Paper thin sliced lox

[cyssf]

Daughter-in-law visiting from NYC took an extra train stop to pick up up lox from my favorite place on the Upper East side and deliver it to me here in SF. Reminded me of how good these extremely thinly sliced lox were (they brought bagels as well). Is there any place in SF that sells similar lox? I know I can buy smoked salmon at any number of places but the ability to hand slice it, then layer it on waxed paper to manage the slices without tearing I have not seen anywhere in SF).

[cometraveler]

From my experience, save your money, and get mail order from New York. I'm sure there are more places but my favorites for mail order smoked salmon are Barney Greengrass and Zabars. Nothing I have ever tried around here even comes close. And you can even treat yourself by adding other things not to be found here like smoked sable or sturgeon or, especially from Barney Greengrass, real bagels and bialys. Both these places are extremely reliable.

[Windy]

Two great places for cured salmon, sliced to order are Bi-Rite and Swan Oyster Depot (cash only). Whole Foods is fine but not in the same league.

New World Market on Geary and 21st also has good prices salmon and other smoked fish, as does Europa Express.

[hyperbowler]

As of a few weeks ago, Swan's has smoked salmon and smoked trout (they haven't had whitefish for some time, despite it being on their menu). They don't have unsmoked salt cured salmon (i.e., lox).

New World Market's prices are crazy cheap. Their whole smoked herring are usually less than $2 each. They're too salty to munch on by themselves, but as part of a sandwich, they balance out nicely.

[Windy]

Ah, thanks. I've never tried Swan's trout. Their smoked salmon is quite nice too, but I love the texture of lox.

That reminds me, the other exceptional smoked fish in this area is at La Bedaine in North Berkeley. You would have to slice it yourself. Berkeley Bowl has very decent gravlax, at about half the price of Bi-Rite.

New World has great half-sour pickles and slabs of cheap thickcut bacon. I always get a kick out of exchanging a few words in Russian with the Asian cashiers. Plus they let you taste sausages and cold cuts. What's not to like?

[hungree]

this seems like a great opportunity for an enterprising restauranteur !

[sugartoof]

Maybe House of Bagels.
Wise Sons does special orders on lox, I think.

[stanbee]

won't be paper thin

[sugartoof]

Where? I can say 100% I've seen Wise laying out "paper thin" or equivalent to what you see on the East Coast, on wax paper.

[wally]

Thank you for this. I haven't noticed it there but I have had excellent service there.

[olyolyy]

Whole foods will hand slice it for you.

[hyperbowler]

Does Whole Foods have lox (salt cured only) or smoked salmon/Nova?

[olyolyy]

They usually have one lox and a few different varieties of smoked salmon in the fish department.

[hyperbowler]

Great tip, thanks--- I had no idea!

[olyolyy]

No prob, I would call ahead because it varies. There's also a place in bernal called Paulies Pickling that has good lox and they hand slice it paper thin. They also have good cream cheese.

[sugartoof]

Paulies Pickling is a great idea. It's in that shared space with the piroshkie booth. Best to call ahead about hours and what they have.

[cyssf]

Original poster here. Tried Whole Foods today, they had a half filet of cold smoked salmon that looked intact but actually was presliced. Fishmonger would not separate for me on to waxed paper for easier handling. I have to separate them myself and they are already tearing. Also not as thin as my imported NY ones. Guess I'll have to keep searching!

[olyolyy]

Just curious, what location was this?

[cyssf]

Stanyan St in the Haight.

[hyperbowler]

That's one of the smaller Whole Foods. Olyolyy, at which Whole Foods did you have success?

[olyolyy]

The one in Potrero, it has a pretty good fish department but the selection does vary wildly.