Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Chef Li's Cafe

    3.9 (216 reviews)
    ModerateChinese, Barbeque
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Chef Li's Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    CHEF LI'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Chef Li's Cafe

    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

    bbq pork
    Lisa W.

    I love coming here for their roasted duck and cha siu. It's the best roast duck in San Francisco. I also get a box of rice here because it's so soft and pairs well with the duck and bbq pork. I always get extra duck sauce every time. The butcher lady and the owner is always so nice and quick with their service. I come here so often that they recognize me. You can dine in or take it togo, which I always do togo. I recommend this place for anyone looking for good roast duck.

    3 combo rice plate
    Bill P.

    Food: 3 combo plate with roast pork, bbq pork, and chicken $15 meal deal that includes soup. Bbq pork was a bit on the dry side, but it came in big pieces. Crunchy skin on the roast pork was chefs kisses. Chicken was juicy, flavorful and not fatty. Comes with a side of veggies. Quick in and out without a long wait for to go. Casual dining restaurant with friendly staff. Peer in the window to see the poultry for the day. Duck, roast pork, bbq pork, and chicken are the main protein.

    Elizabeth L.

    Came here with a large group for a family get-together- there are few large tables with lazy susans, the seats packed close to each other. Unfortunately there's only a single unisex bathroom for the entire restaurant, and that was out or order last I went. The good is reasonably priced and comes in large portions. The salt and pepper chicken wings and pork chops are my favorite. All of their classics hit the spot and nail the texture and flavors of what you'd expect.

    Fiona T.

    You know a place is good when your Asian parents choose the place. They swear that this place has the best Chinese roasted pork / roast pork. It's pricy at $14.99 per pound. The salt and pepper fish was light and fluffy and not too salty.

    Lamb claypot with bean curd
    Griselda Z.

    LOW PRICES GREAT FOOD Hey, we're living in inflation times but somehow this restaurant is able to serve most dishes under $14 a plate. Go support this business to keep the prices low! BEST BEEF CHOW FUN I argue that they have the best in San Francisco. Thick noodles, lots of beef and bean sprouts. I even noticed they took the time to properly clean the sprouts by chopping off the ends so they are more presentable. Not oily or salty. BBQ ROAST PORK SKIN CRISPY LIKE CHIPS Juicy bbq meats. All very tasty and competitive as other top SF BBQ meat restaurants. Also recommend the pig intestine with sour vegetables. Their ginger onion sauce for the steam chicken is extra gingery. Which I like. Ginger is not cheap bro!! No more hot pot service, though. They stopped offering it. Server ladies were decent. Not completely rude but not overly friendly. They accommodated all our small kids needs. Very clean atmosphere with some nice antique Chinese decor. Tall ceilings. Round tables with glass lazy susan. PARENT NOTES One bathroom only. No changing table. One high chair available. Enough space for stroller parking.

    Roast pork - 3 lbs
    Janice A.

    Ordered to-go meats at this authentic Chinese restaurant, located off of San Bruno Ave in San Francisco/Daly City area. We ordered about a month ahead of time, but was not really necessary since they had all the meats prepared and the only request was to have all of them chopped up into bite-size pieces. Of course it's first come first serve but when I came to pick up early afternoon, there were still plenty of option's available which meant they were well stocked. The only downside is the parking. It's not the greatest around San Bruno Ave. Plus the staff speaks limited English but sufficient enough to get what you'd want. Overall, very economical for price. We got 3lbs of their roast pork, one roast duck and two steamed chicken for $120 to feed 19 people for a post Thanksgiving meal, which is sure economical They also have a dining area to seat for one or a party of ten for a chill and causal indoor dining experience. Check out my pics.

    3 meat plate

    Really good, great portions. The food isn't hot though but I still really enjoyed it!

    Roast pork with rice
    Kemlyn B.

    Excellent roast pork with crackling and charsiu pork. They served both plates with braised cabbage and the charsiu gravy was spot on. The dried salted fish and chicken fried rice was salty and satisfying. It is a new flavor at first, but oh so addictive! All the portions were huge. Our server was disappointed that we were not taking home leftovers. I explained I didn't have a kitchen to reheat anything and I was as stuffed as a charsiu bao.

    Christina H.

    I went to get take out they give me good amount of the food and service was good and fast since there were no people around think it was almost closing time, their ducks and chicken always taste so good it was quiet overall I always enjoy eating there, no music play so it easy to talk

    Suckling Pig
    Dan M.

    I asked a homie where I could buy a whole roast pig for an important event. The homie who understands the lingo recommended me this spot. At first I thought he was talking that hole in the wall with that step up into the kitchen with them Pokémon cards that remodeled but when he gave me the address I was amazed like what ? This store? The fire pit roast Chef definitely has a roast degree pHD as it clearly showed all the way through. I been here a couple times for the hot pot but this was my first time grabbing the bbq. This whole suckling pig so far is the best I had. Super lightly salted and the skin crispy AF! The meat was baby tender Thank you to the staff and management. This place is a one stop shop for Chinese food, bbq and hotpot

    Soysauce chicken
    Jamie Z.

    Came here for Christmas dinner, and it was lively, busy, and lines out the door. Chef Li's Cafe surprised me with what they have to offer. The front end of the restaurant/cafe/eatery is a fully loaded Chinese BBQ shop with freshly roasted duck, soy sauce chicken, duck wings, BBQ pork, Chinese fastfood for take out including chow mein, fried chicken, sweet and sour pork and more! The back-end restaurant seats a whopping 50+ with 3 large family style tables and 2-4 seat tables for smaller parties. Tables are also modular for hotpot. However, I would say their specialty truly seems to be their Chinese BBQ and Chinese food. What we ordered: Duck Wings Roast Duck 5/5 Soy Sauce Chicken 5/5 Gai-lan Walnut Shrimp Sweet and Sour Fried Pork Chops (4/5) Salt and pepper fried shrimp Lamb and Tofu stick claypot Egg drop corn soup Rice All relatively delicious and price point was great for the portion size. Fast service and great atmosphere inside. Nice spot for family meals

    Philip W.

    I would go to Chef Li's if you are looking for a local place to eat at a reasonable price. The food is excellent. I ordered a chicken chow fun, and you know it is good chow fun because of the smell of the wok in the noodles. Chef Li is a women-owned business; she is there daily to meet and greet customers. The ambiance is that of a welcoming Chinese restaurant with large and small tables, but they could also make hot pots and serve some other special items like spicy broiled fish. Roast pork is also great. They make their items in-house.

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ken C.
    8
    153
    16

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa W.
    304
    371
    3603

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kay W.
    0
    21
    24

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    This is my go to spot for Chinese food outside of SF Chinatown. Service is ok and their Togo gets pretty busy.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Dan M.
    408
    312
    2836

    3 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 3
    Love this 15
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mo B.
    1
    31
    7

    9 months ago

    Good food, affordable prices. Staff is kind to customers who are English speaking only.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jinny N.
    16
    37
    48

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kevin S.
    23
    33
    33

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 15
    Thanks 1
    Love this 14
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anna N.
    173
    279
    1151

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Carmen L.
    110
    57
    108

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jack L.
    1
    57
    14

    11 months ago

    Very good bbq. Lunch special especially good. Ladies at front are also generally nice and helpful!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of JM Y.
    57
    37
    77

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Their food is fresh! Love the taste! They don't dissappint. Love that it is in my neighborhood!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Zach H.
    3486
    2253
    10233

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Great place for take out. When you do feel like cooking, come here and get Chinese BBQ over rice is cheaper than cooking at home.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Yang L.

    Yang L.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Julie L.
    0
    259
    784

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    My hubby and love their salt and pepper fish and garlic eggplant. Chef Li's is our favorite spot to get take out in our neighborhood.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 6

    Chef Li's Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Chef Li's Cafe

    Does Chef Ali still do All You Can Eat?

    No they do not serve all you can eat

    Are any of the soup base options vegetarian?

    Absolutely. They have multiple vegetarian broth options and tons of fresh veggies to go in.

    Do they have an a la carte menu?

    Yes they do. The hot pot is dinner time only but they have a la carte at lunch and also at dinner.

    View All 5 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Chinese 151,371 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Four Kings 四大天王

    Four Kings 四大天王

    4.2
    (465 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$$

    I've had this spot bookmarked for ages now and my boyfriend was able to snag a birthday…read morereservation!! Unless you're a party of 1, I highly, highly, recommend a reservation. While we were waiting for our table, we saw 2-3 couples get turned away. The restaurant is small, but the interior is well-decorated. It pays homage to HK posters, music, and culture. They offer two complimentary small bites of smashed cucumber and peanuts. - XO Escargot: a must order, the dish only comes with 6 pieces but it's so worth it. The sauce is garlicky, buttery, and each bite with the milk bread is so good. The bread also has a crispy outer layer while the inside is super soft. - Eggplant: at first, we thought the dish was good, but the pieces on the bottom that soaks up all the sauce makes the eggplant full of umami flavor. This paired so good with rice. - Mapo Tofu Spaghetti: just as you imagine, but very yummy. I wish there was more of a numbing spice personally! - Black Pepper Steak: The steak was cooked perfectly to medium rare and the sauce was very yummy. This dish did not blow me away like some of the others but was still good nonetheless. I really wished we could have try the Singapore Chili Crab, but that would have been too much food. Our server was also fantastic and so kind, I wish I caught her name. Will def be back!

    Overhyped, Salty, and a Disappointment for Cantonese Food Lovers…read more I wanted to love this place, but unfortunately, my experience at Four Kings was a huge letdown. It felt like a classic case of an overhyped restaurant failing to deliver on the fundamentals, from service to the food itself. Service: The service was disorganized and unwelcoming from the start. I arrived before the restaurant opened and was told I could wait inside for the restroom, only to be immediately contradicted by another staff member who sent me back outside. Later, while we were in the middle of our meal and looking at the menu to order more food, a waitress abruptly snatched the menu from our view and stood it upright, which felt incredibly rude. The confusion continued when we tried to pay; flagging down a staff member for the bill was met with a look of surprise, despite the lack of assigned servers. Food: As someone who grew up with Cantonese and Hong Kong cafe-style food, I found the cooking here to be a poor representation of the cuisine. The overwhelming characteristics of every dish were salty and greasy. The beef chow fun was so oily that it became unappetizing after just a few bites. The pork chop rice with tomato egg, a classic comfort dish, was nothing special and suffered from the same issues: too much salt, too much grease, and a price tag that didn't match the quality. This is fusion food that misses the mark and, frankly, is a huge disservice to the real flavors of Cantonese cooking. Ambiance: The restaurant seems to be going for a nostalgic 90s "四大天王" (Four Heavenly Kings) theme, but the execution is messy. The walls are plastered with a random collection of posters from various singers and eras that have no connection to each other. Instead of feeling like a thoughtful tribute to a specific time, it comes off as a cluttered and generic attempt at creating a "vibe." Overall: If you're new to this type of cuisine, you might be impressed by the bold (albeit one-note) flavors. But if you're looking for authentic, well-executed Cantonese food, this isn't it. The combination of confusing service, overly salty food, and a forced ambiance made for a truly disappointing experience. I would not recommend it.

    Photos
    View of kitchen
    View of kitchen
    Sichuan cabbage
    Sichuan cabbage
    Fish fragrant eggplant

    See all

    Fish fragrant eggplant
    606

    606

    4.6
    (613 reviews)
    4.9 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Takes reservations

    Traditional Chinese cuisine meets modern atmosphere! Being Chinese, I have a higher standard for…read morewhat Chinese dishes can and should be. (That sounded really snobby, I apologize ) Dim sum is comfort food for me, and 606 knocks it out of the park! Cha siu bao (Bbq pork bun) has a light, fluffy bun and the pork is in the sweet spot between sweet and savory. The siu mai and the shrimp dumplings were very traditionally seasoned and delicious! Mongolian beef was excellent with a subtle kick to it, I didn't expect. Sesame balls and custard buns were nice sweet treats to wrap up the meal. Restaurant was bright, clean, and air conditioned. Some dim sum restaurants can be a little humid and stuffy. IYKYK Owners were very nice and willing to answer any questions we had. 5 star experience!!!

    In town for a work conference and my Airbnb motel was just across the street…read more Yelp reviews were legit so I walked over to grab a solo dinner to go. They were just launching their kiosk orders and I was directed to use that for ordering and ask for help if needed. I chose soup dumplings and garlic noodles. I wasn't prompted about any additional sauces for dipping and I wish I had been offered them or have them as an option in the kiosk. It was ready pretty quickly and the fast walk "home " was perfect because I was super excited to dig in! Noodles were a little dry and I wish there was more sauce or some soup sauce or something but the actual flavors were well balanced and satisfying. I wish I would have sat in the restaurant instead of taking it to go. I feel like the location really adds to the ambience and it would've been fun to people watch through the windows.

    Photos
    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)
    5.5 mi
    $$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Speaks Mandarin

    Our hostess Mia was first class! The attention to service…read morewas by far the best I've experienced in decades Very impressed to say the least The menu was fantastic the appetizers were amazing and what was most impressive was the last dish of a whole steamed fish, it was perfectly done especially considering our party of 60 guests I couldn't say anything less than an excellent dinner excellent service excellent attention to detail and execution I highly recommend this venue for any occasion I can hardly contain my joy for the evening event that they provided My thanks and appreciation for all the wonderful hospitality at Palette!

    Strong five star experience…read more I came here for a work dinner and it felt like the food just kept coming. I wish I had a better memory of everything that I ate, but there was too much. I do remember that I absolutely loved the Peking duck. They came with very thin, I can only describe it as tortilla crêpe things that you would put it in. I love this so much better than the standard buns. I also loved the fried string beans. It was tempura fried and very light. It didn't taste greasy at all. Out of three places we went to dinner for work, this was my favorite by far. It is right in Ghirardelli Square so there's a lot of things you can walk around and do either before or after. Service was great. They were very attentive. The restaurant itself was very open and lit well. They had us in a back area so it was easy to chat with my coworkers. There wasn't a single dish I didn't like so I would highly recommend coming here.

    Photos
    Palette Tea House
    Palette Tea House
    Palette Tea House

    See all

    Harborview Restaurant & Bar

    Harborview Restaurant & Bar

    4.0
    (1.9k reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    Harborview serves premium food and their dim sum are seemed to order; always fresh and super tasty…read more I've been here numerous times for yum cha (dim sum bunch) before, and trying their HH (Happy Hour) for the first time today.. and it was just simply excellent!!! The quality dim sum that we've come to expect.. plus two delightful bonuses: Excellent Margarita and their OMG - so Tasty and Addicting Tofu Fries!! YUM yim yummmmy!! Service is excellent and their wait staff checked on us every now and then, and everyone is always friendly and helpful. Nicely located in EC4; the restaurants is always super clean and comfy for hanging out. Their balcony seating also very nice, weather permitting. Bonus: they also validate parking, at (I think ) $6 off your parking rate at the Embarcadero's. Great good + Great service! Recommended!!!

    Very nice restaurant, and quite a deal! With the amazing view of the Ferry Building and the bay and…read morethe elegant, yet pretty chill, atmosphere, I was expecting an exorbitant bill. My husband and I had an entree each and dumplings, as well as a drink each, and the bill was low considering the amount we had. We did have a reservation. It seems difficult to get a table without one. For our appetizer, we ordered the vegetarian mushroom dumplings. I am not usually a fan of mushrooms (I find the mushy texture unappetizing), but they cooked them perfectly crispy, and they were delicious. I was surprised to have the dumplings served with no sauce to accompany them, however, and did not get a chance to request any. I had the mapo tofu (vegetarian), and it was a decently large serving. It was delicious, and the sauce was perfectly seasoned. Their green onions were my favorite part. My husband got the Peking duck, and I had to steal one of the buns it came with--it was so soft. The food came out pretty quickly, and the staff was attentive overall. I had one slightly awkward interaction with a waiter who seemed a little impatient when I confused myself while ordering, but otherwise the service was great. For drinks, we had an espresso martini and a lychee martini, and they were delicious. Do beware that there is an automatic 18% gratuity added to every check. This is less than I usually tip, so it did not negatively impact my experience. It's a great spot to bring friends or for date nights. I will be returning!

    Photos
    Black Sesame Mochi with Grated Peanut
    Black Sesame Mochi with Grated Peanut
    Enjoy dining or Happy Hour on our spacious patio!
    Enjoy dining or Happy Hour on our spacious patio!
    Baked Coffee Lava Buns with Crunchy Sugar Crust

    See all

    Baked Coffee Lava Buns with Crunchy Sugar Crust

    Chef Li's Cafe - chinese - Updated August 2026

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