"Where To Wait: Li Po Cocktail Lounge One way to dull the sting of being quoted a two-hour wait at Four Kings: a Mai Tai from Li Po Cocktail Lounge. The Chinatown dive is home to dangerously strong drinks that attract locals and tourists alike, and it’s the rare SF bar where you can get away with paying just $12 for a heavy pour. Once you get the “your table is ready” text, head back and rest easy knowing that you already know what to order: fried squab, XO escargot, and clay pot rice. Four Kings takes walk-ins at the 10-seat counter all night, and it's easier to snag one of those seats on the later end (after 9pm). Reservations are released on OpenTable three weeks ahead at midnight." - julia chen 1