San Francisco Chinese Restaurants

Great Chinese food can be had in abundance in San Francisco. The city’s Chinatown neighborhood—one of the biggest Chinatowns in America—has long been considered a mecca for those who know their way around a fortune cookie. But great Chinese eats aren’t limited to Chinatown—the city’s colorful Mission District and cozy Noe Valley neighborhood also offer tantalizing takes on lo and chow mein. Below you’ll find all the information you need for getting to the city by the bay’s best Chinese restaurants.

House of Nanking

919 Kearny Street, (415) 421-1429

Without a doubt the most popular Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. It can take a while to get a table during evening hours, but be patient, for the food is well worth the wait. The portions are enormous (one entrée could easily feed two people) and delicious, but be warned—the wait staff can be a bit curt and blunt.

Brandy Ho’s

217 Columbus Avenue, (415) 788-7527 Brandy Ho’s

Brandy Ho’s was one of the first Chinese restaurants to introduce Hunan cuisine to San Francisco. The enormous dining room provides ample seating—you’re almost guaranteed a table no matter what time of day you walk in.

Eric’s Restaurant

1500 Church Street, (415) 282-0919

Scrumptious Chinese food, served up fast (but with lots of care) in sleepy, low-key Noe Valley. The all-white dining room provides a calm and relaxing setting for lunch or dinner. This is one of those restaurants that most tourists don’t know about, but that locals love with a passion.

Firecracker

1007 Valencia Street, (415) 642-3470

This is not your mother’s Chinese food. Daring takes on Chinese favorites are the course of the day at this highly popular and critically acclaimed Mission District restaurant. Prices are a bit higher than your standard Chinese restaurant, and reservations are definitely recommended.

Chef Jia’s

925 Kearny Street, (415) 398-1626

San Francisco’s best-kept Chinese food secret is Chef Jia’s. Located right next door to the always-packed House of Nanking, Jia’s serves up Chinese food that is just as good—and maybe even better—than its immensely popular neighbors. There’s never a wait for a table, and the service is efficient and very friendly.

Lichee Garden

1416 Powell Street, Lichee Garden

This North Beach establishment has been dishing out Cantonese cuisine since 1980. The prices are affordable, and the restaurant has long been one of the notoriously picky San Francisco food critic Michael Bauer’s favorite spots for Dim Sum.