The San Francisco-Burma Connection

On a recent trip to Myanmar, I came across a curious tribute atop Mount Popa, high above the red temples of Bagan. After ascending slowly between nats, religious relics and a cantankerous group of monkeys (one of them greedily chugging a can of Red Bull, and all of them eyeing me suspiciously), I finally made it to the summit.

Here, more than 7,600 miles away from San Francisco, I spotted an engraved plaque that read, “Burma Superstar Restaurant, San Francisco, CA, Sept. 3, 2012.”

This engraving conjured up images of lines outside the iconic restaurant on Clement Street in the Richmond district. I’ve waited in that line, raved over the tea leaf salad and joined friends for dinner here — and all the while I had no concept of its ties to the motherland.This engraving conjured up images of lines outside the iconic restaurant on Clement Street in the Richmond district. I’ve waited in that line, raved over the tea leaf salad and joined friends for dinner here — and all the while I had no concept of its ties to the motherland. (Courtesy of The Bold Italic)