San Francisco is home to one of the most famous Chinatowns in the world. The area of San Francisco is visited by patrons from all over the world. The reason that so many people visit each year is because of the food. For delicious Chinese food, a visit to Chinatown is a must. Before visiting though, take the time to understand what characteristics make the best Chinatown restaurant in San Francisco.
Authenticity
The first thing that every person should take note of is authenticity. The best Chinatown restaurant San Francisco area will always have a chef that has a very keen understanding of what traditional Chinese food should taste like. Traditional Chinese food is very different from American Chinese food.
Take a step inside the Chinese restaurant first before ever making a reservation. The restaurant should feel like old world China. It should also smell like old world China. Often times the chef will come out to check on the customers too. It is always a good sign if the chef engages with his or her customers.
Another thing that a person should do before making a reservation or before asking to be seated is to look at the actual menu. Look for food that is distinctly Chinese and not just American Chinese. There is a difference in ingredients and some difference in how the food items are prepared.
Knowing if a Restaurant is Good at First Glance
The best way to determine whether a Chinese restaurant is any good or not is to take a look around the restaurant at the current patrons. A good Chinese restaurant will have Chinese people eating at that restaurant of course. In particular, they will have local Chinese people eating at their restaurant. If a Chinese restaurant is filled with Chinese people, then that can definitely be taken as a good sign.
These are the basics when it comes to evaluating a good Chinese restaurant in the San Francisco bay area. For the most part, a decision can be made about whether a Chinese restaurant is any good or not within the first few minutes. It should not take long at all to get a feel about the restaurant.
