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I see why the crane is happy. As a vegetarian I was quite happy with the food here. I had the delicious dumpling stuffed with fried mushroom. The texture of the soft dough and the chewy crunch mushroom inside was enjoyable. It could've used some more sauce on top to make the flavor stand out more. Soft tofu was excellent. The herbs, sweetness of the pepper, the schecuan pepper all were a wonderful combo. Service was very attentive and prompt, for example my chopstick fell and I had a new one in 20 seconds Chef came and talked to us which was a nice personal touch. The ambience is very cozy and classy.
I'm an avid SF Chronicle subscriber and they hyped up the Happy Crane, writing about it before it opened ("S.F.'s hottest new restaurant serves Chinese food with fine-dining precision -- minus the pageantry"). Chef James Yeun Leong Parry has cooked in a few Michelin starred kitchens and the attention to detail shows. It's been open for a few months, but is still very hard to get a reservation. With some patience and persistence, I snagged one for 5:30pm once the reservations opened a month in advance at noon on OpenTable. Note: for the Peking Duck, that is a separate OpenTable experience to reserve! I didn't realize this and just made a normal reservation. The whole table opted for the $120 pp tasting menu. My mom has a lot of allergies and our waiter tried to discourage us from doing the tasting menu because she wouldn't be able to have all of the dishes, but she didn't want to keep the rest of us from enjoying it. In the end, they accommodated her allergies and gave her her own plate of a modified dish to try. It was very kind and thoughtful. The appetizers are steep ($9-$11 per piece) so we thought it would be worth it to do the tasting menu because it gave us all of the appetizers except one (the house silken tofu.) Small: - Firecracker Shrimp w/ nori, shiso, mala glaze ($9 pp): Loved nori and shiso. The glaze wasn't the spicy Mala. We had high expectations for this but it didn't end up being one of our top dishes. - ** Golden Coin: Coppa, rose wine chicken liver-mousse, house bao ($11 pp): Great bao and mousse. Unique. Meaty. One of my favorites. - Nantucket Scallop Dumpling (fava leaf, shrimp, trout roe). Unique dumpling. - doupi tofu salad (roasted bell pepper sauce, sakura shrimp). Good. - ** beef shin & artichoke ($19, master stock, celtuce, house chili vinaigrette.) Probably my favorite appetizer. - hawthorne berry oyster ($5, oyster of the day, hawthorne mignonette). - lo hei (hamachi, green sichuan oil, ginger, sunchoke - ginger scallion scallop (scalded chives, jicama, salted radish) Medium: - XO little fry king (monterey abalone, bay shrimp and scallop, jimmy nardello). I liked this better the second day. Diverse plethora of seafood and interesting sauce. - rosewine charcoal grilled skirt steak (sarawak black pepper, shisito). I think we shouldn't have gotten this, but my mom is allergic to cod and eggplant and they gave her a modified cod with no eggplant, forgetting that she's allergic to cod too.) The steak was chewy, tender, and cooked well. - ** geoduck clam egg custard (pidan yolk, mungbean noodle, green garlic). Probably my favorite medium dish. Loved the custard and the clam combo. Large: - Char siu Iberico Pork Jowl w/ lime ginger compressed-apple, scallion rice ($45). There are 2 types of scallion in that rice and I think it's the best rice I've ever had. There could've been more meat in this but it was delicious and flavorful. - Fish Flagrant Fish (lingcod, eggplant roasted, celtuce, yam leaves.) Good cod. Honestly we were full by this one and we took some home. Dessert: - ** mocha hazelnut sesame balls. Not overly sweet, unique creative combo. Nice consistency. - ** mango sago soft serve. A treat! - strawberry tanghulu with jasmine tea panna cotta. The best part, to me, was the panna cotta Drinks: Loved the Romance Across 1800 Li (nikka vodka, lychee, elderflower, vanilla, mei kuei lu chiew mist). Cocktails were unique and creative. Take public transit, Uber, or walk here. Parking is a pain. Service was wonderful and attentive. The food could've been salty so we drank a lot of water and they couldn't fill it fast enough!
FOOD: 5 SERVICE: 5 AMBIANCE: 5 VALUE: 5 Ok, the hype is real! The meal was amazing! Since this was our first visit, we decided to do their "Happy As A Crane" tasting menu which is sized for the number of people in the dining party. The meal consisted of: Small plates Hawthorne Berry Oysters - served with a mignotte sauce, fresh and succulent. Beef Shin & Celery Root - very tender pieces of beef served over chili oil (not too spicy). Dopui Tofu Salad - tofu skin served with roasted bell peppers, Sakura shrimp and pickled bamboo shoots. The Sakura shrimp, fried baby shrimp added a crunch to the dish. A refreshing alternative to a vegetable salad. Golden Coin - Italian cured pork, chicken liver mousse served on a bao. A flavorful take on the classic pork bun. Firecracker Shrimp - large shrimp wrapped in Nori and then deep fried in batter, topped with shiso leaf shreds. Crispy, tasty fried shrimp. Maine Sea Scallop Dumpling - the seared scallop pieces were tasty, but the dumpling was just regular. Medium Plate Steamed egg with sliced geoduck clams. This was not on the regular menu, just a part of the tasting menu. Chinese style steamed egg, topped with crunchy geoduck clams. A flavorful dish. Large Plates Fish Fragrant Fish - black cod steamed with heart of eggplants and green. Buttery soft and flavorful, served at the right doneness. Chasiu Iberico Pork Jowl - a different take on the regular Chinese BBQ pork. The Iberico pork was juicy, tender and busting with umami. It was served with scallion rice which itself was distinctive. We left fulfilled and satisfied. This was one amazing meal from start to finish. The staff was attentive and checked on us often. Definitely a first class experience and we will be back to try their Peking Duck.
After booking a few weeks in advance, my husband and I finally had the chance to try this restaurant last night. I had already done some research through other reviews, which helped us decide what to order and everything lived up to expectations. We started with the firecracker shrimp, which were absolutely delicious. My husband also ordered the golden coin (since I don't eat pork), and he loved it. We shared the scallop dumplings as a snack, and those were very good as well. For our medium plates, we chose the quail and the firefly squid "little fry king"...both were excellent. By that point we were completely full, so we couldn't try anything else, but we are already looking forward to going back. As for the ambiance, I was expecting something more formal, but it felt more relaxed than anticipated, which I actually appreciated. The service was also very good and added to the overall experience.
Overall had a very mixed experience at Happy Crane. Ambiance was nice and service was nice but food was a huge hit or miss Dimsum items were all very good - golden coin, doupi tofu salad, firecracker shrimp, and beef shank / celery root. Quite pricey but very good taste wise Then it went downhill - quail and XO stir fry were not very memorable but fine. Pork jowl was so so tough and impossible to chew. I could not bite into the pieces and just gave up eating it after awhile. Quite unfortunate because the flavor was decent. The pork jowl was actually so tough and impossible to eat that I almost sent it back. Surprised no one at the restaurant asked us about it since we left most of it on the table. Ended with the mango sorbet which was refreshing! Overall would try the dimsum items but everything else was not impressive.
I came back to try the new spring menu items. Having been twice before, I was exciting to dine here again but this time I was left very disappointed. . I arrived 30 minutes before my reservation and the hostess graciously seated my party early. We opted to order a la carte in order to try the new dishes but to our disappointment, we were told that the geoduck clam egg custard was only available through the tasting menu. This was one of the dishes we were looking most forward to! We ordered the XO little fry king with firedly squid, the grilled skirt steak, and the lobster noodle. Our waitress asked if it was alright if the medium plates came out first and then the large plate (the lobster). This was fine with us initially but the wait between the medium and large dish turned out to be at least 30 minutes. We were pretty flavor-fatigued by the time the lobster arrived. XO Little King stiry fry (4/5): This dish is a variation of the one that was on the initial menu, with a new inclusion of firefly squid. Overall we liked it but the longer we ate it, the intense flavor of the squid head/brains became overwhelming and fishy. Flavor wise, this was less salty than the previous times I've had this dish. Ingredient wise, I would lean towards the other iterations. Charcoal grilled skirt steak (2/5): I was really disappointed with this dish. The dish had an odd floral/sweet taste, perhaps due to the inclusion of the peppercorns sprinkled on top. The steak was cooked nicely but it was a tad chewier than I expected. The cabbage and the onions didn't offer much other than sweetness. We ate all the steak and left a lot of the vegetables behind. Lobster noodles (2/5): A sour flavor was our first impression. Upon talking to the waitress, we learned that fresh ginger juice was poured onto the dish. That didn't really seem to line up with the sour profile but we didn't question her further. The noodles were more like pasta and were on the softer side. The only part we liked was the fresh Maine lobster (and only half a lobster at that! but at $72 for the dish and the long wait for this course, this was very underwhelming. Ginger scallion lobster e-mein is one of my favorite Cantonese dishes so this was even more disappointing. Strawberry tanghulu (3/5): This was the only new dessert available. Unfortunately, it was another disappointment. The green lime sauce tasted soapy and we had to scoop most of it off the panna cotta. The infusion of jasmine tea into the panna cotta was enjoyable and the texture was on point. The fresh berries were nice. Tanghulu was made well but admittedly, I ended up breaking off most of the sugar and only eating the strawberry. Nothing wrong with it- I personally don't like unnecessary sugar like this or frosting. We mentioned celebrating a birthday so a candle was included. This was not a complimentary dessert however. Staff were attentive as usual but our waitress wasn't very warm. She did check in with us multiple times during the meal but when we expressed mild disappointment towards the dishes, it felt a little awkward. Overall, this was my most disappointing visit. Everything was visually beautiful but they all missed the mark in some way. I still like the restaurant and would consider coming back in the future, but that may be a while before I do.
I had good first meal at Happy Crane. Located in the heart of Hayes Valley, Happy Crane offers high quality modern Chinese food. The interior is beautifully designed, with bar seating and dining tables suitable for small to large groups. Staff are welcoming, accommodating, and knowledgeable about the menu, ingredients, and source. My favorite were the lo hei, firecracker shrimp, oyster pancake, quail, and the black cod. To me, the golden coin and chasiu were a miss - overly sweet and too chewy. Would recommend the mango sorbet and sago to end the night. Overall, a decent experience. Mostly hits, but some misses.
Loved this place, was able to snag a reservation same day last minute. We tried the tasting menu. Firecracker shrimp and the Jowl were my favorites! I also loved the mango pomelo dessert! Got way more dishes than we anticipated! Everything was great tbh. Only feedback was the fish dish was a bit light on flavor... Portions got bigger as the meal went on. Service was warm and great! Super attentive servers, cleaning up our table for us and refilling water, etc.
As my 1,800th review was approaching, it didn't take long for me to decide on what to review to mark the occasion. Even though I actually had a place in mind already, it wasn't hard to pivot after my friend was able to snag a ridiculously elusive reservations at one of SF's most hyped restaurants - The Happy Crane! Just a shame this didn't end up being a five star review, though... Almost as soon as we walked in, I was almost immediately enamored with how they fashioned the look of the old Monsieur Benjamin space - modern and thoughtful with a modestly themed decor. More importantly, though, their elevated take on classic Cantonese was what obviously attracted us the most. Since the menu tends to get tweaked somewhat regularly, we were happy to see that a lot of the dishes that we were most curious about were still listed when we sat down, as well as several others that piqued our interest. Had we not already locked in an order of their Peking Duck, we definitely would've gone with their prix fixe option to try a bit of everything, -- THE EMPEROR'S INDULGENCE - Peking Duck Washed-Hennessy, Roasted Longan Black Tea Chajiu, Mandarin Honey Cordial, Shiso, Mole, Smoked Tableside...$40 We ordered this one to share ($$) and I'm glad we did - just a couple of sips was enough for me. Fun presentation, but it tasted more meaty and smokey than like duck. -- UNDER RED LANTERNS - Red Bean Yuzu Vodka, Pineapple, Macadamia Nut, Coconut Cream, Lime...$19 Pretty decent overall. The pineapple and coconut gave this a pina colada-esque profile - light, sweet, and super easy to drink. -- SERPENT'S KISS - El Tesoro Reposado, Amaras Cupreata Mezcal, Apricot, Miso, Mustard, Pommeau, Citrus, Whey...$19 Easily our table's favorite cocktail (we each got one). While you can certainly taste the mezcal, this wasn't overly strong and was balanced nicely by the apricot, pommeau, and citrusy notes. -- HOUSE SILKEN TOFU - Cara Cara Orange, Avocado, Pidan, Green Sichuan...$14 Pretty simple, but not too shabby either. Although we couldn't taste much of the pidan (it was just the whites, no yolk), I liked how silky the tofu was and the bit of acidity from the orange. -- BEEF SHIN & CELERY ROOT - Master Stock, Celtuce, House Chili Vinaigrette...$18 The sauce was pretty good and the beef shin was quite tender, but I wish the former had more of a kick or some Sichuan peppercorns and that the latter had been seasoned more. -- GOLDEN COIN - Coppa, Rose Wine Chicken Liver Mousse, House Bao...$11 (per pc) This was AWESOME. The bao was soft with a nice crust, the mousse had a rich umami, and the slices of coppa added a bit of salty meatiness. Delicious! -- FIRECRACKER SHRIMP - Nori, Shiso, Mala Glaze...$9 (per pc) Not extraordinarily unique, but I thought this was solid. The shrimp were surprisingly big, the batter had a nice crunch, and I liked the mix of nori and shiso. -- CRAB RICE ROLL - Fresh Milled Rice Roll, Shaoxing Crab Butter, Trout Roe...$32 The rice rolls were really thin and broke apart, but blend of everything together was actually pretty interesting, especially the crab and roe. -- XO LITTLE FRY KING - Monterey Abalone, Bay Shrimp and Scallop, Sweet Peppers...$37 Ehh...this was okay. I liked the chunks of abalone and seafood in this, but this felt super heavy on beansprouts and green onions (though, it did give texture to the dish). -- CHASIU IBERICO PORK JOWL - Lime Ginger Compressed Niitaka Pear, Scallion Rice...$43 The portion was huge and the pork jowl was cooked really well, but the taste of the hoisin sauce was overwhelming. As for the rice, it didn't have a strong scallion flavor to it, but was otherwise fine. -- PEKING DUCK...$135 Uber disappointing. While the portion looked generous, everything was overcooked - the skin was brittle like a wafer, parts of the fat were burnt, and what little meat there was bordered on dry. Plus, the wraps felt grainy from the residual flour still on it. As far as service goes, The Happy Crane definitely deserves some plus points, as everyone was super friendly and attentive. They explained each dish in detail, they proactively refilled our water glasses, and they folded our napkins whenever one of us stepped away. What's more, our server made a point to regularly update us on the status of our Peking Duck, which was appreciated, though hardly necessary (it took about as long as he estimated when we sat down, so no issues there). All in all, while I considered rounding up based on the food alone, I feel like The Happy Crane is a bit of a victim of its own success/hype. There were several pluses despite our one big minus, and we still had a great time, but given their prices and their collective acclaim, we expected more. And sure, It's possible it was just an off night, but it's undeniably a bummer we didn't leave feeling blown away like so many others have. THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down.
I finally made it to The Happy Crane. I've been wanting to come here since they opened but it's one of the hardest reservations to get at the moment. Lucky for me, I have a friend who is particularly tenacious and got us a table on a Tuesday night. They offer a tasting menu (Happy As a Crane) for $120 and that's what we got. The tasting menu consists of nine savory dishes and two desserts. The first three to come out were the oysters, the beef shin and celery root and the doupi tofu salad. Then came the firecracker shrimp, the golden coin and the scallop and peashoot dumpling. The mains were the abalone, the lingcod and the pork jowl. Desserts included the mochi rocher (think the chocolate inside but with a mochi exterior) and a mango sorbet sago (mango sorbet with assorted jelly). All of the dishes were flavorful. The one crlticism I have is that the pork jowl came out a bit on the chewy side. If ordering à la carte, I would definitely do the tofu salad, the firecracker shrimp, golden coin and the lingcod. Those were the best bites for me. Service was good but the restaurant got a bit busy and I had to ask for my water to be refilled twice. The space is gorgeous - they really brightened up the old Monsieur Benjamin spot. With tax and tip, this was about $165 for the tasting menu which is what you'd expect to pay for a good tasting menu these days. Highly, highly recommended!!!
Happy Crane in Hayes is the rare "hot new spot" that not only lives up to the buzz, but exceeds it. From the moment we walked in, the room felt like a beautiful, warm space anchored by a large wraparound bar in the center that gives the whole restaurant an intimate, convivial energy. Our server, whose name I regretfully can't recall but who had lovely wrist tattoos, was genuinely sweet, attentive, and present throughout the evening in a way that elevated the entire experience. Overall experience We opted for the "Happy as a Crane" tasting menu, and for our group it was absolutely the right call. The pacing and progression of courses felt deliberate and thoughtful, building from bright, punchy bites into deeper, richer flavors before landing on a satisfying, almost whimsical finish. As with any long tasting, a couple of dishes were more "good" than unforgettable, but the through-line of the night was balance: texturally, flavor-wise, and in portion size, we left feeling fully satisfied and, yes, literally "happy as a crane." Standout dishes The firecracker shrimp was the standout of the night and unlike anything I've had elsewhere, with the crispy and crackly exterior, plump and juicy shrimp dusted in nori, a lingering mala warmth and I absolutely loved that it was served with the head as that is always my favorite part of any ebi dish. The custard course had that gorgeous velvety texture, and the pairing with the sweet brininess and subtle crunch of geoduck was absolute perfection. The XO stir fry was absolutely loaded with abalone and scallops, a generous, umami-rich toss of seafood that instantly transported me back to the "wok hei" of dai pai dongs in Hong Kong. Among the larger plates, the pork jowl and fragrant fish were a brilliant study in contrasts. The char siu-style pork jowl was rich and fatty with a touch of sweetness in the best way (though it was a bit too fatty for some of my tablemates understandably), while the aromatic black cod was light, flaky, and perfumed with tangy black vinegar and I loved that it came with the crispy skin intact. Style, concept, and value What excites me most about Happy Crane is that it isn't just upscale Chinese food in the sense of familiar dishes at higher prices; it feels like its own point of view, with modern Chinese cooking that is rooted in tradition but unapologetically creative. The kitchen leans into top-notch ingredients and fine-dining techniques without losing the soul and comfort that make Chinese food so beloved. In a city where many elevated Chinese concepts can feel like expensive retreads, Happy Crane is actually pushing the conversation forward, and I would not be surprised at all to see Michelin come knocking in the near future. Right now, it still feels like you're getting in slightly ahead of the inevitable wave as the dining room is already buzzy and reservations can take effort, but there's still that sense of discovery that makes a meal here feel special. My advice is to book soon, do the "Happy as a Crane" tasting at least once, and enjoy this place before the lines get even longer and the prices catch up to how good it really is.
Hype, hype, HYPE! Food/value 1/5 stars. The ambiance and the service are the only reasons I am giving this place 2 stars (and even, then I was hesitant to go that high). Cocktails were pretty good if not a tad on the sweet side. The food was so lackluster. Every single dish was missing something (or more than one thing). I didn't take a picture of the menu and most of the things we ate are not on the online menu, so I will do my best to recount what we ate: Hamachi, sunchoke salad: 3/5 Decent flavor, lacking texture, really chintzy portions of hamachi. It was more about featuring root vegetables than anything. Flavors were unremarkable and not unique in any way. Tofu salad: 3/5 Again, decent flavor, but nothing I haven't had before. Lacking texture. Needed something fried and crispy on top. It had sliced up bell peppers in there and, while that offered crunch, it was watery. Overall, very one-dimensional. Scallop and pea shoot dumplings: 1/5 This is a joke, right? ONE DUMPLING is $10, AND it's NOT good. If I ordered 6 of these for $10 at a dim sum place, I would say "meh" and never order it again. This dish desperately needed salt and umami. All I could really taste was chlorophyll from the pea shoots and the scallop itself tasted fishy. If you are going to charge $10 per dumpling, it better be fucking amazing. Literally any dumpling off of Yank Sing's menu is better than these were. What are we even doing here?? Dungeness crab lo mein: 1/5 Probably the most disappointing dish of the night. Mush. The dish was mush. Texturally unappealing doesn't even begin to describe it. Honestly the most actual crab that was served with the dish was the shell that they served along side the noodles. I could tell that the noodles were good quality, but they just fell limp. There was zero texture in this dish but mushy noodles. Barely ANY crab and it was $42!!! I normally end these thing with a little bit a synopsis, but I think I can sum this place up with this: WHERE. IS. THE. FLAVOR?? The bill with three cocktails and the four dishes above before tip was $171. Take your money elsewhere.
This is a very special restaurant. Led by a head-chef that's worked in multiple Michelin restaurants, including SF's Benu, you can taste the attention to detail in every dish. Starting with the small plates, you know you're in for a treat. The highlight is the Golden Coin, featuring liver mousse on top a buttery toast, the fattiness coats your mouth. While the dim sum are great, where the menu really shines are the medium and large plates. The Wolfe Ranch Quail is paired with a PERFECT blend of salt, sugar, peppercorn, and mala spice that gently coats your tongue leaving the great Sichuan numbing feeling. For the large plates, the pork jowl is a must. Made in the traditional Hong Kong style, the outside is nicely charred while the inside is tender, soft, and rich. Paired with slices of green apple, the sweetness compliments the pork wonderfully. One of my absolute favorites was the pomelo mango sago. Taking a traditional Asian dessert, Happy Crane turns it into an ice cream while still maintaining the essence of the dish, with sago, chunks of pomelo throughout, and a luxurious mango flavor. Having just opened less than a year ago, Happy Crane is planting a flag as one of the best restaurants in the city. Not only can you tell there is incredible detail to the way the dishes are built, each dish's flavor feels delicate yet bold. You can taste every intention of the chef without being overwhelmed. Additionally, the service is excellent, with the manager and head chef constantly monitoring diner progress to time the serving of dishes. It feels like you are eating at your pace not the restaurant's, which for a restaurant of this size, is impressive. Ultimately, Happy Crane offers traditional flavors presented in innovative dishes. The attention to detail in both flavor and service create a dining experience you'll be thinking about long after you've left. read more
HAPPINESS 5.0 I absolutely fell in love with The Happy Crane. Nestled in Hayes Velley along bustling Gough Street, it feels like the kind of place that instantly lifts your mood the moment you walk through the door. Parking on the street can be challenging, but there's an open-air lot about 2.5 blocks away, plus a covered garage even closer. From the second we stepped inside, the atmosphere felt warm, bright, and joyful. The abundance of natural light pouring through the windows, paired with the clean and minimal decor, created the perfect balance of cozy and stylish; an ideal casual date-night spot. Our reservation was at the bar, which is always our favorite place to dine. The woman taking care of the bar area was incredibly kind, welcoming, and patient with all of our menu questions. We started with three cocktails: Rosy Dawn, Romance Across 1800 Li (my personal favorite), and Serpent's Kiss. Every drink was beautifully crafted, balanced, and strong in all the right ways; definitely not watered-down cocktails pretending to be craft drinks. Since it was our first visit, we ordered the "Happy As A Crane" tasting menu, and it completely exceeded expectations. Every dish felt thoughtfully composed, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. The tasting menu offered the perfect introduction to their menu, and the pacing throughout the evening was flawless; never rushed, yet never leaving us waiting. We already booked our next reservation, and this time we're going for the Peking duck. It must be reserved 30 days in advance when booking a table reservation (not bar seating), and after this experience, I cannot wait to return. read more
8 days ago
The restaurant is super trendy, and it's gotten some well deserved hype. We sat in the back area sectioned off from the rest of the restaurant and it felt very comfy despite the tables being relatively close. The bar had excellent lighting and overall good vibe. Service was extremely attentive and kept the pacing of the meal very smooth, which I always appreciate. Food and beverages were all a hit and after the meal was over, we immediately made a reservation for 3 weeks later when family would be visiting. We got - - Firecracker shrimp - Very fun to try once. I'll probably skip this one next time around since I felt it was a bit dry - Silken tofu - excellent, would get it again - Skirt steak - felt like a high quality beef and broccoli dish, would also get again - Cheung fen - the fried maitake mushrooms were a creative take in the rice noodle dish. I enjoyed it, but I'll probably skip next time as well - Pork jowl - excellent, coming back almost exclusively for this dish - Bartender's daily drink - I think it was called immortal peach? Was a take on a mezcal last word. I absolutely loved this drink read more
8 days ago
I see why the crane is happy. As a vegetarian I was quite happy with the food here. I had the delicious dumpling stuffed with fried mushroom. The texture of the soft dough and the chewy crunch mushroom inside was enjoyable. It could've used some more sauce on top to make the flavor stand out more. Soft tofu was excellent. The herbs, sweetness of the pepper, the schecuan pepper all were a wonderful combo. Service was very attentive and prompt, for example my chopstick fell and I had a new one in 20 seconds Chef came and talked to us which was a nice personal touch. The ambience is very cozy and classy. read more
I'm an avid SF Chronicle subscriber and they hyped up the Happy Crane, writing about it before it opened ("S.F.'s hottest new restaurant serves Chinese food with fine-dining precision -- minus the pageantry"). Chef James Yeun Leong Parry has cooked in a few Michelin starred kitchens and the attention to detail shows. It's been open for a few months, but is still very hard to get a reservation. With some patience and persistence, I snagged one for 5:30pm once the reservations opened a month in advance at noon on OpenTable. Note: for the Peking Duck, that is a separate OpenTable experience to reserve! I didn't realize this and just made a normal reservation. The whole table opted for the $120 pp tasting menu. My mom has a lot of allergies and our waiter tried to discourage us from doing the tasting menu because she wouldn't be able to have all of the dishes, but she didn't want to keep the rest of us from enjoying it. In the end, they accommodated her allergies and gave her her own plate of a modified dish to try. It was very kind and thoughtful. The appetizers are steep ($9-$11 per piece) so we thought it would be worth it to do the tasting menu because it gave us all of the appetizers except one (the house silken tofu.) Small: - Firecracker Shrimp w/ nori, shiso, mala glaze ($9 pp): Loved nori and shiso. The glaze wasn't the spicy Mala. We had high expectations for this but it didn't end up being one of our top dishes. - ** Golden Coin: Coppa, rose wine chicken liver-mousse, house bao ($11 pp): Great bao and mousse. Unique. Meaty. One of my favorites. - Nantucket Scallop Dumpling (fava leaf, shrimp, trout roe). Unique dumpling. - doupi tofu salad (roasted bell pepper sauce, sakura shrimp). Good. - ** beef shin & artichoke ($19, master stock, celtuce, house chili vinaigrette.) Probably my favorite appetizer. - hawthorne berry oyster ($5, oyster of the day, hawthorne mignonette). - lo hei (hamachi, green sichuan oil, ginger, sunchoke - ginger scallion scallop (scalded chives, jicama, salted radish) Medium: - XO little fry king (monterey abalone, bay shrimp and scallop, jimmy nardello). I liked this better the second day. Diverse plethora of seafood and interesting sauce. - rosewine charcoal grilled skirt steak (sarawak black pepper, shisito). I think we shouldn't have gotten this, but my mom is allergic to cod and eggplant and they gave her a modified cod with no eggplant, forgetting that she's allergic to cod too.) The steak was chewy, tender, and cooked well. - ** geoduck clam egg custard (pidan yolk, mungbean noodle, green garlic). Probably my favorite medium dish. Loved the custard and the clam combo. Large: - Char siu Iberico Pork Jowl w/ lime ginger compressed-apple, scallion rice ($45). There are 2 types of scallion in that rice and I think it's the best rice I've ever had. There could've been more meat in this but it was delicious and flavorful. - Fish Flagrant Fish (lingcod, eggplant roasted, celtuce, yam leaves.) Good cod. Honestly we were full by this one and we took some home. Dessert: - ** mocha hazelnut sesame balls. Not overly sweet, unique creative combo. Nice consistency. - ** mango sago soft serve. A treat! - strawberry tanghulu with jasmine tea panna cotta. The best part, to me, was the panna cotta Drinks: Loved the Romance Across 1800 Li (nikka vodka, lychee, elderflower, vanilla, mei kuei lu chiew mist). Cocktails were unique and creative. Take public transit, Uber, or walk here. Parking is a pain. Service was wonderful and attentive. The food could've been salty so we drank a lot of water and they couldn't fill it fast enough! read more
FOOD: 5 SERVICE: 5 AMBIANCE: 5 VALUE: 5 Ok, the hype is real! The meal was amazing! Since this was our first visit, we decided to do their "Happy As A Crane" tasting menu which is sized for the number of people in the dining party. The meal consisted of: Small plates Hawthorne Berry Oysters - served with a mignotte sauce, fresh and succulent. Beef Shin & Celery Root - very tender pieces of beef served over chili oil (not too spicy). Dopui Tofu Salad - tofu skin served with roasted bell peppers, Sakura shrimp and pickled bamboo shoots. The Sakura shrimp, fried baby shrimp added a crunch to the dish. A refreshing alternative to a vegetable salad. Golden Coin - Italian cured pork, chicken liver mousse served on a bao. A flavorful take on the classic pork bun. Firecracker Shrimp - large shrimp wrapped in Nori and then deep fried in batter, topped with shiso leaf shreds. Crispy, tasty fried shrimp. Maine Sea Scallop Dumpling - the seared scallop pieces were tasty, but the dumpling was just regular. Medium Plate Steamed egg with sliced geoduck clams. This was not on the regular menu, just a part of the tasting menu. Chinese style steamed egg, topped with crunchy geoduck clams. A flavorful dish. Large Plates Fish Fragrant Fish - black cod steamed with heart of eggplants and green. Buttery soft and flavorful, served at the right doneness. Chasiu Iberico Pork Jowl - a different take on the regular Chinese BBQ pork. The Iberico pork was juicy, tender and busting with umami. It was served with scallion rice which itself was distinctive. We left fulfilled and satisfied. This was one amazing meal from start to finish. The staff was attentive and checked on us often. Definitely a first class experience and we will be back to try their Peking Duck. read more
22 days ago
After booking a few weeks in advance, my husband and I finally had the chance to try this restaurant last night. I had already done some research through other reviews, which helped us decide what to order and everything lived up to expectations. We started with the firecracker shrimp, which were absolutely delicious. My husband also ordered the golden coin (since I don't eat pork), and he loved it. We shared the scallop dumplings as a snack, and those were very good as well. For our medium plates, we chose the quail and the firefly squid "little fry king"...both were excellent. By that point we were completely full, so we couldn't try anything else, but we are already looking forward to going back. As for the ambiance, I was expecting something more formal, but it felt more relaxed than anticipated, which I actually appreciated. The service was also very good and added to the overall experience. read more
Overall had a very mixed experience at Happy Crane. Ambiance was nice and service was nice but food was a huge hit or miss Dimsum items were all very good - golden coin, doupi tofu salad, firecracker shrimp, and beef shank / celery root. Quite pricey but very good taste wise Then it went downhill - quail and XO stir fry were not very memorable but fine. Pork jowl was so so tough and impossible to chew. I could not bite into the pieces and just gave up eating it after awhile. Quite unfortunate because the flavor was decent. The pork jowl was actually so tough and impossible to eat that I almost sent it back. Surprised no one at the restaurant asked us about it since we left most of it on the table. Ended with the mango sorbet which was refreshing! Overall would try the dimsum items but everything else was not impressive. read more
I came back to try the new spring menu items. Having been twice before, I was exciting to dine here again but this time I was left very disappointed. . I arrived 30 minutes before my reservation and the hostess graciously seated my party early. We opted to order a la carte in order to try the new dishes but to our disappointment, we were told that the geoduck clam egg custard was only available through the tasting menu. This was one of the dishes we were looking most forward to! We ordered the XO little fry king with firedly squid, the grilled skirt steak, and the lobster noodle. Our waitress asked if it was alright if the medium plates came out first and then the large plate (the lobster). This was fine with us initially but the wait between the medium and large dish turned out to be at least 30 minutes. We were pretty flavor-fatigued by the time the lobster arrived. XO Little King stiry fry (4/5): This dish is a variation of the one that was on the initial menu, with a new inclusion of firefly squid. Overall we liked it but the longer we ate it, the intense flavor of the squid head/brains became overwhelming and fishy. Flavor wise, this was less salty than the previous times I've had this dish. Ingredient wise, I would lean towards the other iterations. Charcoal grilled skirt steak (2/5): I was really disappointed with this dish. The dish had an odd floral/sweet taste, perhaps due to the inclusion of the peppercorns sprinkled on top. The steak was cooked nicely but it was a tad chewier than I expected. The cabbage and the onions didn't offer much other than sweetness. We ate all the steak and left a lot of the vegetables behind. Lobster noodles (2/5): A sour flavor was our first impression. Upon talking to the waitress, we learned that fresh ginger juice was poured onto the dish. That didn't really seem to line up with the sour profile but we didn't question her further. The noodles were more like pasta and were on the softer side. The only part we liked was the fresh Maine lobster (and only half a lobster at that! but at $72 for the dish and the long wait for this course, this was very underwhelming. Ginger scallion lobster e-mein is one of my favorite Cantonese dishes so this was even more disappointing. Strawberry tanghulu (3/5): This was the only new dessert available. Unfortunately, it was another disappointment. The green lime sauce tasted soapy and we had to scoop most of it off the panna cotta. The infusion of jasmine tea into the panna cotta was enjoyable and the texture was on point. The fresh berries were nice. Tanghulu was made well but admittedly, I ended up breaking off most of the sugar and only eating the strawberry. Nothing wrong with it- I personally don't like unnecessary sugar like this or frosting. We mentioned celebrating a birthday so a candle was included. This was not a complimentary dessert however. Staff were attentive as usual but our waitress wasn't very warm. She did check in with us multiple times during the meal but when we expressed mild disappointment towards the dishes, it felt a little awkward. Overall, this was my most disappointing visit. Everything was visually beautiful but they all missed the mark in some way. I still like the restaurant and would consider coming back in the future, but that may be a while before I do. read more
I had good first meal at Happy Crane. Located in the heart of Hayes Valley, Happy Crane offers high quality modern Chinese food. The interior is beautifully designed, with bar seating and dining tables suitable for small to large groups. Staff are welcoming, accommodating, and knowledgeable about the menu, ingredients, and source. My favorite were the lo hei, firecracker shrimp, oyster pancake, quail, and the black cod. To me, the golden coin and chasiu were a miss - overly sweet and too chewy. Would recommend the mango sorbet and sago to end the night. Overall, a decent experience. Mostly hits, but some misses. read more
Loved this place, was able to snag a reservation same day last minute. We tried the tasting menu. Firecracker shrimp and the Jowl were my favorites! I also loved the mango pomelo dessert! Got way more dishes than we anticipated! Everything was great tbh. Only feedback was the fish dish was a bit light on flavor... Portions got bigger as the meal went on. Service was warm and great! Super attentive servers, cleaning up our table for us and refilling water, etc. read more
As my 1,800th review was approaching, it didn't take long for me to decide on what to review to mark the occasion. Even though I actually had a place in mind already, it wasn't hard to pivot after my friend was able to snag a ridiculously elusive reservations at one of SF's most hyped restaurants - The Happy Crane! Just a shame this didn't end up being a five star review, though... Almost as soon as we walked in, I was almost immediately enamored with how they fashioned the look of the old Monsieur Benjamin space - modern and thoughtful with a modestly themed decor. More importantly, though, their elevated take on classic Cantonese was what obviously attracted us the most. Since the menu tends to get tweaked somewhat regularly, we were happy to see that a lot of the dishes that we were most curious about were still listed when we sat down, as well as several others that piqued our interest. Had we not already locked in an order of their Peking Duck, we definitely would've gone with their prix fixe option to try a bit of everything, -- THE EMPEROR'S INDULGENCE - Peking Duck Washed-Hennessy, Roasted Longan Black Tea Chajiu, Mandarin Honey Cordial, Shiso, Mole, Smoked Tableside...$40 We ordered this one to share ($$) and I'm glad we did - just a couple of sips was enough for me. Fun presentation, but it tasted more meaty and smokey than like duck. -- UNDER RED LANTERNS - Red Bean Yuzu Vodka, Pineapple, Macadamia Nut, Coconut Cream, Lime...$19 Pretty decent overall. The pineapple and coconut gave this a pina colada-esque profile - light, sweet, and super easy to drink. -- SERPENT'S KISS - El Tesoro Reposado, Amaras Cupreata Mezcal, Apricot, Miso, Mustard, Pommeau, Citrus, Whey...$19 Easily our table's favorite cocktail (we each got one). While you can certainly taste the mezcal, this wasn't overly strong and was balanced nicely by the apricot, pommeau, and citrusy notes. -- HOUSE SILKEN TOFU - Cara Cara Orange, Avocado, Pidan, Green Sichuan...$14 Pretty simple, but not too shabby either. Although we couldn't taste much of the pidan (it was just the whites, no yolk), I liked how silky the tofu was and the bit of acidity from the orange. -- BEEF SHIN & CELERY ROOT - Master Stock, Celtuce, House Chili Vinaigrette...$18 The sauce was pretty good and the beef shin was quite tender, but I wish the former had more of a kick or some Sichuan peppercorns and that the latter had been seasoned more. -- GOLDEN COIN - Coppa, Rose Wine Chicken Liver Mousse, House Bao...$11 (per pc) This was AWESOME. The bao was soft with a nice crust, the mousse had a rich umami, and the slices of coppa added a bit of salty meatiness. Delicious! -- FIRECRACKER SHRIMP - Nori, Shiso, Mala Glaze...$9 (per pc) Not extraordinarily unique, but I thought this was solid. The shrimp were surprisingly big, the batter had a nice crunch, and I liked the mix of nori and shiso. -- CRAB RICE ROLL - Fresh Milled Rice Roll, Shaoxing Crab Butter, Trout Roe...$32 The rice rolls were really thin and broke apart, but blend of everything together was actually pretty interesting, especially the crab and roe. -- XO LITTLE FRY KING - Monterey Abalone, Bay Shrimp and Scallop, Sweet Peppers...$37 Ehh...this was okay. I liked the chunks of abalone and seafood in this, but this felt super heavy on beansprouts and green onions (though, it did give texture to the dish). -- CHASIU IBERICO PORK JOWL - Lime Ginger Compressed Niitaka Pear, Scallion Rice...$43 The portion was huge and the pork jowl was cooked really well, but the taste of the hoisin sauce was overwhelming. As for the rice, it didn't have a strong scallion flavor to it, but was otherwise fine. -- PEKING DUCK...$135 Uber disappointing. While the portion looked generous, everything was overcooked - the skin was brittle like a wafer, parts of the fat were burnt, and what little meat there was bordered on dry. Plus, the wraps felt grainy from the residual flour still on it. As far as service goes, The Happy Crane definitely deserves some plus points, as everyone was super friendly and attentive. They explained each dish in detail, they proactively refilled our water glasses, and they folded our napkins whenever one of us stepped away. What's more, our server made a point to regularly update us on the status of our Peking Duck, which was appreciated, though hardly necessary (it took about as long as he estimated when we sat down, so no issues there). All in all, while I considered rounding up based on the food alone, I feel like The Happy Crane is a bit of a victim of its own success/hype. There were several pluses despite our one big minus, and we still had a great time, but given their prices and their collective acclaim, we expected more. And sure, It's possible it was just an off night, but it's undeniably a bummer we didn't leave feeling blown away like so many others have. THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down. read more
I finally made it to The Happy Crane. I've been wanting to come here since they opened but it's one of the hardest reservations to get at the moment. Lucky for me, I have a friend who is particularly tenacious and got us a table on a Tuesday night. They offer a tasting menu (Happy As a Crane) for $120 and that's what we got. The tasting menu consists of nine savory dishes and two desserts. The first three to come out were the oysters, the beef shin and celery root and the doupi tofu salad. Then came the firecracker shrimp, the golden coin and the scallop and peashoot dumpling. The mains were the abalone, the lingcod and the pork jowl. Desserts included the mochi rocher (think the chocolate inside but with a mochi exterior) and a mango sorbet sago (mango sorbet with assorted jelly). All of the dishes were flavorful. The one crlticism I have is that the pork jowl came out a bit on the chewy side. If ordering à la carte, I would definitely do the tofu salad, the firecracker shrimp, golden coin and the lingcod. Those were the best bites for me. Service was good but the restaurant got a bit busy and I had to ask for my water to be refilled twice. The space is gorgeous - they really brightened up the old Monsieur Benjamin spot. With tax and tip, this was about $165 for the tasting menu which is what you'd expect to pay for a good tasting menu these days. Highly, highly recommended!!! read more
Happy Crane in Hayes is the rare "hot new spot" that not only lives up to the buzz, but exceeds it. From the moment we walked in, the room felt like a beautiful, warm space anchored by a large wraparound bar in the center that gives the whole restaurant an intimate, convivial energy. Our server, whose name I regretfully can't recall but who had lovely wrist tattoos, was genuinely sweet, attentive, and present throughout the evening in a way that elevated the entire experience. Overall experience We opted for the "Happy as a Crane" tasting menu, and for our group it was absolutely the right call. The pacing and progression of courses felt deliberate and thoughtful, building from bright, punchy bites into deeper, richer flavors before landing on a satisfying, almost whimsical finish. As with any long tasting, a couple of dishes were more "good" than unforgettable, but the through-line of the night was balance: texturally, flavor-wise, and in portion size, we left feeling fully satisfied and, yes, literally "happy as a crane." Standout dishes The firecracker shrimp was the standout of the night and unlike anything I've had elsewhere, with the crispy and crackly exterior, plump and juicy shrimp dusted in nori, a lingering mala warmth and I absolutely loved that it was served with the head as that is always my favorite part of any ebi dish. The custard course had that gorgeous velvety texture, and the pairing with the sweet brininess and subtle crunch of geoduck was absolute perfection. The XO stir fry was absolutely loaded with abalone and scallops, a generous, umami-rich toss of seafood that instantly transported me back to the "wok hei" of dai pai dongs in Hong Kong. Among the larger plates, the pork jowl and fragrant fish were a brilliant study in contrasts. The char siu-style pork jowl was rich and fatty with a touch of sweetness in the best way (though it was a bit too fatty for some of my tablemates understandably), while the aromatic black cod was light, flaky, and perfumed with tangy black vinegar and I loved that it came with the crispy skin intact. Style, concept, and value What excites me most about Happy Crane is that it isn't just upscale Chinese food in the sense of familiar dishes at higher prices; it feels like its own point of view, with modern Chinese cooking that is rooted in tradition but unapologetically creative. The kitchen leans into top-notch ingredients and fine-dining techniques without losing the soul and comfort that make Chinese food so beloved. In a city where many elevated Chinese concepts can feel like expensive retreads, Happy Crane is actually pushing the conversation forward, and I would not be surprised at all to see Michelin come knocking in the near future. Right now, it still feels like you're getting in slightly ahead of the inevitable wave as the dining room is already buzzy and reservations can take effort, but there's still that sense of discovery that makes a meal here feel special. My advice is to book soon, do the "Happy as a Crane" tasting at least once, and enjoy this place before the lines get even longer and the prices catch up to how good it really is. read more
3 days ago
Cantonese food is about precision and controlled flavors. This restaurant completely lacks. Dishes were dry, confusing, and gaudy. Flavors made no sense together and the prices are very high. This is not fine dining read more
3 months ago
Hype, hype, HYPE! Food/value 1/5 stars. The ambiance and the service are the only reasons I am giving this place 2 stars (and even, then I was hesitant to go that high). Cocktails were pretty good if not a tad on the sweet side. The food was so lackluster. Every single dish was missing something (or more than one thing). I didn't take a picture of the menu and most of the things we ate are not on the online menu, so I will do my best to recount what we ate: Hamachi, sunchoke salad: 3/5 Decent flavor, lacking texture, really chintzy portions of hamachi. It was more about featuring root vegetables than anything. Flavors were unremarkable and not unique in any way. Tofu salad: 3/5 Again, decent flavor, but nothing I haven't had before. Lacking texture. Needed something fried and crispy on top. It had sliced up bell peppers in there and, while that offered crunch, it was watery. Overall, very one-dimensional. Scallop and pea shoot dumplings: 1/5 This is a joke, right? ONE DUMPLING is $10, AND it's NOT good. If I ordered 6 of these for $10 at a dim sum place, I would say "meh" and never order it again. This dish desperately needed salt and umami. All I could really taste was chlorophyll from the pea shoots and the scallop itself tasted fishy. If you are going to charge $10 per dumpling, it better be fucking amazing. Literally any dumpling off of Yank Sing's menu is better than these were. What are we even doing here?? Dungeness crab lo mein: 1/5 Probably the most disappointing dish of the night. Mush. The dish was mush. Texturally unappealing doesn't even begin to describe it. Honestly the most actual crab that was served with the dish was the shell that they served along side the noodles. I could tell that the noodles were good quality, but they just fell limp. There was zero texture in this dish but mushy noodles. Barely ANY crab and it was $42!!! I normally end these thing with a little bit a synopsis, but I think I can sum this place up with this: WHERE. IS. THE. FLAVOR?? The bill with three cocktails and the four dishes above before tip was $171. Take your money elsewhere. read more
After months of trying, finally snatched an early dinner time slot! After scanning the menu and no longer see Lo Bak Go on it, we just went with the tasting menu, skipped out on wine pairing and went for some cocktails. Interesting items throughout the menu; I've heard good things about the firecracker prawns, I see this Peking duck fused cocktail drink. Too many choices, too little stomach real estate. There were about 9 dishes, starting from 4 small bites/dimsum, a medium plate, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts. For first timer, that's a good start, there were dishes I wouldn't have chosen myself and end up being my favorites. Some dishes were their version of some classic dishes I grew up knowing, and my memories of the classics took over, ended up not liking the revised versions as much. I think that's what I've read in some reviews, like something as simple as the steamed egg dish, classic Cantonese dish. HC added in the steamed geoduck over mungbean noodle, which is another common Cantonese preparation of shellfish. Both being my favorites growing should make this dish my favorite, but this combo dish didn't carry the same memories, it felt more or less okay, despite it still being tasty. My favorites were firecracker prawns, tofu salad, charsiu pork jowl, and the desserts (mango sago soft serve and a sesame ball looking ferrero rocher). Downside of having a pre fixe is that there are dishes that I really don't care for but it's more for the common public. For one, their Lo Hei dish had a good meaning, reminded me of Great China's liangpi, but I can definitely do without. Fish fragrant fish is a play on the classic dish where it's mainly minced pork and eggplant, there is no fish involved. HC kept the eggplant but actually added in the fish. The cod was cooked just right, it's an interesting take, but it's also where the classic dish and its familiarity triumphs a bit more. If I were to do over, I'd still order this dish to see HC's creativity. I think that is the main struggle of a Chinese fine dining spot: how do you bring in creativity to traditional dishes? Is it just by changing up the ingredients or the serving format? There's definitely room for improvement there. I can't say much about cocktails other than they were delicious and pretty. I can say more about the service, which was very attentive. This is one of the very few restaurants that actually kept my water cup full and I do hydrate a lot. The timing of the dishes didn't feel rushed or with too many gaps. For a small table top, there's never a time it was too packed with the dishes and we have to put our phones down to our laps. Once we had our plates swapped for new ones, my friend had splashed some water onto it while putting the water cup down, one of the servers noticed it and promptly swap out for a new one. For a weekend dinner with a full house, this is pretty amazing. read more
I was really surprised by our experience here. I have heard only amazing things and was excited & ready for a lovely celebration meal but found the service, food, and overall experience to be lack luster. I appreciated the ambiance and the tableware - which is why I gave it 2 stars. Otherwise, the food was incredibly heavy (in fact it made us feel unwell) and the service felt rushed and un attentive. It's also incredibly hard to get a reservation and generally really difficult to get in touch with anyone here. We reached out multiple times earlier in the day for a certain accommodation and never heard back. I'd be hesitant to recommend this place to friends! read more
If I was a bird, I'd be a happy crane right now. I will admit to being ready for a let down due to all the hype and how hard it is to get a table here but I am here to report it wasn't just a hype! I am ready to claim this THE best restaurant of 2026! Ambiance: It is so hard to find a nice restaurant where you're not screaming at the person across the table because the acoustics are so bad. Happy Crane shows us that it is absolutely possible to do it!!! The lighting is also just right, no need to feel old by pulling out your phone flashlight and not so bright that you look pale. Even the counter seats are well situated and you don't feel crowded. Food: 10/10. I was very skeptical that it could be worth paying more for Chinese food. I mean Chinese food is great already! Well, I was wrong. The flavors on all the dishes are fantastic, especially all the mains. You absolutely cannot skip out on the mushroom noodles. It is hand made noodles packed with umami flavors. We get it every time. The pork jowl is their take on the traditional chasui pork but holy cow (or should I say pig?), it is amazing!!! The slight charcoal taste on the perfectly cooked pork jowl along with pickled apple and fennel slices is just divine. This dish does come with flavorful bowl of rice. We also tried few starters and mediums including the crab rice roll. They were all very good but we are sticking with mostly the mains for our return trips. The dessert are also fantastic so save room for the mochi filled with hazelnut chocolate cream. Tip: If you're willing to ditch your friends, you can usually find a counter seat for 1. Trust me, that has crossed my mind more than once! This place is that good! read more
Finally got to try The Happy Crane, and was fortunate enough to snag a seating for their highly anticipated CNY collab with Sun Moon Studio. Amazing menu, featuring the house specials of each restaurant. Loved their creative takes on traditional Chinese dishes. Favorite bites included their collab lobster dumpling, the crab butter lo mein, and Buddha jumps over the wall soup. So many courses with high quality ingredients that made the meal worth every penny. Cannot wait to come back next month to try the rest of their regular Ala carte menu! read more
It took us a while to get a reservation here, squeezing in at 8:30PM on a Tuesday. It was very busy then too with a few more groups coming in at 9PM seatings. It is a beautiful space doesn't feel too tight despite the closely set tables. We ordered the chef's choice menu and it was a great assortment of Chinese dishes with a unique flair. The food was very good but some dishes not as well executed as others. The servers are prompt in delivering the many course dishes but all of our servers (we had at least four) were extremely rushed in describing the dishes, most of the time no one in my party caught the details behind the main ingredients. For a restaurant with innovative takes on traditional dishes, these details matter, and it would be great if all the servers could slow down a bit despite the busy dinner time guest volume. read more
It used to be Monsieur Benjamin! I recognize the outside of the restaurant by just the long glass windows. The restaurant's name does make a person dining in feel happy like a crane! I don't usually eat fancy Chinese as it's not authentic but here at Happy Crane, the food is very unique and somewhat authentic. My hubs and I got a rsvp on Christmas Eve at 8:45pm. It was pouring rain and we were debating to cancel but I didn't want to get charge for a no show so we took Uber and still went. We were greeted by the host and she acknowledge it was a birthday celebration then we were greeted by our waitress. We ordered and some of the dishes can shortly after. As we ate and ate the rest of food just tasted fresh and yummy. Our fave for the night was the dessert, we ordered the Mango sago sorbet with pomelo and kiwi. It was light and divine. I wish there was more. We were able to see the co-owner and sous chef from far. We would def come back to try more of their food!!! If you're ever in the Hayes Valley area go check it out but be prepare to pay the prices but I guarantee you'll be happy like a crane too. read more
We came here for our anniversary dinner and ordered the happy as a crane tasting menu with the wine pairing and the drink of the week (coast to coast)! The wine pairing matched every course so well, from the appetizers to the main course to the desserts. We were very impressed by the ambience (not too loud or quiet) and service was fantastic. Our favorites were the firecracker shrimp and golden coin paired with the reisling, char siu, and the niangao. There was a very nice contrast in the niangao--warm gao with cold creme fraiche, a perfect balance of sweet and salty. The citrusy kumquat and grapefruit helped balance the heavier creme. I think this is my favorite restaurant in SF, and we'll definitely be back!! :) read more
Our recent weather may be dreadful, but rain is widely considered good luck, good fortune , and blessings in Chinese culture. Our date night on Christmas Eve at The Happy Crane was indeed very pleasant and fortuitous filled with flavorful food and delicious cocktails. Service was impeccable with staff noting my restriction's request right away. They also checked in frequently to make sure all is well. We had the following: *as above, so below (non-alcoholic) cocktail $17. Delicious! Citrusy and the right amount of sour. I wanted another one! *Phoenix oolong cold brew $8. Smooth tasting. Like it. *Doupi tofu salad $15. Love the texture and the flavor. As a cold dish, we love that it's not too cold. *firecracker shrimp $9. We got two pieces. I would definitely get this again. Really like it. Crispy and delicious with a slightly mala flavor. *Crab Rice Roll $32. Interesting take on cheung fun. Not my favorite on this visit. *Maitake Biang Biang $36. Delicious noodles and mushrooms. *Poached pear & smoked chestnut $14. Delicious, cooling and hydrating. Love the snow fungus in this dessert. The crème fraiche is creamy and goes well with the pear. Located on Gough and Ivy. read more
5 months ago
Was very excited to try this new modern Cantonese Chinese restaurant and this place did not disappoint. Started the meal out with some ginger scallion scallops and smacked cucumbers. The scallion sauce was very reminiscent of typical Cantonese steamed fish. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't say this was extraordinary or special. The smacked cucumbers were refreshing, seasoned appropriately and memorable. The sugarsnap pea dumplings were unique and had a nice sea foam that was aerated and complimented the shiitake and summer squash filling. I enjoyed this, but probably would not order again since my tastebuds were left pining for a more traditional denser/meatier filling. The beef shin & celery root dish had a nice kick to it with the chili oil vinaigrette. The first star of the night would be the oyster pancake. My goodness gracious, this pancake had the PERFECT crunchy exterior with a nice chew throughout the pancake. The fermented chili sauce was also a nice offset to the briny oyster notes. Tip-eat this fast to fully maximize the crispy bite experience. The second start was the Iberico Pork Jowl. Just get it, you'll have no regrets. The only dish I regretted ordering was the salted egg yolk squash. The lettuce wrap felt awkward like it was an on the whim accompaniment and the fried squash felt like it needed to be air fried since there was no crunch and was a bit soggy. All in all, the Happy Crane does a great job at adding a touch of unique and memorable, yet nostalgic essence to their dishes and is a great new spot for those who want something different. Will definitely be back! read more
Made reservations at 7:45pm for a group of 4 people at the bar, arrived around 7:35pm and there was a little wait before we were greeted by the host and seated at the bar. Reservations are quite hard to secure, definitely look a month out to book. Space feels warm yet minimal in design with a good amount of open space, bar seats were surprisingly comfortable. Low lighting, noise level wasn't too high appreciated that you could hear others and have a conversation. Drinks: Flying Nimbus - an interesting non-alcoholic options which tasted like a salted lemon highball, pretty refreshing, a little savory, a great drink to pair with the food on the menu Food: Scallop Crudo - solid, thin slices of scallops paired with crunchy jicama slices which some really enjoyed and other thought was too much of a crunchy textural contrast for crudo, flavor of the scallion, ginger and garlic paired well with the scallops, light and refreshing, this is on the smaller side Doupi Tofu Salad - solid, tender thin sheets of tofu skin julienned into thin strips along with some bell pepper and crunchy dried shrimp pieces, this was a medium spice level, flavors felt balanced with nice textural contrast, didn't feel super unique or interesting but tasted good Firecracker Shrimp - good, a fried whole shrimp that's butterflied with head on, tail is wrapped in nori and rice paper and fried crisp in a light batter, garnished with super finely cut shiso which added an herbal freshness, the shrimp texture was a tad on the mealy side, but did make for easier bite through so this might be intentional, think this could have benefited from a little more of the mala glaze, ate a touch dry, very unique and interesting Golden Coin - okay, a round griddled bao that was a hybrid of a steamed bun and pancake texture in texture, chicken liver mousse added a creamy richness, coppa added savory meatiness, wish this had a sprinkle of salt to finish, felt slightly under seasoned for my taste Crab Rice Roll - okay, noodles were tender, soft and slippery, crab butter sauce reminded me of super savory egg drop soup mixed with crab, trout roe added burst of saltiness, the brothy sauce seemed to mask the taste of the crab itself XO little fry - okay, the abalone slices were a little bit on the chewy touch side, scallops and bay shrimp were pretty small pieces, dish was primarily stir fried green chives which tasted good but some were a little tough in texture, bean sprouts and sweet peppers, staff recommend some steamed rice to go with this and glad we included it, wish there was a bit more of the xo sauce on top or on the side Maitake Biang Biang - solid, noodles had a nice chewy yet tender texture, lots of mushrooms in this dish which added meatiness, a little spicy and salty from the soy, flavor was solid some bites were saltier than others Mango Sorbet with Coconut Sago - loved this dessert, super refreshing, sorbet had a nice creamy texture with fantastic sweet mango flavor, coconut sago added a creamy richness, the variety of fresh fruits from the kiwi to the citrus fruit added additional burst of tart acidity, a great end to the meal Service was excellent, staff is super knowledgeable about the menu with great recommendation on portion size and accompaniments to the dishes we ordered. Pacing of the meal was also great, felt very well expedited, we were provided serving utensils for each course and new plates when needed without needing to ask which was great. Water was refilled throughout our meal, overall super pleased. Overall this was a solid meal but given the great reviews and accolades The Happy Crane received in 2025 had high expectations, and it fell a bit short for me. All the savory dishes were good to okay, only dessert was the real standout for me personally. Would suggest waiting for they hype to die down if you want to give this spot a try. read more
Happy Crane truly lives up to the hype. After coming here with my friend, I had such an incredible experience and had to come back with my husband. I already have my third reservation booked! First, the cocktails. I am obsessed with the Under Red Lanterns. It reminds me of a boozy version of red bean ice (紅豆冰), something I grew up drinking at Hong Kong cafes. So nostalgic! Now, on to the food: Firecracker Shrimp - I don't eat shrimp, but I saw my husband's eyes light up upon first bite. He said this was one of the most incredible bites he's ever had. Doupi Tofu Salad - I ordered this both times and love the mala flavors and spicy kick. Chasiu Iberico Pork Jowl - Highlight of the meal for me both times. The insanely tender pork jowl (flavors resemble Cantonese BBQ pork) paired with the fragrant rice will make you speechless. Maitake Biang Biang Noodles - The consistency/texture of these noods were extremely satisfying, chewy and bouncy. I also love the flavorful sauce/spices (resembles cumin). Oyster Pancake - This was the one dish that was fine not great. It's made with high quality ingredients, but it doesn't taste like a Taiwanese oyster pancake... in case that's what you're expecting (as I was). I didn't order this again my second time back. As for the ambiance, I love the modern/sleek decor, the perfectly curated tableware, and beautiful bar area. Such a perfect date night spot! read more
We ABSOLUTELY LOVE this place and really cannot wait to come back! The Happy Crane has been open since August 8th and I was lucky enough to score us reservations literally the day after we came back from our LA trip. Book the Peking Duck in advance as they only do two a night! Their signature Peking Duck - a masterpiece of tradition and elegance. Expertly prepared by Chef James Parry, each duck is roasted to perfection in a custom duck oven, resulting in crisp, golden skin and succulent meat for ar unforgettable presentation. Served with delicate pancakes, house-made authentic Tian Mian Jiang sauce, and fresh accompaniments, this iconic dish is the centerpiece of their modern dining experience. Elevate your evening with the timeless flavors of Beijing in the sophisticated ambiance of The Happy Crane. * NA As Above, So Below: seedlip grove & spice 96, kabosu-sudachi cordial, orange zest $17 * ginger scallion scallop (4/5): scalded chives, jicama, salted radish $18 * golden coin (5/5): coppa, rose wine,chicken liver mousse, house bao $11 a piece * uni scallop pancake (5/5): eggplant, Worcestershire $11 * firecracker shrimp (5/5): nori, shiso, mala glaze $9 a piece * crab rice roll (4/5): fresh milled rice roll, shaoxing crab butter, trout roe $32 * Peking Duck and Condiments (5/5) $110 * mango sago sorbet (5/5): kaoliang, passionfruit $14 * mochi rocher (5/5): cinnamon chocolate, hazelnut $13 for 2 pieces | September 3, 2025 | read more
This sold-out Lunar New Year pop-up between The Happy Crane and Sun Moon Studio was my most anticipated reservation of the season. Seeing these two distinct styles--Happy Crane's soulful Cantonese roots and Sun Moon's refined, producer-driven artistry--come together was something special. Every dish was a thoughtful nod to LNY traditions, featuring auspicious ingredients like abalone, Dungeness crab, and black sesame. They even featured a Hamachi Lo Hei; tossing the fish with chopsticks is a Southeast Asian tradition meant to "toss up" good fortune and wealth for the year. Standout Creative Dishes: * Lo Bak Go (Radish Cake): The savory-on-savory umami here was incredible. The juices from the Taiwanese sausage seeped through the radish cake, perfectly complemented by dried shrimp and a fermented chili kick. * Firecracker Shrimp: Easily the most visually stunning dish. You get a shattering rice paper crunch followed by a "firework" of Mala spice, balanced by the herbal notes of nori and shiso. * Hodo Soy Tofu: Deceptively simple but genius. Soft tofu wrapped around rich uni, with the sweetness of Shaoxing wine soaking through both. It finishes with a zesty, spicy ginger punch. * California Squab: Perfectly fried and impressively juicy. I loved that the thigh was still attached to the wing--sweet, spicy, and savory all in one. * Buddha Jumps Over the Wall: A rich, natural seafood broth with perfectly tender treasures inside. Pure comfort. * Mochi Rocher: A brilliant finale. Crispy fried mochi stuffed with warm, runny chocolate. read more
5 months ago
WOW! Left very happy lol First of all the restaurant is beautiful! The woman that greeted me at the entrance was very nice. I was already 20 mins late as parking was very hard to find and she still accommodated me. Traffic was bad also, so prepare yourself. Mind you tonight was a weekday, so if you come on a weekend, I'm sure it's worse. There was a parking garage nearby and even getting into that was backed up so I kept driving around to find street parking. Service was amazing! I didn't get the persons name at the door but my servers were Amanda and Jackie (I believe). Very attentive and gave great suggestions when I asked. I reserved for myself. This was a reschedule as well so I'm so happy I was able to make it. Because I dined alone, I wasn't able to order too much but I was so happy with what I did order. For appetizers, you order by the piece. I ordered 2 oysters, 1 of the firecracker shrimp and Amanda recommended I get 1 of the golden coins. For my main plate, I got the maitake biang biang noodles. Everything was soooo good! I could've ordered more lol I didn't want to be greedy so I ordered only 1 more of the coins cause it was just that good! Oysters were fresh. Small enough you could pop like a dozen of those suckers throughout the night to yourself easily! They're delicious! The shrimp was perfectly cooked, seasoned well and I even ate the head. (I'm a vet though so eat accordingly lol) That golden coin though? Had like a pate smeared on it...ugh. You just have to try it. I can't wait to go back with more people so I can reorder the same things and try other things! The noodles were delicious also. I love mushrooms and the hand pulled noodles were cooked perfectly. I was so full, I took the rest to go. Oh and cocktails. I had two. One Romance Across and one gimlet. Again, both yummy! So happy I was able to make it tonight. I get the hype lol read more
Loved THC! Came with a group of six and wow were we lucky to get a Rez because they're hard to come by! Ambiance is fantastic for a date or a group - upscale Chinese Food wise - I love love loved the tofu skin salad and the oyster pancake. Other things we got that I liked are: - the crab rice roll (think cheong fun like rice crepe roll) - cha siu - omg every piece was so tender. Very very nicely done - firecracker shrimp - loved this. Very unique. Shrimp wrapped in nori - beef shin - nice and tender - mango sago dessert. I looove mango sago so this is totally up my alley - sesame ball but like chocolate filled like a Ferrero Rocher. This was a hit among the group and I appreciated it but I'm not a big chocolate gal bug would recommend trying this Next time I'm dying to try the Peking duck since it's sooo highly reviewed. My friends got drinks like the lychee martini and they liked the cocktails a lot. I enjoyed the wine selection here read more
7 months ago
Probably the toughest reservation to get in SF right now but we succeeded! The quail was the undeniable standout (5/5): super juicy, tender, and perfectly crisp without being greasy. It's one of the best versions I've had in years. Definitely a must get. The shrimp tempura was also amazing. And if you're brave enough, you should definitely eat the whole thing (yes including the head because the best bits are in there!!) so so crunchy. My bf said he wished it was fried a little more to convince him to eat the head but that's ok, more for me :) The rest of the dishes were good to great but not highlighting because they tasted exactly how i expected them to taste (which is a compliment because shockingly it is so difficult to find GOOD chinese food in SF?!?!) well my list finally has an N of 2 now read more
6 months ago
One of my girlfriends and I had the pleasemure of dining at the Happy Crane last night after nabbing a reservation. We opted for the Happy as a Crane menu and everything was so good. I was a little nervous about getting the salted egg yolk squash as eggs are not my favorite. But somehow with the extensive prix fixe menu, it was not one of our dishes. It did come with: the oysters, tofu salad, beef shin, firecracker shrimp, sugar snap pea dumplings, golden coin, crab rice roll, charsiu iberico pork jowl, and fish fragrant fish. Dessert was a mango soft serve with lime zest and citrus. All of the dishes were really good, with the oysters, shrimp and pork jowl being the standouts. I really like the texture on the tofu salad, as well as the flavors. The snap per dumplings were good. The golden coin reminded me of a combo banh mi. The crab rice roll was eaten so quickly, I didn't even get a photo. I loved the char on the pork jowl. And the shrimp was sooo good. We left full but not uncomfortable. Ambiance was pretty nice. The noise level was medium, I was able to have a conversation without yelling. Service was impeccable. I didn't feel crowded and the staff didn't ask me questions when I had food in my mouth. Overall I would return and hopefully with a coveted duck reservation. read more
6 months ago
Came to this restaurant but couldn't decide whether to the ala carte or "Happy As a Crane" tasting menu. We ultimately went with the tasting menu, which was a chef's selection of 5-6 small, 1 medium and 2 large plates. The tasting menu did not include the whole Wolfe Ranch quail, so we ordered that as an add on. Service was good - they were busier toward the middle of our meal and sometimes there were longer gaps between each plate was served. Ambiance - noise level was on the higher side, interior lighting was warmer Small plates: - Hawthorne berry oyster (did not taste the hawthorne at all) - Doupi tofu salad (nice cold dish appetizer) - Firecracker shrimp ( would recommend ala carte. Huge shrimp fried in a thin nori batter, and the best part is the head juices) - Beef shin (very yummy and tender) - Sugar snap pea dumpling (would not recommend) - Golden coin (interesting textures and flavor combos, especially with the chicken liver mousse) Medium plates: - Crab Rice Roll ( would recommend ala carte. Very generous crab portions. The trout roe had a nice smoky flavor. Texturally interesting - you had the smooth rice roll + crab + exploding trout roe) - whole Wolfe Ranch Quail ( this was NOT included in the tasting menu, it was an add-on. The quail was unbelievably tender and juicy. Not gamey at all. The sichuan salt added a numbing spiciness that I've never had before specially with quail. I would say this was one of my faves of the night) Large plates: - chasiu Iberia pork jowl (loved how the pork jowl melted in my mouth. Not a huge ginger person so the ginger apple kind of threw me off) - fish fragrant fish (ok) Non-alcoholic menu - very limited and just ok read more
This place is incredibly hard to get reservations at they've only been open for 3 months and they have a lot of things going for them. The ambient limiting makes this the perfect spot for a sexy date night. No one looks bad in this light. You can see the differences in my photos of the natural lighting and my iPhone flash. The menu is small enough that no one is going to be overwhelmed here. They break it down for you and our server had some great recommendations. Smacked Cucumber Salad - yes Firecracker Shrimp - yes Golden Coin - pass Wolfe Ranch Quail - yes Maitake Biang Biang - yes The drinks were incredible, and if you have the chance, I'd encourage you to sit at the bar. "Dinner & a show" read more
6 months ago
Tried this hot, trendy new place that serves elevated Chinese dishes. Pretty much what I expected and solid food. Some very good flavors, some just okay dishes. Service was pretty good although they did take a tad longer than expected to take our orders (they were very good at refilling our water including hot water that my wife always has with every meal, though)...also a nice decor and ambiance for a good meal with friends or romantic setting, although a little too dark for me...there is a bar seating area in the middle, however, that's brighter and livelier (I presume it's for walk-ins and drinks only). Offers 3 different menu categories from their "Dim Sum" Small plates to Medium and Large main dishes. For Small plates we had Ginger Scallion Scallops, two Golden Coins and two Firecracker Shrimp orders (you ordered per piece for the latter two). I thought the shrimp was the tastiest as it was very crispy, batter fried, and stuffed. For Medium plates, we had the crab rice roll, oyster pancake, and whole Wolf ranch quail. I'd say the quail was the best of these as it was cooked well and there was more meat on these quail legs than I expected. Of the Large plates, we tried all three dishes. They were a little smaller than I'd expect for $36-46 each. I'd say the fish was the best with crispy seared skin but nothing spectacular. Then finally our favorite item was the mango sabo sorbet. Very tasty, pretty presentation, and not too tart or too sweet. Overall for me, I'm glad I tried it, some unique dishes and ingredients that aren't typical for Chinese cuisine, but there just wasn't enough wow factor for $100/person (including tax & tips) without drinks for me to go back anytime soon. read more
6 months ago
Currently, The Happy Crane is one of the toughest reservations to get in SF! Luckily, my uncle managed to secure a reservation, so I was excited to try this spot out! He mentioned that reservations are released on OpenTable 30 days in advance at 12 pm. We got a reservation for Thursday night at 5:45 pm. The hostess greeted us warmly and was super friendly! The staff was amazing, and the servers were always attentive! For drinks, we ordered the Flying Nimbus (non-alcoholic), Serpent's Kiss, and Under Red Lanterns. All three drinks were fantastic! Their cocktail menu was interesting; however, I felt that their wine prices were inflated. For food, my uncle pre-ordered the Peking duck since he didn't get to try it the last time and hoped he could reserve one! The waiter mentioned that only two ducks are cooked per day. Here's what we ordered: - Ginger Scallion Scallops: Light and refreshing! I loved these flavors, and everything was super balanced. - Firecracker Shrimp: Perfectly fried and not too oily! I loved the shiso and mala glaze! - Oyster Pancake: Delicious! I appreciated how each slice had a sizable oyster. Tons of flavor and fairly filling! - Whole Wolfe Ranch Quail: This was so tender! Quail is often overcooked, but this was perfect. I liked the Sichuan salt that came on the side, which was a nice twist compared to typical salt. - Salted Egg Yolk Squash: I enjoyed the combination of salted egg yolk with squash! It wasn't too heavy but still fairly filling. - Char Siu Iberico Pork Jowl: Super juicy and fatty! Definitely an elevated take on a classic Cantonese dish. - Maitake Biang Biang Noodles: I really enjoyed this dish! The texture of the noodles was fantastic, very bouncy! The Xinjiang spices paired beautifully with the mushrooms. - Peking Duck: The star of the show! The skin was incredibly crispy, and the meat was still juicy. It was served with house-made pancakes, which were a great vessel for all the sides that accompanied the duck. For dessert, we shared the Mango Sago Sorbet. The mango sorbet was topped with a passionfruit seed sauce, which added great texture and a tart contrast to the sweetness of the mango. I loved the combination of the seeds, sago, and sorbet! Overall, it was a wonderful experience! The food, service, and ambiance were all excellent. While the price is definitely on the higher side, the quality of the food makes it worth it! read more
Came by for dinner the other night and it was a decent experience. The Happy Crane took over Monsieur Benjamin with a complete remodel of the dining room. The Happy Crane serves Contemporary Asian cuisine, focusing on Cantonese. I find the style more like British Asian cuisine after dining in London Chinatown. There is a SFMTA 360 grove parking garage across the street that featured concert rate parking rates. Van Ness Muni station is a 10 minute walk away, 4 blocks over. Reservations were pretty tricky. Managed to snag a table after setting up an alert on OpenTable. Turns out Peking Duck is available and it is only available when booking a table. The Happy Crane offers as tasting menu for $120/head with full table participation required. From the photos, it appears that there may be a total of 5 courses. I managed to get 7 + 1 courses for under $120/head with plenty of leftovers. Started off with the beef shin appetizer and I thought it was ok. It didn't taste any different than Chinese restaurants. The beef didn't have a strong beef taste. The firecracker shrimp looked fantastic and was a giant head-on shrimp. I found the egg-roll wrapper to be on the thicker side, especially with the seaweed. The shrimp was fried to perfection and presented nicely. The golden coin looked great although I didn't quite understand it. I wasn't wowed by it. The quail was meaty and nicely roasted. It came out piping hot out of the fryer. Meat was tender and juicy. Aparently the staff thought the wait for the quail was extended and offered a maitake biang biang noodle on the house from the kitchen. After dining in Paris for 3+ hour dinners, I felt the timing in between courses to be acceptable. The biang biang noodle tasted homemade and was quite tasty, although I wasn't sure how different it was from Chinese restaurants. The crab rice roll was quite unique. It felt like a blend between NYC Chinatown rice roll and the a gravy chow fun. The rice noodle was good although I find the Vietnamese banh cuon to be even thinner and more slippery. The iberico pork jowl cha siu may have been the highlight of the meal. The pork jowl was very fatty and roasted to perfection. There was a ton of wine making it super fragrant. The scallion rice was tasty too. Ended off the meal with the fig tartlet which was also excellent. Loved how flaky the tart pastry was. The figs were tasty and the paste wasn't too sweet. It could have been even sweeter! ~$132/head after a very generous tip, 5% SF mandates and plenty of leftovers. read more
We had an amazing spontaneous dinner at Happy Crane! Snagged a last minute reservation before seeing a show near Civic Center and did not disappoint. Their specialty Coast to Coast cocktail was fabulous and so well balanced. We got the Ginger scallion scallop and house made tofu which were both incredible. We ordered two snap pea dumplings which were so fresh. We then ordered the crab rice roll, the XO dish and then the fish fragrant fish. We ended with the mochi rocher. All in all we will be back! Excellent service, clean and beautiful vibey interior and fabulous food. read more
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451 Gough St
San Francisco, CA 94102
Hayes Valley
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(415) 610-1823
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The Happy Crane - chinese - Updated May 2026
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