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    Lion Kitchen

    4.6 (104 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM

    Lion Kitchen Photos

    Business Info

    LION KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Lion Kitchen

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    Reviews With Photos

    Braised bean curd with bok choy and mushrooms
    Geri S.

    One of my favorite dishes...not on the menu; Braised bean curd with bok choy and mushrooms is so delicious. Portions are generous. Service is always friendly. Cash discount.

    And real tea leaves used! Jasmine tea. Tasty.
    Lizelle M.

    Great Chinese cookery! The space is clean and bright. The server was friendly and quirky in a delightful manner. I ordered the claypot with chicken, shrimp + eggplant and beef chow mein. Both were excellent . The portions are so generous too! Also the hot tea is excellent they use real tea leaves and it's complimentary. Will come back again to try more on the menu.

    Mapo tofu
    Stanley T.

    Food has gotten better if that is actually possible. I tried a few more dishes and this place is now a staple for me whenever I want to do take out. I really enjoy all their chicken dishes. It's so tender and taste amazing the way they cook it. Order the Kung pao chicken or have it with their Hong Kong style fried noodle. Shout out to the bubbly hostess/server up front. She can be quite boisterous sometimes but is super friendly and nice. Protip: When ordering take out, she will call you back when your food is ready. Will also bring the food out if you stay in your car out front!

    Menu as of April 2026
    Sharon S.

    My brother recommended this place for the salt and pepper prawns. He said they're giant and flavorful. We stopped by for takeout on the way home one night and are really glad we did. The lady who helped us was bubbly, sweet and friendly, not typical for a Chinese restaurant. We ordered the prawns, Singapore chow mi fun and pan fried Chinese broccoli chicken chow mein. I liked that they separated the pan fried noodles from the gravy, meat and veggies. Most restaurants don't do that anymore unless requested. Our dinner tonight was really good, some of the best Chinese food I've had in some time. I definitely want to go back to dine-in and try other dishes.

    Stir fried green beans
    Allena C.

    I've been meaning to check out Lion Kitchen for a few months and finally tried it this past week. Three of us had lunch on a weekday so it wasn't too busy. We were able to grab a table easily. We also recognized one of the lady servers, who used to work at a restaurant on Judah that closedown. It was nice to see a familiar face! The place was brightly lit and welcoming. ***OUR PICKS*** BEEF CHOW FUN ~ this was a good dish with generous portions. Good "wok hay", flavorful and seasoned well. 5/5 SALT AND PEPPER PORK CHOPS ~ lightly crispy and not a thick batter, so you can taste the meat and not just batter. 4.5/5 STIR FRIED GREEN BEANS ~ a bit spicier than I thought it would be, but the spice was tolerable. I think I would have asked for it to be less spicy, but if you like moderate heat, this one's for you! The beans were made just right and not over or undercooked. 4/5 HOME STYLE TOFU ~ filled with vegetables and tofu. comforting dish, yet also a bit spicy. 4/5 Everything we ordered, we were satisfied with. Prices are reasonable, especially for lunch plates! We'll definitely be back to try other dishes!

    Salt and pepper grouper
    Binh P.

    Place is large and spacious, and employees are super friendly and enthusiastic, but food leaves a lot to be desired. Tried their mapo tofu, Westlake soup, and salt and pepper grouper. I wasn't impressed by any of the dishes. The mapo tofu was probably the best of the bunch for me because I found the addition of pickled greens and sesame oil to be interesting. But there was no sichuan spice, black beans, or pork flavor to make it taste like it should. The Westlake soup was incredibly bland. It made me wish I had brought some extra beef buillon to spruce things up. After adding a ridiculous amount of chili paste, vinegar, soy sauce, and white pepper I managed to enjoy it as hot and sour soup. And I was most disappointed in the fried grouper. After all the glowing reviews for this dish I was severely let down. I found the fish to be a bit tough. Not tender or flakey at all. This place seems to be a neighborhood favorite though because I saw lots of regulars come through. And the dining room gets quickly. But it's just lacking in too much flavor for me.

    Mapo tofu
    Roserrele W.

    Portions were pretty generous but the dishes were very salty. We ordered mapo tofu, mustard greens with mushrooms, curry chicken and garlic noodles. - mapo tofu: too much gravy, taste was on the sweet and salty side. - mustard greens with mushrooms: this dish could be lighter with less gravy. - curry chicken: my kids love curry and they were picky. This dish was lacking some spices and hotness. - garlic noodles: tasted the best amongst all dishes but it was way too greasy and very garlicky (love the taste of gatlic but just a bit too much). Service was great. We were greeted rightaway and the staff checked with frequently to ask if there was anything needed or missing. Prices were reasonable for the portions given. We possibly may not come back because the food were heavily seasoned and pretty greasy.

    Chicken wings
    Michelle K.

    Wow this is definitely our new go-to spot for Chinese food! Authentic, super delicious and fresh. The inside of this restaurant is nicely lit and very clean. Speedy service too the aunties working are very friendly. Food came out piping hot. Great portion sizes too! What we ordered: - Mongolian beef: so yum, tender beef - Fried chicken wings: crispy! - Dry fried green beans: flavorful and fresh - Pork & cabbage dumplings: fresh and delish - Salt & Pepper squid: crispy and nicely seasoned Will definitely come back to try more on the menu.

    Tangerine Peel Chicken
    Jerry B.

    Very satisfying Cantonese food, large portions, excellent prices, served piping hot straight out of the wok (the way it should be). Hot & Sour Seafood Soup: got the medium-sized bowl, which would be perfect for a party of four, to be honest. There was no way my wife and I were going to finish this right then and there. Server/hostess asked if we needed black pepper. Glad we didn't ask for it because it was quite peppery on its own. The soup stock me of the soup that a Chinese banquet room would serve guests, though a more simple soup than what you'd get at a Chinese Wedding Banquet (which might have some premium ingredients like abalone). Good soup, very peppery. Tangerine Peel Chicken: this was awesome. I mean it's probably a lot like the sweet & sour chicken you've had before, but this has that light tangerine flavor (not strong, but more than just a hint). Again, straight from the wok, to the plate, and to your table. Skillfully prepared. Stir-fried Beef with Bitter Melon and Black Bean Sauce: If you grew up in a Cantonese family in San Francisco, chances are you grew up with this dish. I married into such a family almost thirty years ago and with the elders now gone, this dish was quite comforting. That first year, I had to force myself to eat bitter melon each time it was served. If you eat it once in a while, what starts out as impossibly too bitter will become something you crave (love it with scrambled egg). About this dish here at Lion Restaurant, the beef seems like quality cuts and thoroughly tenderized--you'll find it expertly prepared, as well. Fish-flavored Eggplant: I love Chinese-style eggplant dishes. This one didn't disappoint. Again, served super hot. You know it was done right when you still have to blow on it a little 10 minutes after it was initially served. All and all, we were very impressed with the quality, flavor, and value of Lion Restaurant. With its high ceilings, open eating area with large tables, and well-lit dining room because of its very large windows letting in all that sunlight, it's a great place to bring your family and/or friends. The hostess, one can tell, has tons of character and personality. She likes her job and has fun while doing it. It makes for pleasant experience. Price was, I thought, a very good value--especially for the large portions that we brought home as left overs. For the four items (includes three portions of rice, served hot in a rice thermos heat-retaining container), the bill was $66 (without tip). Considering that my wife and I will easily get two-four more meals out of our leftovers, this was truly a bargain. We will be back with the college-aged kids (who can eat a lot more than we can).

    Salt and pepper grouper. House special fried noodle in the background.
    Alexis P.

    Not only is this hole in the wall super clean and bright, the food is delicious (tastes like home cooking-- if only I was a good chef)! Hard to find this level of portion and quality for the price nowadays. Looks like a family run business. If you like fish and chips, get the salt pepper grouper! It's lightly fried, not too oily while the fish is buttery and flakey. Love the shallots and jalapeño bits it's topped with. The chicken, shrimp, eggplant clay pot was also very good! As was the house special fried noodle. The beef chow fun was good but I wish there was more beef. Also love their chive and pork dumplings. *Note: there is a surcharge for credit card payment so cash is best.

    Menu 2/2 - (October 2025)
    Joyce K.

    New place unlocked. Great Vibes. Great Food for the price! I was in the area and saw this new place, so we dropped in for dinner. The $11.99 special offer menu sold us, and we couldn't resist. What we got: - Salt and Pepper Group ~ Not too oily and came out fresh and crispy. Crispy on the outside, but perfectly balanced soft interior. It was like eating fish and chips, but better! Eat fresh to maximize flavor and texture! - Dry Fried String Beans ~ Pairs perfectly with rice! A great addition to the table for veggies and flavor. - Pork and Chive Dumplings ~ Soft and juicy. Very flavorful. No sauce needed. For three dishes from the 11.99 menu and the inclusion of rice, we were well fed! Rice was complimentary, but was one of the softest and fluffiest rice I've had. All the dishes were solid, and best of all, the service was amazing. The server was full of energy, and it was amazing to watch her interact with other customers - definitely brightened up my day. The place wasn't packed, but it was great to see some occupied tables and patrons coming in and out for take-out. Would definitely return!

    Stir fried green beans
    James R.

    Let me preface with they just opened so they do give that sense that they're still feeling out the business. In terms of service, they were obviously pressured and understaff but still manage to serve with a smile and vibrant attitude. Staff were very friendly and welcoming. The ambiance is quiet despite having a full house. Maybe some low volume music would help. In terms of the food. We ordered a few dishes and they were all generally quite good and portions were big with prices tending to be on the lower side so that's a plus. The string beans is a must. I think my least favorite would be the beef fried noodles with tomatoes. I was not expecting it to be sweet, and it was a bit too sweet for my liking.

    tomato beef crispy noodles $16 side view
    Jeff H.

    It is sad to see a local mom & pop restaurant empty. That was the case tonight at 8pm on a Sunday. It is attributed to the amount of non-existent foot traffic on 28th/Judah. The lady working there is a talkative host, welcoming and kind. My tomato beef crispy noodles $16 were OK. They even served it to me separate from the gravy as I like my noodles extra crispy. The noodles were missing the char burnt ends found with restaurants with good wok flavor. There were plenty pieces of beef. Lacking was the zingy or sour tomato taste. The few pieces of tomatoes were pureed too much. Bell peppers and onion pieces were also lacking. A few pieces of ginger were found. I don't like ginger in my crispy noodles. Overall, this was an OK meal. Service was excellent with a very fast kitchen.

    Eggplant, steamed dumplings

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Lion Kitchen

    Do they deliver in the Inner Sunset?

    They don't do delivery themselves but you can order thru a few 3rd party apps: Uber Eats, postmates & hungrypanda.

    Do they accept credit cards?

    I believe so, but you can always call the restaurant before going.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Four Kings 四大天王

    Four Kings 四大天王

    4.2
    (456 reviews)
    5.1 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.

    Photos
    View of kitchen
    View of kitchen
    Sichuan cabbage
    Sichuan cabbage
    Fish fragrant eggplant

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    Fish fragrant eggplant
    Palette Tea House

    Palette Tea House

    4.1
    (2k reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Speaks Mandarin

    Palette Tea House in San Francisco is always a pleasure to work with and visit for dining with my…read morefamily. I recently had the opportunity to work with their team again for a wedding at Fort Mason, and I've also DJed a wedding reception at their San Francisco location. Both experiences were excellent. I've DJed hundreds of Chinese style banquet wedding receptions and the staff at Palette Tea House are always on point with their food and service. Their staff is friendly, professional, and very easy to work with, which makes a big difference as a vendor in the wedding industry. They consistently provide great service, a welcoming atmosphere, and amazing food. I've also eaten at this location a couple of times with my family, and the food has always been really good! Their dim sum is especially good! Whether you're dining in or hosting a special event like a wedding reception, Palette Tea House does an amazing job everytime. I definitely highly recommend them!

    Came to Palette tea house on a weekday night around 7pm. Turns out they closes at 7:30pm which…read moreseems really early for dinner. Food 2.5/5: the best thing is the fried rice there. We also got the cucumber salad, Peking duck set, and lava buns. The cucumber salad was med, marinate tasted like balsamic and not too much flavor like the usual kind you get in other Chinese restaurants. The Peking duck was the most disappointing, we had such high hope for how it looked and how nicely it was setup. However the duck was cold and the skin had zero crisp. Some pieces of skin was basically inedible, very tough and impossible to chew through almost like leather or plastic. Don't know how they managed that. (See video) Ambiance 5/5: the ambiance and decoration of the restaurant was beautiful though. You get a view of the Ghirardelli Square and the inside is nicely decorated with fun ceiling lights. Service 4/5: pretty efficient. You don't get a dedicated waiter and we had to try to flag down someone if we needed anything. However they are generally friendly and efficient when you get them.

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    Palette Tea House
    Palette Tea House
    Palette Tea House

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    Harborview Restaurant & Bar

    Harborview Restaurant & Bar

    4.0
    (1.9k reviews)
    5.6 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!
    Baked Coffee Lava Buns with Crunchy Sugar Crust

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    Baked Coffee Lava Buns with Crunchy Sugar Crust

    Lion Kitchen - chinese - Updated July 2026

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