Award-winning

The Empress by Boon

Name: The Empress by Boon
Address: 838 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA, United States, 94108-1738
Telephone: (415) 757-0728
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.6

4.6

1146 Reviews

$50 and over

Chinese

Top Tags:

Empress by Boon is San Francisco’s newest, must-visit epicurean destination, offering a seasonal menu in modern Cantonese gastronomy. Michelin-starred Chef Ho Chee Boon applies traditional techniques to fresh, local ingredients to produce distinctive contemporary dishes infused with Cantonese flavors.

The spacious restaurant occupies the former location of Chinatown’s celebrated Empress of China with striking city views. Reimagined by Chef Boon and team, the Empress was brought back to its former glory by embracing modern design elements while incorporating restored original features, creating a welcoming atmosphere that pays homage to the history of the beloved location.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 27, 2023

10:00 PM

Booked 16 times today

Experiences are available.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Cuisines
Chinese
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(415) 757-0728
Website
http://theempresssf.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Ho Chee Boon

Location
838 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108-1738
Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
Neighborhood
Chinatown
Cross street
Clay Street
Parking details
Public Parking available at Portsmouth Square Plaza Garage. Entrance at 733 Kearny Street.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

Empress by Boon Prix Fixe Menu
$108.00 per person
Multiple dates available
We offer a prix fixe menu that showcases Chef Boon's focus on using only the freshest ingredients available, while offering unique taste combinations not seen in other Cantonese cooking. Our offerings change often to allow for a truly seasonal menu to be executed.

What 1,146 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Francisco Bay Area
Chinese

1,146 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
San Antonio
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Sadly my wife became ill (not because of the food or restaurant) so we had to leave early but I cannot express how kind and accommodating the staff was. The food we had before leaving was amazing. I look forward to coming back
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XM
XinM
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience4
Outstanding food and service. The squarb and Waygu beef were done perfectly! Great views too!
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AS
AndreaS
San Francisco
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful experience our waitress Natalie was very helpful and attentive. Chef Boon is unbelievable really amazing food.
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B
Benjamin
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Went at 5:45 and it was quiet and intimate. Toward the end for dark and more crowded
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TT
TerryT
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful dinner last night. A lovely view, delicious food, good service and beautiful and charming company.
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c
californiafoodies
San Francisco
34 reviews
vip
5.0
34 reviews
Dined on September 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous dinner, service, ambience--everything. Good for business, first date, special occasion, or just a wonderful evening out. Can't wait to return.
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KG
KiranG
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on September 16, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience5
flavors of the prix menu were very underwhelming for the price. Only 1 out of the 6 courses was actually unique and stood out
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C
Chris
San Francisco
29 reviews
vip
4.0
29 reviews
Dined on September 16, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
The beef wagyu and the Caviar appetizer were great. Everything else was OK, but it should have been great for the price. We unfortunately left feeling hungry even though we are not big eaters. I think the portion size of the main entree and fried rice should be bigger. Or at least ask if everyone is satisfied and offer to bring out more food for those who are still hungry. Desert should be included in the prix fix.
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CG
CharlesG
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on September 15, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience4
Service was good. Ambiance was pretty great (probably even better on a less cloudy day). Drinks were lovely - complex and novel We had the prix fixe menu and the food was mixed. The early courses were, to me, good but not incredible. The Wagyu Mongolian beef preparation was really incredible . Overall, my biggest problem with the meal was 1. dessert wasn't included, which is odd to me, and 2. it felt like a *really* poor value overall, even for fine dining. Some of the 'courses' were *literally* a bite and not very special. Walked out the door for ~$375 2 people for prix fixe + 2 dessert + 2 drinks + tip, which felt really out of line with the overall quality of the experience.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Dallas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great experience. Really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Get an empress martini!
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A
Aubz
New York Area
31 reviews
vip
4.0
31 reviews
Dined on September 10, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience3
Fantastic food. Service was super helpful and friendly,
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JB
JessicaBaby
San Francisco
86 reviews
vip
5.0
86 reviews
Dined on September 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was my 3rd time dining there. Love the ambience and the booths facing the window, which was very spacious for our party of 3. The courses were different every time with some similarities. Their duck plate not included in the tasting menu was worth paying extra. Parking at Portsmouth Square garage is convenient although they don’t provide validation. Our waitress was attentive. It’s a gem in SF Chinatown.
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JR
JudyR
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
So excited that Chef Boon came to our table and showed us the sparkling kitchen where 28 chefs were working👏🙏❤️
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m
mfcufc
Houston
128 reviews
vip
5.0
128 reviews
Dined on September 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, excellent service, wonderful views and great music. We loved this place and how they were able to accommodate my wife’s preferences.
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JH
JosephH
San Francisco
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on September 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The quality of the food and the ambiance were great, but what made the experience truly amazing was the service. Each member of the staff handled their jobs professionally while also somehow making us feel at home -- a tough thing to accomplish in a higher-end restaurant. When making the dinner reservation, we had mentioned that we'd be celebrating our anniversary; however, we couldn't have expected the kind gestures from at least four different staff members over the course of our evening wishing us a happy anniversary and helping make our evening special, although I’m confident it would have been a great experience either way simply because every element of our overall experience was truly top notch. And we’ll never forget the incredible view from our table overlooking our beautiful city.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
3 reviews
vip
1.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 31, 2023
overall1food1service1ambience4
It is very unfortunate that this place significantly declined in the past year. The food was terrible, service bad and overall unpleasant experience.
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a
alsace
London
40 reviews
vip
3.0
40 reviews
Dined on August 31, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience4
Have been a few times. Views better at night than in afternoon/evening. Food good, but not up to the prix fixe prices, which did not include dessert.
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VO
VOSFO
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Amazing food, service was perfect and lovely location. Only feedback is that the music was a little loud which made ot unclear if I was at a fine dining restaurant or a bar. The space though is lovely and the view outstanding. I will definitely enjoy returning.
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SB
SweetBT
San Francisco
62 reviews
vip
5.0
62 reviews
Dined on August 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fourth time there. New menu and every dish a winner. Who could ask for more?
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b
bill
San Francisco
78 reviews
vip
5.0
78 reviews
Dined on August 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great venue for outstanding food and service. The ambience best in city. quality bartenders as well with unique cocktails. Try it for sure.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlanta Metro
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 27, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
We did of course the prefixed menu with the wine pairing. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated that gives upscale ambience. We got a view that looked at Coit Tower in the distance. Our favorites were probably the scallop donut, xiao long bao, soft shell crab, red snapper and egg plant with pork. We decided to get the “egg tart” for a dessert. Everything was amazing and the service was prompt with water refills, cleaning of plates and the explanation of each dish and wine . It was a wonderful experience. It definitely gave a hint of nostalgia for me and some new flavors for my partner.
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s
sfchuck
San Francisco
35 reviews
vip
5.0
35 reviews
Dined on August 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a beautiful place to sepend for any special occasion. We found the tasting menu to be very tasty and creative. The wine pairings were spot on. Thank you for a wonderful experience!
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m
miekie
San Francisco
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on August 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was delicious, the service excellent, you should go there! We had an awesome evening, thank you to all the friendly staff.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on August 26, 2023
overall2food2service4ambience5
Food wasn’t up to par for price. Gorgeous ambiance though
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C
Colin
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Really good food! A little pricey but a lot of different tastes
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on August 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our second time and we were equally impressed. My husband is a chef and he is usually very picky but here we love everything. The range of flavors and delicate presentation is highly impressive. The staff are all very professional, welcoming and helpful. The ambiance is stunning. I’ve already booked my next visit for when my twin brother and wife come from England they are total foodies so this will be a huge treat. There is something heavenly about this place. The views are spectacular from every table too. We enjoyed the “tasting experience” with the wine pairing and thought it was very good value for money.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 23, 2023
overall4food2service4ambience4
Unfortunately,the quality and presentation of the food is lacking, not as good as in first months, fish with some unexciting curry sauce tasted like you buy at Costco;(
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N
None
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on August 22, 2023
overall3food4service3ambience3
Food’s good, but can definitely find equally good dim sum for a fraction of the price. I haven’t had too many fancy Cantonese places, but can confidently say this was not the best of them. Asked the staff if we could push our reservation by an hour, she said it wasn’t possible so we stuck with our reservation. An hour into our reservation, the restaurant was still only 30% full - seemed like they could have catered to what we wanted. Cool date spot, views are nice, but food is not the selling point here.
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n
nocaxi
London
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on August 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic dinner!! Very tasty food... Great service... Funky venue...
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MO
MeganO
Greater Boston
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on August 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My friends and I had a wonderful dinner at Empress. Our waitress was knowledgeable , the food was spectacular and the decor was really beautiful.
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J
Jason
Orange County
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was my second time at Empress by Boon, and just like the first time, I loved it. Took a friend here to try the tasting menu and was very pleased with this seasons menu! Everything tasted amazing and presentation was great as well. They're also really great adjusting to any dietary restrictions if needed!
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T
Tany
San Francisco
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 19, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience5
I’ve eaten here twice, both times lovely and great for a special occasion, but the most recent time was fairly straightforward familiar dishes. Everything was good, but it was very safe. The first time I came was really unique and creative, maybe it’s a seasonal thing. The decor is fantastic, and the cocktails (non alcoholic included) are excellent.
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VY
VeeY
New York Area
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The decor, food and presentation was amazing. The Red Snapper was unbelievable. It was a experience!!!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 16, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
We were here to celebrate our anniversary. The food was good and the service was above my expectation. We love it here! We had the best time here! Thank you all.
Is this helpful?
F
Foodie
San Francisco
38 reviews
vip
5.0
38 reviews
Dined on August 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Unusual and delectable. Royal service. Great experience if you have the wallet for it.
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G
Gang
Toronto
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 15, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience4
The start is great, amazing setting, ambient and perfect view, and I really like the first course (3 appetizers), scallop and caveat roll stands out with its exquisite texture and mild but distinct taste, Turnip cake has a powerful taste although the crispy squid doughnut tastes just like average fried shrimp ball. Unfortunately, the second course of Xiao Long Bao is really disappointing and everything else afterwards are above average at the best. Overall, a disappointment for its famed $98 tasting menu.
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
Seattle
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I guess you could say it was empress-sive. Super knowledgeable staff with expert recommendations. This experience was almost like finding a hidden jewel. Will definitely be going again. Soon!
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PA
PageA
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful restaurant. The service is fantastic. Great view of Coit Tower. The meal was an interesting selection of pre-fix Mandarin dishes. A bit pricey, but worth it.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was perfect. Ingredients and food were very satisfyng. Atmosphere was very relaxing.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Guadalajara
1 review
vip
2.0
1 review
Dined on August 6, 2023
overall2food3service5ambience5
Totally over rated. Doesn’t worth it. Food is vast but honestly wasn’t good at all.
1 person found this helpful

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

The Empress by Boon is rated 4.6 stars by 1146 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 27, 2023

10:00 PM

Booked 16 times today

Experiences are available.

838 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108-1738

Dining areas

Additional information

Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
Cross street
Clay Street
Neighborhood
Chinatown
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Cuisines
Chinese
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Public Parking available at Portsmouth Square Plaza Garage. Entrance at 733 Kearny Street.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Ho Chee Boon
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://theempresssf.com/
Phone number
(415) 757-0728

The Empress by Boon

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Experiences

Empress by Boon Prix Fixe Menu

Menu

Prix Fixe Menu

Chilled Abalone

Scallop and Caviar Roll

Crispy Lobster Puff

Chilled Fresh Lily Bulb

Steamed Shrimp and Squid Dumplings

Braised Squab Breast

Domestic Wagyu Mongolian Beef

Kai Lan and Cauliflower Chicken Rice

XO Asparagus and Chanterelle Mushrooms

What 1,146 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing

Screening

FAQs

How is The Empress by Boon restaurant rated?

Is The Empress by Boon currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information