Knee Deep in the Rivers of Rage

Thursday, September 8 2005. Amber the Art Director and I spent a grey afternoon at the famous Hang Ah Tea Room (1 Pagoda, off Sacramento between Grant & Stockton). Not knowing where we were going, we left it up to fate. Then, a wood elf leapt from the forest canopy and handed us a magical flyer, which transported us up half a block to the corner of Sacramento & Pagoda.

The restaurant is a branding nightmare, as they have at least six different signs, each one completely different from the other.

At least each sign is cool looking. Or not. I am an impartial participant. There was another grand entryway, something which most Chinatown restaurants have in common.
And stepping into the dining room was like being a child in the 70s - again.
Lots of green, yellow and orange. The wood elves seem to have been doing a good job of recruiting that day, as there were several other tourists. Funny, because it doesn't really feel at all like a tourist place.
The dim sum was tasty, but exactly like all other dim sum. I'm convinced it comes from the same place, some central dim sum manufacturing and distribution center. Possibly under ground with the other utilities.
Unlike the last three restaurants visited, Hang Ah gave out fortune cookies with the check.

What wussy fortunes. But who am I to judge? I am but an impartial participant, adrift in the cosmic currents of fate. Thank you, wood elves!