I was getting my haircut last month and I asked everyone there what their favorite Chinese BBQ place was in SF. To-date mine was Win’s on Taraval. A customer piped up that Cheung Hing on Noriega was one of the best. But she also thought Ming Kee “somewhere on Ocean” had the best soy sauce chicken and roast duck. Simon the owner concurred although he had never been there but had heard the same comments.

I’m like “Ming” what? Ming Kee was the response. They didn’t know the English name. Great. My mission was to remember “Ming Kee” until I could research this place.

I got home and that night started googling away.  However, before I knew the spelling was Ming Kee,  I thought it was Ming Ga. That led me all over the place. After a bit of research I figured it out.

I was ecstatic once I figured out the name of the place: Happy Bakery and Deli. And that it was one freeway exit from me. From what I read they offered two kinds of chicken – gwa fei gai (Empress or Princess chicken) and the normal soy sauce chicken.

It took me a few weeks but I finally had an opportunity to go check it out on the weekend. From what I had read you can reserve items such as roast duck or empress chicken so even if you see it, you can’t have it.

The place itself is pretty nondescript. Like all the other Chinese restaurants I’ve seen. There was no one inside although it was like 3:30pm on a Sunday.

 

I was worried that they’d be out of chickens or ducks but luckily there were a few hanging around (pun intended).

Now I couldn’t get both chickens in one shot (could I?) so I decided on BBQ pork and soy sauce chicken. I asked in Chinese for one soy sauce chicken and he responded in Chinese and asked whether I wanted “normal” soy sauce chicken or the princess chicken. I asked for the normal one. I also ordered 2 lbs of BBQ pork which was insane on my part. Too. much. meat.

We had the chicken and BBQ pork that evening and the verdict was … the chicken was excellent! Moist, meaty and great taste.

Unfortunately I found the BBQ pork too dry although I liked the taste. Next time I should ask for it “half lean/half fat” and see how it is.

Next time I’m going for the roast duck or the princess chicken.

Happy Bakery and Deli

1548 Ocean Ave
(between Miramar Ave & Capitol Ave)
San Francisco, CA