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Nan King Road Bistro
Categories: Restaurants Chinese Restaurants Asian Fusion Chinese, Asian Fusion [Edit]
1360 9th Ave(between Irving St & Judah St)
San Francisco, CA 94122
Neighborhood: Inner Sunset
(415) 753-2900
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
221 reviews for Nan King Road Bistro
Review Highlights
"You have the best Hot and Sour soup ever."
(in 39 reviews)
"Mongolian Beef - highly recommended."
(in 46 reviews)
"Their lunch specials are a steal and a great value."
(in 26 reviews)
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221 reviews in English
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Review from Cassandra J.
San Francisco, CA
1/27/2012
Oh. My. God. I love my Asian food and I'm pretty picky when it comes to finding good places that have vegetarian food that stands out, plus a really awesome hot and sour soup. My friend introduced me to Nan King a few weekends ago and I can truly and honestly say it's one of the best stir fries I've ever had.
I ordered a fried tofu and veggie dish lunch entree that included rice and a bowl of soup. The soup came out very fast and I was extremely impressed with it. Flavoured just right, a good measure of hot and sour, some thickness, bits of tofu, it was a perfect appetizer and I'd rate it with some of the best, tastiest hot and sours I've had.
Entrees came out pretty quick as well. I was extremely happy with the variation of veggies, the amount of food, and the overall flavour. There was also more than enough to fill me up.
The price here is also flat out amazing. $7 for a lunch dish, including soup and rice? Yes please! I've gone to some other great Asian places for lunch that had food as comparable but the price was definitely much higher. Given the quality and amount of food, I was surprised at the final bill price for two of us.
My only complaint? Why are they way out in the Inner Sunset!? This isn't an area of SF that I go to often so I can't see myself getting their delicious tasty food more often! That being said, I'd happily go out of my way once in awhile to pick up lunch here. Or see if they'll deliver? Oh please yes, send some of that awesome food out to my place! -
Review from Fallon P.
The bf and I decided to check this place out after driving by San Tung and seeing that there were too many people waiting for a table! But, that's expected! Anyway, I'm glad we came here instead of deciding to eat something else because we were really craving Chinese food.
It was around 6:15 on a Monday night and the place was empty. The hostess motioned that we could sit anywhere we wanted and so we did. Shortly thereafter, she handed us our menus and gave us water. Then the bf and I decided on wonton soup for him, miso tofu soup for myself, crispy sesame chicken, millennia vegetables with garlic sauce, and steamed rice.
My soup was ok. I thought it was lacking in flavor. I had some of the bf's soup and the broth was really good. He thought it was spicy, but I thought it was more peppery. Still flavorful nonetheless. The crispy sesame chicken was delicious! I'm glad we got this entree instead of the wings because the hostess even recommended the sesame chicken instead. It did not disappoint!
The chicken was all white meat and it was def crunchy. Not too sweet and not too spicy. But, perfect! The millennia vegetables were great as well. The broccoli soaked up the garlic sauce really nicely and just melted in your mouth. So good! My mouth is watering right now!
Final verdict: definitely a place the bf and I would re-visit again! There's no long wait and a great alternative to San Tung if you happen to be in the area. Dinner for 2 for less than $30. Service could have been better, but it wasn't a deal breaker and they get a lot of takeout and delivery orders. So, it's understandable that they aren't as attentive considering it was only the hostess and a server working the floor that night. -
Review from Zachary F.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2012
There should be a defined dining category known simply as Americanized Chinese Food. This place should be seen as the definitive example.
Quality food. A lot of truly unique takes on a lot of their dishes. The trump card here is one of my favorite dishes in the city: The Double Happiness. (aptly named)
Come here, eat cheap, roll out twice as happy as you came in. -
Review from trustmeonthis t.
Alameda, CA
1/31/2012
YUMMY is all I have to say for this place. Not just great bang for your buck but the customer service is excellent. We have always had a great experience and great food when coming here. ENJOY
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Review from Theodore O.
Pacifica, CA
Updated - 12/15/2011
I like to keep this place in my back pocket. I don't come here regularly, but maybe 2 or 3 times a year and I always come with company. It's a good place to eat for a good value - not overdone.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/16/2011
The "double happiness" is still as good as I remembered it. I took my friend here and we ordered to… Read more »
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Review from Jamie H.
San Francisco, CA
10/19/2011
I have to admit, being from New York, I was extremely skeptical of all things Chinese food, pizza and bagels in San Fran. Pizza and bagels have paled in comparison but I think i might have found a Chinese food joint that rivals anything in NY. Nan King Road Bistro has the incredible sesame chicken I've EVER had. The sweet, tangy and crunchy deliciousness it why I go there! Also, the Shanghai pork dumplings are incredible; I would kill for them. Make sure you do delivery, it's the best way to go and it's quick. They've also never screwed up my order.
I have to say this Chinese food has made me re-evaluate everything I thought was authentic about New York City.
MUST HAVES: Sesame chicken and Shanghai pork dumplings!!! TRY IT! -
Review from W C.
San Francisco, CA
11/22/2011
Come here, people !!!!!!!
When I first saw this place I thought it would be a crappy place because there was no customer here. However my bf has always had good food here so I gave it a try.
I ordered fried calamari, eggplants with garlic sauce, and Cantonese noodle with tofu. EVERYTHING was so good! Indeed!
I'll definitely com back again. If it weren't so far away from where we live, I'd come here every week. It's a perfect take-out place, too. -
Review from Patrick C.
Seattle, WA
10/11/2011
This place is always wonderful. The food is excellent and reasonably priced. Especially for lunch!
Highly recommended. -
Review from Liz W.
7/25/2011
As a Chinese girl, I have incredible high standards for chinese food, and this place is so far my FAVORITE place to go for chinese food in SF! It may be too early to say that since I've only been there once...but seriously it was THAT good. And apparently their salmon is supposed to be really good, but I didn't learn about this tip until I had already eaten. The 2 dishes I had were:
1. Four Seasons Chow Mein soft noodle, carrots, cabbage, spinach, onion, & soy + Beef == 5 stars
2. Fried Garlic Chicken Wings == 4.5 stars -
Review from Jason T.
Berkeley, CA
I came here because of the overwhelming number of positive reviews. I left thinking this was one of the worst Chinese food places ever.
Lets start with the good, the food is cheap in price and the decor of the restaurant is modern and inviting. The Dragon Wings were good but not comparable to San Tung, down the street.
Now with the bad...
We entered the restaurant on a Monday night, while 3 other tables were already seated. We ordered the Sesame Chicken, two Shrimp dishes, Hot and Sour soup, crispy noodles, stir fried noodles, and the dragon wings.
The food took over 45 minutes to come out, because the restaurant was so busy with to-go orders. The front desk owner/waitress was extremely rude and was obviously not in the business of customer service.
I would have been okay waiting for the food but when the food came out it was drenched in soy sauce paste and MSG. It was the saltiest Chinese food I have EVER eaten. It was so hard to stomach that we ended up throwing most of it away.
Almost all the dishes tasted the same, except for the Dragon Wings and the sesame chicken.
Even though it was over 3 days ago since I ate at this restaurant , I still cringe at how salty the food was to this day.
God it was disgusting. -
Review from Stephanie D.
San Francisco, CA
12/28/2011
Oh my god, literally the best Chinese delivery I have EVER HAD! Arrived in 30 minutes, piping hot. They double boxed my eggplant so it wouldn't leak, and put the crispy sesame chicken ON TOP of the sauce so it actually arrived crispy! They are geniuses. Plus, it's ultra delicious. Thank you thank you thank you Nan King Road Bistro. You are my new favorite by far.
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Review from sheila s.
San Francisco, CA
6/4/2011
Quality Delivery. I ordered the Seasame chicken as previous posts suggested -- delicious. Now, I won't be eating this all the time because it is really fattening. I also got the Four Seasons Chow Mein (chicken) - really good and greasy, and there are some nice veges in it. They aren't stingy like other chinese places -- they fill up the containers and don't try to put onions and peppers as filler save money -- some places are so cheap -- and think that customers are stupid and don't know what they are doing.
Delivery was quick and they have Brown Rice too. -
Review from molly p.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 6/14/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Summary: This is the best Chinese food in SF.
Thesis: It's better if you eat there than if you order for delivery.
Narrative: I'm writing another update because my last few meals here were, once again, delicious. Although this is a long drive from home for me, it's worth eating there if you can, rather than ordering for delivery. When you eat in, everything comes fast, hot and delicious. When you order for delivery, your 45 minute wait could be 90, by which point you're hangry (hungry and angry) so why bother. Really good food, good prices, and nice service. Next time I do order for delivery, I think I'll call an hour sooner than I'm hungry. The other solution is to order by phone and pick it up yourself to avoid the hangry problem. All in all, one of my absolute faves in SF!2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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1/10/2011
I've become a regular here, but two recent experiences have me a bit concerned. Within the last 3… Read more »
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Review from Nina S.
San Francisco, CA
5/19/2011
Best Chinese food in the area. They also have really fast delivery and pretty reasonable prices. The one and only thing I don't like is the lady who works there makes me feel super guilty for making them delivery it to me when I only live 3 blocks away. But sometimes 3 blocks is too much to ask! So deliver it, bitch!
My favorite dishes:
-Honey Sesame Chicken (duh! tastes like it's from panda express, but in a good way)
-Kung Pao Chicken- so good. so spicy
-Honey Prawns- if you're willing to pay 11 bucks for one dish, go for it. actually, even if you're not willing to pay 11 bucks, go for it. stop being so cheap guys, jeez.
-Eggplant Chicken- my boyfriend's favorite.
-Four Seasons Chow Mein- not your typical chow mein. it actually has lots of veggies and isn't very greasy. you could potentially eat the entire box and not feel guilty.
Dishes to skip:
-Those Crab Puff things people keep raving about on here. Gross. So gross.
-Pot Stickers- bland as f***. -
Review from Jackson Q.
San Francisco, CA
4/10/2011
This is a nice little sunset gem and a notch above most other Chinese joints. Their food is roughly similar to most other Americanized Chinese places, but there's some dishes with a fun spin.
I haven't been here in a while, but Yelping it and realizing I had no review makes me sad- so here we go, bear with me.
I went with a group of 6 people and we got seated right away, any night of the week (I think it was a Thursday) is a plus. The atmosphere isn't exactly nice but isn't like your average, janky Chinese joints either. Kinda fun, like a cool uncle's city apartment. I like the beech wood and green walls.
The dish to get here is definitely, hands-down the Raspberry Sweet & Sour Chicken. Now infamous in my group of friends, we have elevated this dish to cult-like status. And so it should be! It's so scrumptious, so tender and so sticky and sweet. -
Review from Morty G.
Centreville, MD
10/30/2011
If I could give them negative stars I would.
I would like to start by saying that when I ordered the food I was STARVING and when you are starving everything tastes good. WRONG. So So wrong. This was terrible. I have NEVER eaten anything so bad in my life.
The only good thing about this place is that they deliver and their delivery is very speedy. BUT I would rather walk in a blizzard, barefoot, with no shirt then order from Nan King Road Bistro again.
I ordered the sesame chicken with white rice. Everyone on yelp seems to rave about the sesame chicken and I cannot figure out why. When we opened the carton, the sesame chicken looked like a handful of french fries soaked, no drenched, no drowned, in sesame chicken sauce. It was like the bitter taste of being ripped off by fellow yelp reviewers. The food was so bad that I threw it out half way through.
Not even the price justifies the taste of this food! Stay away! -
Review from Samantha H.
Vallejo, CA
7/21/2011
I found this place by accident and I am glad that I did.
The food is excellent...My top recommendations are the Orange Chicken/Shrimp, the Garlic Calamari, and the BBQ Spare Ribs. I have tried many of the dishes here and I have not been disappointed. I leave full, with a smile on my face, and feel like I got a good deal on my meal.
The service leaves something to be desired, but after you start eating..you do not care about that. -
Review from Sara D.
San Francisco, CA
2/25/2011
I've lived down the street for two years, but only recently ordered delivery from here, and the food is pretty darn good.
What to order:
Crispy Sesame chicken--five stars. The perfect sweetness and crispness, all white meat, extremely good.
Crab cream cheese puffs--five stars. Very good. Although don't be fooled by the word "puff," these are really just wontons.
Chow mein--four stars. Standard noodles, not overly greasy, but not entirely flavorful. Not bad, but not memorable.
The delivery was fast. I have yet to dine-in, so I cannot comment on the atmosphere or the dining experience.
Prices are very reasonable. -
Review from Jess T.
San Francisco, CA
3/28/2011
Pretty sure this is the best Chinese in Inner Sunset.
Their portions are nice and large and everything is really well priced. For sure go check them out for lunch! Great specials and friendly service! -
Review from Deidre E.
Outer Sunset, San Francisco, CA
2/17/2011
Disclaimer: This is based on delivery experiences only, as I have huddled up in my house during the recent storms.
Chinese food is always a go-to favorite for us when looking for delivery food. We've had decent, even good, experiences with various places but none were particularly Yelp-worthy. Then I came across this place.
The sesame chicken is seriously the best I've ever had. It's light, crunchy, flavorful, with just the right kick of spicy. So, so very good. The walnut prawns were equally amazing. The prawns were the perfect texture in a creamy, light, citrusy sauce with just a hint of sweetness. The glazed walnuts added a great crunch and taste to an already delicious dish. Lastly, the chicken fried rice is quality. Usually I find oddly shaped pieces of chicken, never sure if it's white meat or dark. Here, there is no question. Fresh, tasty pieces of white chicken meat makes a dish go from solid to great!
The delivery was quick (30-40 min) and the guy was friendly. What I appreciated the most was the care they took in preparing a delivery order. They put the lettuce portion of the prawn order in a separate container, ensuring the crunchy stayed crunchy and the lettuce stayed cool and fresh.
Added bonus: They deliver Thai iced tea in a large, very secure bowl which seemed odd at first, but I was *so* grateful they did that for two reasons. 1) The lid on the bowl was super tight fitting so no sloshing on the drive over. 2) Refill!! The amount they delivered actually provided me with two glasses of thai iced tea - not to mention how tasty it was!
Oh, and my roommate, who *never* eats left overs, actually looks forward to Nan King Road leftovers the following night.
Overall, great food, attention to detail in delivery process, good value. -
Review from Ping N.
San Francisco, CA
5/22/2011
I have to admit, I was pretty disappointed after reading all the great reviews and then only eating average Chinese take out. Maybe the take out is different from the food in the restaurant and it didn't do it justice, but if it's any representation of what I'd be getting at the restaurant... Meh... I've had better.
I read through the reviews and ordered the Sesame Chicken, and yes it was good. I'd order it again; not too sweet, and bit of spice, tender chicken. But I also ordered the Fried Cheese Puffs, Glazed Short Ribs, Chicken Fried Rice, and Shanghai Noodles.
Fried Cheese Puffs were normal, nothing special.
The Glazed Short Ribs were decent but heavy on the sauce making it way too sweet, I had to dab off some of the sauce with a napkin before I could eat it.
The Chicken Fried Rice was good, but normal.
The Shanghai Noodles. Not a fan. It wasn't really Chinese. The sun dried tomatoes made it taste really funny. I wouldn't say Americanized, I've had my share of Americanized Chinese... This was more like, they were trying to be different but it just didn't work.
I may give a few other dishes a try before I really write this place off. But for me.... this place definitely doesn't get the " Best Chinese in Inner Sunset" award. Just go a few blocks down the street for some San Tung or King of Noodle or better yet, a couple more block to Irving and 19th-25th. There are so many good options. -
Review from Lani N.
San Francisco, CA
5/4/2011
So if you're reading reviews for Nan King Road Bistro then you've already read about the Crispy Sesame Chicken, which really does live up to the hype. It's absolutely marvelous. Chicken breast lightly floured and then fried to a light crispy loveliness, and covered in fantastical sauce.
Outside of the amazing Crispy Sesame Chicken, everything we've ordered we've really enjoyed: Walnut Prawns, Sichuan Blue Lake Beans, Mongolian Black Bean Chow Fun, Shanghai Noodle, Wok-Seared Mongolian Beef, Cucumber Salad.
They deliver, they're fantastic, get the Crispy Sesame Chicken. -
Review from C L.
San Francisco, CA
4/30/2011
Nan King is the only place I would say not to be fooled by the fact that their restaurant may be empty most of the time. Their lunch specials are a steal and a great value! They are my go to chinese delivery (and I have tried more than 10 that deliver to us).
I highly recommend:
- potstickers
- hong kong crispy noodles
- mongolian beef
- crispy sesame chicken
- spicy string beans with chicken
- spicy eggplant with chicken
I am impressed by the fact that they use very good chicken pieces so you do not have to worry about getting mystery meat. The only dishes I think are just okay are their fried rice and chow mein. Otherwise, their food is very good. -
Review from katie m.
San Francisco, CA
12/13/2010
This is a great local spot. Located in the heart of the inner sunset with delivery; we've had their food twice. Most of their chicken dishes are made with all white meat which I love. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is much more modern than most places like it.
Some of their dishes can be a little or alot of the spicy side, so say something if you are even a little sensitive.
The honey sesame chicken is pretty amazing. The orange chicken doesn't have the most flavor, but the HUGE chunks of freshly cooked white meat and not too friedness make up for it. -
Review from a lot of d.
San Francisco, CA
5/19/2011
Needed dinner, needed inspiration... needed Nan King Road Bistro.
Delivery took 20 mins and delivery guy was super happy and friendly.
Having read previous yelpers reviews, just went for the plain white rice, and that was the most disappointing part of the meal. Seriously, they need to pimp their rice!
They package their food really well, the Thai Iced Tea (which was delicious and filled 2 glasses) came in soup bowl with lid for zero spillage. Hong Kong Crispy Noodles came in two seperate containers so that noodles remained crispy. Crispy Sesame Chicken, very tasty with a little heat in the sauce and the pièce de résistance... Sweet & Sour Raspberry Chicken. Give it a try! -
Review from Heather C.
San Francisco, CA
10/12/2010
DELIVERY!! =D
I was looking at this place online while I was working and the thing that caught my eye was the Fried Crab Cheese Puff! Called them when I got home from work and me and the boyfriend ordered the Egg Flower Soup, of course the Fried Crab Cheese Puff, Crispy Sesame Chicken and two Thai Iced Teas! =) They said that it'll be delivered in 30 minutes and 25 minutes later we get a phone call and they were outside. My boyfriend said, "WOW that was fast" we're so used to having to wait 45 minutes to an hour for our food to be delivered.
The Fried Crab Cheese puff was really good, I love cheese!! The Crispy Sesame Chicken was really good as well and it was actually crispy, sometimes I would order something that has the word "crispy" in the title and when I get it, it's no where near crispy! Now the Egg Flower Soup was something I was not a big fan of, it didn't have much flavor, I guess I was expecting it to taste like the ones you get at a Chinese restaurant! When we opened the bag that was holding our Thai Iced teas, my eyes lite up because they were in big containers and not in one of those plastic cups you usually get from a restaurant, ooohh!! =)
Fast delivery and good food, what more can I say! 4.5 stars! -
Review from Rick W.
Incline Village, NV
9/21/2011
Solid, yummy Chinese food. The lunch special is a great deal. The Hot and Sour Soup is excellent (certain days they have Miso with lunch instead, but I never seem to hit those days). I really enjoy the Chicken and Eggplant and the Mongolian Beef (my go to dish when trying a Chinese Restaurant).
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Review from Cindy B.
San Francisco, CA
11/21/2011
Love this place!! Great food and a decent price!
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Review from Marie L.
San Francisco, CA
10/10/2010
I'm chinese american. Although, my family is super picky about chinese food and thus by extension, I'm picky about chinese food. I lived a few years in Western New York and sometimes in a good long while...I crave regular good old American chinese take out. It's not authentic. It's a craving. So, I ordered from Nan King Road Bistro because it was close and I wanted to try something new from the my usual chinese take out place.
Joint: It was take out. So I don't know what the place looks like but from the pictures. This place looks more like a lounge than a chinese food place. Not a good sign.
Food: Ewww. I had the hot and sour soup and the eggplant and shrimp in a spicy sauce. I had to throw a ton of white vinegar and white pepper into the soup to make it spicy or sour. The shrimp were over cooked but the eggplant was nicely stir fried. I heart eggplant though.
Service: The guy who took my order and delivered was super nice.
Summary: Sorry, I'm never going back. I'm chinese and have my standards. I cannot see how this place has so many stars. You may as well walk up to the UCSF food court and get chinese food there.
OH!!! And no fortune cookie!!!! Really?!?! BOOOOOOO!!!!!! -
Review from Samantha M.
San Francisco, CA
7/11/2011
omg I can't believe this place has received so many positive reviews. I ate there tonight and the food was so awful I left over half of it there... and those who know me should know, I eat it all, especially if I love it!! Even if the food is simply okay I will usually clean my plate. But the food here was utterly tasteless! Their chicken dumplings were simply too dough-y and the filling inside was tasteless, and their mongolian lamb was also tasteless! It was supposed to be hot and spicy but it seriously tasted like nothing. I will never, ever, EVER step foot in here again!!
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Review from Bleep s.
San Francisco, CA
5/26/2011 3 photos
3.5...Gets the first place award for the most sour puss waitress city wide. Could she try to smile?...Some dishes were more successful than others. Fried vegetarian spring rolls were astoundingly good...tasted heavily of cilantro and chilis. I would come back just for these. Duck buns less sucessful...tasteless. Fish in a black bean sauce with asparagus was so yum..Shrimp lo mein was pronounced meh. Pork short ribs were called so-so.
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Review from May W.
San Francisco, CA
10/22/2010
Oh, nan King Road Bistro-- how I love thee! You have the best Hot and Sour soup ever...drooooooooling just thinking about it...mmmmm....ok, enough of that.
I really don't understand why when I lived 1/2 a block from this place four years ago I never once ate here-- and now that I live like 20 blocks away, I come here all the time...I can only blame my young ignorance. Probably a good thing, I bet it saved me from packing on 20lbs worth of their food over the years.
Their food is so fresh, portions are extra generous, they don't skimp on the proteins and you actually feel good after eating a meal here....seriously, how many Chinese restaurants can you say that about in the city?
My Favorites:
-cold smoked tofu appetizer
-duck biscuits
-hot and sour soup ( oh, really-- you didn't see that coming?)
-Ginger garlic Shrimp and Scallops
-Asparagus Salmon
Please don't ever change....except your service could be a tiny bit faster (only the initial greeting/ order taking-- after that, you are lighting fast!). -
Review from Ian F.
Milpitas, CA
8/28/2011
For lunch, the general's chicken over brown rice plate for less than $8 is straight 5-stars. Minus 1 star because service can definitely be better.
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Review from N A.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 4/6/2011
Food Update: I have now done the take out and delivery and both were really good. Fresh ingredients, fresh vegetables, fresh herbs, all white meat chicken, decent sized shrimp, and tender beef with no fat AND at take-out prices. ummm... what can I say other than YAY!!!
Wondering what to order? Here are my thoughts as I have slowly tried different dishes & I'll update as I try new ones:
Wonton Soup: Delish. Very flavorful, fresh ingredients, including fresh ginger, and the wontons were good too if you are a lover of a strong pork flavor in your wontons. Im not, so I opted to just go for the broth. Loved it so much I didnt need one drop of soy sauce.
Egg Flower Soup: Meh.. its ok. I did put soy sauce in this- but I must admit I took out the tomato that was cut into sections and put in the soup right after putting it in the bowl- I hate tomato in my soup and there was still a lingering flavor of fresh tomato. So if you like that you might enjoy it very much. It wasn't goopy or thick like other places make it. I think the wonton soup is FAR superior.
Crispy Veggie Spring Roll: Awesome! Must try. I can clearly taste the fresh herbs and spices. The only ones I have ever had that were better were homemade.
Glazed Pork Short Ribs: Good & a bit on the sweet side. There were some pieces with a lot of fat. I would have it again if a friend ordered it, but not seeking it out.
Chicken Pot Stickers: Amazingly Delish! Must try. Very flavorful. I can clearly taste fresh herbs and veggies & there is actual shredded chicken breast in there- not ground chicken like most places.
Crab-Cheese Puffs: My friend ordered these with delivery and I thought they were *very* creamy. Not sure if that is your thing- not mine. He said it was a lot of cream cheese and almost no crab flavor at all.
Kung Pao Chicken: Worst Kung Pao Chicken I have ever had. All white meat is a bonus, but the flavor of Andy's (next store) Kung Pao Chicken is *much* better- and when Andy's is good, oh MAN is it good. Unfortunately they use dark meat and whether its amazing or not is inconsistent. If I ever get the itch for this dish I would get it from Andy's but then get my apps and/or soup here.
Hunan Hot Pepper Chicken: A little spicy (might be really spicy for others) and good but not the best thing I have tried here. I will probably order from my favorites list once I have sufficiently sampled the menu- and this wont be on it- but it isn't bad. I might try the beef another time- the saltiness of the sauce seemed like it would compliment beef much better. If you decide to get it and don't love cabbage, I suggest ordering it with another veggie substitution- there really was a lot of cabbage.
Crispy Sesame Chicken: Love! Delish. A tiny bit on the sweet side but it is not greasy and fried perfectly with such a thin layer of coating. The sauce tastes and has the consistency of actual honey. All white meat. Yes. More please. It will go onto my favorites list.
Coconut Curry Chicken & Shrimp: I thought it was ok- not really a fan. Maybe because I expected a different curry flavor (I thought it would be sweet, but it wasn't) or maybe because I was eating it along side the sesame chicken. My friend really liked it- he said it was really flavorful (it was) and he thought the flavor was interesting.
General Zao's Orange Chicken: I was disappointed with this dish considering the great reviews on yelp--and how close it is conceptually to the sesame chicken. I would not recommend it. What I can say that is positive is that I just love the way they fry their chicken and that it is all white meat- and that's really about it. I asked for this extra spicy and it was not spicy at all-- it is supposed to be spicy. It was sweet, but didn't taste like orange. It had tang, but the balance was way off.
Mongolian Beef: Love! A definite favorite. So flavorful and tender. All fresh quality ingredients. I was told it would be spicy, but I like it really hot. Next time-- and there definitely will be a next time, I will order it extra spicy.
Double Happiness: Noodles & Chicken Wonton. Apparently double happiness means that one cancels out the other. This was almost as bad as the egg fried rice. Almost flavorless, except for burnt soy sauce. I couldn't taste a pesto sauce- I really tried... there was no basil flavor. The chicken wontons were good on their own if you could ignore the sauce. They use ground chicken filling... I will definitely ask for it in my wonton soup next time instead of the pork. :)
Egg Fried Rice: Don't bother. Bland-- well almost tasted like burnt soy sauce actually. Plain rice would have been a better selection. I haven't tried their other fried rice (with veggies and/or protein) so I can comment on it, but will update when I do.
Thai Iced Tea: Really good. If your considering it, say yes. What else can one say?1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/27/2011
I decided to try this place and dropped in for take out the other night. Boy was I glad I did. It… Read more »
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Review from Eliza D.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 6/24/2011
popped into the place about 25 minutes before they closed last night because we were hungry and craving. i wondered a little if the food quality would be affected given the late hour, not to mention the surly vibes from the tired hostess/waitress.
NAYYYY. again. FOOD. IS. GOOD. MMMMMMMM.
ordered the egg fried rice (large) again, as tasty as the last time we had it.
millennium veggies: a mix of veggies including chinese mushrooms, eggplant, snow peas, string beans, carrots, and broccoli. we had it done in spicy garlic sauce, and this dish was fantastic in portion and flavor. generous with the variety and amount, and big on taste, i loved it! had the right amount of oiliness from typical chinese-style stir-fried veggie dishes. the spicy garlicky paste is delicious, very bold without being overpowering. not very/at all spicy though, so if you want this hotter, ask for them to up the ante. you can have this done in two other styles, so i might be trying out the millennium veggies in black bean sauce next.
crispy lemon chicken: nicely crisp fried chicken strips, in a sweet and tangy lemony sauce, that came with some slices of red and green peppers, a few snow peas, as well as several cubes of juicy mangoes. i enjoyed this more than i thought i would, as i was initially veering towards the crispy sesame chicken but the bf wanted to try this out instead. yummy. the sweetness and somewhat refreshing tinge (from the mango) of this dish went well with the contrasting flavors of the full-bodied spicy garlic veggies, and when both are had in a mouthful with the egg fried rice, you just can't stop eating.
loving this place more and more!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/18/2011
food. is. good. MMMMMMMM.
had a hankering for chinese food after a long day of moving house, so a… Read more »
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Review from Michael J.
San Francisco, CA
4/20/2011
I've been enjoying Nan King Road's delicious food for years. The luncheon specials are filling and varied. Others have lauded the hot and sour soup and you'll find no argument here. The service is very good but not intrusive. The tone of the restaurant is casual, which suits me to a t. One of my neighborhood favorites.
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Review from Raul L.
San Francisco, CA
9/28/2010
They make their food with love and fairly high quality ingredients...
Any of the menu items you see in the reviews are spot on delish so enjoy. My favs are the sesame chicken (natch) and the green beans with tofu...
Hot and sour soup was amazing, so was the won ton soup, the raspberry sweet and sour chicken was actually amazing. In fact, I'm positive I ordered it in order to challenge the fact that this place couldn't possible make everything just right - weird but true...
I would suggest asking for a menu when you order and then placing a second order with a wild card mixed in with some of your favs - you'll be pleasantly surprised. -
Review from H K.
San Francisco, CA
9/26/2010
This place is listed as an Asian fusion restaurant but what it does is serves dishes from all the different Asian countries. The majority does seem to be Chinese.
The past Thursday night was my first visit there in a few years. I ended up two items which contained spicy soup: the cup of hot and sour soup and the Korean bowl. The server even commented on that with a smile and worried I couldn't finish. I knew from the beginning I would be able to.
As mentioned in other reviews here, the hot and sour soup is indeed good and tasty. Too bad they only serve the cup size because I would indeed order the bowl size if they had it on the menu, even for myself. The Korean bowl was interesting, the spicy red soup typical of Korean dishes with mussel, beef, variety of vegetables, and noodles. The spiciness of it was just right.
I should the menu online more to see what I can come back for in the future. -
Review from Jerry W.
San Bruno, CA
6/24/2011
Initially we stopped by san tung, however they only accepted take outs at that time. My friend suggested nkrb(she mentioned decent food, large portions,and reasonable prices). So, we stopped here for supper on 6-23-11 9:45pm. My friends and I ordered the pad thai, thai ice tea, fried chicken wings, and spicy korean noodle soup. I noticed all the meals were fresh and tasted good and big portions. Their pad thai tasted like others I had from other thai restaurants (they added little spice with green peppers,red peppers and green beans). The chicken wings tasted somewhat like santung, except with their own sauce. Their thai ice tea is good (again similar to other thai eateries).
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Review from ms nobizit ..
San Francisco, CA
5/27/2010
I am usually not a fan of Chinese Food. The dishes sound tasty but end up being too greasy, salty or slimy. The vegetables are under-appreciated and overcooked.
Someone recommended Nan King Road Bistro, and after reading the reviews we decided to give it a try. We are HOOKED.
High points:
They are very polite and the delivery arrives quickly, in well-packaged and reusable containers. The food is fresh and full of perfectly crisp veggies and herbs lend a bright flavor. It's not greasy, except for the fried items- but not overly so.
Favorites so far: crab rangoon, veggie spring rolls, won ton soup, duck biscuits, garlic prawns, chicken chow mein.
Turns out I like Chinese food, who knew?
I have yet to find better, fresher, healthier + tastier Chinese delivery!
