Gold Coin Trading

Snowflake beef? We definitely needed that in our hot pot mix for Christmas! And while we're at it, gotta try the pork belly and lamb too!All of it was high quality, *melt-in-your-mouth* meat. After waiting in line for an hour, my cousin snagged 5 lbs of fatty cow, 3 lbs of lamb and 2 lbs of pork belly and the 14 of us could barely finish half. She said it's a one man show: meat cut to order and the dude's handling the cashier portion too. Totally worth it....except this is coming from someone who didn't wait in line. Thanks, cuzzo!

Totally unassuming shop from the outside. I've walked by a million times without noticing what was inside. A foodie friend recommended this place to buy "snowflake beef" also known in Cantonese as "fat cow", for hotpot at home. Amazingly fresh, tender beef at good price! $16.50 per pound. They also sell at the hotpot must haves like soup bases, fish balls, soy bean curd rolls etc - for a lot less than 99 Ranch.

Hidden gem for hot pot fanatics! It's a hole in the wall, but don't be turned off by the looks--the sliced meat is phenomenal. Be sure to pick up some of the beef. Bring cash. Call ahead if you can. SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES!

They're so nice! The best quality ingredients you would ever need for hot pot, or even non hot pot meals!

This shop is a hidden gem. It was recommended by family friends and everyone I've recommended this place loves it as well! This is our go-to place in the city for snow flower beef. It was about $15/lb when I recently went a few weeks ago. We love using the beef slices for hot pot at home. Note that it's cash only and parking in Chinatown can be a little tricky!

This market will be my go-to place for hot pot meats from now on. The quality of the meat is high, and they also have a wide assortment of other frozen proteins (fish/beef balls, fish skin dumplings, tofu, etc). They sell the sacha/satay sauce that's used to make dipping sauce as well- Gold Coin truly has it all!Service is super friendly- praise I can't give for most establishments in Chinatown- and the owner speaks English well. Wait time for the meat was about 5-10 minutes, and if you want to make your shopping experience even easier, you can call ahead to place your meat order and pick it up later in the day.

Chinatown's BEST Kept Secret! SHHHHH...As an avid coin collector, my dad would be sorely disappointed if he walked into Gold Coin Trading to find they don't sell coins but instead sell my ultimate fav...MEAT! Yes, I'm quite the Carniwhore. What better way to warm up in this cold SF than with shabu/hotpot at home which is exactly what my friends and I decided to do for our monthly get-together dinner on Thursday.As a disclaimer, though I've passed by numerous times, I never set foot into Gold Coin Trading, a living room sized market that sells meat and dry foods. My friend did all the shopping. Thanks, Linda!Among the various meats Gold Coin Trading sells, their crown jewel is the Snowflake Beef aka the "Kobe Beef of China" which has very similar marbling to the real deal. It was the first time that I've ever heard of Snowflake Beef so hungry for more information I tried to do some research on it. Unfortunately, I only found one article online: http://www.china-haoyue.com/english/jszl.php?ce=128. The "snowflake" marbling in the beef is created with fat deposition in the muscle making the beef more flavorful, juicy, and tender. At just $12/lb, you will get beautifully marbled slice-to-order Snowflake Beef for shabu/hotpot (American Kobe is currently about $100/lb). http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/G-NgB1MxeFQOeo9oAmFzLA?select=2HgBFTMEYhPVpmsPDUn38Q A quick 6-8 second dip in the pool of broth will give you mouth-watering melt-in-your-mouth like buttah beef. The Snowflake Kobe-like Beef is so deliciously rich in flavor from the lovely white flecks of fat that it rivals the Kobe from Shabu House.LIKE BALLS?I DO. If you do too, another delicacy you will find at Gold Coin Training are Chicken Testicles which is good for *ahemcoughahem*. Yup, you've read right! Like humans, the balls came in various sizes; hmmm, I learn something new every day. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/G-NgB1MxeFQOeo9oAmFzLA?select=l-h0HBtbU52GiDOh9Y8Prg Simmer the balls until its firm with a slight bounce to it when you poke/squeeze it. Upon biting into it, the testicle has a pop to it (like sausage casing) with a mild flavor and texture similar to a soft tofu. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/G-NgB1MxeFQOeo9oAmFzLA?select=bPjK7Mc6pGPF4B0BCazTyQBeing a sharing person, I kindly tossed some cooked balls into my guy friends' bowls. Though I got some glares and the evil eye, their sake-induced appetites couldn't seem to resist it. MmMm, protein! Yup, that's what SHE (I) SAID.OTHER NOTE(S):*Cash Only

Super legit hot pot meat. I know of a great place in LA for hot pot meat and was slightly worried that SF doesn't have one. But behold - gold coin trading!! I highly suggest the snowflake beef ($15 per pound) and lamb ($9 per pound). For hot pot, budget 1.5 lb for 2 people. Call ahead of time and pick to up. Don't freeze the meat!!!

This is a specialty store for all your hot pot needs. For those unfamiliar with hot pot, it's a family style dining where you take a boiling hot soup base and dip an assortment of meats and vegetables in. Gold coin trading outfits you with all the assortments of meats you can imagine--snow flower beef (fattier more marble cut perfect for hot pot), fresh lamb, tripe, fish balls, etc--it's a one stop shop for all the meat items.If you're interested in learning about Chinese style hot pot - check out this link: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_pot#Common_ingredientsIt's operated by a wonderful elderly couple. You can call ahead to have the meats shaved for you ahead of time so you skip the line. You can skip the line for pick ups if you do call ahead!

Prices have gone up. I paid $29 and some change for 1.5lbs of snowflake beef today (something like $20/lb). Still, it's one of the best (maybe the best) place for cut-to-order hot pot beef. I think they have other meats too. I saw a patron before me order two "yellow hair chicken" and overheard that they were $14 each. I think they come head and feet still attached and they will cut it up how you like as well (I saw the lady ordering it ask for the feed to be cut off, toes trimmed, skin removed, etc.)I can get snowflake beef closer to me on Irving but I like supporting this shop since they cut the pieces large.