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Mongol Cafe

3.6 (49 reviews)
InexpensiveMongolian, Cafes
Open 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Order Mongol Cafe Takeout or Delivery

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Business Info

MONGOL CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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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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awesome Mongolian food. try the tsuvan! the only authentic Mongolian food in the city. service was great.

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CoffeeShop - Matcha latte

CoffeeShop

4.4(94 reviews)
2.5 miPotrero Hill, Dogpatch
$$

Wifi, spots outside, excellent baker items and good coffee! I also love that their ice cubes are…read moremade of coffee. Friendly staff. Follow me for more on BayBitesNSips on Tiktok I'm also a bay area artist and I've just started selling online on Etsy: MLEcolorshop ; if you visit me or tell a friend who likes jewelry, I would appreciate it so much Everything I make is handmade with Polymer Clay and there is no single piece alike. https://www.etsy.com/shop/MLEcolorshop

Spacious spot for your work at home needs if you are able to get a spot!…read more I came to coffee shop on a Wednesday afternoon and was able to grab a seat at the communal table to do some work. They do offer WiFi is a great bonus and they have a restroom for customers. There is a couple of 2 person tables, a window side table for solo patrons, a communal table that can seat 6-8, and lots of outdoor seating. I would classify coffee shop as your neighborhood cafe that is great to get some work done and not necessarily a spot with unique drinks. They do have a good selection of pastries for you to try from (unfortunately I was too full prior to try!) I do appreciate that they did have samples for you to try out. Something cool I noticed is that they did have individual mini water pitchers with mini cups for you to take from their sugar/milk station. It's very thoughtful and I appreciate the attention to detail. Not a spot to drive to or add to the list as a must try but if you need a spot to lock in, this is a good choice if you're in the area :)

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CoffeeShop - Clean, open, and lots of light  (:

Clean, open, and lots of light (:

CoffeeShop - Almond croissant and chai latte

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

Sohn

4.3(365 reviews)
2.6 miDogpatch, Potrero Hill
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Wonderful spot! The service is so nice and the food is great (highly recommend the Korean burger…read moreand cold noodles). Will definitely be coming back to work from here.

One thing about me is that I love, love, love a cute cafe. I've been wanting to visit Sohn for a…read morefew months now, but I finally got to try on my recent trip to SF! Ok, first: the vibes. It might be a little controversial, but to me, the ambiance of a cafe is most important! And at Sohn, the atmosphere is immaculate. It's very obviously a Korean-style cafe. The interior is washed in a palette of soft neutrals and pale wood. Lots of open spaces, airy lantern light fixtures, fabric tapestries, etc., etc., etc. So beautiful, and so perfect for photos! (My friend and I took lots, believe me.) The only "complaint" I have is that it isn't open seating; an employee will seat you when you arrive, so you can't really choose where you want to settle. Kinda bummed because I wanted to see upstairs. Even though I prioritize cafe aesthetics over food, I'm pleased to report that the food and drinks at Sohn are just as delicious as they look. Style AND substance! There's a QR code at each table, which you scan to order. The workers bring the items to your table directly, which is pretty nice. Here is a rundown of everything we ordered: - Banana oat milk hojicha latte: Wait, why was this so good? It actually might be one of the best drinks I've ever tried. You can tell they use real bananas; there are literally chunks of banana at the bottom. No artificial syrups here. The banana is sweet and creamy, not bitter at all. Plus, it's oat milk! Yay for my fellow lactose-intolerant friends. The hojicha was okay, though. I think that, if it were nuttier, the roasted flavor would've complemented the banana so well, bringing this drink to a whole new level. - Coffee hojicha: Pretty bitter if you don't add syrup, but once it's properly sweetened, it's pretty good. Since their hojicha isn't very flavorful, it's easily overpowered by the coffee, so I wouldn't recommend this one. (Though it's not bad.) - Popcorn chicken: This was so delicious and beautifully presented in a round stone bowl. The chicken was crispy and flavorful, and the fried rice cakes were a unique inclusion! They are rolled in a seaweed seasoning, which reminds me of furikake. Glad they have savory items, too. - Gochujang cookie: Meh, honestly, you can skip this. It's not a bad cookie per se, but it tastes like a regular ol' sugar cookie. I don't taste the gochujang at all. It's not even a pretty cookie, haha, so I wouldn't even order it for aesthetics either. But overall, I had a great experience at Sohn! I saw a lot of people working on their computers here, but it's also a solid spot for photos or hanging out with friends. Parking wasn't too bad when I went (a weekday afternoon), but I heard the line can get long. I would totally recommend this place, and I hope I can return soon to try more items.

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

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Kopiku Coffee - Pandan Matcha (Oat Milk)

Kopiku Coffee

4.7(505 reviews)
1.1 miMarina/Cow Hollow
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I was SO SO excited to try Kopiku since it's been on my list for so long!! I visited on a Saturday…read moreand luckily the rush came in right behind my friend and I. I'm a lover of pandan and had SO much trouble choosing a drink because of it lol. I ended up ordering the kopi klepon and it was amazing! The drink was super creamy and earthy, and I loved how vibrant the pandan flavor was. Oftentimes when I get pandan drinks the flavor is way too light, but this had the perfect amount. It also had a bit of palm sugar in it, which added just the right level of sweetness. Definitely lived up to the hype!

Been wanting to come here for the longest time since Indonesian coffee sounded so unique! Luckily…read moreno line on a Saturday morning but people slowly started coming in by 9:30. A couple tables along the side but overall not too big inside. Couldn't decide what to get but I loved that their menu included visuals for the components of each drink. Price is slightly on the higher end but I guess you can't get Indonesian coffee anywhere else in SF. Ended up with a macchiato and cappuccino to try. Staff was friendly and I appreciate that they were informative about the macchiato being different than how Starbucks does it. Our drinks were freshly made and ready in 5 mins. Size of the macchiato was definitely a lot smaller than I realized but the coffee was nice and bold. Both drinks allowed us to appreciate the pure coffee bean taste without being too bitter. Looking forward to coming back and trying the popular kopi pandan!

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Kopiku Coffee - Masala Chai, Pea Earl Grey Tea, and a slice of Spekkoek.

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Q Specialty Coffee - matcha strawberry cloud

Q Specialty Coffee

4.2(264 reviews)
1.9 miPresidio Heights
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Certified professionals
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Such a cute spot with a bright and airy ambience that makes it the perfect place to catch up with…read morefriends, or get some work done. Every drink we ordered was honestly delicious, you can really tell they put care into the quality and flavor of each one. Their coffee is smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced. The matcha was creamy, and not overly sweet. Definitely some of the better matches I've had in a while. The staff was also incredibly friendly, welcoming, and helpful, which made the whole experience even better. Between the atmosphere, amazing drinks, and great service, this is definitely a spot I'll keep coming back to whenever I'm in the city!

A great place for curated gourmet coffees, matcha and other drinks with a superb pastry selection…read moreto match. Bright clean Modern minimalist decor with tiny little round tables just big enough for a laptop and your beverage of choice. Friendly service and definitely fast service midweek, though seating can be a little tight due to everyone camping out here "working from home". :) I really just wanted something simple like the drip coffee, black, no room, but they were out! Hey.. isn't this a coffeehouse!??? lol So I went for the Mocha and a blueberry scone. The Mocha was on point but I have to say the scone had a remarkable moist and almost airy texture with plenty of blueberries. 5/5 on the scone, 4.5/5 on the mocha. The servers were all friendly and seemed to enjoy being here as much as I was! I would love to come back again anytime I am nearby, especially midweek when there aren't any lines!

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Q Specialty Coffee - Velvet Matcha Cloud; Dubai Chocolate Mille Crepes

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Q Specialty Coffee - Yuzu matcha air cream cloud

Yuzu matcha air cream cloud

Q Specialty Coffee - An IG photo nook 4/19/26

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Mongol Cafe - mongolian - Updated May 2026

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