Wing Lee is for Me
On the corner of Sixth and Clement is a bastion of sated tummies, especially when times are tough. In a storefront with the ambience of a dirty donut shop on skid row is the Wing Lee Bakery, which features a laundry list of delicious, steaming dim sum. From fried taro cake, to shark fin gow, to the crowd favourite, pork siu mai, they have something for everyone. Whereas the setting may not be ideal, you can’t beat the pricing or the portions. A plate full of dumplings rarely comes in over four dollars and they make, quite possibly, the largest in the city. The siu mai more closely resembles a large meatball wearing a dress.
When you go just remember a few things- Know exactly what you want before getting in line and whether you’ll be eating there or elsewhere. When ordering, say the coriander gow for example, make sure to specify if you want one order, or one individual dumpling. Individual pieces allows for greater variety on the plate. MOST IMPORTANTLY: Get there before four at the latest. Dim sum is traditionally a daytime meal anyway, but when the women behind the counter close up shop, they mean business. They got places to be and aren’t going to stick around for your lazy ass.
Wing-Lee Bakery
503 Clement Street, San Francisco