Asian

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1230+Grant+Ave.,+++sf&sll=37.823616,-122.427177&sspn=0.105222,0.212173&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=37.803274,-122.407136&spn=0.012377,0.026522&z=15&iwloc=r2

Since 1994, husband-and-wife team Larry and Angela Tse have been bringing sophisticated, re-interpreted Asian dishes to a neighborhood better known for pasta and pizza. If you’re not paying attention, you may very well pass right by the unassuming brown-gray façade framing the spare interior. But don’t let the minimalist design fool you—the inspired menu and gorgeous plating speak for themselves.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Asian-influenced dishes with American sensibilities charm diners who enjoy the unexpected. Maine crab cakes, for example, are served with pickled ginger rémoulade, and a shrimp tempura salad gets some extra kick from slices of fuji apple. Notable dishes include buttery black cod draped with slices of avocado roll and served on a bed of bok choy, and wasabi house noodles with flatiron steak.</p>

Theatergoers and young professionals drop in to this sleek space for cocktails and small plates at the curvy bar outfitted with a tropical-fish tank. Orange and aqua-upholstered banquettes and nightclub-style tables with elegant bar stools are intimately arranged in the elevated dining area—a good choice for dates or larger groups seeking privacy behind the heavy, dramatic drapery. Eats:What's on your menu.: The eclectic Asian menu features such favorites as garlic naan with apricot-peach chutney and cucumber raita, as well as chicken spring rolls served with butter lettuce wrappers, fresh herbs and sweet chile sauce. The protein-focused entrees feature seasonal vegetables and regionally diverse ingredients, such as a Vietnamese seafood stew with lemongrass and tomatoes, and a roasted half chicken with seasonal veggies like shiitake mushrooms and Chinese longbeans.

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=asia+sf,+sf&sll=38.056742,-122.187195&sspn=0.826134,1.722107&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=37.792965,-122.421341&spn=0.051819,0.107632&z=13&iwloc=A

This SF landmark dishes up Cal-Asian cuisine along with gender-illusionist entertainment, shattering the conventional idea of “dinner and a show.” All attention is set on the crimson bar (which also doubles as a catwalk) when the Ladies of Asia SF strut their diva-fabulousness in between serving and chatting with guests—think bachelorette- and birthday-party revelers.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Entrées tend to be modestly portioned, so sharing a few first courses and main courses from the Ménage à Trois menu is the way to go for parties of six or fewer. The Asia-dilla—a duck quesadilla topped with sun-dried cherry crème fraîche—is a signature dish, and diners rave about the orange lamb and honey-tamarind-glazed “Baby Got Back” ribs. Larger groups can choose from one of three prix-fixe menus.</p>

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Bright yellow walls and purple trim distract from the huge exhaust fans over each table. Take a peek at fellow diners in one of the many mirrors, and you’ll find groups of friends or families scattered about.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>A roaring-hot charcoal grill comes to the table for do-it-yourself barbecuing. Throw on thinly sliced marinated chicken, pork or beef and watch it cook, then roll it up in lettuce leaves filled with little dishes of panchan such as spicy kimchi, crisp daikon or crunchy cucumber.</p>

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Decked out in blond wood, this snug pan-Asian spot is a soothing break from the usual Castro craziness. Slide into one of the roomy chocolate-brown leather booths, and let the cheery, ultra-friendly staff take care of you.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Dishes here are simply prepared and peppered with European influences. A smoky grilled sea bass is served over oyster mushrooms and a balsamic reduction, and tangy ginger-and-soy-glazed ahi tuna comes with creamy polenta. Sake cocktails such as the “Malacca-jito” with mint and soda and a wine list selected by master sommelier David Glancy provide several options to complement your meal.</p>

Restaurant Website: http://www.eotrading.comGoogle Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=E+%26+O+Trading+Company+-+San+Francisco+++,+sf&sll=37.794186,-122.428551&sspn=0.026316,0.053043&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=38.071879,-122.198181&spn=0.838936,1.697388&z=9&iwloc=A

Wood and burlap walls surround a space adorned with birdcages, plantain trees and lantern-style chandeliers. On the main level, a long bamboo bar leads to an open kitchen that stretches across the entire back wall.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">The menu at E&amp;O is like a guidebook to Southeast Asia—there are Indian influences, as in the green onion fry bread with mango raita, Thai-style rock shrimp cakes and spare ribs that get their distinctive flavor from coffee and Chinese hoisin sauce. Under the tutelage of Arnold Eric Wong, formerly of Bacar and EOS, the food here just keeps getting better. Order a main dish, then choose a few vegetables sides to share amongst the table, such as meaty wok-fried Japanese eggplant with soy and sesame oil.</span><!--EndFragment--></p>