Where to stop, somewhere between Airport and Hotel Nikko? Anything good!

[sugarcrum]

We are arriving at the airport tomorrow evening, around 7:30 from Atlanta, GA. First time visitors to San Fran. We're hoping to find someplace good to stop on our way to the hotel from the airport. A good bowl of Chinese beef noodle soup would be fantastic, but, we're really open to any type of food! Does not have to be super expensive, just something reasonable ($20-$30 per person). Any recommendations? Thanks!

[Thomas Nash]

Let me try to make this easier for you -- assuming your plane is on time...

After you pick up your car get on 101 SOUTH (away from the city).

Just on the S end of the airport, exit at Millbrae Ave. (You can even avoid 101, by just following the airport road that parallels the expressway all the way past the airport until it hits Millbrae Ave.)

Short distance W to El Camino Real. At that intersection (SW corner, you will have to cross El Camino to enter) is Hong Kong Flower Lounge.

Or, turn right, back to city, on El Camino. There are lots of restaurants discussed on this site in the next mile or two, including Classic Sichuan, The Kitchen, Peninsula Asian Pearl. All are good.

When done, continue on El Camino toward city. You will hit the 380 freeway. Go East and you will immediately get onto 101. Go East to City.

By the way, this is an excellent thing to do. Some of the best Chinese restaurants are in this area. Assuming your plane is not very late ...

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Hong Kong Flower Lounge
51 Millbrae Ave, Millbrae, CA 94030

Classic Sichuan Restaurant
148 El Camino Real, Millbrae, CA 94030

Peninsula Asian Pearl
1671 El Camino Real, Millbrae, CA 94030

The Kitchen
279 El Camino Real, Millbrae, CA 94030

[bbulkow]

I would probably also say Shanghai Dumpling Shop or HKFL in millbrea, if you're comfortable with some light navigation. South SF and Daly City and Oyster Point don't have much. Then, you're in SF, and you might as well drop off at the hotel.

Near the hotel, you are right next to Union Square, so you can search that district. The broad nature of your request ("something good for $20"), and the thousands of restaurants in that area mean it's hard to make a suggestion. If you're willing to do a $5 cab ride, your options expand to an even greater extent. If you'd like a specific recommendation downtown, you're going to have to say more about the kind of experience you're looking for.

[Foodnut8]

FYI Shanghai Dumpling shop opened a new location at
331 Grand Ave.
South San Francisco, CA
650-589-8188

There is a coupon in the throwaway daily Peninsula newspapers..

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Shanghai Dumpling
12172 Saratoga Sunnyvale Rd, Saratoga, CA 95070

[nocharge]

Why on earth would you want to eat on the way from the airport? From SFO, it's about a 15 minute freeway drive to the exit that is the closest to your hotel (the 6th St. exit from I-280) and there is no really compelling reason to get off of the freeway in between. From that exit, it's just about 11 blocks to your hotel, so you might as well go there and check in and then go out and eat. There are tons of options close to your hotel no matter what kind of food you're in the mood for.

[susancinsf]

umm...because by the time they get their luggage and rental car and get out of there it will be 11 p.m. or later their time, perhaps?

actually, assuming the OP is driving (as I also assume, otherwise you probably would want to check into the hotel first in order to drop off the luggage) if you are looking for Asian food there a several compelling options. Little Yangon in Daly City (Burmese) is just a few blocks off of 280, for starters.

Or even closer, in Millbrae, just a very short distance, perhaps a mile or two, from the rental car pickup location are several good options, including Shanghai Dumpling Shop if you want lower end, Hong Kong Flower Lounge for higher end (but probably still in your range if you don't order expensive seafood items). Classic Sichuan is also in that area....any comments on it from others?

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Hong Kong Flower Lounge
51 Millbrae Ave, Millbrae, CA 94030

Shanghai Dumpling Shop
455 Broadway, Millbrae, CA 94030

Classic Sichuan Restaurant
148 El Camino Real, Millbrae, CA 94030

Little Yangon
6318 Mission St, Daly City, CA 94014

[c oliver]

I would be reluctant to send a first time visitor off to find Daly City or Millbrae. All the freeways down in the area of the airport can be very confusing. I agree with nocharge; go straight to the hotel, drop bags and then grab a bite. Gotta get used to that time change as quickly as possible in order to not miss a meal :)

Edit: Unless OP has some compelling reason to rent a car, i.e., Wine Country or such, I'd cancel the car reservation. They can take BART which is SO easy or a shuttle like Super Shuttle. Far less hassle and much, much less money.