The cornbread tasted like aspirin was used in the ingredients, maybe too much baking powder was…read moreused. Had to through then away.

Super awesome experience here during the Norway v England world cup match!…read more Good: - Easy to get reservation - Not packed compared to other places and ample seating - Amazing apple pie ice cream dessert and also the mac n cheese skillet was so tasty! - The staff were so nice - and we even got a free shot when Norway scored! - Tons of TVs to watch the games - Loved the cocktails - the ube and lychee were my favorite ones, very sweet and yet also strong - Great ribeye - Fun ambiance and good vibes, it's dim lighting and very intimate Bad: - The cornbread we had was bitter, but they were nice and gave us a refund for it Overall enjoyed my experience here and would come again!

Really enjoyed the BBQ at Smokin D's! I ordered the OG Brisket Bao and the Brisket Grilled Cheese,…read moreand the brisket was definitely the highlight. The brisket was tender, juicy, smoky, and generously portioned. The grilled cheese was absolutely loaded with meat, with gooey melted cheese, pickles, and BBQ sauce bringing everything together. Rich, messy, and very satisfying. The OG Brisket Bao was also excellent, the soft, slightly sweet bao paired really well with the smoky brisket. Definitely come hungry. The portions are no joke, especially if you love brisket! Service was attentive and fast.

San Francisco proper is not really known for BBQ, so discovering Smokin D's BBQ was a pleasant…read moresurprise! I will say that when ordering, the process is super slow, and the service is slow as well. Once you taste the food, you'll be OK with the slower service. After all, this is not fast food. I ordered the grilled cheese brisket sando. You know what they say... Go big or go home! The portion is what I expected although it could've had more cheese ironically. It's also a $30 sandwich so my expectations were fairly high. The bread on the Sando tasted like basic white bread, and they definitely could take this up a notch to enhance the overall flavor profile, plus like I said, absolutely needed more cheese. The meat was tender, very flavorful, but I also found it to be on the sweet side, and I think I was expecting more of that tang that you get from West Coast/Texas, Southern BBQ. It was tasty! Originally my plan was to order a variety of different items on the menu, but I found out the hard way, that they sell out of food fairly quickly, and they may or may not make more. Case in Point, really wanted to try the mac & cheese, but it had been sold out an hour before I got there. I was told they were making more, but it would take an hour. This is definitely a place worth exploring, and I could tell by looking at some of the other diners plates, that other people were enjoying their food. I definitely plan on going back!

Delicious burger, chicken and side dishes. Fast and quick service by staff. Clean and organized…read morepatio dining room with great music playing in the background.

4505 has a nice patio for outdoor seating and some shaded tables too…read more Got the one meat plate which was average tasting. My parker roll was hard and they didn't have any Mac and Cheese as it had just opened for the evening. The colors looked nice though. You order at the window and they bring you your meal. Not the best BBQ I have had but not the worse either. My friends really enjoyed the barbecue though

Hot and delicious Jook congee and Chinese donuts you tiao on a foggy day. It's hard to find an…read moreauthentic Hong Kong style café with won ton noodle soup, jook, and the barbecued meats. The salt and pepper tofu were absolutely delicious as was the bitter melon. The sweet ladies inside were most attentive and accommodating. There was a lunch rush, but otherwise the service was highly efficient. The restaurant is very clean but not fancy. There are several large round tables to accommodate 8 to 10 people and then other smaller square tables for 2 to 4.

Despite how often I find myself around here, I'd be lying if I had paid much attention to L H…read moreRestaurant in the past. In part, it's because I had no idea the old Five Happiness restaurant that used to call this place home had even closed, but, really, I just tend to forget about every restaurant on this block (save for Brothers Korean BBQ). That is, until we heard that they sell Chinese BBQ roast pork and roast duck here, which we're always on the lookout for! Compared to some of the other nearby Chinese restaurants, L H feels a bit bigger in size, but, outside of that, not much about it feels all that indistinguishable or notable. As for the menu, we knew we were going to be trying their Chinese BBQ, but it was nice to see that they have over 140+ dishes to choose from, even despite how it didn't seem like there was a specific signature offering or specialty. Still, with so many options available, it was nice to see just about every Chinese staple dish was accounted for and that there seemed to be something for everyone. -- THREE BBQ ITEM PLATE with Roast Pork, Roast Duck, and Char Siu The dish we came here for, but it was a mixed bag. The biggest issue for me was how everything was cool/room temp, but at least the Roast Pork wasn't bad - a touch underseasoned, but crispy-ish. The Roast Duck was also decent (albeit lean), but the Char Siu was a bit dry. -- BEEF STEW & WONTON NOODLE SOUP with Egg Noodles While the portion size was generous, nothing about this stood out. On the plus side, the wontons were fairly plump and the noodles had a nice bite to them. However, the broth wasn't very rich and several chunks of the beef stew were chewy/tough. -- TOMATO BEEF JI MIEN This didn't do much for me, but, to be fair, I'm not a big fan of the dish in general. Although it came with a generous amount of tomatoes on top, all of the sauce and everything didn't leave much crispiness to the noodles. -- BEEF WITH SCRAMBLED EGG OVER RICE I didn't have a ton of this one, but it might have been the best dish we had. Sadly, some of the rice felt a little firm, but the eggs were cooked exactly how I prefer for this dish and the slices of beef were actually surprisingly tender. Much like the food, the service here was fine, but it seems they may not be as generous as they used to be. While the workers were friendly enough, my relative, who comes here often and is the one who put this place on our radar, mentioned they no longer give free soup with their lunch plates and that the portions looked slightly smaller than he remembered. I personally can't say if that's actually the case or not, so take it for what it's worth, but I also don't have any reason to doubt him either. All in all, even though nothing about L H Restaurant, or their food, amazed us, I can't say anything specific failed us either. Rather, our visit just felt really lackluster and generic. If anything, the most notable thing about this place is how curiously early they close, even on weekends (closes at 7pm). Given all of that, I can't say we have much of a reason to come back, especially in an area like the Richmond where we really don't have to go far to find the same or better. TWO AND A HALF STARS rounded down.

Yesterday, May 28, 2026, it was announced that INTERNATIONAL Smoke officially shuttered as of…read moreWednesday, May 20, 2026. If you ask me, this comes as no surprise at all. Located on the ground floor of the infamous leaning Milennium Tower in San Francisco's Financial District, INTERNATIONAL Smoke was Michael Mina's fine dining barbecue restaurant collaboration with multi-hyphenate entrepreneur Ayesha Curry. I visited this place once, for a small dinner party hosted by Charles Schwab on Tuesday, October 14, 2024. We arrived shortly after 6:35 PM. The atmosphere was modern, but casual and hip, funky with exposed metal accents popping through concrete floors and columns. Evidently, the fully booked days were behind them - despite the place's popularity as a fun, lively eatery with the occasional celebrity spotting, the restaurant was fairly quiet that night and not a single person was at the bar. We were seated in the spacious Atrium with floor to ceiling windows. INTERNATIONAL Smoke was not your traditional barbecue restaurant. They presented a globally-inspired grill-centric carte inspired by the rich heritages of the co-founders. The globetrotting meat dishes highlighted diverse international flame-cooking and smoking traditions. The ambitiously broad menu intended to take diners on a culinary journey around the world, but, instead, delivered a disjointed and scattered passport. Similar to the food offerings, INTERNATIONAL Smoke's drink catalogue featured some rotating crafted cocktails that leaned into global flavours, such as KUNG FU PANDAN ($18) and MIDNIGHT IN OAXACA ($20). Boozy beverages like TICKLE ME PINK ($19), NEGRONI ($19), and the ESPRESSO MARTINI ($20) were enjoyed by some of my tablemates. A couple of us stuck to the ZERO PROOF potables like the BUZZ FREE BEE ($15) and RASPBERRY FIELDS ($12) of which the latter I found to be delightful. Cool ice cubes, too! Below are a few of the dishes that we ordered: DOUBLE DUCK WINGS ($28) - I don't eat duck, but my dining mates raved over the tender mango-habanero glazed meat that was falling off the bones. BLACK TRUFFLE CAESAR ($20) - This was a substantial serving, and the sweet onion crema, fried garlic, and truffle vinaigrette all worked well together. ROASTED CAULIFLOWER ($18) - Meh. Perhaps my prejudice against raisins and tehina got in the way of enjoying this STARTER. BLISTERED SHISHITO PEPPERS ($16) - There was not a single blister on any of the peppers, so, unfortunately, the expected smoky, charred flavour was completely absent. MISO YAKI BLACK COD ($48) - This order came with two considerable sized filets of the velvety soft and flaky fish served atop mild shishito peppers sitting in a light ginger dashi broth. It could have just been me, but one of the slices looked a bit undercooked. DUNGENESS CRAB GARLIC NOODLES ($45) - Joanna went with this rich, buttery dish of noodles tossed with wood ear mushrooms, generous portions of Dungeness crab, and heavily garlicked. It was hearty, but I didn't see any bok choy mixed in there, which would have disappointed me if I were Joanna. PERI PERI HALF CHICKEN ($39) - Dustin ordered this dish. The poultry appeared to be well marinated, so I can only assume that the deep, fiery acidic flavour with the pronounced smoky element came through in each bite. Surprisingly, no rants nor raves on this from Dustin...who is usually very opinionated. PORK BELLY FRIED RICE ($17) - Not the worst, but not the best. For the small bowl, this was a major rip off. FRIED BRUSSELS SPROUTS ($15) - Wow, for the price, this should have knocked our socks off, but was pretty lackluster. 8 OZ. CENTER CUT FILET MIGNON ($68) - I ordered this steak plate. The meat was cooked perfectly medium rare, but the taste of the red wine demi and the stuffed portobello mushroom were unremarkable. LEMON OLIVE OIL CAKE ($14) - This did not stray far from the standard olive oil cake, just a touch of lemon added to the cake's flavour + the pluot garnishes. Nothing standout about this, unintriguing. "SMOKED" CHOCOLATE S'MORES ($14) - Not your typical s'mores, more of an elevated take on the campfire classic with a valrhona molten cake sitting atop brûléed marshmallow fluff with a side of graham cracker crumble and a scoop of ice cream. CINNAMON CHURROS ($13) - The accompanying blueberry cheesecake and meyer lemon curd dips were the sole unique elements of this sugar-dusted fried pastry dessert. Without them, this plate would have been underwhelming. Mediocre food at high-end prices aside, table service was friendly. What was all the hype over INTERNATIONAL Smoke? My true guess is that the affiliation with Steph Curry and his basketball friends who would pop in were the big draw...because even with all of the smoking, this place had no fire.

If mediocrity had a flagship location, it might be International Smoke…read more The food tasted like someone was scared of seasoning and confident about charging you anyway. Overpriced, bland, and genuinely unpleasant. Thanks, but nah...

This was my first time trying Thai hot pot and it was SO delicious!! The main dishes were also very…read moregood! Full party has to be there to be seated.

A cross between Korean BBQ and hot pot, Thai BBQ was an interactive - and delicious - experience. I…read morevisited MuuKaTa6395 with a group of five friends, and we were able to walk-in on a Sunday evening when it was relatively quiet. We ordered a plate of BBQ chicken liver, papaya salad, hot pot (one serving), and a BBQ platter (two servings). This turned out to be just the right amount of food. One half of our table was dedicated to the BBQ, while the other half managed the hot pot. Throughout the meal, our servers kept our charcoal burning and cauldron filled with soup. I preferred the hotpot over the BBQ because the herby broth was warm, flavorful, and comforting. The hot pot was much lower maintenance than the grill, and one serving was more than enough for the five of us to enjoy multiple bowls of soup. The BBQ platter allowed us to each have one small piece of each meat variety (chicken, pork, squid). While I was not in charge of manning the grill or the hot pot (my friends took charge here), I enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant, especially for large groups (although my clothes absorbed all the BBQ smells). This would be a fun place to go for a birthday dinner.

Always a good time here Great to hang out with friends…read more Plenty of meat options drink options Be prepared to cook :)

I went on a Monday evening and seats were half full! Service was fast, food basically comes right…read morewhen you order using the QR code. I was impressed by their 3 sauces because 1 of them tasted like the one from Tasty Pot! The other sauces were sweet vinegar sauce which is pretty common and ranch. Appetizer-wise, we really liked their fried panko shrimp which was pretty crispy on the outside and delicate on the inside. They also had fried chicken. I'd pass on their new Thai marinated pork which was pretty mild in flavor. Same with the ginormous prawns unless you season it yourself.

YakiniQ really said "leave hungry? never heard of her."…read more Pulled up with my homie Jun because this man treated me to lobster last time and you already know... Asians keep receipts but in a wholesome way We don't split love, we rotate blessings. For $49.99/person, this AYCE Korean BBQ was straight violating my self-control. The short ribs?? HELLA BUSSIN. Like actually criminal. Every bite had me ascending like a TikTok food review in 4K. Meat so juicy I almost stood up and thanked the cow personally. The grill smoke got us smelling like seasoned warriors walking outta there but honestly worth it. Staff kept the meats coming faster than my auntie asking why I'm still single. And let me put y'all onto some elite Chinese vocabulary real quick: "好吃到舔手指" (hǎo chī dào tiǎn shǒu zhǐ) = "so good you lick your fingers." That's EXACTLY the vibe. Finger-licking good fr fr. YakiniQ got me fighting for my life, unbuttoning my pants in the parking lot, and already planning my return. 10/10. No crumbs left. Their "Red Hot" peanut sauce is the carry here - no doubt. Highly recommend with my utmost respectful regards!

Came here for dinner and were able to get seated right away. Got there before it got busy…read more The staff wasn't as attentive as you'd like but it's probably because of the dinner rush. Some of our orders came quickly and some took a while to get. Regardless of wait, the food was good and plentiful. Liked the little dessert ice cream afterwards. Our diner went well with some soju of course. My only thing was our table had some sticky areas, our seats had crumbs, and some cups & utensils didn't look clean. Honestly, not a top five when it comes to AYCE Korean bbq.

Such a cool experience! I felt like there was so many options to choose from and the vibe is very…read morechill but also unique Good - Loved the skewers - Scallion pancake was so good and flakey and surprisingly my favorite - Service was super fast - Fair prices - the chilled tofu appetizer was so good Bad - The egg toast was a bit pricey for the portion size - Portion sizes were a bit smaller Overall would come again

This spot is so underrated! The restaurant looked very unassuming from the outside. But when I…read morewalked in, it was packed on a Friday evening and even had a short waitlist. Ordering is easy. Once you're at your table, just scan the QR code and select your items. We ordered several different skewers, veggies, and buns to try. Our favorite by far was the lamb skewer, which we ended up getting additional orders of. The meat was so tender and flavorful! I don't really see many Chinese BBQ spots in SF, so I'm so glad this place exists!

Had the chance to check out Fikscue before my departure from the Bay. Fikscue combines Texas-style…read morebarbecue with Indonesian flavors, with a fully halal meat menu. I ordered the Iga Saos Kacang ($30) and the 3-pc. lumpia ($12). The Iga Saos Kacang came with two ribs served on a banana leaf with sweet rice, pickled vegetables, and bumbu kacang (peanut sauce). I also ordered the soda gembira ($4). The food and drink came out at the same time, at about 5 minutes. The ribs were phenomenal. They were tender, smoky, and paired incredibly well with the peanut sauce. The sauce itself had a really nice sweetness to it, complementing the richness of the beef without overpowering it. One fascinating discovery I've made about Indonesian food is just how prominent sweetness can be. Rather than treating a sweet component like the coconut rice as something to eat on its own, you're often meant to combine everything together, creating a flavor bomb with every bite. That's what makes Fikscue's concept so interesting to me. Texas-style barbecue is already heavily focused on smoke, seasoning, and the quality of the meat, while Indonesian flavors can bring in sweetness, nuttiness, spice, and acidity. The Iga Saos Kacang showed how naturally those two styles can work together. The lumpias were nicely fried and surprisingly filling on their own! I had the pleasure of meeting the owner, who explained that the lumpias were a popular addition, with some customers ordering them by the dozens. They're filled with meat and vegetables and have a big, satisfying crunch. Just watch out for the oil! Coming from my own Vietnamese perspective, the soda gembira reminded me of Vietnamese soda sữa, minus the egg. Pandan and coconut flavors are familiar to me, but if you've never had pandan and coconut together, it's a wonderfully fragrant combination that's simultaneously creamy, sweet, and refreshing. The soda gembira was a particularly fun drink to have alongside the smoky, savory barbecue. Service was excellent as well. The staff were really nice and welcoming, which made the experience even better. Before it was my turn to order, I saw the staff engaging in Indonesian banter with the customers in front of me. It gave the restaurant a very warm, lived-in feeling that emulated the hospitality found in Indonesian culture. Fikscue is doing something genuinely unique by bringing together halal Texas-style barbecue and Indonesian cuisine. Add in the friendly service, and the long drive from the South Bay felt justified. If you're anywhere in the Bay Area and want to try something unique, Fikscue is worth the trip.

This was my first time ever going to this Alameda Brewery and wow- it it leaves a GREAT impression…read moreon me! The setup is very casual and clean. This BBQ spot has halal meat and chicken stuffed egg rolls!!! Which is crazy because I'm allergic to pork! Then the sauces and the presentation for the egg rolls were were beautifully colored and had much texture and depth to them! My Boyfriend didn't want to eat too much, since we just came from lunch, but the server gave him a sample piece of the tri-tip and he said it was Smokey and he loved the flavor! The server was very helpful, since parts of the menu are words in their native tongue, so that was a bit overwhelming for me, but my Boyfriend just asked them what everything was. Hee. I love how they wrapped (or kept their culture) as they made this menu and didn't water it down .... I just wish I knew how to properly pronounce the menu items..: similar to my name, I'm sure us Americans butcher it. I honestly can't wait to go back and try more items off their menu.