Emerald Chinese Cuisine

A long-established Cantonese dim sum restaurant with a spacious venue and private rooms, making it quite suitable for family gatherings or event dinners. I’ve been here many times before, but this was my first visit since the renovation. We were seated at a large table in a private room, which offered better privacy. The table was very large, with four tablecloths laid on it. The lazy Susan in the middle was extremely heavy and difficult to turn, making it very inconvenient to serve dishes. Cantonese roasted meats are supposed to be a classic feature of Cantonese cuisine, but they weren’t good—the flavor was rather lacking. The other dishes were just average; the best was the fried rice. Dessert is served after the meal. The cost was around $50 per person. Compared to my visit to 豪记 last week, where I spent just over $20 per person and was extremely satisfied, my conclusion is that this place is overpriced for mediocre food.

very very delicious food. I've been here for 15 years. I recommend all the menu. look at seasame ball they use fresh oil. no fried oil smell. thank you

Emerald Restaurant, located in the Convoy area at the heart of San Diego’s Pan-Asian district, offers exquisite and authentic Cantonese cuisine. The décor is tastefully appointed, featuring elegant Chinese paintings and calligraphy. The restaurant boasts clean, beautiful carpeting and ample space between tables, ensuring patrons’ privacy. This pleasant setting—paired with delicious Cantonese fare—makes Emerald ideal for a casual lunch or a relaxing evening out with friends and family. Last but not least, the family set menu pricing is exceptionally reasonable compared to other Chinese restaurants in the Convoy district. I must also commend their staff, who are professionally trained and provide swift, attentive service.

This is the worst place ever, first my mother ordered only one dish for me too go, and she ordered the pepper beef or whatever it called. And it was 29 dollars which is almost 30 dollars and it totally ridiculous because half of the box it just vegetables and barely half the beef. The meat was chunky and it have a really bad taste that I need to add my own seasoning with is sea salt and pepper, and it had a really bad beefy taste which I can taste they didn’t use any ginger or anything to get the taste off. Do not go if you want a 30 dollar plate of half vegetable and chunky barely flavor pepper beef. Oh yea and the sauce it was watery

DO NOT COME HERE FOR DIM SUM. The staff was cold. The food tasted like they warmed up week-old leftovers. The beef tripes have black mold on them. Charsiu was dry. Fried meatball barely has any meat in it. They don’t even have proper containers for soy sauce and chilli oil, but put them in little togo boxes. Yet they have the audacity to charge 18% mandatory tip on the bill. The total was under $100 prior to the mandatory tip. They also charge tea and to go boxes. Ridiculous. The restroom smells disgusting and they don’t even refill the soaps and paper towel. I guess their employees don’t wash their hands with soap after using the restroom then? Food was stale and has way too much sugar and msg. We had terrible headaches for hours after eating.

Went here for lunch. Wanted to support our Chinese friends in the US because they’re awesome 🇨🇳 Good variety of Dim Sum. Expansive dining room. Quick and fairly priced. We didn’t go buck wild because that requires a nap. 3 humans ate to satisfaction for 85 bucks with tip included with sodas. The beef fried rice was excellent. The parking lot was calm during the lunch hours

Did not have a good experience for 4 adults $237.88. Felt like we were tricked. Lacked transparency. We ordered their special that was posted on the table for ginger scallion lobster $88. The dish was served with cantonese won ton noodles under the lobster. Which is odd, usually it's served with e-mien. We let them know, it's not what we ordered. The lobster was missing the most important parts. It did not have two claws. Small lobster. We ordered 4 bowls of rice but on the order sheet the server put 3. However, we were charged for 6 small bowls of white rice for $18. We also don't know what the "4 open box" charge is for.

Good food quality especially when you have to order your dim sum. Seems short staffed...no staff to refill tea and waters, kitchen couldn't complete our orders, hard to find staff to take our paper order (the order sheet is two sided, ours was 1 sided so we were missing out on the full available menu), bathroom was dirty, food came out in batches (definitely short staffed), and had to get our own take away containers. Just be aware that it's cash only. Since items are expensive, make sure you have big bills. The rice congee (porridge) is over $18 - 4 servings.

High quality dim sum.. but at a cost. Sadly one of the only standing dim sum places left in central SD region. The dim sum was good and definitely high quality, but overall the place was just okay. Everything tasted fresh and well-made, but it felt overpriced for what you get. Nothing really wowed me enough to justify the cost. Not bad if you're curious, but probably not somewhere I'd go out of my way for again. Service was as you would expect for a dim sum restaurant. Lots of plentiful seating and parking.

Came by for dim sum and really appreciate that they have a parking lot. The restaurant is large and clean. When we arrived for lunch, it was about 1/3 full. Staff were friendly, greeted us, and seated us quickly. Overall, food quality was average. Quantity was good.

The food was great! My husband and i will defenitely comeback... Special thanks to NIMFA for helping us she's so kind!

Don't let the bad reviews scare you away! We came here with very low expectations after seeing the abundance of 1 star vs. 5 star reviews. Pleasantly surprised based on our experience. Right off the bat: - We were NOT charged a mandatory 18% service fee or tip for our party (3 people). On the menu it says this applies to parties of 6 or more. - We were not charged for our little to-go container for a small portion of leftovers. - They do accept credit cards. Parking was easy during a late-lunch on a Sunday. The restaurant wasn't super busy but still happening. There were lots of staff and they were speedy and attentive. Service is on par with other Chinese restaurants (not super friendly but polite and good enough.) Food: - Pork & Shrimp Siu Mai: Good! Plump and flavorful - Har Gow: Decent but I've had better. The skin is slightly too thick and I feel like the shrimp is a little powdery and not super fresh (but no fishy or weird taste or anything) - BBQ Pork Buns with Pastry Skin: I'm so happy to see this item on the menu as not all dim sum places have this variation with the baked pastry shell! Pastry was great

Finally found some amazing Chinese food and dim sum in San Diego! We had quite the experience at this restaurant. First of all, our server, May, was wonderful! She was so incredibly helpful and gave us great menu suggestions. First thing- you must order the Peking duck special. SO GOOD. May was so kind and made our buns for us too. My next favorite was the honey walnut shrimp. Highly recommend. We really enjoyed the pork buns too. We celebrated my husband's birthday and they even brought him out a piece of cake. Very impressed with this restaurant and can't wait to return!

Emerald was in the rotation of places my mom liked visiting for dim sum.  When Hong Kong Bbq opened she liked going there as it was close and there was lots of parking.  Now I see they have remodeled.  Place looks really nice and the menu looks more upscale.  One of the waiters recognizes me from when he worked at Hong Kong Bbq.  Service was very good.  They have lots of staff making sure you don't need anything,  Dim sum is available from 10:30-3pm and you can order from the dinner menu anytime. Har gow had a mild flavored rice based wrapper and shrimp in the middle.  Delicious flavor from the shrimp. Sui mei had a thin won ton wrapper and a mixture of shrimp, pork, and mushrooms.  Very tasty. Steamed char sui boa had a pastry outside which was fluffy and soft with a mild flavor.  In the center was a mixture of suace and char sui.  Char sui was tender with a sweet 5 spice powder flavor.  Very good. Emerald is a nice establishment with really good service.  I am sad that a plate of dim sum is now $10. Last time I visited I noticed the table next to me ordered bbq pork buns with a sugar based pastry top and I wanted to try them.  The top had a sugary top like you find on concha's but not as thick.  I loved the sweet flavor.  Inside was tender bbq pork with a sweet 5 spice powder flavor.  Delicious just like the ones I get in San Francisco at Hong Kong Lounge. I also ordered the pan fried seabass.  There was a thin layer of crispy rice flour which had a tasty fried flavor and also kept the seabass from dying out.  Seabass was tender, moist, and had a delicious flavor.  Soy sauce gave the seabass an additional slightly salty flavor.  This is one of my favorite seabass preparations.  I'd order this alot if it wasn't $58. Great tasting food and plentiful parking on weekends unlike many other Convoy St restaurants.

Still our Go-to staple. Emerald is old school, Cantonese cuisine. This isn't for people who want yuppy fusion or seek 5 star service to incorporate into food ratings. You come for the food- you come because it's familiar and a taste of home. Unfortunately since Covid, they've done away with carts, but the service is still fast and efficient and more importantly the food is still spot on.

I've heard about this place by many locals, this must be a signature spot. Glad to finally have the chance to check it out. AMBIANCE: Parking: Plaza parking for maybe about 20 cars. I didn't have any issues. Seating: Huge! This place is great for large events. Feels: This is the tip of Convoy (Asian Cultural District), it may not have the usual decor of an affinity town as of now but you'll see many Asian restaurants with good food. The spot itself is big, clean, and elegant with nice designs here and there reflecting Chinese culture. Great place for a large gathering or a nice food adventure. FOOD: Pork Shiu Mai (Recommend) Delicious! Stuffed and savory with nice mixes of ginger, garlic, other seasons, and soft yet pretty cooked pork! Steamed Shrimp Dumplings (Recommend) Another delightful bite with more seafood savory flavors to it. It too was soft and juicy. Chinese Broccoli (Recommend) For something filling and healthy this is great! An earthy-veggies taste with a nice crunch! Stuffed Eggplant (Recommend) Exquisite! A well-cooked eggplant that's well seasoned mixed with shrimp/fish mix that is sea-savory and umami filling. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Awesome! Friendly and relatively quick with our orders. TL; DR OVERALL: 4 Stars. Reasonable prices, delicious food, and a comforting experience. For some solid dim sum and other traditional Chinese delights, this is your go to. They even have the San Diego salt and pepper chicken here. I wish Chef Susan and her team all the best! #RepresentASIAN TIPS: * They can also be found in Jamul Casino!

As a Cantonese person, this is the most legit Cantonese dim sum place you can ever find in San Diego. People who leave bad reviews because of the "bad services" have exaggerated their experience there. I have been there multiple times with my friends. I speak Cantonese to them and they are very nice. If you expect a Michelin star level experience then that's your problem. My dad who's from Hong Kong loves it and he cannot be pickier. It's the most authentic dim sum people you can find in San Diego. Period.

I came here for a wedding reception so my experience is probably different from a normal visit. The food was absolutely delicious. We had a ten course family style dinner and everything was made to perfection. Super long list but here are my thoughts on each. Combination Platter - Classic platter with tofu, fried pork and jellyfish. All good and great starter. (4.5/5) Sautéed Shrimp / Scallop and Fried Milk - Who would've known fried milk tasted good. Seasoned well and tasty. (4.5/5) Pan Fried Filet Mignon - This was standard with huge chunks of meat. Not the most tender but flavor was good. (3.5/5) Crab maw and Fish Maw Soup - Delicious soup, perfect with red vinegar. (4.5/5) Ginger and Scallion Lobster - This hit with nice large meaty pieces. Loved the flavor. (5/5) Emerald Famous Peking Duck - This was bomb and came with two dishes. The wrapper was so good and flavors are standard. (5/5) Crab Meat and Vegatable - A super simple veggie dish. Was good. (4/5) Flounder cooked two ways - Wow the steamed flounder was where it's at. Fried was okay. (4.5/5) Dessert - Just the basic Chinese dessert. Tapioca/sesame balls. (4/5) Pretty nice place if you want to host a wedding/special event. They split the restaurant up so costumers were still able to eat at the smaller half. Parking wasn't bad because they had a lot but it did fill up since we had an event. Overall good place for solid Chinese food!

Emerald Restaurant - A Triumphant Return to Dim Sum Excellence We stopped going to Emerald a few years ago when they discontinued the dim sum carts--a tradition we truly missed. But yesterday, we decided to give it another shot, and we were pleasantly surprised. The dim sum was at its absolute best. We ordered shiu mai along with other classics like har gow, steamed BBQ pork buns, and pan-fried turnip cakes. Each bite was a testament to the kitchen's precision and care. The shiu mai was perfectly steamed and savory, the har gow delicate with translucent wrappers and juicy shrimp, the pork buns fluffy and rich, and the turnip cakes crisped just right with a soft, flavorful center. We also indulged in fried squid legs, glazed walnut shrimp, and Peking duck--all prepared and served with meticulous attention to detail and taste. Every dish was a standout. The service was warm and attentive, and the overall experience reminded us why Emerald was once our go-to spot. We were so impressed that we've decided to host our son's day-after-wedding lunch here. It's the kind of place that brings people together over unforgettable food. Emerald is back--and better than that other dimsum place down the road

Have been wanting to try The Emerald for ages, and finally had the opportunity yesterday. The first wonderful thing about it is the AMAZING service from really lovely people who kindly explained aspects of the dishes I wasn't familiar with. These lovely people also treated us like celebrities despite the obvious fact that we're not. In fact, this opportunity to finally try Emerald came about while I was exploring the area around Sharp Memorial Hospital while waiting for my husband to complete a diagnostic procedure. When he was done, we headed to the Emerald! So we're pretty bedraggled customers. THE FOOD IS BEAUTIFUL! The wonton soup was devoured before I could get a photo, but it looked like art, and included a huge, pink, FRESH shrimp. Turned out that every shrimp they serve is like that, including in those shrimp eggroll in the picture. The wanton and rest of the soup was in the same league. We are dumpling junkies and Emerald's are literally the best we've ever had in our long lives. We're still talking about them the next day, planning our next visit. Because we watched all the diners' orders, and already know our next order. THE PORTIONS ARE HUGE, so they are actually very reasonably priced. The restaurant decor is beautiful. I love everything about The Emerald!

06-16-24 My husband and son enjoyed the food they ordered. As for the overall experience, it was not positive. Ordered: 4/5 -stuffed eggplant $9.98 -beef chow mein $22.95 -Peking duck $55.95 -to go containers $0.35 ea Service: 2/5 After many attempts of getting their attention, they took our order and brought the food. That was pretty much it! I walked up and got my own to go boxes and plastic bags. I also walked up to the server and asked for our check. Note: -Cash only -automatically charged 18% for service, we were a party of 3 (don't pay the 18% tip if their service is subpar) -limited parking -25 minutes wait -$0.35 per to go container -tea or hot water $3.50 per person. I thought charging tea $3.50 per person was a lot already, charging $3.50 per person for hot water, crazy ridiculous! -soy sauce and chili served in plastic containers So many cons to list; this review is not a great way to spend my energy!

DO NOT COME HERE FOR DIM SUM. The staff was cold. The food tasted like they warmed up week-old leftovers. The beef tripes have black mold on them. Charsiu was dry. Fried meatball barely has any meat in it. They don't even have proper containers for soy sauce and chilli oil, but put them in little togo boxes. Yet they have the audacity to charge 18% mandatory tip on the bill. The total was under $100 prior to the mandatory tip. They also charge tea and to go boxes. Ridiculous. The restroom smells disgusting and they don't even refill the soaps and paper towel. I guess their employees don't wash their hands with soap after using the restroom then? Food was stale and has way too much sugar and msg. We had terrible headaches for hours after eating.

We came on a Sunday and the host greeted us and said they only accept cash on weekends. As we proceed to leave, there was a change in tune and said "or debit". We ordered a bunch of dishes. While the food was food minus the eggplant in garlic sauce (not sure what happened to the skin), it is on the pricier side. We didn't really have a server to check with us or make sure our teapot or water were filled until we go the bill. Now, there were only 4 of us. There was a service charge of 18% (like what?), 35 cents charge per to-go boxes (might as well bring our own), and $3/pp for tea. Seeing the ridiculous charges left an unpleasant experience. I also didn't want to make a fuss since we were celebrating a bday. Would I go back? Probably not. I would give it a 1 except the food is still pretty decent.

A long-established Cantonese dim sum restaurant with a spacious venue and private rooms, making it quite suitable for family gatherings or event dinners. I've been here many times before, but this was my first visit since the renovation. We were seated at a large table in a private room, which offered better privacy. The table was very large, with four tablecloths laid on it. The lazy Susan in the middle was extremely heavy and difficult to turn, making it very inconvenient to serve dishes. Cantonese roasted meats are supposed to be a classic feature of Cantonese cuisine, but they weren't good--the flavor was rather lacking. The other dishes were just average; the best was the fried rice. Dessert is served after the meal. The cost was around $50 per person. Compared to my visit to 豪记 last week, where I spent just over $20 per person and was extremely satisfied, my conclusion is that this place is overpriced for mediocre food.

This is a chinese restaurant that is tucked away on the bottom floor of a business building. The outside is very unassuming, but the inside is lovely. They have round lazy Susan tables, and the tea ware is beautiful. The service is very attentive, and the food comes out promptly. I was even recommended a dish that was better for you in the winter in comparison to what I was going to order. The food is of great quality, and I loved coming here for special events like birthdays or celebrations. The dim sum is so good - I love the taro and coconut desserts as well as the chicken feet, and turnip cakes are incredibly well made. I'm no longer living down in San Diego proper (I'm in North County now), but I'm willing to make the drive just to visit.

So, my Aunt and Uncle are locals who always rave about this place. They convinced us to check it out on Saturday evening around 4 pm since we were visiting from out of town. They said the service is always great, and the food is fast and delicious. They even mentioned that it's their go-to place with my grandparents, relatives, and all their friends. But here's the thing: our first impression wasn't exactly great. The inside of the restaurant was nice. But here's the thing: the people seemed a bit biased. They greeted my Aunt and Uncle and cousin warmly, but they gave my husband and me a side-eye and waved us off as if we were bothering them. We brushed it off as we figured it wasn't towards us. At first, I thought it was because they'd never seen us before, but my Aunt and Uncle said it made them feel a bit odd. And the service was oddly slow and not very good. You never want to make it a race, but let's just say they were more happy and accommodating to one group of people than to us. Like joking with them and making small talk, laughing, rushing to get them what they wanted. while with us, it was cold and rushed as in they would walk away mid sentence. First, they took forever with all our food and didn't refill our water despite many request. they did refill our tea after requesting a refill for a 2nd or 3rd time. While other tables that came 20-30 later got their food and orders fast and excitedly, we were seated up front near the door, and the lady and male waiter (both Asian) kept whispering to each other and looking at our table, but they didn't say anything to us. My uncle was a bit embarrassed because he had raved about the fast and great service and food, but this time, he had to keep asking about our orders for every single dish. The lady and male waiter, who were helping us, looked annoyed with us. So, we ordered some food, and guess what? Some of it never showed up! Like, our salt and pepper chicken wings were nowhere to be found. So, we decided to cancel the order and head out. But here's the crazy part: two minutes after canceling, the food magically appeared! We politely declined, though. When the Mexican employee checked on us, he was super kind and helpful. He even asked if we needed anything before saying, "Hope you enjoyed your meal and hope to see you again next time." Now, on a brighter note, the food was absolutely delicious! But unfortunately, the service was a bit of a letdown. It left my family and me feeling a bit uncomfortable. If we ever find ourselves in the area again, we might just have to order from Togo. The food there was seriously top-notch! Oh, and by the way, this isn't a restaurant-related issue. My family and I were trying to take a picture and ask a waiter who was outside for assistance. But the first two waiters who helped us both had this look of annoyance on their faces. I get that they might have been busy, but there was no need to act rudely or uncivilly.

Good ambience and service. A little pricier than expected yet understandable given the rising price of eating out especially in San Diego. The food was really tasty and came out piping hot. The egg tarts were decent and I especially liked the pan fried meat buns. They had run out of the baked charsiu buns by dinner which was a little sad. The hot jasmine tea paired great with the juicy fried buns. I also enjoyed the shrimp hargow with some spicy mustard, which was provided by request. The restaurant was quite empty yet had a homey feel. I enjoyed my experience dining here and look forward to coming back when I can afford the Peking duck.

I give this place 3 stars. It appears their yelp promotion was from the previous owner from 4 years ago. They haven't updated their yelp and won't give you the promotion. I feel this is bad business ! Over all the food was good. The waiters can do a better job being attentive. We did pay $245 for 2 people with tip. They only accept cash or debit.

Perfect for dim sum or dinner. This place has recently been renovated inside. It is a bit on the pricey side for dim sum but the food quality is great. Steak and asparagus dish was a hit for dinner entree. They also have their own parking lot!

WONDERFUL PLACE! I had my moms 70th birthday dinner and everyone had an absolute blast and the food was so delicious. The staff was great as well.

Food is not that good and service is very slow. There where around five tables to serve in a gigantic restaurant. We had the whole duck but it comes to the table all minced and chopped so you don't really know what you are eating. The waiter is not very good at explaining either. Personally I will choose a different place when I want pekin duck.

The food was great!! My husband and I will definitely come back.. Special thanks to Marisa for helping us.

This spot had some solid dim sum. We had came here on the Wednesday before thanksgiving and was greeted by friendly staff. Our friendly waiter was cracking a ton of funny jokes. While taking our orders and pouring our beers. Food was great and we would want to come back here as there are not many din sum places that have draft beers.

Walked in at 12:45 p.m. on a Sunday. Was not greeted or served for 15 minutes. Got up and left. It's a big space. Few servers.

Horrible, this is by far the worst dim sum restaurant in San Diego both in terms of food quality and customer service. Let's talk about their service: WTF #1.we were given a newly busted table with no plates, cups or utensils, a short Asian server dropped off a stack of plates, cups and bunch of chopsticks and left. We had to setup the table ourselves. WTF #2. They don't take credit card but cash or debit cards only. WTF #3. They'll ding you $0.35 for each to go box. WTF #4. They charge $3.50/Person for tea even though 2 of us only drank cold water only. Please see WTFF #2. WTF #5. They would automatically charge you 18% Service Charge no matter how many in your party. WTF#6. They didn't mention a word about the already added 18% service charge but also had the audacity to print additional Suggested Gratuity at the bottom of the receipt. WTF #7. When you pay cash, they will never bring your change back. And the food: WTFF #1. Everything we tasted was not hot, either cold or barely warm. WTFF #2. We asked for Pu-Yi with Chrysanthemum for the tea but was given a pot of warm water with a lackluster tea bag. The 'tea' was one notch above piss water and mind you again we paid $14 for that. WTFF #3. Their prices must be the highest of any dim sum restaurant in San Diego. I have no problem with higher prices if the product is worth the $$ but sadly even with the lower San Diego standard the food here was disgusting. And the Good: 1. There was no waiting on weekend, plenty of tables when we walked in on a Saturday around 12:30pm. 2. There are ample parking in the lot. Given all the WTF's and WTFF's above I can see why there is no one here even on the weekend.

It has been around ten years since the last time I went to Emerald. I should have read the reviews to be warned on how things have changed. The first issue is they only take cash. At first I was told while being seated that "that they take Visa", but then that story changed to CASH ONLY. I ended up leaving the rest of my party to go to the bank and withdraw money. We also saw the fine print that tea is $3.50 a person. The hair in the teacups made it unappetizing. With three adults and two small children, we received the bill and realized they added the tip already. It still cost us over $180 for a small meal. The customer service was terrible and the server said, "I'm just an employee and don't make the rules." . I don't recommend coming here even though the food was decent. I rather spend $200 on lunch elsewhere.

Got like 10 different classic dimsum items. Some of them like the meatballs were straight up pink and undercooked inside, while everything else was extremely mediocre like it was made from storebought frozen. For example the hargow skin was stuck on the container and really thick and mushy. Unironically the worst dim sum I have ever had and it was expensive too Summary: Taste = taste of food Value = price, expertise, other non-food logistics Novelty = memorability among competitors Taste 1/5, Value 1/5, Novelty -5/5. Final score -1/5

Not sure why this place only has 3 stars. We stopped by for dimsum while on vacation in San Deigo as the parentals in our group were hankering for their usual dose of Chinese food. It ended up being pretty good when compared to the dimsum we get in Los Angeles. Emerald is certainly a tasty and authentic Cantonese restaurant for those in the area.

I called for a table for 18 last week, no problem. I showed up with only 11ppl, no problem. Never been to this restaurant but wanted to take our family for some dim sum on Sunday. Love it and will definitely be coming back. Good portions, good dim sum selection and amazing service. Clean restaurant as well. The tables were filling up all around us but service to our table did not decline. I appreciate the constant attention as we had a good size group who were hungry and had to constantly order and want our tea and water refilled.

BEWARE! This restaurant accepts cash or debit cards. Serving size has decreased with a significant increase in cost. Do restaurants automatically add a 18% service charge? A friend said the business can charge a 6% service charge if there is a notice posted on the door. It's RIDICULOUS, I'll go to Golden Island. Wish China Max was still around. Their food was delicious, reasonably priced, with good customer service. Don't like to be ripped off after a meal.

Don't let the 2 to 3 star rating fool you--this place deserves a 5! Angela and her team pulled off an incredible birthday dinner celebration for our group of 14 with only 30 minute notice. We reserved our party at Noon for a 7pm dinner. But we pick our family menu 30 minutes before everyone arrived! Appetizers started arriving to our table as soon as the party arrived! And then a flood of food continued arriving for each course! Every dish was delicious--from the appetizers that included flavorful minced beef cilantro soup starter and crispy roasted pork belly... to each course that followed! honey walnut shrimp, fried and steamed fish, spicy garlic lobster, ginger lobster, crispy fried chicken, Peking Duck, perfectly pan fried filet mignon and more! We had a feast! We've been here years ago and knew the quality, so we ignored the low rating--and we're so glad we did. Nothing else on Convoy compares. They even have private banquet rooms! We'll definitely be coming back. Love the remodel! AND LOTS OF PARKING! Brought back memories from celebrations past.

The service was good, the food was authentic and fresh. I was happy to find this restaurant and recommend it for dim sum and authentic Chinese food!

SD has notoriously BAD Chinese food. We have good to great Asian foods other than Chinese because, as a military town, American G.I.'s have been stationed in South Korea , Japan , Vietnam , the Philippines , and Thailand . They often married locals and brought them back to San Diego, who in tern brought their entire families with them. We've never had G.I.' stationed in China . That's why our Chinese food sucks. This place is no exception. The closest to decent Chinese food we have is a place called "Diamond Palace" on 54th and University. If you're looking for decent Chinese food DON'T come here. Jasmine sucks too.

Emerald Chinese Cuisine is under new management... Emerald Restaurant, located in the Convoy area at the heart of San Diego's Pan-Asian district, offers exquisite and authentic Cantonese cuisine. The décor is tastefully appointed, featuring elegant Chinese paintings and calligraphy. The restaurant boasts clean, beautiful carpeting and ample space between tables, ensuring patrons' privacy. This pleasant setting--paired with delicious Cantonese fare--makes Emerald ideal for a casual lunch or a relaxing evening out with friends and family. Last but not least, the family set menu pricing is exceptionally reasonable compared to other Chinese restaurants in the Convoy district. I must also commend their staff, who are professionally trained and provide swift, attentive service.

With recently new management, I think the restaurant is so much better now. It is no longer a cash only place, but if you paid cash then you will get some discount. They no longer charge for to-go boxes and no longer automatically charged 18% tips unless it is a big party. The food and service is great. We will definitely going back next time.

Our experience at this restaurant was awful. We came with a party of 6, assign to a table and ordered dim sum. Everyone else around us came later and got their food earlier. After 45 min, we got one dim sum plate. Another table complain they were missing a plate, so the the waiter took one plate off of our table and gave it to the other table to satisfy the other table. We complain how our food was slow, and they slightly improve but overall it was just a bad experience. Only one or two things were good off the dim sum menu but i will never come here again. It was just a horrible experience and the service was extremely bad today.

This is my favorite dim-sum restaurant in San Diego! Everything is so delicious and the workers are all really nice. Highly recommend. Note: CASH ONLY

My family wanted dim sum for Christmas so Emerald is our spot to go to. Yes, it is pricier. The food is amazing though and remains consistent throughout all the dim sum restaurants I've been to in SD. Just my preference, but I do like the paper menu system better than the rolling carts. I will say that it may be harder to flag down the waiters but they provide excellent service. My family likes it here and seems like it is our go to for dim sum on holidays! They do dinner until 9PM, which I have also tried some items from and it tastes amazing as well. Really big portions for entrees but it is meant to be shared family style. Recommendations: Glazed Bbq Pork Buns, Steam Shrimp Rolls, Deluxe Shrimp Shiu Mai

The dishes were delicious. The atmosphere is lovely and the service was outstanding. The best honey walnut shrimp I've ever had!

It's been awhile since I dined here. During my last visit, on Sunday NYE lunch, everything we ordered was good besides the chicken feet, which [the skin] tasted rough. The service, on the other hand, was terrible. Don't expect good service here. I usually never do, however, it was extremely lacking that day. We kept having to flag someone down when needing something. When I asked for 3 items, I only received 2 out of the 3. Then, I'd have to flag someone else down for that third item. The employees were setting up for some kind of event. But there were so many employees that that task should have been divided amongst the workers and some should have been serving the customers PRESENTLY DINING.

My friend ordered from this restaurant and invited me to dinner with her family. This is her husband's favorite restaurant and he originally came from Guangzhou. That means this place probably has the most authentic Chinese food in San Diego. I enjoyed the meal very much, especially the pork belly and roasted duck. I don't know why the review of the restaurant is so low because the two times I tried here were both good experiences and foods are very delicious.

Restaurant is right next to the tables, I recommend the chicken wings, the staff goes above and behind to make you feel comfortable

Food was fresh and delicious. The walnut shrimp dish had the right sweetness and the beef tenderloin, wow, melted in my mouth. Highly recommend Emerald.

The food is consistently good--fresh, flavorful, and comes out pretty fast, especially during dim sum hours. I always end up over-ordering because everything looks so good when it's wheeled around. The place has a traditional feel, which I like--it's great for family get-togethers or just grabbing a bunch of dishes to share with friends. Service is usually friendly and efficient, even when it's busy.

We were placed off to the side with other non asians and service was not good. 15 min after ordering ,no one came by or food for another 15 minute. Had tea. Last time we came food was great.

I didn't even know that a place like this even existed in San Diego. I have lived here most of life and I am hardly surprised when I go anywhere in the city. So I was delighted when I came here. It's a place I would imagine would be in a China town in San Francisco or LA somewhere but not in San Diego. My friend just got married to an amazing Chinese girl and this is where they had their reception. They pretty much reserved the whole place for the event. They had an area for pictures. A dance floor with a deejay. Of course, they had all the dining room tables for all the guests. The crazy part. The food did not stop coming. Every ten minutes, not including any wedding announcements, a large plate of food came to our table. It was nuts just how much food was served. Beef, chicken, duck, fish, soup, rice and everything else under the sun. Authentic Asian dishes served fresh. Everything was so delicious. We were just one table too. There were twenty other plus tables getting the same thing. The undertaking of cooking that amount of food? Just the thought of it is awesome. The service was great too. There was numerous staff at hand and all were very nice. Overall, a great evening honoring my good friend and his bride. It was a special night at a great venue. Everybody especially my wife and I left happy and satisfied. The food was really good. Now that I know this place is here. I am going to plan a family dinner sometime in the future. Support local businesses especially the good ones. Emerald Chinese Cuisine is amazing. Eat here.

As others have pointed out their credit card machines do not work on both Saturdays and Sundays. I just had to ask them "doesn't the IRS audit your taxes to see that your weekends have no income?" LOL the lady just laughs at me. Tax evasion and avoiding credit card fees and I miss out on the points earned for free flights and free hotel stays. The dim sum was quite delicious, the prices are astronomical but seems this place is much better than the others in the area. The outside of this restaurant looks so run down, old, and almost like a jail cell. But inside it is very nice and well decorated. Will come back when family are in town but won't be a regular.