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    Dragon Well

    3.8 (659 reviews)
    ModerateChinese
    Closed 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Dragon Well Takeout or Delivery

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    DRAGON WELL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Dragon Well

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    Barbequed Pork Buns
    Cole O.

    The noodles were insanely good! The pork buns were just okay the meat was pretty tough. Service was quick and friendly, and I even got a good fortune in my fortune cookie. Definitely a good spot to check out if you want Chinese food.

    Vegetarian Salad (essentially Chinese Chicken Salad with tofu instead of chicken... veggie option FTW!)
    Matt J.

    This is basically a 180 from my original Dragon Well review from 2024. I found my first visit pretty mediocre, but this time around it was a slam dunk, the Vegetarian Salad (basically a Chinese Chicken Salad with tofu instead of chicken) being delicious and filling. The tofu is very well prepared, fried enough to be crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, but never greasy. The tofu itself is flavorful, not merely reliant on the dressing. The lemony dressing is light and tangy (although getting an extra helping to split with my partner was a smart move). Our server was friendly and the atmosphere was elegant but charmingly low key. It's a very nice reprieve from the hustle and bustle of Chestnut Street, to say nothing of its being a nice change of pace from the rampant fast-casual places in the Marina. The table service and nicely appointed dining room are an elevated experience in a neighborhood dead set on takeout operations with low overhead. My only suggestion would be that they change the salad ratios to lessen the need for more dressing; this could be done by simply removing some of the iceberg lettuce, of which there is a lot. Then the original amount of dressing would be perfect. Pro move: ask for some of their hot mustard and give your salad a delightful kick. We will be back... a lot.

    Mongolian Beef and Stir-Fried Curry Mi Fun
    Pascale S.

    Came to Dragon Well on a weeknight for dinner around 5:30pm. Staff were friendly and the service was quick. The food was pretty good, I enjoyed the curry noodles and thought the flavor was really good. The Mongolian beef was also pretty good although it didn't come with rice (we had to order it separately). Overall the food was good but didn't wow me, and the prices seem a bit high for just okay flavors. I would potentially return to try some different dishes.

    Hands down one of the worst food delivery experiences I've ever had in San Francisco. The food was thrown together with zero care, poorly packaged, leaking everywhere, and clearly not quality-checked before being sent out. This shows a complete lack of professionalism and respect for customers. No restaurant should ever send out food in this condition. Dragon Well needs serious improvements in quality control, packaging, and overall service. Completely unacceptable.

    Mark M.

    Was walking down chestnut with a friend to get some sweets from susie's. We got hungry and walked past this place that had a sign outside with their small plate menu items. That alone got me excited to see the rest of the menu which looked appealing. My friend and I walked in and were greeted by the host/server. They had a few tables open and got seated right away. The place inside is small but cozy and clean. The food came out and tasted delicious. We took the rest home and ate it for a midnight snack. Would come back for the other items for sure!

    Minced Chicken in Lettuce Cups
    Edgar M.

    Dishes. Delightful. Worthy. A welcome surprise for authentic chinese food outside Chinatown. Enjoyed brunch with a friend who has been here many times. Attentive service, relaxed setting to enjoy dishes on a sunny Saturday. Definitely will be back. Dishes enjoyed: Pot Stickers Minced Chicken in Lettuce Cups Black Bean Chicken Brown Rice

    Black Bean Chicken Small Side of Rice
    Wilson J.

    Food looks great, but I waited a hour for this! I must say the Delivery Service was Eating this place up. people are ordering back to back from this location. The place smells amazing when you walk in the door. You won't know what to order!

    Mongolian Beef  Side of Rice

    Dragon Well is a pleasantly small restaurant, tucked away on Chestnut Street. It fit in so well with the surroundings, that I almost walked right past it. To begin, my host was very friendly and offered to assist with anything on the menu. I was quickly brought a glass of water with a lemon wedge added for flavor, while I waited for the arrival of my entrée. I had ordered the Mongolian beef from what I was told was the lunch menu. It arrived quicker than I thought. However, no compromises were made in the quality of the food or the preparation and presentation. Right out of the gate, I knew there was something special about this dish. It was full of subtle flavor and just a slight hint of spiciness. While the flavors were subtle, they were also very complementary of each other and served to make a very good meal. I was looking for something very authentic, vs. something that's been over processed and I believe I found it at Dragon Well! I Genuinely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an original Chinese offering when visiting San Francisco. My compliments to the cooks and staff!

    The view from our seat.

    Excellent service and the food was so fresh and delicious. Sometimes Asian food can be too "sticky", but this food was so tasty and not load d down with oil and sugar. I got the Kung Pao chicken and my partner got Black Bean Chicken. We will definitely be back. Oh! Our server was awesome. Attentive, polite, and Johnny on the spot!

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    4 months ago

    10/10 so so happy with this meal! Amazing gluten free options and probably the best gluten free Chinese food I've ever had.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    Christina T.

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    5 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    5 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Excellent Chinese bistro style dining. Generous portions, friendly staff and good pricing

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    1 year ago

    This place is very expensive and orders take forever. It used to be much better. They dont even look busy.

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    10 months ago

    It's a very Chinese American restaurant and it does this type of cuisine well. Service is excellent.

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    5 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Great food - the walnut prawns are exceptional and the beef dishes are delicious. Service was attentive a they deliver as well

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    Great review! We sent you a private message, so check your inbox!

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    11 months ago

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    2 years ago

    Best gluten free Chinese food I've ever had and the service is great! Comfortable seating and the ambiance is relaxing.

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    Page 1 of 17

    Dragon Well Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Dragon Well

    What is there health score?

    I don't remember noticing for this restaurant, however when I go on line it says 92 for the Health inspection. Trip Advisor gave it a certificate of excellence.

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    Four Kings 四大天王

    Four Kings 四大天王

    4.2
    (456 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$$

    I saw online that this place is one of the most sought after reservations on Open Table. I tried my…read moreluck at getting a reservation and was pleasantly surprised when I was able to get a reservation! Reservations open 3 weeks in advanced at noon. Walk ins are also welcome. One note is that parking can be a bit challenging so get there a bit early. The inside is lively and filled me with so much nostalgia with the decor. The staff is really attentive and friendly. I also appreciate the free peanuts and cucumber salad that you get when you're seated. My boyfriend and I ordered a lot of food because we wanted to try so many things! The lamb skewer was super moist and had a nice flavor. The XO escargot with milkbread had a nice buttery, garlic taste. The milk bread was fluffy and when dipped in the sauce it tasted very rich. We also got the clay pot rice and it reminded me of when I had it in China. The rice was crispy at the bottom and well seasoned. My favorite dish of the night was the squab. It was cooked excellently and the skin was really crispy. The five spice powder on the side really brought out the flavor of the meat. The eggplant was cooked well and portion was good but it didn't stand out as much as the other dishes. Overall, I would visit this place again. It definitely lives up to the hype. The squab and and clay pot rice were the stand outs to me but all the other food was really tasty as well.

    I saw a random 9:15pm reservation for 2 available, so I snagged it, excited for this very hyped…read morerestaurant. Was it worth it? Honestly, I think I have to readjust my expectations for the SF food scene. If there were no wait/reservation, I would think of this as a very solid restaurant (hence the 4 stars). The beef chow fun is on par with ones I'd get in NYC Chinatown, and was actually not very overpriced. Our server was very sweet but only recommended things that my friend did not love (seafood/spicy food). I was excited for the spicy cabbage, hoping it'd be comparable to the addictive spicy cabbage at Uluh (NYC). I was disappointed. The popcorn chicken was a bit dry; I would not get it again. The mapo spaghetti had heat, but not much flavor, and it was okay for me - worth getting because it sounded intriguing, but fell short of my expectations, especially since I've made mapo udon, mapo ramen, and mapo pie at home that were better. The escargots with milk bread was definitely my favorite; sourcing escargot alone is a plus and it was very well-executed. The milk bread was fantastic, pillowy and soft. Our server was very nice and offered to move us to the cute window seats after we were already seated at the counter, which I really appreciated. However, would I spend energy trying to get a reservation here or waiting in line? Absolutely not. It makes me sad to think that this is the pinnacle of Cantonese food in this city full of Cantonese people, but I guess it makes me extra appreciate food in NYC.

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    View of kitchen
    View of kitchen
    Sichuan cabbage
    Sichuan cabbage
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    Harborview Restaurant & Bar

    Harborview Restaurant & Bar

    4.1
    (1.9k reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    Harborview serves premium food and their dim sum are seemed to order; always fresh and super tasty…read more I've been here numerous times for yum cha (dim sum bunch) before, and trying their HH (Happy Hour) for the first time today.. and it was just simply excellent!!! The quality dim sum that we've come to expect.. plus two delightful bonuses: Excellent Margarita and their OMG - so Tasty and Addicting Tofu Fries!! YUM yim yummmmy!! Service is excellent and their wait staff checked on us every now and then, and everyone is always friendly and helpful. Nicely located in EC4; the restaurants is always super clean and comfy for hanging out. Their balcony seating also very nice, weather permitting. Bonus: they also validate parking, at (I think ) $6 off your parking rate at the Embarcadero's. Great good + Great service! Recommended!!!

    I'm posting this review a little later, but this experience happened during a visit about a month…read moreago and it has stayed with me. One thing that stood out was the restaurant's mandatory 18% gratuity, which is automatically added to every bill. While I understand and respect service charges, I also believe they should come with a reasonable standard of service. During our meal, we politely asked our waitress, Lily, if she could please bring us some soy sauce whenever she had a moment. In response, she audibly sighed, turned her head, and rolled her eyes, which felt unnecessarily rude and unprofessional. Throughout the rest of the meal, whenever we thanked her for bringing our dim sum, she didn't acknowledge us, and simple requests like refilling our water were ignored while she happily chatted with other coworkers and the table immediately next to us (which appeared to be people she knew outside of work). The rest of the staff seemed normal-friendly, which made this interaction stand out even more. Had the gratuity been optional, I would have tipped based on the service we received. Because it was mandatory, paying an 18% service charge for an experience that lacked basic courtesy and attentiveness felt particularly unfair and disappointing. This was my second visit here, but it seems bad service is not uncommon based on other yelp reviews.

    Photos
    Black Sesame Mochi with Grated Peanut
    Black Sesame Mochi with Grated Peanut
    Enjoy dining or Happy Hour on our spacious patio!
    Enjoy dining or Happy Hour on our spacious patio!
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    Dragon Well - chinese - Updated July 2026

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