Last weekend, we went to Empress by Boon for a special occasion meal—our 31st anniversary. It’s located on the 6th floor of a building in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown. The ambiance is very special. Big windows offer expansive views of the city and Coit Tower, creating a soothing and relaxing atmosphere. In terms of both food and atmosphere, it reminded us of an upscale meal we had years ago in Hong Kong. It’s fancy but not stuffy, and the staff are incredibly warm and welcoming.
Here’s what we ate:
- Braised Dungeness Crab with Caviar – A perfect start to the meal. The caviar added a subtle brininess that elevated the sweetness of the crab.
- Braised Pork Belly Puff and Prawn Puff – Like tacos with a crunchy nori shell. Both were excellent.
- Squid and Fish Dumplings – Shaped like squid and fish with an amazing presentation. The dumplings were served in a mildly spicy, rich broth— delicious.
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Stir-Fried Quail with Pancake – Excellent.
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Grilled Black Cod – Very good.
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Wok-Fried Celery, Bell Pepper, Chicken, and Coriander – I thought this was good, but it was the weakest dish overall.
- Thick Noodles with Lobster – Excellent.
- Mongolian-Style Pan-Fried Wagyu Beef with Crispy Taro – Outstanding. The beef was buttery soft and packed with flavor.
