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Abacus
Category: Restaurants Chinese Chinese [Edit]
2078 Hayes St(between Clayton St & Cole St)
San Francisco, CA 94117
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA
(415) 387-2828
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
250 reviews for Abacus
Review Highlights
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"try the bacon wrapped prawns - delish." In 14 reviews -
"Hot and sour soup was absolutely delicious." In 23 reviews -
"Pan Fried Sea Bass - Perfectly cooked." In 6 reviews
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250 reviews in English
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Review from Ruth R.
San Francisco, CA
5/19/2012
We held a private event here and Abacus truly delivered in every aspect! Food, service, ambiance--everything was excellent!
My personal favs: Corn soup with crab (so delish, it will make you cry), Portobello fried mushrooms, Bacon wrapped prawns, among others.
Thank you David, Allen and the rest of the Abacus team for making our event special and memorable. -
Review from Tiffany V.
San Francisco, CA
5/15/2012
My friend and I ordered so much food they gave us a second table.
We came here for dinner before the game and got the garlic noodles, kung pao trio, orange lemon chicken something, pine nut wontons, and the ahi tuna with mango salsa. The ahi tuna had way too much black pepper and the garlic noodles was just spaghetti noodles which I fucking hate.
Service was alright. One of the guys is super nice. I think his ears were pierced. It was weird hearing them speak Cantonese even though it was as Chinese restaurant. It looked nothing like a typical Chinese restaurant with Batman memorabilia everywhere. My friend and I were also the only people here for the longest time.
I got the key lime cheesecake for dessert. It was half frozen and half microwaved melted. Chinese places aren't known for their desserts but still for $8 you would think they would at least properly defrost a previously frozen slice of cheesecake! Come on people.
I only came here because I'm all out of restaurant ideas and my friend texted me about this place and sent me photos from his dinner when he was here with his mom so I figured I would check it out. Someone recommend me some restaurants!
We spent $70 here. Eek! I'd rather go to Yank Sing with a bill like that. -
Review from Rich J.
San Francisco, CA
5/2/2012
Abacus is truly a hidden gem out in the Western addition. All apects of a great night out were there.
Our waiter was attentive and made a great call suggesting the short ribs. Our appetizers came promptly and did not disapoint. The ahi with the mango salsa came on a slice of cucumber and could not have started the meal off any better.
S.F. has quite a few good options for Chinese food some good and some not so good
In my opinion this is the best Chinese food in the city. -
Review from Rachel F.
3/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Abacus: strange and somewhat unsettling at the onset (due to a confluence of incongruous factors), BUT! Amazing through the finish because of exceptional, over the top and completely unexpected service.
(Plz explain, Rachel!)
Fine then, I will.
SO:
Abacus = Chinese delightfulness but also, it's somewhat modern and clean and sort of fancy-ish. (Think "new American" Chinese.) Ambiance? It sort of felt as though Jen I and I were dining in an IKEA showroom. Also: they were playing light jazz renditions of such classics as Rod Stewart's "Have I Told You Lately," etc. So strange.
And despite this fanciness Chinese-American newness and the sweet, sweet sounds of Stewart via jazz flute, there was this:
Batman decor EVERYWHERE.
Awesome! Totally awesome. And also, my brain could not process everything together. It went something like this in my brain:
beautiful flower arrangements + detached and formal service + IKEA + kitschy Batman decor + Rod Stewart smooth jazz = DOES NOT COMPUTE, guise
And the food? It was good. it wasn't anything that blew me away, per se, but my ahi was nice and Jen's pea sprout dish was really really good.
And here's where it gets crazy, friends.
We:
1. Called a cab to take us to meet our friends at a nearby wine bar. It was cold and rainy so... yeah. Walking was out of the picture.
2. Sat, waiting, for said cab for a loooooong time.
3. Noticed that it was more than apparent that the staff at Abacus was ready to close, so...
4. Accepted a ride from the owner who graciously offered to take us to our destination.
WHO DOES THAT?!? No one does that.
Amazing. -
Review from carol g.
Newark, CA
5/23/2012
Had a great dinner here last night! Very nice staff and great service. I recommend the garlic noodles, bacon and pineapple rice, Schezwan pork, Hot and Sour soup, and donot leave without having the chocolate caramel pyramid.
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Review from Chris M.
San Francisco, CA
4/15/2012
Pow! I'm sold.
I had scoured yelp looking for the perfect place to take my fangirl girlfriend, and I stumbled on this gem through the sparkling reviews of fellow yelpers. She likes batman...a lot.
We walked in Sunday, 6 pm, reservations. There were many tables open. We were greeted and seated at our reserved table by the owner, Alan. As my gf's eyes lit up, sifting the walls covered in batman material, Alan asked if this was our first time and if we liked his collection. She was bat$h&t (pun fully intended), and I knew I had chose the perfect place.
About the food: amazing creative Chinese cuisine. Not your normal kung pao place. Apps: bacon wrapped prawns. Succulent, awesome sweet chili dipping sauce.
Entrees: she ordered the sweet garlic flounder, and I ordered the crispy orange beef. Both, fresh, not processed, not oily. The beef had a round orange flavor indicative of fresh orange zest and reduction. Real, heart warming goodness. If you get rice, get the coconut rice, it melts in your mouth.
Dessert: we ordered the chocolate caramel pyramid, but also received the vanilla flan as well, an unexpected 'thank you' for all of my girlfriend's excitement. Flan at a Chinese place? Yes yes yes. Best flan I've had in SF. And I know my flan. The chef knows his subtlety. The pyramid was also good (a pyramid of fudge -- what's not to like).
Ambiance: intimate but modern. Music was smooth jazz/slow flamenco. What makes the place great is that it has deep personality among the conflicting themes: a sense of pride in the food, atmosphere, and what it means to share love in food. It is very rare that I experience a place that strikes that communication so vividly. -
Review from Dana S.
San Francisco, CA
Wowza. SO GOOD! The batman decor was the shit.
I had
Garlic Noodles (ridiculously good!)
Kung Pao Chicken (delish)
Coconut shrimp
About $30 for all this food (big portions) plus 2 cokes.. and it was super fast! Thankfully I live nearby.. -
Review from Tania D.
San Francisco, CA
2/16/2012
Probably the best chinese food I have ever had. I am not a big fan of super authentic Chinese so this was perfect. A perfect balance of authenticity and fusion. Ordered the wonton soup, pot stickers, mongolian beef, and kung pao chicken. All cooked and tasted wonderfully.
The decor is by far the most random I have ever seen. Batman figurines but displayed very tastefully (not tacky at all).
The location also pretty random (not busy or commercial) but pretty central and easy to get to.
All in all, great service (although my friends and I were 1 of 2 groups in there).
I will definitely go back and you should too! -
Review from Denice Z.
12/11/2011
Holy almost rainy night Batman ....ha ha
Super cute little place with Quirky Charm
I had hot and sour soup & beef with green beans w miso and brown rice for lunch. It was very good and i paid 15 bucks which to me was reasonable .
Good service , solid menu ,and BATMAN!! gotta love it . -
Review from Sung C.
San Francisco, CA
11/19/2011 Seated via OpenTable
This place is a gem of the area. It is in a somewhat residential area right by panhandle but oh man their food was pretty darn good.
We had bacon & prawn wraps (quite good but nothing one wouldn't expect)
Orange Beef: quite good!
twice cooked pork shoulder: ohhh yes, very tender and huge portion for the price tag.
I can't think of the other appetizer we got there but i remember us liking it a lot as well. -
Review from Mark M.
San Francisco, CA
10/27/2011
WOW, who knew this place existed, well, you know what I mean. A friend asked me to meet him there and my first thought was, "that's an add place for a restaurant...".
To my WONDERFUL surprise, it was great! We each had a lunch "special" for $10. It included soup, salad, and entree (I had Curry Chicken, friend has Broccoli and Beef - both were really really good).
This is not standard Chinese fare...I highly recommend this place!
Near USF or St. Mary's Hospital...eat here! -
Review from Irina S.
San Francisco, CA
2/28/2012
YUM !!! Everything was so consistently delicious. I loved everything we ordered. The only reason I won't give them another star is because the service also came with an attitude. Sure, you guys are "fancy chinese food" but I'm paying the bill and I don't want a side of snide.
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Review from Jade F.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 12/8/2011
Alright, so I've had a change of heart. I've come to this place many more times since writing my first review, and I'm less impressed each time. The rice is still delicious, but I've tried several other things on the menu that are just "bleh."
The mango chicken is so bland, not good at all. The beef with broccoli, again, bland as all can be -- the meat's tender though. The honey glazed tangerine chicken, you guessed it, boring. Then I read a review saying the crispy orange beef was so delicious... umm, not quite! Not only does it look unappetizing (kind of like dog poop), the taste was equally unappealing.
Sadly, after trying to force myself to love this place due to the lack of quality Chinese food in San Francisco -- which is totally weird -- I'm going to have to give it up.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/16/2011
I love this place.
It's not traditional Chinese cuisine, it's more California Chinese... but I… Read more »
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Review from fraggle l.
San Francisco, CA
10/5/2011
I liked this place a lot. Who couldn't love the batman themed decor, complete with bat symbol shining onto the wall?
The service was very pleasant, our waiter just seemed so earnestly intent on us having a nice experience, and even though there was a huge 12 top seated at the same time, and we didn't have to wait what I thought was an inappropriately long amount of time, the waiter comped us a free drink, so I thought that was lovely.
I think this place is really dependent on what you order. The bacon wrapped prawns were amazing, delicious, and perfectly done. Absolutely five stars for that. And I liked the ahi. But I can't even remember what else we had.
All in all I'd definitely go back. Nice waiters, judicious doling out of free booze, amazing appetizer and rad decor are definitely worth a return trip. -
Review from Bhavin M.
San Francisco, CA
2/22/2012
Fantastic new go-to Chinese place!
Food was fresh, service prompt and oh did I mention food was good!!
Prices are reasonable and would go back here once/week!!
Ordered the Black Bean Chicken, Veg Fried Rice (no eggs) and Eggplant Schezwan. All the dishes deserve much praise. Veg Fried Rice - had veggies finely diced into the rice - and was not oily (highly recommend it).
Forgot to ask what the obsession with Batman is all about - had really cool memorabilia which was kinda of different. The place was clean and looked well maintained.
Must try - Chinese place, hopefully others will also agree. -
Review from Andrew K.
7/23/2011
Totally solid menu and food, including cool ambiance and good muzack.
The only thing I didn't love was the service, which was a tad rude. In particular, we asked for green tea (that you pay good money for). They brought back tropical green tea. My mom hates tropical flavored tea, so she asked if they could switch it out for Jasmine. AND THEY GAVE US THE RUN AROUND. The pineapple and bacon fried rice sort of made up for it. And the spiderman theme. -
Review from Amy P.
San Francisco, CA
1/9/2012 1 photo
We had the vegetable fried rice, fried won tons stuffed with mushrooms and pine nuts, mushroom medley soup and orange beef. Everything was excellent and it was not greasy like other Chinese food restaurants.
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Review from Erin W.
1/16/2012
Good neighborhood restaurant. Nothing stellar but a nice reliable restaurant with a bit more class than most of the Chinese restaurants I've tried in SF. The prices also seem a little high for the quality delivered.
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Review from Ray J.
San Francisco, CA
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Small restaurant tucked away!
They have a batman beyond figure on the wall! Awesome!
Had the bacon prawns, spinich egg crab, red braised pork belly, garlic noodles.
Bacon prawns, and garlic noodles weren't as good as reviews made them out to be.
I was personally surprised by the red braised pork. You don't see that item too often in restaurants. In fact only seen that done by taiwanese restaurants or by my relatives. And they certainly did my relatives justice. Great melt in your mouth texture. Just beware it's a lot of fat (it's pork belly!). -
Review from Emily W.
Campbell, CA
Updated - 2/7/2012
Awesome! Great lunch specials!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/18/2009
they have really good lunch specials, but dinner is good too. i always say i am going to try… Read more »
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Review from Justin H.
San Francisco, CA
9/10/2011
Great service, reasonably priced, very clean, I'm a fan.
Bacon wrapped prawns and wok seared beef tenderloin in Shitake mushroom zinfandel reduction were awesome.
Try the coconut ice cream for dessert! -
Review from M. M.
Folsom, CA
1/23/2012
My husband and I enjoyed a late lunch here together back in October. The place is very small, but cute. Someone is a Batman nut, because there are action figures on little shelves everywhere. WEIRD! But, we still decided to give it a shot. So yummy! We both ordered the lunch special. We got Mongolian beef, coconut rice, and salad. The beef was super tender and flavorful, although I wish the portion had been bigger. The coconut rice was fabulous! Little strips of toasted sweetened coconut mixed throughout. And the salad had the tastiest pineapple vinegar dressing on it. Everything tasted very light and fresh. The prices were high and the portions were small, but I still give it an A+ for quality and taste.
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Review from Ryan L.
San Francisco, CA
8/19/2011
Interesting small restaurant -- friendly and efficient service, and a lot of choices for great food. Not strictly traditional Chinese; maybe a California take, with slight asian fusion, with things like sliced seared tuna as well as standard Chinese dishes.
I'll definitely go again. -
Review from David C.
Boulder, CO
4/24/2011
I've been here twice now... the first time, they turned us away at 9:10 p.m. even though they close at 9:30 p.m. Okay, I understand, maybe you're cleaning up your kitchen and all. But really, this was 2010 -- the economy still sputtering... you should serve a paying customer, especially a local joint.
So we went elsewhere and had a great time. But I was still curious. So when I recently returned to San Francisco, we tried it out. It was OK. I'd probably give it three stars, if not for my first experience. The service was good, but not great. The food was OK, but I don't see what people are raving about. It's also kinda far out from the main city. Maybe a good place for lunch? One of the very few times Yelp has let me down.
I did like the decor inside. -
Review from david d.
San Francisco, CA
7/18/2011
Abacus is a good looking venue with a twist. In addition to all the wood paneling and comfortable seating and so on, you also get bat man figures on the walls. An eccentricity of the owner. But service is friendly and they get the food to you in good order. And the food can either be good or considerably less so.
Crispy salt and pepper calamari was on the less so end of the spectrum. The calamari were rubbery and while salt was present to overabundance, the taste of pepper was not evident.
Mu Shu Pork was on the very good side of the ledger. Plenty of egg and tree ears, a bit of pork, and very good taste.
Unfortunately, I ended my meal with seared shrimp and scallops with mango. The shrimp and mango were nice indeed. But the scallops were an abomination. They were a pasty white color throughout and had been cooked beyond redemption.
If you pick well you will have a nice meal. If you pick poorly. . . . -
Review from Ben L.
San Francisco, CA
7/23/2011
This is one of my favorite chinese restaurants to grab something real quick after a long day at work. They are very fast as I'll place the order, Leave my house, Walk in side and they have my order ready! The guys that work their are nice and try to accommodate any special order I may want to add. Also they have a good lunch menu and is cheaper than dinners menu. If you happen to be around the Upper Haight/Panhandle Area give them a try...nice place to walk after you eat as the park and shops are in walking distance.
Things to try: Crispy Orange Beef! (I've just died and went to american chinese food heaven).
House Fried Rice. (A staple in addition to your main dish).
Honey Walnut Shrimp. (excellent)
Twice cooked Pork Belly. (very tender and rich).
Last but not least I would suggest the Honey Glazed Tangerine Chicken with Coconut Rice. (I could drink a cup of that honey glazed sauce as its so good. lol).
The Chopping Block: Service: 5 Stars, Food: 4 Stars, Accessibility/Parking: 3.5 Stars, Ambiance: 3.5 Stars. -
Review from Adie T.
San Francisco, CA
1/1/2012
Well-priced, and the spice levels were just right.
The chef's recommendation: Beef Short Ribs with Baby Bok Choy in Cabernet Port Reduction.. fall-off-the-bone tender and extremely delicous!
The ma-po-tofu was meh. -
Review from Lauren J.
San Francisco, CA
3/21/2011
Visited for the first time tonight, craving good Chinese food and wasn't disappointed. Had Potstickers, which came out with a green (spinach?) pasta on the outside and super fresh ingredients on the inside. Beautifully presented, with a great, traditional taste. Then were "Spicy Eggplant", which was hardly spicy but luscious in savory sauce. After that (they bring dishes out here when they're ready, not together, which I like because everything comes out at the perfect heat) was pan-seared Ahi, crusted with sesame seeds. The quality of the fish was better than I've maybe ever had in Ahi, not deep red but pink, but it tasted like sushi fish.
Biggest downside is that this Chinese restaurant only serves teabags of things like Earl Grey and Chamomile--no Oolong, which to me is a missing piece of the Chinese food experience. -
Review from Kat M.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 5/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came back here and actually sat down to eat instead of getting take out. Cute restaurant. The main server would not look at me and always addressed my husband. Usually I would have a problem with this, but I think in this case it was less of because I am a woman and more because my husband is a handsome man (hint hint)
But they were nice, the food was WAY better this time around1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/8/2009
Bland food but not greasy. If you like fresh food with lack of flavor, enjoy. (And no I am not, nor… Read more »
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Review from Carol F.
San Francisco, CA
2/27/2011
This restaurant would get five stars but I'm truly a fan of rice/noodles coming with the $10-$14 dish of meat that I order. Other than that everything about this place is great. I love the way they present their food on the plates. The won tons with wild mushroom and pinenut was by far the best appetizer I've tried. The calamari is a bit salty, but paired with the cabbage and vegetables it's delicious and cool. There isn't much table space and it does seem like a restaurant for a more intimate evening.
*Friends and I noticed all the bat decor and superhero pictures on the wall. As curious as we were we decided to ask the waiter why it was decorated as such. He replied, "The owner just loves batman so he had us put it up." I love it. :) -
Review from J H.
San Francisco, CA
1/5/2011 2 Check-ins Here
3.5?
If you're expecting out-of-this world Chinese food, I don't think you'll find it here. This an upscale but neighborhood Chinese restaurant, delivering tasty, well-prepared food, but don't know if you'll find anything especially memorable. I do, however, love the appetizers selection. Favorite so far has been the fried won ton with wild mushroom inside.
Portions are a bit small and it's a little pricey. The plus side is you can show up most of the time with no reservation, and despite being a small restaurant, you should get a seat with no wait. I can't say anything bad about Abacus, however, Eric's in Noe Valley is worth the ride. -
Review from Diana V.
8/11/2010
A great mix of California and Chinese cuisine in a new and inventive style.
Service is excellent, as is the delicious food. We witnessed several people coming in to pick up take out orders during our meal.
The minimalist decor added to the touch of modern food.
Though it is not authentic Chinese food, it is a flavorful rendition.
As a party of 6, we ordered:
Appetizers
Shitake Mushroom Fritters with Ginger Aioli (fantastic)
Crabcake with Sesame Ginger Aioli & Mixed Greens (the best crab cakes I have ever eaten -- a fan favorite at the table)
Fried Tofu Cubes tossed in Spicy Salt & Pepper
Grilled Chicken Satay with Curry Peanut Sauce
Entrees
Mango Chicken (my favorite)
Chicken with Assorted Vegetables
Sautéed Ginger Beef with Fresh Pineapples (tender and tasty)
Asparagus in Black Bean Sauce (liked by all in our dinner party)
Sautéed Mushroom Trio (the only ho-hum dish of the bunch)
Steamed Brown RiceListed in: Asian Flava, Yo!, Lovey Dovey
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Review from Nish N.
1/5/2009
I'm not sure why Abacus is named after a mathematical tool, but I'd like to think it has something to do with the calculated recipes behind some of the best Chinese food I've had in a long time.
The dining room is a simple and quiet space, which can be a bit underwhelming save for the fun artwork on display (right now, it's superhero themed!).
But you're here for the food, right? While the Chef's Suggestions push past the traditional Chinese fare (think: wok seared beef tenderloin, short ribs with baby bok choy...), on this, our first visit, we stuck to some standards.
The potstickers were a standout, but then again, so was the mu shu pork. I wasn't thrilled with the ginger beef with fresh pineapples, but with all dishes, you could taste the fresh TLC (as opposed to MSG) in there. Heck, even the stir fried vegetables we ordered, not to mention the fried rice, were both memorably delicious.
While they don't deliver, I'm willing to forgive that; the food is worth the trip to dine in. -
Review from Kristina R.
San Francisco, CA
4/5/2008
I dislike Chinese food, because I was taken to nothing but the most inexpensive, greasy, cockroach infested dives in San Francisco from the age of 3 to 30. But as it was, on one particular night, I was starving and needed sustenance...and FAST.
My hub and I were stuck in an unfamiliar area, and knew no restaurants there except for the unpleasantly hot as Hades Poleng, which we swore we would avoid at all costs. Luckily for us, we stumbled upon this little gem tucked between the residential apartment buildings and cooler-than-me condos. I was hesitant, because of my dislike of all things greasy and fattening.
Well, slap my hide and call me Betty! I love this California/Chinese fusion restaurant!
The food was delicious! The flavors were clean, strong, and well-defined. Everything had a very distinct and unique, yet familiar, flavor. Hub had the twice-braised pork belly, which was basically the morbidly obese cousin to bacon. I had the eggplant, which was sweet and slightly spicy, with some coarsely chopped green onions thrown on top for a fresh, crisp bite. It was such a generous portion, I ended up taking most of it home.
The service was friendly and appreciative. They attended my water glass every ten minutes or so. I had a very enjoyable dinner for under $30. Not bad, for two dishes, drinks, tax and tip.
Eric's, Alice's, and Eliza's have some serious competition. -
Review from Kelly H.
San Francisco, CA
12/20/2007 ROTD 8/5/2008
Discovering Abacus is like waking up Christmas morning, eating, opening all your presents, taking a nap, then all of a sudden noticing an envelope perched inside the Christmas tree with YOUR name on it and money inside. It's a hidden gem really.
Great addition to the Western Addition, not so much new as it has been around for two years. Lawrence and David are very nice, hospitable people and really know how to throw around a light saber. As soon as I walked into the place I KNEW it was five star worthy judging by the action figures hanging from the all of the artwork.
The food though - Oh Mah Gah! The goat cheese, pine nut, and mushroom won tons came out with no sauce which at first was weird - pretty much anytime you have Chinese food apps you dip it in soy sauce or duck sauce, right? You don't need sauce with this food. It is that tasty and just cooked to perfection. The pot stickers are wrapped in spinach pasta and well, those had sauce, but didn't need it.
We ordered to share everything which I suggest - every dish is exceptional and while you may not want to share, it's definitely the way to go. I honestly have never had American Chinese food this good folks. Scallops, Edamame, Sweet Corn and Water Chestnuts? Seriously? Fuck yeah. Just go here on your next night out - don't forget to make reservations and definitely ask Lawrence about his real life light saber, just trust me. -
Review from Charlene L.
San Francisco, CA
12/6/2006
Don't you hate it when you work somewhere and your food options suck? Ever show up dreading your cafeteria? Yes! that's me! And you too!
We were caught at Poleng when it wasn't opened. Sucks. So we walked over to "that chinese place" on Hayes street only to find that it wasn't 'that chinese place.' It's Abacus.
So whoa, it's lunchtime and it's packed full of suits (myself included). Mostly my colleagues and St. Mary's types from down the street. It's noisy, and we handled our work business between ordering and getting the food whilst raising our voices a little.
The food is good (I had tastes of the potstickers, won tons, green beans and tofu/mushroomns). But the mango chicken made me sad. It was rather bland. The rest was SO good. I recommend this place on the food alone.
Service is good. Attentive, but damn those guys are busy. I haven't been there for dinner, but I'm sure it's good too. Glad to find something only a few blocks away, and oh so good. I'll be back fuh sheezy.
Oh and wear deodorant. It's small, and if you're ripe, everybody and they mama gon' know. -
Review from Janet H.
San Francisco, CA
7/29/2008
I am in trouble with my friend Tati K. Abacus was on a short list of SF restaurants that we would try together. Ok I cheated. I was in the area for an appointment and couldn't resist the chance. So I had lunch.
As an appetizer, I stuck with the specials and had Pea Sprouts Pot Stickers. The 6 pot stickers were filled with pork and had more vegetables than I normally have. The wrap was green in color, the first I've seen. With more veggies, this made for a more subtle flavor which was delicious.
For my lunch plate, I went spicy and had the Prawns in Ginger Chili Sauce. The prawns were the largest I've had in a long time. Also, the ginger and chili sauce combination was spicy and out of this world. The plate includes steamed rice and a mixed salad (the dressing was very light and flavorful).
All this was washed off with a Tropical Iced Tea. A nice, smooth flavor. I took note of the impressive wine list -- good news for you Tati. For great California Chinese cuisine, Abacus is a fresh perspective. Will be back for dinner with Tati in the near term! -
Review from Sue L.
3/31/2009
Dining at Abacus stirs up a fight between my inner hidden yuppie (of which I had no clue existed) and my inner FOB (of which I've long neglected since moving out of the sunset).
I came here for dinner last night with my vegetarian friend. We started off with the puree of carrot soup and shared 3 dishes for our main course: Szechuan Spicy Eggplant, Braised Tofu with Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms, Green Beans in Spicy Chili Sauce. The sauces on all three dishes tasted the same except with different degrees of spiciness. Dishes were tasty, but not quite what I expected. I liked the fact that they were not greasy and portions were large enough so that I can have it for lunch today. Perhaps, next time I should try their meat dishes and order something that doesn't have "Spicy" in the name.
K.O. - Inner FOB wins. I'm going back to Eight Immortals in the Sunset... -
Review from seema s.
San Francisco, CA
10/10/2007
Food: Excellent
Ambiance: Elegant, cozy
Service: Awkwardly tepid -
Review from Rachel H.
Updated - 7/27/2010
Ahhh so delicious! Went back recently and fell in love all over again. Maybe it's the Bat Signal, calling me here. I AM BATMAN, AFTER ALL.
This time we had the bacon wrapped prawns, which I didn't think were so terribly awesome as everyone else has been saying, but they were alright. What really shined in this visit was the twice cooked pork belly. OMG YUM! Boyfriend and I were fighting over the last little pieces. We also had honey glazed tangerine chicken, and bok choy. Everything was really delicious.
After that we each got a dessert. Vanilla flan and coco banana with ice cream. Usually I end up jealous of whatever my man ordered, but this time I was lucky with my choice of coco banana. GET THE COCO BANANA! They also have durian ice cream, for the more adventurous palate.
I was also very pleased with the service. The guy was nice and made a couple jokes, which I like. The bill with two alcoholic drinks, appetizer, three entrees, and two desserts came to $75 without tip, which is not too shabby.
As we were leaving, it was close to closing time and the staff were sitting down to a meal together. I thought that was rather nice, and a good indicator of the quality of the food if even the people who work there don't get tired of it!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/31/2007
This place is absolutely delicious. I had done my laundry on the corner for a long time, but never… Read more »
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