House of Nanking

Pros: The best Chinese food I have ever tasted.
Cons: Not the best looking decor, but my eyes were on my plate.

Whenever I think of San Francisco, I think of two things. Sony's Metreon complex and House of Nanking. Okay, yes, I now live in Fresno, but at one time I lived close to San Francisco and so like many locals I avoided the heavy tourist attractions ...

Pros: Great food
Cons: Aged facilities, cramped space, indifferent staff

I was introduced to House of Nanking by my friend. We were attending MacWorld San Francisco this year (2008), and this is one of his favorite restaurants. He's never had a bad experience here. He attends MWSF every year. We went on Tuesday evening at 8 ...

Pros: Fantastic food, ok prices
Cons: Bad service, dirty dishes, long wait

Since I'm a vegetarian, and don't particularly care for soy sauce or salty flavors, Chinese food is always among my least favorite. House of NanKing, however, is another story entirely. If you've never been there, it's a MUST go, one of a kind dining...

Pros: AWESOME food, Really Cheap
Cons: Can be crowded, Hole-in-the-Wall Feel

2/8/03 - I thought I would update this review as the restaurant is still going strong and still offering great food. However the prices have risen slightly (in typical House of Nanking fashion, the old prices were simply crossed out and the new prices...

Pros: Goes well with an afternoon at Fisherman's Wharf and a 1 hour wait to ride a cable car (i.e., a tourist experience)
Cons: The food, the decor, the 'service,' the line, etc.

The House of Nanking lives on as a sort of gustatory phenomenon; if enough people *believe* that what they're about to eat is great, they'll think it is in fact great, no matter the actual taste or quality of the food. At this point, about 10 years past...

Pros: GREAT food, Nice size portions
Cons: Usually a wait

The year was 1993 and I was just told about a tiny Chinese restaurant to go to for my birthday. Let me just say this, the line to get into this place was longer then I have EVER seen before! I must admit, I was warned, so my best friend and I waited it...

Pros: Occasionally Great Food
Cons: Indifferent Service

The House of Nanking could only exist in San Francisco. At times, the food can be spectacular. At other times, the food can be ok to mediocre. The trick for avoiding the mediocre end of the spectrum seems to be choosing your moment carefully. Simply...

Pros: the best flavorful chinese food!!
Cons: not much for service or decor

I love the potstickers here!! Imagine this... tender, juicy pork and vegetable wrapped in a crispy fried wonton that is flaky and crisp on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside... six of them covered in a spicy, sweet bean sauce that is just rich...

Pros: Good place to breakup with someone. You won't have to say a word..she'll dump you.
Cons: It's okay but doesn't belong on SF's best list.

This past weekend, I pigged out at three of San Francisco's finest (or so they say.) The first stop was the House of Nanking...I just couldn't stay away after hearing all the hype (from folks on epinions.com!) :-)

AMBIANCE and CUTLERY
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Pros: Sometimes serves innovative food; often excellent dishes.
Cons: Dirty, sometimes poor service, inconsistent food, and blast it all - no fortune cookies!

The thing with House of Nanking is it's inconsistent. I've had some really excellent dishes and at other times, it's good, but not great, and occasionally it's just mediocre. However, the lack of cleanliness IS consistent. It's always messy and ...

Pros: Everything was great; didn't even need to order from the menu.
Cons: It's a dive, but who cares?

Maybe it's been a while since I've eaten at the House of Nanking, but I will never forget my meal there. We were immediately seated by the hostess who handed my party of five menus and took our drink orders. Within seconds, a gentleman came out of the...

Pros: The most wonderful speciality dishes you could want
Cons: crowded, somewhat dirty, poor service

I really enjoy House of Nanking -- but I have been there enough to know what to order - and what not to order.

The House of Nanking is known for its inventive dishes:
Nanking Stuffed Mushrooms -- large button mushrooms stuffed with...

Pros: Dishes come out fast.
Cons: Overrated greasy food, bad service, long lines, etc., etc., etc., etc., etc.

Nearly 10 years had elapsed since my last trip to the House of Nanking. This past week a friend and I decided to dine there. My opinion of the popular dive from previous meals had been that the food was just average, the service was rude, the interior...

Pros: Best dining experience in San Francisco
Cons: Long waits

House of Nan King, what else do I have to say? This establishment is listed in every book written about San Francisco. It's no wonder--Peter Fang may be the Soup Nazi of Chinese food, but he serves up the best peanut sauce known to man. Go in knowing...

Pros: Pushy service (yes, this is a pro, IMO), great food, ok prices, great fun watching new people try to actually order something off the menu.
Cons: Small and cramped, sometimes long waits

Here is how you do it: Go there at a somewhat off-peak hour with at least 3 other people, sit down, don't look at the menu at all, let the owner tell you what to eat while offering only suggestions as to what you want to eat (something with chicken, all...