1. Ah Ma’s kitchen

0

San Francisco, CA

Cancel

Open app

Search

Ah Ma’s kitchen

4.0 (113 reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Updated 1 month ago

Waitlist - Ah Ma’s kitchen

Waitlist closed

The restaurant is not taking waitlist parties right now

Order Ah Ma’s kitchen Takeout or Delivery

Ah Ma’s kitchen Photos

Business Info

AH MA’S KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for groups
Dogs allowed

You might also consider

More like Ah Ma’s kitchen

Recommended Reviews - Ah Ma’s kitchen

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Interior - Wall. Instructions to eat chicken (2/3)
Joyce K.

Dropped by for a late lunch on Thursday. Despite the 3 other tables, the place was relatively empty. For a party of 2, we were seated immediately. What we got: - Kiln Chicken, half [3/5]: Decent, but gets salty after a while. The kind of chicken dish that makes you want scallion ginger sauce to go with it! - Scrambled Egg and Pork Bo Lo bun sandwich [3/5]: Pretty decent. Pork was crispy. The pineapple bun added some sweetness to the sandwich's savory interior. It was a bit dry overall and needed more sauce, but all in all, it was decent. - Shrimp Wonton Noodle Soup [4/5]: The wontons were superb! Savory, full of umami, with a slight sesame oil flavor. Would recommend getting the shrimp wontons themselves! All in all, a very homey vibe. Hong Kong milk-style milk tea was solid, though on the sweeter side despite asking for low sweetness. Comes already in a to-go cup, which is a plus, as we rarely finish our drinks and often ask for them.

XXXL boba
Christina L.

Solid place to eat! Very homey. Weekend lunch is not too busy. Not many tables, but not long of a wait. Order the wonton noodle soup (14.95), XXXL boba ($6.95) and kiln chicken ($17.95) The kiln chicken is juicy and flavorful. The employee helps with deboning the chicken at your table. The noodle soup had small dried shrimp to add to soup flavor, the wonton contains a mix of pork and shrimp. XXXL boba is grass jelly, but the milk tea was aromatic. My favorite had to the wonton noodle soup because it has a perfect balance of items and it was delicious.

Garlic Green Beans
Faith C.

Solid food at very decent prices. Kiln chicken is a must; the meat is super flavorful and juicy. It comes out piping hot and they break it up for you at the table. Our fave dish surprisingly ended up being the Beef Chow Fun. The noodle was extremely flavorful and had a ton of textures from all the veggies, egg, and beef. Highly recommend this one as well. Curry Beef Brisket had a ton of beef, as well as onions and bell peppers. They aren't skimpy on their ingredient portions at all. The curry itself was quite mild in flavor--I could have done with a bit more salt. Garlic Green Beans were alright. We like our green beans a bit crunchier; these were pretty soft. Our least favorite dish had to be the Shrimp Wonton Noodle Soup ): The wonton itself was quite good, but the noodles and broth were extremely bland. Defo disappointed in this one. Our food did come out one by one, with quite a bit of time in between dishes, which meant we couldn't eat everything altogether until twenty five minutes after receiving the chicken that came out first. We noticed other tables having their dishes come out staggered as well. Overall, we enjoyed our meal. Not sure if I'd return, but definitely glad I came to try out the kiln chicken.

Kiln Chicken(Half)
Allena C.

We were looking for a Hong Kong-style café while in the Richmond District, and our friend suggested we try Ah Ma's Kitchen. We got lucky and found parking right in front. The restaurant was brightly lit, clean, and casual. We arrived around 7:30 p.m. on a weekday evening and had no trouble getting a table. *** OUR PICKS *** SALTED EGG YOLK GREEN BEANS ~ Our party felt the green beans weren't fresh and may have been frozen since they were all cut so uniformly. The salted egg yolk flavor was enjoyable, but the beans lacked the crisp texture of fresh green beans. 3.5/5 FRESH CUCUMBER SALAD ~ The cucumbers were refreshing, but they didn't seem to have been marinated long enough. We were expecting more of that tangy, garlicky flavor. It needed a bit more seasoning to give it that extra punch. 3/5 KILN 1/2 CHICKEN ~ Ah Ma's is known for its kiln chicken, and it definitely lived up to the hype. It was the best dish of our meal! It was juicy, tender, and served piping hot, so HOT that the server even wore two pairs of gloves to handle it! 5/5 We were planning to order the pan-fried noodles, but our server let us know they were no longer on the menu, which limited our choices. I wish I had better things to say about Ah Ma's Kitchen. The kiln chicken was excellent, but hopefully they can improve on some of the side dishes for a better overall dining experience. Based on what we've tried, I'd recommend sticking with the chicken.

Honey Walnut Shrimps(12)
Alisa B.

This place is going viral right now for their XXXL Boba Milk Tea and their Pineapple Bun Sandwich, but personally my favorites were the Stir-Fried Black Pepper Beef Macaroni and Salted Egg Yolk Green Beans! Cooked perfectly. So flavorful and delicious! These are MUST TRY items in my eyes!! The tableside hand-torn Kiln Chicken was really flavorful and saucy! A little on the dry side, but really tasty. Some of my friends really enjoyed the Mapo Tofu, Honey Walnut Shrimp, and Beef Chow Fun! Everything we ordered was a hit! I was shocked to see they even have bitter melon on the menu. We called ahead to reserve a table for 16 people and the staff were super accomodating despite being crazy busy on a Friday! I will definitely recommend this to more friends and dine here again!

Kiln Chicken(Half)
Melissa C.

My friends and I wanted to try this place for the XXXL boba which is essentially grass jelly in the shape of a very large boba in a milk tea drink. The flavor of the jelly was alright but it was fun to eat it as if it was a large boba. Items ordered: - Shrimp wonton noodle soup: Can't go wrong with a wonton noodle soup. This dish tasted great and would be perfect for a cold or sick day. - Hot and sour soup: Great sour flavor. Easily shareable for 3-4 people - Garlic string beans: A little oily but overall had a good flavor. Lots of string beans in the dish - Half kiln chicken: The signature dish of the restaurant! A staff member brings it out wrapped in foil and prepares the dish at the table by removing the bones and getting as many pieces of meat. Would get again! - XXXL boba milk tea: Recommend getting if it's your first time to experience eating the XXXL boba and sharing with 1-3 other people!

The bun wasn't as flakey like some in SF on my social media feed. I wonder if I need a spoon or a fork to eat it ? ( Questions in my mind)
Juan V.

What came first the chicken or the bun? The age old question . At this location it seems like the chicken is the star of the show and the bun is the supporting cast. It seems many people talk about the best chicken sandwiches in the city but overlook which ones are the most unique. There is a place which uses one of my favorite buns. I usually eat the buns by itself but when you put a chicken breast or chicken thigh in between which makes a major difference in flavor. The sweet and savory kicks in and makes it delicious. Located on Clement street it's called Ah Ma's Kitchen. Walking on the streets of San Francisco inland and not by the Bay or in the Bay on Clement street there a lot places to get buns in SF. One place serves a chicken sandwich with Hong Kong style buns. I got the Scrambled egg and Chicken Bo Lo Bun sandwich. It was tasty and with a not too sweet bun and the savory mix of chicken made the combination amazing. The egg and chicken combined with soft a bit sweet Chinese pinneaple bun makes this chicken sandwich different than most chicken sandwiches in SF and a must try because Ma and Ah Ma knows best. Take a Spring stroll is almost ending although Summer feels like it already "begun" with this weekend heatwave San Francisco experienced lots of "sun"especially when there are lots of events in the city in the month of June to enjoy and have some" fun"and also enjoy an unique chicken sandwich in between a "Cantonese bun" Some stories on social media saying you from the San Francisco Bay but live not in SF are "fiction " a total "contradiction" there is a fair "distinction"because last I checked the restaurant is located inland on the streets of San Francisco not the Bay is where you find "Ah Ma's Kitchen"

Sweet & Sour Pork
Jennifer L.

Food is okay, the hype is definitely there Tried the XXXL boba milk tea and it was slightly disappointing in taste with the giant 'boba' being made of grass jelly missing the mark on the texture The sweet and sour pork was dry while the hot and sour soup fell flat in flavor The redeeming dish was the stir fried black pepper beef macaroni Maybe I ordered the wrong things?

Viral chicken sandwich-DO NOT ORDER. Kinda gross
Amy W.

I came here for the viral chicken sandwich on a pineapple bun. It was pretty bad. the meat was chewy, the bun was dry. I ate about 1/4 of it and gave up. Avoid.

Beef Brisket Casserole
Melody L.

Stopped by Ah Ma's Kitchen on a Sunday afternoon and there were already 4 parties ahead of us on the waitlist. We ended up waiting about 20 minutes before being seated, which wasn't too bad for a weekend crowd. For ordering, they give you a big physical menu to look through, but you actually place everything through a QR code at the table. Once the order was in, the service was pretty quick. They are known for their Kiln Chicken, which came out last. They actually have someone bring it to the table to open it up and break it apart right in front of you. To be honest, it didn't look all that appetizing while they were tearing it apart, but it tasted pretty good in the end! Everything else we ordered was really good too, and the portions were solid enough that we had some leftovers to bring home.

Scrambled Egg w.Pork Pineapple Bun
Elaine Y.

Came to Ah Ma's Kitchen and enjoyed it! We ordered several dishes to share and all of them were pretty good! We started off with the XXXL boba because why not? Turns out, the boba is actually grass jelly which is nice because that's a little more refreshing and generally easier to chew. It also pairs well with the robust HK milk tea. Having said that, if you were looking for a boba experience, it will leave you pining for that chewiness. Next came the salted egg green beans, kiln chicken, and black pepper beef macaroni. Honestly, all of these are recommended. The beans were crisp but very bold with that salted egg yolk flavor. The kiln chicken is essentially XL foil wrapped chicken from dim sum but I can appreciate the table side presentation to really highlight how tender the chicken is. I did find the "special sauce" or jus to be a tad salty though. As for the macaroni, I applaud their use of a gluten free pasta. The springiness of the noodles were really good and ironically I had a second version of this later in the evening (despite never seeing it ever before?) with regular semolina pasta and Ah Ma's was world's better. We also added the spicy wontons which came sitting in this mala soy sauce that was really good! Would have as a dip for everything! As for the pineapple bun sandwich, it was just okay. I personally could have used more mayo to give it some unctuousness. It was pretty dry sandwich in my opinion. The lettuce and tomato also didn't pair well with the pineapple bun and detracted from the experience too in my opinion... All in all, I would come back if I'm in the area.

Chloe S.

Everything was delicious! We were especially surprised by the stir fried black pepper macaroni, it was savory, and had that wok flavor. We came for the xxxl boba and juicy chicken. The boba is grass jelly, while fun we found the jelly to be a bit bland. The milk tea itself wasn't as strong as we would have liked but still a solid drink! The chicken was juicy and the staff even removes the bones for you at the table! Note that they only serve half chickens if you want to reserve a whole chicken be sure to call ahead! The fried rice and porkchop pineapple sandwich were unexpected hits. The fried rice comes with lettuce for that crunch!

The sign on the walk about the roasted chicken
Sabrina L.

For Mother's Day ( Sunday ) lunch with 11:30 am reservation, fortunately we ( party of 9 ) were able to have reservation and got seated right away. When the time we arrived, there is a crowd for waiting list. Inside setup just like its name, very home / grandparens' house, neat and clean. The chicken is juicy and flavorful, a bit too salty for me. The rest dishes are flavorful as well, but a bit too salty for me, glad the service is good enough to keep filling water for me, with water, I can enjoy the food. The clay pots we ordered had very similar flavors/tastes, even ingredients. The XXL boba milk tea was fan to have, taste wise more like honkong milk tea. If your appetite tuned for hongkong cuisine, then you will surely enjoy it. The restaurant is relatively small, limited seatings, also you need to be lucky with on the street parking ( that is typical SF). The food portion is on the small to medium side, the surprising Mother's Day small gifts made the overall experience bumped one star, food quality and value 3stars, extra one star for the service.

See all

Reviews are generally positive. Many highlight the kiln chicken, pineapple bun sandwiches, and black pepper beef macaroni. People also enjoy the creative drinks and clean and modern space.

Read the full review summary in the app

Photo of Sara T.
361
359
5016

7 days ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0

16 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 2
Love this 3
Oh no 1

13 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 10
Thanks 5
Love this 5
Oh no 6

3 months ago

Helpful 12
Thanks 1
Love this 7
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Juan V.
5000
2038
15059

4 months ago

Helpful 11
Thanks 2
Love this 5
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kaiqi L.

Kaiqi L.

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1
Photo of Elaine Y.
1044
1701
4649

6 months ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 1
Photo of Chloe S.
1514
502
1942

5 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kaiqi L.

Kaiqi L.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 2

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kaiqi L.

Kaiqi L.

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kaiqi L.

Kaiqi L.

Helpful 11
Thanks 6
Love this 10
Oh no 0
Photo of Linz C.
297
538
1837

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kaiqi L.

Kaiqi L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kaiqi L.

Kaiqi L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kaiqi L.

Kaiqi L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kaiqi L.

Kaiqi L.

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kaiqi L.

Kaiqi L.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kaiqi L.

Kaiqi L.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kaiqi L.

Kaiqi L.

Helpful 3
Thanks 3
Love this 2
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kaiqi L.

Kaiqi L.

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 2
Photo of Joanna T.
1072
959
11526

9 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kaiqi L.

Kaiqi L.

Helpful 5
Thanks 2
Love this 3
Oh no 1

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kaiqi L.

Kaiqi L.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

Page 1 of 3

Ask the Community - Ah Ma’s kitchen

You might also consider

San Tung - Original Dry Fried Chicken ($20/12)

San Tung

4.1(8.9k reviews)
1.3 mi•Inner Sunset
•$$

There is a specific kind of culinary magic that only happens in the cramped, loud, steam-filled…read morejoints of San Francisco. And if it's chicken wings your soul is screaming for, let's be honest: there isn't a single place in this town that can compete with San Tung. This recipe? It's completely off the hook. It is sweet, it is tangy, and it is utterly, shamelessly irresistible to the human tongue. It completely defies the pedestrian flavors that everyone else in this city is pushing. This isn't just food; it's a lifestyle choice. It's my drug of choice. What you've got here is a beautiful, bastardized combination of Chinese and Korean BBQ engineering. But let's get one thing straight: the secret isn't some mythical blend of eleven herbs and Chinese spices. No, it boils down to something far more primal: the type of chicken that San Tung purchases. They are looking for something very specific--the precise age, the exact size of the bird. And that? That is something they will absolutely never share with you. Like the formula for Coca-Cola, they guard that secret with a beautiful, paranoid intensity. Now, the people I really miss in this room are Charles and his wife. They split off from this sit-down paradise years ago and carved out their own gig right next door--San Tung 2. They took the crown and put themselves on the map for those wings. It was a beautiful, tightly run family affair--full-on mafia style. Whatever traffic drove through this side of town, they weren't here for the scenery; they were here for the wings. ST2 might be gone now, but the dream? The dream continues to thrive right here. So whenever that craving hits, do yourself a favor. Make your way over to this room. You'll thank me later.

I don't get the huge hype over San Tung. Spicy house in Daly City has slightly better chicken…read morewings, but besides the wings, San Tung is average. I tried a bunch of the noodle dishes, the rice, and the sautéed string beans. The string beans were a little thick and too oily, DTF is better. The noodles also were not amazing as I had better.

Photos
San Tung
San Tung - Noodles w/ Peanut Sauce ($18)

Noodles w/ Peanut Sauce ($18)

San Tung - Noodles w/ Peanut Sauce ($18)

See all

Noodles w/ Peanut Sauce ($18)

Four Kings 四大天王 - sichuan cabbage

Four Kings 四大天王

4.2(478 reviews)
3.7 mi•Chinatown
•$$$

Amazing service! I…read morecame as a party of 2 at 5:20 (just before opening) on a Saturday night and we were the last party to be seated as the first round of walk-ins! We got seated right by the window, so lovely! The ambiance is so nice and the decor is so cozy and cool. We got the free peanuts and cucumber salad first- so flavorful and a nice way to whet our appetite. The scallop vermicelli was SO buttery and flavorful. I wanted another order!! The claypot rice came steaming hot and full of meats! Get something to cut it with! The black bean clams were delicious but a tad salty so it's nice to have with the claypot, or even an order of veggies and plain rice! We ended our meal with shaved ice that was layered with black bean, custard, and boba! So refreshing and a perfect end! I would come back 10000%

Five of us dined here to celebrate a birthday. According to the one who managed to get the…read morereservation, it's quite popular and the reservation is one of the coveted ones in SF. Anyway, having tried it, I can say it was good, but not so good that I'd expend that much energy to secure the reservation. Have to say, service was really great. Servers were attentive without being overbearing, which is always welcome. We ordered several dishes and dined, as they suggested, family style. To start, we were given two complimentary dishes, the roasted peanuts and the smashed cucumbers; both were nice appetizers. We ordered the Chiu Chow green beans, the Mongolian beef noodles, the claypot rice with lop cheung and bacon, the salt 'n peppa prawns, and the whole fried petrale sole, the last two being on the day's "specials" board. The winning dish was definitely the green beans. All the food was good, but seemed to be a bit overly salted and highly spiced. The piece of beef I had from the Mongolian beef noodles was tender, but one of my friends thought her piece was a bit tough and too chewy; we all thought the beef could have been cut into smaller or thinner pieces. We also shared two desserts since it was a birthday celebration (there are only three options offered). We had the red bean shaved ice and the mango pudding. Both were good (not "oh, boy, yummy" good, but good). Nice to try. The price wasn't outrageous ($200 including tax and tip), but I think this will be a "been there, done that" experience for me unless a friend absolutely wants to go again.

Photos
Four Kings 四大天王 - View of kitchen

View of kitchen

Four Kings 四大天王 - Creamy potato salad with tofu dressing

Creamy potato salad with tofu dressing

Four Kings 四大天王 - Sichuan cabbage (@joeynht)

See all

Sichuan cabbage (@joeynht)

606

606

4.6(635 reviews)
3.7 mi•North Beach/Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill
•$$
Family-owned & operated
Takes reservations

​606 took over the legendary New Sun Hong Kong spot--a neighborhood staple since 1989 known for its…read moreiconic hanging floating books outside on Broadway. It has been reimagined by the next generation of the family as a vibrant reboot that honors tradition while bringing fresh energy to Chinatown/North Beach. ​I came back tonight to sit down for a full meal, and the house was completely full--I love seeing them do so well! As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by one of the owners, Eugene. He was super friendly, welcoming, and focused on making sure we got seated. His hospitality genuinely can't be beaten anywhere; he immediately made us feel like family. Thankfully, a couple of tables were finishing up their checks, and he had us seated in no time. ​We ordered the wonton noodle soup, seafood fried noodles, and garlic Chinese spinach, and the food came out fast! Everything tasted great, and unlike so many restaurants nowadays that serve individual-sized portions under the guise of "family style," 606's portions are huge and wonderfully generous. ​Wonton Noodle Soup: The broth was flavorful without being overly salty, and the wontons were packed with plump, tender shrimp--they definitely don't skimp on ingredients! ​Seafood Fried Noodles: Executed perfectly with just the right amount of savory sauce so the noodles retained that satisfying crispy, crunchy texture. ​Garlic Chinese Spinach: Cooked just right--not too soft and not undercooked. ​I'm so glad we came back to sit down and dine in. Not only do Eugene and his team make you feel right at home, but the food is fantastic, hearty, and full of heart. Highly recommend!

My family and I decided to stop by 606 for a bite to eat before heading to the Giants game, and…read morewe're so glad we did! We ordered the sesame chicken and salt and pepper shrimp, and everything was delicious, full of flavor and perfectly prepared. The service was also excellent and made the experience even better. We really enjoyed our meal and would definitely come back. Highly recommend 606 if you're in San Francisco!

Photos
606
606 - Voted Top 100 Chinese Restaurants in the USA! Thank you Yelp and our wonderful and supportive customers!

Voted Top 100 Chinese Restaurants in the USA! Thank you Yelp and our wonderful and supportive customers!

606

See all

Palette Tea House

Palette Tea House

4.1(2k reviews)
3.1 mi•Russian Hill, Fisherman's Wharf
•$$$
Locally owned & operated
Speaks Mandarin

The food was delicious and the service was great. We had the Duck, Pork Bao, Lobster dumplings and…read morechicken dumplings. Their Oolong tea is amazing. Our waiter was great at explaining the menu, and was great at accommodating our toddler.

Is there a law that says food can't taste THIS good without some sort of warning label? You know,…read moresomething along the lines of: "WARNING: Excessive deliciousness may cause your brain to go into shock from an overload of endorphins." No? Well, there SHOULD be one at this restaurant! We stopped by for some Sunday dim sum, and DAMN! Did this place knock it out of the park! First off, the ambiance was AMAZING! Sitting outside next to the ocean with that cool coastal breeze rolling through on a beautiful Sunday afternoon? Chef's kiss! Honestly, the weather alone was already setting us up for a great experience before the excellent service. But the food? Oh, it took things to a whole different level! Steamed Dumplings (XLB): 100/10!!! The flavors were absolutely SPOT ON! The skin was incredibly thin and delicate, making every bite a perfect balance of juicy filling and soft wrapper. Just the right thickness to soak up a little dipping sauce without overpowering the dumpling itself. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! The Rest of the Dim Sum: Everything pictured below absolutely delivered! Not a single disappointing dish in the bunch. Black Swan Taro Puff: Now THIS was probably the most interesting dish I had during the entire meal! The texture was unlike anything else we ordered, but the filling? DIVINE! The combination of century egg and chicken created this incredible explosion of savory flavors. It's one of those combinations you wouldn't necessarily expect to work so beautifully together, but somehow, it just DOES! Every bite was a little adventure. Absolutely loved the creativity behind this one! Peking Duck: Let's just say a picture is worth a thousand words. 10/10. NO NOTES! Final Thoughts: Between the incredible food, beautiful oceanfront ambiance, and that perfect Sunday afternoon breeze, this was easily one of the highlights of our trip. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared, and the flavors were just phenomenal. I genuinely cannot wait to return to San Francisco, even if it's just for another meal here! And seriously, someone needs to look into that warning label. This level of deliciousness should come with a disclaimer!

Photos
Palette Tea House
Palette Tea House
Palette Tea House

See all

Harborview Restaurant & Bar - Dim sum much?

Harborview Restaurant & Bar

4.0(2k reviews)
4.2 mi•Financial District
•$$
Outdoor seating
Happy hour specials

Classic Chinese food done very well. Overall, this place is busy and parking is hard to find even…read morewith two garages! But the effort is worth it. The food is delicious and on a high level. I even went 45 minutes out of my way just to go there. Just be aware that if you want the dim sum experience there is much more during lunch. FOOD: Wonderful. We had a wide variety of food. Honey BBQ Pork, Peking Roast Duck, Harborview Beef, Baked BBQ Bun, Xiao Long Bao, Kung Pao Chicken, and Garlic Honey Chicken. Honey BBQ Pork was surprisingly good! Loved it. Roast duck was exactly what a good Chinese restaurant should serve which is NOT a given. Baked BBQ Bun was excellent (not to be confused with cha siu bao which has a different texture and taste). Garlic Honey Chicken was terrific. Similar to orange chicken but a bit more sweet and a tiny bit less tangy. Not really garlicky at all. Kung Pao Chicken was good but not exceptional and the Harborview Beef was tasty but a lot like teriyaki beef jerky. I think it was way overcooked. SERVICE: Good portions and packaged really well. We did take out and they had it packaged and ready on time. Too bad they don't have it available downstairs so you have to either wait for the literal two person elevator or climb up and down the stairs. COST: A bit pricey but at least you get what you paid for. It's hard to find this high quality Chinese food so if you're lucky enough, go and try it. My favorite is still Begoni Bistro in Chinatown but this one is definitely worth it and I might change my mind if I get to try the lunch!

This review is about their week day lunch take-out…read more (Located around the corner to the right from main entrance via street level). Prices are very reasonable, quality of food is high, and selection is manageable and solid. All orders come with rice and a drink: 1 item $15 2 items $18 Double meat (duck) $23 Service is quick, accurate, and efficient; up to Harborview 's standard of excellence.

Photos
Harborview Restaurant & Bar - Black Sesame Mochi with Grated Peanut

Black Sesame Mochi with Grated Peanut

Harborview Restaurant & Bar - Enjoy dining or Happy Hour on our spacious patio!

Enjoy dining or Happy Hour on our spacious patio!

Harborview Restaurant & Bar - Baked Coffee Lava Buns with Crunchy Sugar Crust

See all

Baked Coffee Lava Buns with Crunchy Sugar Crust

Ah Ma’s kitchen - asianfusion - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...