This is a little bar on Kearny Street in San Francisco between Chinatown and the Financial District. I used to pass by it every day on the way to work and this awning always made me smile.

I’ve gotten into many a debate – is this classic Engrish or is this a purposeful attempt to be funny?

I mean finding examples of Engrish is obviously not difficult, it’s just finding it in the US which is what really surprises me. Now, I mentioned this was near Chinatown, but even from extensive trolling through the heart of Chinatown (and Japan-town and the Mission and every other ethnic area of San Francisco) I haven’t seen any other examples of this. Now I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised, it’s not like Engrish is exclusive to outside the US, this is from my car repair shop in Austin but overall, it is very much the exception.

Especially in such a well trafficked place as Kearny Street. This bar was 2 doors down from the House of Nanking. This place always has lines out he door so it got plenty of visibility.

I lived in the city until about 2005. Sadly when I went by there in in 2012, the awning has gone.

A small piece of San Francisco has died in my heart today.

From the Google Maps history, looks like the awning was torn down sometime between Jul 2009 and Jan 2011 and the sign was replaced between April 2011 and May 2012.