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oChef » Penang Garden – San Francisco
Penang Garden - San Francisco
Photo from Penang Garden
Penang Garden at a glance
San Francisco Chinatown
- 🍛 Malaysian Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $31–$40
mentioned by 28 of the guests
#2248 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#1 Malaysian Restaurant out of 1 in San Francisco
Average
5.5 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
360
Reviews
47.2%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Authentic flavors
- Good value
Frequently criticized
- Mixed service
- Noisy setting
The restaurant, a delightful Malaysian eatery, invites you to experience authentic flavors right in the heart of San Francisco’s vibrant Chinatown. At Penang Garden, you can immerse yourself in a casual dining atmosphere perfect for any meal.
Whether you’re seeking a satisfying lunch or a memorable dinner, this spot offers a welcoming setting where you can enjoy traditional Malaysian cuisine. It’s a fantastic choice for those looking for a taste of Southeast Asia in the city.
Overview: Introducting Penang Garden
Penang Garden offers a vibrant dining experience, often described as a bustling place with a nice atmosphere that can accommodate families. While many appreciate its popularity among local people, some find the interior a bit kitchy and the noise level high, impacting the overall comfort.
The culinary offerings are a definite highlight, with many finding the food delicious and authentic. However, there are some concerns about consistency in dish preparation, alongside mixed feedback on the overall value and the attentiveness of the staff.
Average
5.5
out of 10
360
Reviews
47.2%
Satisfaction
155
negative
35
neutral
170
positive
Penang Garden holds an overall Restaurant Score of 5.5, placing it squarely in the average category. Customer Satisfaction sits at 47.2%, indicating a mixed reception among diners.
This divergence suggests that while certain aspects are well-received, a significant portion of customers leave feeling less than fully satisfied. Looking closer at the details, the Food (6.3) stands out as the strongest area, garnering the most positive feedback from 360 customer observations.
Ambience (5), Service (4), and Value (4) all fall into the average range, with opinions showing 170 positive remarks against 155 negative ones, highlighting areas for potential improvement.
What people like
- Authentic Malaysian dishes
- Efficient order handling
- Reasonable pricing
What people don't like
- Inconsistent service
- Loud environment
- Mandatory gratuity
Penang Garden presents a mixed experience, with its culinary offerings often praised for authenticity and flavor. However, potential visitors should be aware of the varying service quality and a sometimes-lively, sometimes-loud dining environment.
With a Recommendation Score of 5.5, it’s a place worth considering if you prioritize flavorful Malaysian cuisine and are prepared for an experience that might not always be seamless. It could be a good option for a casual meal, especially if you manage expectations regarding service and ambiance.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Penang Garden
Food (6.3 out of 10)
mentioned by 92% of the guests
When it comes to food, this spot has garnered a fair amount of praise, with 124 positive remarks out of 219 total. Many customers rave about the delicious food and great flavor, often highlighting the overall Malaysian cuisine as a standout. Popular dishes like the Roti Canai and Hainanese chicken frequently receive compliments for their taste and quality, making them must-tries for many.
However, it's not all sunshine and satay. The food score sits at an average 6.3, and customer satisfaction is a mixed 56.6%, reflecting some significant concerns among the 70 negative opinions. Some patrons found certain dishes like Char Kuey Teow and Nasi Lemak disappointing, questioning the authenticity of the Malaysian offerings.
Complaints also surfaced about food being oily or over salted, suggesting inconsistency.
Food
219
Reviews
56%
Satisfaction
70
negative
25
neutral
124
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Delicious, flavorful food
- Exceptional food quality
- Must-try Roti Canai
What people don't like
- Inconsistent dish quality
- Questionable authenticity
- Oily, over-salted food
Often praised
- foodI found it to be the best Malaysian restaurant in San Francisco by far, and it's always worth a trip into the city. The staff is excellent, and the food is top notch. It felt damn near exactly the same as eating in Malaysia.
- Hainan chickenThe most popular dish is the Hainan chicken.
- Malaysian foodpreferred places for delicious Malaysian food
- RotiRoti, Pineapple fried rice, and Hainan chicken are solid
- Nasi Lemakthey nailed - Delicious! Been looking for a great Nasi Lemak
- Roti CanaiRoti Canai - a staple and must have for every meal.
- coconut jumbo prawnscoconut jumbo prawns (jumbo is an understatement)
- coconut ricecoconut rice, shrimp paste okra, Hainan chicken, curry chicken
- hainanese chicken riceThey plated the hainanese chicken rice beautifully
- house special fried riceMy experience at the restaurant was fantastic! We ordered the Roti Canai, a satay combo with huge, juicy pieces of meat, coconut jumbo prawns (jumbo is an understatement), chow keuh teow, and the house special fried rice. Everything was full of great flavor and incredibly delicious.
Frequently criticized
- foodmost of the food was terrible
- Hainanese chickenHainanese chicken came without the rice or the soup
- Nasi LemakNasi Lemak - we wanted to try something out of the norm so we ordered this. Weird and would not recommend.
- Hainan chickenHainan chicken was served with cold brocolli
- Hainan chicken riceSpecifically for the Hainan chicken rice, there was an issue with ordering meat preference, and it was missing key accompaniments like chili and dark soy sauce. The dish also had a strange yellow color and was over salted. I believe there are much better options in this area, especially if you're looking for good Hainan chicken rice.
- beef rendangThe beef rendang was some type of beef fillet stir fry
- char kway teowThe char kway teow was made with the wrong noodles
- chickenchicken looked very under cooked
- curry laksaI ordered the roti canai, char kway teow, and curry laksa. Unfortunately, the roti was hard and brittle, and the curry laksa lacked flavor and depth. The char kway teow was decent, but it didn't have enough wok hei.
- food qualityMy experience at this restaurant was not positive. I didn't like the food quality and felt it was not a hygienic place to eat. Additionally, they automatically charge a 15% tip with the check.
Overall, this restaurant presents a mixed bag for food lovers. While many find the flavors delicious and some dishes truly shine, be aware that consistency and authenticity can be hit or miss. If you're willing to navigate the menu carefully, you might discover some real gems, but temper your expectations for a uniformly excellent experience.
Service (4 out of 10)
mentioned by 63% of the guests
When it comes to service, this spot presents a bit of a mixed bag, with a score of 4 (average) and customer satisfaction sitting at a rather low 31.6% (poor). Many patrons appreciated the quick service, friendly staff, and even honesty regarding a lost credit card. Positive comments often highlighted the efficiency of the wait and staff, especially when the food came out quickly or order was ready for pickup.
However, a significant number of the 79 customer comments, with 51 negative remarks compared to 25 positive, point to some serious issues. Many experienced rude service, long waiting time, and felt the place was understaffed. There were also concerning reports of dishonest practice regarding online orders and even allegations of racial discrimination from an older gentleman or horrible man.
Service
79
Reviews
31%
Satisfaction
51
negative
3
neutral
25
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Fast service
- Honest staff
- Friendly people
What people don't like
- Rude service
- Long waiting times
- Dishonest practices
Often praised
- serviceWe were 34 people. We experienced great food and great service. Bless enjoy haha.
- ServiceService is good n fast
- staffthey were well organized looking after customers
- better servicewaaaaaaay better service from non racist folks
- bossThe boss is friendly nice
- credit card handlingI'm not sure what I was doing at this place, but they were honest. I accidentally left my credit card behind, and they did not misuse it. This experience highlights their integrity.
- customer servicegreat customer service for our 16 people group
- food came outFood came out very quick
- honestythey were honest
- order was readyOrder was ready for pickup in 15min
Frequently criticized
- servicethe worst was the service - no one waited on us for a full 15 minutes
- ownerWhen I confronted the owner, he just laughed it off
- serverThe server was extremely unfriendly in addition to being completely uninterested
- waiterThe waiter was not friendly, never smiled was VERY short with us
- BedienungBedienung extrem unfreundlich
- Doordash hoursDoordash hours says you are open until 8:30 pm
- Doordash orderI ordered from this restaurant through Doordash, as they were listed as an option with existing Doordash reviews. The Doordash driver called to inform us that the restaurant had not received our order, despite us having the receipt and having paid. I contacted the restaurant to confirm the address and phone number, and they were very quick to state, "we don’t do doordash right now" and then hung up.
- ServiceService:2
- appetizersthey brought 1 appetizer first than while later next one
- business hoursMy experience was extremely frustrating. I paid for parking and walked a couple of blocks, only to find the restaurant closed during business hours on a Saturday. This is completely unacceptable.
If youre looking for quick service and dont mind potentially encountering some significant customer service issues, you might give it a try. However, be prepared for possible long waits, rude staff, or problems with online orders, as these are frequently mentioned concerns.
Ambience (5 out of 10)
mentioned by 29% of the guests
Lets talk about the vibe! While the overall customer satisfaction for ambience sits at a rather low 38.5%, some diners found positives, noting the place is simple but not shabby and its easy to get a table. The convenient parking lot across the street was a highlight, and its seen as a good spot for large groups offering an Asian experience.
These 10 positive remarks, out of 26 total, contribute to an average score of 5 for the atmosphere. On the flip side, the ambience has some clear areas for improvement. Many found the atmosphere quite noisy due to loud people, with some even feeling it was more like a bar.
The interior was called kitchy, and the WC was noted as unclean. There were also concerns about it not being family friendly', with these 10 negative observations pulling down the overall sentiment.
Ambience
26
Reviews
38%
Satisfaction
10
negative
6
neutral
10
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Easy table access
- Convenient parking
- Great for groups
What people don't like
- Loud, noisy atmosphere
- Unclean restrooms
- Not family-friendly
Often praised
- placeI don't understand why Penang Garden doesn't have a better rating. My experience was at a busy, bustling place with great food. Don't judge this place by its entrance.
- Asian experienceMy experience at this restaurant was a true "Asian experience" with minimal American influence. The atmosphere was very nice and suitable for all the family.
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:4
- atmosphereVery nice atmosphere for all the family
- large groupsDefinitely a place for large groups!
- local peoplepopular among the local people
- locationGood location
- parking lotParking lot in right across the street
- tablevery easy to get a table
Frequently criticized
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:1
- WCsehr dreckiges WC
- ambianceThe ambient is loud since guests tend to speak loud
- atmosphereThe char kway teow was decent, but it didn't have enough wok hei. The atmosphere was also not enjoyable, as the place was noisy with two male waiters frantically running around. Overall, I did not enjoy the food or the atmosphere.
- family friendlyit was not family friendly at all
- family welcomeMy family did NOT feel welcome
- hygienic placefelt not a hygienic place to eat
- interiorthe interior was kitchy
- loud peoplesuper loud people, I felt like in the bar
- parkinghard to find parking in Chinatown
If youre seeking a quiet, family-friendly spot with pristine decor, this might not be your ideal choice. However, if you dont mind a bustling, loud environment and need a place for a large group with easy parking, it could still work for you.
Value (4 out of 10)
mentioned by 39% of the guests
When it comes to value, some diners found pleasant surprises, noting that prices were often quite reasonable, making the bill feel fair for the quality received. Many appreciated finding options that were described as cheap or offering a reasonable price, especially considering the overall experience. Out of 36 customer remarks, 11 leaned positive, suggesting that while not universally praised, some found the cost-to-experience ratio appealing.
However, the overall sentiment for value leans towards needing improvement, with a score of 4 and customer satisfaction at a rather poor 30.6%. A significant number of 24 comments highlighted concerns, frequently mentioning overpriced dishes, expensive items, and unexpected service fees or gratuity charges. Many felt the cost didn't align with the quality or experience, leading to frustration over the final bill.
Value
36
Reviews
30%
Satisfaction
24
negative
1
neutral
11
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Reasonable prices
- Fair bill
What people don't like
- Overpriced dishes
- Unexpected service fees
- Mandatory gratuity
Often praised
- pricesThe atmosphere was very nice and suitable for all the family. The food was good and the prices were good too! We enjoyed it a lot!
- priceIt also wasn't too expensive at the end of the day ($25/person for dinner).
- billThe bill was decent for the quality
- cheapMy experience at the restaurant was a mixed bag. The food was absolutely delicious, truly "to die for, " and surprisingly cheap. However, one of the red curry dishes was prepared with no salt at all, which I suspect the chef forgot.
- reasonable checkhow reasonable our check totaled out to be
- reasonable pricequite reasonable for three people
Frequently criticized
- priceThis place offered an 'okay' Hainan chicken, but the flavor and fragrance were quite distilled. It was also expensive, so I skipped the rice, which was a weird way to split the order. Looking at other reviews, I agree with most of the complaints.
- expensiveit's quite expensive
- tipsHow dare they charged 16% for such a bad service.
- 15% tipcharge 15% tip with the check
- OverpricedOverpriced
- RiceReis wurde mit knapp 4 Dollar extra zum Curry berechnet
- Service Charge15 Prozent "Service Charge"""" wird einfach raufeschlagen
- billThe bill included 16% tips.
- gratuitythey charged 15% gratuity to our check - we were a party of 3. Ridiculous!!!
- over pricedWay over priced
If you're looking for a budget-friendly meal, you might find some reasonable options, but be prepared for a mixed bag. Many customers felt the prices were too high, especially with added service charges. It might be worth checking the menu carefully before committing, as value is a significant point of contention here.
How are the prices at Penang Garden?
On average, you’ll spend around 31 per person – from 28 guests. That puts the restaurant in the $31–$40 category. For a Malaysian Restaurant, that’s mid-range, maybe slightly above.
Looking at the spread, most diners actually spend a bit less, clustering in the $11–$20 and $21–$30 ranges, with a few higher tabs pulling the average up.
This chart shows what people usually spend per person, using the 28 most recent reviews.
Heres how this restaurants value compares to similar spots in San Francisco.
For a Malaysian restaurant in San Francisco, we think the pricing feels quite fair. It seems to offer a good range of options, making it accessible for different budgets.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Penang Garden
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Casual Outing
Group Type
- Large Group
Group Size
- Large Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
Noise Level
- Loud
2
Slow Service, High Expectations
My experience at this small restaurant was marked by very slow service. Despite having 6 large round tables, each with more than ten people, the wait times were excessive. We waited for pork chops for more than half an hour.
To add to the frustration, the bill included a 16% tip, which felt unjustified given the poor service. 👎
- service2
- waiting time2
- bill2
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Noise Level
- Loud
2
Disappointing Malaysian Food Experience
As someone from Malaysia, I was eager to try this restaurant. I ordered the roti canai, char kway teow, and curry laksa. Unfortunately, the roti was hard and brittle, and the curry laksa lacked flavor and depth.
The char kway teow was decent, but it didn't have enough wok hei. The atmosphere was also not enjoyable, as the place was noisy with two male waiters frantically running around. Overall, I did not enjoy the food or the atmosphere.
- char kway teow5
- roti canai2
- curry laksa3
- wok hei4
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
Noise Level
- Loud
7
Good Food, Difficult Parking
My experience at this restaurant was primarily focused on the food, which was good. The seafood was notably fresh. The service was also a positive aspect, described as good and fast.
Additionally, the boss was friendly and nice. However, finding parking in Chinatown proved to be difficult. The food dishes were served in small plates, and the price was average.
- food7
- food dish5
- price6
- parking3
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Family Dinner
Group Type
- Family
Group Size
- Large Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
2
Delicious Food, Terrible Service
My experience at this restaurant was a mix of delicious food and horrible service. While the food was good and arrived quickly, the service was far from family-friendly. We were told, with anger and impatience, that the children had to sit against the wall.
Later, before our food even arrived, our server took chopsticks from my son's hands and gave him a fork, despite him practicing with them. My family did not feel welcome, and despite the good food, I regretfully would never go back.
- food10
- drinks7
- service1
- family friendly1
- kids seating2
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
3
Questionable Hainan Chicken Experience
As a Singaporean American, I've grown tired of American imitations of Hainan chicken, which often just involve throwing some chicken and broth together and calling it authentic. This place offered an 'okay' Hainan chicken, but the flavor and fragrance were quite distilled. It was also expensive, so I skipped the rice, which was a weird way to split the order.
Looking at other reviews, I agree with most of the complaints. I wouldn't really recommend it; it's questionable whether you'll get a good experience or not. Hainan chicken also takes a super long time to prepare, so they probably had it sitting for quite a while before I received it.
Expect some coldness, as Hainan chicken is usually dipped in ice before cutting for tenderness, but it shouldn't be refrigerator cold.
- Hainan chicken5
- flavor and fragrance5
- rice part5
- price3
- preparation time3
What Penang Garden offers
Crowd
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Offerings
- Wine
- Coffee
- Beer
- Alcohol
Dining options
- Table service
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Dine-in
- Delivery
Parking
- Paid parking lot
- Paid street parking
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
Can you make reservations at Penang Garden Restaurant, and what dining options are available?
Yes, Penang Garden accepts reservations, making it easy to plan your visit. You can enjoy various dining options including table service for lunch and dinner. They also offer seating for dessert, ensuring a complete and comfortable dining experience for you and your companions.
Is Penang Garden Restaurant suitable for families with children, and what are the parking options?
Absolutely, Penang Garden is good for kids and provides high chairs for your little ones, ensuring a comfortable family meal. For parking, you’ll find convenient paid parking lots and paid street parking available nearby, making your visit hassle-free.
What is the overall dining experience like at Penang Garden?
Penang Garden offers a mixed experience, with an overall Restaurant Score of **5.5** and Customer Satisfaction at **47.2%**. While the **Food** (6.3) is generally well-regarded, **Ambience** (5), **Service** (4), and **Value** (4) receive more average feedback.
Is Penang Garden a good place for authentic Malaysian food?
Yes, many customers praise Penang Garden for its authentic Malaysian dishes, with specific mentions of delicious Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai, and Hainan chicken. The food is often described as flavorful and reminiscent of Malaysian cuisine.
What are some common complaints about Penang Garden?
Some customers have noted issues with inconsistent service, describing staff as occasionally unfriendly or disorganized. The atmosphere can also be quite loud, and there are recurring concerns about mandatory service charges being added to the bill.