Rong's - Chinese/Jiangnan, San Francisco

3420 Balboa St, San Francisco CA 94121

San Francisco CA 94121

(415) 702-9918

Parking: street parking

Hours:  Tues-Sat 11am-2:30pm, 5pm -8:30pm; Sun 11:30am-2:30pm,  4:30pm-8:30pm

https://www.rongssf.com/

Last Visited: June 15, 2022

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 3 stars

Price: $$

Rong's opened during the pandemic, and it would be easy to walk by this place without taking notice of it. The decor is modern, sort of like it used to be a Japanese restaurant maybe because of the wood and the curtains. From the name, you can tell it's likely not owned by a Chinese-American...the food seems to confirm its authenticity.

It's a bit confusing to see their super simple menu offers Cantonese cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, and housemade tea, as in fruit tea and milk tea.  Their menu also mentions 'Tea O'clock.'   The menu also offers a small variety of snacks, like curry fish balls, seasonal fruit in sugar coating, and deep-fried buns with condensed milk.  So is it a snack/tea shop or is it a restaurant?  If you aren't confused yet, you'll see the menu is sorted by protein, carbs, soup, vegetarian dishes, and vegetables with meat - not your typical arrangement.

When we came in at 5pm, there wasn't anyone there.  We ordered a few dishes, but one of the most popular dishes, a house special chicken, wasn't available.  Nevertheless, we proceeded and the server was happy to answer questions we had.

- Dry-Fried French Beans with Minced Pork - Good wok air, slightly spicy, very fresh.  This is a solid dish and if you like a hint of spice, it's perfect. If you want it
more spicy, you can probably ask for it.  A touch of sweetness balances out the flavor. Some of the meat is a bit fatty, but still acceptable.  $15.99

- Homemade Pan-Fried Flat Noodle (20 min) - This was a pleasant surprise.  If you like rice noodles that have been pan fried, the kind where it's cut like a pie and placed on top of meat and vegetables to display the beautiful browning, this might fit your tastes well.  Also, if you like eating sweet rice cakes (Korean or Chinese style), these flat noodles have the same level of chew, without the stickiness/glutinous part.  Rice fun (also known as ho fun) are browned as a cake until the two sides are crispy.  Then, it's cut into strips and the fresh chicken thigh chunks and cauliflower stir fry in a bit of gravy covers the top.  I would recommend trying this dish - it's unique and comes with a lot of cauliflower.  For this price, I'm glad they included a lot of meat.  $18.99

- Vegetable Fried Rice with Salted Meat - This dish was less of a value compared to the others since the quantity was smaller, but the rice is stir fried well and the salted meat is of a decent quality.  Sometimes, you get preserved meat that has off texture, but this was just fine.  Snow cabbage is diced fine and offers a good texture contrast with its slight crunch.  Good.   $15.99

The good: Each dish contains a large amount (or relatively large amount) of fresh vegetables.  The taste of most dishes aren't too heavy - it's reminiscent of home cooking and not overly greasy. There is good wok air in each dish. Also, the server is really nice.  She checks to see if you have allergies (unusual for a Chinese restaurant) and frequently comes to refill your water. 

The bad: You can't use the bathroom here.  Apparently, customers aren't allowed to go to through the kitchen to reach the bathroom, so you need to go to the coffee shop next door.  I don't know how to explain this one.  Order times are long.  There weren't to go orders, and there weren't other tables filled with diners.  We were the only ones there the entire time.  We just had to wait at least 15 minutes for the first dish and even longer for the others, not counting the one where the menu indicated a 20 minute wait.

I'll note that I would go back to Rong's, but only if I were in the neighborhood and not in a hurry to use a restroom.  It's not a destination, but solid, almost like home cooking.

Mom Dumpling - Chinese, San Francisco - CLOSED, replaced with another dumpling shop

31 Cambon Dr, San Francisco CA 94132
(415) 333-1199
Parking: strip mall parking lot

Hours: Daily 11am-8:30pm

order.mealkeyway.com

Last Visited: June 5, 2022

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$$

It's hard to imagine that a little dumpling shop in the Parkmerced strip mall could stand out this much. In the short three months that it has been under this new owner though, they have already started to gain attention despite being fairly discreet.  

The inside looks like it has been remodeled with modern decor mixed with old style art figures painted on the walls. The open kitchen gives you a view into the dumpling making and dough making that will keep you entertained.  

- Braised Beef Brisket Noodle - It looks like a small bowl, and it is, but it's packed with flavor.  This is easily split into two small bowls and each piece of beef brisket is super tender.  A few pieces of shanghai bok choy and green onions cut the mild spice of the broth.  The amount of meat is a good quantity (about 8 pieces) and you will probably be about 60-70% full if you just ate this dish.  It has a good amount of oil that keeps it very hot, but you don't walk away feeling it's too greasy.  Solid. $14.98

- Pork XLB (Xiaolong bao) (6) -  The photo is a bit blurry because of the amount of steam coming from this basket.  What I was most surprised by was how white the dumplings look coming out of the kitchen.  What was even more surprising is how they are on par with Ding Tai Fung.  The skin is thin and the top isn't too thick. Not a single one was broken and each was filled with a good amount of soup.  I would definitely get these again.  $10.98

- Pan Fried Pork Bao (6) - These were unique in shape, but also in texture.  Most times, pan fried bao are more bread-like in texture - bottoms are crispy and the bun is fluffy.  These on the other hand are crispy on the bottom and side, and more like a dumpling in its skin.  The filling is like a soup dumpling - an abundance of soup and meat like an XLB.  It's impressive how crispy the bottoms are which gives it a really good contrast.  It seems a bit pricey, but worth getting at least once. $12.98

- Steamed Cabbage and Pork Dumpling (8) - While most restaurants offer dumplings boiled, and maybe fried, Mom Dumplings actually steam them. The skin was very thin - much thinner than many other dumpling shops.  A couple were broken though, so the juices within had leaked out, but still very tasty; for the ones where the juices stayed in the wrapper, the flavor was great and additional dipping sauces aren't really needed.  $8.98

- House Special Chow Mein - Really good wok hay on these chow mein is what makes this a great dish.  Small shrimp, large slices of chicken breast that have been tenderized, and diced barbecue pork are stir-fried with a variety of vegetables including green onions, carrots, cabbage, chopped snow peas. After finishing the noodles, it is noticeable that there is some oil leftover, but that kept the noodles hot during our entire meal.  $14.98

- Chicken Fried Rice - Since I got this as a takeout item, it's a little flat in the photo, but it had good wok hay and taste.  Of the dishes, this was my least favorite, but certainly passable as everything is diced small and flavor is fine.  $12.98

To sum up, I would say Mom Dumpling offers XLB and dumplings and noodles that are on par with Ding Tai Fung quality and prices, but not equal in service or decor.  In some cases, the value is not as good as DTF, but at the same time, you won't have to wait as long either.  Mom Dumpling is worth giving a try for high quality dumplings.  Another tip is that if you order online, you'll get 10% off your first order. 

Noodle Stop - Chinese, San Francisco

1325 Noriega St, San Francisco CA 94122
(415) 753-6688

Parking: street parking

Soft Opening Hours: Sat-Thurs 10:30am-4:30pm, Closed Fridays

Last Visited: March 6, 2022

Food: 3 stars

Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars

Service: 3 to 4 stars

Price: $$

Noodle Stop opened at the beginning of March.  Since my mother grew up in Hong Kong, wonton noodles is one of those comfort food dishes that draws us - any restaurant with even the slightest bit of potential of giving her that nostalgic feeling of eating her childhood is worth a try.  

It's very easy to walk right past Noodle Stop without even noticing that it's there, but once inside, you'll see that it's bright and newly renovated - modern in style and simple in layout.  You can tell it's not your traditional Chinese restaurant decor.  

On each table is a basket, like you find at pho restaurants, but this one contains a small container of pickled turnip and carrots.  It's sort of strange to have this here, but not have a small plate to place these nibbles; nonetheless, it's a welcome sight to see as these usually pique your appetite with the balance of sweet, savory, sour, and spice.  A few bites though made me feel a bit disappointed that it lacked the balance of sweetness that would have kept you wanting more.  Instead, it's sour and there is a hint of spice, but it stops there.

They have appetizer offerings like crispy wontons, crispy shrimp, calamari, fries, beef cold plate, cucumber salad, and stewed beef brisket.  Noodles come in several varieties: thin egg noodles, flat rice noodle/ho fun, and vermicelli noodles.  You can also get hot or iced milk tea, hot or iced lemon tea, and hot or iced honey lemonade, among typical drinks like soda. 

We went with some classic noodle dishes:

- Hong Kong Style Wonton Noodle Soup - Handmade wontons and house fish broth, topped with yellow chives.  I chose the thin egg noodles, and six rather large wontons arrived in this dish with noodles underneath.  Since I couldn't actually see the noodles (usually, the noodles are placed on top or at least somewhat visibly, but not here), I even asked if this was my order - it could have been wontons in soup, and indeed, it was.  I found the broth to be flavorful and the noodles to be al dente, but these wontons aren't classic in flavor, size, or texture.  The flavor is not foreign, but it's not classic - hard to describe, and when I asked about the ingredients, it sounded typical, but it doesn't taste like what you find in Hong Kong.  As for size, these are large wontons which sounds good, but the amount of pork is so much greater than the amount of shrimp that the texture has also changed.  Overall, just ok for me. $11.50

- Stewed Beef Brisket with Wonton Noodle Soup - The beef brisket is tender and flavorful, but you don't get many pieces.  Fewer wontons here, which makes sense, but at this price, I anticipated getting more.  Had it been a classic bowl of wonton noodles, I would feel the value is better, but the overall, another just ok for me. $15.50

Service is friendly and the staff makes an effort to check on your experience at the end of the meal. If you're seeking a classic Hong Kong style wonton, this doesn't fit the bill, but a few tweaks could get it there.  Prices are higher compared to its competition, but it's hard to tell if that's solely food cost related or if they're positioning themselves in the same space as ramen restaurants.  We'll have to wait and see if things change after their soft opening and settling in a bit more.

Gram Cafe & Pancakes - Japanese

3251 20th Ave, Suite 172
San Francisco CA 94132
(628) 256-6013 
Parking: mall parking lot

Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-8pm, Fri-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-7pm
gramcafeusa.com

Last Visited: December 8, 2021

Food: 2 stars (note I only tried the cool pancake)
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$ 

While Gram is known for its start in Japan and for premium pancakes, especially the hot ones (their signature), note that this review is for cool premium pancakes only.  Gram offers a variety of the Asian version of cafe style food - regular sweet pancakes, savory pancakes, fried snacks, curry bento, rice and spaghetti dishes, and their signature souffle pancakes.   Instead of seeing giant stuffed animals, imagine seeing fluffy stuffed giant pancakes - almost like a pillow you could hug. 

Frankly, I experienced sticker shock when I arrived at Gram.  Those fluffy hot pancakes with 2 or 3 stacked on top of each other and some lovely cream have been showing up on my various social media feeds for a while.  I had every intention of getting a hot premium original souffle pancake (stack of 3), but it's a commitment.  First, it's the 30 minute wait; this dish is offered for dine-in only. Second, the price for this stack of 3 original style pancakes is $17.  I was thinking about whether I really wanted to do this considering I also had 2 mochi donuts awaiting me and how I wanted to spend my time since I had taken this day off from work, so instead, I went for a cool premium pancake.  

- Cool Premium Pancakes - Offered in original, matcha, oreo, salted egg, strawberry, and seasonal flavors, I figured that if it's good cold, it will be even better hot. Pictured here are the original and matcha.  While the pancake is not too sweet and it was delicate and soft, the mixture of the custard and the pancake both being refrigerated (versus one at room temperature or custard that might be like ice cream in coldness) meant that the contrast of temperature was missing.  As you can see here, the matcha, while flavored well, could have been presented better where the seam of the piping bag could have been on the inside of the pancake 'sandwich.'  You can upgrade the flavors by adding salted egg for $2 or sesame for $1. The texture of the filling is on the denser side which means that it holds up, but well, I just wasn't wowed by this experience.  I'm not sure I would go back for the hot ones based on this experience, and I'm unlikely to get the cold ones again.  $5 each or $20 for four

On the plus side, the guy working the front counter was completely patient with me and asked if he could answer any questions since I mentioned that I had never been there before.  He was certainly kind and that was greatly appreciated.  

Lung Fung Bakery, Chinese

1823 Clement St, San Francisco CA 94121
(415) 386-3775

Parking: Street parking

Hours: Tues-Sun 7am-6pm, Closed Mondays

Last Visited: December 21, 2021

Food: 4 star egg tarts

Atmosphere: 2 stars

Service: 3 stars

Price: $

The Bay Area Eats Facebook group had a debate on where the best egg tarts in the Bay Area could be found. Repeatedly, Lung Fung bakery kept coming up in conversation.  So of course, I had to bring my mom to try it because if anyone can spot a good egg tart, it's my mom.  My mom and I once had a conversation about how many egg tarts she has probably eaten in her lifetime and we're talking hundreds. 

- Egg tart - With one bite, my mom was hooked.  She said it's the closest pastry shell to what you can find in Hong Kong and that's no small feat.  We've gone to many bakeries, and even Golden Gate Bakery doesn't meet her standards. With a flaky pastry shell (certainly containing lard), and a delicate egg custard that isn't too sweet, this is definitely a 4 or dare I even mention, a potential 5 star egg tart.  You definitely need to try this.  Prices keep changing.  

We think it was about $2.20

Other items they're well known for are BBQ pork buns, curry pie, and chicken pie, so of course we had to try these out.

- BBQ Pork Buns - These pork buns are quite ample in size and meaty with a gorgeous brown top and fluffy texture.  However, there is a slight tinge of sourness to it (maybe they have a SF starter that leans sour).  If you don't mind this slight aftertaste, you'll enjoy this bun.  $1.80

- Curry Pie - This is often called a curry beef turnover at other shops.  Similar to the flaky crust of the egg tart, this is equally light and flaky.  One bite and shards of flaky goodness fly all over.  This is filled well (sometimes you bite into a half empty turnover at other shops), and there is a good ratio of crust to filling.  Not too salty and nice yellow curry flavor - spiced, but not spicy. Beautifully golden brown.  One tip - the salesperson told us that curry pie is often not available until after noon, so don't be surprised if you don't find it in the morning.  I had to go twice in order to try it.  $2.80

- Chicken Pie - Similar to the curry pie, this is another pastry with a flaky crust.  This is also filled well with a good ratio of crust to filling.  It's also seasoned well - no complaints. Beautifully golden brown also and filled with chicken.  $2.80

If it's a major Chinese holiday or getting close to the end of the day, you'll want to call ahead to reserve your egg tarts because they often sell out.  Note that they will give you individual plastic bags if you buy less than six items.  More than or equal to six items will get you a box, otherwise, you need to purchase the box.  Also note that it's cash only.  

Parking is relatively easy.

Falafel's Drive In - Middle Eastern, San Jose

2301 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose CA 95128

(408) 294-7886

Parking: small parking lot and street parking

http://www.falafelsdrivein.com/

Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-6pm

Last Visited: April 5, 2021

Food: 4 stars

Atmosphere: 4 stars

Service: 4 stars

Price: $ to $$

While I had not intended to come by for a snack since I just had eaten a full meal, since I'm rarely in the South Bay, it was hard to resist coming to this iconic drive in that has been around since 1966.  Initially, the family started with serving typical drive in fare, and then Falafel's eventually introduced their family recipes and word spread.  The menu includes falafel sandwiches, gyros, pitas, kababs, and so much more.  

Despite the line, you will find that things move pretty quickly.  You order at the window and after paying, wait to get called.  There are picnic tables available for seating outdoors under a rooftop, or you can take it away.  

- Hummus Plate - I love a good hummus, and theirs is super creamy and you can taste the tahini.  It comes with a sprinkle of paprika, a dash of hot sauce, a couple of fresh tomato wedges, a couple of cucumber slices, and a couple of pickled turnip pieces.  Loved this.  While it comes with pita in a plastic bag,  it's the perfect accompaniment to both the falafel balls and the pita chips.  Small $6.75, Large $8.75

- Falafel Ball - Since I knew that I couldn't manage eating a falafel sandwich, I opted to get some falafel balls a la carte.  Super crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these herb-filled falafel balls are probably one of the best I've ever had. You can't go wrong with these.  40 cents each

- Pita Chips - While this isn't that complicated to make, I really enjoyed these crunchy pita chips (strips of pita that have been fried) with the hummus plate.  These beat out any store bought pre-packaged pita chips by miles and miles.  Seasoned with some zaatar spice, this is perfect for sharing.  It's also extremely reasonable for the amount you get. $3.25

- Koubby - While I probably didn't need any more food, I couldn't resist checking out this koubby.  It's a meatball made typically of ground beef, onions, cracked wheat, and pine nuts.  This was much more filling than I expected and after just a couple of bites, I had to take a pause.  $7

I didn't try it today, but I would love to get a banana milkshake the next time I stop by.  Bring cash if you don't want to pay a service fee (albeit small).  Note that the parking lot is pretty small, so budget time to find parking.  I will definitely come back to try out more of their specialties.  

Little Vietnamese Bistro - San Bruno

422 San Mateo Ave
San Bruno CA 94066

Parking: street parking and parking in rear

Hours: Tues-Sun 11am-9pm, Closed Mondays

Edited: January 7, 2022

Last Visited: November 2021

Food: 3 stars

Sadly, I'm editing this review because after a few additional visits, the quality of the food is not as good as when they first opened.  My most recent order of a combination pho was not hot enough. Although it was steaming upon arrival, it was not actually boiling hot and food got cold quickly.  While understandable that the pandemic has caused some rising costs due to cleaning, a new sign that is nearly illegible at the restaurant entrance now indicates an 18% service charge.  When I asked the waiter about this charge on my bill and what that was about, he mentioned the sign which is hardly noticeable and claimed that it's been there since the start of the pandemic.  However, after checking my bill from August, it was clearly a new charge.  I would have preferred that they would have just owned up to this, but this blatant misinformation was discouraging.  Coupled with the experience with the hainan chicken which really is just plain boiled chicken with lackluster sauces, this experience was disappointing.  

Last Visited: August 8, 2021

Food: 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars

Service: 3 stars

Price: $$

Little Vietnamese Bistro opened recently on San Mateo Avenue in San Bruno.  Just when one might have thought that opening during a pandemic would be tough, this spot features a few menu offerings that seem fresh and new to the neighborhood and it's a welcome sight to see.  A fellow Bay Area Eats Facebook group member posted their takeout order and approval of their experience.

The first time I visited, I ordered one dish for takeout.  After calling in my order, I was able to quickly pay upon arrival, but still had to wait about ten minutes for the food to come out.  There were only two people front of the house and the place was about half full.  The phone was ringing frequently with more takeout orders and they seemed to struggle a bit with juggling everything which I attributed to their being new.  

- Seven Color Rice Plate - If you want to try a variety of items, the 3 color, 5 color, 6 color, or 7 color rice plates are a great way to go.  In this 7 color plate, there was egg loaf, shredded pork, pork chop, five spice chicken, egg roll, BBQ prawns, BBQ ribs.  While shredded pork is smaller in quantity than the rest, the amount of protein included in this plate is more than generous. Dipping sauce and a few vegetables, cucumber and pickled vegetables, accompany the dish.  There really is a ton of meat.  Even though I split this dish, it seemed like there was always more meat.  I enjoyed the BBQ prawns, pork chop, and egg roll the best.  If you haven't tried a Vietnamese egg loaf, it's like a quiche with mung bean noodles and black fungus.  Everything is super flavorful and each item is distinct (not all the same sauce or marinade for everything).  Fried shallots and green onions top the plate.  The amount of rice is also ample.  This dish could easily be shared by two light eaters.  Very good and great price.  $15.95

Fast forward to a month later and this time, I came for a dine in experience about 15 minutes after opening.  We were promptly seated and after ordering, food came out in a reasonable amount of time.  Both dishes arrived together.

- Garlic Noodles with BBQ Pork Chop - Noodles are mixed with minced garlic and sauce and pan fried with sliced onions.  Two large pork chops are grilled and top the noodles.  The pork chops are slightly sweet.  While it's not the loin, the pork is still meaty.  I would guess they're shoulder slabs with a bone on the edge.  There is a decent amount of fat on the chop, but that probably helps keep the meat moist.  Even after the fat has been removed, the portion is generous. Delicious.  $12.95

- Combination of well-done, rare beef, and beef ball noodle soup - Pictured here is a small sized portion.  The bean sprouts were really fresh.  Four wedges of lime were included, and two big sprigs of basil.  The broth was flavorful and there was a good amount of meat.  I also appreciated that the rare beef was still rare upon arrival.  The noodles are a bit wider than some of their competition.  I didn't notice any cilantro on top of the noodle soup, but there was a good amount of sliced red onion and green onions.  Another good sized portion.  I would order this again.  Small $10.95, Large 13.95

Hearty portions and great taste make Little Vietnamese Bistro worth checking out.  They offer a beef pho that has a bull pudendum (I don't know what that tastes like and you can look it up to see what that is) as well as a number of vegan dishes. 

While they had three people working the front of the house today, they still seem to be working out a lot of the kinks.  I noticed that they were pretty patient answering other patrons' questions about the menu.   Drinks come quickly, but they did not check on us after the food arrived, and it took me a while to flag them down to get a box for my leftovers and the check even though the restaurant was only half full again.  Nevertheless, I expect it will be a regular spot on my rotation.