Amazing experience at Empress by Boon! The food was delicious, beautifully presented, and the service was excellent. The restaurant has a beautiful atmosphere with stunning views of San Francisco. Definitely a special place for dinner. We'll be back! read more

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Honestly, I've never heard of this place. But we were looking for a bar to grab some drinks before our dinner at nearby R&G Lounge and AI recommended this place for the great view of Coit tower. At first we thought maybe the place had closed because the entrance was locked and there were no informational signs on how to actually enter. We started to leave but I decided to try the nondescript callbox. I don't think the reception even said anything, just buzzed the door opened. We came on a very slow Sunday, so maybe during other times the door is unlocked or they have someone in the lobby, not sure. Anyways, we take the elevator upstairs and enter a nice, upscale restaurant and bar. As mentioned, it was a super slow Sunday, so the place was completely empty except for a private party in the lounge area. We told the hostess we're just going to grab some drinks and headed to the bar. The bartender instead told us we should take the table near the window to get a nice view. So we did. And that's what the AI was talking about. At the end of the bar is a high top table for about 8 people that has a great view of San Francisco, in particular Coit tower. We order some drinks, no food since we're having dinner soon. Drinks were solid. The drinks were actually pretty reasonably priced. Given the upscale nature of the restaurant I would have thought most of the cocktails would have been more than $20 but I think all our drinks were less than $20 except my Black Manhattan. Because it was a super slow World Cup Sunday we essentially had the place to ourselves and it was a great hangout spot for some drinks before R&G Longe crab feast. Overall, I'd recommend coming here for a drink and checking out the view. I'll try to comeback for dinner too if I'm in the mood for a more refined Chinese dinner. read more

Visited Empress by Boon over the weekend to celebrate my husband + father in law birthday but overall I was not impressed by the food or service at all. Parking is either on the streets or garage nearby. We arrived to our reservation at 6pm. You go up the elevator to the 6th floor for check in. We checked in with the host and asked if they had a high chair or booster since we were seated in the booth but unfortunately they didn't. It's not a kid friendly restaurant just FYI. We all had to order the $118 prefix menus and we ordered the vegetarian fried rice for my daughter. Every dish was just okay. Nothing special about it and the portions are very small. I expected dessert to be included for $118 but nope! Roasted Black Cod with scallion oil, egg whites and cloud ear mushrooms was probably the best out of all the dishes. It was unfortunate that the boba drink also was not available. The interior was nice and service was overall decent though. I just don't think I would justify paying $118 for a prefix menu where all the dishes were pretty small portion for that price in my opinion. read more

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Officially a tourist trap. I'd been here twice before but in 2023 and the restaurant was amazing. It clearly at that time was operating at a loss providing excellent chef driven cuisine. Since the executive chef after not receiving perhaps a coveted Michelin star has moved on to a new project and is not present at empress. The staff is largely new, inexperienced. The food was like a fancified Panda Express but at about $150 a person for a weak tasting menu. A "spot prawn" is really just a previously frozen shrimp.... There are premium ingredients - keluga caviar, sea cucumber, jellyfish, morels - but they are presented in bland and uninspired dishes. I think at this point the restaurant is mainly trying to pull in tourists for the view and prior hype. read more

Empress by Boon - Cantonese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I finally was able to try this restaurant while celebrating a graduation and it did not disappoint! Every item on the tasting menu was delicious, and the wine bottle we were recommended based on our taste preferences was also some of the best I've ever had. The views of SF from inside the restaurant are beautiful, and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. I will definitely return for the next special event to celebrate! read more

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I've been trying to convince my wife about Chinese food for a long time but she hasn't gone to a place that she was impressed by. This spot changed her mind. The food was creative and delicious, the service was very attentive, the ambiance is perfect, and the drinks were well crafted. Will come back for sure. read more

Entrance is very low-key, but once you step inside it feels like you've been taken up to a hidden Michelin-star-level restaurant. I parked at a nearby parking lot and it was only about a 5-minute walk, which was easy and convenient. The food is Cantonese style, beautifully prepared, and thoughtfully executed. Every dish tasted refined and well-balanced, not overly heavy, and clearly made with quality ingredients. Service was excellent--attentive, warm, and well-timed without being intrusive. This is a great spot if you want to enjoy a meal at a slow, relaxed pace, savoring each course rather than feeling rushed. Perfect for a quiet dinner, date night, or when you want something elevated but understated. read more

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Went for a work dinner and we did the prefix menu in a private room. I thought the food was phenomenal! Some dishes were served with a little presentation and it was definitely more than enough food for the size of the group we had. My only complaint was the drinks service was extremely slow. We didn't get our first drink until almost the third round of food and then they never went around to ask if anyone wanted a second drink. Overall would definitely go back, and would be interested to try the regular dinner menu! read more

Empress by Boon - Lobster - Cantonese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tried to buzz in, no one answered. Called then had to try buzzing in again. We're seated immediately at a great spot with amazing views, but we were left there for a while before any water or menus being offered. Water came, and she only had ice water as an option? Ordered tea (~$20), and our server just left and never asked if we wanted anything else? Tea comes and she spills it while pouring for us. they were out of Riesling, got prosecco and she spilt that too. Food was all ok. The eggplant (the color was off, they overcooked it and it was gray) dish was cold, the wagyu seasoning was odd, our teapot was never refilled. The duck was an extra $50 for 8 or 10 thin slices, at least that was good. Dessert was not included. They did add a candle and small chocolate fixture saying happy birthday to my partner which was nice. The music genre was off and too loud. Overall, for a meal that was roughly $500, 20% service charge was included, it was just ok. read more

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This is a far fancier place than I'd ever expect in Chinatown -- definitely a gem that I wouldn't have expected! * Our server might've been new. They accidentally served the dishes in the wrong order, then had to take the dish back after serving. Then they got scolded in front of us, so it was a bit awkward. Unfortunately, this was probably the most lasting impression of that night. The senior staff didn't really come by to explain, and the intern just kinda disappeared after that. But even the senior staff seemed upset and wasn't very friendly. Everyone seemed stressed and unhappy. That alone wasn't a deal breaker but the public scolding kinda stuck with us. * The starting shrimp was very delicious and massive. The gua bao was honestly the best I've had in the US, definitely giving its cousins in Taiwan a run for their money. The lobster was surprisingly enjoyable, despite me not normally like lobster very much, and I love that there was a bun for the sauce. The dumplings were very goofy and I'm all for it; the koi were adorable. The final set of 3 dishes were interesting but not my favorites. They seemed more like typical Asian fare, a bit higher quality but kind of an anticlimactic way to end the meal. Overall, I'm super happy I came! I had really high expectations though, given it's an upscale version of one of my favorite cuisines, so I think just a one time experience is enough. Certain dishes stood out, but overall a negative experience and some lackluster dishes. I recommend trying at least once! read more

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Out and about at Empress By Boon Resturant Our bartender was Eddie, he was amazing and fun. Drink: Let it be Pacific house gin, suze, lemon, honey Snack: Dried scallop Turnip cake Chicken salad with green papaya and mango Beautiful design, so comfortable and relaxing. Great place after work to hangout. Cheers... read more

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Let me start off by saying that this place is gorgeous. We celebrated my friend's birthday here and were tended to promptly with great service. This was my first time and I had no expectations going in, I have to say I was a little underwhelmed. For larger parties you have to do a pre-fixed menu which is completely understandable. They are very accommodating to allergies/preferences and the server will ask you before serving the next course. For me it just did not meet my flavor profile expectations. I love Asian food, but for some odd reason many of the dishes lacked flavor or even texture. For the price point I didn't feel full after the 8 courses...which was a bit of a let down. I think I will definitely have to come back and NOT do a pre-fix menu to really see what empress by boon has to offer! Unfortunately I was not impressed :( read more

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Glad to have experienced Empress. Overall impressive interior / window view and service. The food is from a set menu that left me full. The food was good although seemed pretty similar to significantly cheaper restaurants around Chinatown, the appeal seemed to be more of the variety, ambiance, and great service. We added on the duck and deserts which were good. They also gave a little anniversary desert and wine which was nice. read more

Empress by Boon - Window view - Cantonese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Our server was Brennan. He was top notch! He acknowledged and was very well versed with the prix fixe menu, specifically with presenting options due to my egg allergy. The wait staff were all thorough, quick and very pleasant. The restaurant was busy for a Sunday evening at 8pm but the noise level was very low. For a cocktail, my friend had a Lucky Tao cocktail and I had a JuJuBe sangria. Refreshing and delicious! The prix fixe menu included: Marinated jellyfish blossom with Kaluga caviar Steamed shrimp and squid dumpling hot and sour soup Crispy sea cucumber with prawns and teriyaki sauce(me) Mongolian style Wagyu beef with crispy taro root (friend had) Braised morels with chicken and Jinhua ham Roasted black cod with scallion oil, egg white (not for me) and cloud ear mushroom Caramelized black char siu with cucumber Wok-fried French beans and lotus root in XO sauce Jade Lo Han vegetable fried rice For dessert we shared a coconut sago. Delicious!! It was an unforgettably delicious dining experience! We're looking forward to returning and including our other friends read more

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This was an amazing experience! Went with my husband on a Thursday night at 8pm. The menu is prefixed and you have 5 singular dishes and then 3 family style dishes. Everything was super delicious. The only "complaint" I can do is that the service was maybe too fast than expected. Beyond that, I can't complain about any of the dish tried. The decor of the restaurant is also very beautiful. read more

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I really enjoyed my meal here Friday night, it was solid! Some good flavors, a hearty amount of food and amazing service. What I really liked is they actually feed you, unlike some other tasting menus where you're still hungry after I left pretty full. However, I think if we ate meat this would have been better but we are pescatarian so some dishes were modified. The place was huge and half empty on a Friday night which is usually not a good sign. Food was a 4/5 ...some of the dishes not pictured. Most dishes were good but lacking some depth. Desert fell hard and was a 2.5/5 but everything else was good. Presentation was beautiful and elegant. Service was 5/5 amazing fine dining service forsure and ambience was just wonderful for me 5/5! I love a dark moody atmosphere! It was romantic, elevated, modern, and tastefully done. The views were just as amazing and I loved the layout of the seating. Overall worth the visit, if the food could match the setting a bit better I think they would get 5/5! Yes if some dishes were refined it could be a slam dunk! Anyway I still wholeheartedly recommend! read more

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So sad to be leaving a 1-star review for the first time. We were really excited to dine here for my fiancé's birthday, but unfortunately, we both became very sick afterward with what we believe was food poisoning, and it ended up ruining our entire weekend. We feel confident it was connected to our meal here because we had intentionally not eaten beforehand and didn't eat anything afterward. When I called the restaurant, I wasn't asking for a refund or compensation at all. I simply wanted to let them know what had happened. What was almost more disappointing than getting sick, though, was the way they handled it. The person I initially spoke with simply said they would ask their manager, without expressing any concern or sympathy, and I didn't hear back until three days later. (I called Saturday they called back Tuesday) During that follow-up call, I was surprised by how nonchalantly the situation was handled. I was asked a long series of questions. Eventually, I actually had to point out that no one had even said they were sorry for our experience. They also made a point of telling me, "We haven't had any other reports of this," which came across as dismissive and invalidating rather than genuinely concerned about what happened. Again, we weren't looking for anything from them. We were simply informing them of a serious and unpleasant experience, and the lack of basic empathy or concern was what ultimately left such a bad impression. Unfortunately, we definitely won't be back. read more

Enjoyed the prix fixe and custom wine pairing off their wine list since they were out of some of the wines in their wine pairing. Really nice overall and our server Gabriella was fantastic--so friendly and helpful. The prix fixe was a fun progression with a lot of great flavors. Some of the pacing was odd with a couple courses feeling rushed where servers dropped plates before we finished the previous course but then a long lag that may have been by design but was too long to be comfortable. I understand pacing is subjective and overall it didn't detract from the experience at all. All the managers that came by were so nice and friendly and the chef did a pass through the dining room to check on every table. The desserts were beautifully presented and were all fantastic. read more

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This is a beautiful bar and restaurant located right in the middle of Chinatown. Modern, dark and moody, perfect for a date. We ordered drinks and some small bites here.. and my cocktail was delicious. But it kinda just stops there. Turnip cake was still cold when we got it. Shrimp dumplings were hot but tasted pretty basic. It was cute though how they made it into little gold fish. Uni/sea urchin fried rice was the most disappointing dish ever. Zero flavor. I believe the uni was mixed in with egg and also had a mild flavor. I understand most strong flavors would overpower the uni, but if you can't make it taste good, just skip it. Duck noodles was only Ok as there was very little duck but the flavor was there. The service here was fantastic. We enjoyed our time here and was very well taken care of. However I would only come back for drinks, service and the views. I would skip the food all together. read more

Empress by Boon - Turnip cake - Cantonese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Despite the mixed reviews, I wanted to give this place a chance and form my own opinion. Unfortunately, I think many other reviewers were right. Empress by Boon is overpriced for the level of quality food and dining experience you receive. We ate here for my partner's birthday dinner on a weeknight. Our reservation noted the special occasion and while we were greeted by the host downstairs, it was never acknowledged by our server. That was disappointing. The best part of the place was the view. We were seated by a window so we could see Coit Tower and Chinatown during sunset. For food, the dishes were mostly hit or miss. Our absolute favorite course was the miso cod (wish I could learn to remake this!) We also ordered the duck supplement, and that was also good. However, many of the other dishes tasted way too salty or boring. You could easily get better Chinese food at other locations for a fraction of the price. There are also plenty of other prix fixe menus at restaurants that give more bang for your buck. read more

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I had a reservation at Empress by Boon on a Thursday at 6:30pm and had food off the Prix Fixe menu. There was the usual downtown traffic getting there and I ended up parking in the parking garage under the playground (the restaurant does not validate). From the street there is a small sign marking the location of the restaurant and once inside I was escorted to an elevator. Once off the elevator, I was immediately greeted by the hostess and seated. The dining area is large and spacious and surprisingly at this time the restaurant had more empty tables than occupied tables. Since the Prix Fixe menu was already chosen, that saved time ordering and I assume the food preparation started by the time the menu was provided. The chilled abalone was the first dish brought out and it was cool since it had cold steam aggressively coming out; although the abalone texture was nice and chewy as expected, it could've used a little more sauce or something to enhance the flavor. The scallop and keluga caviar roll, crispy lobster puff, and chilled fresh lily bulb were next. The plating of the dishes was nice and made the food itself look very good, but in reality these three items reminded me of prepackaged exquisite pastries I could've bought down the street. Next came the steamed shrimp and squid dumplings. The intricacies of the preparation of the shrimp and squid features were nice and it was funny how they were "swimming" in the small amount of sauce at the bottom of the dish, but again the taste was nothing exciting and they tasted like something available from the many dim sum shops in the area. This far along into the meal I was already very underwhelmed. Moving into the more savory entrees, the braised squab breast looked simple but prepared with care on top of a thin bed of tofu. This dish was okay, but since I kept seeing pigeons lingering around the outdoor seating area I immediately began to question where the squab was sourced from. Finally, the domestic Wagyu Mongolian beef, XO asparagus and chanterelle mushrooms, and Kai lan and cauliflower chicken rice were the final dishes to come from the Prix Fixe menu. The Wagyu Mongolian beef was okay with easy to chew pieces of meat in a nice sauce. The asparagus and mushrooms felt like a typical side dish that was nothing out of the ordinary. Lastly, the cauliflower chicken rice felt a bit too Americanized since the main ingredient was cauliflower rice. For dessert I had the passionfruit cheesecake and black sesame cremeaux. The cheesecake was nice since it was really three desserts in one: Brillat Savarin cheesecake, Sauterne citrus gelee, and vanilla ice cream. This was probably the highlight of my meal since each of the three was prepared nicely though the passionfruit was a bit too sweet for my liking and I know passionfruit can be really sweet. The black sesame included milk chocolate & black sesame cremeaux, salted dark chocolate ganache, sesame florentine, and yuzu & honey ice cream. This was prepared well also, though I think the yuzu did not go well with the rest of the dessert. Overall, Empress by Boon has a nice elegant ambiance which counters the action and craziness of the street down below. However, considering the quality and taste of the food relative to the pricing, I think I'd rather dine at another nearby restaurant where I can stuff myself and not worry about leaving hungry. read more

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Last tuesday I treated my two besties to a Chinese New Year's Celebration dinner, all of us dining there for the first time. Ready to drop some coin. Have seen pics of the dining room, modern and beautiful, destination dining, my favorite. Been dying to come here. Familiar with Hakasan, (dined there dozens of times, so sad it's gone from SF), so it was a guarantee of quality right? Wrong. First off the bar was completely empty at 7:30pm. Dining room held all of two tables. Caucasian folks like us. Uh Oh. somethings wrong here. Yep. But.... delicious cocktails, the bartender was new (as was everyone else??) we talked baijiu but he was not too familiar. He dredged up three bottles. I inquired if one might be on offer for this gala new years dinner ($138 per person, $60 each supplemental beverages/wine plus $20% gratuity ++) and he didn't know, check with your server. Beautiful view from our table, SO QUIET in there, nice music but no buzz, no clatter of dishes, sounds of people, .... where is everybody no staff...... then we did get some staff after 15 minutes, clever lighthearted waiter, a somm? stopped by. We are in the biz so we ourselves selected the brut rose sparkling from Loire. Yummy. (super limited wine list, why??? ) The somm never returned to see how we liked it... At 8:45 our server came by to say the bar was closing and did we want any other drinks? Seriously. Our jaws dropped. we were half way through our meal.... I swear I am not making this up. Multicourse dinner, some nice offerings but the abalone was terrible. Awful flavor. Crab w/ caviar was mushed up with undercooked egg white mixed in? ok, maybe a familiar dish for chinese? But come on, were looking for tradition but also for things that actually taste good ! Mains were served family style, why? a prix fixe dinner served family style? Pork knuckles awesome. Waxed duck was actually fried rice, no bueno. (With bones in it? so weird) Desert was good but again family style. Three of us trying to split two plates of mini deserts....? just weird. "Don't take too big a bite" like we had to portion it out ourselves. $993.00 dollars later we graciously left and said to ourselves "disappointing" !! Next time we will return to our favorite HARBORVIEW RESTAURANT for their truly amazing cantonese dishes. read more

Empress by Boon - desert for 3 ?? - Cantonese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Empress by Boon is unreal. The food is so good, the view is insane, and the space? Probably the most beautiful restaurant in SF. Massive, moody, dramatic in the best way. It's in the old Empress of China space and they did a full glow-up. Total transformation. Chef Ho Chee Boon used to run Hakkasan and it shows. The menu changes monthly and everything feels super thoughtful and layered. Modern Cantonese that still feels like comfort food. Every dish we had was a hit. Service can be a little spotty depending on the night but I honestly don't care in this case. The vibe and the food make up for it. Def worth the trip! read more

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Amazing service and delicious food, but like some other reviews, I felt like the food was a bit overpriced. They were very accommodating of a nut allergy we had in our party and adjusted one of their dishes with cashews accordingly. Went for my birthday back in March, so they had a Dungeness crab starter. I wasn't super blown away by the dim sum pieces because, growing up in SF, I've basically tried dim sum everywhere. The shared dishes like beef with vegetables and cashews and the lotus root were pretty traditional fare. My favorite was the roast duck that we added on. The skin was so perfectly crispy and the meat was tender and juicy. The ambiance with the mood lighting and large comfy booths to sit in with a view of the Coit Tower definitely helps make this a memorable experience. read more

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My friend's engagement party was here and it was the best time! The food was very good and what I expected from a high end Chinese restaurant like this one. From the menu, there was only one thing (a salad) that I didn't think fit the vibes or quality. I had no idea this restaurant existed even though I've walked past it many times before. Their service with all the hors d'oeuvres was very nice as they kept coming back with more! For a party of 20-30, the room felt like just the right size. read more

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Taking over the 6th floor space of Chinatown's legendary Empress of China is Empress by Boon, an elegant fine-dining restaurant with a prix fixe menu inspired by Cantonese cuisine. The array of six courses began with an appetizer of a spring roll filled with chopped jicama and nuts, along with a crispy tiger prawn in sesame vinegar sauce served over a slice of watermelon. Then came a steamed lotus leaf bun with a filling of Jasmine tea smoked short rib; and a playfully-plated course of a shrimp dumpling (shaped to look like a koi fish) and a squid dumpling (shaped to look like a squid) "swimming" in a broth of hot and sour soup! The next course was a plate of chopped quail stir-fried with jicama and peanuts, served with a steamer basket of two thin, chewy moo shu pancakes for making little wraps. But my favorite course was definitely the Live Boston Lobster, which came with a delicious lobster tail and crispy claw over a creamy lemongrass curry sauce, and served with a fried mantou on the side, perfect for wiping every bit of the delicious sauce. The final course was served family-style and came with three components: ginger scallion noodles, fatty braised pork belly with woodear mushrooms in a savory sauce, and stir-fried chunks of chicken with asparagus in hoisin sauce. All of the food here was tasty and nicely presented, and the service was on point too! At the end of the meal, I got to meet the chef Ho Chee Boon, capping off a memorable experience! read more

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Absolutely amazing experience at The Empress by Boon. The service from all the staff was top tier and the food was delicious. The location is very beautiful and I don't believe there is one bad seat in the entire place. My wife and I had a window seat and there is plenty of amazing views to take in. Special shout out to our server, Gabbi, who was terrific throughout the whole evening. We even got to meet Chef Boon! High ratings overall and we can't wait to come back! read more

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Honestly not sure if we went on an off night but for the price point, the food was just ok. Even for a cheaper price point it really wasn't doing anything for any of us. The ambiance is luxurious though. Don't think I will be back. read more

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Empress Delight Situated in the heart of San Francisco's Chinatown, Empress by Boon opened during the peak of COVID in 2021 replacing the historic Empress of China restaurant famed for its traditional Cantonese cuisine and upscale dining The complete reimagining of the restaurant space capitalizes on the space's sky high ceilings and picturesque skyline views but features an entirely new prix fixe menu While Chef Ho Chee Boon has Cantonese cuisine training by way of Hakkasan, the dishes also reflect the influences of Malaysia, Bangkok, and more reflecting his experiences opening restaurants worldwide We loved the creativity and the flavors of many of the night's dishes but the highlight of our meal was definitely speaking to Chef Ho Chee Boon himself who often stops by table side when he's at his namesake restaurant We heard tales of the challenges of opening during a pandemic, his passion to bring high-end, Chinese cuisine to the forefront, and the diverse clientele who now occupy his restaurant as San Francisco finds its identity with remote workers and rising costs Favorites of our meal included the steamed dumplings, the phenomenal braised pork belly and, the add-on organically sourced and exclusive to Empress's Peking duck, easily one of the best renditions I've had anywhere Prix Fixe Menu $118 ~ Crispy Vegetarian Bean Roll, Pine Nuts, Tiger Prawns / Jasmine Tea Smoked Short Ribs Buns / Steamed Squid and Shrimp Dumplings / Gullian Stir Fried Quail / Live Boston Lobster / Noodles with Ginger Scallion / Wok Fried Asparagus with Chicken / Braised Pork Belly / Roast Peking Duck (supplemental add on) / Assorted desserts (add-on) Empress by Boon (San Francisco, CA) Reservations are recommend. Indoor dining only. All credit cards including AmEx are accepted. read more

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Had dinner with friends at Empress by Boon. This restaurant is located on Grant Ave in San Francisco Chinatown. You can park at the Chinatown parking g garage. We had their set menu which is charge per person. Wine pairing and dessert are extra. The food tastes pretty good. It has taste of Asian cuisine with menu of western style restaurant. The duck dish tastes excellent. The service was good. Staff is friendly. The dessert tastes very good. The atmosphere was great. It was quiet on a weekday evening which is good, can have conversation with your company. It is located on the 6th floor so it has done good view, for example the COIT tower. Overall, if you want to try some fine dining in San Francisco Chinatown, this is a good place. read more

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Came here for the pop up cocktail event with the world reknown mixologist, Simone Caporale. Bites were provided by Boone and I was pleasantly surprised by how many options there were! Everything tasted amazing but the duck bao and BBQ pork bun were standouts for me. The drinks were good and it was fun to try a variety. The place was definitely slammed and needs to work out some kinks but overall I had a great experience! I definitely want to come back and try their normal tasting menu! read more

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An unforgettable dining experience tonight. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere felt effortlessly elegant -- soft lighting, a beautifully designed bar, and a calm, intimate vibe that makes you want to slow down and truly enjoy the evening. Every dish was thoughtfully presented and full of flavor. The roasted duck was perfectly crisp and tender, the vegetables were fresh and balanced, and even the desserts felt like little works of art. The passion fruit dessert was especially memorable -- refreshing, delicate, and beautifully plated. What I appreciated most was the attention to detail: the plating, the ingredients, and the overall experience all felt carefully curated. A place where great food, beautiful ambiance, and a relaxed evening come together perfectly. I'll definitely be back. read more

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I'm so happy that empress restaurant in Chinatown is an active business now! I have so many memories coming here for Chinese wedding banquets as a kid! For ~$100, the experience was great but not something I would come to again. Perhaps I'm just not a fancy eater. read more

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My friends took me to Empress by Boon for my birthday. It's a beautiful set-up and has gorgeous views of the city. We ordered the tasting menu and it was ok. Our tasting menu consisted of the following: Braised dungeness crab with kaluga caviar Braised pork belly puff California sea prawns with seaweed and green wasabi mustard Steamed shrimp and squid dumplings stir fried quail with lemongrass served with pancakes Grilled Black code with soya honey and cloud ear Wok-fried celery, bell pepper with chicken and coriander Mongolian-style pan-friend wagyu beef with crispy taro Thick noodles with lobster It was a good experience but I doubt I will go back. The food was just OK. Service was nice but not outstanding. It's a nice place to check out at least once. read more

Ugh, never got to eat here because the chef has a crazy ego and insists on playing poor quality streaming music that destroys the atmosphere... try asking them to turn down or God forbid off the nasty music... funny I don't know a Michelin star restaurant focused on shit quality sound was a thing??? read more

We were at Empress by Boon last Thursday. It is one of those rare San Francisco dining experiences where the setting alone is worth the visit, and the food holds its own beautifully alongside it. Perched above Chinatown, the restaurant opens up to a sweeping, cinematic view of the city, with Coit Tower standing out like a postcard centerpiece. As the light shifts from late afternoon into evening, the skyline slowly comes alive--soft golden hues giving way to glittering city lights. The food is memorable, polished, thoughtful, and rooted in Cantonese tradition with a contemporary edge, especially the seafood and roasted dishes. It's a place where the view and the food make it a great choice for a special night out. read more

I have been to Empress by Boon twice now. The first time was right after it first opened, and while everything was tasty, I wasn't blown away by anything. I also remember ordering a cocktail that was blue and not liking it at all. Anyways, 3 years later, we decided to try it again for my dad's birthday. I was able to easily secure a reservation for 3 a few weeks out, and even saw that tables were available a few days before. We got there right at opening and were the first party seated at a table with a great view. Over the course of the 2 hours that we were there, the restaurant got more crowded, but was never completely filled. Service was friendly and attentive, food was all tasty, and drinks were better but still with some mishaps. One of the drinks we ordered didn't taste like the description so we inquired with the server. He reassured it was the right drink, but after further investigation they realized they had used the wrong tincture. They were apologetic and made a new one right away. Overall, this experience was slightly more enjoyable than our first time due to the menu feeling a bit more innovative and exciting. However, there were some dishes that felt under seasoned and we were underwhelmed by the desserts. Highlights for us were the prawn wrapped in seaweed, the scallop/caviar roll, the homemade tofu with uni, and the peking duck off of the ala carte menu. I don't think I'll come again for the prefixe menu, but I would definitely come back to order ala carte from the bar and enjoy the beautiful restaurant interior and view. read more

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Amazing presentation, taste and views! Highly recommend for a special occasion! We celebrated my husbands birthday here read more

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The Peking duck, dumplings, vegetables, and shrimp with wasabi were absolutely outstanding.. each dish was beautifully executed and full of flavor. A special shout-out to Chef Ho, whose culinary expertise truly made the evening exceptional. The entire experience exceeded our expectations. The ambiance was refined and inviting, with sweeping views of Coit Tower and North Beach adding a scenic backdrop. The décor was tastefully curated, blending modern elegance with thoughtful nods to Chinese culture and architectural elements. The bar area was especially impressive. Drinks were on point - i enjoyed the Broken Promise mocktail and there was a nice selection of Japanese whiskies. Service throughout the night was attentive, efficient, and genuinely kind.. a seamless complement to the overall dining experience. read more

Empress by Boon - Cantonese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Delicious food, but incredibly SLOW service - well beyond what was reasonable. Decent wine list. Great views by the window. Not sure if I'll come back. Many other great options in the city. read more