San Tung

"If you only know one thing about San Tung, it’s that they make some of the best wings in the city. These things have a way of burrowing into your subconscious until you wake up in a cold sweat inexplicably craving something twice-fried, spicy, and sweet. There's always a daily mob waiting to order them, and you should do the same. But the Inner Sunset spot’s huge lineup of dumplings, and noodles deserves some love, too. Dining here requires some patience—San Tung is walk-in only and no one will be deterred by the waitlist or the Sunset fog, but most of the time names are called quickly thanks to a communal table set-up. So if you're already taking time to have the San Tung experience, you may as well order the menu's other highlights: wonton noodle soup with a richness offset by gingery pork filling, beef with oyster sauce slicked in a savory dressing that clings to every grain of rice on your plate, and chewy noodles with just enough heat to make a single tear form after each bite. We regularly send city first-timers for San Tung's hard hitters, even if the rest of the menu doesn’t necessarily outshine what's offered SF's other great Chinese spots. For the especially antsy, your best bet is to cancel any afternoon meetings and come here for lunch when the crowds are at their smallest (and the dining room is at its quietest). That way, you can also take advantage of San Tung's lunch special, which comes with rice, an entree, and soup. But if you ask us, it's probably wisest just to set up a recurring calendar event for sog-defying poultry from here on out. Food Rundown Potstickers These potstickers are huge with thin, crispy bottoms and a filling of pork, cabbage, and a lot of ginger. An excellent way to start any meal here. Original Dry-Fried Chicken Wings There is no excuse, you must order these.The Discovery Channel could dedicate an entire week to San Tung's wings and it still wouldn’t be enough. They’re heavy on salt and pepper and covered in a red pepper, garlic, and ginger sauce that has a caramel consistency Vince Vaughn probably looks for in his hair products. Wonton Soup Conveniently, you can order this in a variety of sizes depending on how many people you’re with. The soup itself is rich and chicken-y, with plenty of vegetables to balance everything out. Especially noteworthy: the ginger in the wontons cuts through any fatty, heaviness from the meat and makes the dish feel lighter than it really is. Go for it. Dry Black Bean Sauce Noodles Good, but not the first thing you’ll tell someone to order after you’re done talking about the wings.The noodles are nicely sweet, full of shrimp, scallops, and squid, and thick with clinging black bean sauce. Three Deluxe Spicy Sauce Noodles These come with the same seafood as the black bean noodles and the bright red sauce sticks to the long chewy noodles the same way, but we like the spicy flavor of these a lot more. When you swallow, the heat will dissipate, making you forget about the slight burning sensation. You’ll want to dive right back in again. And again. And again. Order these. Beef With Oyster Sauce Thinly sliced beef sauteed in oyster sauce until it’s tender, sweet, and sticky. Make sure you get some rice to soak up all of the sauce." - Patrick Wong

"San Tung is a full-service Chinese food restaurant, and the wings are one of a kind (and a legend in San Francisco). Head to the Sunset for the specialty dry wings, which are deep-fried and flavored with ginger, red pepper, and garlic. Your sports buds (and taste buds) will thank you." - Dianne de Guzman, Paolo Bicchieri, Eater Staff

"On any day of the week, you can expect a line (or rather, random groupings of people) amassed near this fried chicken hotspot. Head inside to put your name down and get ready to see why fans have flocked to this Inner Sunset restaurant nonstop for the past 38 years. Be sure to order fan favorites like the black bean sauce noodles; the garlicky flash-fried green beans; and the famous crispy, sweet and spicy, dry-fried wings." - Lena Park, Eater Staff

"We don’t personally know any children who would refuse a sticky-sweet, gloriously messy chicken wing from San Tung. The Chinese restaurant in the Sunset is wing central—their crackly renditions are on every table in the constantly packed dining room. If you’re also crammed around a table with your entire extended family, know that you’ll need multiple orders to start (there are 12 per plate, but you will want seconds). It’s also pretty loud in here, so you don’t have to feel bad about the impending witching hour meltdown from whatever baby you’re with." - julia chen 1, patrick wong

"San Tung’s dry-fried chicken wings are battered, deep-fried, covered in a garlic, ginger, and red pepper sauce the consistency of caramel, and they've single-handedly transformed the casual Chinese spot into a beloved Sunset institution. Prepare for a sticky-messy good time, and a life-changing experience that’ll have you licking your fingers like a voracious wolf pack. Waiting an hour or two in line for those wings—and some crispy-bottomed potstickers, and satisfyingly thick black bean sauce noodles—is a citywide pastime (San Tung doesn’t take reservations). So just drop your name on the small whiteboard up front and build up anticipation outside on the sidewalk with everyone else." - lani conway, julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez