I’ve been living in the Richmond for the past few months, and I’ve driven away most of my friends with my whining:  I spend half my life commuting, WHY does it take to *(#@ long for me to get anywhere?!, I live in the middle of nowhere, blah, blah, blah.  True enough, the Richmond is remote and not especially accessible via public transit.  But now that I’m moving to the Castro in a few days, I’m already “pre-emptively” pining away for my neighborhood’s best feature — the area known as Inner Clement, which is easily one of San Francisco’s best-kept secrets.

This neighborhood doesn’t appear in most guide books for the simple reason that it has no “traditional” tourist attractions.  If it’s historical landmarks you seek, look elsewhere.  But if you want a glimpse of authentic San Francisco life the way ‘natives’ live, this is a great place to spend an evening.

“Inner Clement” is loosely defined as the stretch of Clement Street between Arguello and 10th Avenue, and its primary attraction is locally-owned businesses, with an emphasis on Asian restaurants.  There is of course the famous Burma Super Star with its equally famous hour-long waits ( which are well worth it, by the way).  But you’ll find lesser-known gems as well, such as Spice, with its knack for pushing the boundaries of traditional Western palates:  The last time I was there, I had some fiery-hot Szechuan-style pork kidney.  Then there’s Toy Boat Dessert Cafe with its yummilicious sweets and irreverent collection of “toys” for sale:  Think Pee Wee Herman, Gumby in rude poses, and 1950’s throw-back memorabilia.  But the real joy of the area is to simply stroll around and let your eyes and your nose guide you to a memorable meal.  The crowd size will be a good indicator in terms of what’s “in” at the moment.

If you end up waiting for a table, virtually all the restaurants in the area have developed a protocol which is a de facto San Franciso tradition:  Simply give them your cell phone number to call when your table is ready, and in the meantime, you can avail yourself of some unique San Francisco shopping experiences.  One of my favorites is Green Apple Books, which is arguably the best bookstore in San Francisco.  It’s directly across the street from Burma Super Star, and I always pop in when I eat there.  Be sure to check out their “Staff Picks” section — you’ll come across some funkily different literature that you normally wouldn’t see.  Up the street you’ll find their “warehouse,” which has a huge buck-a-book selection, enabling you to get your literary fix on the cheap.  At the top of Clement Street you’ll find Kumquat, a cute, locally-owned gift store that overflows with wares from San Francisco artists and whimsical knick-knacks.  It’s perfect for those impossible-to-buy-for people in your life — just yesterday, I bought a birthday gift for dear old mom.  Best of all, it’s affordable for mere mortals like me.  They even do layaways, which I thought had gone the way of eight-track tapes.  Ask for Keverne, and you’ll be treated like family.

In short, Inner Clement should be a part of your San Francisco to-do list.  I suggest ending your day here after a round of more touristy activities, or perhaps after a hike up to nearby Land’s End.

Posted on January 12th, 2008 by Thomas
Filed under: Uncategorized