San Franciscos Cosmopolitan-International Resaurants List - from Clara and Clarence Bear children's characters

Clara and Clarence Bear’s Favorite family friendly restaurants · toy stores · groceries · family member spas in San Francisco


| Toy Stores | Restaurants: Chinese Food | Thai Food | Korean Food | Smorgasbords | Grocery Store | Family Massage Spa | About 4th Generation San Francisco Reviewers | see also Medical Clinics |

FAVORITE CHINESE RESTAURANT


Yummy Chinese Restaurant

Where: 10264 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530

What: Funny name, seriously good Chinese food; formerly located in San Francisco—now across the Bay.

When: Open Daily – 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Info: 510-526-5188

Family-owned and run, this little gem of a place offers the very best quality, home-style Chinese cooking. Try the Beef Stew Clay Pot—you’ll be hooked! Prices are in the $6.00 - $9.00 range and worth it.

FAVORITE THAI RESTAURANT

King of Thai Noodle House

Where: 346 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94118

What: Delicious salads and vegetarian noodle soup--fresh, clean flavors--satisfying and not wallet-busting

When: Open Daily - 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.

Info: 415-831-9953

sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/...king_of_thai_noodle_house.

Lots of good choices on the menu but, to be honest, we almost always order either the papaya (Som Tum) or mango salads ($6.95 each) and the vegetarian noodle soup (Guay Tiew Jae) - $5.75. They’re so good, why order anything else? However, on a recent visit we felt adventurous and added to our usual order the Hoi Jor appetizer (deep fried bean curd skins stuffed with ground pork, crab meat, ground shrimp, ground water chestnuts, and served with sweet plum sauce) - $7.25. Scrumptious and a definite do-again!

FAVORITE KOREAN RESTAURANT (for lunch)

HAN IL KWAN

Where: 1802 Balboa Street, San Francisco, CA 94121

What: Lunch specials ($7.50-$9.50) Monday-Friday until 4 p.m.

When: Open Daily – (10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. weekdays / 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. weekends)

Info: 415-752-4447 / 415-752-4448

www.yelp.com/biz/han-il-kwan-san-francisco

Best deal is the lunch special of Marinated Chicken Breast that comes with ban chan (small, cold side dishes), including two hot scallion pancakes and a choice of soup or steamed eggs…plus dessert of refreshingly cool rice drink. All for $7.50! Only challenge is finding parking.



FAVORITE CHINESE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Happy Garden

Where: 815 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94118

What: Fresh, delicious seafood at reasonable prices

When: Open Daily – 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Info: 415-831-3322 / 415-387-4011

www.menuism.com/restaurants/happy-garden-san-francisco

Delicious lobster lo-mein (one whole lobster tail with what tastes like fresh hand-pulled noodles)…enough for two at only $13.99. They also have to-die-for Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps (appetizer) that can feed four (or two really hungry diners) for $8.50.



FAVORITE ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT RESTAURANT

Fresh Choice

Where: 4927 Junipero Serra Boulevard, Colma, CA 94014-3216

What: Cafeteria style offerings of salads, soups, breads, pasta, desserts--like the name says, fresh!

When: Open Daily – 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Info: 650-757-7892 – www.freshchoice.com

We like the wide variety of deliciously fresh, healthy salads, veggies and hot soups. This location also offers the makings for “pho” (pronounced “fuh”)—Vietnamese noodle soup.




FAVORITE GROCERY STORE

Trader Joe’s

Where: 9 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118

What: Quality products at affordable prices

When: Open Daily – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Info: 415-346-9964 – www.traderjoes.com

We shop here primarily for the good selection of organic foods (fresh fruits and veggies / meat / frozen items / dairy / canned products / cereal / beverages) -- all at better prices than at regular supermarkets. Some of their own cookies, e.g., Triple Ginger Snaps (16 oz. - $3.99), Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Stars (16 oz. - $3.99), etc., are amazingly good and incredibly priced for the amount you get. Kudos to them for their dedication to customer satisfaction...if you’re not satisfied with any product for any reason, you get a refund with no hassle.




FAVORITE MASSAGE HAVEN

The Enchanting Place

Where: 311 – 4th Avenue / Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94118

What: Services include Full Body Massage Therapy, Reflexology Foot Therapy, and Skin Care.

When: Open Daily – 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Info: 415-793-9878 - www.enchantingskincare.com

Facilities are clean, comfortable and welcoming. Recommend full body massage (haven’t tried other services yet). $60.00/hour - $10.00 off for a limited time = $50/hour.

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FAVORITE TOY STORES


The Ark

Where: 3325 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94118

What: Quality toys in a family-friendly environment

When: See www.thearktoys.com for store hours

Info: 415-440-8697

Great selection of classic, imported, Waldorf-inspired, wooden and just all-around fun toys. The store is welcoming and invites children to explore the delightful and eclectic collection of toys, games, books, puzzles, arts & crafts, science & music, building and imaginative role play items. They boast a unique selection of stuffed animals and many other hard-to-find’s.



Ambassador Toys

Where: 186 West Portal Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127

What: Wide selection of well-made toys; free gift wrapping when you let them know your purchase is a gift

When: Open Daily – 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Info: 415-759-8697 – www.ambassadortoys.com

Store has a darkened room in the back for space exploration toys. The black light in there illuminates anything white such as stars, planets, moons, eyeballs and teeth. Way cool and much better than going to Toys-R-Us.




Golden Gate Bridge view from suspension towner top by photographers Norberto and Shelly Li,  1999 and Childrens cartoon character Clara in hot air baloon by Cat Wong 2009 -  CLICK TO BIGGER VERSION OF PHOTO

Who are the editors of this sampling of San Francisco's favorites for food and shopping favorites for Metrotown.info ?

This section is the coopertaive volunteer effort of 3rd and 4th generation local San Francisco families.  The coordinator of these listings is Ms. Cat Wong, a well known children's illustrator and illustrator for a wide range of adult fiction and non-fiction books published in the USA

The theme of this area is places that families with or with out children can enjoy.

You can visit her children's character's web site at www.ClaraAndClarenceBear.com

Note: mention of restaurants, toy stores, spas, shops and personal services on this site, does not mean they have purchased "advertising" on this page/site - they are nominated by family and friends who have tested / tasted them out - and we assume no responsibilityty / liabiltiy as to the quality of goods / services at the point in time, you as a viewer might choose to visit our favorite shops.  [MetroTown.info San Francisco, California Information Volunteer Coordinator, Ms. Cat Wong (email: cwong@chilrensillustrators.org

On the above note about liability/responsibility, if you're looking for experienced attorney-law firms in San Francisco / Bay Area, check out our little directory at San Francisco Lawyers Selected Listings


For sample of other work involving Cat Wong as a cover designer for young adult fiction/fantasy novels - see Ian X. Byrne's triology on early Mohawk Indian mythic tales, way before the arrival of the white man

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