In the past 10 days, I broke my own record. Performing my civic duties, I dined out eight times contributing to our restaurant economy. Here is the list: San Tung/In -N- Out Burgers/Ming Tai/Hong Kong Mayflower Lounge/Gordo’s burritos/Shanghai Dumpling House/Yan Yan.
Today, I feature Hong Kong breakfast which is foreign to most people. Hong Kong breakfast is best described as a turbo charger for a round of hectic day. The British formerly colonized Hong Kong, so hints of British taste have influence the cuisine. This includes buttered toast and milk tea. This past Friday, I dined at a hole in the wall in the foggy Sunset district. Although this won ton house is famous for their noodle and meat ball sized won ton, they also serve value breakfast. I order the breakfast special for only $3.45 available only Monday-Friday. The special includes a choice from their “A” and “B” panel. Note: You will have to know how to read Chinese, this place does not cater to non Chinese population. Also, vegetarians need to stay clear from this place. I had trouble ordering but thankfully I was with someone who can read Chinese.
(partial list)
A Menu
- macaroni noodles in chicken broth
- ramen noodles
- Poridge
B Menu
- daikon cake
- fried Chinese doughnut wrapped in rice noodle
- rice noodle with dried shrimp
Ambiance. Hole in the wall. Waitress with an expressionless face. Think Chinese zombie. She looked so tired as if she woke up at 6a.m. from the rice paddy field. Come here for a taste of Hong Kong breakfast and atmosphere.
Food. For lunch, the won ton noodle soup (~$6) features a few meatball sized won ton and noodles in a broth. For breakfast, I tasted four dishes. Lacking salt and seasoning, the seafood porridge were showered with a few rounds of Chinese fried donuts. With a better savory touch, the preserved egg porridge was a better choice. The rice noodle with dry shrimp was nominal. The fried doughnut wrapped in rice noodle stole the show. Contrasting soft rice noodle, the crispy fried donut. A quick slather of the hoi sin sauce added needed sweet flavor. For better tasting porridge, try Hing Lung Restaurant in Chinatown on Broadway.
(674 Broadway,San Francisco, CA, 94133(415) 398-8838)
Consultant hat. Look around. There are very few Hong Kong breakfast places that have been successful reaching to the Chinese and non Chinese crowd. Margins are very high. Porridge is just mainly rice and water. Although the rice noodles are high in margin, labor cost is high. Very few chefs have mastered rolling rice noodles. It is an art. I enjoy Hong Kong breakfast but wish that their menu was more accessible. Customers who can not read Chinese warp them to a land of “lost in translation.”
P.S.: As you have noted, I take food personally. Food is the culturally language that unites people while politics may divide. Thus, I think that restaurant owners can truly show their ethnic pride and introduce their food to different customers. Financially, it makes no sense for restaurant owners to hoard their great Chinese food to only people in their community. Instead, make things accessible. An English menu would not hurt but only help their business. A great example is Din Tai Fung, one of the best pork dumpling places but they also have given birth to a community of diners that are non Chinese. (Read Ding Tai Fung Post). Thats just great. As a global traveler around the world, food is the closest thing I have to knowing a culture. During my college days at Berkeley, I love it. Berkeley is diverse in culture and the jazz tune was “down to earth.” Visiting Blue Nile, an Ethiopian restaurant, I learned about their food and culture. Behind every restaurant, there is story and an anatomy of culture.
2455 Noriega Street
(between 31st Ave & 32nd Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 681-0430
