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    Mongol Cafe

    3.6 (49 reviews)
    InexpensiveMongolian, Cafes
    Open 8:30 am - 7:00 pm

    Order Mongol Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Mongol Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    MONGOL CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Mongol Cafe

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    Chicken and rice lunch special

    I ordered the chicken rice lunch special (which says is $9 on the menu) but was charged for $13 and the chicken meat is poor quality- similar to school cafeteria. Extremely dry and very salty. Overpriced. Never again.

    Buuz ($10.25) - steamed dumplings with ground beef - did not give me a good Buzz. Average!
    Ahmad J.

    I haven't had exposure to a lot of Mongolian food so when I happened to cross Mongol Café a couple of days ago I decided to check it out. It is located on Geary and Larkin which technically speaking is in Nob Hill but for all practical purposes is in SF's hood (Tenderloin). Upon walking in on a Saturday afternoon, I saw about 2 tables with patrons partaking in what looked like soup noodles. I walked over to the counter to find it completely empty. There was another gentlemen who was waiting there and unfortunately I mistook him to be someone working in the restaurant something he quickly set straight. Well there was nothing more to do than just wait for the host/hostess to show up; which he did after almost 5 minutes. During this time a third patron walked in and then out after about a minute or so. Anyway, I asked for the menu and found a couple of things that looked familiar like Borsh and Goulash but what did not sound familiar and had a nice ring to was Buuz ($10.25) so I decided to go with that. As per their site its steam cooked bun, filled with ground beef and garnished with 2 small salad servings. Julienne cut carrots seasoned with garlic and dressed in mayonnaise. After ordering to my surprise I could pay with a card and then it was a short 10-minute wait and I was on my way. I got a decent sized container with about 10 steamed dumplings and a small salad on the side. The dumpling was big and had a thick outer layer (like har gow) and had a beef based filling. It was clear that these had been frozen or at-least refrigerated before because they had not fully thawed before being steamed. Unfortunately, the Buuz that I got was not the good type. As already mentioned I don't know a lot about Mongolian food so I can't say if they like their dumplings this way "back home" but what I can say is I did not. Price-wise I thought it was a little expensive for just dumplings but I guess the specialty food tag justifies it. I think I should have gotten the soup that the other patrons in the restaurant were having which is what I guess I plan to do during my next visit. But given what I had I'm in no hurry to do that. Generous 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 is how I'd rate this place.

    Fresh beet, apple, celery juice. $5.75
    Rania N.

    Nice little hole in the wall spot. The fresh juices caught my eye so I ordered a squeeze of apple, beets, and celery. They were out of kale, cucumber, and spinach doesn't juice well with their juicer (so she said.) My juice came out beet pink and delicious. I was actually surprised. Sign with the special of the day: 1 coffee, danish or croissant for $3 Has an atm but they take card. Pretty cool for a bite or drink.

    Huushur (half order)
    Adam B.

    I'm not that familiar with authentic Mongolian food (BBQ & Hot Pot don't count), so was pleased this tiny little cafe sold a few specialties. Kind of like at those Vietnamese-owned doughnut shops where you can usually sneak a bowl of pho. The food was novel to me (which is rare nowadays) so left a very positive impression. Since I'm not that familiar with Mongolian cuisine, I can't truly compare against any benchmark. Huushur: These are very hearty! Kind of like a dumpling wrapper shaped into large empanada, but still filled with dumpling meat. It was really enjoyable how the exterior was deep fried crispy but the inside still had some soft dough like you'd find on a steamed dumpling. After eating one, the friedness was getting to me and I could have used a nice dipping sauce (with vinegar and/or citrus) to complement it. The carrot salad on the side wasn't that exciting, unfortunately. Tsuivan: The noodles seemed like shredded up dumpling wrappers. A lot thicker than regular noodles. Despite all the thick carbs, it felt kind of light. Not drenched in any soy-based sauces. The beef had a subtly that worked well against all the scallions.

    Piroshki(?) - they were out of huushur when I went, but they offered these instead! Like a bun, but fried
    Larissa M.

    I've never had Mongolian food before, so I was really excited to give Mongol Cafe a try! I was honestly a little intimidated - I grew up eating pan-Asian cuisine, so it felt a little unnerving to go into a restaurant where I didn't know what things on the menu actually were (much less how to pronounce them). Going off of the Yelp reviews, I decided to order the buuz and huushur to split with a friend. The owner kindly let me know they were out of huushur, but offered us some piroshki instead. I've had Russian piroshki before, so I figured they'd be worth a try - and I'm glad I did! For one, I was impressed by the portion sizes - the 3 piroshki (a HALF order) were as big as an entire dinner plate. They tasted like Chinese beef dumplings, but inside piroshki dough. It was a really interesting fusion of cultures - which makes sense, since Mongolia is in between Russia and China. While we were waiting for the buuz, the owner gave us a free beef bun too! He explained that it has the same filling as the piroshki, but steamed instead of fried. I liked the bun even more - while I'm always a fan of fried things, steaming the dough really brought out the heartiness of the beef. The buuz were delicious as well - very similar to the piroshki and bun, but with a thick dumpling wrapper. I loved how meaty and soupy they were. I feel like dumplings I've had in the past are lighter (usually mixed with vegetables or seafood), but these are very hearty and filling. We ended up taking half of the buuz to go. I'd definitely come back to try more Mongolian food!

    Lamb stew for takeout.
    Jana M.

    My husband and I love lamb and so we decided to try the lamb stew. If you love starch (potatoes and white rice) you're in for a treat. Otherwise, you'll have delicious, fatty and tender lamb with a few large chunks of carrots and lots of baby potatoes on top of white rice. Two eggs on the side for added protein. On this particular Saturday, they ran out of mixed salad and without asking us, gave us mashed potatoes instead. The stew was delicious, but the whole meal starch heavy. I supposed if we were really on the steppes of Mongolia, the starch would have helped our stamina and our defense against the cold, but we would have preferred another veggie like carrots on the side. Meat and potato fans, this place is for you. Easy walking distance from the Motel 6.

    Dan B.

    In true Korean(?*) fashion, owners' family is chillin taking up tables. Grandpa gave grandkid a face massage too - how much for one of those? I got the HUUSHUR as in huush ur mouth these fried beef pancakes are the bomdigi. Portion sizes are no effing joke either. Some dishes have a half size option. Remember that. *Yeah I know the resto / food is Mongolian, but listen to what the workers are speaking to each other.

    Breakfast at Mongol Cafe
    Khundaga K.

    Good place for freshly handmade and homestyle cooked breakfast. The omelette and bagel sandwich we ordered came out quick and tasted good. It's a mom and pop shop, and even though she was there by herself in the morning, the lady was able to quickly make an order of huushuur to go while we were eating too. I recommend this place for the local vibe and freshly made food.

    Huushur, served with veggies. Delicious. Ask for sriracha!!  ~$10

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    Delicious and authentic mongolian food! Owner very friendly and welcoming! Love this place!

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    I love come here because of great Mongolian tsuivan. Also I love they decorated bringing Mongolian yurt style. This interior is amazing.

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    Sohn - Matcha w/ oat milk, SŌHN signature cream top ($7) + Eric's Gochuchang Caramel Cookie ($4)

    Sohn

    4.3(358 reviews)
    2.6 miDogpatch, Potrero Hill
    $$

    Finally, a cute Korean cafe in SF!! Love the modern decor and neutral color palette…read more Stopped by on a Sunday at 10:45am and was super excited that there was no line. I've passed by several times before, and each time there was a line. However, by the time I left around 11:45am, there were around a dozen people waiting to dine in. There's some seating downstairs and even more seating upstairs. A lot of people had their laptops out. It's a great place to get work done as there are ample outlets and free WiFi. Once seated, you scan the QR code to order & pay for your food. Super easy! I also love how Apple Pay is accepted. I ordered the kimchi fried rice ($14) and loved it. It was perfectly seasoned (yet not too salty) and topped with a well-cooked egg with a runny yolk. This honestly might be my new favorite kimchi fried rice in SF. I was pleasantly surprised. I wanted a decaf drink and ordered a pumpkin tea ($4.50). It was heartwarming on a chilly SF morning. I loved my experience and will certainly be back!

    Went here on a Sunday around 1pm with two other friends. The service was fast since we didn't dine…read morein and it has a really open style interior. I ordered the sohn signature cream top,popcorn chicken,butter croissant, and their breakfast sandwich. Popcorn chicken: it was alright the flavor wasn't memorable but the rice cakes it came with were an interesting addition. Croissant: like any other croissant Breakfast sandwich: I think it was a good balance of ingredients and I enjoyed the texture of the eggs. Not too salty but personally I didn't think it was anything outrageous. sohn signature cream top: I think I enjoyed the drink the cream top was a good contrast to the rest of the drink. It was a good size and not too much ice. I would recommend to try it if you haven't. Or unsure of what to get for drinks. I think this is a place worth to give a try if you're looking for places to take pictures and try new drinks.

    Photos
    Sohn - Front and center when you enter is the open barista space. Wait here for your take-away order.

    Front and center when you enter is the open barista space. Wait here for your take-away order.

    Sohn - SŌHN Breakfast Sandwich

    SŌHN Breakfast Sandwich

    Sohn - Butter Mandu: Beef filling, cabbage, side of kimchi (3 pc - $8)

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    Butter Mandu: Beef filling, cabbage, side of kimchi (3 pc - $8)

    Stonemill Matcha - 2024 Christmas Strawberry Matcha Cream Pie (sliced) (12/2024)

    Stonemill Matcha

    4.2(1.7k reviews)
    1.6 miMission
    $$

    Came here to try the Japanese breakfast! They only offer it on weekdays for dine in only and they…read morehave a limited quantity, so be sure to come early. Our group came around 1pm and was able to grab the last 3 sets. Our party of 6 was able to share the 3 sets and feel relatively full. There was a range of dishes, of the selection the tempura and the silky eat was quite delicious. We found the Napa to be a bit floral for our taste but a perfect palette cleanser. The staff were the sweetest and combined tables together to let our party sit together. They even put a candle in the matcha tart for my birthday!

    Came for matcha and was disappointed. Busy dine in area and line outside. Ordered for take out and…read morethe drink comes out quick. ~2 minutes. Option to mobile order as well. I got the strawberry matcha and the seasonal lavender matcha. Both drinks were bitter and tasted watered down. Default sweetness was not too sweet but the matcha didn't have the creaminess even with regular milk. Strawberry puree was good but not enough to carry the diluted matcha. The matcha cream pie was solid. Soft matcha filling with very crispy edge. Whipped cream on top was also tasty. Would not come back here for the matcha. Maybe their food is better. With matcha coming out that quick feels like it wasn't prepared well and lost its quality. Street parking here or parking garage next street over.

    Photos
    Stonemill Matcha - Interior

    Interior

    Stonemill Matcha - TO Hojicha Pumpkin Pie

    TO Hojicha Pumpkin Pie

    Stonemill Matcha - Strawberry Yuzu-ade, tamago sando (w/ pork katsu on the side (that i sliced and put in myself)) (02/2026)

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    Strawberry Yuzu-ade, tamago sando (w/ pork katsu on the side (that i sliced and put in myself)) (02/2026)

    Delah Coffee - Inside - Great vibes!

    Delah Coffee

    4.6(632 reviews)
    1.0 miSoMa
    $$

    This might be one of my favorite dessert shops in the entire city. Each and every one of their milk…read morecakes are incredibly delicious; if you like the moist Tres leches/tiramisu type desserts-- these are a must-try. The coffee is incredible particularly if you like Middle Eastern style coffee drinks. In terms of ambiance- Every time I've gone, it has been busy. Every time. BUT!!! not so busy that I couldn't find a seat with an outlet nearby. It's just beautifully lively. It made it the perfect spot to sit and have dessert and coffee while working/studying/etc.

    Wow! I've walked by this spot several times and finally went inside to meet some friends. I would…read moreabsolutely be a regular if I lived nearby. The coffee options are creative and delicious. They have tons of food, snack, and delicious pastry options. I got the pistachio milk cake and devoured it within minutes! My friends and I tried each others' drinks and all of them were amazing. The flavors are unique and well-balanced. The baristas are friendly and welcoming, politely answered my questions, and service was quick and high quality. As I enjoyed my drink, I heard them greet many customers as regulars. I can tell they take the time to get to know people and are beloved by their visitors. The entire space is cozy, beautiful, and well-kept. There are many tables and some cushioned seats for a variety of moods. Lots of nice natural light with windows on two sides, and everything is really clean and delightful to spend time in. They also have WiFi and outlets for laptops!

    Photos
    Delah Coffee - Beehive bread and chai

    Beehive bread and chai

    Delah Coffee - Rose milk cake

    Rose milk cake

    Delah Coffee - Fresh croissant.

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    Fresh croissant.

    Loquat

    Loquat

    4.4(313 reviews)
    0.8 miHayes Valley
    $$

    Amazing gem of a cafe! So glad I finally tried this place…read more Kubaneh Platter (9.5/10) - they ran out of their Bourekas so this was recommended to us instead and wow it was so good! The sauce dips in this were incredibly rich and delicious - I wish I knew what was in it to make it myself! The buttery dough and pickled beets were also amazing. Chocolate tahini cookie (8/10) - loved that the sweetness was balanced with some salt Salted chocolate babka (7.5/10) - pretty good but not as good as other ones I've had in the city or in nyc. Wished it was more chocolately. The bread/chocolate in this one was a bit dry and not as moist as I would have liked. Might try it in a different flavor next time Definitely need to come back to try their Bourekas and other tea cakes!

    I was really excited to try this bakery, but I'm still a little undecided. The bread was genuinely…read moregood, but the prices feel way too high for what you get. I'm pretty sure I bought the most expensive challah in California. It was fine, just not special enough to justify the price. Nobody was raving about it the way people sometimes do when I bring challah from other bakeries to Shabbat dinner. The rugelach were also underwhelming for the cost. Service-wise, the staff felt a bit cold. I usually enjoy chatting with bakery staff, but the vibe here didn't really invite that. I really wanted to love this place, but I don't see myself coming back often. There are so many great bakeries in Hayes Valley, Lower Pacific Heights, and Noe Valley that offer better value. In a city with such amazing food, the premium pricing here just doesn't feel worth it to me. Maybe it would have been worth it if I had met a friend and hung out there for coffee, but for takeaway it didn't make sense.

    Photos
    Loquat - Tea using fresh mint, served in an individual pot To the right are a case of savory bourekas (similar to empanadas.)

    Tea using fresh mint, served in an individual pot To the right are a case of savory bourekas (similar to empanadas.)

    Loquat - Chick Pea Taragon Bourekas $5.50

    Chick Pea Taragon Bourekas $5.50

    Loquat - Kubaneh Platter

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    Kubaneh Platter

    Mongol Cafe - mongolian - Updated May 2026

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