Have a roast meat party at Go Duck Yourself - Review - San Francisco - The Infatuation
"Chuckle all you want at the name of this Bernal Heights spot, but joke's on you if you don’t take these Cantonese roast meats seriously. The people behind the now-closed Hing Lung Company swapped plastic takeout containers of BBQ for glistening platters of duck, pork belly, and charsiu—and they’ve nailed them all. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth The set-up is simple: a few tables, bar seats, and a window into the kitchen where hunks of pork and whole ducks hang in the back. After ordering via QR code, your food comes out in less time than it takes Adele to sing an impassioned bridge. Yes, the titular duck is required—it arrives deboned and sparkling with fatty-salty skin, and is best dunked in the side of plum vinaigrette. But don’t get so dazzled by the fowl that you overlook the sorcery they’re performing in the pork department, like the equally excellent charsiu and crispy pork belly with charred edges that goes well with a side of garlicky greens, steamed rice, or bao. Get here for your next quick lunch or a family dinner after strolling down Cortland in search of a new candle holder. Food Rundown photo credit: Carly Hackbarth GDY Cantonese Roast Duck If you’re here, you’re eating the duck. The meat is so soft you could practically take a bite with a longing stare. For best results, take one of the steamed buns and soak up the juices that pool up at the bottom, mixed with the plum vinaigrette and duck jus. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Charred Pork Collar Charsiu is not some supporting character in this duck-centric universe—the sticky marinade and caramelized corners make it a contender for the best dish here. Sticky Fried Rice The lap cheong and duck liver sausage in this lotus-wrapped dish are a bit bland. You can skip this in favor of regular steamed rice and a different meat dish. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Crispy Skin Pork Belly This typically sells out quickly, so if it’s on the menu, hop on it. The pork belly cubes have a good amount of fatty skin that sticks to your teeth like meat-candy when you take a bite. Snag an order for the table to share—this is a decadent and fantastic dish." - Julia Chen
