b. patisserie milk tea tart: At the corner of Divisadero and California in Lower Pacific Heights (San Francisco) is popular bakery b. patisserie, led by a former pastry chef at fine-dining establishments like Gary Danko and Manresa. The sizable shop feels like a luxury in San Francisco, with only a handful of bakeries able to afford real estate to seat multiple families and smaller parties; the line out of the door, with about a 15 minute wait to the counter, signified they're doing just fine. For Chinese New Year, b.... (read more) 2.5/5.0
desserts pastry sf chinese milktea bpatisserie milk tea tart 2.5
Calbee Hot Garlic Shrimp Crackers: Another unexpected take on this classic Chinese shrimp cracker, this time "hot garlic." Ridged crisps are tossed in a tangy seasoned coating that is unmistakably garlic but not particularly spicy. Somewhat reminiscent of a sweet paprika flavor mixed with MSG. Same delicious savory shrimp flavor. I don't know if I like it more than the original, but I don't regret trying it either. 3.0/5.0
berkeleybowl seafood chinese calbee hot garlic shrimp crackers 3.0
White Rabbit Cream Prune Drops: Most people know White Rabbit from their iconic chewy milk-flavored candies wrapped in rice paper. But when several coworkers from Shanghai visited bearing (candy) gifts, I was surprised to find prune-flavored White Rabbit hard candies. These drops are reminiscent of dried sour and sweet salted plums that are a popular snack in Taiwan. It is probably not a snack universally enjoyed, but those who like salted plums will appreciate its flavor. 3.0/5.0
chinese candy whiterabbit cream prune drops 3.0
Hu Wang Roasted Seaweed Prawn Crackers: From Taiwan, these shrimp crackers are much lighter than the multi-color prawn crackers sometimes served at American-ized restaurants. They taste much better too, with a slightly sweet shrimp flavor dusted with powdered nori, which adds salinity without being overly salty. According to the packaging, "nutrients intact!" Recommended if you can find them... 3.5/5.0
recommended seafood chinese huwang roasted seaweed prawn crackers 3.5
Chun Guang Coconut Candy: A consultation prize after a bad Thai meal, this complimentary milky-white coconut-flavored hard candy has a mellow, creamy taste. More nutty than most coconut treats, sweet but not overpoweringly so. One of the best candies I've had in recent memory. 4.0/5.0
recommended chinese chunguang coconut candy 4.0
Mai's Bakery Banh Tu Quy: An assortment of generously-sized glutinous-rice-flour-based desserts purchased from Saigon Sandwich in the Tenderloin, SF. More gelatinous and firm than typical mochi desserts, it has a consistency somewhere between mochi and jello. All four in this combo pack had a mild mung bean or taro filling, two were coated in shaved coconut, and the black had an herbal jelly flavor. The best was the chestnut-colored mochi with coconut, but all were tasty in their own right. Good value; tastes home... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended mochi chinese vietnamese desserts maisbakery banh tu quy 3.5