A taste of transgender. Asia SF: San Francisco
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It's always marginally disturbing to walk into a bar and find the women are all better looking than you. Especially if they're all men.
The thing about San Francisco’s Asia SF is that after a while, whatever inhibitions you have, or apprehensions you may arrive with, they fade just as quickly as that first killer cocktail sets in, and along with every man, woman or transsexual in the place, you just have a bloody good laugh.
In 1998 Larry Hashbarger and Skip Young opened AsiaSF as a restaurant/lounge/dance club and inevitably it wasn’t long before it was the talk of the town! Tourists come in their droves but you won’t really notice them against the regulars, who probably look just as awestruck after watching the “show” for the twentieth time as they did at their first.
The dancing stars of the evening are the world famous gender illusionists who strut their stuff on a bright red runway/bar as you sit opposite. You’re face to face with their fishnets as you dine on surprisingly excellent Cal-Asian cuisine (most food at performance venues isn’t this good, in my experience). My main course, the infamous “Baby Got Back” ribs came with pickled carrot slices and sweet potato crisps – delicious, and the portions are all pretty big too. My firend’s Miso Glazed King served over black “forbidden” rice with a sweet tomato-edamame salad was probably the highlight. Top marks for the food, and save room for the banana beignet split – brandy-flambeed bananas wrapped in Filipino lumpia, served warm with vanilla bean ice cream.
As for the décor; think deep, sexy tones, plush velvet seats and color morphing shoji screen walls. The club, and bathroom is downstairs (careful in those stilettos) and this kicks off once the show is over – there’s even a pole to practice your dancing, if the mood takes you.
The staff behind the bar at Asia SF are probably some of the most smiley, helpful and fun barmen/women I’ve ever seen. They duck and blend cocktails with amazing efficiency when the show is going on, and suggest special drinks to try when it’s not. Each Lady of Asia has her own signature drink – note: a lot of them are made with sake, in case you’re a fan. Or in case you’re trying to avoid it (bleeurgh!)
The hoards of hen and stag parties will attest to the fact that Asia SF knows how to have fun. You’ll be planning a second round once you’ve left it, if only to see what they’ll do and say next (listen out for the song “My Pussy”, about a cat, you filthy thing!)
Oh, and whatever you do, don’t forget the camera; the ladies just love to pose for a photo!
9th Street 201, San Francisco, USA
Contact tel: +1 415 438 2669 ext 222, e-mail:
Cost £20+ pp
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Asia SF transgender cabaret and club, San Francisco
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