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Lion Kitchen

4.6 (98 reviews)
Open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Lion Kitchen Photos

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LION KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Lion Kitchen

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Menu as of April 2026
Sharon S.

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.

Salt and pepper grouper
Binh P.

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.

Tangerine Peel Chicken
Jerry B.

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).

Mapo tofu
Roserrele W.

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.

Stir fried green beans
Allena C.

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!

tomato beef crispy noodles $16 side view
Jeff H.

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.

Eggplant, steamed dumplings
Tiffany W.

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!

Chicken wings
Michelle K.

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.

Salt and pepper grouper. House special fried noodle in the background.
Alexis P.

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.

curry chicken, tomato beef with crispy noodles
Linz C.

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.

dry fried chicken
Margaret G.

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

Menu 2/2 - (October 2025)
Joyce K.

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!

Stir fried green beans
James R.

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.

Green beans

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4 months ago

The food is average nothing very special. The price is very reasonable but cash only credit card will charge you additional fee .

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7 months ago

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6 months ago

Very good, been here 4x's now, service has been fast and the place is clean and airy.

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Great food and great service! The people working here are sooo kind. The portions were huge and the food was tasty! Definitely coming back

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6 months ago

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7 months ago

Amazing food, customer service and atmosphere!!! Highly recommend wish I could've had gotten more but I was too full

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8 months ago

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9 months ago

good authentic food. We got takeout, and it didn't disappoint. It was spicy and good. the food was cooked fast.

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Ask the Community - Lion Kitchen

Do they deliver in the Inner Sunset?

They don't do delivery themselves but you can order thru a few 3rd party apps: Uber Eats, postmates & hungrypanda.

Do they accept credit cards?

I believe so, but you can always call the restaurant before going.

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A Buttercup Dessert House - We will open in September

A Buttercup Dessert House

4.3(248 reviews)
3.7 miMission
$$

This is my favorite dessert house, which I recommend to all my friends who need a good date spot, a…read moreplace to meet up with friends, or to friends who are visiting the city and have never had bingsoo or dessert style toasts. I absolutely love everything mango from here and their affogato is to die for! The best affogato I've ever had. Definitely try this place!

Although they don't serve variations of buttercups, A Buttercup is one of the few dessert houses…read moreoffering Taiwanese-style treats like Bingsoo, Milk Bread Toast, and other Asian fusion creations. I'm always hunting for spots like this because I have a weakness for those over-the-top, Instagram-worthy desserts that look like diabetes in a dish. Like most places in this genre, A Buttercup is small, modern, and minimalist with limited seating. If you plan to go, aim for off-hours unless you enjoy waiting in line for sugar. The decor is cute and trendy, perfect for photos if that's part of your dessert ritual. As they say, "you eat with your eyes first," and when it comes to presentation, this place definitely gets an A+. The desserts look stunning and set high expectations. Unfortunately, that's where things started to crumble. It's like going to see your favorite artist live. You've watched the videos, memorized the songs, and paid for the experience. But instead of the electric performance you imagined, you get someone lip-syncing and barely connecting with the crowd. That was this place in dessert form. We ordered the Mango Bingsoo on our first visit, and when it arrived, we were surprised by how small the portion was. The guy next to us even looked over and said, "Whatever that is, I'm getting that next time." He shouldn't have. The Bingsoo looked great but was bland, and the "snow" was more chunky ice than soft shave. The Thai Tea Roti was also not what I expected. It came with Thai tea ice cream and sauce alongside a roti that was fried to a crunch. Interesting idea, just not the best execution. The sauce and ice cream needed a stronger Thai tea flavor to balance the crispy roti, and the flavors never quite came together. Overall, A Buttercup nails the aesthetics but misses the flavor. If you're here for the photos, you'll be happy. If you're here for the taste, you'll leave with a full camera roll and an unsatisfied sweet tooth.

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A Buttercup Dessert House
A Buttercup Dessert House - Menu 1 of 2

Menu 1 of 2

A Buttercup Dessert House - Menu 2 of 2

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Menu 2 of 2

NaYa Dessert Cafe

NaYa Dessert Cafe

4.1(782 reviews)
3.6 miHayes Valley
$$
Vegetarian friendly
Vegan friendly

The best way to cool off on a warm day! We visited NaYa for dessert after brunch at aMano. It's not…read morea big space & was pretty full but the host/server had a 2 top table available. It was kinda hot & stuffy inside even with the door open because it was a warm day. We were told in advance that orders would take approximately 20-30 minutes to arrive because they were short staffed at the time (additional staff arrived after an hour). My friend had to Thai tea crepe cake & I had the mango tango (because I looooove mangoes). The Thai tea crepe was pretty good, lots of Thai tea flavor, and not too sweet. The Thai tea custard sauce added a bit of sweetness to it. The mango tango was sooo good! I loved the coconut ice cream (it's a shaved from a block of ice cream so it's really fluffy). The fresh mango was served on the side in addition to a small bowl of coconut, sticky rice and additional mango sauce. Service was as efficient as possible. Server was helpful too.

Felt like dessert after a day in the city, thought we'd try NaYa in Hayes Valley. Local hangout…read more Young crowd and good vibes. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs - but what a great surprise. We started our evening with the Mango Tango. That Sticky Rice was the Main Wow! Not to take anything away from the coconut & mango, just that rice. I could have had that on its own. We then ended the night with the Toasted Kaya. Warm Bread with the right crunchiness. Another fun & tasty surprise. All in all - we will probably share just one dish next time - but definitely coming back

Photos
NaYa Dessert Cafe - Chocolate Toasted  cr. foodswithyu

Chocolate Toasted cr. foodswithyu

NaYa Dessert Cafe - Mango Tango  Cr. mitzifood

Mango Tango Cr. mitzifood

NaYa Dessert Cafe - The chocolate salted egg lava cake, served
warm with a center that gushes out once you cut it open. 
Cr. janeejaneee

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The chocolate salted egg lava cake, served warm with a center that gushes out once you cut it open. Cr. janeejaneee

Powder - regular Strawberry with passionfruit glaze and condensed milk (09/2024)

Powder

4.4(835 reviews)
2.9 miLower Haight
$$

Delicious, and this place blew my mind when I tried it out…read more First off, very surprised at all the flavors you can get and try, including horchata, Thai tea, and ube! To be honest, when I came here, I did not expect much. I typically am not the type to get snow or anything icy, since it is not the first thing that comes to my mind when it comes to dessert, but I am so glad I got to experience this. When I came on a Wednesday night, it was not too busy, and my friend and I were able to get our food within 10 minutes. The spot itself is pretty small, with not a lot of seating, but some limited spots outside. I got the black sesame with condensed milk, and my friend got the mexican hot chocolate. What makes this place stand out so much is the texture of the dessert, which was fluffy, soft, and melted in your mouth. Overall, I want to come here again and try the other flavors!

Stopped by on a Saturday evening and it wasn't busy. I got a regular size of the Cereal Killer…read morewhich was cereal snow topped with sweet milk glaze and fruity pebbles. I loved this so much, it had such a fantastic texture of being creamy but also light and fluffy. Probably one of the best shaved snow texture I've had. Tried some of the matcha snow and earl grey snow as well, and both of them were solid too. My favorite was still the cereal snow because I have more of a sweet tooth and the matcha and earl grey were less sweet. I would absolutely return to try more snow flavors! Service was really friendly and our 3 bowls were ready within a few minutes. Only one small bench inside and some outdoor seating.

Photos
Powder - Matcha Green Tea w/ mochi

Matcha Green Tea w/ mochi

Powder - Matcha with strawberries

Matcha with strawberries

Powder - Strawberry & Cereal Snow

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Strawberry & Cereal Snow

Lion Kitchen - chinese - Updated May 2026

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