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

The Empress by Boon

4.1 (1453)
$50 and over
Chinese
838 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108-1738

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 3 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Fancy
  • Romantic
  • Great for scenic views
Empress by Boon is San Francisco’s 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.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Chinese
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Tue–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

Featured in

Experiences

  • Empress by Boon Prix Fixe Menu

    $118.00 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.

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Menu

The Empress by Boon's menu was last updated on 6/6/2025.

Prix Fixe Menu

  • Crispy Vegetarian Bean rolls, Pine nuts, Pistachio / Tiger Prawns with sesame vinegar sauce, watermelon

    • Jasmine tea smoked Short Ribs bun

      • Steamed Shrimp and Squid dumpling

        • Guilin stir- fried Quail

          served with pancake

          • Live Boston Lobster

            with lemongrass curry and milk

            • Noodles with ginger, scallion, spring onion

              • Wok-fried Asparagus with Chicken in hoisin sauce

                • Braised Pork Belly with cloud ear mushrooms

                  Last updated: June 6, 2025

                  What 1,453 people are saying

                  The Empress by Boon reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

                  Overall ratings and reviews

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

                  4.1
                  4.1 based on recent ratings
                  • 4.2Food
                  • 4.0Service
                  • 4.5Ambience
                  • 3.8Value

                  Noise • Moderate

                  Loved For

                  • San Francisco Bay Area

                    Chinese

                  Review summary

                  AI-generated from verified diner reviews
                  The Empress by Boon offers a memorable dining experience with a stunning rooftop setting and "delicious dishes" that honor authentic Cantonese flavors. While service can vary, the "wonderful staff" and "great atmosphere" often enhance the evening. The restaurant shines in its ability to accommodate dietary needs creatively, ensuring a unique and inclusive dining experience.
                  1,453 Reviews

                  1. Janet VIP

                    San Francisco Bay Area9 reviews

                    4.0

                    Dined 4 days ago

                    1. Overall 4
                    2. Food 5
                    3. Service 2
                    4. Ambience 4
                    Our second time here, we were once again delighted with the food and the wonderful accommodations made for the gluten-free member of our group. The prix fixe meal was good value, especially given the comfortable environment and view. But this most recent time, we were extremely disappointed by the service which was perfunctory and rushed, even though our group of 8 was clearly there for an evening's enjoyment and socialization. At times, next courses were brought before everyone was finished; in fact, we had to intervene and ask for service to slow down so that we could enjoy the food and the evening. Water glasses were not filled, and empty glasses were not always efficiently removed. An early request for 3 wine selections to accompany the many-course meal was not filled until after the 3rd course, and only then because we asked where the wine was. Late arrivals were never asked for their drink order until we interrupted the start of food service to address that. The difference between our first visit (a group of 4 and excellent service) and our second (a group of 8) makes me wonder if the house doesn't need to prep servers better for handling a larger group. What could have been a lovely evening was unnecessarily tarnished by service that did not match the fine quality of the food.

                    Is this helpful?

                  2. adam

                    Orange County1 review

                    2.0

                    Dined 4 days ago

                    1. Overall 2
                    2. Food 2
                    3. Service 4
                    4. Ambience 4
                    Great ambience, great views, great service. Food was mediocre at best. Out of the 8 course tasting menu, I’d say that 3 of the dishes were very good and the others ranged from one being terrible and a few of them just being okay. Passionfruit cheesecake had no flavor for dessert and most of the dining experience is based on presentation. You could do a lot better at any good Chinese restaurant and save a party of 4 over $600 at this fixed price location. Glad we went once though.

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                  3. Ryan

                    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

                    5.0

                    Dined 7 days ago

                    1. Overall 5
                    2. Food 5
                    3. Service 5
                    4. Ambience 5
                    Never disappoints! Took my mother here for the first time since she went with her father as a child and she was beyond impressed by the menus. My second time there myself with my girlfriend for our anniversary as well. The service and food are amazing.

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                  4. Lindsay VIP

                    San Francisco Bay Area4 reviews

                    2.0

                    Dined on July 6, 2025

                    1. Overall 2
                    2. Food 3
                    3. Service 1
                    4. Ambience 2
                    We were so excited for this and it disappointed in a big way. The service left a lot to be desired — even at a late hour (restaurant basically empty), we were left without water or drinks for a very long time, and we waited a significant amount of time (~30 min) between courses — all while the staff and manager seemed indifferent to us (except a bartender who overheard us while passing by trying to clean up to close down and brought us water). Our experience absolutely did not match the “fine dining” genre that the restaurant purports to have, or the very high price tag you’ll pay (automatic 20% gratuity added, by the way, and they still include a tip line on the cc receipt).

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                  5. Blaine VIP

                    San Francisco Bay Area124 reviews

                    5.0

                    Dined on June 19, 2025

                    1. Overall 5
                    2. Food 5
                    3. Service 5
                    4. Ambience 5
                    Well presented food with a variety of delicious tastes. We went early, I would pick a later time when you can really see the lights twinkling outside the windows. The six courses were well-spaced for a beautiful meal.

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                  6. Jaime

                    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

                    5.0

                    Dined on June 14, 2025

                    1. Overall 5
                    2. Food 4
                    3. Service 5
                    4. Ambience 5
                    Amazing experience overall. Will be going back again

                    Is this helpful?

                  7. Joe

                    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

                    5.0

                    Dined on May 31, 2025

                    1. Overall 5
                    2. Food 5
                    3. Service 4
                    4. Ambience 5
                    Very good experience! delicious dishes, the restaurant atmosphere very good.

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                  8. shalley

                    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

                    5.0

                    Dined on May 29, 2025

                    1. Overall 5
                    2. Food 5
                    3. Service 5
                    4. Ambience 5
                    It’s my first time dining here. Love the food and atmosphere so much!

                    Is this helpful?

                  9. Benny

                    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

                    5.0

                    Dined on May 28, 2025

                    1. Overall 5
                    2. Food 5
                    3. Service 5
                    4. Ambience 5
                    We had an amazing dining experience! The dishes were not only incredibly tasty but also stayed true to authentic Cantonese flavors. It was a lovely surprise when Chef Boon personally came to our table to greet us — such a thoughtful touch. We’re very excited to return and see what’s on the next seasonal menu!

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                  10. Chad

                    San Francisco Bay Area3 reviews

                    3.0

                    Dined on May 25, 2025

                    1. Overall 3
                    2. Food 3
                    3. Service 2
                    4. Ambience 4
                    Review of Empress by Boon The food at Empress by Boon was good—well-prepared, flavorful, and filling especially the dumplings. However, the experience was overshadowed by how extremely overpriced everything felt. While the setting is undeniably upscale, the value just didn’t match the price point. Service left a lot to be desired. Our main server, Tommy, was noticeably unfriendly, which took away from the overall experience. To make things more confusing, the bartenders and servers seemed to be working off completely different drink menus, leading to miscommunications and frustration. All in all, while the food itself was satisfying, the lackluster service and inflated prices make it hard to justify a return visit.

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                  FAQs

                  The Empress by Boon is rated 4.1 stars by 1453 OpenTable diners.

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

                  1. Home
                  2. United States
                  3. San Francisco Bay Area
                  4. San Francisco
                  5. Chinatown

                  Make a reservation

                  2 people
                  7:00 PM
                  Booked 3 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 Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
                  • Price
                    $50 and over
                  • 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

                  Featured in

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