Some new openings around town include KARAWEIK BURMESE CUISINE, the only Burmese restaurant in the Marina. The menu includes royal tea leaf salad, vegetarian samusa soup, green chile lemongrass fish, paratha with coconut curry, chicken keema paratha, and mango papaya salad. According to a post on Yelp, the owner is from the former Sapphire Asian Cuisine in the Financial District. Open Tue-Thu 11:30am-3pm and 5pm-9pm, Fri 11:30am-3pm and 5pm-9:30pm, Sat 11am-3pm and 4:30pm-9:30pm, and Sun 11am-3pm and 4:30pm-9pm. 3317 Steiner St. at Lombard, 415-922-1892.
After the Lower Haight’s Thep Phanom pivoted to the updated Janchay Bistro (after 32 years!), it looks like they are making changes again. Now, it’s THEP EATERY, offering a few of Thep Phanom’s famous dishes, as well as Thai street food dishes, noodles, and more. A sampling of dishes from the menu includes garlic and pepper jumbo prawns, nuer yang medium rare ribeye served with sticky rice and jaew sauce, grilled butter head river prawns, and kao yum gai sabb (crispy chicken with spicy lime dressing). They’re also offering $1 oysters from 6pm-7pm. Open nightly 5:30pm-10:30pm. 400 Waller St. at Fillmore, 415-913-7076.
Now open in SoMa (in the former Koh Samui & the Monkey) is SUN & MOON, offering some dishes from the chef’s native central Thailand, as well as Japanese-style ramen (chef Tee is a big fan of ramen). The menu features some contemporary dishes, like salmon spring rolls topped with ikura, plus classic dishes like khao mun gai and a variety of curries. Open daily 11am-2:30pm and 5pm-10pm. 415 Brannan St. at 3rd St., 415-872-9555.
BAC LIEU RESTAURANT has taken the place of Lotus Garden Cuisine (after 19 years) in the Mission/La Lengua. The Vietnamese menu includes banh khot (Vietnamese savory mini shrimp pancakes made from rice flour and coconut milk, topped with shrimp, mung beans, and scallions, and served with fish sauce and fresh vegetables); a variety of rice plates, pho, bun rieu, bun bo Hue, and one of my favorite dishes: bun Cha Ca La Vong (vermicelli with turmeric fish and dill). There’s also five spice quail and dishes with banh hoi (woven vermicelli rice noodles). Open Tue-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm. 3216 Mission St. at Valencia, 415-282-9088.
Last month, I mentioned that a location of TSELOGS was about to open in the Mission, and it’s now open. The Filipino comfort food spot previously had a location in Daly City (now closed) and on Jones (still open, and with awesome late-night hours). There are 49 seats and chef Gilla tells me they will be serving their regular menu, with chef specials on a daily basis, plus beer and wine. Open (for now) Tue-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 10am-3pm. 514-518 S. Van Ness Ave. at 16th St., 415-872-9003.
Karaweik’s green chile-lemongrass fish. Photo courtesy of Karaweik.
