Food has gotten better if that is actually possible. I tried a few more dishes and this place is now a staple for me whenever I want to do take out. I really enjoy all their chicken dishes. It's so tender and taste amazing the way they cook it. Order the Kung pao chicken or have it with their Hong Kong style fried noodle. Shout out to the bubbly hostess/server up front. She can be quite boisterous sometimes but is super friendly and nice. Protip: When ordering take out, she will call you back when your food is ready. Will also bring the food out if you stay in your car out front! read more

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Had a date introduce me to this place. The waitress is really the star of the restaurant. I was told this is run by a husband and wife team. Husband in the back cooking and wife in front taking orders with her quirky cute energy + cutesy aesthetics. You can't go wrong with any of these dishes, including the more Americanized ones. Cantonese style fair with some that fit Chinese American palate. The salt and pepper dishes are the best full of umami flavor. Someone mentioned a bit salty but I think it's just right. There is definitely a msg like flavor to things but that's what makes it so good and addicting. Highly recommend. read more

My brother recommended this place for the salt and pepper prawns. He said they're giant and flavorful. We stopped by for takeout on the way home one night and are really glad we did. The lady who helped us was bubbly, sweet and friendly, not typical for a Chinese restaurant. We ordered the prawns, Singapore chow mi fun and pan fried Chinese broccoli chicken chow mein. I liked that they separated the pan fried noodles from the gravy, meat and veggies. Most restaurants don't do that anymore unless requested. Our dinner tonight was really good, some of the best Chinese food I've had in some time. I definitely want to go back to dine-in and try other dishes. read more

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This is a no frills restaurant with a clean interior. The service is friendly, attentive, and very efficient. The food here is reasonably priced and very tasty. There is an ample menu of specials from which we chose several dishes. The salt and pepper grouper is fried to crispy perfection without being greasy. The dry fried green beans were exceptional with just the perfect crunch factor. The dumpling offerings were also quite solid and were generously filled with savory tasty pork mixtures. Other standards we love are bitter melon and beef in black bean sauce, tomato beef pan fried noodles, and scallop and egg white fried rice. We will definitely be making more return visits. read more

Place is large and spacious, and employees are super friendly and enthusiastic, but food leaves a lot to be desired. Tried their mapo tofu, Westlake soup, and salt and pepper grouper. I wasn't impressed by any of the dishes. The mapo tofu was probably the best of the bunch for me because I found the addition of pickled greens and sesame oil to be interesting. But there was no sichuan spice, black beans, or pork flavor to make it taste like it should. The Westlake soup was incredibly bland. It made me wish I had brought some extra beef buillon to spruce things up. After adding a ridiculous amount of chili paste, vinegar, soy sauce, and white pepper I managed to enjoy it as hot and sour soup. And I was most disappointed in the fried grouper. After all the glowing reviews for this dish I was severely let down. I found the fish to be a bit tough. Not tender or flakey at all. This place seems to be a neighborhood favorite though because I saw lots of regulars come through. And the dining room gets quickly. But it's just lacking in too much flavor for me. read more

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Very satisfying Cantonese food, large portions, excellent prices, served piping hot straight out of the wok (the way it should be). Hot & Sour Seafood Soup: got the medium-sized bowl, which would be perfect for a party of four, to be honest. There was no way my wife and I were going to finish this right then and there. Server/hostess asked if we needed black pepper. Glad we didn't ask for it because it was quite peppery on its own. The soup stock me of the soup that a Chinese banquet room would serve guests, though a more simple soup than what you'd get at a Chinese Wedding Banquet (which might have some premium ingredients like abalone). Good soup, very peppery. Tangerine Peel Chicken: this was awesome. I mean it's probably a lot like the sweet & sour chicken you've had before, but this has that light tangerine flavor (not strong, but more than just a hint). Again, straight from the wok, to the plate, and to your table. Skillfully prepared. Stir-fried Beef with Bitter Melon and Black Bean Sauce: If you grew up in a Cantonese family in San Francisco, chances are you grew up with this dish. I married into such a family almost thirty years ago and with the elders now gone, this dish was quite comforting. That first year, I had to force myself to eat bitter melon each time it was served. If you eat it once in a while, what starts out as impossibly too bitter will become something you crave (love it with scrambled egg). About this dish here at Lion Restaurant, the beef seems like quality cuts and thoroughly tenderized--you'll find it expertly prepared, as well. Fish-flavored Eggplant: I love Chinese-style eggplant dishes. This one didn't disappoint. Again, served super hot. You know it was done right when you still have to blow on it a little 10 minutes after it was initially served. All and all, we were very impressed with the quality, flavor, and value of Lion Restaurant. With its high ceilings, open eating area with large tables, and well-lit dining room because of its very large windows letting in all that sunlight, it's a great place to bring your family and/or friends. The hostess, one can tell, has tons of character and personality. She likes her job and has fun while doing it. It makes for pleasant experience. Price was, I thought, a very good value--especially for the large portions that we brought home as left overs. For the four items (includes three portions of rice, served hot in a rice thermos heat-retaining container), the bill was $66 (without tip). Considering that my wife and I will easily get two-four more meals out of our leftovers, this was truly a bargain. We will be back with the college-aged kids (who can eat a lot more than we can). read more

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Portions were pretty generous but the dishes were very salty. We ordered mapo tofu, mustard greens with mushrooms, curry chicken and garlic noodles. - mapo tofu: too much gravy, taste was on the sweet and salty side. - mustard greens with mushrooms: this dish could be lighter with less gravy. - curry chicken: my kids love curry and they were picky. This dish was lacking some spices and hotness. - garlic noodles: tasted the best amongst all dishes but it was way too greasy and very garlicky (love the taste of gatlic but just a bit too much). Service was great. We were greeted rightaway and the staff checked with frequently to ask if there was anything needed or missing. Prices were reasonable for the portions given. We possibly may not come back because the food were heavily seasoned and pretty greasy. read more

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The dry fried green beans and chicken are the best. 10/10 highly recommend. Adorable friendly owner with good energy. read more

Lion Kitchen - dry fried chicken - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been meaning to check out Lion Kitchen for a few months and finally tried it this past week. Three of us had lunch on a weekday so it wasn't too busy. We were able to grab a table easily. We also recognized one of the lady servers, who used to work at a restaurant on Judah that closedown. It was nice to see a familiar face! The place was brightly lit and welcoming. ***OUR PICKS*** BEEF CHOW FUN ~ this was a good dish with generous portions. Good "wok hay", flavorful and seasoned well. 5/5 SALT AND PEPPER PORK CHOPS ~ lightly crispy and not a thick batter, so you can taste the meat and not just batter. 4.5/5 STIR FRIED GREEN BEANS ~ a bit spicier than I thought it would be, but the spice was tolerable. I think I would have asked for it to be less spicy, but if you like moderate heat, this one's for you! The beans were made just right and not over or undercooked. 4/5 HOME STYLE TOFU ~ filled with vegetables and tofu. comforting dish, yet also a bit spicy. 4/5 Everything we ordered, we were satisfied with. Prices are reasonable, especially for lunch plates! We'll definitely be back to try other dishes! read more

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The food was tasty- ordered the mushroom beef, string beans with chicken and pork with cabbage dumplings for the 3 of us. While I liked the 3 dishes, I had a little envy when the next table had some HK panfried noodles that looked really good. Next time (and there will be a next time soon). Service is friendly and fun. read more

Always good meals there. The only waitress is a kind, energetic, friendly, knowledgeable lady. She also takes constructive feedback very well. She does everything to make you feel comfortable and taken care of. There are always a lot of locals, return customers. Ambiance is casual and clean. read more

It is sad to see a local mom & pop restaurant empty. That was the case tonight at 8pm on a Sunday. It is attributed to the amount of non-existent foot traffic on 28th/Judah. The lady working there is a talkative host, welcoming and kind. My tomato beef crispy noodles $16 were OK. They even served it to me separate from the gravy as I like my noodles extra crispy. The noodles were missing the char burnt ends found with restaurants with good wok flavor. There were plenty pieces of beef. Lacking was the zingy or sour tomato taste. The few pieces of tomatoes were pureed too much. Bell peppers and onion pieces were also lacking. A few pieces of ginger were found. I don't like ginger in my crispy noodles. Overall, this was an OK meal. Service was excellent with a very fast kitchen. read more

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Wonderful home style Chinese restaurant in the Sunset neighborhood. For a large lunch party of 12, the restaurant team did a wonderful job with all of the food we ordered. We tried the egg drop soup, fried dumplings, steamed dumplings, walnut shrimp, mu shu pork, fried chicken wings, salt and pepper fried fish, eggplant, mabo tofu, and house special noodles. Oil levels an seasoning were well done and both adults and children really enjoyed the meal. Service was very welcoming, friendly and fast. Highly recommend! read more

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This is my parents favorite restaurant, you'll find them eating lunch here at least 2-3 times a week. I've been twice now and have fallen in love with their fried fish and tomato beef with crispy noodles. We order the sauce on the side so the noodles don't get soggy. Service is always top notch, the lady is so welcoming and loves talking to everyone. read more

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We called in a takeout order from here for the first time and our food came out in about 10 minutes. Overall, the flavors were solid and satisfying, though a few dishes were a bit greasier than I personally prefer. The egg rolls were perfectly crispy with a great crunch, and the salt and pepper pork had bold flavor that was nicely balanced by the kick of fresh jalapeño. The fried rice was simple but well-executed. It's an affordable, welcoming spot that delivers good value and quick service, a reliable option for an easy takeout night. read more

Wow this is definitely our new go-to spot for Chinese food! Authentic, super delicious and fresh. The inside of this restaurant is nicely lit and very clean. Speedy service too the aunties working are very friendly. Food came out piping hot. Great portion sizes too! What we ordered: - Mongolian beef: so yum, tender beef - Fried chicken wings: crispy! - Dry fried green beans: flavorful and fresh - Pork & cabbage dumplings: fresh and delish - Salt & Pepper squid: crispy and nicely seasoned Will definitely come back to try more on the menu. read more

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I had a wonderful Mothers Day lunch here. If you're looking for authentic and delicious Cantonese dishes in a homey cafe-like environment, this is a great option. The service was excellent and I would definitely come back! Food exceeded my expectations. read more

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Not only is this hole in the wall super clean and bright, the food is delicious (tastes like home cooking-- if only I was a good chef)! Hard to find this level of portion and quality for the price nowadays. Looks like a family run business. If you like fish and chips, get the salt pepper grouper! It's lightly fried, not too oily while the fish is buttery and flakey. Love the shallots and jalapeño bits it's topped with. The chicken, shrimp, eggplant clay pot was also very good! As was the house special fried noodle. The beef chow fun was good but I wish there was more beef. Also love their chive and pork dumplings. *Note: there is a surcharge for credit card payment so cash is best. read more

Lion Kitchen - Salt and pepper grouper. House special fried noodle in the background. - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

New place unlocked. Great Vibes. Great Food for the price! I was in the area and saw this new place, so we dropped in for dinner. The $11.99 special offer menu sold us, and we couldn't resist. What we got: - Salt and Pepper Group ~ Not too oily and came out fresh and crispy. Crispy on the outside, but perfectly balanced soft interior. It was like eating fish and chips, but better! Eat fresh to maximize flavor and texture! - Dry Fried String Beans ~ Pairs perfectly with rice! A great addition to the table for veggies and flavor. - Pork and Chive Dumplings ~ Soft and juicy. Very flavorful. No sauce needed. For three dishes from the 11.99 menu and the inclusion of rice, we were well fed! Rice was complimentary, but was one of the softest and fluffiest rice I've had. All the dishes were solid, and best of all, the service was amazing. The server was full of energy, and it was amazing to watch her interact with other customers - definitely brightened up my day. The place wasn't packed, but it was great to see some occupied tables and patrons coming in and out for take-out. Would definitely return! read more

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Let me preface with they just opened so they do give that sense that they're still feeling out the business. In terms of service, they were obviously pressured and understaff but still manage to serve with a smile and vibrant attitude. Staff were very friendly and welcoming. The ambiance is quiet despite having a full house. Maybe some low volume music would help. In terms of the food. We ordered a few dishes and they were all generally quite good and portions were big with prices tending to be on the lower side so that's a plus. The string beans is a must. I think my least favorite would be the beef fried noodles with tomatoes. I was not expecting it to be sweet, and it was a bit too sweet for my liking. read more

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Food was so fresh and tastes delicious! Not heavy or oily. Service is a little slow since it was busy at the time and they are understaffed. But once your order is taken, food came really quick. Eccentric lady waiting has a beautiful personality. Generally speaking, ambiance feels like you're hanging at grandmas kitchen. Real chill vibes. read more

"Lion kitchen" sign has been up for ages, restaurant is finally open! We ordered: green beans, salt and pepper prawns, shrimp fried rice. All were delicious, but the prawns were incredible! Came on a weeknight and we were one of two seated tables - I don't think many people realize this place is open yet. As an update, they do take card now. They are offering 10% off many dishes as a grand opening special! Come in and support a local business! read more

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delicious $10.99 Specials today: Dumplings with pork/cabbage Salt & Pepper Grouper Friendly service Lunch 11am to 3 pm A great menu to satisfy my appetite! read more

Lion Kitchen - salt & pepper grouper - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Good food and service! Came here on a weekend afternoon while there were not too many people in the restaurant, but many people grabbing their orders to-go. There's seating available for a few dozen people, and the furniture/decorations are pretty typical of this type of restaurant. I ordered their Dried Scallop and Egg White Fried Rice to-go, and it was ready within 15 minutes. The portion itself was generous for the price, and there was as a good amount of dried scallop, egg whites, and onions sprinkled around the rice. The dish was perfectly seasoned, not dry, and part of a satisfying lunch. I would recommend this place for their rice, and I have to try their many other dishes next! read more

Lion Kitchen - Dried Scallop & Egg White Fried Rice - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a takeout staple! I really enjoy the following dishes: - Salt and pepper grouper: not spicy despite having two pepper signs, a good amount of crispy and not oily - Signature pan fried noodles: even as takeout this is kept so crispy and pairs well with accompanying food & sauce - Sweet and sour pork: great flavor and sauce - Fish flavored eggplant: the naming is a bit strange, it's not too fishy (a good thing). Good texture and tasty sauce They're very friendly over the phone and prepared the food in a reasonable time. read more

Newly opened Chinese restaurant on 29th and Judah. They've been renovating for the past few weeks. The menu is a variety of stir fried, dumplings, and noodles. Dumplings are really good. They are fairly large compared to other places. Portions for stir fries are also really good. Cash only for now. read more

Lion Kitchen - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Huge portions of absolutely delicious food! The salt n pepper grouper is perfectly not greasy, crunchy, great flavor, and the plate was seriously enough for 3 servings. Kung pao chicken was equally delicious and could've served 3. We asked for mild spice, you can go spicier. Simple place in easy to park on the street neighborhood. read more

Quick, affordable Chinese food. Don't know how they aren't more expensive but get it while you can. $12 -$16 dishes for most entrees. Other places charging $18-25 at this point. Food is amazing. Good portion sizes. The interior is cute and pink all over. It's a vibe. Server is also EXTREMELY ENERGETIC AND SO FUN! It was fun speaking casually in Cantonese!! read more

Lion Kitchen - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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New restaurant around the corner so wanted to give it a try seeing all the 5 Star reviews. Nice cozy atmosphere, felt clean and bright. We were surprised to walk in and see the waitress was someone that use to own a restaurant down the block. Seeing all the pictures and 5 star ratings and wanting to try the Beef Tomato Gee Mein. We asked for Curry Beef Tomato Gee Mein and it was okay but actually a little on the salty side so not sure if it was the curry we added? We also ordered Beef Tendon Won Ton which was very large won tons with shrimp and there was noodles in the soup and the broth was very tasty and not too salty. We will try Lion Kitchen again and maybe order the $10.99 entree dishes to try. Glad this new restaurant is doing well in the neighborhood. read more

Lion Kitchen - Curry Tomato Beef Gee Mein - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The owner had a restaurant a couple blocks away that closed down few years back, and my parents were surprised to find the owner had opened up this place. The interior was very open and clean, though it was very empty. There was only one other party there when we arrived, however they were receiving a lot of to-go orders. After ordering, the food came out within 5 mins and very good. The scallop and broccoli were a little too salty, but mixing it to the white rice made it better. The pork was tender and sweet; fried chicken was amazing and the beef ho fun wasn't too oily for my family. Overall, it's great to know the owner is back at it and will be definitely coming back for amazingly priced Chinese food. read more

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The food, prices and atmosphere were great, service was good. I will definitely eat here again. read more

Ok so everyone listen up!! This place is a secret because it's too good to share!!! What a delicious discovery I made today when looking for a Chinese restaurant in Outer Sunset!! First off we went for lunch on a Saturday and there was only 2 customers in there! We ordered Seafood Hot & Sour soup, delicious! Full of shrimp, squid, Tofu and bamboo shoots! Wonderful flavors in this soup!! Then we ordered the Pork & Chive fried dumplings....yummy! We also ordered Beef Fried rice, it was so good, I hate when fried rice is greasy but this was NOT! Additionally we got the Sweet & Sour Pork, my favorite dish! It was crispy even with the sauce on it! And don't leave without ordering the Fried String Beans!!!! I could eat the whole plate! All in all this place is exceptional, better than most Chinese places in town!!! read more

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place and ambiance are just ok. taste of foods is mediocre. will say the salt and pepper pork chops is too dry. have to be patient for waiting the foods. easy access if you come using public transportation... read more

Lion Kitchen - salt and pepper pork chops... - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The place was new. 10% off grand opening special for some regular dishes, except for the specials. We got mushroom wood ear dumpling, pan fried tomato beef noodle, and eggplants (comes with a bowl of rice). We didnt know eggplants were a little spicy. It was good. They were generous with portion size. You might need to ask for serving spoons. Parking was no problem since we got there when they open for dinner. Right at the corner, Grey outside but magenta pink inside. Service was good. Never seen the teapot like that. It didnt spill or drip like old traditional ones. read more

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This Chinese Restaurant just opened today! For now, it is cash only. I was very excited yesterday, to ask someone there about the opening and now I'm excited to have a new Chinese restaurant near where I live! Rice is included with the entrees and they have all the standard menu items near the Judah St and 29th Ave trolley stop! The sign has been up for a long time, but now the restaurant is open and they have renovated the interior. read more

Lion Kitchen - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Tasty food that hits the spot when you want these classic Chinese dishes! So happy for this place! read more

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Just incredible food we were speechless. Great quality, great prices, friendly staff. Very quick service. Salt and pepper grouper was the fave. Truly our go to now for dine in in the neighborhood or super quick takeout read more

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Found this place on a whim and went because of the other reviewers. Was not disappointed! Got the lunch special for $11.99 of Sweet N Sour Grouper. The portion size was impressive for a lunch special and the sweet n sour sauce was really flavorful. Also comes with a small side of white rice. You can tell this place is authentic when you walk in, lots of locals. Very unassuming from the outside and parking was tricky (even during the week day), but overall will be back when in the area. read more

After seeing all the 5 star reviews, our expectations were very high. Being a new restaurant, we did expect the service to be slow, but were disappointed when our dry fried beef ho fun came looking extremely "shiny" and VERY greasy. Flavor was good but was so oily. Also ordered the pan fried dumplings which came deep fried (even though the picture showed actual pan fried). The filling was tasty and would have been much more enjoyable without the tough deep fried wrapper: Sadly, we couldn't even "melt" the bread with our tea since it came lukewarm. Couldn't get the waitress's attention to ask for hot tea. She checked in with us when we were done eating so we asked for hot tea. Dropped off a new pot and it was the same lukewarm (almost room temperature) tea so maybe that's how they serve it. Hopefully these are just growing pains and will see future improvement. read more

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One of the best authentic Chinese resteraunts! Let me start by saying wow, Cat is amazing! The food is fresh, flavorful and delicious. The service was beyond great, even with it being one person taking the orders .. she's busy but knows how to get to everyone. You can tell she loves her job and making people happy. Beyond just the service and food , the ambiance makes you feel at home with a homely vibe. The prices are also very affordable and the portions are huge. Definitely recommend this resteraunt if you're looking for authentic Chinese food . read more

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