Z & Y Restaurant is another place that has been on my list for about as long as I have lived in San Francisco, but I just don’t usually think to go out for Chinese (unless it’s dumplings). However, when my family was visiting, they were really keen on getting Chinese in Chinatown, and they had been recommended Z & Y, so I booked us in for dinner. As a huge recommendation, I suggest you book. When we arrived, there were definitely several parties waiting for tables, and due to booking, we got right in.
Full disclosure: I also like to try unusual food, so when I see really unusual stuff on a Sichuan menu, I really gravitate toward it, which can really annoy my partner sometimes. I was really pushing the table to order some of the more traditional dishes, but my family were not hearing it, but I may have made my partner get them instead. It led to an interesting dining experience, because we had been drinking a bit before-hand, and I think he would have appreciated me not going as out there as I did.
Our starters were a bit less wild, with egg rolls (which I always love), and beef pancake. The egg rolls were crispy and very tasty, and I loved the beef pancake (so did the family, which was nice). Imagine something like a duck pancake, but made with beef, and that’s basically your dish. It was really delicious and incredibly well done.
As I mentioned, my family went the less adventurous route with Mongolian beef and walnut prawns. I ordered spicy pigs’ feet and spicy duck blood for our side of the table. We all ordered some truffle fried rice to share as well. My family loved the food they ordered and mentioned it was some of the best Chinese they had ever had. On our side, the food was a bit more interesting. I adored the pigs’ feet, even if it was very sticky and hard to eat and basically ripped through the napkins they provided us at the table. The duck blood was definitely more of an interesting dish, with the blood made into tofu like squares. Sadly, the blood itself didn’t have a lot of flavor, but the sauce was hot and delicious.
Overall, I really enjoyed the experience, and I definitely want to go back. Maybe I won’t be quite as adventurous, or perhaps I’ll find some stuff that is adventurous, but also something that my partner will be on board with. If you want really well done Chinese that is more of that “traditional” Chinese from takeouts, you won’t be disappointed, and if you’re looking for some interesting Sichuan dishes, I think Z & Y will be the place for you as well.
Score: 4.5/5
Recommendation: Honestly, just go for it, be wild! Try new things!
Z & Y Restaurant
655 Jackson Street, San Francisco,
CA 94133
