Golden Island Cafe

Simple Hong Kong style cafe, plenty of tables around (although they do seem to get busy) and one of the very few options that stay open late! Great spot to grab a little something that won't break the bank, and chat with friends.

Awesome little Asian spot with Taiwan style desserts and snacks! If you didn't already know, "Boba tea" started in Taiwan. If you want to try authentic Taiwanese desserts, THIS is where you want to go!!!! In the photo is just one of many desserts. That's a scoop of green tea ice cream, mochi (aka: sticky rice), azuki (aka: red bean paste), and grass jelly. DELICIOUS!!! 😋 Oh yeah, they have "Boba" milk teas too. 😉

The spot's got that classic no-frills cha chaan teng feel – cozy, nostalgic with the soft Cantonese tunes, and yeah, it stays open late which is a lifesaver in the Sunset. We got the mango sago (the "Yummy Mango" version with coconut milk and bits), and it was refreshing enough – decent portions, some fresh mango chunks, but honestly tasted a bit diluted and watery compared to what I've had at other places. The popcorn chicken was crispy and tasty as a snack, nothing wrong there, but the desserts overall felt kinda average – not super fresh or bursting with flavor like I remembered from years ago. It got pretty crowded quick (waited about 15 mins to sit), service was meh – staff seemed rushed and not super friendly, no real table service vibe. Prices are fair for what you get, and it's great for a casual hang with friends or a quick solo treat if you're in the neighborhood craving something sweet at odd hours. Not bad if you're nearby and need a fix, but I probably won't make a special trip – there are better spots for standout HK desserts. Still, convenient late-night option!

Dessert: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 3/5 Portion to Price: 3/5 Overall: A solid place for Chinese dessert. The extended review... Dessert: Almond Soup with Glutenous Rice Balls - 4/5 - Can't say no to this. Not too sweet and very satisfying. Service: 4/5 - Friendly service. Ambiance: 3/5 - Well lit with some decent amount of seating. Portion to Price: 3/5 - Pretty standard pricing.

Prices are decent for quality of food offered. Love Hong Kong style dessert. Perfect for cold weather with a hot dessert, or vice versa when it's hot. They also offer savory food which can be a dinner spot.

Tried their afternoon tea special, and it was only ok. We won't come back for them. Their milk tea and babo is good. The Satay Beef noodle was quite oily and small. The fried chicken wing was decent.

We ordered the Mango Deluxe, not realizing it contained coconut—especially since the menu didn’t list coconut in the description, while other items clearly did. One of our friends has a coconut allergy, and after we started eating, she began having an allergic reaction and started itching. We immediately informed the waitress, but there was no urgency, no apology, and no basic concern. I even had to get up and grab water myself. After some back-and-forth, they replaced the dessert with a cheaper option (Mango Sago) but didn’t acknowledge their mistake or offer a refund for the price difference. It’s incredibly disappointing how poorly the situation was handled.

I had the walnut pudding with sesame dumplings and it was delicious. So nice to have an open cafe to go to after the French Lycee theater. SF doesn’t have enough open cafés to go to in the evenings after shows or dinner.

Solid for traditional Chinese desserts, with enough innovation in the names and ingredient combinations to keep the kids interested. Whole area feels very old school Chinatown as does the Golden Island Cafe itself, so the whole vibe is very appropriate.

Still hits the spot for their variety of desserts! We came on a Sunday night and waited about 15-20 minutes before being seated. Got the classic walnut + sesame dumpling which is still 10/10. Also tried the mango deluxe and sweet fruit sampler this time. - Mango Deluxe: Came with a lot of mango fruit bits, mango sago, mango popping boba, ice cream, and dumplings so perfect for a mango lover! - Sweet fruit sampler: It looks small when they place the tray in front of you but there's 4 different dishes so it was enough food. The 4 dishes include mixed fruit, one scoop of ice cream, mango sorbet, and coconut milk with jelly and assorted toppings. We chose between 3 ice cream flavors and picked green tea ice cream. Everything was great and the sampler is nice if you want to try different things.

Mango sago drink: A little disappointed overall. I've gotten this drink at aqua club countless of times and that is something to go out of the way for! However here, it's a big miss. Skimping on the sago, mangos are somewhat sour, definitely not hitting the sweet tooth. Still good for midnight snack tho!

I had a satay noodles, tofu pudding, popcorn chicken, the food was amazing, the noodle is a must, pop corn chicken is not msg like Others place. The opportunities for this store is service, I wasn't greeted, I need to go to counter order for dine in, others were talked orders from table, the server was unprofessional, chairs and tables are clean. The portion size is decent size too. Except service, I will not comeback again. I felt segregated. And one more thing, I wasn't finished my pop corn chicken yet, two pieces left, she took the plate away without asking. It's so rude. 1/16/04:09pm

I heard that this dessert place was a local staple, so I'm really glad I got to try it! I think the parking was really easy to navigate; there were no issues finding a spot! The interior was very bright, and I'm glad that there were great seating options. I got the mango sago with my friend, and I was surprised that it came in a cup with a skinny spoon. This made it a bit harder to get the sago pieces, but overall the mango sago tasted fine. I'm unsure if the cashier was in a not-so-great mood, but the service was okay. Seemed very disinterested haha

Really cute HK style dessert spot! Their menu has both sweet and savory dishes, but we tried the sago and juice/slushy desserts. Got the mango deluxe and a mixed fruit sago with watermelon juice, and both were very refreshing on a hot day. The fruit didn't seem to be the most ripe, but I appreciate that they didn't add a bunch of sugar syrup to the dishes.

Tasty Hong Kong style cafe with lots of small bites and desserts. We enjoyed the sweet desserts sampler and kids sundae which had a nice combination of tapioca, fruit, strawberry ice cream and boba. The place has bright and welcoming lighting and plenty of places to sit. Service is also friendly and overall this is a cute spot to bring family and friends.

The desserts were fine, but the service was incredibly unfriendly. Sorry, I will not be a customer here again. Please consider what your customers are giving as advice.

If you want to satisfy a simple late night Chinese dessert craving, this place could be it. Not the best but if you're in the area this place is decent. I tried the sweet dessert sampler with my friend and it was just okay. Nothing stood out in flavor or freshness. Service is busy depending how late it is and tables are very cozy/tight. Plenty of street parking outside though!

We came on a busy Saturday night around 10:30 PM November 30th, and were seated quickly enough. Great start! But then it went downhill faster than my hopes for the night. A masked server greeted us, and while I respect her mask choice, it felt like a prelude to the "you're going to regret asking me for anything" energy she was radiating. We waited patiently to have our order taken, totally understandable since it was busy, and they only had two servers running around. But when I politely tried to flag her down (with a friendly "excuse me" as she was seating another group), I got hit with the most dismissive "wait a sec" I've ever heard. No eye contact, no acknowledgment, she just walked off like I'd asked her to solve world hunger. Honestly, my appetite was gone before the desserts even arrived. Speaking of desserts, I wish I could forget them. We ordered several things with coconut milk, sago, and mango. The coconut milk was watered down, yet somehow the desserts were cloyingly sweet, like they made up for the lack of flavor by dumping a bag of sugar into the mix. And here's the thing, I don't get why some Asian eateries don't adapt to basic American hospitality standards. I say this as an Asian myself...it's like, why is it a gamble whether I'll be treated like a guest or an inconvenience? I'm all for supporting local businesses, but not at the expense of my dignity.

Ordered four mango desserts from the menu, but all of them tasted watered down and had no flavor at all. Very disappointed.

Love their HK style desserts here; they're a bit pricey but they do the desserts so well here that I love making a stop when I'm in the area! It can get pretty popular but they're pretty quick!

Having walked by this place a few times and seeing how crowded it was, I was excited to try the desserts, especially the mango sago. We came and got a few desserts, the sesame pudding with glutinous rice balls, mango deluxe, black rice in coconut milk and mango sago. The two mango items had really nice presentation, but I'm not sure if the mangoes were not in season the time I went as it wasn't very sweet. I preferred the deluxe as the other add ons compensated for the lack of sweetness. The hot desserts were very good though. The black rice had a good chewy texture and the sesame pudding was not too sweet, which made it easy to eat. The place itself was clean, but the tables were pretty close together which made the seating kind of squished, and it was pretty loud inside when full. Overall, I would come back but probably for the hot dessert more than the mango sagos.

Service was good though the wait time was a bit longer after dinner. The dessert was perfectly not as sweet and the fruit was fresh. The ambiance was lively! I would highly recommend!

Golden island is super nostalgic for anyone who grew up in the sunset district. This is my go to spot with my friends after dinner for dessert. It does get pretty crowded at night, you'll see many locals here. I love their mango sago but got their green tea delight and also the sesame paste and sweet tofu dessert this time. It looks small but it's pretty filling! I think their desserts are good but not amazing but this is a great spot to hangout with friends after dinner or just whenever!

This is a nice spot for late night dessert since they close late. It can get crowded so don't be surprised if you have to wait a bit. The waitress was super busy because she was the only one working the whole floor. Don't hesitate to flag her down because she honestly has so much to do lol I got the mango deluxe. It was good dessert but a tad too sweet.

Ventured into the sunset for some authentic Chinese desserts. We got the sesame and walnut paste and the red bean and tofu bean curd dessert. Both were average and a bit pricier than I expected but overall it was ok if you are seeking out these Asian flavors that you may not find at other dessert places.

it's definitely been awhile since I've came here! We got two different kind of mango desserts and their black sesame soup & tofu pudding dessert. Asian desserts always hits the spot but the price though Can't wait to eat all of this in Asia for a fraction of the price.

Golden Island Cafe in San Francisco seems like a popular spot, but my recent visit for dessert left me wanting more. The cafe itself is quite busy, and the indoor seating area is small, making it a bit cramped. This might not be the best place for a quiet and relaxing dessert experience. One of the biggest disappointments was the sago with lychee. The photos on their menu looked promising, but the reality was quite different. The portion size was bigger than expected, but the amount of lychee was significantly less. It seemed like the photos were misleading. Even more concerning was the lack of flavor in the sago. It tasted watered down and offered very little beyond the sweetness of the lychee itself. Unfortunately, the lychee pieces themselves didn't seem fresh either. The avocado milkshake also fell flat. It lacked any real depth of flavor, leaving us wishing for a more vibrant and delicious experience. While Golden Island Cafe might be a bustling spot, my visit for dessert was a bit of a letdown. The misleading photos, watered-down flavors, and lack of freshness left me feeling unsatisfied.

MANGO YUMMY (5/5) - This was super good! It came with mango sorbet, sago with coconut milk, mango ice cream and mango! The sorbet was flavorful and the ice cream added more sweetness to the dessert. The fruit was also sweet and fresh. SAGO WITH MIXED FRUIT AND HONEYDEW JUICE (3/5) - I think if it was a hot summer day, I would enjoy this dessert more. It was just average to me. While the fruits were delicious, the honeydew juice was very underwhelming. - It was refreshing but felt like we were eating slightly flavored ice. I also disliked the container it came in because the sago settled on the bottom and was hard to scoop out. This was my first time here and I definitely recommend getting one of the mango desserts. They're popular for a reason and I think Golden Island is better than MeetFresh or Sweethoney. I also like how this place closes late and it seems to be a busy spot.

On a cold night, a hot black sesame paste can warm you right up. However, walking in, there was a distinct soggy wet cloth smell permeating the air, so I was put off instantly. My daughter, with less sensitive nose had cravings for the mango sago so we sat down... Even if this place looks clean, the odor with the door shut was not appealing, so I dropped two stars. I paid in cash and the server asked for 20% tip.

I was really excited to try the dessert here because normally 3 star reviews for Asian places mean that the food is good but not the service. The dessert was genuinely not good and the service was really suspicious. With all the items we ordered, the coconut milk was extremely watered down. The only thing that tasted good was the fruit. The ice cream, boba, and popping boba also didn't taste that good. Maybe their food is better but genuinely do not order their coconut milk desserts. The service was really suspicious. I came with a large group and my friends and I originally only wanted to 2 items (it met the $20 credit card minimum). The waitress told us that we had to order 2 more items but there was nothing on the menu that indicated this and she did not tell us why. It was suspicious and it felt like she asked us to order more so that she would receive more tip (usually big groups are required to tip). Overall I don't think I'll be coming back not only because of this but also because the food was genuinely shockingly bad /:

After dinner, our group was ready for some dessert and headed across the street to Golden Island at the corner. The café has about a dozen tables that sit two to four. Our group was able to secure two tables of fours and two tables of two next to each other. Thinking that this was a dessert place, from the menu they offered hot, cold and special desserts, fruit juices, sago with fresh fruit, hot and cold drinks but they also had savory snacks, sandwiches, toasts and noodles and snack, tea and lunch sets before 7pm. Not being a regular in ordering Asian desserts, I was looking at the menu and pictures of some of the menu items. I was looking for sweet cold drink and not a full dessert as I was still full from dinner. Having been on an ube kick, the picture of the glass of fresh taro milk shake topped with whipped cream caught my eye and I decided to order it. When the shake arrived, I was disappointed as it was nothing close to the picture. It came in a plastic cup with a domed cap. Dining in, I was expecting a real glass. Also, where's the whipped cream on top? Taste wise, it was not overly sweet and thick. Friends ordered the yummy mango, mango sago and watermelon sago and they looked good. Just wished my shake looked like what was on the menu picture. If I return, I'll try something else.

I have grown up coming to this spot for over 10 years now. An absolute neighborhood staple for Chinese desserts, drinks, and snack foods. Personally I love to get the mango deluxe just because of the glutinous rice balls, they are chewy little balls of mochi reminiscent to dango and taste really good with the mango sorbet mixture everything is sitting on top of. I love the variety of toppings and the addition of a scoop of ice cream on this dessert as well, and it is pretty big so you could definitely split it with a friend! I have also enjoyed their popcorn chicken and ramen noodle soups before, but I typically come for this specific mango dessert. The small store can often be packed at nighttime, so you may have to wait for a little to get a seat but there is a waiting list and the staff does their best to get through the crowds. You can find families and people of all ages, from young to senior, enjoying desserts and each other's company :). If you haven't tried this gem in the sunset district, you definitely need to!

This is a neighborhood staple, a line worthy spot when they first opened, before the Chinese desserts boomed with the boba and ice craze. We used to dine at a restaurant a few doors down frequently but stopped when they closed (RIP - Little Beijing Restaurant). The other reason I didn't try it earlier is that I prefer cold desserts to the warm/hot variety. After finishing our get-together dinner across the street, our group of 12 walked in a little after 6:30 pm and secured three tables by the window. After getting the menus, we were given ample time to decide on what we wanted before the young lady came to each table with her I-pad to take our respective orders. Seeing what the guy was drinking on the next table to my left, I asked her whether the watermelon was sweet and she said yes. I copied him in ordering the sago with watermelon (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=iHYOnz0OliRgCokZ_ZDdDw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q). I was surprised by how filling this was, yet how it felt so light in taking bites of the sweet watermelon chunks while alternating sips from the cup. I made the mistake of not constantly stirring so the final third of the cup was mostly sago. I could only finish half while there and brought the rest home, finishing it the next day. Do remember to refrigerate it if you bring it home. My friends had a variety of hot and cold desserts, ranging from the taro milkshake to the sweet tofu or sesame paste dessert choices. As we waited for our order, the room filled with customers. Our timing was perfect as customers flowed in as we prepared to leave. They also had an extensive snack menu that I wouldn't mind trying next time. Guess another visit is eminent.

Super cute cafe with both sweet & savory snacks! The must get here is definitely the fresh mango sago with coconut milk, I also add dumplings (mochi balls) and it always hits the spot! I also tried something new and got fresh fruit with sweet tofu which was also a good balance of sweet and refreshing. The prices ranged from $7-$11 per dessert which is a little pricey for the size but I think it's a good place to go and share with friends. The service is nice and sometimes it can take a while when it's busy, I'd say it's a very in and out type of cafe. It's bright and the white marble tables are a nice touch. There's a lot of parking around the area too!

My favorite Hong Kong style cafe in the city! I've been coming here since I was in high school and I'm glad this cafe survived through the pandemic. They're known for their hot and cold Cantonese desserts as well as savory finger foods/snacks (sandwiches, popcorn chicken, fish balls, etc.). We ordered the: *yummy mango *sago with mixed fruit and mango juice: the mango juice was served in a slushy consistency and was pretty sweet without tasting artificial *tapioca and sago in coconut milk (hot): it was a pretty cold evening so this dessert hit the spot with warm coconut milk They can get pretty busy at night depending on the day of the week so sometimes there can be a wait. There's an abundance of street parking/metered parking, especially at night. Golden Island is definitely the place to come for an after dinner treat.

Good HK style desserts!! You get both hot and cold desserts, and both are equally good. I really enjoy this establishment and I hope it's here to stay.

Clean, friendly, fast and helpful. Waitress suggested a combo for me and pointed out the special fries and club sandwich. Open early at 1pm. Went before all the teens came here. Food taste like what I remember as a child in HK. Cold sweet milk tea. Awesome service. Asians do not like overly sweet desserts and it was made well!

Live right HR by. Nice cafe packed at night. Nice in cozy inside and the food is amazing homey Chinese deserts.

Golden Island is a long standing Hong Kong dessert cafe. Early weekday evenings it's filled with high school students avoiding returning home. On weekends there's often a line out the door filled with people craving a nostalgic dessert or late night snack. They have an extensive menu of both hot and cold desserts and savory snacks. It's your traditional Chinese spot so don't expect good service. If you're craving sago, popcorn chicken or some traditional deserts however this will definitely hit the spot.

Cute little dessert/snack cafe with super reasonable prices and lots of seating! The menu is really extensive and has all your classic Asian desserts and a bunch of food (like popcorn chicken) too. There's a bunch of tables so it was easy to find a place after dinner to chill for a bit. It gets lively inside if there's a lot of people and is definitely a relaxed spot to hang out with friends. Parking around here is pretty easy since the street isn't super busy, and they had a bathroom too.

Despite the okay reviews, this place is always busy even on a Monday night. Super popular HK dessert shop. They could be a bit slow with bringing out the food, especially with large parties, but I would say the desserts are pretty good overall. They have a wide variety of options to choose from, whether you like dessert or just want a snack. Reasonable pricing especially for SF. The vibe is very casual, and there is not a lot of seating, making it a bit cramped, but people easily come and go.

A bustling Hong Kong style cafe with food and desserts in the City. I shared a mango sago with a friend and it was certainly enough for two as the portions are big. Mango had the right texture and the sago was cooked well - not too soft and not hard. It probably could have had more riper mangoes but it's hard to get a good one in the USA. We definitely got lucky and snagged the last table when we entered so be prepared that you might have to wait. I did not encounter any service issues while there but also only came with a party of 2. Would love to come back and try some more food there!

Love the new packaging for their sago desserts, it's a tall square container that carries so much. I'm always pleasantly shocked at the large portion of popcorn chicken that comes in one order too. Their chicken is crispy, well seasoned, and the chicken remains tender and juicy. For a heavier decadent & filling dessert, try out the HK french toast. It's a deep fried french toast with peanut butter sandwiched in the middle, and is served with maple syrup and butter. Sounds basic but it's actually sooo good! Plenty of small tables if you want to dine in, but ordering for takeout is just as convenient. They prepare orders in under 10 minutes so don't worry about a long wait.

I come here often. This is a great place for a midnight snack. It's usually busy, but the wait goes by quick. It's very bright and clean inside. Their french toast is to die for, I absolutely love it. Their fries and popcorn chicken are good too. I also love their coconut milk with sago!

I have been going to Golden Island for a lot of years now. The food has always stayed consistent, and the ambiance remains the same. It gives you a sense of familiarity. Our group wanted some dessert type of snack, and I wanted some milk tea. This place gives you enough options, which has always been a local favorite. The one thing was service was so-so plus during that time, it was not even busy, which is why the three stars. On other occasions, the service was a little better. It is also a lovely local small business with great snacks and still my favorite HK-style cafe.

HK CLASSIC. Even though everything is super simple, it is my go to comfort food place. I've been coming here for over a decade and it makes me so happy to see their business still blooming! There's always a line regardless of what day/time you come. The satay beef instant noodle is my favorite! Also love that I can sub the big glutinous balls with sesame inside with the plan small rice balls.

Before the pandemic, Golden Island was the go to dessert spot. Recently, I revisited with a friend who was craving it, only to find it drastically changed. The mango sago was disappointingly watered down, far from its former deliciousness. While I used to love this place, I doubt I'll be back.

Sweet place and amazing workers. New favorite dessert spot! Everything was refreshing and delicious. Can't wait to come back here again!

A bit lack of consistency. Few months ago it was my first time trying their mango saga with coconut milk, it was so delicious!! Creamy and just right amount of sugar and flavor. Recently, I ordered this again, so disappointed, it was so diluted and lack of flavor. Almost felt like they put too much ice, because it tasted so watered-down .

I mean, nothing stands out but everything is good and you really can't go wrong with HK dessert. The menu really hasn't changed in the last 20 years or so and the quality had always been the same. Can't think of a better nostalgic place for a late night snack. I have always been fond of their popcorn chicken and ham and egg sandwich. The curry for fish balls is reminiscent of Hong Kong and the HK milk tea never disappoints. The coconut milk snow frog dessert has been a long time favorite and everything from the mango sago to the sesame paste is always perfect. Great place for a casual meet-up or when you're just missing HK.

Still the best Dun Dan and Dun Lai here, after all these years. They also have a Lunch Special Menu (1-7pm) and Afternoon Tea Special Menu (3-7pm) that is a great bargain!!! Always great HK dessert here with fast efficient service. Clean restaurant; seating is not very comfortable here (think plastic foldable chairs). This place gets crowded after 7pm and can get crowded.

Good asian dessert spot! Big selection of desserts and snacks as well. They now take card and is not cash only anymore. Can get busy on the weekend as it's quite small inside. Parking: street and is not difficult to find Service: ok. Waitress was also making drinks so was quite busy the entire time. Didn't offer tea/water and I had to order it after receiving the dessert. Also noticed only a few tables had tea so i'm assuming it's only given when requested now which was not the case before. Desserts took around 15 mins. Mango deluxe: the sorbet was really good. I don't personally like popping boba, but other than that it was good mango sago and not super sweet. Mango pancake: it's basically a crepe Peanut butter french toast: i liked the peanut butter with it. Had a thick amount in the center and none on the edges so it would be nice if it was more evenly spread

Mango sago. Mom and pop cafe. Been in the neighborhood forever. So good, so clean inside. Support this place

This place has changed a lot since the pandemic. If you want water, you have to request it. They don't have the classic dessert bowl anymore. It's in a disposable plastic cup. It's always a good spot to get dessert but when it's a busy night, it's hard to get a table.

I love golden island cafe and this was def my spot growing up in sf. We came at 8pm for dessert on a Monday and it was so busy! We waited in a queue to get a table. I got my usual things and they were all super good! Definitely one of the best hong kind desserts. The only thing was the wait for our food. We saw a lot of other people getting their orders a lot quicker who got seated after us. Not sure if our dishes took longer to make, but this wouldn't stop me from coming back!

Their egg and spam instant noodle hits as a late night snack. They use Hong King's signature NISSIN noodles and it's definitely a comfort food. We also tried their Dun Lai, mango deluxe, and fresh mango sago with coconut milk. Service was quick and with their pricing, it's definitely worth a visit!

So it was a meh with both our desserts. My mango and coconut sago wasn't good. I couldn't even taste the coconut and the mango was icy. My friend's black sesame dessert was super thick and tasted like a paste. It wasn't smooth. It was like drinking a thick molasses. Overall a skip for next time.