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The Empress by Boon, San Francisco, CA
Award-winning

The Empress by Boon

4.6
4.6
1146 Reviews
$50 and over
Chinese
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

2 people

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
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Ho Chee Boon
  • 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

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Francisco Bay Area

    Chinese

1,146 Reviews
  1. 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

    Is this helpful?

  2. 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!

    Is this helpful?

  3. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  4. 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

    Is this helpful?

  5. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  6. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  7. 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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  8. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  9. 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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  10. 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!

    Is this helpful?

  11. 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,

    Is this helpful?

  12. 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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  13. 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👏🙏❤️

    Is this helpful?

  14. 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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  15. 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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  16. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  17. 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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  18. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  19. 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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  20. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  21. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  22. 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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  23. 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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  24. 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

    Is this helpful?

  25. 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

    Is this helpful?

  26. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  27. 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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  28. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  29. nocaxi

    London

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on August 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fantastic dinner!! Very tasty food... Great service... Funky venue...

    Is this helpful?

  30. 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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  31. 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!

    Is this helpful?

  32. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  33. 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!!!

    Is this helpful?

  34. 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?

  35. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  36. 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

  37. 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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  38. 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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  39. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  40. 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

2 people

10:00 PM


Booked 16 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Empress by Boon

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
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