Thinking of S&T Hong Kong Seafood on Noriega

[ShoyuPanda]

I'm heading over to Cheung Hing this weekend for some Roast Duck to go and I'm wondering how S&T Hong Kong Seafood stands up to the other good dim sum joints (Koi Palace, Yank Sing, etc) around the Bay. It's definitely been busy on the other weekends I've been in the area so that's a good sign.

I enjoy all the traditional dim sum items so having good chang fen (stuffed rice roll), shumai, and feng zhua (chicken feet) is definitely a plus. Any offal is also a big plus (I love the goose intestines at Koi). Also any comments on their best/must try items would be great to know.

Thanks for the help!

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S&T Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant
2578 Noriega St, San Francisco, CA 94122

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

Cheung Hing
323 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118

[ShoyuPanda]

Just waddled my way back from S&T HK Seafood. Had a chance to try a decent number of items, which were all at least good with a few greats thrown in. Prices are good for sit-down and definitely less than Yank Sing and a bit less (but noticably so) than Koi Palace.

First off, the shrimp rice roll (xia chang fen) is great here, absolutely top notch. The rice roll is silky and smooth, but holds together without falling apart everywhere. The shrimp itself was fresh, plump & juicy, and just cooked through. You can definitely taste the shrimp.

The beef tripe was one of my favorite items as well, though I know many people might be afraid to try it or dislike offal. Here it is cut into nice bite-size portions and poached until tender. For those who have never had it, tripe is mostly about texture as the flavor is mild and slightly sweet to me. Almost like a type of noodle. This comes with a dipping sauce of soy, oil, green onion, and jalapeno to give the dish flavor.

Chao Zhou dumpling here is one of the better renditions I've had. This one has meat in it for those used to all vegetarian versions of this fella. Water chestnut, peanuts, mushrooms... mmm... all good. Skin is medium-thickness, which is appropriate for this dish and not mushy.

Chicken feet (feng zhua) is solid. Tender and not all bone. Not the best I've had, but I wouldn't worry about ordering it here.

Daikon cake also tasty and good portioned with a nice grill on the outside. A bit dense perhaps, but this is one of the dishes that I've noticed varies time to time at many dim sum places. Definitely gotta try it again.

Chinese broccoli (gailan) is approved as well, generous sizing, but really I don't think I've had it wrong at too many places.

Shrimp dumpling (har gao) is definitely a solid rendition with good skin that doesn't rip when I try to pick it up, but isn't tough and chewy when I get into it. I had two nice chunks of shrimp in each dumpling making it a nice safe choice here.

Though it breaks my heart, I have to say the shumai here is pretty average. Fatty and porky, which I don't mind at all, but a touch heavy. Also the steamed pork bun (cha shao bao) is not my favorite. I can tell they put work and effort into it as the meat is lean, but flavorful. The sauce is rendered well with no fat chunks remaining in it. Also the bun itself has no coarseness to it. Despite all this, the sum of all the parts is a bit pasty and the bun lacks the "fluff" and chew that I find in my favorite versions of this bun. The filling lacks a little something and was a bit saucy in the two buns I ate.

When I head back there sometime, I'd be pretty curious about the porridges as many people had ordered it. Also the many other buns/tarts/pastry type offerings are on my to try list.

@SteveG Popped in a picture of the beef tripe with dipping sauce for ya. The goose intestine at Koi Palace is a very similar preparation with the goose intestine replacing the beef tripe. Also a pic of the shrimp rice roll, probably my overall favorite dish this time.

@Windy Sad I didn't get to try the pumpkin with egg yolk. I'm a big fan of all things egg-y, but I barely managed my way through what I had this time. Next time! 0_o

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Koi Palace Restaurant
365 Gellert Blvd, Daly City, CA 94015

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

[Windy]

Thanks for the report. Lots of new things for me to try. We always go early before the trays come around and order off the menu.

I like the pork buns, but it's hard to find a pork bun I don't like.

[shanghaikid]

haven't been here in a long time but the memories are better here than at a recent outing at their place in san mateo. san mateo has mostly traditional dishes and uses much msg.
noreiga has many unique dim sum items san mateo doesn't have.

[kairo]

Just discovered this place recently. Doesn't seem to be a "destination" place.
I've enjoyed it both times in the last few weeks. Pretty sure I remember seeing a good amount of offal selections, definitely more than most dim sum places i've been to in the city.

The fans on the wall made me feel like i was back in HK. The prices are more on par with Hong Kong Lounge, but as my older neighbor pointed out, without the table clothes.

The fish tanks are cleaner than many seafood restaurants i've been in. The water is flowing strong enough that the fish swim.

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Hong Kong Lounge
5322 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94121

[SteveG]

How do you like the food compared to Hong Kong Lounge? HK Lounge is on my list of places to try, but every time I ask my friends if they want to try a new place or go to one I know is pretty solid, they all vote for the known solid option and I end up back at S&T HK Seafood. Maybe next time I won't give them an option!

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Hong Kong Lounge
5322 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94121

[Windy]

We weren't impressed the one time I went to Hong Kong Lounge (with the same group of regulars I go to S&T). Not bad, but not as good as Mayflower.

If you want to branch out, head further south. Asian Pearl or Tai Wu are both more interesting than Hong Kong Lounge.

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Tai Wu Restaurant
1080 Foster City Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404

Hong Kong Lounge
5322 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94121

[Melanie Wong]

I went to Hong Kong Lounge shortly after you did and liked it even less. But a second visit a few months later was much better. Crazy lines though.

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Hong Kong Lounge
5322 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94121

[Windy]

Strangely, crazy lines first thing in the morning does not make me want to try again. Maybe for dinner.

[ShoyuPanda]

I liked both Tai Wu and Asian Pearl the times I've been there. Both pretty solid choices I think, though I sometimes feel like I don't know the best items to order at Asian Pearl. I remember liking the chicken feet and milk yolk bun (nai wong bao) at Asian Pearl last time I went.

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Tai Wu Restaurant
1080 Foster City Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404

Asian Pearl
3288 Pierce St, Richmond, CA 94804

[Windy]

I love it. Try the pumpkin with egg yolk. Turnip cakes are good.

Haven't ever tried chicken feet there.

It doesn't have the wacky inventions of fancier places. It also costs a fraction of the price.

[SteveG]

It's where I go more often than not in SF for Dim Sum. The chicken feet 2 weekends ago were quite tasty. Shumai are probably a step down from Koi Palace, but I like it. I haven't seen goose intestines, but I'm not sure I would recognize them on a menu--they do have duck tongues. It's probably half the price of Koi palace and a very manageable wait. The quality to price ratio is very good, but it's not the very best dim sum around.

[Melanie Wong]

Does S&T still have the low ball dim sum menu with some items for $1.79 or so?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/312573

[ShoyuPanda]

S&T still had a low ball dim sum section when I went there. The items like the calamari mentioned in http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/312573 were $1.99 instead of $1.79 I think.

[Melanie Wong]

Thanks, I had liked the abalone flavored chicken feet on that menu, a completely different style of prep from the one of the regular menu.