Disastrous Year End for Chinatown Dim Sum -- Gold Mountain closed too.

[soupçon]

There have been two threads about Y. Ben closing, but nobody seems to have noticed that Gold Mountain also gave up the ghost the day after Christmas. That leaves New Asia as the last of the big old-style DS joints in Chinatown.

[bobabear]

Oh this is awful news! I'd been going to Gold Mountain for about 6 years since before I moved to SF. Now my go-to has to be Hong Kong Lounge and the long lines..

[billraymond]

This is pretty sad news regarding Gold Mountain as they were an institution but I will say that in my opinion their food has been sliding over the last year. While I know there is a lot of love (read: oil) in their dim sum, I started to feel like I was drinking from a vat the last two visits.

[K K]

On another note, Uoki K. Sakai Company, longtime supermarket in Japantown SF, has closed as well.

[caviar_and_chitlins]

Sad news! Gold Mountain was my Chinatown dim sum palace of choice on my annual pilgrimage. How do you like New Asia, soupcon?

[soupçon]

Have not been to New Asia in years, maybe decades, since it got so mediocre. It only averages 3 stars on Yelp, do I doubt it's improved much.

[Chandavkl]

Surprising given the volume of banquet business they did. I guess the suburban places are usurping that function, too.

[soupçon]

I guess the Golden Era of Chinatown dim sum palaces is long gone. I recall when Gold Moiuntain, Meriwa, and Canton Tea house would all have long waits. It would be nice if New Asia would hire the best out-of-work dim sum chefs and up its game. It was there (when it was Asia Garden) that I cut my dim sum teeth, in the days when they still totted up the bill by counting the plates.

[Chandavkl]

Don't forget Gold Mountain's predecessor at that location, Ocean City.

[soupçon]

You are right, how could I forget Ocean City! here's Ruth Reichl's first impression of it:

http://goo.gl/Urjb8

"..although there are 1,500 seats, almost none are occupied by people who don't understand Cantonese."

[Chandavkl]

Or how they slinked away in the middle of the night when they closed down.

[Robert Lauriston]

Several reports on Yelp that they lost their lease. Interesting to see what goes in there.

[soupçon]

There is currently a hot rumor among Chinatown merchants that Koi Palace will take over the Gold Mountain space. I can only hope it is true.

[shanghaikid]

sounds a lot like wishful thinking on the merchants's part. very doubtful. doesn't make sound business sense.
IF koi does open, look for more dim sum places in chinatown to go under in the first few years.....(loss of banquet bisness, not dim sum).

[soupçon]

The heart of Chinatown makes more sense than an Indian casino, particularly with the dearth of dim sum palaces there. Also, Willie Ng began his career as a restaurateur in San Francisco with the late, lamented Happy Valley, and may want to make a triumphant return.

[shanghaikid]

the $$$ are in the banquet, red ginger parties, and wedding banquets, this would be why koi would come. dim sum isn't such a moneymaker.

interesting times indeed.

[Chandavkl]

Hope it's a better rumor than the previous ones sweeping the Chinese community about Din Tai Fung opening up in Cupertino or elsewheres in the Bay Area a few years ago.