Visit San Francisco: Chinatown

After our delicious meal at Peony Seafood Restaurant in Oakland, we made our way back to San Francisco, ready to dive into one of the city's most iconic neighborhoods: Chinatown. Chinatown is always buzzing with energy, and there’s always something new to discover.

Of course, one of the main reasons we ventured here was to hunt down the legendary Golden Gate Bakery. This bakery is known far and wide for its egg custards—so rich and creamy, they’ve earned a dedicated following. However, Golden Gate Bakery has a bit of a reputation for its unpredictable hours, which led to the creation of a Facebook page called "Is Golden Gate Bakery Open?" People post daily updates to let others know whether the bakery is open or closed. It’s a quirky but beloved part of the San Francisco food scene.

Sadly, when we arrived, the bakery was closed. 😔 But our friend, a local expert, took us to another nearby bakery to try their version of the famous egg custard. While it was tasty, it just didn’t compare to the creamy, flaky perfection at Golden Gate Bakery. Although we didn’t get our Golden Gate Bakery fix this time, Chinatown gave us plenty of new sights and flavors to savor. Here’s what else we discovered as we wandered through the area:

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Visit San Francisco: Peony Seafood Restaurant

After a fantastic morning at the Farmers Market, we met our friends from the Bay Area who drove us across the Oakland Bridge to treat us to lunch at Peony Seafood Restaurant - a hidden gem known for its Cantonese cuisine and DIM SUM! Our friends did all the ordering for us, and included some classic dim sum dishes, as well as some dishes that I have never tried before. Everything we ate was amazing! I wish I had known about this place when I lived in the Bay Area for graduate school. I would have been here every weekend!  

The only thing I didn't like about this experience was the traffic heading back to the city (scroll down to the last pic!). But it was definitely worth it!

 

PEONY SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

388 9th Street (#288)

Oakland, CA 

510-286-8866

Closed Tuesdays

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Visit San Francisco: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

For my 50th birthday, I flew to San Francisco with one of my BFFs for the weekend. San Francisco holds a special place in my heart, which is why I wanted to come here to celebrate this milestone!

Our trip began with a visit to the Farmers Market at the Ferry Building. Located along the scenic waterfront, this market offered an incredible mixture of fresh produce, artisanal goods, and gourmet treats. While we were here, we had to try the chilaquiles from Primavera. It was the perfect start to our adventure in the City!

Stay tuned for more stops on my San Francisco adventure!

 

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Airport Eats: Mustards Grill at SFO

After landing at SFO for a connecting flight, we were famished, and went to the first sit-down restaurant we could find - Mustards Grill, which has a flagship in Napa.

Onion Rings

The Onion Rings were more like onion strings.  I think strings are better on salads or sandwiches, and rings are better for eating as an appetizer.

Mustards Fish & Chips

Beer Battered Rock Cod was served with a generous serving of fries.

Crazy Good Smoked Chicken Wings

The Crazy Good Smoked Chicken Wings were indeed very good, as was made evident when my son devoured them all.

Adult Grilled Cheese Sandwich

I love Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, and this sandwich was full of fontina, red peppers, and a basil aioli.

It paired perfectly with the soup of the day - a Tomato Bisque!

Tomato Bisque

We had two different servers, and they were both very friendly and accommodating.  Although one of our dishes never got submitted with our order, and it ended up being served to the table next to us after they finally worked on our order, we still thought Mustards Grill was a great airport eatery.

The food was great!

Mustards Grill
780 S Airport Blvd

San Francisco, CA 94128

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Visit San Francisco: Liholiho Yacht Club

Liholiho Yacht Club (not an actual “Yacht Club,” but instead named after a group of `ohana and friends that came together fostering the community) has been on my must-try list for some time now.  Although we were staying 90 minutes away (without traffic), my friend insisted we go to Liholiho Yacht Club, because it was on his must-try list too.

We found street parking nearby, and walked a short distance to the restaurant.

We were super lucky to be seated at the `ohana table, with none other than Chef / Owner Ravi and his wife, April, along with two of their friends.

We were spoiled with a feast of dishes inspired by both Chef Ravi’s life on the islands and his family members, many of whom still live in Hawai`i.

All of the food was so good, but my personal faves were the following:

Chips & Dip

I was immediately drawn to the Chips & Dip (since I'm such a snacker).  The furikake chips were fab alone.  With the kim chee dip - creamy with a kick - addicting.  Add some smoked trout roe - that's next level!   

Ukoy

The Ukoy is something I probably could've eaten entirely myself.  Consisting of Romano and yellow wax beans, this Filipino dish is akin to tempura, and was perfectly cooked and seasoned.  

Poppyseed Steam Bun

The Poppyseed Steam Bun is another dish I loved.  The beef tongue was so tender and flavorful, and the house kimchi gave some nice heat. 

Duck Liver Mousse

The Duck Liver Mousse was a pleasant surprise - spread atop banana bread with li hing strawberry and celery - such a great layering of flavors!

Swordfish Katsu

The Swordfish Katsu was as delicious as it looked!  The Thai basil aioli complemented the fish perfectly.  

Fried Game Hen

The Fried Game Hen, served with cashews, broccolini, and a black vinegar honey glaze, reminded me of going to Chinese restaurants with my family on O`ahu.

Fried Rice

The Fried Rice was another taste of home, with house kimchi and house spam, mushrooms, and cured egg yolk. 

Housemade SPAM

Speaking of a "taste of home," nothing says Hawai`i' more than SPAM, rice, and furikake.  So simple, but simply the best!

Other dishes were indulged in included:

Pork Shoulder Chop

Shaved Pig Head

Tuna Poke

Candy Stripe Tomato

Red Butter Lettuce

Local Halibut Sashimi

Rendang Curry

We were way too full for dessert (who wouldn't be after that feast?) - but Chef Ravi insisted we try a couple of signature desserts.  

Baked Hawaii

The Baked Hawaii is of course a take on the popular "Baked Alaska," and this version had a POG sorbet in the center.  So pretty and so delicious!

Mom's Butter Mochi

The texture of the mochi, with a coconut custard center, was amazing.  So reminiscent of childhood! 
 

Our dinner experience at Liholiho Yacht Club was fantastic, and made special not only because we got to dine with Chef Ravi, April, and their friends, but also because of how much connections we made with the food. 

Liholiho Yacht Club
871 Sutter St,

San Francisco, CA 94109

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