House Of Nanking
31 ratings since posting on Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Overall Rating   based on 31 ratings |
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Chef Gia's, right next door to Nanking, is freaking excellent! do yourself a favor and try the Honey Chili Chicken... -  Ray
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posted 08/06/07
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We got in just before the lunch rush and had a fantastic meal with personal service from the chef who would't let us order from the menu.. maybe we just got lucky.. - John , posted 08/05/07 |
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I don't understand why people still flock to this place. The quality keeps getting worse, and worse. Do yourself a favor and go to a different Chinese restaurant, ANY Chinese restaurant, instead. - Brian , posted 08/27/06 |
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House of nanking is definitely a tourist hotspot but they seem to be pretty consistent with their food. Of course, after a couple of times, it tends to get a tad bit monotonous, but the onion cakes are pretty good and so is their tea. For vegetarians, there are a lot of options and you can usually get good recommendations from the waiters. They are also very accomodating for special requests and for items that are not on the menu. Would I do it occassionally - definitely. More than twice in 6 months ? Maybe not. - M , posted 06/24/06 |
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House of Nanking USED to be absolutely the best Chinese in SF - in the early 90s. Since they expanded the space, and changed the menu it dropped a notch. It still is yummy, but unfortunately its past its prime. By the way, don't go if you are looking for quiet and ambience. It's all about the food here. - Tom , posted 01/10/06 |
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it's worth it just for that. We went on Christmas and food the was decent. Not my favorite but not the worst either. - Vatiji , posted 11/01/05 |
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Bring a barf bag if you go. You'll want to vomit after the first bite. - Mark , posted 07/11/05 |
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You have to wait in line. The service is bad and rude. The food is worse. Don't believe the hype. Haole-ified food. - Dave , posted 06/12/05 |
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sure it's overrated but the nanking sauce is still yummy. worth getting the take out if you work/live nearby but certainly not worth waiting in a line for. - Inspector , posted 03/23/05 |
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They use skippy peanut butter for their secret sauce.Next door at chef gias is just as good ,but no lines.The chefs at both places are a little odd.don't piss them off they will remeber you. - ama , posted 03/23/05 |
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Not bad, not special. If all you've ever had is broccoli beef and sweet & sour pork, this is a good transition restaurant for the inexperienced. - reeser , posted 03/22/05 |
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what's not to love about this place? there's always a line, so you go there with some friends and chat it up while you wait (never more than 15-20 minutes). once you get inside, the experience is a little rushed and cramped but it's more than compensated for by the amazing quality of the food (think everything fresh). plus, the owner is hilarious and is always wandering around from table to table offering suggestions. highly recommend! be warned, though-- they only accept cash, at least that's how it was when i was there 3 months ago. - Evian , posted 03/20/05 |
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I've been for lunch several times and always found it tasty. Haven't been very far down the menu. Once with a work lunch group, and we did well by the owner's recommendations. Only place I've seen chayote squash used in Chinese cooking, perhaps the "Cal" influence. Liked the sesame chicken. - Jeff , posted 02/12/05 |
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Unsu...
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enough said. yeah, the ambience aint all that. but if you're in n. beach and you want excellent chinese food stop here. i think i've never had better mooshoo wraps!! cucumber slices in the water is also a nice touch. not your standard americanized chinese faire. - Unsubscribed , posted 01/30/05 |
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they put the same sauce in all their dishes. food is mediocre at best. ever wonder why a Chinese restaurant in the middle of Chinatown never has any Chinese patrons.... it sucks! leave it for the tourist. - Politickin , posted 01/26/05 |
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this was the best chinese food I have eaten in a LONG TIME and I eat chinese food almost everyday, when I am in San francisco I always make it a point to eat there! - Jorge
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posted 01/26/05
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Service is shaky and rude sometimes. But you go there for their food. For the price there isn't many chinese restaurants that compete. People are complaining about this place, and they give 5 stars to restaurants that don't deserve it. Simple menu. As one other person says, ask for the recommendation. Who cares is this is tradional chinese or not... we're rating the food here! And you should be satisfied. As always don't expect too much, you'll always be disappointed. - mad , posted 01/26/05 |
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Why stand in a long line for average food? I guess the same people who like Appleby's think HON is good stuff. The way the guidebooks rave you'd think SF was bereft of any other decent Chinese food. My first trip to HON, dismayed by the long line to sit down, I ended up going next door to Chef Jia's on the recommendation of a customer who saw me looking at the menu. Jia's rocks, but that is another review. I did end up eating at HON on a subsequent visit to the neighbourhood, and it was a disappointing experience. Ordered hot and sour soup, which was hot temperature-wise, but not spicy nor particularly sour. My entree was sesame chicken, which should be slightly spicy and crispy. It was neither. The sauce was kind of gummy, and I was not happy to realise the chicken was dark meat, instead of the usual white meat. CHEAPSKATES! Jia's uses white meat for just about everything, and they are less expensive to boot. Overall a very blah experience, if you are someone who really enjoys Asian food as I do. - Juliana , posted 01/25/05 |
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Unsu...
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Tried it a few years ago when I first moved here. Can still remember the nasty taste of raw mange tout. I was the only chinese there. - Unsubscribed , posted 01/24/05 |
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An attempt to pass off sugary tourist food as some kind of authentic dining experience. Seriously, Panda Express would be better :) - Jessica , posted 12/06/04 |
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Unsu...
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Totally overhyped and tourist-ladden, but a terrific restaurant. - Unsubscribed , posted 11/04/04 |
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Large size dishes, not expensive, but not very good quality food - rather coarse. Some of my friends used to tell me I'd love this place and when I finally went there I was quite disappointed. Seems popular in the tourist guides, probably with folks from the Mid-West. If chicken chow mein and sweet and sour pork is your favorite style of Chinese, you may love this place, but if you prefer other Chinese dishes, I'd recommend someplace else! Don't take Chinese friends here if you want them to respect your taste in food! - terry , posted 10/20/04 |
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Okay, so this place is a bit touristy. It's in all the travel books as a highly recommended place. And, in my opinion, for good reason. Every out-of-town guest I've taken here has absolutely loved it. This place doesn't serve authentic Chinese food in the least - it's Americanized fare that sufficiently fits that kind of taste bud. The food is very flavorful and rich, with a bit of spicey zing. It generally has sugar in it's sauces too, making for slightly sweet dishes. The owner/chef has awards posted all over the wall. And occasionally he'll come out to wait tables. If you recognize him, ALWAYS ask him what he recommends for the day. He'll smile at you, quietly take away your menus, and ask you what kinds of dishes you prefer: vegetarian, beef, chicken, or fish? Then he'll have his kitchen create a dish with the freshest ingredients of the day for you. It's always a hit. I've never once ordered from the menu here. As an added bonus, at my first visit, I saw an actor from Star Trek Voyager here - the holographic doctor (I forget his name at the moment). He left the restaurant just as I was coming in, and I took his seat. My friend said a gentle, "I like your work" to him and he nodded. What a great way to begin my House of Nanking experience. - Mike , posted 10/20/04 |
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By far the best nuevo- & traditional Chinese food in SF
Totally, Peter's House of Nanking is by far the best nuevo- & traditional Chinese food in SF. I also like <i>Taiwan</i> on Clement Street for a different style of menu. - Bruce , posted 05/15/04 |
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As someone who lived in China for 7 years I recommend
house of nanking? pleeeeeassse. yum yum - yuck! let's face it people like it because it's the cheapest Chinese food in SF. As someone who lived in China for 7 years I recommend Ton Kiang (Geary Boulevard near 22nd Avenue)as best Dim Sum and Cantonese. I don't even have to close my eyes and I am in HK. I also like Yank Sing in Financial still authentic but lighter and less greasy. Their take out annex sucks beware! If you like Eric's you will LOVE Elisa's. Same style but much better. None of the restaurants in Chinatown have met my expectations so far. I think good tourist flow makes restaurants lazy. I would pick Gold Mountain if I had to choose. I am still looking for the best Mandarin, Shanghainese and Sichuan. Any good restaurants for hotpot?? - @}->Peggy , posted 05/14/04 |
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It's the best
I'm gonna second Sarah's recommendation of House of Nanking - it's the best. In the mood for something specific? Just tell 'em you want something with pork or tofu and they'll do the rest. Don't forget the Nanking Beef! It's on Kearny at Colombus. You know a restaurant is good when other restaurants pop up next door and do good biz from the line of people out the door. - steve23
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posted 05/13/04
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I just realized you said "Cal" Cuisine
I just realized you said "Cal" Cuisine.. what is that? well this place is in California so good enough for me: House Of Nanking 919 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94133 Phone: (415) 421-1429 Inexpensive- but soooo good. This is NOT american chinse food this is more like the real thing. Dont expect any dish to look like something you got at Panda Express. This is not fine dining this is cramped noisy and always busy-- so worth it. Try the fried potstickers in peanut sauce, lettuce rolling chicken or just ask for the specials.. they will bring you good food. - Membio , posted 11/12/03 |
