Diners' Choice: Chinese restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Chinese cuisine in San Francisco Bay Area? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

HK Lounge Bistro

4.8

4.8 (811)

$31 to $50

Chinese

SOMA

About the restaurant

About:
HK Lounge Bistro has been reborn in the SoMa district. We specialize in handmade Dim Sum and Hong Kong Style Chinese cooking.

Reservations:
Walk-in are welcome but reservations are highly recommended. You may also call the restaurant and speak with our host for availability.

Sorry. Small space restaurant. We do not accept strollers in the restaurant. Thank you for your understanding
Cheers

Top review

LouisVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Excellent HK style Chinese food in a relaxed old Hong Kong restaurant atmosphere. The beef and turbot mains were outstanding and there many very good dim sum/appetizer options. The So family provides a very local and friendly atmosphere. Can’t wait to take my family back.

Z & Y Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (318)

$30 and under

Chinese

Chinatown

About the restaurant

Chef Han has served two Chinese Presidents and was the previous Executive Chef in the office of the Consulate General of China in San Francisco.

Z & Y Restaurant is an award winning and Michelin Guide recommended San Francisco Chinese restaurant which prepares all your favorite authentic Chinese cuisine, Szechuan regional specialties including spicy and non-spicy dishes, Mandarin style dim sum and family dishes.

San Francisco residents, as well as tourist and dignitaries from all around the world come to Z & Y Restaurant for business lunch, dinners, special events and to order our fast and reliable Chinese take out.

At Z & Y Restaurant, we prepare delicious Chinese cuisine that is full of flavor. We consider ourselves to be the best Chinese food restaurant around and with one bite from our amazing menu, we are confident you will feel the same. We invite you to come in and become a new loyal customer.

Top review

stuartVIP

Dined on Jan 2, 2025

Kind of chaotic, sit at this table then no take this one. Food pretty excellent with the exception of Beef with Chilli Oil- overwhelmed by the oil. Other dishes were excellent. Overall good experience.

China Live

4.7

4.7 (3242)

$30 and under

Chinese

Chinatown

About the restaurant

China Live, Eater's "Restaurant of the Year," features fresh, seasonal Chinese cuisine cooked from specialized stations that merge traditional Chinese and Western culinary equipment. Our main dining area, with views of our exhibition kitchens, plays centerpiece, appointed with chairs and tables all handcrafted in China from reclaimed Chinese elm. We also offer outside dining.

Top review

Patrick

Dined 1 day ago

Fabulous shared plates. Ordered six plates for three people. Excellent flavors and presentation. Comfortable seating. Very active and fun! Excellent pre-game bar upstairs beforehand (Cold Drinks).

Z & Y Peking Duck

4.6

4.6 (112)

$30 and under

Chinese

Chinatown

About the restaurant

Z & Y Peking Duck: After 200 years of waiting, San Francisco Chinatown finally welcomes authentic Peking duck

Z & Y is a Michelin-recommended restaurant which also the critics' choice.

Discover a culinary masterpiece at Z & Y Peking Duck. Chef Han, renowned for serving Chinese presidents, diplomats, and VIPs, brings centuries of tradition to the heart of San Francisco's Chinatown.

Indulge in our signature Peking Duck, elevated with caviar, or savor other Cantonese classics like Miso Sea Bass and Xiao Long Bao. Experience two distinct atmospheres: modern upstairs or traditional downstairs. Perfect for special occasions, date nights, or group gatherings. Join us for a taste of Beijing in the Bay Area.

Top review

BarbaraVIP

Dined on Jan 4, 2025

A group of neighbors in a condo building is making Peking Duck for the new Year a tradition. This was our second year at Z and Y Peking Duck to celebrate the New Year. We were seated downstairs where it was quiet and private. The food was superb as was our service. We ordered 1 and 1/2 ducks for 5 people and that was exactly right, paired with several appetizers. The duck is sliced very thinly and brought to the table already sliced. It is truly delicious and is served with all the traditional accompaniments- thin pancake, scallions, and Hoisin sauce. Z and Y Peking Duck is the place to go for this special treat. Highly recommended.

Four Kings

4.7

4.7 (138)

$30 and under

Chinese

Chinatown

About the restaurant

## Four Kings: A Nostalgic Journey Through Cantonese Cuisine Step into Four Kings and be transported to a vibrant world of nostalgia and flavor. This San Francisco gem, helmed by chefs Franky Ho and Mike Long, serves up a modern take on Cantonese cuisine, infused with the chefs' personal memories and a playful spirit. The atmosphere is electric, with 90s Cantopop tunes filling the air and retro Hong Kong memorabilia adorning the walls. The open kitchen allows you to witness the culinary artistry firsthand, as chefs prepare dishes like the signature **fried squab** and the innovative **mapo spaghetti**. The menu is a celebration of bold flavors and unexpected combinations. Start with the **XO escargot with milk bread**, a decadent treat that will leave you wanting more. For a taste of tradition, try the **Hong Kong black peppered steak**, cooked to perfection and bursting with savory notes. Vegetarians will delight in the **garlic pea shoots**, a simple yet flavorful dish that showcases the freshest ingredients. Four Kings is more than just a restaurant; it's an experience. It's a place to gather with friends, share delicious food, and reminisce about the golden age of Hong Kong cinema. So come hungry, come curious,

Top review

Lizzie

Dined 5 days ago

We walked in right at 7:45pm and the people outside said it was a 1 hour walk-in wait at 7:45pm! The place wasn't that full when we walked in ad there were some open tables, but they filled up pretty quickly with reservations. It was so cool seeing Chefs Franky Ho and Mike Long (two Mister Jiu's alums) and their partners Millie Boonkokua and Lucy Li in person working. I've seen their pictures and read their names so much, I fangirled internally. We were seated at the bar next to each other which was fine. I love the art and Canto decor. It's cozy and warm and nostalgic and modern all at once. We enjoyed the complimentary peanuts and cucumber--that was a good starter because we didn't order any vegetables because too many other dishes sounded good. Our waitress said 3 dishes would be good for 2 people--maybe 4 if we got fewer carb-heavy dishes. We ordered the squab ($45) (limited quantities), Mapo spaghetti ($21), and claypot Rice w/ Chinese sausage & Bacon ($26.) We had high expectations for the squab and claypot (which they said would take 30 minutes, but seemed like it was faster.) The squab grew on us--the lemon and powder we were given for it helped amplify the flavor. The claypot was very good--the crispy crackling rice was delicious and rich. The sausage and bacon wasn't fatty but flavorful. The highlight of the night was the Mapo spaghetti.

Harborview Restaurant & Bar

4.5

4.5 (1454)

$31 to $50

Chinese

Financial District / Embarcadero

About the restaurant

Located at Four Embarcadero Center, Harborview Restaurant & Bar serves quintessential Cantonese Cuisine and traditional yet innovative dim sum and banquet menus, with impeccable service in an elegant and relaxed atmosphere. With a main dining room seating more than 200, Harborview also features a full bar, patio, private dining and special event space. Harborview is a combination of traditional Cantonese classics and our own original recipes, using the finest ingredients.

We look forward to serving you soon!

Harborview Restaurant Team

Top review

Antoine

Dined 3 days ago

Went for my wife’s birthday and it did not disappoint. There wasn’t one dish we ordered that wasn’t amazing. And the staff was super friendly and accommodating, highly recommended.

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4.4

4.4 (2760)

$30 and under

Chinese

SOMA

About the restaurant

Fang is the sister restaurant of wildly popular restaurant, House of Nanking. Fang embodies both modern and authentic Chinese cuisines in a fine dining setting serving traditional Chinese fare, dim sum, as well as "off the menu" innovative dishes for the adventurous. Chef Peter Fang believes that good-tasting food is universal and should not be bound by how dishes were made in the past. With Chef Peter’s trademark inventiveness and eye for quality, the menu evolves and changes based on seasonally fresh ingredients from the same local Chinatown markets Peter has visited for decades. For fresh seasonal Chinese food in an elegant and modern setting, visit Fang.

Top review

Josh

Dined 4 days ago

Most negative reviews I've seen flag not getting the right dishes, and I think they woefully misunderstand the beauty of FANG. Here, the head of the restaurant visits each table, checks in on dietary constraints and preferences, and then starts sending out dishes attuned to what he thinks the table will enjoy. If you want a specific dish, you can ask for it, but generally this is not your standard ordering experience. That's part of the magic of FANG, but is often unspoken. The food? Delicious.

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Popular dish

Fried Onioncake

Popular dish

House Special Fried Rice

Popular dish

Fried Shrimpackets

The Empress by Boon

4.5

4.5 (1388)

$50 and over

Chinese

Chinatown

About the restaurant

Empress by Boon is San Francisco’s newest, must-visit epicurean destination, offering a seasonal menu in modern Cantonese gastronomy. Michelin-starred Chef Ho Chee Boon applies traditional techniques to fresh, local ingredients to produce distinctive contemporary dishes infused with Cantonese flavors.

The spacious restaurant occupies the former location of Chinatown’s celebrated Empress of China with striking city views. Reimagined by Chef Boon and team, the Empress was brought back to its former glory by embracing modern design elements while incorporating restored original features, creating a welcoming atmosphere that pays homage to the history of the beloved location.

Top review

PattyVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Enjoyed this fixed prix menu. Starting off with small individual appetizers, followers by shared family style dishes. There were a total of 6 courses, although some of the courses had more than one item. The food was well prepare and tasty. There was more seafood at the beginning. Starting with a crab egg caviar course followed by a prawn and a spring roll. There was a three piece dim sum tasting. The pork bun was really delicious. Another highlight was the stir fried beef tenderloin and the duck. The duck was an add on. It well worth it. The skin was crispy and delicious. Enjoyed the dinner and there was plenty of food. They even accommodated one member of our party that has a shellfish allergy with good alternatives.

P.F. Chang's - Pleasanton

4.1

4.1 (157)

$30 and under

Chinese

Pleasanton

About the restaurant

We are an Asian & Chinese restaurant offering dine-in, takeout, to-go, delivery, and catering. Make a reservation online to dine in. Order Asian and Chinese food delivery, takeout, and catering online or through the P.F. Chang's mobile app. Let us cater the perfect feast for you - corporate office catering menus are also available. P.F. Chang's offers a variety of signature Asian, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Mongolian, and Chinese food dishes including Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Pad Thai, Signature Lo Mein, Fried Rice, Mongolian Beef, Chang's Spicy Chicken, and Pork and Shrimp Dumplings. Order online for sushi delivery and takeout. Many gluten-free and vegetarian menu items are available. Try our seasonal cocktails and seasonal menu items.

Top review

Grace

Dined on Jan 11, 2025

The food is good, but the service needs to improve, our server NEVER stop by after serving our food, didn’t even ask or check on our drinks or water, we always go to this place and this last time is worse service.

P.F. Chang's - Palo Alto

4.1

4.1 (208)

$30 and under

Chinese

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

Top review

BonnieVIP

Dined on Dec 30, 2024

Food is always consistent and very good. We had a great server - Burak. He was attentive and provided great service!

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