Chinese Deli’s are often misunderstood. At first glance, the ducks hanging upside don’t seem very appealing. Looking past the window display, Win’s restaurant serve delicious bbq spare ribs. Tender meat marries perfectly with the tangy sauce. Their poached chicken lacks flavor. I would suggest them to first brine (soak meat in water and salt) over night. For a great side dish, the orange octopus has great chewy texture. For thrill seekers, their duck tongue has great texture, similar to tendon. Stealing the show, the roasted pork features meat with a pungent spice. The skin crackles with one bite. Another good dish to try are the chicken wings in soy sauce, a great snack especially during a great NBA finals game. I have found that different deli’s around the city highlight a certain dish and at Win’s, the spare ribs are a must try.

Restaurant hat.
Chinese deli’s have yet to meet mainstream. If they did, most of them can increase their revenue by 40%. Unfriendly service, language barriers, and a menu that does not cater to foreign customers are just a few reasons why you see deli’s filled mainly with Chinese people. Innovation such as deli owners using a blog or just having a website is far fetched. Many deli owners are immigrants from China and just operating the business is enough for them to handle.

Chinese restaurants that have innovated have reaped financial rewards. Ding Tai Fung, a popular dumpling restaurant in Southern California, has been able to reach a mainstream audience. When I visited Andrew Cherng, the founder of Panda Express, his office in Pasadena was like the size of Costco. His orange chicken has continued to be his “bread and butter” dish. His welcoming flavors has resulted in a fast food empire. This week, I went to the office of Martin Yan “Yan Can Cook” and consulted his staff about how to recruit students for his new culinary school in China. As for Yan, he taught Chinese food to his viewers in a friendly and entertaining way.

Win’s Restaurant
3040 Taraval Street
(between 40th Ave & 41st Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94116
(415) 759-1818