i've stopped giving chinese restaurant recs to lots of people in sf coz i think people just have diff tastes in chinese food.
there's a popular roast duck people like that i think is super mid. they think it's the best.
i think most people who are used to cantonese bbq might prefer *much* fattier duck, so what i like ends up probably being super gross to someone who isn't used to that.
all to say i don't think there's a 'best' (food group) or 'most authentic' (food) there's just what you like