China Live is a new addition to Chinatown, where you can shop, eat, drink and explore Chinese culture & cuisine.
this is above the entrance that leads to the marketplace.
i got to attend the market restaurant media preview for China Live in Chinatown.
[thanks to tablehopper ‘s Marcia Gagliardi x @kavalanUSA x @anchorspirits x @chinaliveSF]
there are communal benches as well as tables. bar seating is also available. the tables and chairs were crafted in China from reclaimed Chinese Elm.
the ceiling has Chinese characters that represent the flavors of China.
these were some of the seasonal menu items that i had the pleasure of tasting.
shen jian bao, chrysanthemum ten ingredient salad, pressed five-spiced bean curd, winter turnip. the bean curd was probably my favorite from this group. the dish was well-seasoned and the green peppercorn flavor really came through.
the crust of the roast pork char siu baked bun added a nice sweet crunch to the soft baked bun.
one of my favorite dishes was the peking duck with kumquat glaze, in traditional sesame pockets. who doesn’t love the crispy, oily skin of a peking duck wrapped in a crispy sesame pocket? the sweetness from the kumquat glaze complemented the saltiness of the skin. the cucumber & green onions brought freshness to each bite.
we also had cocktails made with Kavalan, a Taiwanese Whisky brand.
this was the ‘laughing gas’: Viognier, fresh lime, pineapple, smoked honey & bitters.
and lastly, the dessert was mango shaved ice, similar to the Taiwanese shaved snow but with an added twist of sesame soft serve underneath the fluffy snow with yogurt-flavored popping boba.
currently, the market restaurant opens @ 5pm
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China Live
644 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94133
