Seattle Family in San Fran

[nwhophead]

We will be staying near Union Square in a few weeks with 2 kids that are pretty adventurous with food and are looking for some good restaurant ideas for our stay nearby. They love sushi and Asian food and I'm from Hawaii and love exotic stuff. I know, a little vague but any ideas would help. We like to eat early and not big on crowds but don't mind a good dive. I'm also a beer snob so good brew menu always a plus!

[nwhophead]

Thanks everyone, looks like we have a bunch of options now! Sorry if we offended anyone calling your beautiful city "San Fran", I meant no offense and love your city, can't wait to enjoy all it has to offer in cuisine. As for the last Mexican choice, we have better Mexican in our area than I could find in Houston so I'm not seeking out that unless something is really different. Now to just figure out how to hit as many of these as possible without major protests from the wife and kids!
Mahalo!

[c oliver]

Ah, but can you get a "Mission burrito" in SEA?

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/images...

[ML8000]

Or pretty authentic taco joints/trucks...according to actual Mexican people.

I'm not sure what Mexican food is like in Houston but I'd guess it's Tex-Mex which is a regional variation that you tend to either love or hate. Any way, I'm sure there's more options that the OP can fit so he's just slimming.

[bbulkow]

If you pass by a taco truck, consider pulling aside your family and just getting a couple of Al Pastor tacos. Assuming you eat pork, most of the trucks do a wonderful Al Pastor, worth 15 minutes and 200 calories.

[Melanie Wong]

Personally, I find that most of the trucks in San Francisco make terrible al pastor.

[alanbarnes]

Not to hijack the thread, but is there anyplace that makes really good al pastor? Ideally, carved to order from the spit with a pineapple on top...

[Melanie Wong]

If you're headed to the Salinas Valley any time soon . . .
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/688145

[ML8000]

Taqueria Cancun has very good al pastor. No pineapple that I know of but they use vertical roaster...but I think they cut off large portions at at time, not a hand-carve for each taco. I agree that trucks usually don't serve good al pastor. It usually comes with way too sauce or is siting in it.

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Taqueria Cancun
2288 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

[Robert Lauriston]

Taqueria San Jose next to the 24th St. BART station makes the best al pastor I've had outside of Mexico, always carved to order when I've had it. Dunno about the pineapple, that's not something I care about.

[alanbarnes]

Thanks for the recommendation. We'll be in the City in 2 weeks, and are totally there.

[mariacarmen]

And they just finished spiffing that place up - looks very nice and clean.

[alanbarnes]

Much as I love Mexican food in Houston, IMO it's limited compared to what's available elsewhere. You may or may not want to go out of your way for a Mission burrito (if you do, go for it and order the super burrito). But if you make a special trip for Yucatecan food at Poc Chuc or elsewhere, you won't be sorry...

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Poc Chuc
2886 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

[Melanie Wong]

The regional Yucatan cooking found here is becoming as much a local specialty as the Mission burrito. If there's time for a Mexican meal, make it one of our Yucatecan restaurants such as Poc Chuc or Haltun.

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Poc Chuc
2886 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

[grayelf]

If you do make it to Poc Chuc, try the salpicon de res which appeared to have made it to the regular menu as of our last visit in Nov 2010 -- good dish for sharing BTW.

Panuchos and empanadas are also really good here and can be ordered a la carte or as part of the platillo maya.

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Poc Chuc
2886 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

[ML8000]

I'd get some Mexican food if I were from Seattle. Closest "authentic" Mexican food to Union Square is probably Taqueria Cancun at 6th and Market, El Tonayense Taco Truck at Spear and Folsom or Los Compadres Taco Truck at Tehama and 1st St. Worth a lunch. Also might check out the Ferry Building. A 2nd on Yuet Lee for a dive + very good seafood (although in Seattle you get the seafood).

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Taqueria Cancun
1003 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103

[alanbarnes]

Here's a great meta-list compiled by Chowhound's own rworange:

http://www.chow.com/lists/1591

Staying near Union Square, you've got Chinatown just to the north. Bund Shanghai (try the xiao long bao a/k/a soup dumplings) and Yuet Lee (Cantonese) are both viable options, or you could get dim sum at Great Eastern or Gold Mountain.

East of Chinatown is North Beach, SF's "Little Italy." L'Osteria del Forno is one of my favorite restaurants anywhere; Liguria Bakery makes great focaccia (but you have to get there early), and Franchino is a fun family-run place.

Adjacent to the Union Square area to the southwest is the Tenderloin, an area that has, um, resisted gentrification. It's not unsafe, but can be unsavory if you have delicate sensibilities. Others have mentioned Larkin Express Burmese Kitchen, but it bears repeating. There's also Vietnamese (Bodega Bistro for more upscale food,Turtle Tower for pho, Pagolac for beef seven ways, Saigon Sandwich or Wrap Delight for banh mi) and a few blocks where the Indian / Pakistani restaurants are concentrated (try Shalimar, Sultan, or Lahore Karahi). And Lers Ros has some really good Thai food.

And that's just within walking distance of Union Square. SF (or San Francisco, but never "San Fran" or "Frisco") has the Muni, one of the best public transportation systems around; its buses, streetcars, cable cars, and subway put the whole city is at your fingertips.

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Saigon Sandwich Shop
560 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Wrap Delight
426 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Larkin Express Burmese Kitchen
452 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Bodega Bistro
607 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

L'Osteria del Forno
519 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

Liguria Bakery
1700 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133

Pagolac
655 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Turtle Tower Restaurant
631 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

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

Great Eastern Restaurant
649 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94133

Gold Mountain Restaurant
644 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133

Lahore Karahi
612 Ofarrell St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Shalimar
532 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Franchino
347 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

Lers Ros Thai
730 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA

Bund Shanghai
640 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA

[c oliver]

We love Bund Shanghai. Just for orientation purposes, it's just a few storefronts down the hill from Grant. We last had lunch there a couple of months ago. Four of us shared two orders of XLB; also dan dan noodles, and the fried yellow croaker (I might be off on the exact name). It's a very mild white fish. I second Yuet Lee. The specials listed on the wall are good bets.

From Union Square, public transportation is a breeze plus you can walk from there through Chinatown to North Beach and beyond.

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Bund Shanghai
640 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA

[steve h.]

Do you prefer the XLB at Bund Shanghai (never been there) over Yank Sing's version?

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Yank Sing
49 Stevenson St Ste Stlv, San Francisco, CA 94105

Bund Shanghai
640 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA

[c oliver]

I haven't been to Yank Sing in decades (literally) so I can't say. But since Bund Shanghai IS Shanhainese I'd expect it to be better. It's also a very pretty space which many places in Chinatown aren't. Very modern feel. I really do recommend it highly and hope you'll check it out next time you're in SF.

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Yank Sing
49 Stevenson St Ste Stlv, San Francisco, CA 94105

Bund Shanghai
640 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA

[steve h.]

I will.
Deb and I are Yank Sing bigots since we stay a few blocks away. The XLB there is pretty good. Having said that, Bund Shanghai is now on the radar. Thanks.

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Yank Sing
49 Stevenson St Ste Stlv, San Francisco, CA 94105

Bund Shanghai
640 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA

[c oliver]

Here's my post on it:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/5880...

That pork will make you moan :)

[nwhophead]

Great ideas, we all love Szechuan food though the younger one can't take it too spicey. We won't have a car so cable car or BART proximity is a plus. We will be doing the Exploritorium and some of the touristy things so near the kids attractions will definitely be good choices. Appreciate all your suggestions and looking forward to the visit. When I was a kid, long, long ago my mom would take me to Tommy's Joynt, is it still good? I've seen some VERY mixed reviews in other locations.

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Tommy's Joynt
1101 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94109

[mariacarmen]

Z&Y Garden in Chinatown isn't too far from you, and for ME, anyway, was exotic for Chinese, because I'd never had some of the Szechuan specialties until a few years ago. and if your kids aren't into spice, there's no real fear there, the food at Z&Y is not spicy enough.

I second the recommendation on Burmese Kitchen - go for lunch, it's a nicer walk during the day.

here's a somewhat old post about sushi near you... unfortunately, i don't know either place. (I go to Sawaii on Kearny for take-out sushi lunch - which i love.) http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/603277

[Calvinist]

If you are visiting for the first time highly recomend Tadich Grill for the simply prepared seafood and old-style SF aura.

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Tadich Grill
240 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

[Calvinist]

Schmidt's, Suppenküche (German) and Leopold's (Austrian) are casual places with good German beer selections. Monk's Kettle is excellent for Belgian.

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The Monk's Kettle
3141 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

[Robert Lauriston]

Have you tried Leopold's? I don't find any reports. Sounds good.

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Leopold's
2400 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

[Robert Lauriston]

Burmese, Cambodian, Peruvian, Yucatecan, and Sardinian are less-common cuisines we have good examples of here.

Kids aren't allowed in some of the best beer spots. I think Monk's Kettle, La Trappe, and Frjtz are licensed as restaurants rather than bars.

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La Ciccia
291 30th Street, San Francisco, CA 94131

Angkor-Borei Restaurant
3471 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Larkin Express Burmese Kitchen
452 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Mochica
937 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107

Frjtz Valencia
590 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Poc Chuc
2886 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

La Trappe
800 Greenwich St, San Francisco, CA 94133

The Monk's Kettle
3141 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

[c oliver]

We had dinner at La Trappe a couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the food and the vibe. Main level was more "sedate" than downstairs.

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La Trappe
800 Greenwich St, San Francisco, CA 94133

[abstractpoet]

For some less-typical Asian food that's especially good in SF, I'd do at least one Burmese meal (Mandalay is a good one) and get the Vietnamese roast crab at PPQ Dungeness Island. Old Mandarin Islamic is great for Halal/Northern Chinese, and Turtle Tower does an excellent bowl of chicken pho. None of these are particularly close to Union Square (and the first three aren't especially BART accessible, though there are buses and cabs, if you won't have a car), but you're going to have to venture away from that area if you want interesting Asian food.

Otherwise, you'll get more and better responses if you can be more specific and elaborate on what you mean by "exotic," what your price range is, etc.

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Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant
3132 Vicente St, San Francisco, CA 94116

Turtle Tower Restaurant
631 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Mandalay Restaurant
4344 California St, San Francisco, CA 94118

PPQ Dungeness Island
2332 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121