This place is always incredibly packed. Haven't yet been lucky enough to dine in. I'm not a huge Chinese fan but the couple times I've tried this place I was not disappointed. Their wings are a must try! Always perfectly crispy with a ton of flavors! I got their spring rolls as well and they are loaded! Definitely don't skimp on the ingredients. I'd love to enough a dine in experience one day. My advice would be to either reserve or get there right when it opens! read more

Service was bad really bad I had reservations that I called over the phone and spoke with someone and when I got to the place she claimed that there was never a reservation placed because they supposedly don't take over the phone reservations. Over the phone she took my reservation of 7 and said "see you here" #BIRTHDAYRUINED 0 stars read more

Finally got a chance on Thursday night to come in and try this place. Ordered the Crab Rangoons, Gen. Tso's Cauliflower and the Egg Drop soup. The food was incredible, all of it. Rangoon's crisped perfectly, cauliflower flavorful and cooked well, and the egg drop soup I could've eaten forever. However, logistically this restaurant doesn't make sense. We were told at the door that is was a two hour wait to sit inside, so we opted for patio seating. Nobody came by for a long time, so long that we wondered if they even did table service. Eventually we noticed that they only had one server on and she had to take all the tables in the restaurant by herself (kudos!). Needless to say, its too big of a section for one person and she had trouble getting to everyone in a timely fashion. She also had to go to the bar next door to grab drinks for her tables and I got the impression that that long walk inhibited the quality of service she was able to give. Someone needs to rethink this scheme, that poor server. The drinks took a long time to come out, and were dropped with our appetizer. They were lovely, however, and every bit worth the wait. We had the Layover in Paris and the Twizzler. Food took a long time to come out too and sadly our soup came out last when we were finished eating everything else. But again the food was phenomenal and well worth the wait. All in all, I will be returning for the food and cocktails, but sometime mid-week where hopefully the wait times are shorter and the servers are not so overwhelmed. read more

Yelp is a mixed bag obviously, people will give a low rating just because they couldn't get a table for example. However, this is one of the rarer occasions where I think you should pay extra attention to the negative reviews, especially those pointing out mediocre food. Sort by most recent reviews and look at the low scored entries, you will see what I mean, either it's been mediocre from the start or something has changed for the worst. I've tried this place twice now and both experiences have been very mediocre in the food department. A few others mentioned Panda Express being more flavorful and unfortunately that's absolutely true here. The "orange" chicken is baffling, when people say it's essentially dry with no sauce they aren't joking, I found nothing "orange" about it. The egg rolls were oddly cooked, like partially burnt yet soft in the middle, and devoid of flavor. I mean, it's an eggroll how do you screw that up? The fried rice everyone raves about... have any of you had basic fried rice from any other Chinese restaurant? The tastiest item I had? The plain steamed white rice that you have to pay extra for. They love to point that out to you as well, I guess it would be funnier if the rest of the food was actually good. Clearly the CH gimmick of atmosphere works, and I think most five star reviews of their establishments are younger types drunk on aesthetics and by default refer to everything about their experience, including the food, as "amazing". Between here and Seneca I think the CH gimmick is starting to wear off for me. It's starting to feel like fraud which is a shame, as I love the work they put into the aesthetics. I honestly feel the CH group just enjoys creating experiences at this point and the food is absolutely secondary, almost an afterthought. Born and Raised and Ironside continue to be their best establishments in terms of quality food, skip this one and head to either of those. read more

The fact they're top rated says a lot about the Chinese food in San Diego. Gorgeous atmosphere but I wish the food was as good. It's fine.

Wow what a variety of sumptuous food we had for dinner! The dumpling were beautiful, the chicken wings were the best I have ever had! Their green beans with a hint of wok smokiness were out of this world, such a simple vegetable that had a surprise flavor. The walnut shrimp did not disappoint, the shrimp was so fresh , the tempura batter flaky but glazed to a perfection! Their tofu dish was just the right amount of flavor without being overwhelming and to round out the meal the fried rice was fluffy and perfect. This was a great food experience but what made it a night to remember was the friendly staff starting at the front door! The wait staff and Chef Ramsey felt like family and getting to meet the kitchen staff made us feel right at home. We highly recommend this place and if there is a wait go next door to Polite Provisions and relax a bit while you wait because the wait is worth it!! read more

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Visited Fortunate Son by myself on a Friday at 3pm. There was a small line that had formed when I got there, but no wait for a table. A couple groups had reservations, so that's an option for busier times later in the evening. I asked the server about portion sizes before ordering; she suggested getting two dishes. I've been known to crush oversized San Diego burritos with ease, so I ordered the Orange Chicken and Shrimp Lo Mein fully expecting to be hungry after finishing them. How wrong I was! These portions were actually pretty sizable, and I think the average person would be more than satisfied with one meat-based entree and a side of rice. The Orange Chicken came out first, and was great--crispy and generously sauced. The arbol chiles that come on top gave it a pretty significant kick, so should probably be omitted by anyone sensitive to spicy food. The Shrimp Lo Mein was alright. I think my judgement is being affected by the fact that I ate the very flavorful Orange Chicken first; the Lo Mein ended up tasting pretty bland after. The restaurant itself is a bit cramped, although nice to admire once seated. The table next to me had their chairs pushed out a bit, leaving very little room to walk by--I felt bad for the servers/runners who had to navigate that. Definitely give this place a go if you're looking for good American Chinese food but feeling too classy for Panda Express. read more

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You can't reserve in advance so go an hour before you want to eat and put your name in and grab a drink at polite provisions or swan next door! During the week it's about a 30-45 min wait and weekends, about an hour! The food is like elevated Chinese take out, it tastes so much better than take out (obviously). The hot and sour soup is different, not as vinegary but more dark soy sauce salty to me, but it was good! The crispy tofu was amazing and the honey walnut shrimp is a must! read more

Got takeout here Tues night and the food was incredibly disappointing. We ordered orange chicken, general tso's chicken, egg rolls, and crab rangoons and the food was nearly inedible. The orange chicken had little flavor, several pieces were just cartilage, and it was very doughy and soft. The general tso's chicken was very acidic with little else going on flavor wise and the pieces had a thick layer of batter with small pieces of chicken. The egg rolls were simultaneously overcooked and undercooked, the filling was dense and dry but the wrap was partially fried on the outside and raw inside. The only item we could eat more than a few bites of was the crab rangoons. You'd expect that a place with such a small menu would be able to deliver on the limited items they have, but even panda express or pickup stix is tastier. read more

Loveee this place!! So amazing!! Just don't recommend the shumai!! Atmosphere is amazing! Highly recommend!

I came here for the first time about a week ago and I was taken away by the beautiful interior. Unfortunately, there was a longer wait for indoor dining (not surprised) so my friend and I opted for sitting on the patio for a much shorter wait. The food was amazing and fair priced, however what really did it for me was how friendly the staff was. I wish I remembered their name but the person with the vibrant pink hair was so friendly and had a lot of recommendations considering that it was my first time. Would definitely be coming back just for them :) (and the amazing food of course!) read more

Oh well, where can I start... The design of the place is very cute but this is it. From the beginning everything went wrong. We signed our names and came back when the table was ready. Nobody recognized us, so we had to stand outside for a while with another couple waiting again (they could at least said that they will be with us shortly, but instead they looked at us and continued taking care of their take out orders). Yes, take out orders which they had a lot were obviously their main priority than the guests in the "restaurant". We got the menus (which was pretty small) and where left again for a while (nobody asked us about drinks or if we were ready to order). Finally, they took an order. They also asked us if it was our first time and after we said "yes", they just said okay (any recommendations? ). The food was pretty average: kung pao chicken was not bad when beef and broccoli was just steamed broccoli cut with very large pieces of beef - it wasn't tasty at all, we also ordered egg rolls which in my opinion are better in Panda Express. Through the whole experience nobody asked us how everything was tasting or if we need anything else. And at the end we were waiting for somebody to take our check for ... *very very long time* until I took it to them myself. I will not recommend this place to anybody. Too busy with take out orders to dine in, not tasty enough to take out. read more

Fortunate Son - Beef and broccoli - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Food was very mediocre. We got the Dan Dan noodles, orange chicken, vegetable fried rice, and crispy shrimp. Service was fine, a bit slow. Decor is great. Street parking is the only option. Wouldn't go back. read more

We arrived at 4:50pm on a Saturday and noticed the restaurant had many open tables and falsely thought we'd get seated right away. After waiting 13 minutes, the hostess finally acknowledged us. I was dumbfounded to learn there was a 1 hour and 45 minute wait, as there wasn't a crowd waiting around. Without even stepping foot inside the restaurant, I was able to count at least 15 open seats. There easily could've been more. Given the level of operational issues this place is experiencing, I will never waste my time braving the parking situation to return. The place could halve their prices and be awarded 3 Michelin stars; it still wouldn't be worth the trouble. We proceeded to Spicy House and were seated immediately. I bet the food is better to, but I will never find out. read more

I wish I took a picture, damn this was delicious we ordered the dan dan noodles, egg roles, beef and brocoli and tso chicken

The atmosphere here is incredible. The decor is super cute and trendy-- perfect for instagram pics. The downside is that the wait is extremely long. Expect to wait 1.5-2hrs. Also, don't come here expecting authentic chinese food. Although the food is good, is it westernized and not super flavorful. I loved being able to order cocktails from the bar next door, Polite Provisions. Not sure I would come back here in the future. read more

Fun ambiance...nicely decorated...enjoyed the funk/disco music. Service was great. Food was a blend between Chinese-American and authentic Chinese. Weird that the worst thing was the steamed white rice- over cooked and mushy. read more

Everything is delicious here. My all time favorite dish is the Dan Dan Noodles. If anyone says any different... they're lying lol.

The general tso chicken was the best I've had in California. Green bean side dish was a, enough for 2 & b, as perfect as wok-charred beans can get. Pork egg rolls 10/10. Beef and broccoli was a solid 8, as the sauce and broccoli were excellent but the beef was a lean cut that got very tough when cooked. A fattier piece would've been nicer , but that would increase food cost. We ordered to go because the FOH was having a hard time due to a server being absent. Food was ready in ~20min. (Have a cocktail next door at Swan Bar!) also, entrees don't come with rice (so set your rice cooker at home before you pick up your to go food). Will be back. read more

Love the food and family style dining. The decor is so fun and makes you feel like you should be in the center of China town.

We love everything about this place! Food, customer service, prices and the decor is amazing! Keep it up! read more

Fortunate Son - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

The atmosphere of the place is really nice. The food itself was pretty good. It gives you a chance to try more the next time you visit. It is a positive that the menu is not pages and pages long. I most definitely will come back to try more of their food and I think that I underestimated the sizing because it definitely made me very full after I ate. The staff were also very accommodating as well. read more

San Diego doesn't have many GOOD Chinese places, but this is definitely one of them. Apart from Dumpling Inn, this is hands down one of the best in SD. Everything is fresh. The veggie spring rolls have actual fresh veggies in them. The noodles are excellent and the chicken is even better. You won't be disappointed! read more

This was my favorite meal so far this year, it really was amazing! The food was so tasty, the price was reasonable and the wait to get in was short. It has such a cool vibe. The waitress was so kind, and provided recommendations since it was our first time in. read more

Amazing food! The atmosphere is great too with really great cocktails delivered from the bar next door!

5 star comfort food. Low mien with shrimp, fried rice with sausage, green beans all at amazing price point. It was fast, it was fresh it was a welcome replacement for Soda and Swine. I'm so happy the gorgeous scenery matched the delicious food. read more

Fortunate Son - Indoor dinning - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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A disgrace to Chinese American cuisine and a disgrace to China because how can you fuck up beef&broccoli and egg drop soup so bad that is so SALTY to the point it is practically inedible. Great for Instagram pictures. The Dan Dan noodles are fine and the poor host was not only hosting but waitressing and running! The wait is pretty bad so be prepared for that. read more

Fortunate Son, Chinese-American fusion on 30th and Adams, is an amazing, very creative, artistic addition to the Adams Avenue unique food scene. And their dishes are delicious! Yes, they just bravely opened in the middle of a chaotic pandemic, contributing to our community by creating jobs and providing comfort food for us all. That's America's spirit of adventure, community-conscious daring and a positive attitude. So, some Yelpers need to chill out and give them a break when they stumble a little. My first great experience with Fortunate Son was at 4:00 PM on Saturday. Even at that early hour, there were tons of couples eagerly waiting in line along the sidewalk on 30th. I was there to walk up to the take-out window. There was no confusion at all. The big sign clearly states - "Pickup window," and the door/window is on the right of the main entry, beautiful, made of shinny copper metal. Nice artistic brass dragon sculpture adding to the artistic look. But I can see how some could, theoretically, get confused. The entire front and inside lobby of this very cool new restaurant is like a color-filled painting, eye candy, of aesthetic Chinese themed décor and cool touches of art. Some could easily get "lost" and "confused." Especially if one arrives at opening on a Saturday in the summer heat in San Diego. The entire front of this corner of Adams and 30th Streets was very well done. Very nice patio-sidewalk dining tables, with privacy partitions, surrounded by plants and an inviting atmosphere. Really cool side-walk setting. During a busy Saturday, even at 4:00 PM, things quickly got hectic for everyone there. But I could see that they quickly got it under control. I ordered at the takeout window and the man taking my order was polite, efficient and very friendly. I was one of three orders already at that early time in the very hot Saturday summer day. And there was a line of over 20 people waiting to be seated and to enjoy; all seemed to arrive there by 4:15. The take-out window guy said that my food would be ready in 15-20 minutes; and it was! General Tso's Cauliflower was delicious; not soggy and had a unique spice that made it amazing. Kang Pao Chicken was all white meat, moist, spicy and delicious! My FS fried rice was above what I expected, based upon a prior reviewer who may have had a different experience; mine was exceedingly good. And my take-out Chinese food buckets were filled to the brim! I shared and three of us ate on my order alone. We will return as a family to dine-in and experience the urban vibe as we dine on the sidewalk tables, shielded by very cool privacy screens and plants. But mostly, to try some of those incredibly good-looking drinks other customers who dined in ordered. Over which I drooled as they passed by me as I waited for my takeout! I saw the most amazing Mojito and what appeared to be an old-school Daiquiri carried passed me to a lucky table for two. read more

The atmosphere inside was stellar. Service was good and they got us in without a long wait time. Man up front was super friendly and kind as he was doing multiple things at a time. The portions are big and got me and my partner full... with leftovers! Our favorite dish was the fried rice! Would recommend if you're looking for a vibey but affordable dinner spot in SD. read more

Great ambiance! Beautiful interior! It felt like we were in China, except they don't play Chinese music. The place is small, so not sure how accommodations would be for a big group. read more

The food was good. The ambiance is what makes this place stand out. Half our group gave it a one and done, the other half (me included) would go back if in the area. read more

The way to go is definitely a reservation- if not plan on waiting MINIMUM 1 hour, 2-3 on weekends. They have some of the best walnut shrimp I've ever had, and the portions are pretty good considering the price. Definitely a great little place to eat dinner if you can get a reservation (book far out in advance)! read more

Wait time was 2 hours and 10 minutes. They did say it would be 2-2.5 hour wait. Service was good. They were out of broccoli beef, crispy noodles and empire beer. We were seated by around 830. We ordered: walnut shrimp, steamed rice, spring roles, green beans, kung pao chicken, dan dan noodles, and orange chicken. Food came out quickly, all within 30 minutes - as prepared. Prices were decent. Food was fine, some dishes were unexpectedly spicy (green beans and noodles). Portions were big enough to share. Ambiance was nice. Would I wait 2 hours again? Probably not. There's a take out window and I've had better Chinese food. read more

The food is delish! The decore is super fun and romantic to this place is perfect for a girls meal or a date. We tried a little of everything i recommend the shrimp, crab rangoons, and the house icecream! The have a great in drink selection. You will not find yout typical soda but great crafted beverages. read more

An awesome experience! Sarah greets you at the front, and she went way beyond to make our first time there an unforgettable experience. The whole experience was fantastic from start to finish. Good Music, Good Food, Great Service. The vibes from the restaurant, and the people around us were relaxing and upbeat. I recommend this place! Make reservation. Thanks, Sarah! read more

Such a great place for food and socializing! They offer really good drinks from the bar next door too. Unfortunately they don't take reservations and it's such a popular place that there's always a line to get seated. But I think the food is worth it! read more

We really liked the cute Asian theme decorations. It's a smaller restaurant. We didn't have a problem getting a table because we got there as soon as they opened. Service was ok and we were ok with it because it looks like they were training. The food is said to serve 3-4 but when it arrived it was more like 1-2. Portions were a little on the small size for the price. We ordered 2 order crab rangoons, orange chicken, walnut shrimp, beef and broccoli, and Dan dan noodles. The only dish we liked out of all of that were the honey walnut shrimps because it had a pleasant flavor and for the price we were not full. read more

The food and atmosphere were both top-notch. The wings weren't as mind numbingly hot was the menu made them out to be, but they were very cumin intensive, which I loved. Everything that we ordered was quite good and the prices were reasonable. My only suggestion is that they find a way to set up some kind of e-waiting list, so you can get in line early without having to kill time somewhere else. read more

Amazing food and even better customer service. The young lady helping us that evening gave us some suggestions and we took them and everything was delish! Took a bit to prepare food, but was worth it as food was as super fresh when we got home and the quality was top tier. I've eaten at the restaurant as well, and the customer service and food was equally amazing, also makes for some great Insta photos since the decor inside is super cute. Overall 10/10 will keep coming again and again. read more

Great food and beautiful ambiance... I wish they had more food selection, but whatever they do serve they make it great. Really great flavor... Wish they served alcohol!!! read more