Planning
- Accepts reservations
oChef » The Garden – San Francisco
The Garden - San Francisco
Photo from The Garden
The Garden at a glance
San Francisco Chinatown
- 🥡 Chinese Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $31–$40
mentioned by 54 of the guests
#1752 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#159 Chinese Restaurant out of 276 in San Francisco
Good
6.9 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
447
Reviews
67.8%
Satisfaction
Often praised
Frequently criticized
The restaurant The Garden is a welcoming Chinese Restaurant nestled in the vibrant Chinatown neighborhood of San Francisco. You can look forward to a casual dining experience where you can enjoy delicious meals.
This spot is perfect for both lunch and dinner, offering table service and the convenience of accepting reservations, making your visit easy to plan. Whether you’re dining in, grabbing takeout, or opting for delivery, you’ll find a great meal here.
Overview: Introducting The Garden
Good
6.9
out of 10
447
Reviews
67.8%
Satisfaction
99
negative
45
neutral
303
positive
What people like
What people don't like
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Verdict: Our expert take on The Garden
Food (7.2 out of 10)
mentioned by 97% of the guests
When it comes to the food, this spot generally hits the mark with a solid 7.2 score and a good 70.1% customer satisfaction. With 188 positive remarks out of 268 total, many diners rave about the authentic Cantonese restaurant experience, fresh seafood, and great food with adequate portions. Youll find a "wide selection" of dishes, from "lobster noodles" to "BBQ pork, " often praised for their "quality and flavor.
" However, its not all perfect, as 48 comments point to some areas for improvement. Some found portions to be small or mentioned premade food. There were also concerns about undercooked chicken and dishes being oily or tasting plain.
A few felt the menu was americanized or lacked flavor, like the bbq pork fried rice with so much lettuce.
Food
268
Reviews
70%
Satisfaction
48
negative
32
neutral
188
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Authentic Cantonese food
- Fresh seafood
- Generous portions
What people don't like
- Undercooked food
- Oily dishes
- Plain flavor
Often praised
- foodMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! It's a true hidden gem offering awesome food and great service. Unlike many other restaurants in Chinatown, they conveniently accept debit and credit cards.
- portionsI'm so glad we did! The service was incredibly friendly, and the food was amazing with good portions. Our server efficiently provided to-go boxes based on our meals, which was a thoughtful touch not often seen elsewhere.
- Chinese foodThey don't have Chinese food like this in the Netherlands.
- hot teaThe hot tea and soup great as well
- soupThe hot tea and soup great as well
- tastehas a really good taste
- FoodFood:5
- Kung Pao ChickenKung Pao Chicken which was very tasty!
- Peking Duckthe Peking Duck was truly delicious
- authentic Chinese restaurantmost authentic Chinese restaurant I've ever eaten at
Frequently criticized
- foodWhile the food was served fast, the service was just okay. The main issue was the food tasted plain and not fresh, which was especially concerning given the way too expensive price point. For a dinner costing $30–50 per person, I expected much better quality and flavor.
- Chinese foodnot the real Chinese food
- FoodFood mediocre at best.
- Hot & Sour soupHot & Sour soup a little off but very etible
- Mongolian Beefa little too spicy for my sensitive stomach
- Mongolian beefso full of salt, MSG, and cooking oil that tastes stale
- Schezuan chicken dishSchezuan chicken dish that was cold and very oily
- Yangzhou fried riceYangzhou fried rice took an hour to come out
- americanizedseemed very americanized
- bad foodserved bad food
If you're seeking authentic Cantonese flavors and generous portions, this place is definitely worth a try. Just be mindful of potential inconsistencies in dish quality, as some experiences suggest a mixed bag, particularly with certain fried rice options.
Service (6.8 out of 10)
mentioned by 64% of the guests
When it comes to service, many diners have had a truly positive experience here! With 56 positive comments out of 82 total, guests frequently praise the friendly staff, attentive service, and fast service. It seems the team often goes the extra mile to make you feel welcome and ensure your meal arrives promptly.
However, its not always smooth sailing, as reflected by a 68.3% customer satisfaction. Some guests encountered significant waiting times and slow service, with a few even reporting disrespectful treatment from staff. While the overall score sits at a respectable 6.8, these 22 negative remarks suggest theres room for improvement in consistency.
Service
82
Reviews
68%
Satisfaction
22
negative
4
neutral
56
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly staff
- Attentive service
- Fast service
What people don't like
- Slow service
- Disrespectful treatment
- Inattentive staff
Often praised
- serviceI met with an old friend and colleague here, and he knows Chinatown well. We had the best lunch with impeccable service. I highly recommend the short ribs, the spicy chicken 🔥, the sweet red pork, the pan fried noodles w beef + tomato, and the mabo tofu.
- staffThe beef in their tomato dish was incredibly tender and flavorful, and the braised tofu was delicious. The staff is friendly and attentive. This place offers a wonderful combination of quality, flavor, price, and service.
- ServiceService is also 5 stars !
- waiterMy experience at this Chinese restaurant was positive overall. The food offered traditional flavors, and the waiter was very cordial. The price was good, but there was a high tip included on the ticket, which was a bit of a surprise.
- Friendly staffFriendly staff
- attentive serviceNice attentive service
- cooked for usthey still cooked for us
- customer servicethey have super customer service
- fast serviceMy experience at this unassuming restaurant in Chinatown was excellent. It offers great food with a wide selection and fast service. We consistently choose this place whenever we are in the neighborhood due to its convenient location, being close to the financial district, Union Square, and many tourist destinations.
- helpful staffGreat helpful staff
Frequently criticized
- servicethis was the worst service I’ve ever received
- waiting timeMy experience at the restaurant involved a significant wait for our food. The Yangzhou fried rice and the salted fish fried rice took an hour to come out. Additionally, the orange juice I ordered never arrived, even though it was charged to our bill.
- WaitressWaitress hovered like a helicopter, very uncomfortable
- discriminatory remarkDespite our attempts to de-escalate, the server continued to argue. The situation worsened when, as I was signing the bill, the server loudly and aggressively declared, "You Mandarin-speaking Chinese are the ones who hate tipping the most! " I was shocked by this public and blatant discriminatory remark.
- disrespectful treatmenttreated with disrespect
- drink refillshad to ask for refills on our drinks repeatedly
- female serverFemale server kept stepping on me
- managerhe stated, “next time.”
- opening timescontrary to opening times on here
- paying the billasked us about paying the bill and we again mentioned we never received half the food
So, should you go? While many rave about the friendly and quick service, be aware that some experiences have been less than ideal with long waits or less attentive staff. If you catch them on a good day, youll likely have a great experience, but theres a chance for a mixed bag.
Ambience (7.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 36% of the guests
Alright, lets dive into the vibe of this place! The ambience here scores a good 7.7, and customer satisfaction is quite high at 85.1%. Many people absolutely loved the comfortable atmosphere, praising its convenient location and how clean the restaurant felt, making for a pleasant dining experience.
These positive comments came from 40 out of 47 overall opinions. On the flip side, a few of the 5 negative comments mentioned a loud atmosphere, with some tables being a bit noisy. There were also a couple of remarks about the place being dirty or feeling a bit like a tourist trap, ' with some interior elements needing more attention.
Ambience
47
Reviews
85%
Satisfaction
5
negative
2
neutral
40
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Comfortable atmosphere
- Convenient location
- Clean environment
What people don't like
- Loud atmosphere
- Dirty place
- Tourist trap feel
Often praised
- atmospherecleaner and calmer atmosphere compared to many Chinese restaurants
- locationOne star for the location
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:5
- environmentGreat environment for a long lunch and a nice chat
- parkinggreat parking across the street
- placeMy only regret is that we didn’t have time to go back to try more food. The service was awesome, and I loved the place. My daughters, aged three and seven, also loved the food.
- casual dinnergood place for a casual dinner
- cleanClean.
- clean and safe seatingyou are paying for clean and safe seating
- clean restroomThey also have a clean restroom
Frequently criticized
- atmosphereLoud atmosphere
- interiorshort of Tender Loving Care towards their interior
- loud tabletable right next to us was quite large and a bit loud
- placethe place very dirty
- tourist trapIt's an obvious tourist trap though
If youre seeking a clean, well-located spot with a generally pleasant atmosphere, youll likely have a good time. Just be mindful that it can get a bit loud, and a few visitors felt it had a touristy vibe. Overall, it's a solid choice for a decent environment.
Value (5.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 40% of the guests
When it comes to value, it's a bit of a mixed bag, with an average score of 5.1. Some guests were pleasantly surprised by the reasonable price of dishes, often highlighting affordable food and great lunch specials. There were even positive remarks about the flexibility to choose your own tip, contributing to a feeling of good value.
However, the overall customer satisfaction for value is quite low at 38%, largely due to concerns about high prices and what some described as insane prices for certain items. A significant point of contention, mentioned in 24 out of 50 comments, was the practice of an automatic tip or included gratuity, which left many feeling frustrated.
Value
50
Reviews
38%
Satisfaction
24
negative
7
neutral
19
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Affordable food options
- Reasonable lunch prices
- Flexible tipping choice
What people don't like
- High menu prices
- Automatic tip added
Often praised
- priceThe quality and flavor of the food are excellent. While the price is generally very reasonable, the $20 lobster noodles might seem a bit steep, but it was absolutely worth the price. It was the best-prepared lobster noodle dish I've ever had.
- $20all for $20 bucks
- affordableVery affordable
- affordable foodWe consistently choose this place whenever we are in the neighborhood due to its convenient location, being close to the financial district, Union Square, and many tourist destinations. The food is affordable and the portions are adequate.
- billme and my mom split the bill
- debit and credit cardsthey do take debit and credit cards
- lunchThey also generously gave us some delicious soup on the house and some tea. Overall, it was a good lunch for under $50.
- lunch speciallunch special was only $10
- pricynot too pricy
- reasonable priceMy experience at this restaurant was positive. I found it to be a nice restaurant with good food and a reasonable price. Its location is also a major plus, situated just across the parking lot at Chinatown.
Frequently criticized
- priceWhile the food was served fast, the service was just okay. The main issue was the food tasted plain and not fresh, which was especially concerning given the way too expensive price point. For a dinner costing $30–50 per person, I expected much better quality and flavor.
- billThe Yangzhou fried rice and the salted fish fried rice took an hour to come out. Additionally, the orange juice I ordered never arrived, even though it was charged to our bill. Hope this helps.
- tipsforce you to pay at 18% tips
- $45not worth $45 for just rice and chicken
- 18% gratuityit already had a very undeserved 18% gratuity included
- automatic tip18% automatic tip added was really something
- glass of wineuna copa de vino 10$
- gratuitytake gratuity automatically from your bill
- high priceshigh prices for the quality of food
- high tipThe food offered traditional flavors, and the waiter was very cordial. The price was good, but there was a high tip included on the ticket, which was a bit of a surprise.
If you're looking for a budget-friendly meal, especially during lunch, you might find some good deals. However, be prepared for potentially higher prices on other items and keep an eye out for automatic gratuity on your bill, which has been a dealbreaker for many.
How are the prices at The Garden?
You’re looking at roughly 36 $ per person – reported by 54 diners. That puts it in the $31–$40 category. For a Chinese Restaurant in San Francisco, thats comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
While the average is 36 $, its interesting to see that a good chunk of diners actually spend a bit less, with the most common price point falling in the $21–$30 range. This suggests a nice mix of options, from more budget-friendly to slightly more premium dishes.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 54 reviews.
See how this restaurant’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Francisco.
Considering San Francisco’s dining scene, we think 36 $ feels pretty fair for a Chinese restaurant, especially with the variety of price points available. It seems like you can find something for different budgets here, which is always a plus!
Customer Reviews: what people think about The Garden
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
1
Terrible Chinese Food Experience
My experience at this restaurant was extremely disappointing. I ordered the bbq pork fried rice and the general tso chicken, and it was the worst Chinese food I've ever had. The bbq pork fried rice lacked any flavor and had an excessive amount of lettuce.
The general tso chicken tasted like old sweet and sour chicken, which was frankly gross. I spent $45 for just rice and chicken, and it was not worth it. I will never be returning to this place.
- bbq pork fried rice1
- general tso chicken1
- flavor1
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
9
Spot-on Dinner Combo!
I recently had a 1 person dinner combo that was exactly what I was looking for. The combo included sweet and sour chicken with egg fried rice, a complimentary egg roll, and a small portion of the soup of the day. Today's soup was egg flower soup, which is my favorite!
All of this was an incredible value at just $20. I'll definitely be coming back.
- 1 person dinner combo9
- sweet and sour chicken9
- egg fried rice9
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
10
Transcendental Dining Experience!
I basically had a transcendental experience here. It was the best part of my trip! The Chinese food is unlike anything I've had in the Netherlands.
The waiting staff were very nice, providing great service with small waiting times. The atmosphere was excellent. Highly recommended!
- Chinese food10
- waiting staff9
- service9
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Casual Outing
Group Type
- Friends
Group Size
- Large Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
3
Food okay, but cleanliness is a major issue
My experience at the restaurant was mixed. The food was not bad, but it was just okay, with some dishes being better than others. However, what really stood out was how dirty the place was.
It was a significant detractor from the overall experience.
- food6
- place2
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Noise Level
- Quiet
9
Great Service and Food!
A guy from Lan Lan Market recommended this place, and I'm glad I came. The service was great, and the food was also great.
- service9
- food9
What The Garden offers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- Tourists
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Wine
- Beer
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Table service
Service Options
- Dine-in
- Takeout
- Delivery
Parking
- Paid parking garage
- Usually plenty of parking
- Paid street parking
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
What parking options are available at The Garden?
When you visit The Garden, you’ll find several convenient parking options. There is a paid parking garage nearby, and usually plenty of parking available. Additionally, paid street parking is an option for your convenience.
Is The Garden accessible for guests with mobility needs?
Yes, The Garden is designed to be accessible for all guests. You will find a wheelchair accessible entrance, ensuring easy access into the restaurant. Inside, wheelchair accessible seating is also available to accommodate your comfort.