My Kat Life

As 2017 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on some of the amazing restaurants I’ve been able to visit in San Francisco. There are so many great eateries that I sometimes find myself longing to live in the city so I can explore more of its culinary gems. This was a difficult list to curate, but here are 10 star dishes I’ve eaten at restaurants in San Francisco over the last couple months, in no particular order:

Kohlrabi & Beets – Pläj [smoked ricotta, Sausalito watercress, burgundy truffle, hazelnuts]: I don’t think I’ve dined at a Scandinavian restaurant before dining at Pläj, so the meal was quite the culinary adventure. Chef Roberth is creating delicious dishes inspired by Scandinavian and Californian flavors using fresh, local ingredients. When the dish came out, I thought I was about to bite into a ravioli (they look like little pouches of pasta), but was surprised by the combination of crunch from the kohlrabi and creaminess of the smoked ricotta.

Cream of Clam & Leeks Udon –  Kagawa-Ya Udon [leeks, clams, dashi broth with bacon bits, green onion oil, shredded nori]: the chef learned how to make udon in the Kagawa prefecture of Japan and brought his skills home. The house-made udon takes two days to make! I fell in love with this flavor combination — the saltiness of the bacon cuts through the perfect creaminess of the broth. A must: add an egg!

Salted Egg Yolk Crab – M.Y. China [wok-tossed crab, duck egg yolk, white pepper]: M.Y. China has crab from six regions of China on the menu. While I haven’t tried them all, the salted egg yolk crab (from Dongbei Province) was the star of the two I did try; it was a departure from the usual flavors that you normally see paired with crab, like garlic. Most of the flavor is crusted on the outside of the crab shell, but it’s delicious with the crab meat — a touch of saltiness plus creaminess from the egg yolk.

House Made Spaghetti alla Carbonara – Terzo [with pancetta, onions, garlic, cream, black pepper & pecorino]: I love my carbs and this spaghetti alla carbonara really hit the spot — al dente pasta tossed in a creamy sauce and topped with pieces of pancetta. The cozy ambiance of the restaurant makes it a great spot for date night in Cow Hollow. *Note: Terzo’s menu changes regularly based on availability of ingredients.

Coffee as Art – Latte Sketches by Mel Aquino & latte art at Home SF [mocha latte sketch by Mel Aquino + birthday cake latte at Home SF]: OK, I’m cheating a bit with this one by including two entries, but they’re drinks instead of food. These are two of my favorite places get a dose of cuteness in a cup. I have to be honest, such beautiful art on my coffee makes it really hard for me to take the first sip! 1) Mel is the talent behind the amazing latte sketches you’ve been seeing on Instagram; she has changed locations and is now stationed at David Rio Chai Bar. 2) For beautiful latte art, head over to the Outer Richmond for Home SF’s birthday cake latte that’s full of color. They also have a variety of other coffees and matcha, all with latte art on them. *Note: Home’s Outer Richmond and Outer Sunset locations have different items on their menus!

Old Street Original Jianbing – Tai Chi Jianbing [organic cage free eggs, crunchy wonton, organic roasted sesmae, cumin, organic green onion and cilantro, sweet bean paste, garlic chili sauce, red fermented bean curd]: This was my first time trying this Chinese breakfast food of eggs and other fillings wrapped in a crepe made from wheat and bean flour; I’m hooked! Just one order is quite filling — they have four different options from the original to tuna rousong (dried tuna), BBQ pork, and ham and corn. Just add some sambal for a spicy kick. Check their website for pop-up locations.

Almond Croissant – Les Gourmand: If you’re in SOMA, you have to check out this bakery, owned and operated by a family that relocated from France. Their employees went through weeks of training in French baking methods before the shop opened. The almond croissant was so delicious and flaky — props if you can nab one when they come out fresh from the oven!

BBQ Spicy Pork Belly w/ Cheese – Big Big Pan: The restaurant is a great spot for dining with friends and family. Get their BBQ spicy pork belly with cheese — they place a large pan with the pork belly in the middle and sausage slices, corn, and cheese around the rim. Grab some meat and get some cheese for the perfect bite.

Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich – WesBurger ‘N More [classic buttermilk battered, extra crispy, fried chicken dipped in their house Nashville spice mix for a kick, served with garlic mayo]: I will forego a regular burger for a really good fried chicken sandwich. This one didn’t disappoint — the chicken was tender and juicy with a perfectly crunchy batter that wasn’t too thick or greasy. I could use one now!

Lobster Risotto – Tratto [leeks, fennel, mascarpone and apple-herb salad]: Tratto’s Feast of Seven Fishes this year was spectacular and it was actually my first such experience. The feast of seven fishes is an Italian-American celebration of Christmas Eve with seafood. As a die hard seafood lover, the feast was right up my alley. The creamy risotto was spectacular and the lobster claw meat was the cherry on top! I could have eaten another bowl or two if there weren’t so many courses.

Easy Bay Honorable Mentions:
I haven’t made my way through enough of the East Bay’s eateries for a separate post, but I did want to mention two star dishes:

Fried Chicken & Waffle – Honor Kitchen & Cocktails [bacon stuffed waffles, buttermilk-fried chicken, blueberry chipotle syrup]: I’ll be honest, I’ve had better (fluffier) waffles, but the fried chicken in this dish blew me away. The deliciously crisp fried chicken was juicy and tender inside and the blueberry chipotle syrup added the perfect contrast to the dish with a touch of sweetness.

Khao Mun Gai – Chick’N Rice [poached chicken with chicken rice]: It has been a while since I’ve had a good poached chicken and rice dish. When I lived in LA, my friends and I would make the drive out to the valley for the Chinese version of the dish. Chick’N Rice has landed in downtown Berkeley with KMG, the Thai street food version. It’s a simple, healthy dish. They also have a fried version, braised pork, and tofu. Make sure to add a soy marinated egg!