Last week, Charles Phan gave media and friends a sneak peek of ~WO HING GENERAL STORE~, his project opening in the original Slanted Door space on Valencia Street. The name pays homage to Charles’ uncle (Wo) and father (Hing) who emigrated from China to Vietnam in 1951, where together, they opened a general store. The opening is this Friday October 28th.
Phan and chef de cuisine Michelle Mah will be presenting a menu of Chinese street food and bar food, from dumplings and noodles to jook and rice plates, all featuring seasonal ingredients from local purveyors. Some highlights: slivered yuba and mixed mushroom salad, pork and shrimp wontons in chile bean sauce, Westlake beef jook, braised oxtail with dry yuba, ginger chicken, steamed catfish with black bean sauce, and Chinese long beans and Alba mushrooms with chile bean sauce and shallots.
Like other Charles Phan restaurants, Chucky Dugo will be behind the desserts. Bar manager Brooke Arthur (Prospect, Range) is in charge of the craft cocktail program, with refreshing picks like a piña colada, an Iceberg Daiquiri, and Dry Sherry Punch. Look for some quirky glassware—some of the pieces are vintage. Another item of note: there will be a variety of imported Chinese teas, and plenty of non-alcoholic beverage options.
It was fun to return to a spot where I had very fond memories of dining at back in the day, but Olle Lundberg has definitely created an updated look for the 95-seat restaurant. It’s all about using repurposed materials (like the space: what is old is new again). There’s cool art, clever overhead lights made from woks, the downstairs bar is from a bowling alley, and the upstairs mezzanine remains, enclosed with panels from a MUNI bus shelter. The later hours should be a hit, serving food until 12 midnight (last seating at 11:45pm; limited menu later in the evening) and cocktails until 1am. Lunch will be coming soon, but for now, the restaurant will open at 5pm.
View of Wo Hing from the mezzanine. Photo: © tablehopper.com.
