Alright, so I was in San Francisco, right? And you know when that craving hits? Yeah, the dim sum craving. It just pops into your head and won’t leave. I figured, San Francisco, gotta be some decent dim sum here. I wasn’t looking for anything super fancy, just good, solid, traditional stuff. The kind of place where the carts are rolling and it’s a bit noisy.
Getting the Ball Rolling
First thing I did, naturally, was just think about it. Where do you even start? I remembered some folks talking about Chinatown, obviously. But even then, Chinatown’s pretty big, loads of options. I wasn’t about to spend hours scrolling through reviews and all that. I just wanted to get some food, you know?
I did a quick mental sort. I wanted somewhere that felt authentic. Not too touristy, if possible, but hey, it’s SF, so you expect some of that. I basically just decided to head towards the general Chinatown area and see what caught my eye or what I could stumble upon. Sometimes the best finds are like that, unplanned.
The Hunt Begins
So, I made my way over there. Walked around a bit, soaking in the sights and sounds. Lots of places looked promising, some looked a bit too quiet for what I was imagining for a dim sum experience. You want that buzz, that energy. I peeked into a few windows. Saw some busy spots, which is usually a good sign.
Eventually, I spotted this one place. It wasn’t flashy on the outside. Just a door and a modest sign. But I could hear the clatter of dishes and people talking, even from the street. That felt right. So, I decided, “This is it, let’s give it a shot.”
Inside and the Feast
Stepped inside, and yeah, it was exactly what I was hoping for. Bustling, full of families and groups of friends, steam in the air. They got me a table pretty quick, which was nice. No messing about.
Then the carts started rolling by. This is the best part, isn’t it? You just point at what looks good.
Here’s some of what I went for:
- Siu Mai (pork and shrimp dumplings) – gotta have these, a classic. They were good and steamy.
- Har Gow (shrimp dumplings) – those see-through wrappers, packed with shrimp. Thumbs up.
- Char Siu Bao (BBQ pork buns) – fluffy buns, sweet and savory pork inside. Always a winner.
- Lo Mai Gai (sticky rice in lotus leaf) – that earthy smell when you open it up. So satisfying.
- And a couple of other bits and pieces, whatever looked tasty as it passed by. Some fried taro puffs, I think. Crispy.
It wasn’t complicated. Just good, honest food. The tea kept coming, which is important. You just chat, eat, point at more food. Simple.
Wrapping Up
Paid up, and it wasn’t too bad on the wallet either, which is always a bonus. Walked out feeling pretty satisfied. It wasn’t about finding the “best” or the “most famous,” just about scratching that dim sum itch with some decent, straightforward food. And that’s exactly what I got. It was a good little food adventure, just like I wanted. Sometimes, the simple missions are the most rewarding.