There are of course many excellent Chinese restaurants to explore in San Francisco's famed Chinatown. But one of the most interesting oriental eateries is actually in the SOMA (South of Market) district. Fang is sexy chef Kathy Fang’s evolution of her family’s Chinatown restaurant heritage – they’ve owned the venerable House of Nanking for the past 22 years. And as the name with its double entendre implies, it is far from the clichéd Cantonese cuisine one would expect in a major metropolis. 

Fang, who attended Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School Los Angeles, isn’t afraid to experiment with traditional Asian dishes or cooking methods no matter how many hundreds of years of tradition lie behind them. On the other hand she isn’t some dilettante chef embarking on a fusion foray with no regard for what’s sacred. You will recognize many of the dishes and flavors at Fang, but your palette will be pleasantly surprised by the subtle innovations, additions and embellishments. Signature dishes include crispy honey steak, five spice white fish with spinach, and stir fried pumpkin with corn relish. 

The cocktails are equally inventive and concocted to complement the cuisine. The other thing that sets the place apart is Fang herself. Personable, extremely attractive and very dedicated to her calling, she is personally at the restaurant every night greeting, entertaining and ordering for her customers, be they first-timers or seasoned regulars, of which she has many. She is also the author of the popular foodie blog Fangalicious. Fang’s design is sleek and contemporary with a spacious backlit bar, smooth bamboo tables, and stylish spaces for private parties and events. Visit http://fangsf.com/ for more info.