International Smoke San Francisco

International Smoke always has a table ready, and sometimes that's what counts - Review - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"International Smoke’s menu is trying to do a lot at once. There’s cornbread with Thai red curry butter, Nashville hot chicken marinated in ginger and sake, and Jamaican-style oxtail. For how eclectic the menu is, though, none of the food is particularly memorable. That’s not to say anything is a meal-ruiner. There are some solid options, like the Caribbean-spiced chicken rice bowl and tehina-roasted cauliflower, and the $35 "Business Lunch" deal is a cost-effective way to eat a starter, main, and dessert. But the real selling points of International Smoke are that the dishes are crowd-pleasing enough and that there’s always a booth, table, or barstool available. With its proximity to downtown offices, the SoMa restaurant is a magnet for corporate lunches and dinners. Any day of the week, you’ll encounter coworkers making sure someone got a receipt. And even if you’re off the clock and in the area without a reservation, count on International Smoke for something low-stress. Even if the meal doesn't stick with you a week later. Food Rundown Black Truffle Caesar Our favorite starter. It’s huge, and the sweet onion crema, fried garlic, and truffle vinaigrette all work well together. Get this over the watery Waldorf any day. photo credit: Patrick Wong Tehina Roasted Cauliflower Inconsistent—sometimes the cauliflower arrives undercooked and bland, other times it dethrones the caesar. It’s worth taking a chance on, but consider getting the caesar as an assured backup. photo credit: Patrick Wong SF Garlic Noodles Solid, but over-salted. If you’re here during crab season, go for it. International Smoke is generous with Dungeness on this dish. photo credit: Patrick Wong Caribbean-Spiced Chicken Rice Bowl A great option for lunch or dinner. The chicken is juicy and spicy. It’s superior to the gochujang salmon and Korean-style beef bowl. photo credit: Patrick Wong Ribs Our preferred main after the chicken rice bowl. They’re well cooked and generously slathered in sauce—go for the Korean gochujang version instead of the overly sweet American St. Louis style. photo credit: Patrick Wong Rib-Tip Mac & Cheese There’s no shortage of cheese and crispy bits of meat in this dish. It’s good, but it will weigh you down for the rest of the day. photo credit: Patrick Wong Key-Lime Pie The filling tastes nicely tart, but the crust is soggy and flimsy. photo credit: Patrick Wong" - Patrick Wong