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May Lee Chinese Restaurant

3.8 (314 reviews)
InexpensiveChinese, Seafood
Open 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

Order May Lee Chinese Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

May Lee Chinese Restaurant Photos

MAY LEE CHINESE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - May Lee Chinese Restaurant

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Reviews With Photos

黑 椒 雞 / Black Pepper Chicken
Flora S.

After a long day at the botanical and Japanese Tea Garden, great food is what we longed for. We always pass by the restaurant and decided to try it. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly and the service was outstanding! We ordered basil chicken, black pepper chicken, eggplant with tofu and steam rice. Everything was delicious!!! The portions were big so that was a plus as well!! The chicken was so tender and the eggplant was so scrumptious. They kept checking on us if we were good and refilled our water as needed. Place is small but the ambiance is cozy, especially on a hot day. We were very pleased with the food and service. If you're hungry and at this area, this is the place to be!!! You'll be glad you stopped by.

Pot stickers
Steven S.

The Chinese food I had delivered to my residence from this place is so delicious. The food here really filled me up and I was full for many hours. I highly recommend people try this place out . The orange chicken and fried rice from this restaurant was the best orange chicken and fried rice ever. I give this restaurant 5 stars . I wish I could give this restaurant 20 stars

Beef Chow Fun Rice Noodle
Alisa K.

1/22/24 Very small hole in the wall chinese restaurant that I think caters to the american palette well. They serve the typical orange chicken and broccoli beef entrees. They also have a lot of lunch specials so grab and go is convenient because the inside is really small. I got their beef chow fun ($15) and their string bean beef lunch special ($12.75). The noodles were pretty bland but the string beans were good.

Sesame Balls
Gigi C.

My son and i had lunch here. Their foods are flavorful! The owners (husband and wife) are nice. They even gave us free sesame balls. Will definitely come back and post more pictures.

Bernadette C.

My partner and I passed by this place and were craving Chinese food. I'm so glad we tried it because the food was super flavorful and the portion sizes were very big. We both loved how much protein and vegetables came with each dish! We ordered the Combo Fried Rice, Salt and Pepper Pork, and Hunan Chicken. We couldn't decide which one was our favorite dish because they were so good. The Huanan chicken has a small hint of spice with tons of sauce. The salt and pepper pork was crunchy on the outside yet juicy on the inside. The service was super sweet and very attentive. Overall a 11/10 experience! We will definitely be back to this restaurant again!

Sonia M.

I wish I could give them more than 5 stars! I just loved the the area and i noticed this place on my commute to work. I looked them up on Yelp and decided to check them out- which I am happy I did but bad because now I want to it there every day lol It's one of the best tasting Chinese food places I've had in a long time. I need to get the gentleman's name that takes the orders because he is wonderful. Super friendly and I can tell his one of the cooks, caught him making the cream cheese puffs (which are amazing and full of flavor). The inside of the place is small and cozy about 3-4 tables for dine in. They offer delivery and food arrives hot. I've had the beef and broccoli (soo good), generals chicken( delicious) string bean chicken (I'm addicted lol) , cream cheese puffs( must try), basil beef(soooo good), house chow mien( best chow mien) , pork fried rice ( the fluffiest rice I've had soo good), egg rolls (average egg rolls) and walnut shrimp (very tasty) Everything we've ordered so far has been amazing. Only thing I would say the chow-mien that comes with the dinner combo is not as flavorful as the house chow mien so I will be sticking to the house chow mien. Check them out peeps you won't be disappointed. Ps string bean chicken and basil beef are filled with flavor and good amount of spice!

Amazing food! Worth the trip from Arizona!

Amazing food and service. Hot, fresh and delicious. We had the general chicken and two mushroom chicken. Thanks.

Shrimp Dumplings Spicy Mongolian Beef Chow Mein Lunch Special Salt and Pepper Chicken Sesame Balls Tofu Szechuan Eggplant with Tofueggplant
Maria R.

Everything went well. Kind hard working people, clean establishment, the food is very filling and tasty, tastes very authentic and the dim sum tastes like home super cheap as well

Tea
Silvia M.

Listen. This place is so underrated! It's off the main street so easy to miss, and not as well known as the other Chinese restaurants in the area, but it's my favorite one in Inner Sunset. The wokhei is ‍ None of the plates look like much but the taste is bomb. Everything I've ever tried here gets an A- from me on average. My favorite is the salt and pepper tofu appetizer which doesn't look special but taste is much more layered and delicious than other Chinese places that offer the same dish. It's a classic Chinese restaurant in the US and hits the spot. I like that it's almost like being in someone's home too, with water being served in Western ceramic mugs, and the hot tea is served in a colorful floral teapot with matching cups (and different tables get a diff tea set). So cute. Service so nice too.

Beef chow fun
Brittany F.

Fast service good food. I ordered the beef chow fun and it was ready for pick up under 10 minutes! Not the kind of place to dine in unless you don't care about the ambiance.

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The food was disappointing. It must be hard to fail on Chinese food, but they did it. Won't go back. Not cheap.

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10 months ago

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Thank you for your review! I owe you a hot and sour soup! :)

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1 year ago

I've gotten takeout from May Lee's for 30 years!!! It's consistently good, fast, and well-priced. Love them!! Give them a try!!

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May Lee Chinese Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - May Lee Chinese Restaurant

Sotto Mare - Best damn cioppino

Sotto Mare

4.3(5.9k reviews)
3.9 miNorth Beach/Telegraph Hill
$$$
Outdoor seating
Family-owned & operated

Sotto Mare is one of those classic San Francisco spots that every seafood lover needs to…read moreexperience. If you're looking for incredible cioppino, this is the place. Their famous "Best Damn Crab Cioppino" absolutely lives up to its name--loaded with fresh seafood, rich tomato broth, and incredible flavor in every bite. It's the kind of dish you'll be thinking about long after the meal is over. Be prepared to wait, especially during peak hours. This place is extremely popular with locals and visitors alike, and the line is a testament to how good the food is. The wait is well worth it. A helpful tip: dress in layers. Seating can be limited, and you may find yourself dining on the patio, where San Francisco's weather can change quickly. Being prepared will make the experience much more enjoyable. Located in the heart of North Beach, the restaurant is surrounded by one of the city's best neighborhoods. The lively atmosphere, local character, and walkable streets make the visit feel like a true San Francisco experience. Outstanding seafood, a neighborhood feel, and one of the best bowls of cioppino you'll ever have make Sotto Mare a must-visit. No wonder the locals keep coming back

It was worth the wait to sit outside because indoors was too hot, stuffy and cramp…read more Do make a reservation if you have a big group. Came here for the cioppino and will come back again. Just be ready for that acid reflux!

Photos
Sotto Mare - Scallop saute

Scallop saute

Sotto Mare - Crecked Crab

Crecked Crab

Sotto Mare - Steamed clams and mussels is really fresh. And the portion is big!

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Steamed clams and mussels is really fresh. And the portion is big!

Hog Island Oyster

Hog Island Oyster

4.4(7.7k reviews)
4.4 miEmbarcadero
$$

Amazing, fresh seafood thats unlike the others. sitting right on the water & eating seafood is a…read morespecial experience! We both loved everything we got except the lingcod fritters fell a tiny bit short. not warm all the way through but tasted good! This food really WOWed me on flavor & execution. We hot all the right things. Service was nice, they close early so last call for kitchen was happening as all our food arrived. Being a Cali girl I gotta love that casual seaside dining! Highly recommend

A visit to Hog Island Oyster is a must when you're exploring San Francisco's waterfront. The clam…read morechowder is hands-down the best I've had anywhere--and I've sampled chowders all over my travels. Rich, creamy, and loaded with fresh clams, it stands out because it's made with fresh shellfish and a clean, natural flavor that isn't weighed down by excessive thickening. The fish and chips were equally impressive. The fish was light, flaky, and perfectly cooked, wrapped in a crisp batter that never felt greasy. Every bite tasted fresh and expertly prepared. The patio seating is a must if the weather cooperates. Sitting outside with views of the San Francisco Bay, Bay Bridge, and the constant activity around the Ferry Building elevates the entire dining experience. Whether you're enjoying oysters, chowder, or a cold drink, it's one of the best waterfront dining spots in the city. Come hungry, grab a seat outside if you can, and don't leave without trying the clam chowder. Between the incredible seafood, relaxed atmosphere, and unbeatable views, Hog Island remains one of San Francisco's standout dining experiences.

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Hog Island Oyster - Inside

Inside

Hog Island Oyster - Seafood Stew

Seafood Stew

Hog Island Oyster - Oyster Bar Mix: a selection of the above oysters | $26 (6pcs)

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Oyster Bar Mix: a selection of the above oysters | $26 (6pcs)

Anchor Oyster Bar - Cioppino

Anchor Oyster Bar

4.5(1.8k reviews)
1.6 miCastro
$$

I came here for a late lunch but it ended up being an early dinner. I arrived around 2:40 and was…read moreseated about an hour later for one person. Maybe, it's because it's Memorial Day. I ordered Cioppino. This dish is a San Francisco classic fisherman's stew. It came with dungenuous crab, clams fish and mussels in a tomato broth. It has oregano and thyme herbs you can smell and taste them. It is hearty. However, I had 2 clams and 1 mussel that did not open so I didn't eat them. The dish is hearty for one person and I was full. The wait staff here are friendly and accommodating. The place is small with tables and bat seating. There are 3 outdoor tables.

An SF institution for a reason!! This small, intimate seafood bar on Castro St. is the perfect way…read moreto fuel up while exploring the city. Anchor Oyster Bar will likely have a wait all day, most times of day. However, there are lots of shops to stop into nearby where you can still call your name if called.  The reason to stop in? Their cioppino. A hearty, tomato-based seafood stew chocked full of fresh bay seafood like mussels, clams, crab, shrimp, and white fish. It's served hot and with a side of garlic bread. Do yourself a favor and order an extra side or two of garlic bread to sop up all of that delicious soup. We also got the seafood platter to try a variety of oysters and their shrimp cocktail, which were all delicious. Steamed claims in garlic butter was an obvious order. No regrets. Highly recommended for a good, hearty, true San Francisco lunch.

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Anchor Oyster Bar - Interior

Interior

Anchor Oyster Bar - Fish of the day

Fish of the day

Anchor Oyster Bar - Cioppino

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Cioppino

May Lee Chinese Restaurant - chinese - Updated May 2026

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