Thanh Long, San Francisco

If you love dungeness crab and garlic then going to TL is like a trip to heaven, except you still have to pay your check.

Located just outside downtown TL is on the corner of 46th and Judah. They have valet parking but if you don't mind walking a block you can find street parking.

TL has other locations in Los Angeles and San Francisco but the original is always the best. TL used to be nicknamed the secret kitchen but their success and other locations no longer them to rely on gimmicks or cliches. But if you want a glimpse at how they got this name you have be a little sneaky and nosy. On your way to the bathroom you will pass the kitchen. On the right side of the door you will see a metal shelf with a cut-out through the drywall for the staff to pass plates to the cooks in and out from the real cooking kitchen. All this secrecy is to protect the garlic broasting process for the crab. Broasting is boiling-roasting.

When we go to TL we bring our appetites and order two things. Garlic roasted dungeness crab and garlic noodles. You can order an appetizer or other entree but don't bother. Remember we discussed heaven earlier?

We do have a TL crab tip. You may want to make your trip to heaven last longer and order more than one crab, our tip is to order them one at a time. As you get towards the end of your first crab wave down your server and order the next one. Eat then repeat.

This place is a must have if you are in or near San Francisco.
Thanh Long website