Yuet Lee for Sale?

[Xiao Yang]

Old news already, but new to me and doesn't seem to have been noted here. The Eater SF article is at:

http://is.gd/mKa7

[Xiao Yang]

I'm guessing now that the original Craigs List poster may have meant to say "Broadway and Grant" not "Broadway and Stockton" and the restaurant in question is not Yuet Lee but Sun Hong Kong (or "New Sun Hong Kong.") When I went by today New Sun Hong Kong had been stripped of its awning and signage and was being gussied up as if to begin a new life or to be put up for sale. It has two levels. and I can see 120 seats there, but not at Yuet Lee. The name issue may be due to the fact that a (possibly related) restaurant of the same name exists in Berkeley.

[c oliver]

But the photo clearly show Yuet Lee and I've never been downstairs but I know they have one.

[Xiao Yang]

The photo was not from the Craigslist ad. It was added by Eater SF. Interesting too that the ad said two "levels" not two floors. Sun Hong Kong is split-level.

[c oliver]

Aaaahhhh! Keep us posted :) We're hoping to be back in SF in a couple of weeks and I'm wantin' a Yuet Lee fix. BTW, do you have a couple of favorites dishes there?

[Xiao Yang]

I can't say I'm much of a Yuet Lee fan, to tell the truth, but the S&P Squid is a no-brainer.

[c oliver]

And your favorite would be??? Always fishing :)

[Bob Copeland]

As simple as it may seem, I really like the Won Ton Soup at Yuet Lee. The broth is tasty.

[walker]

I've never seen a downstairs at Yuet Lee. The thing they do so much better than any other place I've tried: spicy salt & pepper sparerib -- on the right hand menu and it's not sparerib but thin pork cutlets. I like their (pricey) fresh crab or lobster. Others like the clams in black bean sauce.

[c oliver]

I've not eat downstairs but have heard the staff ask people if they're willing to sit down there when the main level is full. Those ribs sound great. We are hoping to be down to theCity in a few weeks. Maybe we could have a little Yuet Lee feast with you --- and discuss pasta :)

[Eugene Park]

I've sat downstairs at Yuet Lee on a number of occasions (always really late at night after the bars/clubs had their last call). It's a pretty tight space, and definitely much smaller than the downstairs dining area that New Sun Hong Kong opens infrequently.

[walker]

c oliver: a recent post of mine got deleted because I inserted my phone number. I guess my email address is ok to send you.
[e-mail]. Kathy.

[c oliver]

I got the # before it was deleted. Can't come down yet; no petsitter :( Pasta tutorial and meal will have to be postponed. Boo hoo.

[walker]

It'll be fun, whenever it happens. Email me so we have each other's address, ok?

[c oliver]

I will. You're Kathy? I'm Catherine :)

[rworange]

link

-----
Yuet Lee Seafood
1300 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133

[Robert Lauriston]

I think you're right. 120 seats seemed wrong to me.

My favorite dishes at Yuet Lee:

salt and pepper squid
clams in black bean sauce
fresh and dried squids
catfish hot pot

[Eugene Park]

New Sun Hong Kong on Broadway/Columbus has multiple levels, and is not just split-level. They have a decent-sized, subterranean dining area accessible by going down a flight of stairs. It's rarely opened unless they have a big late-night dining crowd, or for the odd large banquet that books there.

[ML8000]

Could be a lot of things. From the listed price, obviously the building isn't included, just the business (and not the name). Might be up for a new lease or they want out of the current one, that sort of stuff. Who knows. A move elsewhere isn't out of the question. Way back when (late 80s) Yuet Lee had a branch in the Mission. It wasn't quite as good but it was good, had the same green paint.

[c oliver]

Too funny --- the green paint :) We don't live in SF anymore so only get to visit occasionally. I hope someone will ask them what's going on and post here.

[tex.s.toast]

I grew up going to the Yuet Lee in the mission. god i miss that salt and pepper squid, the shocking green paint and the atmosphere befitting a morgue.

[Robert Lauriston]

They're not selling the name, so could be they're relocating.

http://sf.eater.com/archives/2009/03/...

[Xiao Yang]

Moving closer to their market, perhaps.

[c oliver]

I only got introduced to Yuet Lee in the last year and I'd be really disappointed if they're closing. They always seem so busy. It doesn't sound so good.

[Xiao Yang]

Maybe not so gloomy. Their clientele had become largely non-Chinese, and they may be following the example of Ton Kiang, which used to be across the street at Stockton and Broadway, or Yank Sing (ditto).

[c oliver]

But I don't go to TK or YS (both too expensive and TK not convenient). And *I'M* non-Chinese :)

[Xiao Yang]

You would have when they were at Broadway and Stockton. TK and YS's prices climbed significantly (astronomically in the case of YS) after they moved. Yuet Lee's prices are already as high as they can get away with in Chinatown.

[c oliver]

Trying to remember. Did YS have both places at some point and the C'town one was "properly" priced?

[Robert Lauriston]

I think they closed the Chinatown location right around the same time they opened the Stevenson location in 1974. The big jump in prices came after they opened the Battery location a few years later.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article...

[Eugene Park]

Ah, memories. The Battery St. location was where I was first introduced to YS.....

[c oliver]

Thanks so much for sharing that story. I moved to SF in '76. What a wonderful history they have.