oChef » Mandalay – San Francisco » Mandalay – San Francisco – Reviews
Mandalay - Reviews
4348 California St, 94118 San Francisco
All reviews at a glance
775
Reviews
63.1%
Satisfaction
230
negative
56
neutral
489
positive
What people say about Mandalay
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Visit Type
Service Type
Group Type
Meal Type
Wait Time
Group Size
Noise Level
Price per Person
Price per Person
- $41–$50
Visit Type
- Solo Dining
Group Type
- Solo Dinner
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Noise Level
- Loud
3
Oily Lamb and Poor Service
My experience at the restaurant was mixed. The lamb was too oily and tasted meh. On a positive note, the string beans were decent.
However, the service was quite bad; I was frequently left without water. Additionally, I was seated at a tiny table right next to where the waitstaff brought out dishes, which was unpleasant as they kept rubbing against me. I suspect this seating arrangement is reserved for solo diners.
- string beans5
- lamb3
- service2
- tiny table3
Price per Person
- $101+
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
8
Delicious Food, Great Ambiance, Mind Dietary Needs
My experience at this restaurant was marked by delicious food and a great ambiance. The food was truly enjoyable. However, for those with dietary restrictions like vegan or vegetarian, it's important to be aware that some dishes are prepared with fish sauce.
I recommend letting the waiter know your needs prior to ordering, as they can make alternatives. The service was rated a 4, and the atmosphere also received a 4, while the food was rated a perfect 5.
- food10
- ambiance8
- dietary restrictions6
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
10
Absolutely the Best Food Ever!
My experience at this restaurant was exceptional. The food was arguably the best I've ever eaten, setting a very high bar. I highly recommend you must go here.
The service and atmosphere were also rated a perfect 5 out of 5.
- food10
- service10
- atmosphere10
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Family Dinner
Service Type
- Dine-in
3
Overpriced with Tiny Portions
My experience at this restaurant was marked by a significant disconnect between the food quality and the portion sizes. While the food itself was good, the portions were a joke. I found it extremely overpriced for the pittance of food they give you.
For example, an entree costing $20+ barely serves one person. If you're planning to feed a family, be prepared to double or even triple your order. Even the tea leaf salad, which I kid you not, was only about 5 bites.
- food quality7
- portion sizes2
- entree2
- tea leaf salad2
Price per Person
- $41–$50
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
2
Underwhelming Flavors and Oily Food
I was excited about this restaurant and looking forward to some great flavors, but found the food very underwhelming and oily. My red curry beef, specifically, lacked significant flavor. Unfortunately, it also caused me quite a belly ache.
Sadly, I won’t be going back.
- food2
- red curry beef3
- belly ache1
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Type
- Friends
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Noise Level
- Moderate
8
Comforting Burmese Food Experience
My experience at the restaurant was a delightful dinner with my BFF. I enjoyed the Burmese food, which felt accessible and not overly exotic. The tea leaf salad offered bold flavors, and the paratha with curry was perfectly flaky and steamy.
It was an experience that was both interesting and comforting. A point to note is that the portions are small, so it's advisable to plan on sharing a few dishes.
- Burmese food8
- tea leaf salad8
- paratha with curry9
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
6
Good food, pushy service
My experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag. While the food was excellent, earning a perfect 5/5, the service was a significant letdown, rated at 1/5. I felt the staff were overly pushy, constantly trying to upsell us.
Additionally, the entire dining experience felt rushed, with waiters clearing plates as soon as individuals finished, rather than waiting for everyone at the table to complete their meal. The atmosphere received a rating of 2/5.
- food10
- service1
- upsell2
- rushed3
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
9
Best Burmese Food, Worth the Wait!
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I had the best Burmese food I've ever tasted, truly putting other similar establishments in the neighborhood to shame. We've dined here multiple times and will definitely continue to return.
I would recommend making reservations as the line can get quite long in the evenings, and the small entryway tends to get crowded quickly.
- Burmese food10
- reservations8
- other similar restaurants8
- line4
- small entryway4
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
5
Mandalay: Good but Not the Best Burmese
My experience at Mandalay left me wanting more. We might have ordered the wrong things or arrived too late, but despite its reputation as the best Burmese in town, I found myself preferring Burma Superstar nearby. The staff also made us feel rushed, constantly trying to take our plates.
The tea leaf salad was good, but again, Burma Superstar's version is better. The samusa was a pleasant surprise and a sleeper hit, which I would recommend. The curry chicken was forgettable and I wished it was spicier.
The special noodle was pretty tasty but also forgettable. The volcano beef had enjoyable beef flavor and was solid.
- tea leaf salad6
- samusa8
- curry chicken5
- staff3
Price per Person
- $41–$50
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
10
The Original and Best Burmese in SF
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic. It's the OG best Burmese and the oldest in San Francisco, with all others being mere imitators. This is truly the place to be, though you should prepare to wait for a table.
The food, service, and atmosphere were all top-notch, earning a perfect 5/5 in each category.
- Burmese food10
- food10
- service10
- waiting time4
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