From Pharrell Williams at San Tung to Jared Goff at Top Dog, it's been a busy week for celebrity sightings in the Bay Area. Actor Bob Odenkirk, however, was in town last weekend for SF Sketchfest, not the Super Bowl -- and he made time to stop for lunch at House of Nanking. The "Better Call Saul" and "Breaking Bad" star booked a lunch reservation for about 10 people last Saturday at the renowned Kearny Street restaurant, co-owner Kathy Fang told SFGATE.
"I'm a huge fan," Fang said of the two-time Emmy Award winner. "He said that he's been coming for years and has been a fan of our restaurant, and it's been kind of a tradition where they would come during Sketchfest."
Anthony Bourdain, Keanu Reeves, Francis Ford Coppola, Kathy Griffin and John Mulaney have all dined at House of Nanking over the years. The restaurant, which Kathy's parents Peter and Lily Fang opened in 1988, is particularly popular among comedians, Fang said.
"We've also had other people come in and we'll always hear it's a referral from a comedian," she said. "All I have to say is comedians love good Chinese food."
Since Fang splits her time between House of Nanking and her family's other restaurant, Fang, she often doesn't hear about a celebrity visit until after the fact.
"Usually these people kind of just come in, probably not in a big group, and I think because at House of Nanking there's so much going on in there, people don't notice," she said. "I guess they like that, probably. There's not a lot of attention paid to the people coming in and out, and people just don't expect it, either."
Fang's favorite show of all time is "Breaking Bad," and she also loves "Better Call Saul." So when she heard about Odenkirk's reservation, she made sure to be at the restaurant to cook for him. The group opted for House of Nanking's "let us order for you" menu option, and Fang served them "a whole feast" of bok choy salad, sesame chicken, poached white fish, dumplings, fried pot stickers with peanut sauce, garlic charred broccoli and fried rice. "They said everything was great," she said.
After the meal, Fang got the chance to chat with her idol, and even take a photo with him.
"He was super nice, really, really kind," Fang said. "And I don't think anybody would've guessed that he was even somebody famous. He was just very chill."
Spot a celebrity at a Bay Area restaurant over Super Bowl week? Send details and photos to madeline.wells@sfgate.com.
