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Brandy Ho's Hunan Food

3.8
3.8
261 Reviews
$30 and under
Chinese
Serving San Francisco since 1980, Brandy Ho's restaurant is one of the most popular landmarks on the San Francisco dining scene. Acclaimed by numerous Bay Area food critics, it has also been hailed by publications around the world as a "must visit" when in San Francisco. The food at Brandy Ho's is prepared with only the freshest ingredients, using a minimum of oil and sugar. Absolutely no MSG, artificial chemicals or flavor enhancers are used. The cooking at Brandy Ho's is based on the peasant style found in the Hunan region of China. The distinctive dishes are authentically hot and spicy, using traditional Hunan spices and lots of garlic. Brandy Ho's offers a wide selection of tasty hot and spicy vegetarian dishes. To please every palate, any meat or vegetarian dish can be ordered as mild as you like, or not hot at all.

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Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

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Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Cuisines
    Chinese, Asian
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Daily 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (415) 788-7527
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Sedgwick Ho
  • Catering
    Delivery is available 11am - 10pm everyday to neighborhood offices, hotel rooms or homes. Please check the menu at www.brandyhos.com. Minimum $15 order for delivery. Catering is also available from 1 to 300 guests.
  • Private party facilities
    The upper floor is available for private parties and it can accommodate up to 70 guests.
  • Neighborhood
    North Beach
  • Cross street
    Pacific Ave.
  • Parking details
    Street parking is available, as well as parking underground at the public lot 170 Columbus Avenue.
  • Public transit
    No. 15 bus stop
  • Additional
    Banquet, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Wine

What 261 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

3.8
3.8 based on all time ratings
  • 3.9Food
  • 3.8Service
  • 3.1Ambience
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

261 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner

    Orange County

    28 reviews

    5.0

    28 reviews

    Dined on February 13, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The best food I have tasted in a long time. I will be coming back !!

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  2. JayG

    San Francisco

    26 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on January 26, 2020

    overall3food2service4ambience2
    Service is very fast and I have no doubt the food is authentic. The restaurant benefits from a good location, but honestly the food is disappointing. Most of the dishes (we ordered primarily seafood and vegetable) lacked flavor except for the taste of oil and any hot pepper that was added. The presentation is not at all appetizing but I would imagine that it keeps the costs down. Everything looked brown, grey or slightly green. My memory of takeout from the former Castro location was positive, but It's very unlikely that we'll go back.

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  3. SandraV

    Miami

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on January 1, 2020

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    New Years Eve

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  4. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 26, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was very delicious.... great Service.

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  5. Teresa

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 26, 2019

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    never got a seat even after reserving a place for 3 people, online on open table.

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  6. JoyAnne

    San Francisco

    62 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    62 reviews

    Dined on December 26, 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience3
    Food was excellent as well as the service. Went on Christmas Day and it was super busy. Made a reservation for 6:30pm and was seated around 7:00pm. Won't go back on Xmas again!.

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    Fort Lauderdale

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on September 21, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Spent a couple days in SF, wanted to try a Chinatown restaurant. This place was a great find, very tasty food and good service. Strong pours on drinks and the beer was tasty. Clean and very reasonably priced. Highly recommend.

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  8. HappyCamper

    Los Angeles

    34 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    34 reviews

    Dined on September 3, 2019

    overall4food3service4ambience3
    Mediocrity lives here. We used to frequent this place back in the early days when long lines and delicious food were to be expected. It has become a tired, uninspired version of itself with virtually no other diners in sight. With so much new and, existing,competition you'd think they'd at least make an attempt to step up. Disappointing and our last visit forever.

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  9. TravelingTexan

    San Antonio

    48 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    48 reviews

    Dined on August 21, 2019

    overall2food2service3ambience3
    Meh. Hunan beef was overcooked (burned oil taste). Hot & sour soup was good.

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  10. Mike

    New York Area

    18 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on August 12, 2019

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    By far the worst inconsistenty in ratings by Open Table.

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  11. KarenD

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 29, 2019

    overall3food5service3ambience5
    Sunday evening, so the restaurant was basically empty. The food was typical, nothing special. And the waitstaff took our order and served us but ignored us afterwards so I had to get up to ask for more sauce and to get extra napkins.

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  12. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on July 28, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food! Nothing fancy!

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  13. ErinF

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 22, 2019

    overall4food4service3ambience3
    It was fine. Not great. Not bad. Just fine.

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  14. RichardL

    Orange County

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on July 15, 2019

    overall4food5service4ambience4
    Great food brought me back to my youth, the cooks are great. Taste like my wife’s grandma cooking, um good. 11 thumbs ups come and try this place the memories of youth come back 😂😂😂😂🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

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  15. jpwelch319

    Chicago

    23 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on July 11, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had the best time and enjoyed a delicious meal at Brandy Ho’s!!!! Thank you for a wonderful meal!

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  16. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 26, 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Tasty food; and lots of it. There are some salads for vegetarians, but no veggie soups.

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  17. AndrewB

    San Francisco

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 7, 2019

    overall4food5service3ambience5
    I absolutely love this place. The food is always excellent. I wish the servers would make sure our drinks are full without me having to ask for a refill for soda or water. Other than that no complaints. I always tell my friends when I take them there that when I’m on last day in life that if someone ask what I want for my last meal it will be spicy beef with green onion from Brandy Ho’s

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  18. Meatball

    San Francisco

    27 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on March 26, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    Great Hunan.

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  19. Baumer

    San Francisco

    64 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    64 reviews

    Dined on March 21, 2019

    overall5food3service3ambience5
    Legendary Mandrian offerings, classic business lunch spot or late night/drunken fuel up spot. Classic Chinese greasey spoon been aSF institution for decades.

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  20. ChrisS

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 16, 2019

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    Always delicious! Love the online reservations. Thank you.

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  21. LeslieH

    San Antonio

    19 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on March 15, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Very friendly staff. Food was freshly prepared and tasty. Highly recommend.

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  22. PaulK

    Grand Rapids

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on March 10, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    The food was excellent and the service was excellent. I appreciated the fact that the four of us could hear each other talking at the table.

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  23. KatieS

    San Francisco

    1 review

    vip
    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 18, 2019

    overall4food2service4ambience3
    Food was really mediocre, but kids (ages 6 and 8) loved it. Friendly staff. Easy and accessible restaurant to experience China Town with kids.

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  24. ChristineV

    San Francisco

    13 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on February 11, 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience3
    Not sure why the place was only half full for this prime location and delicious food. All the food was cooked perfectly and prices very reasonable.

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  25. SiobhanT

    New York Area

    26 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on February 10, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Delicious and Highly Recommended. Food is made as it’s ordered, open kitchen so you can see what the chefs are up to. The waitress was great at explaining spice levels of the different dishes. Can’t wait to return.

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  26. pikayo

    San Antonio

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on January 27, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Awesome food.

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  27. OpenTable Diner

    Sacramento

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 26, 2018

    overall3food3service4ambience2
    They say no msg but man, I was hot and felt like garbage for 2 days...but it’s open on Xmas

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  28. master88er

    Chicago

    21 reviews

    3.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on December 26, 2018

    overall3food3service2ambience1
    I have to admit that Christmas dinner here was probably a bad choice. I have been here many times before and the service and food were great. Christmas, not so much. They totally overbooked their capacity, and even with reserve Waite nearly and hour. Then, to make matters worse, we were handed a revised “Holiday” menu which was problematic because 3 of six are vegetarian. NOT good when the restaurant doesn’t tell you this before you make the reservation! What we did get was not up to their usual standard and if this was my first time I’d never go back.

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  29. Artspro

    San Francisco

    14 reviews

    3.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on December 26, 2018

    overall3food4service2ambience2
    Great to find that Brandy Ho was open on Christmas AND taking reservations.

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  30. NANCY

    San Francisco

    11 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2018

    overall4food4service2ambience2
    Was a little unorganized for even reservations But food was served quickly and tasty .. Plan to wait at least 20-30 min to get seated

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  31. ajackphd

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2018

    overall3food4service4ambience2
    This was a Christmas Day lunch, so take my review with that in mind. The restaurant was extremely busy and crowded. That having been said, the service was decent even if the server was not that available when needed. Plastic chopsticks were hard to maneuver (I prefer wooden ones because otherwise the food slips and is hard to grab) and standard silverware must be requested. The room on the second floor reverberated and it was too noisy for conversation. However the food was well prepared and much better than average so it made the rest worth it. I should mention that the food on the menu had many items I had never seen before and was unusual in the wide variety of choices available. This was quite a plus in my estimation.

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  32. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    16 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on September 23, 2018

    overall3food2service3ambience3
    Sadly, the memories of great food at Brandy Ho's are long gone. My last visit may be my final one since the quality of the food and flavoring has been made very generic ad not the old superb flavoring of early years. It is sad that maybe this place has overstayed its welcome in the great food category.

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  33. RubyR

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 18, 2018

    overall4food5service4ambience3
    This Hunan Chinese food was very good. There was no waiting on Monday night. The kitchen is open and you are able to watch the food preparation. The waitress had us indicate how spicy we wanted our order by pointing at the number of chilis on the menu. There was plenty of food to take away

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  34. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 8, 2018

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Surprisingly empty on a Friday evening, though a few more customers later. At one point only two tables occupied. Open plan utilitarian seating and layout, with the chefs in full view. Pleasant staff, and efficient delivery of our order. Great steamed dumplings as an appetizer. Wide array of mains, and the fish and beef ones chosen were excellent. Modestly priced wine list. Very good, and well worth a visit.

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  35. PeterR

    Warwickshire

    12 reviews

    4.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on September 6, 2018

    overall4food5service4ambience1
    If you like Chinese food, eating with chopsticks, and seeing chefs at work (as we do) it is great, but very quiet on Wednesday in September.

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  36. Jeannineh

    Tahoe

    32 reviews

    5.0

    32 reviews

    Dined on September 3, 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The dinner at Brandy Ho's was FANTASTIC!!! We were a party of 4 adults and 2 children under 7 years of age and everyone loved everything. The Chow Mein noodles were flavorful and not oily as at other places they can sometime be. The Lemon Chicken was fresh, warm and delicious. The beef dishes were tender and tasty. The shrimp was deliciously tasty, while spicy not too spicy, just right for flavor. Things came hot off the grill to our table, we know because of the open concept we could see that the cooks had just prepared the items that the waitress served us. The wait staff hustled to make sure that we, and everyone else in the restaurant were provided with great service and an amazing meal. We will definitely make Brandy Ho's one of our regular stops on visits to San Fran!!! Thanks Brandy Ho staff for a wonderful meal and a great memory!

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  37. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 30, 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    Excellent food!!!

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  38. anonymous

    San Francisco

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food here is delicious. We have been coming here for years and it is consistently outstanding!!!

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  39. Robert

    San Francisco

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on August 25, 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food is always excellent. Its always fresh and the service is quick and attentive.

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  40. OpenTable Diner

    London

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 21, 2018

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Decent place.

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FAQs

Brandy Ho's Hunan Food offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (415) 788-7527.

Brandy Ho's Hunan Food is rated 3.8 stars by 261 OpenTable diners.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

If you like, we'll notify you by email if this restaurant joins.


Is this your restaurant?
Claim this listing

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Brandy Ho's Hunan Food

217 Columbus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94133

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Pacific Ave.
  • Neighborhood
    North Beach
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Daily 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Cuisines
    Chinese, Asian
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street parking is available, as well as parking underground at the public lot 170 Columbus Avenue.
  • Public transit
    No. 15 bus stop
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Sedgwick Ho
  • Additional
    Banquet, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Wine
  • Phone number
    (415) 788-7527
  • Catering
    Delivery is available 11am - 10pm everyday to neighborhood offices, hotel rooms or homes. Please check the menu at www.brandyhos.com. Minimum $15 order for delivery. Catering is also available from 1 to 300 guests.
  • Private party facilities
    The upper floor is available for private parties and it can accommodate up to 70 guests.
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