Far East Cafe

The details and atmosphere are stunning. From century old chandeliers and murals to crown molding and vibrant colors, this restaurant will have you immersed in culture. We stopped in for drinks. The host was so knowledgeable about the history of the restaurant and kept us informed and entertained.

The inside of the restaurant was beautiful. Soup was delicious, The food was prepared and cooked well. ...when they say 'sour' they mean it!

Very mixed feelings about this place. We came here quite late mid week and were begrudgingly shown to a table by the male host. The waitress who took our drinks order was quite short & blunt, as was the man that took our food order (which we had a considerable wait for). I do wonder if this is a language barrier but it wasn’t warm/friendly or welcoming in the slightest. As we were eating late we shared a fried rice and a sweet & sour chicken. The food was delicious! Huge portion sizes and really reasonably priced too (especially for San Francisco). The restaurant had a sort of weird vibe, hard to explain and they had 2 large, very sad looking fish tanks at the end by the kitchen. I wish I’d taken a photo but they really didn’t look clean. This put us off ordering any seafood, especially since the sign outside advertises this place as a seafood restaurant. I don’t think we’d return here to eat inside, however a takeaway meal would definitely be considered!

Spent : $38 Ordered: Veg. Chowmean & hot & sour soup. Quantity was more than enough for two people. Noodles weren't that good. Soup was top notch. Got a fortune cookies at the end.

Let the good times roll! Fantastic ambiance (right in the middle of china town). Great food. Very memorable.

Lovely restaurant. We had excellent service, everyone was very kind and good to us. I had the Hot and Sour Soup which was superb and I was very happy that it is vegetarian. Would definitely return. I love the unique decor especially the chandeliers.

Overall very good imression on Thanksgiving eve. Ordered family dinner for 2 with prawns. Tasty dishes and sauces fast service, good size. A little bit indifferent personnel. Didn't feel that their staff was interested in serving us. We didn't care about it. This dinner cost us $46 without beer or wine.

Good food, good service, I had no complaints nothing too memorable other than the architecture of the building was pretty cool

Right outside the restaurant was a man in red who greeted us and led us into the restaurant. First impression as we walked in? Wow! Place felt grand. Its was red everywhere with some really huge vintage-looking chandeliers . We also noticed a few curtained-off dining sections which appear to cater to guests who don't want to be seen or seen. Place don't look too busy at 7:30 pm but it picked up after 8 pm. We ate in the main restaurant section. We just ordered Yang Chow Fried rice which did not disappoint. Also ordered their pork dumplings which were huge and tasted good. The menu was extensive and featured a few photos in it. Prices seem reasonable. Service was fast and efficient. Wait staff was comprised of older men who I assumed have been working there since the restaurant opened. All in all, a pleasant experience for us.

This is one of the oldest restaurants in SF's Chinatown, and has a very nice atmosphere, including booths with curtains (which apparently must be reserved at least a day in advance - we requested one of the many empty booths, and were told they were by reservation only). Very nice and attentive service. My wife and I shared a few dishes, including sizzling rice soup, almond pressed duck (which I know is touristy, but I like it occasionally), and beef chow fun. They were all OK, but not particularly memorable. Prices were fair for this kind of restaurant. Because of the history and atmosphere, we might well give it another try, and you may at least want to stop by for a drink.

Just came here on Friday for the school field trip with the kids. Lunch was fixed and family style. For 5 adults and 5 kids we actually polished all the fixed plates which was: - egg rolls - beef broccoli - veg noodle - veg egg Fried rice - orange chicken I feel food was bit less although many of the other tables had leftovers so perhaps we were just a table with good eaters. Food overall was OK. Quite bland honestly not the typical Chinese food we are used to but perhaps they keep it like that since kids are eating? Not sure. I wouldn't return on my own but it worked out for the trip since it is spacious and ample family style tables and clean bathrooms upstairs.

Great food served family style like how it should be! Family and I had shared the Hunan Chicken, Roasted Duck, egg flower soup, and pot stickers. We also shared some oolong tea which was very delicious. Decent service and good atmosphere and ambiance that's inviting for tourists. Would definitely eat here again!

Came here after the mid autumn festival service here is pretty quick. Only downfall was that we didn't get the water until we had to ask for it. The ambience feels like a Chinese restaurant very packed and it was very loud because there was a big group or family that was eating dinner here after the mid autumn festival. My girlfriend ordered the chicken chow mein, Chinese broccoli and sweet-and-sour chicken with a side order of rice which came out to a total of $70

Came here for 2 big events. One is for a friend's 70th birthday. One is for the new Mayor of San Francisco. The food for friend's birthday was great. Very decent and good portion. Most of the dishes were pretty tasty. The second event; however, was a disappointment. The shrimp was cold and not much taste to it. The fried rice was not cooked through. The Peking duck's skin was not crunchy at all. Overall, it was a huge disappointment. I wish the food would be more consistent. Hopefully the next time will be better ?!

I've been to SF's Chinatown plenty of times but I never tried this place before. And I was not disappointed AT ALL!!! The service was great! The soup with fried wontons was amazing!!! literally still thinking about it. I ordered the chicken fried rice, and tried some of my boyfriend's beef and veggies plate, along with some yummy chow mein my friend ordered. And ended the meal with fortune cookies. I'll definitely come back again when i'm in SF! And if you're visiting or live in SF check it out!

One off the last banquet halls in SF Chinatown. Authentic old world decor and charm. Cantonese food with a large menu. Used for weddings, baby parties and community events. Room for dancing and entertainment upstairs. Food is authentic for banquet meals and also good for everyday meals. Sorry no photos.

Wow this place has been around since I was a kid. I have never eaten here or ever stepped inside since I don't normally work in Chinatown. All my buddies frequent this restaurant regularly. I had the opportunity to meet Cathy this past summer while working in Chinatown. One of my buddies introduced me. Very nice person and very welcoming. She invited us in to eat but we had declined. About a couple of months ago, I learn that Far East Restaurant was owned by people I knew. It turns out that I grew up with Cathy's brothers and I know her dad. Worked with a bunch of guys yesterday and decided to dine at Far East for the first time. Cathy greeted us and I explained I know her dad and brothers from my childhood. What a small world!! Place is very cool and interesting. Sat in one of the private booths. The food was delicious and very flavorful!!! Portions are a good size. Prices are reasonable and reflect local prices. Service was very good. A waiter and waitress checking on us very frequently. I order take out at Capital Restaurant about 3-4 times a month. Far East will now be my new spot. Except for Tuesdays.........lol Nice meeting you Cathy!!

Wonderful experiences at this restaurant. My in-laws were engaged 50 years ago at this location. We celebrated their 50th anniversary here last July. They provided the perfect atmosphere, tasty food, and amazing service. We love this place. Spent thanksgiving dinner today with the family and celebrated another fantastic holiday. Thank you Far East Cafe for consistent hospitality and excellent food.

An episode of Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations brought us here to try their egg foo young, recommended by host, Andrew Zimmern. I had fandom of Mr. Z until I learned he loathes Spam. Being from Hawaii, that canned meat holds a special place in my arteries! ATMOSPHERE: Located in Chinatown, the exterior architecture is storybook-charming. Inside, an unused small bar, low tops and private curtained-booths were available. RESERVATIONS: We came for a late lunch and the place was dead (3pm on a Monday), so I'll leave it up to you. MENU: Extensive collection of traditional dishes. I didn't see any dim sum carts or menu. FOOD: BBQ Pork Foo Young - $18.00 I'm not sure exactly which protein he featured on the show but we went with pork. Tender pork, fluffy eggs and savory sauce; I liked it but didn't love it. It's simply not my favorite Chinese dish. Beef with Snow Peas - $24.00 Very tender beef, fresh & crunchy peas, but it need sodium! Splashed on some shoyu from the table and it was perfect. Chicken Fried Rice - $16.00 As much as I love fried rice, I didn't want to order it as it was just me and my spouse. And, I know how large the portion can be, but he insisted. Sure enough, the heaping mound of carbs could feed four or more stomachs. It too was in need of sodium. Sprinkled on salt and, voilà. SERVICE: Friendly greeting and wait service, quick food delivery but no follow up in between. OVERALL: Good-portioned, fair-priced, under-seasoned food.

Staff rude, liquor watered down, expensive for no apparent reason. Cool ambiance. Food not tasted but extensive menu. If their food is as watered down as their drink, don't come here.

Far East Cafe in Chinatown is a true San Francisco gem, as it's one of the city's longest running Chinese cafes since its opening in 1920. Visiting feels like stepping into a time machine, with its vintage interior, private booths, murals, and antique Chinese lanterns. This Chinatown landmark not only offers nostalgic ambiance, but also serves delicious old-fashioned American-style Cantonese cuisine. We began with a Longan martini, (which is in the same family as lychee fruit.) Far East Cafe is also known for their soup, with wontons, and large pieces of seafood. A favorite of mine was the salt and garlic chicken wings, and we also got the curry tomato beef chow mein, fried rice, and the pan-fried string beans with basil and minced pork. The Far East Cafe is a treasure that joins pastimes with the flavors of Chinese cuisine.

The food was excellent and served hot. The service very helpful and friendly The restaurant was classic and well appointed. I live in SF and highly recommend for locals and tourist

I just love this place in the heart of Chinatown ! Try the Peking Duck !!! It is the very, very best !!!

This place is much better than some of the reviews would lead you to believe. We stopped mid day, it had a great lunch of Hong Kong style noodles and orange chicken. Service was exceptional and food was great. Prices were good for Chinatown and the ambiance and setting made it a perfect place to visit. Food was fresh and well prepared. The combination Hong Kong style noodles is some of the best I've had. Give this place a try!

I just turned that milestone age which granted me automatic admission into AARP. To celebrate that milestone age birthday, my family and I did a huge research throughout Chinatown to host a part of 30. Far East Cafe came to the top of the list and the experience we had was next to none. The course meal was plentiful to feed my party, we had a section dedicated to our party, we were able to bring our own wine and our own cake, and the cocktail bar mixed some mean drinks for my birthday. The restaurant owner or manager was able to accommodate all of our needs, including changing the set menu to include mu shu chicken and egg foo young. Incidentally, the best things on the restaurant's menu in my opinion. We also had peking duck, lobster, Yangchao chow mein (you can't do a birthday without noodles which symbolizes long life). The service and experience we had far exceeded our expectation. More importantly, it really is the restaurant that churns out the BEST egg foo young in San Francisco, no doubt because it is really also the OLDEST remaining SF Chinatown restaurant - which started its journey in the early 1900s. I understand also it was saved during pandemic, double the happiness. I am grateful of this amazing restaurant for its service and fantastic food that made my 50th birthday special.

I ventured into Far East Cafe while visiting Chinatown for the first time and was impressed by the friendly host server. Water and tea was quickly available. I eventually ordered the Imperial Seafood Soup and Fried Prawns. The soup arrived in a short time and I was shocked at the large bowl. VERY FLAVORFUL and nourishing. The fried prawns were good to close out my meal with. The restaurant featured vintage Chinese art and decor that dates back to its long tenure in Chinatown. My only regret is that I didn't photograph the food for this review. Highly recommended!!!!!!!

Food: delicious. Had- Chicken chow mein: typical, nothing special. Steamed rice: small bowl for $2 per bowl. Typical taste. Beef curry: yum. We liked it a lot. Seafood clay pot: had lots of shrimp, scallop, squid, fried tofu. I always love this dish. Beef cubes w vegetables: delicious. Good amount of beef. Vegetables were done well. Price: a bit pricey compared to other places in Chinatown. Service: good service! We took guests from out of town here and the management explained all the historical significance of this place and it was pretty cool. The manager was really personable & welcoming. Decor: beautiful old lanterns that are apparently over 100 years old! Although a bit weird to me that the lights they put in are red, green, orange. Lots of history here! Overall- a bit pricey, but nice atmosphere, clean bathrooms, nice clean place with good food to take guests. Portion sizes decent.

The only dish we got and liked was the sweet and sour prawns. Everything else was bad. And the place is classic ,cool old school chinatown vibes but the waiters are a bit difficult, do not try and order anything modified bc they do not accommodate that. I wanted to love this place but I think there are better options there in china town.

Selected this establishment with husband and friends after an afternoon of walking around downtown SF. It was early and the restaurant was not busy. We were seated immediately by a pleasant woman whose English was excellent. She offered drinks and accommodated our request to have our appetizers before the meal and said she would make sure the main dishes would not come out until we were done. The pot stickers and friend vegetarian spring rolls were delicious as were the main courses. We all ordered different dishes and didn't share. Portions were generous, service was prompt and polite and we were all satisfied. Meals came out separately and servers named each dish as they placed it on the lazy susan in the middle of our huge table! Two of us took home half our food and the other two are members of "the clean plate club". All in all this was a totally pleasant dining experience in a beautiful large space at a place we simply walked into.

So we were doing a staycation in SF. We decided to head out to China town. We were walking around and we just happen to run into this cool nostalgic building and we gave it a shot with London Breed sign our front. The prices seemed a bit high, but we were hungry. Our food came out and the portions were really small considering the price. Service was excellent, but. What ticked me off was that we were a party of 4, 2 kids and 2 adults and ADDED 18% gratuity and then asked for more tip. I don't like that! Really rubbed me the wrong way considering the are RIPPING OFF TOURISTS!!! I DO NOT RECOMMEND DUE TO THAT... I Hope this is something the Mayor Has sanctioned...

we just ate today Aug 24 ,2024.. the food was great but the service is rude and bad.. we still eating and the waitress demanded to pay the bill because they will eat their lunch.. after eating and starting to pay the bill the waitress demanded the tip amd i gave $2.50 cents because i dont like their services and replying just $2.00 and they laughing at the corner while sharing my tip to others co workers.. they are all rude .. i will not recommend this chinese restau... shame on you

The best Chinese food in S.F Everything was fresh and made to order. The service was fast and professional. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Sunday Mooncake Festival with my dearest friends! This restaurant is a GEM! Probably and ansolutely one of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco / Bay Area! The service was excellent! Quality and Quantity of food servings are worth the price! The ambiance? Very historical and nostalgic! My favorites? Absolutely, General Chou's Chicken and Prawns with Honey Walnut! I highly recommend this restaurant! P.S. I almost forgot to capture the mouthwatering foods, that's why some of the photos look like small portions. The serving was hella generous!

The food quality has gone down. Not used to be the same! The service is good, but can be better with a few adjustment The atmosphere is dimmed, prefer brighter lights, and decors are outdated. Also it's expensive for Chinese Food, and they charged 18% for 4 or more. Unreasonable. Idk. Probably will not return to this restaurant in the future.

We really enjoyed our time at this restaurant with fantastic, super fast service and delicious food. We are from out of town and we were so happy that we found this place while walking around in the Chinatown area.

A102 year establishment. WOW!!! The ambience, seating, murals, chandeliers, wood paneled walls are very reminiscent of its tenure. I LOVE IT!!! The food is delicious and fresh. The crunch in the veggies is perfect. The duck is succulent. The food is definitely NOT syrupy, sugary or salty. Service is perfect and attentive. Kathy in hospitality is amazing. It's definitely in her purpose. You can feel the welcome. Locals place and Fire Department as well. It's definitely going to be one of our places too. Travel to the Far East Cafe to see and taste for yourself.

I've been obsessed with finding two particular dishes; Hong Kong style pan fried noodles with beef, onions and peas in a sweet and sour sauce, and the perfect Italian chopped salad. Today I went for the former; I found the Far East Cafe on Grant Street. One of the oldest restaurants in San Francisco, and an elegant one at that. The special order pan fried noodles came out hot and delicious! Kathy the manager was nice to chat with and very helpful. I will be back!

A great place to eat with the old world Chinese ambience. Chinese food tastes so delicious! We were so glad to find a dish on the menu that was quite popular in the 90's and orders it, we were not disappointed!! Their chow mein is also very yummy! My mom's favorite!!! Service was excellent and friendly! I also like the fact that the restroom is clean, very important for me.

Service is excellent. Food is hot and taste good! Manager and Hostess very friendly with genuine happy smiles! The dining room is very unique with its own styles! Good and relax dining experience!

The hostess was rude, I'm sorry I bothered you with my business. the waitress was even worse. This place should get out of the restaurant business because they treat their patrons like a burden. That's just part of the reason, the food was obviously reheated and not all the way at that. We ordered a half a peeking duck, only because we were told we couldn't order a full one, I took a bite out of it as soon as it got to our table and it was barely warm. Definitely the worst food I've had during any of my visits to SF. Get it together San Francisco, don't let this represent all the awesome food you have to offer.

I've been a customer over 30 years. Stillin love. Yaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy! Cathy thank you for all of the years of commitment to our community.

Great customer service great food best place in town. Kathy is wonderful! Definitely recommend.

Food was much better than what most of the reviews said. With that being said, the portions are pretty small for what they charge. The spicy spareribs was about 80% bones and the walnut shrimp had about 10 Shrimp and cost $28 - that's about $10 over the average cost at other comparable restaurants.

Not sure why this place received only 3.5 stars on Yelp. The food was full of flavor and plentiful. The portion size was plentiful. I recommend sharing or you'll end up with too much leftover. We ordered pork egg foo young, Wonton Soup, Chicken Chow Mein, and garlic shrimp. The aroma of the food had us salivating. The egg foo young was perfectly cooked. I recommend placing two orders of garlic shrimp; you will not want to share them. We were there at midday with very little patron. I noticed they had private tables beyond the curtains. I guess somewhat private. I would definitely return.

Great vintage decor & booth! Loved the salt and pepper wings and lychee martini! My friend ordered egg foo Yong, something I would never order and it was quite good ! Also fried wonton in chicken soup was unusual too, I guess that was soul food for railway workers from china back then - I had never had this dish before. All in all, everything was really great !

I would NO LONGER RECOMMEND this restaurant. I first discovered it in the 60'when it was terrific. I've returned every few years when I visit the Bay Area. I've always sat in the Charlie Chan booths. Yesterday the abrupt woman Hostess said they were all off limits and used as storage. Several had tables and people dining. We ordered the $28 combo. DONT BOTHER! the Honey Walnut shrimp, a main dish looked like an appetizer with 3 shrimp each. The fried rice was okay, rather tasteless and dry, the Beef and Broccoli was adequate. Overall, not worth your appetite and money. Go elsewhere!

I love the Far East cafe. My mom who is 91 lives 2 blocks away. Kathy and the staff treat her like gold. The best hot and sour soup, almond chicken, spring rolls. Classic decor. Perfect for a large group. Happiness is eating at Far East and having leftovers the next day.

Great service, friendly staff, delicious food! Perfect for sharing! Decorations are typical from China. It seems they are making repairs at this time.

Food was okay and service was not the greatest. I felt rushed to order and the waiter did not have the best manners

If you find yourself walking the streets of Chinatown with an appetite, then I highly recommend the Far East Cafe. Service was quick and efficient in spite of a large European tour group. We were floored by the size of the servings - The Pot Stickers were huge, flavorful and way more than two people can eat as an appetizer. The pork and eggplant clay pot, I've never had better, could easily feed four.

THE ABSOLUTE BEST AUTHENTIC CHINESE RESTAURANT IN SAN FRANCISCO/UNION SQUARE/CHINATOWN!!!!! Authentic Chinese food can be extremely complicated when traveling to an authentic Chinese neighborhood (some being too foreign and fishy tasting) HOWEVER,I have tried most of the Chinese restaurants in San Francisco Chinatown and NONE compare to FAR EAST CAFE! I always get the delicious wonton soup followed by Sweet and Sour Prawns I love the sweet owner "Kathy" she knows how much i love their food and she treats me so very nice and accommodating! If you are looking for the BEST CHINESE-you must try FAR EAST CAFE!

OMG my brother in law and sister decided we would play tourist in Chinatown and we found so many of our childhood favorite places. Far East Cafe is still awesome, and the food super good. We had the best Tomato Beef Chow Mein, Sweet and Sour Pork and Egg foo young. Best day ever... Thank you!

In town for the last 3 shows of Dead & Co and found this quaint place after passing through the Dragon Gate into Chinatown. We had the Chinese chicken salad and mu shu pork. The Chinese chicken salad was the best we ever had! The mu shu did not disappoint either! Service staff were attentive and fast. Definitely recommend!

We have dined here 3 times. The only reason is they serve almond pressed duck. We are in SF for our anniversary. I called Far East b-4 going last night to make sure they had my duck. When we arrived, it was not busy & the server took our order immediately. In a few minutes, he returned after serving our beverages, saying they don't have my duck tonight. I explained we drove 2 hours to dine there & I had called to verify the duck was available. I know he lied as they didn't run out as he said, because they didn't make it that day. I was so angry. We continued with what we ordered: mongolian beef, which was 90% soggy, overcooked vegetables. The appetizer was calamari, which was so hard & chewy we couldn't eat it, the potstickers were good, the egg roll a frozen generic. The pork fried rice was good. We'll never go back. So disappointing.

Cathy is the best!! Thank you Cathy for all your help this place is amazing and you offered so much in the experience at your place

Glad this restaurant is surviving as they can as Chinatown looked like it has taken a financial beating. They had outdoor and indoor dining. Clean bathroom was a plus! Well spaced inside dining. Here's the bonus if you've never had this-Yee Foo Wonton! That's fried wontons in the soup. Check it out!

mid af - so much oil and sugar in every dish. haven't had many Chinese dishes in sf but this was a poor start