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oChef » Mandarin House – San Francisco
Mandarin House - San Francisco
Photo from Mandarin House
Mandarin House at a glance
San Francisco Bernal Heights
- 🥡 Chinese Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $21–$30
mentioned by 19 of the guests
#1723 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#166 Chinese Restaurant out of 276 in San Francisco
Good
6.9 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
199
Reviews
67.3%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Delicious Food
- Generous Portions
- Good Value
Frequently criticized
- Inconsistent Service
- Unappealing Ambience
- Specific Dish Issues
The restaurant Mandarin House, a delightful Chinese restaurant in San Francisco’s vibrant Bernal Heights neighborhood, invites you to experience authentic flavors. You’ll find a casual atmosphere perfect for any meal, whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a leisurely dinner.
This spot stands out by offering delicious Halal food alongside a wide array of vegetarian options, ensuring there’s something for everyone to savor. You can enjoy convenient service options including no-contact delivery, takeout, and dine-in.
Overview: Introducting Mandarin House
Mandarin House often delivers on its promise of satisfying Chinese fare, with many appreciating the tasty flavors and generous portions. It’s a place where the food generally hits the mark, making it a reliable choice for many.
However, the experience isn’t without its bumps. Some diners have noted inconsistencies with delivery times and the overall ambiance, which can sometimes feel a bit cramped or noisy.
Good
6.9
out of 10
199
Reviews
67.3%
Satisfaction
59
negative
6
neutral
134
positive
Mandarin House holds an overall Restaurant Score of 6.9, placing it in the average category. Customer feedback, gathered from 199 comments, shows a Customer Satisfaction of 67.3%, indicating a mixed reception.
While many find aspects to enjoy, there’s also a noticeable portion of diners who encountered issues, leading to 134 positive remarks against 59 negative ones. Diving deeper, the Food (7.4) stands out as a strong point, often praised for its quality.
The Value (7.3) also receives good marks, suggesting fair pricing. However, Service (5.7) and Ambience (5.4) hover in the average range.
These areas show room for improvement, as they contribute to the less enthusiastic feedback from some patrons.
What people like
- Delicious Food
- Generous Portions
- Good Value
What people don't like
- Inconsistent Service
- Unappealing Ambience
- Specific Dish Issues
With a Recommendation Score of 6.9, Mandarin House presents a mixed bag. If you prioritize flavorful Chinese dishes and appreciate getting good value for your money, especially for takeout, it could be a solid option for you.
However, be prepared for potential inconsistencies in service, particularly with delivery, and don’t expect a polished dining atmosphere. It’s worth trying if your focus is primarily on the food and budget, but manage expectations for the overall experience.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Mandarin House
Food (7.4 out of 10)
mentioned by 93% of the guests
When it comes to the food, you're looking at a pretty solid experience! With a 7.4 score and a 73.6% customer satisfaction, the kitchen is clearly doing a lot right. Out of 129 remarks, 95 rave about delicious meals, authentic Chinese cuisine, and fresh ingredients, often highlighting the generous portions.
However, not every dish hits the mark. About 30 comments point to some misses, mentioning bland dishes lacking spice, tough or old meat, and issues like oily fried rice or soggy Sesame Chicken. It seems consistency can be a bit of a challenge.
Food
129
Reviews
73%
Satisfaction
30
negative
4
neutral
95
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Delicious, authentic cuisine
- Fresh, quality ingredients
- Generous portions
What people don't like
- Bland, flavorless dishes
- Tough, old meat
- Oily, mushy food
Often praised
- foodWe often order delivery from this restaurant, as it's one of our go-to staples for takeout Chinese food. The delivery is always quick and the food is great!
- Chinese foodMy experience at this restaurant was largely positive, centered around their good Chinese food. I particularly enjoyed the roasted duck and a chef's special, the Mandarin Clay Pot Beef.
- portionsimpressed with the great portions
- General Tso's ChickenEvery dish we had was delicious: General Tso's Chicken
- Sesame Chickenthe Sesame Chicken, and the Broccoli Beef - they were great!
- flavorstasty flavors of each dish
- walnut shrimpThe food was indescribably delicious. We ordered the walnut shrimp
- American Chinese foodPretty good American Chinese food
- Asian foodgreat Asian food love it all
- BBQ Pork Chow FunEvery dish we had was delicious: BBQ Pork Chow Fun
Frequently criticized
- beefThe beef was too chewy and not tender enough
- Chinese foodlack of available real Chinese food in the area
- Fried Brown Ricethe Fried Brown Rice was kind of mushy.
- King Salmon FilletThe King Salmon Fillet was a bit over-cooked
- Sesame ChickenSogggggy Sesame Chicken
- String Bean Fried Tofuthe strings beans were a little too tough in the String Bean Fried Tofu with Garlic and Salt
- beans5 hours to arrive, even though I live less than 10 minutes away. I don't believe the timing alone can explain the poor quality; the breading on the chicken was SO thick and spongey, and the beans were not crunchy AT ALL. I rarely leave bad reviews, but this was really bad : (
- beef broccolithe beef broccoli wasn't so good
- breading on chickenbreading on chicken was SO thick and spongey
- chow meinChow mein had weird smell and meat smelled bad
Overall, the food here leans heavily towards the good, offering many delicious and authentic options with generous portions. While there might be an occasional miss, its definitely worth trying if youre craving quality Chinese cuisine.
Service (5.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 68% of the guests
The service here is a bit of a mixed bag, landing an average score of 5.7 with 53.8% customer satisfaction. Based on 39 customer remarks, many diners praise the friendly staff, attentive service, and prompt food service, often noting quick delivery. It seems when things go right, the experience is truly great, with 21 positive remarks highlighting these aspects.
However, it's not always smooth sailing. There are 18 negative comments pointing to significant delivery issues, poor communication, and sometimes long waiting times. Some even encountered unpleasant staff interactions, suggesting inconsistency and a need for improvement in certain areas.
Service
39
Reviews
53%
Satisfaction
18
negative
0
neutral
21
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly, attentive staff
- Prompt food service
- Quick delivery
What people don't like
- Late delivery, no communication
- Unpleasant staff interactions
- Long waiting times
Often praised
- deliveryI have ordered delivery several times from here
- serviceThe service and atmosphere also receive top marks
- staffwell mannered with friendly staff
- young waitressWe ordered the walnut shrimp, dry-aged chicken wings, and fried garlic ribs. The service was excellent; the young waitress went out of her way to make sure we got everything we wanted. The food was also prompt and served at just the right temperature.
- ServiceService:5
- attentive staffThe attentive staff enhances the overall dining experience
- dog being theredidn't give me any kind of static about the dog being there
- experienceOverall great experience
- food servicevery fast food service
- food was Promptfood was Prompt
Frequently criticized
- serviceservice is horrible
- waiting timewaited for 15 minutes without being asked
- billI ordered some dim sum; it was okay. When I asked for the bill, she put it on the table next to me where no one was sitting. I asked her if that was my bill, and she said yes.
- communicationdont even bother to call letting the customer know youll be late
- community membershipisn't responsible community membership that I can support
- deliverydid take 1.5 hours to get here
- delivery serviceMy biggest frustration with this place is that while the food is good, their delivery service is unacceptable. When a delivery is over 45 minutes late and there's no communication from the restaurant, it shows a lack of respect for the customer's time. I would have been a loyal customer, spending nearly $50 weekly for my meals on workdays, but their incompetence has driven me to look elsewhere.
- employeeWhen I got there, it looked like it was closed; it was dark inside. One of the employees was watching a movie on his phone, and it was very loud. We sat down, and they did not have menus; they gave me a to-go menu.
- female cashierThe female cashier argued with me about it
- incompetencetheir incompetence makes me look somewhere else
Overall, service here can be a hit or miss. If youre dining in and get a good team, youll likely have a great experience. But be prepared for potential frustrations, especially with delivery and communication.
Ambience (5.4 out of 10)
mentioned by 34% of the guests
When it comes to ambience, this spot offers a mixed bag, scoring an average 5.4 with 50% customer satisfaction. However, many guests truly appreciate the inviting and cozy atmosphere, often highlighting the warm lighting and charming mom and pop vibes. With 9 positive remarks, patrons enjoyed the clean space and quiet atmosphere.
On the flip side, 8 negative comments point to some significant drawbacks. The small space and very little seating are frequently mentioned, sometimes leading to a hole in the wall feel. Issues like a loud environment, dirty tables, and difficult parking or location also detract from the overall experience.
Ambience
18
Reviews
50%
Satisfaction
8
negative
1
neutral
9
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Cozy atmosphere
- Warm lighting
- Mom and pop vibes
What people don't like
- Small, limited seating
- Can be loud
- Hard to find/park
Often praised
- atmosphereThe first thing I noticed upon entering was the sight of the children behind the counter, quietly drawing. The staff were very well-mannered and friendly, contributing to a quiet atmosphere with warm lighting. The delicious smell of dim sum being cooked filled the air.
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:5
- ambianceThe ambiance was inviting, blending contemporary decor
- cozy atmosphereI visited Mandarin House for a dine-in experience on a Friday evening and was pleasantly surprised. The excellent food, cozy atmosphere, and friendly service made for a great meal. We tried the vegetable Lo Mein, pork fried rice, and Kung Pao chicken.
- lightingThe first thing I noticed upon entering was the sight of the children behind the counter, quietly drawing. The staff were very well-mannered and friendly, contributing to a quiet atmosphere with warm lighting. The delicious smell of dim sum being cooked filled the air.
- mom and pop vibesIt was a great value, with the lunch special costing less than $12 and including both rice and a side soup. The good service and mom and pop vibes made for a pleasant atmosphere. I will definitely be back!
- placethis place is awesome
- spaceNice, clean space
Frequently criticized
- hole in the wallThe restaurant itself is a hole in the wall, with very little seating.
- locationIf you didn't know where it was, you'd walk right past it
- loudWhen I got there, it looked like it was closed; it was dark inside. One of the employees was watching a movie on his phone, and it was very loud. We sat down, and they did not have menus; they gave me a to-go menu.
- menussidewalk is littered with dozens of their menus blowing all over
- parkingI'd say this is mostly a takeout place. The space is small and there's no parking to speak of.
- seatingwith very little seating.
- spaceI'd say this is mostly a takeout place. The space is small and there's no parking to speak of.
- tablethe table was dirty
If youre seeking a cozy, unpretentious spot with a homey feel and dont mind a potentially small or loud space, this place might charm you. However, be prepared for limited seating and potential parking challenges, especially if you prefer a more polished or spacious dining environment.
Value (7.3 out of 10)
mentioned by 27% of the guests
When it comes to value, many diners are singing praises! With a solid score of 7.3, guests frequently found the offerings to be a great value, often highlighting amazing lunch special deals and fair menu prices. Out of 13 total comments, 9 were positive, noting that prices were exactly as stated and offered great value for money, especially for those seeking a delicious lunch special.
However, its not all sunshine and rainbows, as customer satisfaction sits at a mixed 69.2%. A few guests, 3 out of 13, expressed concerns about the overall cost being a bit pricey for certain items, and some were disappointed when prices went up without being updated on the menu. There were also warnings about a get one free scam, ' suggesting that not all deals are as good as they seem.
Value
13
Reviews
69%
Satisfaction
3
negative
1
neutral
9
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Great lunch deals
- Good overall value
What people don't like
- Unreflected price increases
- Misleading 'free' offers
- Some items pricey
Often praised
- priceThe delicious smell of dim sum being cooked filled the air. I was very happy with the price, as it was exactly what was stated on the menu, and I had expected it to be more or to incur additional taxes. The food itself was delicious.
- pricesprices were amazing
- great value for moneyoffered great value for money
- lunch specialLunch special for less than $12 with rice AND side soup
- lunch special dealsAmazing lunch special deals
- menu priceexactly what it said on the menu
- valuea great value
Frequently criticized
- costThe cost for four items was $50, a bit pricey
- get one free scamDon't be fooled by get one free scam. You are paying for junk not food.
- pricesThe prices went up but weren't reflected on the menu
Overall, if youre looking for good lunch special deals and clear menu pricing, this spot often delivers great value. Just be mindful of the overall cost for larger orders and double-check for any unadvertised price changes to ensure youre getting the best bang for your buck.
How are the prices at Mandarin House?
You’re looking at roughly 25 per person – reported by 19 diners. That puts it in the $21–$30 category. For a Chinese Restaurant, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Looking at what people actually spend, we see a good mix: many guests enjoy meals in the $11–$20 range, but there are also some higher-priced options that bring the average up, offering choices for different budgets.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 19 reviews.
How this restaurant’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Francisco.
Overall, we think the pricing here feels pretty fair for a Chinese restaurant in San Francisco. Theres a good range of options, so you can find something whether youre looking for a quick, affordable bite or something a bit more special.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Mandarin House
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Casual Outing
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
9
Pleasantly Surprised by Mandarin House!
I visited Mandarin House for a dine-in experience on a Friday evening and was pleasantly surprised. The excellent food, cozy atmosphere, and friendly service made for a great meal. We tried the vegetable Lo Mein, pork fried rice, and Kung Pao chicken.
Each dish tasted fresh and was simply prepared, with excellent and nuanced seasoning. This will definitely be my go-to spot for takeout American Chinese food in the future.
- excellent food10
- cozy atmosphere9
- friendly service9
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Takeout
2
Disappointing Chow Fun Experience
My experience at this restaurant was quite disappointing. I ordered the Chow Fun, and unfortunately, the shrimp was old and chewy. The noodles also seemed old and not freshly made.
This was a letdown, especially since the reviews I read were good. The restaurant itself is a hole in the wall with very limited seating, and it appears most customers opt for takeout. Given the food quality, I cannot go back.
- shrimp2
- noodles2
- hole in the wall2
Visit Type
- Delivery
Service Type
- Delivery
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
2
Terrible Delivery Experience
My experience at this restaurant was sadly terrible. I've had their food before a few years back and liked it, but this time was a huge disappointment : ((((. The Sesame Chicken was soggy, and the string beans were withered.
The order was for delivery and took 1. 5 hours to arrive, even though I live less than 10 minutes away. I don't believe the timing alone can explain the poor quality; the breading on the chicken was SO thick and spongey, and the beans were not crunchy AT ALL.
I rarely leave bad reviews, but this was really bad : (
- Sesame Chicken2
- string beans2
- delivery2
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Delivery
9
Comforting Chinese Delivery Go-To
My experience with this restaurant has been incredibly comforting and delicious. The portions are generous, consistently providing me with 2-3 meals of tasty leftovers from a single delivery order. I've ordered delivery multiple times and am thoroughly enjoying exploring the menu.
The Cumin lamb is extremely tasty with subtle and rich flavors. The General Tso's Chicken is an American Chinese classic that truly hits the spot. The Sesame Chicken is also a great choice, featuring nice crunchy fried chicken with a more subtle flavor than General Tso's.
The Dry braised string beans are very nice, though surprisingly spicy and might be a bit intense for some. I personally enjoyed them but advise knowing they are spicy. The Mixed Steamed Vegetables were surprisingly satisfying, especially with the gravy provided in a separate container for custom measurement.
The Hot and sour soup is a simple, classic offering. Overall, 'satisfying' and 'comforting' perfectly sum up my experience. This has become my go-to for Chinese delivery, hitting the spot every time.
- portions9
- Cumin lamb9
- General Tso's Chicken9
Visit Type
- Tourist Experience
Service Type
- Dine-in
9
Excellent Portions and Flavors!
My experience at the restaurant was excellent! I was impressed with the great portions and the tasty flavors of each dish. Everything was served piping hot.
I will definitely visit again next time I'm in town.
- portions9
- flavors9
- dish temperature10
What Mandarin House offers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Kids' menu
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Wine
- Beer
- Halal food
- Vegetarian options
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Catering
- Table service
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- No-contact delivery
- Takeout
- Delivery
- Dine-in
Pets
- Dogs allowed outside
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
What dining options are available at Mandarin House?
Mandarin House offers a variety of dining options to suit your plans. You can enjoy lunch or dinner with comfortable seating, or opt for their catering services for your special events. Don’t forget to explore their dessert menu too.
Does Mandarin House accommodate special dietary needs and accessibility?
Yes, Mandarin House is committed to inclusivity. You’ll find delicious Halal food and extensive vegetarian options on their menu. The restaurant is also fully wheelchair accessible, including the entrance, seating, and restrooms, ensuring a comfortable experience for all guests.
What is the overall rating for Mandarin House and what are its key strengths and weaknesses?
Mandarin House has an overall Restaurant Score of 6.9. Its strengths lie in Food (7.4) and Value (7.3). Areas needing improvement include Service (5.7) and Ambience (5.4).
Is Mandarin House a good option for takeout or delivery?
Many customers appreciate Mandarin House for its takeout, often praising the quick delivery and delicious food. However, some have experienced significant delays and communication issues with their delivery service.
What is the dining atmosphere like at Mandarin House?
The dining atmosphere at Mandarin House is generally described as quiet and cozy by some, with “mom and pop vibes.” However, others note it can be a “hole in the wall” with limited seating and occasional noise.