Wah Lee 2513 N. Campbell Ave. After my first lunch at Wah Lee, I walked out of the tiny storefront restaurant expecting to see Coit Tower, the TransAmerica building or some other hint that I was in San Francisco's Chinatown. That s how good it is.
Some menu items are more compelling.
The best appetizer is pork shau mai, hand-formed dumplings filled with juicy pork and served with a chile dipping sauce. There are seven soups for consideration, of which the seaweed with bean curd is most satisfying. The two main ingredients float in a mild meat broth with a few carrots thrown in for color. One recent night when we went for dinner, the place had just been cleaned with Pine-Sol, and the smell was overwhelming. Even though it was cold outside, we had to ask the owner to open the door to let in some fresh air.