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What happens when I have to cross the Bay Bridge during the evening commute AND have multiple appointments? Early evening appointment in Oakland then later appointment in Fairfield? Solution: Ride the motorcycle!
Why? Well, for one thing, you can use Carpool Lanes. That makes a big difference when you’re trying to get onto the bridge. Of course, if you use a carpool ramp, like the Sterling Street Onramp, it’s ALL carpool and it’s all good, except for the short merge. Another reason is that it was a nice day and that’s always a good excuse for a ride.
Meetings ran late, as they usually do. I wound up having dinner at the Fairfield In & Out at 2200, followed by a hair raising ride back to SF on I-80. I like riding distance on two-lane roads but riding at warp 8 on an Interstate, where any bozo can pretend to play Gran Turismo in a real car by mashing the gas pedal and not thinking, is something I’d rather choose not to do…
But I did make it home at the end, so I can chalk this up to experience. Check.
Won Ton King
Actually, that sounds like a Stephen Chow movie. Like God of Cooking. But unlike his movies, Won Ton King is a serious thing…
Serious Wontonmein. Seriously good…
San Francisco, which is still lacking good quality ramen, also lacks good proper Hong Kong style wontonmein. Well, it did until King Won Ton opened in the Sunset. When you first walk into the restaurant, you see a photo of a bamboo pole and noodle dough. They say that they make their noodles by using the pole, much like the celebrated shops in Hong Kong and Macau. The noodles come out springy and delicious. Besides the noodles, the rest of the restaurant also reminds one of Hong Kong. The entire place is fluorescent lit, the menu is on colored copy paper and the service is brusque and curt.
In other words, just like Hong Kong!! YAY!
The one area that’s hit or miss is the wontons. On my first visit, the wontons were almost good enough for me to reduce my HKG trips to annual instead of biannual. The prawns tasted fresh. My second trip, the wontons weren’t quite as tasty (frozen?) but the beef stew was very good. It practically fell apart when it was lifted from the bowl with chopsticks.
Mmmm…beef stew. With mein. And wontons!
So, what’s the verdict? Is it the best in San Francisco? I think so. What to order? Anything that has the mein in it. But i’d go for any of the wontonmein variants. Order some Gai Lon and get some dong ling cha. Try to imagine being in Central just getting off of work. The illusion almost works until you receive your bill, which may as well be in Central because for what you’re eating, it’s expensive. It’s a cheap meal here in SFO but it costs a lot more than it does in Central…
Guess I’ll be still be traveling biannually to HKG, but Won Ton King will make the months I’m stuck here bearable. Like right now.
Won Ton King
1936 Irving Street (between 20th & 21st Aves)
San Francisco CA 94122
+14156829813
Back to Beijing (soon)
When I made my trip to the home village back in February, I was mugged by the authorities for US$135 for a multiple entry visa. At the time, it was either get a single entry or a multiple entry visa. They no longer sold the double entry visa.
A couple of months ago they stopped selling the multiple entry visa. “Smart thing” to do right before the Olympics. Hopefully for everyone who has to work over there, that restriction will be lifted when the games end.
I’m looking forward to a trip back to BJ for several reasons. I’ve a friend I’ve not seen in a while. Would be fun for a visit. In November (!). I’ve been hankering for really good Peking Duck. And the BJ Capital Airport FINALLY has an express train into town.
Nice. If it keeps regular hours, i won’t have to deal with taxi drivers and traffic anymore!