I discovered Sam Wo restaurant by accident over 20 years ago. We were tourists on foot and hungry in China Town, wandering the main streets past glittering restaurants with huge, carved doors and massive, gilded lions, declining numerous invitations from tuxedo-clad doormen to taste their characteristically expensive fare. On a whim, I choose to walk down a hill on one of the less traveled streets where the sidewalk was full of crates. By mere chance, I came across an open door. It was simple and old, without ornamentation. I looked in and saw half a dozen cooks quickly moving vegetables, meat and noodles back and forth in woks on a gas stove. There were bits and pieces of vegetables all over the floor and a menu display case on the outside wall next to the door, but nowhere was there any sign indicating it was a restaurant. Moreover, the "menu" in the case consisted of merely a bunch of characters in simplified Chinese script with no English translations; the only indicator of an actual restaurant being the dollar signs and some prices next to each entry on the menu. I entered the kitchen and tried to ask if it was a restaurant, but nobody spoke English. A small, older man grabbed my forearm and enthusiastically directed me to the top floor of the establishment, which was a narrow, dimly lit room with small wooden tables and benches. Rays of light pierced the wooden shutters over the windows at the front of the room, illuminating the considerable dust that floated in the air. Only three other patrons dined in the restaurant that afternoon. We were given menus on which all the food appeared only in Chinese. Since each item was priced at only $1.25 to $1.75, I pointed to three of them, assuming they would be small. The little old lady waitress, who also spoke no English, gesticulated wildly as if to stop me, but I insisted by stabbing each menu item with my finger. Flustered, she gave up. A short time after she served us tea and deep fried noodles, a bell rang and the old lady sent the dumb waiter down to the kitchen again. She brought it up twice with more food than you could imagine and more food than we could consume. The food was outstanding and some of the best authentic Chinese food we'd ever had. As I used to report on the duty log in the Corps, it was "sufficient in both quantity and quality." I have made it a point to return to Sam Wo Restaurant every time I have visited SF since. Of course, over the years they have obtained a sign, put their menu partially in English, and hired some English-speaking employees. The prices of the items have also increased, but the food is great and they are still the best deal in town. If you get a chance, you have to try this place. Highly recommended.
more