SF Street Food Festival

We had a battle plan for the Street Food Festival that involved getting there early, having a map in hand, and following an orderly list of stands we wanted to sample, but it got quickly derailed as we were distracted by the shiny signs advertising alternate foods. The first stand we hit was Namu's Korean tacos, as recommended by 7x7's 100 things to eat in SF before you die. However, faced with limp seaweed, scanty lukewarm bulgogi, bland rice, and a dab of salsa, we started questioning the authority of the publication. As the festival wore on, we became increasingly regretful of what else the $5.00 for the underwhelming tacos could have procured. Though we were headed hopefully for Asian-Mexican redemption at Kung Fu Taco, we got distracted by Kitchenette. After a soul-searching decision of whether to get the guinea fowl and cheese curd poutine or the sliders we, somewhat regretfully in hindsight, got the still delicious Little Marin Sun Farms Burgers topped with blue cheese and pickled mustard seeds on housemade english muffins. Cheney also got a refreshing peach soda with thyme while Rosie retreated to the deserted, chain link fence beer garden (it was still before noon) -- only to discover that there were no basil gimlets, but a satisfactory mint julep. Disappointingly devoid of duck tacos with mango salsa, as promised on the website, Kung Fu Taco got our patronage instead for their wonderful lemon curd mochi. Their powdered flesh was tender and fresh and the curd within was tangy and sweet. When it turned out that Flour and Water's appealing-sounding duck, melon, and prosciutto salads were miniscule, we adopted the herd mentality and stood in the longest line - Nombe's yakitori. It was completely worth it. The takoyaki was quite possibly the most delicious thing ever. Octopus balls topped with benito flakes and pickled radish in a delectable sauce, it had us thinking longingly about it for the rest of the day and planning our own takoyaki making adventures. (Which compels us to share this delightful ditty.) At the last moment we decided to get the honey and chili sauce chicken wings with cilantro and green onion as well, seeing as we had waited in the ever expanding line. Sadly, Rosie dropped one of the morsels in pulling out her camera. Moving on to the second longest line, we snagged two of the last vanilla bean creme brulees from the creme brulee truck, and then fled as the festival was quickly becoming claustrophobically packed, with larger crowds still trying to enter. All in all, a terrific morning.