Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
oChef » Snow Garden – San Francisco
Snow Garden - San Francisco
Photo from Snow Garden
Snow Garden at a glance
San Francisco South of Market
- 🥡 Chinese Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $21–$30
mentioned by 38 of the guests
#1623 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#150 Chinese Restaurant out of 276 in San Francisco
Good
7 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
351
Reviews
69.8%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Delicious food
- Great service
- Good value
Frequently criticized
- Poor ambiance
- Forced tipping
- Cash only
The restaurant Snow Garden is a Chinese Restaurant located in San Francisco’s vibrant South of Market neighborhood. You will find a welcoming and casual spot perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed meal.
This cozy eatery offers a taste of authentic Chinese cuisine, making it a great choice for both lunch and dinner. Its friendly atmosphere ensures a pleasant dining experience for everyone.
Overview: Introducting Snow Garden
Snow Garden offers a culinary experience where the flavors truly shine, often described as authentic and satisfying. Many appreciate the attentive service and the generally authentic atmosphere that contributes to a cosy joint feel.
However, the setting itself can be a mixed bag, with some finding the ambiance less polished. While many find it offers great value, a few experiences point to concerns around pricing practices, including instances of a mandatory tip.
Good
7
out of 10
351
Reviews
69.8%
Satisfaction
88
negative
18
neutral
245
positive
Snow Garden earns a respectable Restaurant Score of 7, indicating a good overall experience, though Customer Satisfaction sits at a mixed 69.8%. This assessment is drawn from a substantial body of feedback, with 245 positive remarks against 88 negative ones across 351 total opinions.
The Food (8) stands out as a clear highlight, consistently receiving high praise for its quality and taste. Following closely, Service (7.6) is also well-regarded, with many appreciating the staff’s helpfulness.
However, the Ambience (5) and Value (4.5) topics present a more moderate picture. While some find the atmosphere charming, others note areas for improvement, and while many appreciate the pricing, some specific concerns about cost and payment methods temper the overall value perception.
What people like
- Delicious food
- Attentive service
- Good value
What people don't like
- Ambience concerns
- Mandatory tipping
- Cash-only policy
Snow Garden presents a compelling case for those prioritizing flavorful, authentic Asian cuisine and attentive service. While the food consistently earns high marks, be prepared for an unpretentious setting that might not impress on ambiance alone.
With a solid Recommendation Score of 7.3, it’s a worthwhile stop if you’re seeking satisfying dishes and friendly interactions, and are comfortable with a more casual dining environment and specific payment considerations.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Snow Garden
Food (8 out of 10)
mentioned by 96% of the guests
When it comes to the food here, diners are generally raving! With a solid score of 8 and a fantastic customer satisfaction rate of 85.8%, it's clear that many are leaving happy. Out of 183 total comments, a whopping 157 praise the hearty Chinese food, large portions, authentic taste, and super tasty dishes.
However, not every bite is perfect. About 20 comments mention some downsides, including food being overpriced, bland, or chewy. There were also isolated concerns about ingredients not being fresh and even a mention of hair in food, which are definitely things to consider.
Food
183
Reviews
85%
Satisfaction
20
negative
6
neutral
157
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Huge portions
- Authentic taste
- Delicious food
What people don't like
- Food bland
- Not fresh ingredients
- Hair in food
Often praised
- foodI had the most delicious tasting Asian food I have ever eaten. The service was outstanding, and the food was out of this world delicious. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for delicious food!
- Chinese foodBEST Chinese food, hands down, that my husband or I have ever had
- egg rollsEgg rolls where nice and crispy with good flavor
- portionsI came here for a pre-birthday meal and enjoyed some of my favorites: eggplant, hofun, and egg drop soup. The asian comfort food was exactly what I was looking for, and the portions were quite big for just two people. Although I'm Chinese, the menu has pictures and numbers for English speakers.
- potstickersA lot of Chinese restaurants serve frozen potstickers, but not here! They are made fresh and are huge, about 3 times bigger than you usually get. Snow Garden is definitely worth stopping by.
- food qualityHighly recommended! We've eaten here 3 times now, and everything we've tried has tasted very good. Many locals eat here, which speaks to the quality of the food, but there are also many tourists.
- fried riceI had the 1-person Set A and it was delicious for the price. The fried rice had a smoky flavor, and the sweet and sour pork was just as we expected. Overall, a satisfying meal.
- hot teaMy experience at this small diner in Chinatown was a pleasant surprise. The food was super quick, and the service was amazing, even including hot tea. It's definitely a worthwhile stop while walking around the area.
- FoodFood was so delicious
- Mongolian Beefalways order Mongolian Beef with steamed rice, and it's always spicy good
Frequently criticized
- chicken chow meinMy experience at the restaurant was mixed. The sweet and sour pork was chewy, and my wife's chicken chow mein lacked taste and wasn't very hot when served. On a positive note, the waiter was nice.
- Mongolia beefMongolia beef had some inedible fat chunks
- authenticityHowever, the reality was that the food had little flavor, and we had to add chili from the table to make it palatable. It reminded me very little of China. The place itself is deteriorated, which doesn't give a clean impression.
- cashew chickencashew chicken were extremely bland
- chickengot food poisening from the chicken
- chicken lo meinchicken lo mein were extremely bland
- dumplingsDumplings a tad overdone
- foodfood was way overpriced and not that good
- food flavorfood had little flavor
- food temperatureit got cold quickly
If you're looking for generous portions of authentic and delicious Chinese food, this spot is definitely worth a try. Just be mindful that a few diners have found some dishes to be bland or overpriced, so choose wisely.
Service (7.6 out of 10)
mentioned by 61% of the guests
The service here generally hits the mark, with a solid score of 7.6 and a customer satisfaction of 78.5%, indicating a good experience for most diners. Out of 65 comments, 51 praise the quick service, friendly staff, and attentive waiters. Many guests loved the great service and felt well looked after, often mentioning specific individuals and helpful gestures.
However, not everyone had a perfect experience. A smaller number of 13 comments noted occasional slow service, issues with staff friendliness, or concerns about tips being demanded. Some also experienced longer waiting times and even incorrect change, suggesting there might be room for improvement during busy periods.
Service
65
Reviews
78%
Satisfaction
13
negative
1
neutral
51
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Quick, friendly service
- Attentive, kind staff
- Great customer care
What people don't like
- Occasional slow service
- Tipping issues
- Unfriendly encounters
Often praised
- serviceMy experience was delicious, with the food receiving a perfect score. The atmosphere was also very enjoyable, rated at a 4, and the service was excellent, earning a 5. Overall, a highly recommended dining experience.
- waiterThe waiter was a nice gentleman
- staffThe staff is awesome
- ServiceService:5
- serverThe server gave us great suggestions
- Nice ladyNice lady
- charge my phonelet me charge my phone!
- chefI appreciated the convenience of being able to charge my phone. The lady working there was very nice, and I want to give props to the chef! We will definitely be back for more.
- come backIch würde nichtsdestotrotz wiederkommen
- customer serviceGreat customer service
Frequently criticized
- serviceMy experience at this restaurant was marked by delicious food. However, it was a busy day, and the service was a bit slow. This was understandable as there was only one waiter for all the tables.
- waiting timeWe waited 30 minutes for our order of fried rice.
- Chinese waitressBeware of the Chinese waitress with curly hair, demanded a tip
- another waitressthere is another señora de mesera but she does not like
- forcing a tipI also work in customer service and know how it looks, so I am disappointed. The food was good, but forcing a tip is not nice.
- friendlinessthey weren't really friendly
- service staffDie Servicekraft war etwas mürrisch
- tipsstill asking for tips
- treatmentThey don't treat you equal
- waiterThe waiter refused to do so and was very angry and not satisfied.
Overall, you can expect good service here, often quick and friendly. While a few experiences mention slower moments or issues with tipping, the majority of diners leave happy. It's definitely worth a try if you value attentive staff and efficient service.
Ambience (5 out of 10)
mentioned by 46% of the guests
When it comes to ambience, many guests appreciate the restaurants authentic atmosphere and lively goings-on, often describing it as a cosy joint thats also kid-friendly. With 23 positive remarks among 59 total, some found the setting quite enjoyable, even noting the resto was clean. The overall score for ambience is an average 5.
However, a larger group of 30 opinions highlighted significant drawbacks, such as a cold and windy interior and a distinct cafeteria feel. Frequent complaints included dirty ceilings, white fluorescent lights, and general cleanliness issues, leading to a rather poor customer satisfaction of just 39%. Don't expect too much ambiance here.
Ambience
59
Reviews
39%
Satisfaction
30
negative
6
neutral
23
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Authentic atmosphere
- Lively, cosy joint
- Kid-friendly setting
What people don't like
- Cold, drafty interior
- Poor cleanliness
- Cafeteria feel
Often praised
- atmosphereMy experience was delicious, with the food receiving a perfect score. The atmosphere was also very enjoyable, rated at a 4, and the service was excellent, earning a 5. Overall, a highly recommended dining experience.
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:5
- Asian dinersall the other diners in the restaurant were Asian. I took that as a good sign.
- ambienceambience is what you would expect
- authentic atmosphereWhat was your experience at the restaurant? It was a restaurant with a mega authentic atmosphere, run by two ladies from China. Nothing more to add, nothing to subtract.
- authentic restaurantSehr authentisches Restaurant in bester Chinatown Lage
- authentic vibereally authentic vibe
- cosy jointMy experience at this restaurant was wonderful. It's a nice, cosy joint with good, hearty Chinese food that tasted like home. The service was great and the folks running the place were lovely.
- crowdedits never really crowded
- hole in the walleasy to miss this hole in the wall
Frequently criticized
- toiletMany locals eat here, which speaks to the quality of the food, but there are also many tourists. The ambiance and the toilet are not so great. If you are in Chinatown, you should eat here.
- ambianceMany locals eat here, which speaks to the quality of the food, but there are also many tourists. The ambiance and the toilet are not so great. If you are in Chinatown, you should eat here.
- tablesthe tables were whipped with dusters
- ambiencebut the Ambiente was not the best
- atmosphereit was drafty and sooo cold
- cafeteria feelThe place has more of a cafeteria feel
- ceilingsthe ceilings are dirty and sagging from moisture.
- chair cushionsoil stains on the cushions
- cleanlinessraised concerns about cleanliness
- cold and windy insideIt was cold and windy inside
If you're seeking an authentic, lively spot and can overlook some comfort and cleanliness issues, this place might charm you. However, be prepared for a potentially cold, brightly lit space with a cafeteria feel, which might disappoint if ambience is a top priority.
Value (4.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 40% of the guests
When it comes to value, its a bit of a mixed bag, with some strong opinions on both sides. On the bright side, 14 positive opinions suggest that some guests truly appreciate the prices and great value here, finding it worth it and not overpriced. Many felt the prices were decent and reasonable, offering good value for their money, especially for lunch.
This shows that for some, the value proposition really hits the mark. However, the value story isnt all rosy. With 25 negative comments out of 44 total, many felt it was way overpriced, especially concerning price and unexpected service charge or mandatory tip.
The overall score for value is an average 4.5, but customer satisfaction is quite low at a poor 31.8%, reflecting frustrations with cash only policies, hidden fees, and even issues with change, making it feel like a raw deal for many.
Value
44
Reviews
31%
Satisfaction
25
negative
5
neutral
14
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Good, fair prices
- Great value offered
- Lunch deals affordable
What people don't like
- Mandatory service fees
- Cash-only payments
- Often feels overpriced
Often praised
- priceI enjoyed the great food, including the great appetizers. The great service was also a highlight, and all of this was offered at a great price. I would definitely come here again!
- pricesThe prices are great
- good pricesI enjoyed good food with big, Biiig portions that were super tasty. The great service and good prices made it a wonderful dining experience.
- great valueGreat value for your money
- lunchThe lady who took our order was quiet and kind, making the overall experience pretty great. The lunch was also cheap, costing around 20 dollars, though we didn't eat much due to a late breakfast.
- value for moneytrès bon rapport qualité prix
- worth itDefinitely worth it
Frequently criticized
- priceway overpriced $50 for 2 plates
- mandatory tipOn top of that, it was the most expensive Chinese meal I've ever had, costing $60 for noodles, rice, soup, and two soft drinks. They also mandate a 15% tip, and on top of the visible price, you have to add taxes (10%).
- service feeThey simply charge a service fee with no option to tip
- tipEverything was okay, but adding a tip to the bill is not okay. It's my individual choice whether I want to leave a tip, there cannot be any compulsion.
- 14-dollar tipThey taxes us with a 14dollar tip
- Arizona99cents airzona was charged for $2.5
- billbill came up to be $41
- cashthey only take cash
- cash as paymentonly accepts cash as a payment metod
- cash onlyit's cash only
If youre looking for straightforward, affordable pricing, you might find some good deals here. However, be prepared for potential hidden fees, mandatory tips, and a cash only policy, which could quickly make it feel overpriced. Its a gamble on whether youll feel you got your moneys worth.
How are the prices at Snow Garden?
You’re looking at roughly 22 per person – reported by 38 diners. That puts the restaurant itself in the $21–$30 category. For a Chinese Restaurant in San Francisco, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Interestingly, while the average spend is 22, a good chunk of guests actually spend a bit less, often in the $11–$20 range, showing there are options for various budgets. A few diners also go for a more premium experience, pushing the average up slightly.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 38 reviews.
Comparing value for money at this restaurant against similar spots in San Francisco.
Overall, we think the pricing feels quite fair for a Chinese restaurant in San Francisco, offering good value whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a more substantial meal.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Snow Garden
Visit Type
- Casual Outing
Service Type
- Dine-in
1
Terrible Service, Avoid This Place
My experience at this restaurant was overwhelmingly negative, primarily due to the service. I encountered a Chinese waitress with curly hair who aggressively demanded a tip. She then confused me by stating there was a mandatory 18% tip, which I was pressured into agreeing to.
To make matters worse, she returned the wrong change even after I had reluctantly accepted the tip. I strongly advise others to AVOID AT ALL COST.
- Chinese waitress1
- mandatory tip2
- wrong change1
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Noise Level
- Quiet
9
Excellent Chinese Food, Great Portions
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I enjoyed great Chinese food with good portions. The fried rice was some of the best I've ever had, and the egg rolls were nice and crispy with good flavor.
The atmosphere and service were both rated a 5, contributing to a very enjoyable dinner.
- Chinese food9
- portions8
- fried rice10
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
9
Amazing Eggrolls and Pork Fried Rice!
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I had the best eggrolls I've ever tasted, described as nice and flaky and very flavorful. The pork fried rice was also incredibly fresh and delicious.
It was a pleasant surprise to find they also serve beer. I appreciated the convenience of being able to charge my phone. The lady working there was very nice, and I want to give props to the chef!
We will definitely be back for more.
- eggrolls10
- pork fried rice9
- beer7
Service Type
- Dine-in
2
Unequal Treatment and Forced Tip
My experience at this restaurant was disappointing due to unequal treatment and an automatic 18% service charge that I couldn't adjust. I won't be returning.
- Food4
- treatment1
- charge1
- tip1
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Group Type
- Family
Group Size
- Small Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
9
Long-time Favorite Chinese Food
My experience at this restaurant has been consistently positive for over 27 years. We were initially drawn in by the live crabs in the window, a sight that has since disappeared but the memory remains. As someone who moved from South Bay, I've struggled to find Chinese food in SF as good as this place, always unsuccessfully.
My oldest son, now a deputy sheriff in SF, also appreciates the quality. Tony and Penny are the best hostesses on earth, making every visit special. The pork fried rice is a standout dish; my daughter Salah and I have to be careful not to go there starving because we both have a history of trying to wolf it down too quickly 🤪.
Even though they stopped exhibiting live crabs many years ago, we always look forward to eating here when in SF. Thanks Snow Garden from Ezra and Esther and family.
- live crabs8
- Chinese food9
- hostesses10
What Snow Garden offers
Crowd
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Wine
- Small plates
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Table service
Service Options
- Dine-in
- Takeout
Atmosphere
- Cozy
- Casual
FAQs
Is Snow Garden accessible for all guests?
Yes, Snow Garden ensures a comfortable experience for everyone. You will find a wheelchair accessible entrance and seating available, making it easy to enjoy your meal in this cozy Chinese restaurant located in San Francisco’s South of Market.
What kind of dining experience can you expect at Snow Garden?
At Snow Garden, you can expect a casual and cozy atmosphere perfect for both lunch and dinner. They offer table service, small plates, and quick bites, making it ideal for a relaxed meal or a convenient stop in San Francisco.
How does Snow Garden rate overall?
Snow Garden holds a **Restaurant Score** of **7** and a **Customer Satisfaction** of **69.8%**. Its **Food** (8) and **Service** (7.6) are well-regarded, while **Ambience** (5) and **Value** (4.5) are more moderate.
What do customers enjoy most about Snow Garden?
Diners frequently praise the **Food** for its delicious taste, generous portions, and authenticity, with many highlighting fresh items like potstickers. The **Service** is also often described as excellent and friendly.
Are there any common concerns about Snow Garden?
Some customers note issues with the **Ambience**, mentioning it can feel cold or have cleanliness concerns. Additionally, aspects of **Value** like mandatory tips or a cash-only policy have been points of contention for some.