Planning
- Accepts reservations
oChef » Taste of Hong Kong – San Diego
Taste of Hong Kong - San Diego
Photo from Taste of Hong Kong
Taste of Hong Kong at a glance
San Diego Kearny Mesa
- 🥡 Chinese Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $31–$40
mentioned by 41 of the guests
#615 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#17 Chinese Restaurant out of 34 in San Diego
Average
5.8 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
333
Reviews
52.6%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Delicious Cantonese
- Speedy Delivery
- Clean Dining
Frequently criticized
- Poor Service
- Hidden Charges
- Hygiene Concerns
The restaurant Taste of Hong Kong is a welcoming Chinese restaurant located in San Diego’s vibrant Kearny Mesa neighborhood. You’ll find a casual atmosphere perfect for a relaxed meal, whether you’re stopping by for lunch or dinner.
With convenient service options like dine-in, takeout, and delivery, plus a free parking lot, it’s designed for your ease. They also accept reservations, making planning your visit simple.
Overview: Introducting Taste of Hong Kong
Taste of Hong Kong offers a culinary journey where the food often shines, with many praising its authentic Cantonese flavors and well-prepared dishes. You’ll find specific items like roasted duck and honey BBQ pork frequently highlighted for their quality and taste, making for a satisfying meal experience.
However, the experience isn’t without its challenges. While some appreciate the fast delivery of food, others have encountered significant issues with service attitude and waiting time.
The overall atmosphere is generally clean, but some concerns regarding kitchen hygiene and seating comfort have been noted.
Average
5.8
out of 10
333
Reviews
52.6%
Satisfaction
140
negative
18
neutral
175
positive
The restaurant holds a respectable overall score of 5.8, placing it in the average category, suggesting a mixed experience for diners. Customer satisfaction stands at 52.6%, which also falls into the mixed range, indicating that while many are content, a notable portion of patrons leave less than thrilled.
Delving deeper, the Food (6.9) is clearly a strong point, receiving good marks from many of the 333 customer observations, with 175 positive remarks. However, Service (4.1) and Value (2.9) pull the overall score down, both registering as average to poor.
The Ambience (6.1) sits in the average bracket, with opinions split on its comfort and cleanliness.
What people like
- Delicious Cantonese food
- Speedy food delivery
- Clean dining room
What people don't like
- Inconsistent service attitude
- Questionable value/pricing
- Kitchen hygiene concerns
With a recommendation score of 6, Taste of Hong Kong presents a somewhat balanced proposition. If your priority is genuinely flavorful Cantonese cuisine, particularly specific dishes like their duck or pork, you’ll likely find the food here quite enjoyable and worth a visit.
However, be prepared for potential inconsistencies in service and be mindful of the pricing structure, as some diners have reported unexpected charges. It’s a place that delivers on taste but might test your patience in other areas.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Taste of Hong Kong
Food (6.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 85% of the guests
When it comes to the food, theres a lot to talk about! Based on 177 comments, with 121 positive remarks, many diners rave about the authentic Cantonese flavors, especially the crispy roasted duck and tender meat dishes. The fresh seafood and spot-on cooking also get high praise, contributing to a good overall score of 6.9.
However, with 49 negative remarks and a mixed customer satisfaction of 68.4%, some experiences werent as stellar. Complaints often mention food served cold, dishes being too salty or bland, and a lack of authentic taste, with some finding the oil in dishes too heavy. It seems consistency can be a bit of a challenge.
Food
177
Reviews
68%
Satisfaction
49
negative
7
neutral
121
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Authentic Cantonese flavors
- Crispy duck and pork
- Tender meat dishes
What people don't like
- Food served cold
- Dishes too salty
- Not authentic taste
Often praised
- foodHands down the best Cantonese my wife and I have had since we moved here 5 years ago. All the food was stellar from the appetizer to the very large entrees. Our seating was awful, but that was minor compared to how good the food was.
- FoodFood:5
- roasted duckRoasted duck was amazinggggg with all the crispy skin and tender meat
- Cantonese foodMy experience at this restaurant was truly wonderful. I enjoyed truly authentic and delicious Cantonese food, complemented by nice service. The place was not so crowded, which made for a pleasant atmosphere.
- Peking duckThe salted egg shrimp was also tasty, though it's best to finish this dish as it might not be as good the next day. There are so many items on the menu that I'd want to return for, such as the Peking duck. Overall, it's solid Cantonese cuisine.
- dishesEverything was well prepared and seasoned appropriately
- duckThe duck was really good but fatty
- lobsterthose dishes were good, but they can be better
- pork bellyBbq roasted duck and pork belly were good
- roast duckMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I had the big and juicy roast duck, which was excellent. The honey BBQ pork was truly the best I've ever had.
Frequently criticized
- foodI was treated very badly by the staff. My reason for not recommending this restaurant is that not only was my food served very slowly, but the service was also extremely arrogant. I was just an ordering customer, not a paying customer.
- chickenI didn't like it that much. It didn't have much flavor and it was kind of dry.
- dishesMy experience at this restaurant was disappointing. The food was definitely not authentic Cantonese cuisine, and the dishes did not even come close to the quality of Hong Kong street food. The atmosphere was also quite poor, contributing to an overall negative dining experience.
- menuwanting to look at the menu. To my surprise
- Christmas dinnerWorst experience ever have. We have booked a Christmas dinner
- Hong Kong style foodwhen hong kong style food should be quite different
- MSGSome taste likes lots of MSGs
- Mongolian beefFood was too salted so we decided to take it to go it was not eatable for us
- authentic HK tastenot recommend it if you are here for an authentic HK taste
- chicken fried riceFood was too salted so we decided to take it to go it was not eatable for us
If youre craving authentic Cantonese flavors and crispy roasted duck, this spot might hit the mark. Just be aware that some dishes can be inconsistent, occasionally arriving cold or overly seasoned. Its a mixed bag, so go in with an open mind!
Service (4.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 68% of the guests
Looking at the service, there are definitely some positives to note! Many guests praised the friendly staff and fast service, especially for food delivery, with some even highlighting quick service and smooth reservations. Based on 29 positive remarks, when things go well, the team can be quite helpful and attentive, aiming for a top-notch dining experience.
However, the overall sentiment is quite challenging, with a score of 4.1 (average) and customer satisfaction at a poor 30.9%. A much larger number of 60 negative comments point to significant issues like rude service, excessive waiting time, and feeling completely ignored by staff. Experiences range from disorganized service to staff with very bad attitudes, indicating a real inconsistency in quality.
Service
94
Reviews
30%
Satisfaction
60
negative
5
neutral
29
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly staff
- Fast service
- Easy reservations
What people don't like
- Rude service
- Long waits
- Ignored customers
Often praised
- serviceI got the black pepper steak with the sizzling plate, the salt and pepper chicken, and garlic green beans. Everything came out super fast, and the service was great! This is definitely my new favorite spot :)
- ServiceService was available with the wave of a hand.
- staffThe staff were friendly and attentive
- billonly thing that was prompt was giving me the bill
- combo plate speedOur combo plate came out within about 2 minutes of us ordering it. So fast
- dining experiencemaking sure our dining experience was top-notch
- fastAll came out super fast
- fast foodMy group of working colleagues was looking for a place to eat something different from the usual fast food. We decided to try Taste of Hong Kong restaurant, and we were impressed by the tastes of the food and the friendly service.
- fast serviceThe service was fast
- food speedthe food was excellent and came out really fast
Frequently criticized
- serviceI was treated very badly by the staff. My reason for not recommending this restaurant is that not only was my food served very slowly, but the service was also extremely arrogant. I was just an ordering customer, not a paying customer.
- waiting timeit took an outrageous 35 minutes for the staff to even start processing it
- attitudeThe worst attitude ever met
- waitressif you asked a waitress, she saw signs of seeking help, but she would just ignore you
- ownerWe were called to perform a drain cleaning, and the kitchen was the most dirtiest and full of grease I have ever seen. The owner is too cheap to properly fix it. He then had the nerve to get mad at us when we showed him what was wrong.
- staffWe stood at the host stand for about 5 minutes before being noticed and seated. We were then ignored by the staff for another 20 minutes, while another party arrived, was seated, and served tea. A potential waiter eventually came out but then ignored us to take a to-go order.
- wait timeWe booked 20 days in advance and received a confirmation text. Upon arrival, 10 minutes before our appointment, we were told to wait 30-60 minutes. The staff claimed that customers who booked by phone had scheduled earlier and blamed a system mistake for allowing our booking.
- waiterasked the waiter, but she just said we were too busy
- bill settlementit took an infuriating 15 minutes just to settle the bill
- busy timeservice is terrible if it is around busy time
If you catch them on a good day, you might experience friendly and fast service. However, be prepared for a potentially frustrating visit, as many customers faced rude staff, long waits, and feeling ignored. It seems like a gamble, so manage your expectations.
Ambience (6.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 47% of the guests
Stepping into this spot, youll find the ambience is a bit of a mixed bag, with a score of 6.1 putting it squarely in the average category, and customer satisfaction sitting at a mixed 57.1%. Many appreciate the clean restaurant and good location, often noting the cozy yet vibrant ambiance and plenty of space for dining. The free and ample parking options are also a big plus, as highlighted in 24 positive remarks.
However, not everyone finds the atmosphere ideal. Some describe the restaurant as small and noisy, with seating arrangements that can be less than comfortable. There are also concerns about the kitchens cleanliness, and despite some finding parking easy, others report it being hard to find a spot.
These points come up in 13 negative observations, suggesting areas for improvement.
Ambience
42
Reviews
57%
Satisfaction
13
negative
5
neutral
24
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Clean dining space
- Ample parking
- Cozy, vibrant ambiance
What people don't like
- Small, noisy space
- Uncomfortable seating
- Kitchen cleanliness issues
Often praised
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:4
- atmosphereAtmosphere:5
- Free parking lotParking options:Free parking lot
- Plenty of parkingParking space:Plenty of parking
- ambianceThe ambiance was cozy yet vibrant
- clean restaurantvery clean restaurant
- cleanlinessI genuinely don’t know why the ratings are so low. The food was great, the service was great, and it was always clean and good.
- different experienceis a different experience
- dining experienceGreat dinning experience
- dining roomClean dining room
Frequently criticized
- atmosphereIt doesn’t have a nice atmosphere for high class dining.
- available tablesmore than 7 or 8 tables available
- greasefull of grease you will ever find
- kitchenthe kitchen is the most dirtiest and full of grease
- noisyand noisy.
- parking placehard to find a parking place
- parking spotThe service and atmosphere were both excellent, receiving a perfect 5/5 rating. A tip for future diners: plan ahead and allow sufficient time to find a parking spot as this is a popular eatery.
- restaurant sizeit's a very small restaurant
- seatingAll the food was stellar from the appetizer to the very large entrees. Our seating was awful, but that was minor compared to how good the food was. We will definitely be back.
- smallThe restaurant is small
If youre looking for a clean, lively spot with good parking and dont mind a potentially cozy (read: small) and sometimes noisy environment, it could be worth a visit. However, if a quiet, spacious, and impeccably clean setting is your top priority, you might want to consider other options.
Value (2.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 20% of the guests
When it comes to value, it seems there's not much to cheer about, with a score of 2.9, which is considered poor. However, a single positive opinion did note a Fair price, suggesting that at least one customer found the cost reasonable. This is based on 20 customer remarks, with only 1 positive mention.
On the flip side, the overall sentiment is quite negative, reflected in a very low customer satisfaction of 5%. Many of the 18 negative comments revolve around menu prices being too high, with terms like pricey and very pricey frequently appearing. Customers also expressed frustration over additional charge and unexpected tips and service charge, making the final bill much higher than anticipated.
Value
20
Reviews
5%
Satisfaction
18
negative
1
neutral
1
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Fair price
What people don't like
- High menu prices
- Unexpected additional charges
- Overpriced food
Often praised
- priceFair price
Frequently criticized
- priceThe minced duck we ordered seemed like a leftover, with the duck meat mixed with hoisin sauce, which is unusual as it's normally served on the side. This made the meat very salty and not fresh, yet we were charged a premium price. I regret not posting this review sooner, as this happened on 9/19/2025.
- additional chargeadditional charge, which was never mentioned
- billgiven the wrong bill, which was higher
- coupon expiration datesexpiration dates are about two weeks
- coupon usagecannot be used to order take out
- foodFood is pretty pricy
- future discount couponcompensate for the future discount coupon discount
- hot teaTHAT TEA IS NOT FREE! It's $2 per person and it's just charged automatically.
- menu pricesprices on tonight's menu are higher than they are online
- price listingshould not order any item without price listing
If youre looking for good value, this might not be the place for you. Be prepared for potentially high menu prices and keep an eye out for extra charges on your bill. It seems many customers felt they paid a premium without getting their moneys worth.
How are the prices at Taste of Hong Kong?
You’re looking at roughly 40 per person – reported by 41 diners. That puts it in the $31–$40 category. For a Chinese Restaurant, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Most guests seem to find their sweet spot right around this average, with a good chunk spending between 21 – 50 $, indicating a balanced menu with options for different budgets.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 41 reviews.
How this restaurant’s value for money compares to similar spots in San Diego.
Overall, we think the pricing feels quite fair for a Chinese Restaurant in San Diego, offering good value for a mid-range experience.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Taste of Hong Kong
Visit Type
- Casual Outing
Group Type
- Family
Group Size
- Small Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
2
Questionable Billing and Overpriced Dishes
My experience at this restaurant was marred by issues with the bill. Initially, I was presented with an incorrect bill that was higher than my order. While the server acknowledged the mistake, she didn't seem surprised or apologetic.
The second bill was also overpriced, with an unexpected additional charge for a dish that was never mentioned during ordering or listed on the menu. This situation felt very questionable, and I'm unsure if it was an attempt to take advantage of us having a baby or an honest error. There's an additional $14.
99 charge if you choose lettuce wrap for the Peking Duck.
- bill2
- server3
- dishes3
Visit Type
- Special Occasion
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
1
Christmas Dinner Disaster
My Christmas dinner experience was the worst ever. We booked 20 days in advance and received a confirmation text. Upon arrival, 10 minutes before our appointment, we were told to wait 30-60 minutes.
The staff claimed that customers who booked by phone had scheduled earlier and blamed a system mistake for allowing our booking. The attitude we encountered was the worst I've ever experienced.
- confirmation text6
- Christmas dinner1
- wait time1
- system mistake1
Price per Person
- $100+
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
9
Authentic HK Food, Great Service & Space
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I enjoyed the great quick service on weekdays, and the authentic HK food was a definite highlight. There was also plenty of space for large parties, making it a great option for groups.
It's definitely worth the try!
- quick service9
- authentic HK food10
- plenty of space9
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Group Type
- Family
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
2
Ripped off and disappointed
We visited "Taste of Hong Kong" for lunch after dropping our son off at UCS. The adjacent noodle place was packed, so we opted for this restaurant with many empty tables. Unfortunately, our experience was a rip-off.
We were overcharged for items like tea, which is typically complimentary at Chinese restaurants. The food itself was bad, tasting excessively salty and overpriced. The minced duck we ordered seemed like a leftover, with the duck meat mixed with hoisin sauce, which is unusual as it's normally served on the side.
This made the meat very salty and not fresh, yet we were charged a premium price. I regret not posting this review sooner, as this happened on 9/19/2025. I've learned my lesson: I will never go to a restaurant that isn't busy when I'm traveling.
- vacant tables5
- tea2
- food2
- minced duck1
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
10
New Favorite Spot!
My experience at this restaurant was SO GOOD! I got the black pepper steak with the sizzling plate, the salt and pepper chicken, and garlic green beans. Everything came out super fast, and the service was great!
This is definitely my new favorite spot :)
- black pepper steak10
- sizzling plate10
- salt and pepper chicken10
What Taste of Hong Kong offers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Wine
- Beer
- Small plates
- Alcohol
Dining options
- Catering
- Table service
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Dine-in
- Takeout
- Delivery
Parking
- Free parking lot
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
What kind of dining experience can you expect at Taste of Hong Kong in Kearny Mesa?
At Taste of Hong Kong, you can enjoy a casual dining experience perfect for lunch or dinner. They offer comfortable seating and are good for kids, providing high chairs. You can also plan ahead as they accept reservations for table service.
What service options and accessibility features does Taste of Hong Kong provide?
Taste of Hong Kong offers dine-in, takeout, and delivery for your convenience. You’ll find a free parking lot, and the restaurant is wheelchair accessible, including both the entrance and parking. They also have a restroom available for guests.
What is the overall verdict for Taste of Hong Kong?
Taste of Hong Kong has an overall restaurant score of 5.8, indicating an average experience. While Food (6.9) is a strong highlight, Service (4.1) and Value (2.9) are areas that often fall short, with Ambience (6.1) being mixed.
What can I expect from the service at Taste of Hong Kong?
Service at Taste of Hong Kong is quite inconsistent. While some customers praise the staff for being friendly and attentive, and food arriving super fast, others report slow service, long waiting times, and even arrogant staff attitudes.
Are there any concerns about value or pricing at Taste of Hong Kong?
Yes, value and pricing are frequent concerns. Many customers have reported issues with premium prices, unmentioned additional charges (like for hot tea), and discrepancies between online and in-menu prices, leading to a perception of poor value.