Reviews

Went here with my family for Sunday Dim Sum and was really glad we did. When we got there the place was packed with many Chinese speakers eating and waiting. We put our name in and waited about 20 min to be seated. The restaurant staff was courteous and helpful and worked very hard to move the food and tables to limit the wait and serve everyone. Most of the tables are large 10 person tables where they will sit 2 parties (e.g., 2 parts of 4). This is nice as you get a communal vibe and get a chance to see what other people are ordering. We ordered 5 different items and sat back drinking tea and enjoying the atmosphere. It was noisy with many chatting groups but not to the point that you could not have a normal conversation with your table or the people next to you. The food came out in ones and twos which gave us a chance to try one or two dishes at a time. Everyone left stuffed and happy and the whole meal was under $75 with tip.

I stopped by after the last time I was in San Francisco and provided a review. I was disappointed to learn the crab and pork egg rolls are no longer an item on the menu. I order vegetable egg rolls instead. They were very oily and not as good. The General Tao Chicken tasted like a very crispy version of orange chicken. It was very very sweet. This main course does not come with rice. I was charged an extra $2 for a cup of white rice. I asked if I could get a side of fried rice instead and was told, "no." The waiter was unapologetic and did not seem to care whether or not I stayed and ate or left. Generally speaking, Chinatown seems run down since my last visit. I suspect this has something to do with my underwhelming experience this time. Other reviewers commented on the difference between the tastes or old and new. I can attest to the fact that my food was too sweet and oily. However, the restaurant was clean and all the food very hot.

Nice atmosphere!The decoration looks nice and stylish! The food is typical chinese food! What I really liked was the variety of wines and the servce!Value for money is good! We had an appetizer to share plus the main dish, clearly too much. Good place to stop in China Town, spending less than 50 for two!

My family and I went to this restaurant after reading quite good reviews of it online. When we arrived, we were pleased by the clean and open space inside, but were kept waiting for about five minutes for our table, despite us being the only customers outside. We were taken to one table but then pushed back outside, as it was apparently not ready yet. When finally seated, it took quite a long time for our orders to be taken. I would understand that if the restaurant was quite full, but there were only about three or four other other groups dining while we were there. When our dishes were given to us, they arrived at completely different times and one wrong. When we asked for the correct side dish, the main was cold. It took several prompts from us until the servers fixed it. And, considering how long it took for the main to come, when we reordered another dish, it came very quickly. The same plate was given to us, the presentation wasn't nearly as good and the meat wasn't crispy like before, so we suspect they just reheated it. When we were all eating, new customers wondered in and were told to seat themselves, while several staff members walked around like they were losing the will to live. The food, however was quite good, and I feel that the chefs are terribly let down by the waiting staff. I can't say that I'd recommend the restaurant until these problems are fixed.

We chose the Begoni Bistro after reading a lot of reviews on SF Asian restaurants. We reserved for a Saturday night, but since we were nearby at lunch time on Friday we dropped in, enjoyed the food, wine and service, and had dinner there on Saturday as well. We had been at Le Colonial on Thursday night (4th time), found the cuisine slipping (the fried crab cakes could have used more crab and were at room temperature), the rest rather bland, making us wish we had Thai chili or other sauce at hand. Comparing the markup on the wines: very high at Le Colonial, quite reasonable at the Begoni Bistro (with a generous pour by the glass). The gentleman who appears to be the Begoni manager/owner said the place was quite new and planned to "tweak" the menu and wine list, so it may well go from very good to better.

We ordered mushroom steamed buns, vegetables spinach dumplings, shrimp dumplings and onion pancakes. The food was very tasty. We only ordered appetizers as we were having a light lunch. Everything was reasonably priced. The dining room was also nice but a little crowded. The wait staff wasn't very attentive. It definitely seemed like a lot of locals were dining here.

It was very satisfying. The food covered the Cantonese and perhaps also the Shanghai type too. Honey fried pork ribs, prawn dumplings, imperial duck and Sake wine all added to the experience. The place serves various kinds of beers too, draft or bottled Some of the dishes do not taste or look the way it is photographed. Such as spicy beef.

Tasty dumplings, great service, prices are real value for money, recommend the place. Just have in mind when ordering that servings are quite large.

Don't be fooled by looks... From the inside it looks like a modern, clean, bistro. The menu is expansive. The severs were friendly. The restaurant's health rating is 70% and the bathroom are going to give me nightmares. We used them after our meal otherwise we would have left. We have felt sick all day. I wish I would have yelped this place we sat down.

After reading good reviews decided to eat here. The menu outside the restaurant was not the same as what was given to us in the restaurant. We were escorted to a room in the basement where we felt that we were not even in the restaurant. The server didn't speak English and it made it difficult to figure out the menu. What came was not close to what we expected. Of the 5 meals we ordered we shared one of them as the other four were not in line with what we wanted. Not good with unidentifiable squishy food in our mouths. The food may have been good, not really sure. Would have been nice to have had either a way to communicate or at least been given some pictures. I would recommend if you are not familiar with authentic Chinese, to find another option.

Perfect place to eat a real Asian food in Chinatown!!! The restaurant is impecable clean, food marvelous and service very friendly.

We originally were going across the street but the Begoni Bistro looked far better. It was. Staff were very friendly, the food extremely fresh and tasty. Would highly recommend the dumplings, char sui buns and fire cracker chicken. All in all good value and really yummy :) authentic too

We stopped in here to begin our dim sum evening and it was pretty good. I think all of the small plates (Chinese tapas? I found it weird the menu said that) were fried, so you're not going to find any relief if you just need some veggies/greens. The pork steamed buns were excellent, the garlic beef ribs were pretty much just gristle and bone. The restaurant was clean and the staff was really nice.

We choose this place at the last minute because it was the closest to where we were that had a great review on Yelp! We thought we ordered a small amount but the food just kept coming! Toward the end of the meal the chef came out and confessed to sending us more things as he thought we hadn't ordered properly and asked that the next time we come we consult with him! We got into a long discussion about the various fresh herbs, which then turned into free flan for the table along with a bottle of white wine, which we were encouraged to finish. When he found out that we had been in Hanoi in the same month as he, we traded blitz views of photos on our respective phone. The food was as enjoyable as the hospitality. Go and have the chef order for you!

We were able to make a reservation, which was a huge plus! When we arrived, they stated us right away. The dining room is clean and bright, the server was attentive, and our drinks were brought to our table quickly. We ordered potstickers and egg rolls for starters, which were absolutely delicious! For our entree, we shared General Tso's chicken, Beef medallions and the Prawn & Scallop dish. The servers were quick, attentive, thoughtful....and packaged up our leftovers faster than we could pay the check! We've eaten at 3 or 4 other Chinese restaurants in Chinatown, and this was far and away our favorite!

After making our way to Chinatown we asked a local where the best places to eat were, he offered the Jackson or Washington Street food outlets. We wandered past Begoni and saw only a small line so we went in. The restaurant was buzzing and we were given a cute window seat Defoe two at the front. The menu choice is extensive and very authentic. We chose Shanghi Dumplings and stuffed eggplant. Delicious!!!!! We both had a local beer, but the beverage list was extensive. We looked around at what others were eating and our waiter kindly described their dishes, beef trip and chickens feet. If you want to try the more traditional fare than Begoni won't disappoint. Our light lunch and drinks came to just over $22. By the time we left the line was out the door and down the street. Get in early for lunch to avoid a queue ! Staff were busy but very pleasant and accommodating.

Word to the wise: dim sum is widely served in china town until around 230pm. So do not plan this for a late lunch. That said, Begoni appeared clean and attractive, and even the afternoon menu features “Chinese tapas”, basically dim sum fare. Still so much in this portion of the menu that ordering a few dishes filled the 2 of us to the brim! Pictures are the goji berry cake (jello mold if goji berry, slightly infused tea flavored and very mild) and veggie bun. Tame enough for the uninitiated but ethnic enough for the flavor and experience. We recommend this restaurant for a lovely lunch. I’m not sure if it was cultural but we did need to ask for the bill though the waiters were responsive in general. So don’t hesitate to ask.

Begoni Bistro is a must stop when in San Francisco. Fantastic food, generous portions,superb wine selections,exceptional staff. Listen to recommendations. Love this place. Thanks to everyone especially Herman for a memorable experience.

Looked good as we passed by. Did t show up in searches but among more highly rated in Chinatown. Enjoyed what we ordered - broccoli with oyster sauce (on the side without asking), sizzling fish with scallions and onion (great). Mushroom buns (different and delicious). Shrimp noodles.

Came here for dinner and the food was amazing. We had the clams, garlic noodles and a lobster dish. Everything had tremendous flavor but they ran out of crabs that night. Prices were not bad.

We stopped in the Begoni Bistro on the 3rd of July for lunch, as a lady had handed us a flyer down the street while we were shopping. The food was delicious. The restaurant was busy and it did appear that they may have been a little short staffed that day. The only problem was in how our meals came to the table; my husband's meal appeared first, then the appetizer came a bit later. Two of my teenagers got their meals next, and after a little more of a wait, my meal was presented. Finally, after the rest of us were well into our meals, (my husband was finished) the server finally brought my youngest son's meal of chicken fried rice. Everyone agreed the food was good, but it was not great that the meals came out to us so haphazardly. The menu appears to have quite a variety of Asian food available.

So...we went to a tea tasting room & the owner also owned this restaurant. Only tried 1 of the Dim Sum (very good) and we ordered 5 different entrees. I got 3 different vegan dishes, while my wife & friend got chicken dishes. All food was excellent. As someone on a restricted Salt diet I requested NO SALT. The salt was reduced on my foods, but "NO SALT" request was either not understood of ignored. Prices were fair & the line during lunch & dinner hour goes out the door, no wait @ 2:30 in the afternoon. Good food & service. If I had got NO SALT entrees I would have given "excellent" rating. You will not be disappointed. Service was good, communication adequate.

We booked an evening meal here during our recent visit to San Francisco to celebrate our 36th Wedding Anniversary on 14/02/2017. We arrived at about 6pm and were warmly welcomed. The initial service we received was very good and attentive. We ordered a main course with the intention of having a dessert. Our main course was excellent. Freshly cooked, and probably one of the best Chinese meals i have ever eaten. Although this was our Wedding Anniversary and i didn't expect any special service as a result, i didn't expect to be completely ignored as more people arrived. After we finished our meal we may as well have not existed. Most other diners were "Asian" and received a lot of attention, whilst we waited....and waited...and...you get the idea. Our plates were eventually cleared away and we still sat and waited. I eventually managed to ask for our bill. We paid and left. Had we waited for dessert, which was not offered, i reckon we would still be sat there. I have given a 2 star rating as the food was very good and it's not the chef's fault the service was slow.....direly slow. Here in the UK we hear a lot about the great customer service in the USA, but on this occasion it was an embarassment and i feel i let down my wife on our special day.

My Wife and I visited Begoni based on a local recommendation and the Dim Sum served is definitely above our expectations. I had dined in many Dim Sum restaurants across the countries eg Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China and Australia; but the food served in Begoni is really fantastic. I would recommend having the pork/century egg porridge, steam char siew bun, pork Siew Mia and chicken feet. The portions are generous and high quality ingredients, with great balance taste! Definitely must try if visiting SF Chinatown.

We liked this place. There are so many restaurants in China Town, and this one was really good. The Steamed buns were so light. They took good care of us. Light and airy place...lots of locals too. Will go back.

I generally do not like to give bad reviews, however, this restaurant was horrible. I made a reservation, but after we showed up, they sat a large group of 8 before us and another couple before us, even though we made a reservation. So first tip, reservations don't matter at this place. They were going to seat us, but then we were stopped and ushered to the front of the restaurant and had sit at the window. It then took them 20 minutes to come even offer us water. My husband had to track someone down to come take our order. My husband's order came out 5 minutes before mine and when my order came out it was completely wrong. I had to literally take my plate to someone near the kitchen to let them know it was wrong. The brought my correct dish out. The chicken was barely cooked and it wasn't even edible. It took them another 10 minutes to bring our check out and when they did they overcharged us. Don't bother with this place. There are so many other great places in Chinatown, this one is not one of them.

I was introduced to this restaurant by my friend who went there to eat Vietnamese food and we ended up eating Cantonese dim sum for lunch as they have recently converted to dim sum only for lunch. An unusual move as we were not shown a menu for Vietnamese food at all for lunch and just an order menu for dim sum. We did try their dim sum which was pretty good. The variety is somewhat more limited than other Chinatown dim sum houses but what we ordered (har gau, bbq pork steam bun, steamed chicken feet, rice roll with bbq pork) were pretty good. The pricing is also not expensive. Fortunately we arrived at 11:30, before the lunch crowd so we did not have to wait. But by 12:00, there was a waiting list and lines. It is not a big restaurant so go early. Would go again...

We had wonderful dim sum and regular dishes here. Portions are very large so don’t over order. Prices are very reasonable. Wait for a table upstairs, the basement room is very plain. The chow fun is great, as is the Mongolian beef. All the dim sum was delicious and cheap! A great spot for a filling, well priced meal.

Walking around Chinatown I saw this clean small quaint bistro. They have a large selection of menu items. I had eggplant with green beans in garlic sauce. It was wonderful. The house oolong hot tea is ok, but next time I'll try green tea. It's not expensive and the atmosphere is nice.

The reviews for this place is spot on. Didn't have to wait since it was a late lunch for us. XLB ( xia long bao) was amazing. The Peking duck was delicious, although I would have wanted someone to prepare it for us. It's a party of 7 and we ate plenty. The bill was around $135

Really good dim sum with great variety. Good service and a good selection of vegetarian options. Clean store and good service! Give it a try.

If you are tired of the many old, tired dim sum restaurants in SF, give this place a try. I think Begoni is one of the better dim sum restaurant in the city. The place is modern, clean and the staff was friendly and helpful comparing to many others in Chinatown. Love the BBQ pork rice roll, the pork was perfectly roasted and the rice skin was thin and chewy (perfect!), the hā gáau, sīu máai was served hot, fresh and tasty. FYI, they are a little more pricy comparing to others.

Must stop in Chinatown. Family style entrees of pork, beef and shrimp! Everything was fresh and full of flavor. Waiter was awesome and Clean atmosphere. Highly recommend!

So we decided to have a late lunch here at 2:00pm we were greeted and seated fast. Drinks were ordered and brought quickly that was nice. The menu was well set out and lots to chose from. We ordered beef carpaccio that was very tasty and well done. We order Thai red curry chicken and garlic tiger prawns. The food came out quickly. The prawns were deep fried after u peeled the coating off had no real flavor but were nice. The Thai red curry chicken tasted and looked like a yellow curry and no chicken but tofu when we questioned it we were told we were wrong and it is chicken and red curry. After debating it for a few mins he came back with some chicken and still said it was red curry. They did take $2 off the bill. This is why the bad rating. Other wise good.

The food is consistently excellent. I especially like the pampas but the other meals are good too. The atmosphere is pleasant and clean.

Because this new restaurant was directly across the street from the theater production we were attending in the Chinatown area of San Francisco, we chose to eat at Begoni Bistro. I think our first clue that this place was less-than-stellar should have been its name ... neither Begoni nor Bistro are remotely Chinese in nature. The servers were friendly enough, but there was nothing special on the menu, with dishes one would expect from virtually every Chinese restaurant in the U.S. While the sign outside said that dim sum was served all day long, there appeared to be none served on Saturday evening at 6:00pm. We shared an onion pancake to start that was very oily and very "not-oniony." The lamb with scallions was flavorless. The pork with lichees was dripping in a sugary sweet sauce, and the pieces of pork were not cut in "chopstick-appropriate" sizes. Trying to manage a 3-4 inch piece of pork dripping with syrupy-slick sauce was a difficult task. All-in-all, I can not recommend this restaurant at all.

I eat at the Begoni Bistro everytime I'm in San Francisco. I love Asian cuisine and try facilities in every location possible. Begoni Bistro is fabulous. The food is better than any I've ever tried, reasonably priced, generous portions, excellent choices. Would eat there daily if I didn't live 2500 miles away. Service is exemplary.... Herman is fabulous and definitely willing to offer suggestions. Can't wait to return in October.

Stopped in as part of a China Town Tour. Great dumplings-our favorite was the soup dumplings. The scallion pancakes were crispy and very fresh tasting. I would definitely go back for the dumplings and yummy dipping sauces.

we wandered in when the restaurant we wanted to go to had a waiting time of 45 minutes. Glad we wandered in. The staff was super friendly with a lovely wine list. The food was fresh, delicious and enough for leftover lunch today. Had the tiger shrimp, crab rolls and lamb with cumin, really well done! Go there, you won't be sorry. And it's also a pretty, clean and bright place.

This is a new four month old Vietnamese fusion restaurant. The squab dish is to die for. It is a must EAT again dish for me. It is deep fried with crispy skin and umami. It is served with caramelized onions and golden raisons. I liked their Vietnamese papaya salad with beef jerky, and it was our first dish. And the crispy crab and pork roll incorporate the soft noodles, the lettuce wrap and the crispy deep fried crab and pork roll. You bite into so many tastes and texture. It is such a surprise for your taste buds. We had the Tiger prawn and butter noodles. The noodle is more like Italian pasta, it is perfectly cooked but after the intense tastes of the first three dishes the noodle is a bit bland. The spicy prawns tastes like lobster they were huge and very spicy with lots of black pepper on the outside. I had to asked for a dish of tea with lemon to wash my hand after eating the squab and tiger prawn dishes with my hands. Going back there. I would give them a 4.5 star if there is a way to do it. The noodle dish is too contrasted with the very spicy prawns. Some thing is missing, may be garlic or some other spice to bridge the blandness of the noodles and the spicy prawns. The photo of the squab dish and other dishes are on their website begonibistro.com Great for tourists when visiting Chinatown in San Francisco.

Went to lunch at this place and was served some excellent food. Place is very busy however we didn’t have to wait. Wait staff are efficient and price is good. I would recommend this place if you’re keen for some excellent fresh dumplings in a busy Chinese restaurant.

I was so looking forward to eating lunch in Chinatown, and a local business owner suggested we eat here. It was clean with a nice atmosphere, so we were hopeful that a great meal was forthcoming. My two daughters had pan fried noodles, which came out from the kitchen 5 minutes apart. Both dishes were good, but not great. My pan sizzling spare ribs followed by 10 minutes and we’re not good at all. I ate two, and just got a mouth full of gristle both times. The waiter cleared my full plate without asking if I liked it. If you are looking for attentive service and fabulous food, there are surely better choices.

Got stuck looking for a good Chinese restaurant on Christmas evening. Unfortunately, since all North Beach restaurants were closed that night, the crowds outside all Chinatown eateries was really long. Fortunately, a friend had recommended Begoni Bistro and I had made a reservation for our party of 5 at 7PM. I sure am glad I did! We arrived on time and were quickly seated and served. We selected a wide variety of dishes to eat family style: soup, vegetarian, seafood, chicken, pork and beef. Everything was delicious and served promptly. What else can I say except Thank you!

It has been a long time since I had a dinner in Chinatown. The restaurant scene there has been on a long multiple year decline. Recently, a review of Begoni Bistro caught my eye,however, and we invited regular dinner companions to join us for a try. We have tried all the upscale Chinese restaurants in town together, found them just OK. Begoni was another matter! Every dish was excellent - an outstanding Peking Duck,Mango Bison,Vanilla Prawns, steamed shrimp dumplings, sautéed bean shoots with garlic. All excellently spiced and balanced. Attentive service, good advice. Limited but serviceable wine list. We all plan to return!

I had a wonderful time here. The food was great and the waiter was nice and polite. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Delicious experience, we had Dim Sum. Didn't break the bank. Restaurant was full on a Tuesday night, which was a great sign. Seemed it had a lot of locals too. Loved the meat pastries, and the egg yolk one too.

My friend and I went on a lil best of San Fran soup dumpling search today and were extremely happy and satisfied after our experience at begoni. The service was fast, and they were very nice and polite. The venue was clean and looked to be a bit more upscale for a restaurant in Chinatown. The soup dumplings were really good and chicken feet were served very well and less greasy than you would expect for chicken feet which is always a plus. Definitely would recommend to anyone!

Had a Californian Sauvignon Blanc with awesome food. A jewel on edge of China Town! Close to Financial District and a place to come back to!

Wonderful food! Delicious smells while you wait. Attentive and efficient staff. We ordered spring rolls, Shanghai dumplings, beef fried rice and tiger prawns. Succulent prawns and tender beef. Fresh and beautifully cooked - would definitely recommend a visit!

I guess I was looking for a more exciting experience. The food here was somewhere between bistro food (mushroom soup with flaky crust topping) and stir-fried lobster but couldn't seem to settle in either direction. Based on the history of the executive chef (Tommy Toys) the goal of one or the other should have been easily met. The mushroom soup was hot and with that crust, stayed hot but was not exactly bursting with flavor. The stir-fried lobster also was muted in terms of the flavors, A bright spot was that the restaurant has a corkage program of which I took advantage. My dinner guest and I opened a Palmina Dolcetto from Lompoc, CA. A delightful wine that matched up against the food very nicely. The restaurant was quiet as we showed up (6:30 p.m.) early for a Friday night dinner. The service was attentive and I only had to flag down the waiter once. There are, in my estimation better Chinese restaurants and better bistros in San Francisco than Begoni's.

This restaurant is very clean. The staff very professional. The food was prepared quick. This side of Jackson street is less crowded and closer to available street parking and garages, so I would highly recommend stopping her if you're driving. The price is a little steep, but you can definitely tell the food is fresh. Also, it is prepared quickly. I ordered the fried rice. It was good. It has egg which you do not see often these days. What I really enjoyed and would get every time in town from now on are the crab and pork spring rolls. I have been eating Chinese food for over twenty years in all the major cities, but this was a first for me and I was presently surprised. I highly recommend going even if you only go for the spring rolls.

Pho is very light. This is not typical pho you would have - almost no salt. It is not recommended. Order some dishes with more spices. Clam with white wine is not so bad.

Really lovely food, the portions were massive! We ordered too much, it was so yummy but unfortunately couldn't take it with us. Will try and return during our stay in SF!

Stopped here for a quick bite and were so happy. The place looks modern and clean. Service was ok. The food was actually great! They have a variety to offer and we tried wings, spring rolls and chicken fried rice, it was all great! Until the time for leaving, decided to stop at the wc... so disgusting!!!!! I would have not eaten there had i seen the hygiene conditions of the wc. I don't exaggerate it looked like it was raining in the pissoir and toilet... YELLOW rain. And there was a lot of ice in the pissoir, i have no clue what can be the purpose for that other than to get rid of extra ice, but this makes me wonder if they are actually going into the bathroom with cooking utensils and glassware..? I hope not! What a shame. Everything else was great.

We were supposed to eat across the street but they were full. Walked in this restaurant and WOW.. Chef AJ came to table and made suggestions . Had scallops with miso glaze and wok charred Brussel sprouts . Dinner was garlic eggplant with string beans .. Absolutely wonderful

YUM! This restaurant was recommended by one of the merchants we got to talking to. It was excellent. We had a party of 6 and everyone enjoyed their meals. From General Tso's Chicken, scallion pancakes, shrimp dumplings, to mongolian beef. Communication with wait staff can be difficult, some do not speak English but the food was very good. Dishes were large enough to share, so you could really try a few different things.

Stopped in for a glass of wine. I wish I would have eaten lunch here. Great modern clean bistro with a good wine selection. I will be back for lunch!

Ate here on a Friday night following good reviews on TA. Clean open space inside. The menu more extensive than shown online, but prices also slightly more expensive. Calamari starter was more batter than squid, prawn spring roll was large in size and fresh, but slightly bland in flavour. No brown rice available so steamed rice accompanied our mains. Fireball chicken was a stand out dish, full of flavour with a great chilli kick. If only all the other dishes matched this. My wife's tofu yellow curry seemed to be lacking the main ingredient....tofu. When we questioned this we were told 'sorry, we ran out' Very poor and should have been told so we could have picked an alternative. We asked if we could have some chicken to add to it and a measly portion eventually turned up. In a very competitive area, they need to do better than this. I couldn't recommend it

Wife and I walking through China Town looking for a place for lunch.. I was hoping for more of a street food vibe, but really nothing like that there. This spot had lots of activity there, so we decided to go there... pretty Americanized place, but the food was really good, wait staff was friendly and attentive, portions were large and the restaurant was very clean ... not a spot if your looking for more of a interesting/different food experience, but very nice comfortable place for lunch in china town.

So glad we happened up this spot. Service couldn’t have been better! The dishes were awesome! Steamed buns were perfection. Tons of choices perfect to try a few to share.

Researched Dim Sum in Chinatown on both Trip Advisor and Yelp. My daughter, 9 year old grandson and I searched out Begoni amongst many small restaurants on Jackson Street and so glad we found it! Upon entering, we saw a sign indicating that we needed to check in on a paper. Quickly a waiter approached and motioned for us to wait a minute. Busy and a little noisy right at lunchtime but we figured this is the sign of a good place to eat with so much restaurant competition nearby. We were seated at a very clean table with a checklist menu and a pencil. We made our choices and the paper was promptly picked up by a friendly waitress. Mint tea was delicious and so were all the dim sum dishes we ordered: Shrimp Noodle Roll, Shanghai Dumplings, Shrimp Dumplings, Shrimp & Pork Shu Mai, Shrimp Chive Dumplings, and for dessert, Sesame Balls. LOL we love shrimp and all dishes were served steaming fresh and hot, one by one, so we could enjoy each in turn. My grandson loved the Shu Mai and my daughter and I favored the Shrimp Chive Dumplings. Sesame balls were piping hot fried but not greasy, with a delicious filling, perfect dessert. Excellent friendly service, interesting décor, upscale but not expensive. Our bill was $35 not counting tip. For SF Chinatown, a real bargain and a great experience for us all. Definitely we will be back as we love our Chinatown excursions!

We walked across from Hunan's as Begoni's looked much brighter & airier than many of the places in SF Chinatown, it really was worth crossing the road for! We started with salt & pepper ribs, as good as I've tasted anywhere in the world. Followed this by prawns with garlic noodles, chow mien & Moroccan lamb - chef can cook!!! Portions are generous, food is tasty, perfectly seasoned & cheapest drinks we had in SF. Great experience.

Stopped here while in Chinatown based on trip advisor reviews. Nice setting and friendly employees, but we found the food a little bit bland for our tastes. Good wine selection.

I was in SF for a couple of days on business and tried out Begoni Bistro. I was looking online for dim sum and I passed it by at first because the name just didn't seem that authentic. But,I realized it was dim sum and it was just around the corner so I gave it a try. It was packed and with a waitlist, but I was by myself and opted for the offered immediate seat at the counter. I was unfamiliar with many of the items on the menu, so stick to some favorites: shumai, taro cakes and stuffed eggplant. First off, the portions were quite large for the price and they were good although more homestyle than refined. The bill for lunch (and also for dinner, since I only ate half) was about 16.00 including tax. I liked it enough to go back the next evening for dinner, where I had the house specialty of prawns. I liked lunch better than dinner. Nothing bad about the food, just nothing special.

We stayed in SF for 3 days and this was the best restaurant by miles. We went to Hunan's Home the previous night (good but not great) and had to wait 45 minutes, noticed this across the road and looked it up on Trip Advisor. Walked in and had a really delicious meal, the papaya salad is just amazing. Talking to the manager he said it wasn't a typical Chinatown restaurant - and in a way he's right as there aren't 100's of choices, but the prices are good the food is fantastic and this place deserves more customers. Just go - if you like Asian food and fresh flavours this is the place to go.

We were trying to find somewhere but the recommended places all had queues out the door. This place was less busy so we were hesitant. It was a hit!

Frankly, this restaurant was not our first choice and we entered it as it was getting near to the closing time. But it was a very pleasant discovery. We were given a very warm welcome and made to feel at home. We had excellent chicken noodle soup, kungfao chicken and fried rice, We also had a vegetable dish-Buddha's Delight. All the dishes were excellent.

Thanks to a recommendation, we ate at Begoni Bistro on a very busy Sunday during the lunch hour. It was busy because of the delicious food, the variety of dishes (I'm vegetarian so I passed on the Chicken Feet), and the obvious local vibe. Maybe the service was less than stellar because of the time of day, but we waited an inordinate amount of time for our white rice, and then another lengthy wait for 2 vegetarian egg rolls. The dim sum was delicious, and the onion pancake equally so. The only thing that arrived in a timely manner was the onion pancake. With all that said, I would definitely eat at this establishment again.

China town and then you find a place like this. China town is china town, but here you pass before the restaurant and the place is big, bright and clean. The staff is very friendly. The chef came to speak to us because my partner is allergic for peppers and he wanted to double check and make suggestions. The food was very well prepared with a lot of flavour. We are not specialists in asian food, but for those who are, i don't think you will be disappointed here.

This was a very good, freshly prepared meal at a good value for a big city restaurant. Portions are average size but good quality. Service was very good. Food brought out as ready since we were eating "family style".

Its been a while since I drop by this restaurant when opened a year or so ago as a French-Indio Cuisine at Begoni Bistro with a wine bar too in Chinatown! It had limited food menu at the time. Mostly, it was Vietnamese noodle and rice plates. The restaurant is brightly decorated with a sense of French inspiration through. Its clean, inviting and open with a sense of welcome to our food and wine! However, a few friends and I went by and this restaurant for dinner. The name changed along with the kitchen chef. Its now BEGONI BISTRO WOK & WINE. The Executive Chef is A.J. Faung and its cuisine changed to Eastern inspired. More like a fusion of the Easter and the West. We were promptly provided a table with a menu. The server was very knowledgable with the food and the wine list. We ordered five dishes for three of us . The presentation of the dishes were Western. Most eye catching was the garlic noodle with tiger prawns! It was in a white pot with a candle light beneath the dish! We also had individual vegetable soup dish. A dish presented like the FRENCH ONION SOUP! How delightful to our eyes! We were very please with the dumpling dish and the dim sum dish. We tasted it and knew it was freshly created and steamed with its tender skin textures! As for wine, we ordered the Oyster Bay from New Zealand. It was very light and fresh to our taste bud. For dessert, we had mango pudding. It was the right choice! A Very smooth and artistic piece for us to finish out the evening. We left Begoni Bistro Wok & Wine with a new Respect for its change of menu and presentation! Try it, and one cannot go wrong. The price is also reasonable too.

Had a delicious lunch at this very smart looking restaurant. Chef and staff were very helpful and offered some great menu suggestions. A great find in the middle of so many restaurants.

New restaurant in Chinatown. Very friendly. Best service hands down. Authentic Chinese food in a new, upscale environment. Really enjoyed the tea and the soup. It is a must stop if you are in Chinatown!

This was a great find. We really enjoyed it. No need to think about it. Just go try it. You will be happy. Came here with family and the kids enjoyed the Dim Sum so much that I had to order more. We left happy and will come back.

Stumbled upon this restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. Food was delicious and service was great. Would definitely visit again next time in San Francisco.

We had a nice selection of dim sum and a big plate of pea shoots. So fresh and delicious! The place is clean and was quite busy by 11am with many locals.

Stopped here for a lunch. Great looking dining room and a terrific job by TJ whipping up a deliciosly spicy pad thai and a few ice cold Tsingtaos !

Popped in by chance as heard lots of Chinese voices as past by. Great lively lunchtime place to be. Enjoyed the dim sum and green beans in soy sauce. Deep fried calamari was enormous and tasty . Lots of choices and would return another time .

First night visiting San Francisco and we came to Chinatown looking for dumplings/dim sum and chose this place because of the reviews. Since it was later in the evening, I didn't want a heavy meal so we ordered the Shanghai dumplings, an order of egg rolls and shrimp fried rice. The dumplings were OK, but nothing to write home about. The egg rolls were very greasy. The fried rice was ok but I prefer more soy sauce in mine. Overall it was a huge disappointment and I was expecting better flavors here. I can get better Chinese food in Houston. Would not come back. Maybe their entrees are better but I will never know. I will say one positive was the service and that's why I'm giving this place 2 stars.

We did not try dim sum as most were but rather ordered off the menu. The pot stickers were very good. One had Szechwan ribettes which were reported to be good but we're very messy to eat. One had chicken chow mein which was very ho hum to my taste. It may, however, have been more authentic than what I am used to. I had sizzling fish which was excellent once I added the chili sauce. I left feeling thirsty and on salt overload, but I did add soy sauce. Service was pitiful. One server was very nice but didn't speak enough English to communicate. It took forever for someone to take our order. We wanted a glass of wine so we had to ask for the wine menu then we had to flag down someone to take the order. The establishment is very American bistro with very little authentic Chinatown thrown in. All that said, I am guessing the locals like it a lot.

Some of the best and most creative Chinese food we've had (and yes, we've eaten a lot of meals in China). Place is immaculately clean and stylish interior, friendly service, reasonable prices. Don't overthink it, just go there, experience for yourself.

I'm a hard critic when it comes to Yum Cha and these guys do it just right! While they don't have the food carts coming around to enjoy random selections, their menu is extensive and I purposely trialed all my favourite dishes to compare to a family fav in Melbourne - Shark Fin House on Bourke Street ... They excelled in all areas of cuisine, service and ambiance! I highly recommend Begoni to any traveller craving tasty, fresh dim sum or in search of a familiar Asian flavor! I look forward to coming back again!

Begoni Bistro is a great place to sample Chinese food. Lots of interesting dishes on the menu. In the Midwest, if you want Peking Duck, you have to order a day or two in advance (or it isn’t even on the menu). I tried my first Peking Duck at Begoni, (1/2 or whole are on the menu, and looked just like the pictures). Wow! Crispy skin, beautifully done. If you like mushrooms, try the wild mushroom chicken. Lots of different mushrooms make this dish fabulous. In addition to Chinese, the chef also makes wonderful puff pastry. Food portions were generous, served quickly and were delicious.

My friend and I went to Begoni Bistro in San Francisco's Chinatown for lunch. First thought was maybe its French food. NO! its Vietnamese with a wine-bar and grill. The décor was clean, bright and comfortable. The servers were very helpful when we ordered the fresh prawn rice noodle wrap. It was delicious with some hot sauce & relish. Both of us then ordered our lunch entries: crab/vegetable pasta thin noodle and one combination with chicken/beef board rice noodle. It came in a hot large bowl, along with side sliced lemon and hot pepper to place in the noodles if desire. It was Indochine style with a touch French wine bar and décor, making it a enjoyable lunch for my friend and I. The bill was very reasonable. This restaurant is about a block from the Transamerica building and the Hilton Hotel/Chinatown, near to North Beach neighborhood. Try it , you'll like it.

My Sweetie and I went to China Town for the first time and we were a bit overwhelmed with the vast array of possible choices to eat. There was one restaurant on that street that had a line out the door that we were considering. There was a family that just exited that particular restaurant and turned to us saying it was good food but rushed services. So I decided to check Travel Advisor and noticed that this was highly rated but only by 14 people. So we thought why not give it a shot. We weren't disappointed! The curry was fabulous!!! The pho was terrific! The environment was modern and wonderful, attentive staff! Enjoyed it a lot. I would highly recommend giving this place a shot.

Good restaurant in Chinatown. We had some dumplings followed by Peking duck, Sichuan beef, fried rice and noodles with chicken. Food tasted all very good. Only disappointment was that noodles were initially forgotten, so arrived late after we already had finished all other food.

Very nice, clean, well appointed restaurant...good vibes. The food seems to be a French inspired take on traditional Chinese food...light, not greasy and very flavorful. We liked the Osmanthus Sweet Chicken and Prawns In Lobster Sauce. Service was excellent. Would eat there again.

THE 21ST CENTURY MEETS CHINATOWN By Carol Peterson Begoni Bistro 615 Jackson St. San Francisco, CA 94111 415.757.0120 Open 7 days – 11-3 and 5-10 Walking in Chinatown recently, I noticed a chic new restaurant, one that with its contemporary ambience could have been transported next to Tadich Grill on California Street. Why was this classy looking place among the serviceable but generic hostelries of Chinatown? When I met Begoni’s Executive Chef Jimmy Kwok I found out. He told me he and his partner Ming Doung picked the location and design because “We wanted to stand out. We think Chinatown needs a fresh start.” According to Jimmy they have already made a difference. “Several restaurants are considering remodels after seeing us.” Why the name Begoni? The word refers to a sea flower, and Jimmy thinks it reflects his cooking style which is rooted in Vietnamese and French cooking filtered through his own adaptations. Jimmy learned cooking from his mother, starting at the age of 7. Living in Hanoi with the French, Jimmy would carry catered food to the international embassies. By 1977, under the communists, Hanoi was too dangerous for Jimmy, and he escaped by boat to Hong Kong, ending up in Philadelphia. Later, visiting San Francisco he never went back. He says, “I am on a permanent vacation after 30 years.” The chic and pleasant ambience is only the start of the excellence at Begoni. At this family owned business, the ambience is friendly and welcoming. The food is special and promptly served. I have my favorites. Of the appetizers, I was intrigued by the Green Papaya Salad with Beef Jerky (9), It is served in Hanoi style. That means, cutting back on the fish sauce and adding a unique ingredient--beef jerky. A hint of mint touches off this flavorful dish. Jimmy said, “The people of Hanoi enjoy this refreshing snack before they go to the theater or other outing.” My favorite dish at Begoni (and it was not easy to pick a favorite) was the Roasted Squab (19). It was crispy, moist, juicy and succulent. I usually avoid ordering squab because many times it is dry. Not at Begoni. Jimmy’s secret is marinating the tiny fowl in salt, pepper and lime for four hours. Then it is roasted in a very hot oven for a short time and served over caramelized onions and golden raisins. The combination is a perfect mixture of ingredients and timing. The dip of lime, salt and pepper is simple but changes the taste immensely. This is a dish adequately shared by two people. If chicken soup sounds like an uninspired choice, you haven’t tried Jimmy’s. He caramelizes onions, shallots, ginger and adds them to a pot of cold water that includes rice white wine, fish sauce and rock sugar (rock sugar because Jimmy only uses natural ingredients). The water is heated to boiling which incorporates the pungent flavors. The chicken is added (only free range), cooked for a short time and pulled out and deboned. The bones go into the broth, taken out and then chicken and noodles added. He tops it with a sprinkle of fresh herbs. The result is the most clear, subtle, chicken soup I have ever tasted. It is not busy. You could eat it every day and never tire of it. Of the Vermicelli Salad Wraps, the Bun Cha Ca Thang Long (15) was excellent, full of special flavors. The herbed seared fillet of sole is served on a sizzling, island platter with sautéed dill, onion, peanuts and shallots and the unique flavoring of turmeric. The wrap is accompanied by a large platter of very fresh lettuce and fresh herbs so you can pick your choice of herbs to add when you make your wrap. Again the simple sauce of salt, pepper and fresh lime is perfect for dipping. For vegetarians, Garlic Eggplant with Green Bean (8) is the right choice.The eggplant is sliced into long pieces and sautéed with sweet and sour bean sauce, garlic, ginger, chili and scallions. It’s a spicy dish and full of wonderful flavors. If you are looking for a melt in your mouth meat dish, the Bo Luc Lac (19 Dinner) will not disappoint. Jimmy buys all of his products locally and this includes his meat from Golden Gate Meats. The filet minion is marinated in Worchester sauce, garlic, olive oil and herb de province, a preparation that underscores the French influence in his cooking. The meat is sliced into small chunks and sautéed with purple onions. The flavors of the succulent juicy tender meat dance on your tongue. Al dente Garlic noodles make the perfect addition. The only dessert served at Begoni is a flan. At Begoni you don’t get the typical flan, with crunchy top and creamy custard. Instead their flan has a scrumptious, spongy texture and finishes with a beautiful vanilla sauce. Enjoy. This new restaurant is the face of Chinatown’s future and Jimmy Kwok and the Duong family will be remembered as the people who had a vision.

Lovely fresh tasting food. Best vegetable fried rice ever. Excellent wine list. Service was very good. Clean and very new surroundings made this a bit of a haven in Chinatown.