such a hole in the wall for cantonese-style food in sf. portions are huge, and they have lunch deals on some dishes too! flavors were solid, and it was sooo quiet when we went. feels like one of those spots only the locals know about. definitely worth checking out if you're in the area! our server was also really friendly! read more

Lion Kitchen - pan fried noodle, braised tofu - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Popped in on Sunday at opening and no wait for our party of 10. Service was friendly and attentive. Portions were generous (we had a lot to take home) and good value. Our favorites included the Dry-Fried String Beans, Mapo Tofu, and Tomato Beef Noodles. The Sweet & Sour chicken had a generous amount of chicken, which was nice. On the flip side, the Pork Dumpling skin was a little too thick for our liking and the Sichaun Spicy Wontons were a bit bland. We'd consider this place for takeout in the future, as parking is a bit challenging (there's a huge red zone right in front). Thanks! read more

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Fast, friendly, good, reasonable and service with a smile! Excellent service and happy workers, big portions with ample leftovers! Good large menu choices with specials. Easy street parking and ADA bathroom and easy access! read more

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Lovely staff! My favorite was the tomato beef chow mein. Overall not too salty or oily so would recommend for casual meal! read more

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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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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One of my favorite dishes...not on the menu; Braised bean curd with bok choy and mushrooms is so delicious. Portions are generous. Service is always friendly. Cash discount. read more

Lion Kitchen - Braised bean curd with bok choy and mushrooms - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

It's great. Just straightforward Chinese restaurant staples with high quality ingredients, great flavors, generous portions, and fair prices. It's pretty close to perfect. In a town where every Chinese joint is either a greasy delivery joint, a hyper authentic regional specialist, or a hipster hangout, this is a great return to neighborhood Chinese food friendly to a non-Chinese palate. Mapo tofu: excellent spicing and great texture. Kung Pao chicken: great high quality white meat chicken and perfect spice levels. Dry-sautee string beans: giant portion, perfect snap, not fibrous at all. Mu-shu chicken: nobody makes this anymore. This is a great rendition of the classic. Friendly service, clean (if spartan) dining room. We fed 4 for 62 bucks, plus leftovers. I'm so glad I found this spot. read more

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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Cantonese cooking here is very close to the way it was in the good old days. Delicious, generous portion fresh ingredients. Salt and pepper wings almost as good as Kirin in the Outer Richmond that closed. Nice and clean. Friendly and efficient service. Kat formerly of Yan Yan restaurant works there. read more

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Good Chinese food with generous portions and decent prices. We had takeout for a dozen family members. We enjoyed beef chow fun, dried scallop & egg white fried rice, mapo tofu with minced pork, chicken with green beans, Chinese broccoli. We also had a fuel do chow fun that was not sautéed and kind of soupy, in a thin clear sauce which was ok but I preferred the pan fried sautéed version. The tomato beef chow mein was sour and made with thin type noodles with a little of the thin sour sauce but I prefer it the sweet & sour taste with medium thick sized noodles that are panfried and then sautéed. It's just my preference but these two dishes were ok. Overall everyone else was good. 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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One of my new favorite chinese restaurant. Simple Cantonese food. The seating area is relatively small. The food comes out fast and fresh. The waitress is always personable. We ordered the beef stew, chicken, hk style noodles. Each entree comes with a bowl of rice which is a great value. The prices are reasonable and portion sizes were big. Excited to be back again soon. read more

Lion Kitchen - Chicken - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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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This was the best Chinese food I've had in the city so far. All the portions were super big! My fav was the Mongolian beef but everything was 10/10. Service was great! The lady that waited on us was so nice and friendly. They have nice tables and decorations as well! read more

Lion Kitchen - Double Mushroom and tofu - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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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I can't believe this place exists. It's so good and the portions are ginormous. 3 dishes and includes rice (amazing). This will be 3 meals for me and my hubby. This place is a gem. 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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Great Chinese cookery! The space is clean and bright. The server was friendly and quirky in a delightful manner. I ordered the claypot with chicken, shrimp + eggplant and beef chow mein. Both were excellent . The portions are so generous too! Also the hot tea is excellent they use real tea leaves and it's complimentary. Will come back again to try more on the menu. read more

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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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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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I recently discovered this restaurant and decided to give it a try. The menu is simple, with a good selection of dishes at very affordable prices. We ordered several items, and everything arrived in about 10 minutes. The food was delicious and exceeded our expectations. Every dish was fresh, flavorful, and well prepared. The waitress was incredibly friendly and attentive, making the dining experience even more enjoyable. The restaurant itself has a simple, clean, and comfortable atmosphere. Overall, it offers excellent food, great service, and outstanding value. I would definitely come back again and highly recommend it. 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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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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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

Good food, price and large portion. The service was very attentive. Been there a couple of times and will go back again.

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

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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I really loved my first visit to Lion Kitchen. Well worth the long trip out to the Sunset. I had the pork and cabbage dumplings, tangerine chicken, and home style tofu. Everything was very tasty, fresh, and the portions were huge. Two portions of rice were included. I had a very hearty meal and still took home completely full to-go boxes. I could have fed six people with that much food, for around $50. Service was super friendly, too. Two small complaints: I did have to wait quite a while because they were very busy with takeout orders. Also, the chicken was a bit dry and tough and cut into large pieces, so it was a bit difficult to eat with chopsticks. I'll still definitely go back to try more of the menu. 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

My favorite food in the sunset. Great portions great prices. Fun and spunky service. Ive tried over half the menu items. Even things I was unsure about and they never disappoint. this is a true mom and pop restaurant with wondertfull food. Cant go wrong read more

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

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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Love this place! The food is delicious, no matter what we order. Our go to is always some kind of soup, pork and chive dumplings, salt and pepper prawns and their tangerine peel chicken. Their Mongolian beef is also one of our favorites. The staff are so friendly, especially Kat! Definitely recommend this place! Can't go wrong with any of their items! We keep on coming back. read more

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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My favorite Chinese restaurant in my neighborhood. Delicious food , very friendly servers , good service and clean. read more

Lion Kitchen - Dry fried chicken. Perfect sweetness - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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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

3.5 stars. Clean place, decent food, service slow and a bit overwhelmed. Good portion size but note it's mostly the carbs so order extra meat Salt pepper pork chop 8/10 - good! Not overly fatty, nicely fried and seasoned without being overly salty. Honey walnut shrimp 7/10 - pretty solid, nicely crisp, and walnuts were tasty. Dry beef chow fun 6/10 - decent, good job without noodle clumping, but not enough meat, and missing wok hei and overall flavor was predominantly soy sauce without much depth. I asked for it to be made spicy, which was not even mild so :( They have a chili vinegar paste on the table that is more vinegary. I wish they had a more traditional chili crisp oil. read more