Surprisingly good food and friendly service, in this brightly lit family-run restaurant. I If I could give it 3.5 stars I would--the food took around 20-30 mins to come to our table, and the place needs a facelift---but I'd rather err on the side of a more generous review because the dishes were all tasty and our server was very nice. Highly recommend the cod and string beans. The fish was tender and flavorful and the string beans had just the right crunch. The mixed veggies with extra bok choy were the perfect complement. My fellow diners ordered the short ribs and the kung pao chicken, and both were excellent. It was one of the few open places in chinatown on a random Tuesday night, and we left satisfied and happy. read more

V & J Cafe - Cod and string beans - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Best Chinese food I've had in ages. Had the honey walnut shrimp. Hate it when places bread it too much. This was so lightly breaded. Absolutely perfect. read more

I can't express how grateful I am to find this place on a Sunday morning. Most of the places are closed for the weekend and this place was within my walking distance. Food was so affordable and actually really good and tasty! Service was good, typical asian place but better. Small old school looking restaurant but I would definitely come back and eat this if I was from around the area. 3 entrees at ~$35! We ordered 6-7 and it was enough to make party of 10 full (we're small eaters). read more

V & J Cafe - Food - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Mom and pop restaurant. I arrived tired around 8 pm. The owner's children were studying there. Lady kindly asked me what I wanted to eat and whipped up a simple dish with fish and vegetables. I don't think it was on the menu. It was reasonably priced and met my expectations. It could have used more sauce and spice but I was too tired to ask. read more

Was looking for some old school beef and tofu with rice and this was the place! Hard to beat $9.75 with a bowl of old school house soup and a mug of hot tea. This place has a pretty big menu and is definitely a small family run place. That being said, there was plenty of food on the plate and it was exactly what I wanted. read more

V & J Cafe - Beef and tofu with rice - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I had the honey walnut prawns here. They were a little heavy on the mayo. Still enjoyable. I'd try something else next time.

I've been coming here since I was a kid and the food has always been consistent. The food is very good and super affordable. One of many Chinese restaurants that still serve good classic food for an affordable price. The service is quick and efficient. I love that they're open very late at night. read more

My favorite cafe in Chinatown! The portions here are large and the lady that works here is so sweet. If you're looking for a quality, no frills Chinese cafe then look no further! We usually order the salt & pepper pork chop, honey walnut shrimp, and fried calamari. Everything comes out fast and fresh. They also include a free soup and it's quite tasty! Their drinks are all under $5 and we always get either the milk tea or watermelon juice. The watermelon juice is so delicious, it's basically blended real watermelon and it's super refreshing. The milk tea is a standard HK style milk tea and it really hits the spot. I highly recommend trying out V&J! read more

V & J Cafe - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I ordered food to go and was presented with a rude note, depicting how assumptions in the hospitality industry can lead to losing loyal customers. I ordered the Peking ribs (saucy and moist) which I always do, with jalapeños, and spicy. When I received my order, I found a disappointing note from the establishment. Poor service. I like sweet and spicy, and for them to ignore my request goes to show how nasty this place can be. A simple phone call could have cleared all of this up, but instead, someone thought a condescending note was more appropriate. The passive-aggressive approach is saturated all throughout SF. This isn't the first time the employees of this restaurant have been rude. The food is great but moving forward, I have to decide if I will get what I ask for or have to deal with rude pushback. read more

V & J Cafe - Salt & pepper shrimp, unprofessional note from V & J, and salt & pepper pork ribs. - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Basic Cantonese restaurant with big menu and big portions. Similar to many other Cantonese restaurants in the area in taste and everything. I've had the 3 for $32 set menu of bitter melon and pig stomach, pork spareribs and black bean sauce, sweet and sour pork chops. Nothing stand out, just your basic Cantonese cooking you can find everywhere. read more

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This is the only place I go to get my Salt and Pepper Spareribs in Chinatown because they do it right. Whether it is over rice or just as an entree. They make some of the best Dried Beef Chow Fun, Green Onion and Ginger Beef, and Broccoli Beef. I had the Preserve Egg and Pork Porridge with a side of Chinese Donut the other day and it was amazing. Definitely recommend stopping by if you need good food for an amazing price. read more

Absolutely NOOOO. Ok, service was mediocre which was expected. Food, bland also expected. Things I didn't expect. The entire staff eating a meal while I was waiting..... hoping really for some form of sauce to put atop bland food. The topper........../ when I see a ROACH SCURRYING ACROSS THE FLOOR. WE ARE DONE. Warning, do not consume food here! read more

If you're looking for good foods in Chinatown this is not the place to go. Food really went downhill a lot. Food was very bland not much flavor. Prices were cheap if you're looking for cheap foods. Only one lady working in the front doing everything. Felt sorry for her. Doesn't recommended you'll be disappointed. read more

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First time I've been to a restaurant that's changed its name every year! Happy to see yelp had the most updated name for it. This place is cash only and hands down has had the best bang for its buck. We did family style and got four dishes for four for $18 dollars each. And the food was tasty, different, not drowning in MSG and healthy IMO. The lotus root was my pick. It's quiet and dark but if their door is open they are open, treat yourself to a deal. read more

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A mixed experience. The Peking Spareribs were awesome while I don't think I'll ever be getting Bitter Melon again. The other dishes were ok. Peking Spareribs: These don't actually look like spareribs. More like thin pork chops and assorted pieces of thin pork. Kinda like the familiar salt & pepper variety, but in a wet sticky sweet sauce. Like think Panda Express, but not as mainstream and tastier and a bunch of bones to watch out for. Probably the favorite thing I tried here. Honey Walnut Shrimp: Even when it's not the best, it's still a tasty dish. Shrimp lightly breaded/fried in a creamy mayo-type sauce with candied walnuts. The shrimp where a bit overcooked and under-crispy compared to other places nearby, but still yummy. Bitter Melon Beef: I've never had bitter melon before and I definitely wasn't missing anything. It was indeed quite bitter! Like I can barely eat 2-3 pieces. And even the thin tender beef had was a bit bitter by association. Not for me! Tomato Beef Chow Mein in Hong Kong style: Lots of noodles. A lot of veggies. A decent amount of beef. Main complaint would be that they put this together in one takeout container so there was no noticeable sauce since it got absorbed by the noodles turning like 85% of it soft. I guess I should have asked for the noodles to be packaged separately, but many places do this by default. Sad, since munching on that nest of crispy noodles is usually my favorite part. read more

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My friends introduced me to V&J, and I loved it! I ordered the watermelon juice while they got three milk teas - they used to come with boba but have not added boba since the pandemic started apparently. They have a wide variety of food and drinks, but the milk teas and watermelon juice are only about $3-4 each! Much more affordable for the same amount of drink elsewhere. Delicious and refreshing even on a rainy day! I would definitely come back again when I'm in the area. read more

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Classic canto food in a no frills setting. A husband and wife own the cafe and do everything themselves since costs have risen in recent years. They are friendly and I highly suggest the salt and pepper fried chicken wings. The fried garlic is to die for. read more

V&J is one of the few Chinese spots open late on a weekday. We stopped by here on a weekday after seeing a show in Chinatown, and I'm so glad we stumbled upon this little hole-in-the-wall. The menu was pretty extensive with many different Cantonese Cafe dishes, and the owner was very patient and explained some of the dishes and some of the restaurant's specialities. We opted for the string green beans, dry-fried salt and pepper chicken wings, ribeye, and crispy chow-mien noodles with seafood medley. Everything came out quickly was super tasty. Overall, great Chinese comfort food that tastes like it was home-cooked. Although I wouldn't come here for the ambiance, they serve up great authentic Chinese dishes that are super affordable. They mostly do take-out orders and to a lesser extent have dine-in customers. It was great getting to know the owner and more about the restaurant. Would definitely come back and support this local small business! read more

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The food here is terrible over priced and blend. I had to throw away all the food cuz it was terrible oily and messy overcooked. Their chow men had zero flavor not much protein and their salt & pepper calamari was dry burned chips. I don't get people who are leaving positive reviews this place does not meet my standards of good food read more

Literally just finished my meal there and already can't wait to eat my leftovers and can't wait to go back again. The salt and pepper tofu and Sichuan eggplant dishes are perfect. The service was great and the food came out quickly. read more

We came an hour and a half before closing, and we were the only ones in the restaurant. I believe we were served by the owner and all the food was great. to be honest, we did not expect the food to be as good as it was given that it was so late in the day. We would definitely go back there, but maybe in the daytime when more customers are there as well. read more

They have the best and cheapest boba in all of San Francisco, in my opinion. Used to be under a different name I believe. The best time to come would be when they have their happy hour which is from 3pm-6pm. A lot of selections to choose from. Definitely a hole in the wall, imo. read more

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Been here twice now and forgot to take pictures because I was so hungry when the food came. Both times I ordered 3 dishes. Here's what I had: 1. Beef with Chinese Broccoli 2. Fish Filet and vegetable stir-fy 3. Tofu and vegetable stir-fry They were all made with fresh ingredients and prepared with skilled "wok-hay" preparation. So it was delicious . Even the white rice was well made and not over cooked or too hard. It was fluffy white rice with a nice glutinous bite to it. All this for only $35 before tip. Can't beat this deal anywhere in SF Chinatown. Only downside is that they're so popular and busy that the service is slow and order can take a while to be ready. So be patient with the mom and pop running the humble business. read more

Came here for the first time since the pandemic started. They still have the buy 3 get 1 soup deal, and there was only a small increase in price (now it's about ~$30). The portions are smaller but the taste is still good. Ordered the pork chops (surprisingly so good!), chicken green bean, creamy corn fish..plus the added fried fish because the first 3 wasn't enough for us! There wasn't much people dining inside (only 1-2 at a time), which didn't bother us. Glad this place is still up and running. read more

Food is tasty no doubt. We ordered togo takeout twice, tried to take advantage of their 3 items for $33, however both times our total ended up almost $50. They charge extra $2.50 for beef, $2.50 for xo sauce, $2.50 for green beans. Some are posted on menu but some of the extra fees are just added verbally. Not sure if that is acceptable for any restaurants to do. read more

Went here after walking around Chinatown . Got the wonton fish ball soup. It was tasty - but service non existent. I was eating there and she bought me to go bag. No credit cards accepted. But other guests happily eating. This laowei felt ignored. read more

Switched owners and rename to now V&J cafe. $25 dollars for 3 entrees which comes with soup and white rice. Portions are huge, which is perfect for me, leftovers for days. Its nothing fancy. My favorites are the chicken salted fish fried rice and salt and pepper chicken wings. On sick days, I get like two orders of hot honey lemon. It's does the trick and warms your body. They also have fresh watermelon juice. Yum! Happy hour from 3-6pm and late night eats from 10pm to 1am. The ladies here are friendly on most days. Well just don't expect Michelin Star service when dine. I come for good Chinese food. read more

I challenge you to find Obama, Johnny Bravo, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Trump painted in the same establishment anywhere else in the world. This place has it all. Their deal is 3 dishes, rice, and the soup of the day for $24.99 (additional dishes are $8.30 or so). They have over 120 dishes to choose from so you have your work cut out for you. My friend who brought me here described this place as a Chinese taqueria vibe and I think he's spot on. It's a bit grungy, food is cheap and tasty, service is super fast but they're not gonna be your friend. Very, very solid big portion Cantonese-heavy food to share with the fam or friends you actually like. Highly recommend 49. the Peking Ribs (京都肉排) for a huge portion of sweet and savory pork. 18. Tofu in Clay pot was tasty as well. I've had better honey walnut shrimp in my life but when you're craving it, this will hit the spot too. read more

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V and J is one of the few restaurants left in Chinatown that doesn't cost a crazy amount. And even with the affordable price the quantity is great. Also the food is one of the most authentic and tasty. The service is great too. One con is the time for the food to arrive but that's fine because the food is super hot and yummy. Over all its really underrated and these restaurants are very hard to find nowadays. If you're looking for an affordable and tasty meal any time of the day, then come to V&J cafe. read more

Me and my boyfriend come here once a week. This is the most delicious Chinese restaurant and super affordable. Sure you can get from the menu for a dinner set 3 items for $35 or 4 item for $40 included rice and soup of the day, let me tell you... that's cheap! But for us, we get rice plate and a single item for ruffly $10-$11 is already included with the soup special of the day. This restaurant is a hole on the wall and local mom and pop shop. One thing I can tell you, if you happened to be on Broadway between Stockton St and Columbus Ave and currently on the budget order the Rice plate and I guarantee you will be full and satisfied by the food. And lastly it taste delicious! read more

Great food, super quiet, total hole in the wall which is just what I was looking for, the woman serving was super nice and remembered to refill our drinks. Definitely would come back read more

V & J Cafe - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Absolutely amazing food!!! We got the Peking spare ribs, Mongolian beef, String beans with fish, and XO tofu seafood clay pot. Everything had enormous portions, every dish was extremely flavorful, very well priced, and based on our conversations with other customers, approved by all the locals. They are doing take-out only and the wait is 20-25 mins, so do call ahead if possible. Thank you so much for feeding us through COVID!! read more

I have a love/hate relationship with this restaurant because it's either really good or really bad. On one hand they've got my guilty pleasure foods and it's cheap, but on the other hand, I've had one too many encounters with bugs in my food :( I come here for snacks typically, and ngl half of the stuff is trash, it's like a game of Russian roulette. But they've also got lots of gems too; I'd recommend the: -salt and pepper chicken wings (cult favorite in Chinatown) -Salted fish egg plant -Salt and pepper tofu -Iced Hong Kong milk tea (though depending on the day it could be watery :(, it's a gamble) -spicy beef tendon -cod with string bean over rice Ps. Ca$h only read more

Ordering ToGo several time during the Pandemic and they have been fast and great foods. Price is definitely very good with big portions. Unfortunately they are not serving any Baked rice or noodles due to the time and cook. Recommend to call in advance to order your food and save you time on the wait. Sometimes if you order during peak time, it may take 30-45 mins to wait. Payment is CASH only. No atm in the restaurant. read more

Aside from delicious Cantonese food... this is the exact type of place that we want to protect and preserve in San Francisco. It's run by a couple with a young child, he's about 8 years old, always found playing on a screen at a table. I've had my order taken from both the young man (and chef) and young woman - both kind and tender folks, working their buns off. They're open till midnight everyday! I inquired about why they don't do delivery options and she told me that once a 15% cut is taken, there isn't much left over for them, because their prices are already low. Forget ordering through your apps and tossing your $ to Uber/Softbank - and support the hardworking locals trying to weather through the storm! I've had 9-10 different dishes here over 3 visits - all very good! Cash only. read more

This was my mom's favorite place...and we liked going here too. Ate inside the restaurant (before the pandemic) and did take-out frequently. Favorites were the sam-see mai fun (3 ingredients thin noodles), beef chow fun, fried chicken wings and pickled vegetables. Many good memories here! Prices were reasonable and lots of good food. read more

We searched through Yelp for any cafe with Asian food that was open after 9 pm, but the one that recommended was closed. Fortunately, the V & J Cafe was opened nearby. I ordered a Beef Stew Wonton Noodle Soup, my son took Rice with Chicken. There was a lot of beef and Wonton in the soup. The serving, as usual, is huge. I barely mastered, but everything was delicious. read more

V & J Cafe - Menu - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Their chicken cutlet is the most amazing thing ever! Portions are massive but I can have two-three of the it and even get a to go if I have to. It sucks that they didn't have it during the lockdown but when they open back up, I swear I'm going to order some. I only eat chicken and fish so those are usually my go to and it definitely hits the spot. Otherwise, I do the shrimp and egg noodles, which is pretty tasty as well. read more

Portions are always super worth!! Choose 3 dishes for $25 with rice for a family meal or order off the happy hour menu for personal meals! I love the honey walnut shrimp, sautéed string beans, and salt and pepper pork chops/chicken wings!! read more

I wrote a review of this place maybe a year ago when it was called Sam Rong Café - And everything I said about it is still true Except my fear that "spreading the word/popularity" might "ruin" it - Now due to Covid so Many peoples business has gone down Dramatically- so V J needs all the support it can get!!! 70's/80's even 90's Sf had More places like This - but it's only with their disappearance that we realize just H O W special they were (it might sound "funny" but - like the first reviewer said, this is exactly the type of place we Need to protect and preserve aka Support- you know, kinda like crowdfunding except 100% more delicious/nutritious, Huh.) a magical combination of incredible value, unique/broad selection, generous portions and Delicious food.... Straight Up (I put my old review as a screenshot/pic attached hopefully?) read more

V & J Cafe - My old review - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California