Melissa King’s High 5 Chinese language Eateries in San Francisco

Style your manner by means of the Bay Space like High Chef contestant and choose, chef Melissa King, who holds a formidable file for probably the most problem wins within the franchise’s two-decade historical past. Off-screen, King runs a small-scale Chinese language Californian condiment firm referred to as King Sauce, merchandising often-sold-out jars of Mala Chili Oil, Fish Sauce Caramel. X.O. sauce, and extra.

Primarily based in San Francisco, King spends her time cooking for very fortunate eaters throughout the nation at personal and philanthropic occasions, in addition to educating culinary courses in individual and on-line. This September, her first cookbook, Prepare dinner Like a King: Recipes from My California Chinese language Kitchen, will share a private tackle her heritage delicacies infused along with her California tradition from rising up in Los Angeles because the little one of immigrants from Hong Kong.

Get a sneak peek on the cookbook on the 2025 Meals & Wine Traditional in Aspen, the place the chef has a seminar by the identical identify, and tour California Chinese language Kitchens with King’s prime suggestions for Chinese language eateries within the nation’s most multicultural eating metropolis. A number of of those eating places and their signature dishes helped encourage the renditions in King’s cookbook.

Right here’s the place to style a few of her favourite beef noodle soup, crispy dumplings, egg custard with clams, soy sauce noodles, and extra in San Francisco.

Harborview Restaurant & Bar

Begin with Chinese language meals and waterfront views. King’s been a loyalist to this Cantonese restaurant since her dad launched her to the dim sum and barbecue baked pork buns, a must-order on each go to. “The buns have a crunchy sugary crust and are oozing with candy char siu pork,” she says. The scenic views of the Embarcadero waterfront make Harborview very a lot a spot to dim sum (as a verb).

“I prefer to dim sum on the terrace on a sunny day with my pals,” says King. “Their braised brisket with daikon in a transparent broth is likely one of the greatest I’ve had. In addition they have an incredible salt and pepper crab and Chinese language rooster salad with skinny slices of abalone.”

Mini Potstickers

At this small and informal spot for Shanghai and Sichuan-style bites, King is a fan of the namesake mini potstickers which can be pan-fried and filled with pork. “They’re tremendous juicy and crispy on their bottoms,” she says. “I additionally just like the Shanghainese soup dumplings and spicy beef noodle soup.” Only a block away from Golden Gate Park, Mini Potstickers can be an incredible spot to choose up the products for a dumpling picnic.

Dragon Beaux

“It’s standard for dim sum and Cantonese-style dishes,” King says of this up to date Chinese language meals restaurant. Open since 2015, Dragon Beaux has turn into a San Francisco mainstay for rainbow-hued dim sum and sizzling pot, served at comfortable cubicles that simply accommodate a crowd and forthcoming meals comas. King’s go-to order is fried tofu with soy, char siu pork, soy sauce noodles, and lotus-wrapped sticky rice. Reservations are accepted by way of cellphone and Yelp.

R&G Lounge

Open since 1985, R&G Lounge is a traditional Cantonese restaurant in Chinatown. The enterprise hires from the group that it’s proudly rooted in and sources native merchandise when doable. The menu provides over 150 dishes, so begin out with a professional chef’s recs. A fan of the restaurant since she began consuming right here within the early 2000s, King visits for the salt and pepper Dungeness crab, crispy roasted Peking duck, and steamed egg custard with clams.

Golden Gate Bakery

It’s not a restaurant, nevertheless it’s a vacation spot. Purveyors of many Chinese language treats, this bakery is greatest recognized for its egg tarts. “I’ve eaten many types of egg tarts from Hong Kong, Macau, Lisbon, however Golden Gate Bakery’s egg tarts are nonetheless my favourite,” says King. “They arrive out freshly baked, and the crust-to-custard ratio is fairly good. The custard is jiggly, and the crust is buttery and flaky. It’s the proper dan tat [Hong Kong-style egg tart]!”