan? Cantonese? Northern Chinese?

3. If you are open to Eastbay and San Francisco, you have a ton of options. If time and location aren't an issue, there are several more restaurants in SF (especially in the Richmond or Sunset districts) that are more appealing to me.

Two SF recommendations:

1. San Tung at 11th and Irving.
2. Tom Kiang at around 21st and Geary.

Yank Sing is covered.

Great China on Bancroft is outstanding (especially the Peking Duck, their crab, and their signature appetizer). Caution: no reservations for parties under 6, and the wait can be over an hour.

For spicy food, try China Village on Solano (Sichuan and Xinjiang food), or Taste of Chengdu on Bancroft and Bowditch (also Sichuan). Best dim sum in the East Bay is now in Alameda.

DangerBear;842716431 said:

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Um.

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Oops, mixed that up with splurge lol. I knew that didn't sound right when I wrote it.

PTBear;842716457 said:

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1. Authentic Chinese food doesn't necessarily equal best tasting as this will depend significantly on the palettes of those who are eating. Decide if you don't mind going to excellent tasting and not quite as authentic restaurants, which I think there are several more of. Speaking of my own family and friends, the only ones who really want "authentic" are the oldest generations that weren't born here. Most of the younger folk, even my parents who are in their 60's, can appreciate the "Americanized" Chinese dishes

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Most Americanized Chinese food just doesn't taste acceptable to me. It's always an overly sweet, goopy mess. Though this has more to do with the standards that non-Chinese will accept (and actually crave) rather than the dishes themselves. I've had well prepared contemporary Chinese cuisine that serve "fusion" and Americanized dishes alongside traditional ones. The thing is you generally can't find good Chinese food outside of Chinese suburban enclaves (I think of the Richmond and the Sunset as suburban despite being in the city).

I second (or third) Great China just west of the campus. Its got "traditional" as well as Americanized favorites, and they are tasty. I always see tons of Chinese international students there, and that is a good sign.

How is House of Nanking?

Great China is legit.

Hong Kong Lounge 2 on Geary has amazing dim sum for lunch. Everything is made fresh to order. They do dinner too but I prefer the dim sum. It's a classy place and there lots of Chinese eat there so you know it's the real deal. The wait can be long but it's worth it.

Ton Kiang on Geary in the Outer Richmond is also good for dim sum, and it's a large place with lots of tables so no wait usually.

San Tung is 5 blocks from my house and is always swarming with Chinese, so it's considered very authentic. People come from all over the Bay Area to eat there. I would say the meat quality isn't very high and the food is quite greasy, but there's always a crowd waiting outside
to get in and chomp on their chicken wings.

R&G lounge, get the crab.

dim sum, hk lounge, or koi palace.

If going to SF by BART you might consider exiting at Powell Street and checking out this place in the Westfield Center (4th floor).

http://www.tastemychina.com/san-francisco/home/275

Also,
>"...China Village on Solano (Sichuan and Xinjiang food)...in Albany..."< +1

http://chinavillagealbany.com/

killa22;842716486 said:

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Great China is legit.

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Anybody: What type of Chinese cuisine is Great China and what are a a bunch of dishes there that folks can recommend? Do they offer take-out?

Like both Yang Sing and Ton Kiang as well as Shanghai Dumpling King, but lament the apparent demise of old school divey dim sum places with dented/dinged up carts.

Second the R&G Lounge, favorite dish there is the claypot chicken.

For dim sum downtown (great if you're BARTing to the game afterwards), City View is good, tucked in the FD on Commercial Lane between Montgomery and Kearny.

More fun atmosphere, classic Chinatwon ambiance at the Far East Cafe on Grant, the booths are great. It's Cantonese, but they do traditional chinese-american dishes like mu shu pork. Food is decent, and for a family it's a fun outing.

My wife and I walk/drive by Hong Kong Lounge II multiple times per week and there is always a line. Must be good. There's always a line at Honk Kong Lounge (I?) down on Geary between 17th and 18th. They must have the food and price nailed.

CaliforniaEternal;842716487 said:

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Hong Kong Lounge 2 on Geary has amazing dim sum for lunch. Everything is made fresh to order. They do dinner too but I prefer the dim sum. It's a classy place and there lots of Chinese eat there so you know it's the real deal. The wait can be long but it's worth it.

Ton Kiang on Geary in the Outer Richmond is also good for dim sum, and it's a large place with lots of tables so no wait usually.

San Tung is 5 blocks from my house and is always swarming with Chinese, so it's considered very authentic. People come from all over the Bay Area to eat there. I would say the meat quality isn't very high and the food is quite greasy, but there's always a crowd waiting outside
to get in and chomp on their chicken wings.

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beeasyed;842716490 said:

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R&G lounge, get the crab.

dim sum, hk lounge, or koi palace.

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R&G Lounge was my go to Chinese for years. Glad to hear that it's still good.

King Yen, College Ave@Webster. Been in business for close to 40 years....must be doing something right.

Cal Junkie;842716464 said:

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Two SF recommendations:

1. San Tung at 11th and Irving.
2. Tom Kiang at around 21st and Geary.

Yank Sing is covered.

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+1. City View in the FD is also covered.

NYCGOBEARS;842716508 said:

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R&G Lounge was my go to Chinese for years. Glad to hear that it's still good.

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Fried crab- didn't waste a lot of money on decor

NYCGOBEARS;842716508 said:

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R&G Lounge was my go to Chinese for years. Glad to hear that it's still good.

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R&G for the salt and pepper fried crab. I believe the only restaurant to serve this dish. East Ocean in Emeryville. Koi Palace in Daly City. My 3 favorites in the Bay Area.

Chicken and rice.

Adding Chili House to the list, especially if you like duck and/or spicy food. This place is freakin' spicy (if you ask for it). The duck is also very good. Most Chinese restaurants serve fatty duck that feels more fatty than actual meat. Chili House serves lean duck in a true Beijing style (thin crepes rather than thick buns) for a more authentic experience.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/chili-house-sf-san-francisco

I always liked the Hang Ah Tea Room, in an alley just off Sacramento and Stockton, SF. Excellent dim sum. Steamed pork buns are incredible. No frills, but that's okay. They've been in business since 1920, and decor looks original. Last time I was there, I swore some of the staff had been there since my first visit in 1970, and hadn't aged a day.

Bears2thDoc;842716523 said:

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King Yen, College Ave@Webster. Been in business for close to 40 years....must be doing something right.

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I was wondering when someone would bring King Yen up. Best (and cleanest) Chinese restaurant in the Berkeley area, in my opinion.

travelingbears;842716594 said:

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The duck is also very good. Most Chinese restaurants serve fatty duck that feels more fatty than actual meat.
l]

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Best Roast Duck C & M Bistro (Oakland's Peony's court). Meaty and the skin is not as fatty as most places. You pay a little more but well worth it! Yummy!