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House of Nanking, San Francisco
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House of Nanking, San Francisco


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Sign outside of the restarant - San Francisco
Sign outside of the restarant
by Sweensie
San Francisco Restaurants: Dining reviews and photos of House of Nanking posted by real travelers and San Francisco locals.
House of Nanking
• 19 Photos
• 19 Reviews
• Satisfaction Index:

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House of Nanking: Outstanding Szechuan and Hunan Food
  • Tip Rating:
  • Satisfaction:
  • House of Nanking, Chinatown, San Francisco - San Francisco
    House of Nanking, Chinatown,
    San Francisco
    by karenincalifornia
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    This place is so scary looking on the outside, (and inside, too) if you didn't know better, you'd cross the street to the other side. Then you would notice the long line of people lined up in front halfway down the block. First, you would think this is a line to get into one of the numerous live nude places on the same block, but then you would realize, no, people are actually waiting to get into this hole in the wall. Scrumptiously delicious szechuan and hunan food. Lunch and dinner. Frequented by Chinese locals and working crowd.

    Don't bother ordering from the menu. At House of Nanking, you simply tell the owner, "I'd like fish (or shrimp, or meat, or chicken, or vegetarian") and he'll whip up something that will make you think you really are in the Jiangsu Province. His dishes vary each time I go there. Sometimes he uses a black bean sauce, sometimes a garlic sauce, sometimes a peanut sauce. All excellent. All cheap.

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  • Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
  • Price: less than US$10    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: least expensive
  • Address: 919 Kearny St
  • Phone: 415.421.1429
  • Directions: (Broadway/Pacific) -near Columbus and Kearny On the dividing line between Chinatown and North Beach
  • Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful

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    House of Nanking: Let the owner decide
  • Tip Rating:
  • Satisfaction:
  • Strange little place on the border between Chinatown and North Beach. Hank Donat (mistersf) turned me onto this place via his excellent "local joints" pages.

    Thank you Hank for all the great suggestions. Your website is outstanding!

    Some people don't like it as it is almost a hole, and very crowded during lunch peak w/long waits. And often the owner/mgr won't let you order off the menu - he just picks it himself. But on a good day the food is worth it and cheap.

    I take a late walk down from Grace Church into Chinatown and try to hit it during the afternoon lull around 2pm.

    Nanking chicken, Nanking scallops, whatever, etc. but if the mgr./owner insists on picking what to serve you, let him. It's usually a pleasant surprise.

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  • Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
  • Price: US$11-20    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: less expensive than average
  • Address: 919 Kearny St
  • Phone: (415) 421-1429
  • Directions: (Broadway/Pacific) -near Columbus and Kearny 919 Kearny Street at Jackson just east of Columbus
  • Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    House of Nanking: for the white folks
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  • Satisfaction:
  • wok-seared scallops were the highlight - San Francisco
    wok-seared scallops were the
    highlight
    by richiecdisc
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    The House of Nanking was probably a great hole-in-the-wall fifty years ago but it’s become a bit of a tourist trap. It’s a simple place with a good menu and the service the day we got there was quick. It was also full of non-Asians and that rarely is a good thing when you go to a Chinese restaurant. That said, the food was good and though a bit pricey for the style, I was glad to give it a try.

    We had wok-seared scallops on mushroom caps which were heavenly and mu shu pork, which was tasty as well. One gripe was there was no free tea offered, which is protocol for any decent Chinese restaurant in the States. We just had the two meals and the bill came to $24, a fairly high sum in Chinatown.

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  • Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
  • Price: US$11-20    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: about average
  • Address: 919 Kearny St
  • Phone: (415) 421-1429
  • Directions: (Broadway/Pacific) -near Columbus and Kearny
  • Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    House of Nanking: Definitely Different
  • Tip Rating:
  • Satisfaction:
  • Tea at House of Nanking, San Francisco - San Francisco
    Tea at House of Nanking, San
    Francisco
    by cruisingbug
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    Both someone from my and hubby's work recommended House of Nanking so we stopped in for an early dinner (no waiting in line).

    I was able to order the mu shu shrimp (despite the reputation that first-timers are not "allowed" to order). Hubby wanted something with beef, and we also were presented with a fried prawn wonton with peanut sauce appetizer.

    This was the most different Asian cuisine I've ever had, but not the best food I've had. My mu shu tasted like anise/licorice, which was very strange. Hubby's beef was fried, but with little batter, and came with a side of sliced fried sweet potatoes.

    I did like the tea, which was served in a tall plastic cup. After the tea leaves settled to the bottom, it left some flowers and buds floating on top.

    Service was fine, but be prepared for the "hole in a wall" atmosphere and groovy sign outside. The people sitting next to us, from somewhere north of SF, absolutely raved about the place and said they eat there everytime they come down.

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  • Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
  • Price: less than US$10    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: less expensive than average
  • Address: 919 Kearny St
  • Directions: (Broadway/Pacific) -near Columbus and Kearny
  • Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    House of Nanking: Great Chinese Food
  • Tip Rating:
  • Locals will forever debate its authenticity, but it's hard to go wrong at this busy and absurdly good eatery.
    The dinnertime waiting line outside this tiny, greasy, wildly popular hole in the wall starts at 5:30pm; by 6, there's a 90-minute wait for a table with a plastic menu that lists only half of the best dishes served here. While Nanking's food is outstanding and the prices are some of the most reasonable in the city, the service is slow.

    Succulent duck dumplings perhaps, or tempura-like sesame-battered Nanking scallops in a spicy garlic sauce--all served hot and fresh on shiny metal platters. The sweet, nutty and slightly hot prawn and green onion pancakes with peanut sauce are dizzyingly delicious, as is the Nanking chicken.

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  • Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
  • Price: US$11-20    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: less expensive than average
  • Address: 919 Kearny Street, SF, CA 94133
  • Phone: (415) 421-1429
  • Directions: North Beach / China Town
  • Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful

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    House of Nanking: Great Chinese Food
    I came here with a group of six. The waiter asked if we had been here before. We said no so he grabbed our menus and said "I'll take care of you." He did very well ordering a little bit of everything for us.

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  • Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
  • Price: US$11-20    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: about average
  • Address: 919 Kearny
  • Phone: 415-421-1429
  • Directions: Chinatown
  • Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    House of Nanking: Yummy Chinese Food
  • Satisfaction:
  • I can't tell you how many times I risked getting a major parking ticket just to satisfy my House of Nan King craving-- am prcatically salivating, just thinking about it :-) The service is probably one of the worst I have experienced, something along the lines of "sit, eat, leave!" I once had the waiter walk away in the middle of taking our order, only to return 20 or so minutes later, bringing whatever HE thought we should be ordering--LOL. Nevertheless, most of the food I have had here has been worth the rude attitude of the staff.

    I LOVE the Nan King Chicken dish, as well as any dish they have with their sauteed string beans. The sauce is just scrumptious-- sort of like sweet and sour, but much, much better.

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  • Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
  • Price: US$11-20    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: about average
  • Address: 919 Kearny St
  • Directions: (Broadway/Pacific) -near Columbus and Kearny
  • Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    House of Nanking: Let them order for you
  • Satisfaction:
  • Under Construction...

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  • Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
  • Price: US$11-20    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: about average
  • Address: 919 Kearny St
  • Directions: (Broadway/Pacific) -near Columbus and Kearny
  • Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    House of Nanking: Mushu Everything!
  • Satisfaction:
  • Nothing to look at, cramped and crowded, marginal service, AWESOME FOOD. When you first walk in you'll think you've been duped by everyone - tiny metal tables, uncomfortable chairs all packed in right next to each other. However, the staff is charming (albiet a little rushed), the place is super clean and it doesn't smell greasy like typical Chinese restaurants. The owner is adorable (in his chic designer denims) and loves it when you let him order for you. If it's your first visit he'll take your menus from you and say "I'll take care of you" - and he always delivers. I hate standing in line for anything so we always go early for lunch or dinner.

    We love the Mu Shu Everything. Everything is so fresh and still has a crisp to it when served. Not oily or greasy either.

  • Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
  • Price: US$11-20    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: less expensive than average
  • Address: 919 Kearny St
  • Directions: (Broadway/Pacific) -near Columbus and Kearny
  • Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    House of Nanking: Oder a cup of tea with berries floating in it.
  • Satisfaction:
  • Hole-in-the wall eatery on the edge of Chinatown. Order a cup of tea. There are these wonderful berries floating in it. Can't remember what they are. The general feel is chaotic, but it's cheap and a hopping place on a Friday night. Make reservations.

    I try to order my meals with no-msg and sometimes if they aren't too snippy, you can get them dry-wok-fried.

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  • Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
  • Price: less than US$10    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: least expensive
  • Address: 919 Kearny St
  • Phone: (415) 421-1429
  • Directions: (Broadway/Pacific) -near Columbus and Kearny
  • Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
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