The Happy Crane

✨FINALLY✨I have been to numerous pop-ups for The Happy Crane and Chef James and… oh my goodness I have waited for this moment!! ❤️OVERALL: 5/5!! Cannot wait to go back and see if there are seasonal menu changes and take my family and friends. 🤵🏻SERVICE: 5/5 My husband, friend and I were seated right away. We ordered mostly everything except the raw dishes. I warned the waitress that I just had an IVF embryo transfer and to be safe I wanted to follow pregnancy dietary restrictions. The waitress was kind and answers all our questions and asked for food allergies/restrictions. If she didn’t know, she would ask the chef and come back with an answer. All the staff were attentive. Took our plates away as we finished them but didn’t rush us to finish. Since we ordered a lot, I was worried about timing of the dishes coming out. Someone must have been monitoring us because the dishes came out fresh every time! They also boxed our leftovers for us, which is a small thing that I really love haha. 🍽️FOOD: 4/5 -Small plates: Most of my favorite dishes for the night. Yes you need a 🌟Firecracker Shrimp and golden coin per person. You’ll want the whole thing to yourself, it’s so good! 🌟Golden coin was a bit messy but I liked it because it was different. The mousse was delicious and the flavor was A+. The 🌟Smacked Cucumber and Smoked Fig dish was kept on ice which I believe was different from his pop ups. It was delicious, crisp, and flavorful. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the 🌟Beef Shin and Artichoke, but the flavors just worked. The crispy lotus root was a good change in texture. This had some spice but it was tolerable (and I think a bag of flaming hot Cheetos are hot lol). -Medium plates: My 2 favorites the 🌟Oyster Pancake and the 🌟Salted Egg Yolk Squash. This wasn’t your typical presentation of a Chinese pancake and it was thicker. I was conserned it would be mushy but it wasn’t. The sauce with the oyster pancake was delicious! The textures and the flavors were all excellent together. Before tonight I always thought it wasn’t a fan of salted egg but maybe I am now lol. You could definitely taste it but it wasn’t overwhelming. I loved that it was fried and I ate it like finger food. The bottom was a bit soggy though. -Large plates: 🌟Chasui Iberico Pork Jowl and 🌟Maitake Biang Biang were my faves but the fish was also delicious. The pork was cooked to perfection. It has that slight char but also the carmelized crunch. The hand-pulled noodles, always my favorite at the pop ups and I’m so happy it’s on the menu. -DESSERT: The 🌟Mochi Rocher is always a good choice but warning it is served very hot. Being served hot you get the gooey chocolate and mochi together! 🤤 🍹DRINKS: 4/5 We had a NA drink called 🌟Flying Nimbus. It was refreshing and citrusy. It was so good that I ordered another one. I definitely want to come back when I am allowed to have alcohol haha. I saw a lot of people drinking wine and I saw one gentleman drinking a beer at the bar. 🌿AMBIANCE: What a beautiful restaurant! The woodwork is stunning and creates a modern and open environment. 👜There are even purse hooks for the bar seats! The table we were sitting in, you could also see Chef James and his team working in the kitchen. The bathroom is gender neutral and the soap smelled amazing! Also they had the thick and folded paper towels, which always makes me feel fancy. 🅿️PARKING: street parking can be difficult but there is the Performing Arts Parking Garage a block away which made it easy. 📍AREA: Love all the small shops around Hayes Valley. We did some shopping before dinner and contemplated getting salt and straw after but we were too full.

This is genuinely the best restaurant in SF! Super inventive food, attentive and not fussy staff, good vibes and an all around amazing experience.

Lie the atmosphere there, the services were awesome and polite I enjoyed the food a lot it was very delicious. This Chinese food taste so different compare the food I normally eat just glad my sister took me there for experience the waitress was so nice always check on us to make sure we are good love the desert as well

FINALLY!! I have been to numerous pop-ups for The Happy Crane and Chef James and... oh my goodness I have waited for this moment!! OVERALL: 5/5!! Cannot wait to go back and see if there are seasonal menu changes and take my family and friends. SERVICE: 5/5 My husband, friend and I were seated right away. We ordered mostly everything except the raw dishes. I warned the waitress that I just had an IVF embryo transfer and to be safe I wanted to follow pregnancy dietary restrictions. The waitress was kind and answers all our questions and asked for food allergies/restrictions. If she didn't know, she would ask the chef and come back with an answer. All the staff were attentive. Took our plates away as we finished them but didn't rush us to finish. Since we ordered a lot, I was worried about timing of the dishes coming out. Someone must have been monitoring us because the dishes came out fresh every time! They also boxed our leftovers for us, which is a small thing that I really love haha. FOOD: 4/5 -Small plates: Most of my favorite dishes for the night. Yes you need a Firecracker Shrimp and golden coin per person. You'll want the whole thing to yourself, it's so good! Golden coin was a bit messy but I liked it because it was different. The mousse was delicious and the flavor was A+. The Smacked Cucumber and Smoked Fig dish was kept on ice which I believe was different from his pop ups. It was delicious, crisp, and flavorful. I wasn't sure what to expect with the Beef Shin and Artichoke, but the flavors just worked. The crispy lotus root was a good change in texture. This had some spice but it was tolerable (and I think a bag of flaming hot Cheetos are hot lol). -Medium plates: My 2 favorites the Oyster Pancake and the Salted Egg Yolk Squash. This wasn't your typical presentation of a Chinese pancake and it was thicker. I was conserned it would be mushy but it wasn't. The sauce with the oyster pancake was delicious! The textures and the flavors were all excellent together. Before tonight I always thought it wasn't a fan of salted egg but maybe I am now lol. You could definitely taste it but it wasn't overwhelming. I loved that it was fried and I ate it like finger food. The bottom was a bit soggy though. -Large plates: Chasui Iberico Pork Jowl and Maitake Biang Biang were my faves but the fish was also delicious. The pork was cooked to perfection. It has that slight char but also the carmelized crunch. The hand-pulled noodles, always my favorite at the pop ups and I'm so happy it's on the menu. -DESSERT: The Mochi Rocher is always a good choice but warning it is served very hot. Being served hot you get the gooey chocolate and mochi together! DRINKS: 4/5 We had a NA drink called Flying Nimbus. It was refreshing and citrusy. It was so good that I ordered another one. I definitely want to come back when I am allowed to have alcohol haha. I saw a lot of people drinking wine and I saw one gentleman drinking a beer at the bar. AMBIANCE: What a beautiful restaurant! The woodwork is stunning and creates a modern and open environment. There are even purse hooks for the bar seats! The table we were sitting in, you could also see Chef James and his team working in the kitchen. The bathroom is gender neutral and the soap smelled amazing! Also they had the thick and folded paper towels, which always makes me feel fancy. PARKING: street parking can be difficult but there is the Performing Arts Parking Garage a block away which made it easy. AREA: Love all the small shops around Hayes Valley. We did some shopping before dinner and contemplated getting salt and straw after but we were too full.

8/8 Opening night at The Happy Crane. IYKYK Same goes for Chinese restos that have a "grand opening" sign up for years until it's crusty and dusty. "8" = prosperity so "88" = double prosperity No grand opening sign here but keeping a grand opening sign up = continuous state of prosperity. Starting as a pop-up in 2023, The Happy Crane's first brick and mortar is one of the most highly anticipated openings this year. The chef-owner is a fine dining alum that's worked at numerous Michelin star restos in HK, Tokyo, and SF. Dinner only. Indoor dining only. Rezzies on OpenTable are completely booked for the month and they're not accepting walk-ins for now. Sign up for notifications in case there's a cancellation. M E N U Modern Cantonese Cuisine - a la carte or $120 pp tasting menu. For the $110 Peking Duck experience, you have to reserve ahead on OpenTable. Full bar with cocktail program inspired by Chinese folklore. 5% SF mandate. F O O D * Golden Coin: Coppa, rose wine chicken liver-mousse, house bao ($11 each): https://tinyurl.com/535x3sef Crispy soft open faced bao with a savory porky richness. * Firecracker Shrimp w/ nori, shiso, mala glaze ($9 each): https://tinyurl.com/yazy89ap Their take on a shrimp egg roll - airy crunch, tender shrimp with a roasty tingling umami and spice. Love that they included the heads. * Uni Scallop Pancake w/ eggplant, worcestershire glaze ($11 each): https://tinyurl.com/48a36hyx Savory layered croquette with a nice tang and briny sweetness. * Ginger Scallion Scallop w/ scolded chives, jicama, salted radish ($18): https://tinyurl.com/3jhn2p4a Crudo style, the raw Hokkaido scallops were fresh, delicate, and fragrant. Similar flavors to Hainan chicken. * Crab Rice Roll: Fresh milled rice roll w/ shaoxing crab butter, trout roe ($32): https://tinyurl.com/bdyv2a9y Bougie take on a dim sum classic, the cheung fun was gelatinous with a bouncy QQ chew. Umami rich gravy from the tomalley and briny notes from the roe. * Wolfe Ranch quail w/ Sichuan salt, lime, salted turnip ($41): https://tinyurl.com/3s6zen3p A labor of love, the dry-aged, the marinated quail is like a mini version of Canto roast duck with a crispy, laquered skin and juicy meat...even the breast. Nice málà numbing spice from the salt. * Chasiu Iberico Pork Jowl w/ lime ginger compressed-apple, scallion rice ($43): https://tinyurl.com/kw2vk27f Deliciously rich and tender with a smoky charred flavor and savory sweetness. The crisp tart apple helped reset the palate. Served with aromatic scallion rice with a drizzle of sweet soy. IMO, the protein portion needs to be beefed up for a "large" plate. * Mochi Rocher w/ cinnamon chocolate, hazelnut (2 pc-$13): https://tinyurl.com/yw3xrs3r A mashup of ferrero rocher chocolate and jian dui (fried sesame balls) - crispy and chewy with a warm, gooey bittersweet ganache and hazelnut filling. Not too sweet but wish the mochi was chewier. S E R V I C E For night one, the service was on point by our server, Melody and staff. Friendly, polished, and attentive, they made sure water glasses were always filled, empty plates whisked away, and napkins were folded when leaving our seat. There were some lags with food service but it's night one. A M B I A N C E Casual sophistication with earth tones and splash of color from the jade green banquettes. Open kitchen with view of the wok action. About 18 tables and bar seating. P A R K I N G Difficult street parking. Nearest garage is at The Performing Arts Garage a block up on Grove. Overall, I usually find "modern" ethnic restos miss the mark on flavor so I didn't have high expectations. This wasn't the case with The Happy Crane. Growing up eating Canto food, I enjoyed their traditional flavors with playful, creative twists on the classics. IMO, they're the one to watch out for.

The best restaurant in SF! The food was inventive but not fussy. The service was attentive but not stuffy. My favorite dishes were the abalone, tofu salad, beef shin, pea dumplings and iberico pork jowl. You must come here.

I enjoyed the food very well like the atmosphere was good, the waitress was very nice like the way how politely they were, I enjoyed every moments there it was very cool and like how they make the place nice and cool