If you work or live downtown, you’ve most likely eaten at one of the ubiquitous Lee’s Deli locations. Founded by Lee Quan, a rare born-and-raised SF native, Lee’s has been serving tasty and affordable sandwiches, salads, soups, Asian dishes, and a veritable smorgasbord of other fare since 1983.
At a youthful 70 years of age, you could say that Lee has been in the food service industry nearly all his life, having started out at just 14-years-old in his father’s old-school butcher shop in the Fillmore. When asked what made him get into the business, Lee replies candidly, “To be my own boss. To reap the rewards of my own efforts.”
When and where did you open your first store?
1983 at 343 Kearny Street.
How many locations do you have and is it a family-run operation?
There are currently 12 Lee’s Delis, including one in Menlo Park and one in Davis. The one in Berkeley is now closed. It is definitely a family run business. My wife has worked here and my son and daughter currently run the day-to-day operations. When he was just 9-years-old we’d get a milk crate for my son to stand on and he would run the cash register during school breaks. People loved it.
Do you plan to open more?
There are currently no plans to open any new locations. It would be up to my kids to do that, if it’s going to happen. They’re much more conservative than I was at their age, though. I’m more of a risk taker. There’s definitely an element of risk to opening a restaurant in San Francisco.
Besides your own, of course, what's your hands-down, absolute favorite thing to eat in SF?
Unagi. I love sushi, but especially unagi (eel). I love the oily texture and the flavor. I can’t say that I have a favorite place to eat it, though. I go to several and they’re all good.
What's your perfect night on the town?
We like movies and live music. We’re members of the San Francisco Jazz Center and we enjoy many of the programs at Davies Symphony Hall. We like Asian movies a lot and we’re longtime members of CAAM. We attend their film festival every year.
What's your favorite place to go on a day trip from the city?
Muir Woods is one of my favorite places.
When you need a low-key afternoon, where do you go for down time?
I play tennis at the San Francisco Racquet Club. I work out at the gym too.
Do you have a favorite SF street festival or annual event?
The film festival and the Cherry Blossom Festival, in Japan-town.
What’s your go to place to take out-of-town-visitors?
I take them to Lee’s (laughs)!
Burrito or Burger? Burger
Presidio or Golden Gate Park? Presidio
BiRite or Mitchell's? I don’t eat ice cream.
Bike or MUNI? I don’t do either.
Fort Mason or Dolores Park? Fort Mason
The Independent or the Fillmore? Fillmore
Baker Beach or Ocean Beach? Neither
Three words that describe your life in SF?
Opportunity, diversity and culture.
