Dragon Well Reviews

We visited here after a long day sightseeing. We opted for a wonton soup, spring rolls and then I had Mongolian beef and my husband had Mu Shu Pork. None of the flavours disappointed, the only slight criticism (if really trying to find one) was that they brought out the starters at the same time as the main course. In hindsight, this was probably good for us because we would have got full waiting for the mains to arrive, but worth noting if you do want a longer dinning experience. Staff were friendly and it was filling up with locals while we were eating.

Our food was all very good. The duck takes a little longer to come out so don't expect it as an appetizer. Our waiter suggested several appetizers and one entree per person. Instead, for a group of 4, we had 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and rice. One of our group also had soup. We were all satisfied and could not have eaten more. We also had wine and beer. Good service and good food.

We found this jewel right on one of the streets behind our hotel. Chestnut street has every type of cuisine you can imagine. Even though it was a small restaurant, we could tell that their “to go” orders were in high demand on this rainy Friday night. We ordered spring rolls, won ton soup, Chow Fun with chicken and flat rice noodles. It was so gratifying to have a Gluten Free menu for my daughter. The food was absolutely delicious. Our waiter was very attentive to our needs. We went to dinner before the Friday crowds came in. We enjoyed our food. We will go back there again the next time we are in the city of San Francisco.

So enjoyed our dinner at Dragon Well. After a big day of sightseeing it was great to spend time in a welcoming and relaxed restaurant, off the tourist path. Everything we had was fabulous from the Won Ton soup to the Mu Shu Pork. Great wine list with very nice selection of local wines - always a plus. If you want a nice meal in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere I can highly recommend Dragon Well.

Good, solid Chinese for the Marina crowd.

We ordered three dishes and soup to take out. Everything was well packaged and very tasty. The portions were generous. The prices were a bit high.

This is Restaurant is not in China Town which I appreciated (not a tourist trap). The food is awesome and authentic! They make their pot stickers by hand and I believe they make their own fortune cookies: Vanilla & Chocolate. We had pork pot stickers, wok fried prawns and pork fried rice which were all tasty and wonderful. The service was quick and friendly. This is a neighborhood restaurant the hostess greeted repeat customers by name. So friendly and very reasonably priced.

Our table was a little wobbly and the staff could not have been more helpful about it, we just asked for a beermat but they came over all apologies for the inconvenience! Food was great. Can understand why it rates so highly!

I love the eggplant

I've been here and ordered takeout countless times over the years. It was barely passable, but convenient. After a long hiatus, dropped in again, and won't be back. Had a scallop noodle dish. Had to ask for a magnifying glass to find the bits of scallop. Greasy. Flavorless. Way too expensive for a tiny plate of greasy, flavorless starch. Used to get the bird's nest. It was very uneven. Last time I had it, it had shrunk in size and was too stingy with the seafood, and the price had increased approx. 30%. Overall, the various dishes I've had are greasy and flavorless.

We'd been warned that e Marina District is the home to "numerous, vacuous white people." But if so, I saw no sign of it, and Dragon Well, which looked like a perfectly ordinary Chinese sit-down restaurant full of contented customers, turned out to have truly exceptional food. We got a Chicken in Lettuce Cups appetizer (scrumptious), a vegetable stir fry (okay but a little bland), and a large hit & sour soup (exceptional and spicy). Other in our group got Moo Shu Pork which they seemed to live. All in all, a truly great Chinese dinner.

My husband and I stumbled upon this restaurant when looking for Chinese that offers gluten free (not common in Aus). We were NOT disappointed? The Gluten Free menu is extensive and the owner and waitstaff are completely aware of the requirements of Coeliacs. After speaking with the Manager/Owner we were advised that she and the chefs have been preparing and offering GF menu for over six years. The food was delicious and reasonably priced, portion sizes exactly what you would expect at a local Chinese. We liked it so much here we visited for a second time in our five night San Fran stay! A small side note: On both nights we noticed the Owner and her employees sitting down at the back of the restaurant to eat a shared meal (note, this was once the restaurant had officially closed and only a few diners were finishing their meals). It was lovely to see the team interact in this manner and at no time did we feel like we were not either being looked after or interrupting their meal!

great non-greasy chinese food

We had 2 nights in San Fran whilst on our California road trip ... booked here for first night, and it was so good, we returned for our second night! Such amazing and tasty food, best we’ve ever tasted. Extremely hospitable towards us, and made us feel very welcome. This gorgeous restaurant is clearly used by locals and the staff knew their customers. Best Chinese food .... ever! We have a large Chinatown in Liverpool, UK, but they don’t compare to this place! Thank you for for looking after us.

I visited a friend who lives in the Presidio and he took me out to dinner with his family to their go to Chinese Restaurant. We waited 15 minutes on a busy Friday night for a table for 5. The restaurant is small and always full but turn over is fast. Friendly service and food comes quickly. Chicken dishes are all good. The veg. Pot stickers are god too but we’re a bit burned. The spring rolls so so. Portions are huge and prices reasonable. Loads of coffee and ice cream places next door for dessert.

A friend sent us here. We ordered tons of food thinking we'd take some home and just cleaned it up. Very attentive and friendly service. All veggies were very young and fresh. Lemongrass chicken was a cool kind of spicy. Really good food.

Food is good... looks like a fancy little place, yet ran like a family place. Plates are well served (pretty good size). A little too much for a single person. Enjoying real Asian food. Must, IF you happen to be in the area.

I went to Dragon Well in April with my friend for the 2nd time; we ordered 2 dishes then started our conversation. We continued to chit chat after finishing eating the meal, the fat lady (I guess she may be the manager or owner) kept on (a couple times) asking if we needed to order any additional food. It is important to be polite and considerate while not being interrupted when we are having a conversation, plus there were only a couple customers during that period, lots of empty seats. Comments: (1) bad service (2) expensive food, one dish of smoked duck with only a few pieces (3) Sweet and Sour pork, beef and shrimp was salty. Recommend, Services are more important than anything, even the food is good (but not). I told my staff and friends not to come to Dragon Well anymore. There is plenty of good food and good service at other locations in the Marina. If the minimum rate is 1, I have no choice, otherwise, I will rate 0

I loved this restaurant. It is so cozy but beautiful. Food was great and service was very fast. I have no idea why anyone would call this a hole in the wall.

Looking for a reasonable Asian restaurant while on holiday. Stumbled upon Dragon Well and glad we did. The lady in charge was super friendly and the staff were all very pleasant. And the food - fantastic. And a nice change from the Chinese dishes you are served in Australia. Tasty, not swimming in sauce - really nice. Great value for a really nice meal.

Service on first course was a little slow...it was turn over from lunch to dinner...but the duck appetizer and shrimp entree were definitely worth the wait.

Our family of four decided to enjoy a selection of appetizers and were well feed for $54 with dumplings, wonton soups, chicken lettuce wraps, and spring rolls. Liked that the food didn’t seemed overly processed.

We tried Dragon Well for lunch and found it so good that we came back with our daughter and her boyfriend after her graduation that night. Everyone in our group found it outstanding. The staff were very attentive and the menu had enough variety to make both meals distinctive. The food was very fresh and expertly prepared. Great taste and value! Dragon Well will be on our "go to" list for all visits to SF.

Stopped in here for an early dinner one Saturday evening. Spring rolls and soup were lovely. The mains are really good portions, plenty of food, really tasty. Staff were friendly too. Would definately recommend this restaurant. Either go early or pre-book to avoid disappointment, as it was busy when we left.

A very popular Chinese Restaurant in Chestnut Street, San Francisco. Excellent food and service. I would totally recommend it.

Super service and food.....the whole experience was lovely well worth a visit don't order a main meal for every person as the portions are large! a great meal in a great city x

We had a great dinner with good Thai food and really good beer! The waiters were very friendly and the atmosphere in there was very nice... we will come back tonight 😀!!

We went to dragon well for lunch. The place was packed but we got the last table. We didn't have a reservation. The waitress was quite friendly and she took our drink order almost as soon as we were seated. They have a lychee ice tea which is interesting. We ordered several dishes to share and some were better than others. The chicken with vegetables was ok. The mapo tofu, the beef chow fun and the kung pao chicken were better. The potstickers are very large and tasty but there are only four to an order. We should have been told to order more so that every person in our group could have one. The staff are very friendly and they checked back to see if we needed anything. It's a little pricey for Chinese food, but it's in the Marina district so we anticipated the extra cost.

Found this place on a restaurant app and had great reviews. They deserved them. The place is cozy and comfortable. Service was excellent. Food came out quicker than some fast food places. Fresh favors and great portions. Not pricy at all and would recommend this place to anyone visiting SFO.

We stumbled across this restaurant, as our usual Italian was full and had a 45 minute wait. Good job too. It is quite compact inside, but there was a table. We were seated efficiently and handed the menus. We opted for a couple of sharing starters, then two main courses. The portions were ample, the food tasty and it was very reasonably priced. Although drinks were on the high side. A great find. Will definitely visit again.

Pleasant atmosphere and generous portions. We picked seafood dishes presented with style and panache. ..and great taste!

Dinner tonight as a couples night out. Our server greeted us with enthusiasm and was so helpful and friendly he made us feel immediately comfortable. He made suggestions and explained the menu which was very helpful when it came to ordering. We had a small bowl of soup then ordered two dishes; Kung Pao chicken and Crystal prawns with a small rice. While both dishes were delicious, I didn’t think the Crystal prawns were worth the $20.00 price. The prawns were not large and there was more edamame beans in the dish than anything else. I would not order them again. I would however definitely go back to this restaurant again.

My husband and I recently stayed in the Pacific Heights District in San Francisco. We stumbled on a small Chinese restaurant, the Dragon Well, located on Chestnut Street. Reservations are definitely recommended. We made them for 8:30 pm last Friday night and when we arrived at 8:25 pm, our table was ready. This is not a fancy restaurant, its more like a bistrom very clean and modern. I would compare it to a very small P.F. Changs - however, I thought the food was better. They had the lettuce wraps like P.F. Changes, but again, the chicken filling was better. We were seated in the center section of three tables and within five minutes of being seated, the hostess offered to seat us on the wall because a party had just left. We had not complained about our location. I had the chicken with walnuts which was absolutely the best. I would highly recommend a visit to this restaurant anytime you are in the San Francisco area.

Came here as a group of 5 for dinner. Initially we were a little skeptic as on arrival there were very few other customers in the restaurant. However, we could see take away orders flying out so decided to stay. We ordered the spring rolls and tea smoked duck to start. Both were very nice. The tea smoked duck is served in bao buns with hoisin sauce. Both very nice. For mains we shared the kung pao chicken, Mongolian beef, mu shu pork and chicken chow mien. I would order all of them again other than the chow mien. They were utterly delicious and tasted fresh. Between the 5 of us these 4 dishes and 1 large rice were more than enough! We had a lovely waiter called Daniel who was very accommodating and knowledgable.

The industry and focus of the presumed owner manager was incredible. The team were incredibly busy but seemed to give everyone a great welcome and service. Its a small place in a lovely part of town (away from Dirty Downtown) serving delightful food in a great atmosphere at a very good price. Highly recommended.

We lobe this Chinese restaurant in the Marina. Had eaten there several times, returned with friends during a visit to the city. Service is very friendly and the food superb; hot, all fresh ingredients, exceptional presentation. We had pot stickers, walnut shrimp, mu shu pork, spicy chicken, and steamed salmon. Every dish was great. Extensive wine menu by the glass or bottle. Park in the Pierce street garage around the corner.

Lovely food and helpful staff and super cute tea pots. Really enjoyed our meal celebrating for a birthday meal.

I've had way better Chinese food in Chinatown. The food was good but not great. It's a nice environment and caters to a more affluent demographic in the area. They do a lot of take out and there was a line so make a reservation.

Loved the building and the food was so tasty and affordable. We had the delicious lettuce wraps and the Hong Kong platter. The service wasn't bad as far as getting what we needed. Because of the high ceilings it can get loud. They were also very busy with to go orders. Nice little gem!

This little restaurant is located in the heart of all the action on Chestnut. Arriving without a reservation on a Saturday night, we were greeted by a very friendly front desk woman, later learning she is an owner. We scored with the front table that opens on to Chestnut. We skipped ordering an appetizer and went straight to ordering chicken chow mein, savory sweet stir fried beef, crystal prawns, kung pao and streamed rice. I noticed a lighter touch with the dishes, a good thing. The stir fried beef was a bit too sweet for our tastes (this is our error because "sweet" is in the title and we should have known better!). The crystal prawns lacked a lot of sauce flavor but the flavor of the prawns themselves came through but was just a little plain. I will admit to always wanting to find Kung Pao chicken that matches my favorite from another restaurant. This Kung Pao was good, just did not match my favorite. But good food overall. What sets this place apart is their service. Our water glasses were refilled constantly and our waitperson was so attentive. Meanwhile, the owner continued to greet each new patron and phone call with the same friendly and welcoming manner. This was a pleasure to see and we look forward to a return visit.

We visited this modestly appointed restaurant, which is not in Chinatown, but it is in the more residential Marina District of San Francisco. We are extraordinarily pleased. First of all, this is truly a neighborhood restaurant, so if one is looking for a place that the locals frequent, this is it. The proprietor, Christina, knew most of her patrons, and could tell me now many people visited recently, who were not locals. The food was beyond delicious. I had the hot and sour soup, which was clearly a step above any bowl of this favorite soup of mine that I have ever had. It was appropriately spiced, but not too hot. It was less common in flavor than most. My wife had the vegetable dim sum, which was clearly the best that any of us ever had. It came with a sauce that warranted repeated tasting. She also had the prawns with almonds, which is her favorite Chinese dish. This version of it was outstanding, with lots of true prawns, not small shrimp, copious almonds, and a mild sauce, which did not overwhelm the other flavors. I had kung pao chicken, and this was the best I have ever tasted. One of the potential virtues of this dish is the mixture of textures in it from the chicken to the celery to the peanuts. In this case, everything was freshly prepared and these textures were clear. A risk of this dish is that it is too heavily spiced. In this case,the spicing was perfect. Visitors to San Francisco do themselves a clear disservice, if they miss the Dragon!

The quality, the quantity, and the nice service make this restaurant worth a visit. I really recommend this place if you want to try some good Chinese food. I had spring rolls, chow mien, and steam veggie, all delicious. I suggest to share plates which are quite big.

Pros : Ideal location on Chestnut amidst all the hustle and bustle of the city. Decent interiors. Decent and attentive staff. Cons: Dishes are totally bland. Some even lacking salt and thus had no taste. They lack in quality though quantity is decent to share. Everything we tried except the Chicken chow mein was difficult to even digest and was poorly cooked and prepared. Very disappointed in the chef and would not recommend this place to folks who are fond of Asian food.

Overpriced Americanized Chinese food. Far from authentic and caters to the taste of those who don't know what authentic Chinese food supposed to taste like, the people that live in the area and willing to pay the price. Go visit Chinatown in San Francisco for Chinese food worth paying for.

The food is quite oily and not as good as it used to be. The Chinese chicken salad is quite nice. The service is wonderful. The restaurant is looking a little tired since my last visit.

We had a limited time to eat dinner due to reservations for a show, which we told them when we booked our reservations. Since the people at the table we were going to be seated at took a little longer than expected, our order was taken while we were still waiting, so that once we sat, our food came out immediately. The pot stickers were amazing--crunchy on the outside, chewy inside. The wonton noodle soup was the best we've ever eaten. My lemongrass chicken was spicy and wonderful. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals, and made our reservation without incident. Highly recommend!!!

Waking along Chestnut in the Marina district on the last day of our short vacation. Lots of places to choose from and I'm so glad we decided to stop in here for lunch. Service was top notch, totally attentive staff. We shared the calamari appetizer, so good! I had the beef, tofu and tomato main, very tasty. My hubby had the mongolian beef. Sooooooo tasty!!! Sat in the window seat and soaked up the sun. Thank-you for a great experience, great food.

This is a delicious Asian restaurant that people need to hear about! Decor is simple but staff are wonderful and the food is top class! Portions are huge!!! I eat a lot (I mean a lot) and couldn’t manage to finish my dish! One main dish would be loads for two people. Rice is not served with the dishes but is a nice accompaniment. I would highly recommend this place!!

What a fabulous spot - great food (mostly traditional with some unique Chinese dishes), great service and very reasonably priced. As we told our charming young waiter, if we lived in San Francisco we would dine there every week.

Used Google to search for a good restaurant in Chinatown and not did we found one. Clearly a good find when half the customers are Chinese! Nothing much to look at in terms of interior but the food was awesome and the service was efficient to say the least. $51 fed four hungry mouths with delicious food. Would highly recommend.

Always great food at this popular Marina District neighborhood restaurant. The food has very fresh and clean flavors. It is always consistently wonderful food. Favorites are the delicious potstickers, beef chow fun and a really wonderful Won Ton Soup. All of the vegetables are crisp, fresh and splendid in their dishes. A nice casual dining experience. Only negative is that it can be a little noisy when busy. That aside, my family insists on eating here almost every time we go to San Francisco.

Fab food, all good potion sizes,service was brilliant,there are so many restaurants in the area,all look pretty good,not looking forward to flight home to London .we cut short our holiday/honeymoon due to weather,but will be back to do The Big Sur,great city,would have loved to stay longer

Having spent several years in SE Asia, it's difficult for me to find acceptable, let alone good, Asian food in the U.S. San Francisco is , therefore, a must stopover for us when we're traveling, so we can find some good food. Dragon Well fills this need, and we almost overlooked it. My husband had his Spring Rolls, which were perfectly done, crispy and light. The Wok-Tossed Prawns was better than his usual order of Sweet and Sour Prawns - much better. I ordered the Mongolian Beef, which was excellent, though it could have had a bit more heat for my taste. Service was courteous, quick, and exactly what we expect from an Asian kitchen. The food tasted as if it was freshly prepared just for us - a rarity where we come from in Florida. I guess all their food is good, because when we left there was a line out the door and on the sidewalk of people waiting to get in. My only criticism is that there was too strong an emphasis on sweet sauces for my taste, but it was not the horribly cloying syrupy sauces I've had elsewhere. My next visit, I think I'll order one of the chicken dishes. Overall, this was a pleasant experience for us.

Was in the area, hungry and stopped a local who lived a block away. Asked him if it was any good and he said it was OUTSTANDING, and he eats there about 3 times a week! How about that?!!!! Well it was AMAZING! Best hot and sour soup on earth and the wok tossed prawns were insane! Go! Great relaxed atmosphere too! 5 stars

Ah, I love this place!!! Oh...Dragon Beef...

Always filled with regulars.Relatively traditional Chinese-American menu, but very well done, indeed. Hong Kong noodles , salt and chili pepper calamari, crystal prawns among my favorites. Very nice choice of delicious vegetable dishes. Service warm and welcoming . A true neighborhood gem

Really good small Chinese restaurant off of Chestnut Street the lunch portions are big enough to be shared overall very good experience I’d recommend the man goalie in beef a little spicy but delicious

Staying in an apartment not far away from Chestnut Street we ate here twice. First time we ordered a main each and there was way too much to finish as the servings are very generous. Luckily we were able to take home the remainder. We returned on a Saturday night and found it very busy with families. Good tasty food on both occasions and not overly expensive. Nice atmosphere and friendly service.

My wife and I had the pleasure of dinning At the this Chinese restaurant Spring this year, Staff were great, First visit food was absolutely to die for, Second visit not so good (might have made a bad choise) Would go back

Three of us shared dishes: Mushu pork, wonton soup, pork fried rice, and sweet-and-sour chicken. They were all delicious, and we had to take a bunch of food home.next time I'm in San Francisco and in the mood for Chinese food I would definitely return to this restaurant.

Very tasty food and easy going ambience. Went there on a couple of nights since it was so good.

I'm a tough rater usually, but this place deserves their 4 stars. I've eaten there often on trips to San Francisco and on recent visits, it seemed to go downhill on both quality and service. But this time it was most excellent. A small restaurant on Chestnut in the commercial area of the Marina. Menu isn't extensive, but the few things I've tried were excellent and the prices seem low. Kung Pao Chicken that is almost all chicken and peanuts, hardly any vegetables as filler. Companion had crystal prawns with soybeans and they were also excellent with a great sauce. I will caution you on paying cash though, several times in the past I've been "cheated" with change, but caught them. Don't give them $50 or $100 dollar bills and you will most likely be fine. Almost felt like--let's cheat the senior who had a drink or two, maybe he won't catch it--that was the feeling I got. But the food is good, atmosphere is just so-so, and service is spotty!

I love Dragon Well and you will too. It is Chinese food, but slightly Americanized. It's like they have kept the best, most delicious parts of Chinese cuisine, but added great wines to pair with the food, chocolate fortune cookies for dessert, in addition to the traditional ones. The restaurant is refreshing, sunny and casual. It is wonderful for lunch or dinner. The couple who owns it is there most evenings, and their daughter sometimes waitresses. This is a very special family who owns Dragon Well, and a smart one in the traditional sense, as well was the restaurant-owning sense. My favorite dishes are the Chicken Lettuce Cups and the Wok Tossed Prawns. Even thinking about those prawns makes my mouth water!

We visit our son in San Francisco often. Most visits include a stop by Dragon Well for their excellent pot stickers and a cold a glass of Piraat (strong and delicious Belgium ale). Casual and comfortable. Certainly a local's favorite given the number of people picking up take out on their way home from work. My wife likes the chow mein and our son loves the spicy beef.

Nice open air atmosphere, and prompt friendly service. Food prepared with a flair. All delicious

Stopped in for a mid-week dinner with 2 teens during our summer vacation and all were impressed! Fresh and delicious food, friendly service, great value overall! We ate "family style" which was perfect with the large portions. Couldn't help noticing all the take-out orders from the locals which the hostess (and owner?) called by name. I think that says a lot about the quality of the food and service. Can't wait to visit again.

This may be the best asian food I have ever eaten. I was staying in this neighborhood (near Chestnut Street) and looking for Chinese food and frankly expecting some bad tourist trap food but willing to risk it. The Dragon Well was recommended by another local merchant and it delivered. No unidentifiable "white sauces" here. Everything was wonderfully prepared, maintaining distinct flavors and colors. In fact, there was not even soy sauce on tables: no need for this "ketchup" equivalent here. Recommended highly.

Back after 25 years, when we lived in the Marina.... and it's just as good! great location, atmosphere and food. Very consistent over the years. Great job, guys

Not a big place. Probably sits 50 people. Mainly Szechuan style of cooking. Also Shanghai and Hong Kong style. Fresh ingredients. Highly recommend. Service was very polite, courteous and attentive. Will definitely go back if in San Francisco again.

We've eaten here often. The staff is friendly and helpful. The garlic eggplant is excellent. The green beans were excellently prepared and were cooked just tender crisp. The beef chow fun seems to depend on who is cooking that day. One meal it was well prepared and the other time it was oily and not tasty. They do deliver or you can carry out, but we typically eat here. They serve regular or chocolate fortune cookies at the end which is a nice treat at the end of the meal.

the yummiest and freshest tasting chinese food

This place was a treat. Not the sometimes over oily Chinese food, but fresh with snap fresh vegetables. Lemongrass chicken, chicken chow mein, and moo shu-pork all outstanding Good service as well. Would return anytime.

While in SanFrancisco with my grandson I wanted to take him for a lovely Chinese Dinner. I checked trip advisor ratings and found Dragon Well. It was a lovely restaurant, but in my opinion ( having lived in a Taiwan and Singapore) the food was not good. I ordered dumplings ( Jao tze) it potstickers as they are known here. The skin ( outside) was thick and gooey.. the filling just ok. I can’t even remember what I ordered as an entree as it was easily forgettable. My grandson orderd a seafood dish which he liked very much. I tried it and found it lacking any real flavor of Chinese seasoning. I would not return!

Great dishes, nice atmosphere, reasonable prices at a cool neighborhood. A place to return to. (Tripadvisor forces me to add at least 100 characters which is quite annoying...)

Can't complain... yet, won't seek it out.

Good Mongolian Beef and Kung Pao. Nice atmosphere in a great waking district. Great salmon please as well.

Server was very attentive, but dishes could have used more sauce and seasoning. I agree with another reviewer that the appetizer should arrive BEFORE the main courses, not along with them. Gluten free dishes were better than our regular selections of lettuce cups and beef chow foon.

Can I give them 6 stars?! My husband and I picked this restaurant because of its high ratings on trip advisor and because it has a gluten free menu. Peter,our waiter, kindly asked if I was gf for allergy or preference. When I said allergy, he explained how they will modify my meal to be gluten free. It was excellent!!! It was a fantastic meal.The atmosphere is very casual, staff was attentive and it was definitely kid friendly. Thanks Dragon Well!

I thought in San Francisco, we could get good Chinese food. But no, it was just mediocre and Americanized at that. The noodles with scallops and mushrooms was extremely bland, mostly noodles. The Chinese chicken salad was OK, but kind of dry. I liked that they put Chinese mustard in it. The chicken in black bean sauce was OK, but there was not much complexity to the sauce. It tasted like they just poured sauce out of a jar onto the dish. The service was pretty good, and the ambiance was nice.

What a joke. Not many people who actually live in the Marina district eat here because it is wildly expensive and very average. They are, however, the only Chinese restaurant on Chestnut. A very simple spiced meat dish is about $18 and then with the city tax and then the fake health charge tax of 4% you’re talking over $20 for a very simple Chinese meal except it’s not a meal because you have to pay another two dollars for the rice. So, You’re looking at about $22-$23 for food that you can get in Chinatown for about eight dollars. In all the years I have lived in the marina I’ve never been able to figure out why anybody goes to this place. It is just so incredibly overpriced and they add another. 4% surcharge on top of that.

The food was good but the prices were slightly high for a chinese restaurant. The vibe/decor was on point. The staff was friendly.

We ate regularly at Dragon Well but for about a year we frequented a different Chinese restaurant. We went back last night and noticed the new manager and crew. We ordered what we usually order: chicken chow mein with only broccoli and extra chicken. When the bill came I noticed that we were charged $20 for the chow mein (BTW the price on published menu is $12). I find $20 to be way over priced for the dish. So I asked the manger why they charged $20 for chicken chow mein; her answer: “we use very special ingredient”. This restaurant is NOT organic and is nothing special. It is just a local restaurant with nothing exotic or special. So, in my opinion, it is ridiculous that they think they can rip off their customers for some noodles, chicken and broccoli. Needless to say, we will not go back.

We both had a starter and a main each, the food was amazing! The staff were very friendly and helpful, would recommend.

We wanted to go to a Chinese Food restaurant that wasn't right in Chinatown. Everything was delicious and there was so much more food than we expected. Would definitely go back

My husband and I enjoyed our dinner at Dragon Well. We had pork pot stickers, chicken with vegetables and moo shu pork. It didn't take us long to realize we had ordered way too much food! But we enjoyed what we could, and had to leave the rest (as we were staying in a hotel). The meal felt very authentic - all dishes were very tasty. I will say the restaurant has absolutely no atmosphere, so be aware of that if you are looking for a night out. We didn't mind, but I know some people do.

Food is more than satisfactory for quality and quantity and the staff really friendly. I'd come back to taste again the warm atmoshere of welcome received the first visit.

The food was excellent! 2 of us split the Mongolian beef and the tofu curry noodle stir fry. Granted, we were really hungry at the end of a long day of traveling, but I do think this is some of the best Chinese food I've eaten. A big plus for us was that when we asked about gluten free options, we were presented with a separate menu, so we quickly and easily figured out what was safe to order. We also had recommendations from the hostess on her favorite dishes, and I'm glad we listened to her. The service was reasonably quick, even though they were busy. I could tell that a lot of locals were dining there (we were in San Francisco as tourists) and I think that's always a good sign in a restaurant. If I'm ever in that area again, I will be dining at the Dragon Well!

Wanted to pick up some quick Chinese take out for the hotel room and gave this place a try. A great find. Food was prepared quickly. Great portion and very tasty. Definitely recommend!

Wow! Really well flavored and the brown rice made it even better. The mongolian beef was delicious and the meat was very good without any fatty sections. Very good hot and sour soup with a nice kick to it. Kung pao chicken had a delicious sauce. Everything tasted fresh and yummy!

I like Canadian Chinese food but our hotel staff suggested this place. The owner greeted us and the atmosphere was simple and clean. Its not a big place but the food was excellent. The BBQ pork noodle dish was great. The portions were huge so plan on taking some back to your hotel or split the single dish between two people.

On our first night in San Francisco, we strolled along Chestnut Street and attracted by a busy restaurant with a good atmosphere we went into the Dragon Well. We both enjoyed terrific food (me - the Mongolian beef and my partner - the lemongrass chicken). The waitress was friendly and helpful and the bill was very reasonable. I would recommend this restaurant.

My children and I sought out this restaurant after a damp day of walking in Muir Woods. I had read the reviews and hoped for a very flavorful experience. We found street parking (which was a nice surprise), arrived fairly early (5:30) for dinner and were seated promptly since there was only one other diner. Between the three of us, we ordered the pork pot stickers, Kung Pao chicken, Mu Shu pork and Stir Fried Curry Mi-Fun. The pot stickers were touted as a must haveitem, but I found them a little too cruncy and average in flavor. My son's Kung Pao chicken was delicious,fresh tasting and by far the best dish we had. The Mu Shu pork was unremarkable and my daughter's curry dish was dry and flat tasting. Fortune cookies included a chocolate variety which was nice. All in all, the experience was good, but not worth a return visit as an out of towner. By the time we left, the place was packed, however, so it seems to serve its purpose as a convenient place for the locals to grab a bite after work.

This place is a "must do" for us on every trip. We love (and always get) the chicken won ton soup ... it is a meal in a bowl. There are lots of cool shops on the same street so you can have fun before or after.

Located On Chestnut St. in the Marina District of San Francisco, Dragon Well offers excellent quality Chinese food great Manu , fresh local grown ingredients, very friendly and attentive service .

Yummy, good service, beautiful presentation. Good variety. Can see you food being cooked by chefs in kitchen. Quaint and cozy.

It may not be authentic chinatown chinese, if there is such a thing, but it was very good and spicy and tasty and the kids loved it too. Cozy place so a bit tight. Service was friendly, Prices are OK. Parking in Marina is a pain.

I always enjoy my meal when I order at Dragon Well. Although most Chinese food is greasy this place isn't. Delicious, and in my mind pretty healthy options! Love the Lemon Grass Stir Fry and the Lettuce Cups! Would highly recommend!

Ok so we were looking for Chinese and found this place on trip advisor I have to say it’s some of the best Chinese food I’ve ever eaten and the service was brilliant. They even bespoked a Salmon dish for my 8 year old son this place is fantastic and well worth the visit. The meal for 4 with drinks came in at 120 bucks so not bad value either. You must visit!!

We had four separate people recommend this gem on Chestnut Street in the Marina District. It was delicious- more innovative than most Chinese food restaurants, with an upscale atmosphere. We ate here twice during our stay in San Francisco and would highly recommend it to others. Don't miss the pot stickers to start off!

We visited Dragon Well for our last 2 meals in America last week. We eat Asian food regularly at home in Australia and after 2 weeks road tripping California we were hanging out for vegetables ! Dragon Well was a very welcoming restaurant and the food was delicious. We particularly liked the lettuce cups, spring rolls (watch the pale coloured sauce that comes in a pot with them - I dipped my spring roll in to then find out it was a hot horseradish which promptly cleared out my sinuses - it's good though, pot sticker dumplings and the Hong Kong Noodles. Service was attentive and the owner delightful. We dined as a family of 4 with a 16yr old and an 8 yr old. Highly recommended.

We had a great meal here. The service was cheerful but not “in your face”! The menu has a great selection. The waiter allowed us to mix and match our starter to allow us a wider selection in a shared plate. The main course was served promptly and the flavors were lovely. To be recommended are the stir fry salmon and the black bean chicken. Thanks for a great meal.

Dragon Well was a fun lunch spot in a great part of San Francisco. The food was fabulous and they were good about catering to food allergies to make sure the food was safe. Be sure to try the lettuce cups and Stir Fried Curry Mi Fun with chicken. You won't be disappointed! On a nice day, they open the large windows at the front and makes for a wonderful environment!

The food here is nothing you wouldn't expect from a Chinese/Asian restaurant, but it's prepared and seasoned very well. The service is very good, but perhaps the best feature is the relatively quiet, enjoyable atmosphere inside. Every other place on Chestnut Street seems to be overflowing with people and noise and commotion. If you're looking for a place where you can unwind and have a good conversation with your meal, this is the place.

Dragon Well is a calm room in a not so great neighborhood(sorry but you guys are way too yuppie for me) The family run business presents the dishes beautifully and the taste lives up to the appearance. Service was friendly but polished. Strongly recommend the calamari(spicy.piquant) appetizer. Noodle dishes light and full of fresh seafood( we ate shrimp that were plump and delicious) All around us we saw lovely platters and happy diners. A lot of takeout that did not interfere with service. Having eaten lots of Chinese in lots of cities, I strongly suggest you try Dragon Well. I will be surprised if you don't come away extremely satisfied.

Tucked away from the usual tourist traps, Dragon well is a bit of a hidden gem in a nice part of the city. Nice neighborhood, nice restaurant, very good service, hot and sour soup was superb! Tasty entrées, sized just right. I always feel guilty in many Chinese restaurants because I can't finish the entire entrée. My wife and I were able to finish our portions, and leave both happy and satiated.

We have one child with a severe dairy allergy and then some other lesser allergies to cashews and egg. It can be hard to find a restaurant that can accommodate us, where we can ask about food ingredients and food prep without feeling like we're asking for too much from the staff. The staff here was knowledgeable about food ingredients, had no problem checking in the kitchen for any additional questions, and even labeled our leftover food containers to avoid confusion! Our favorite dish was the Mongolian Beef.

We visited last night as found this place on trip advisor. If your looking for a typical Chinese restaurant with the ‘usual’ dishes - then maybe this isn’t for you. HOWEVER - the food was really delicious. We shared Mongolian beef with rice and chicken chow mien. Both were very big portions and weren’t too expensive. With a beer added on we spent $45 dollars. Staff were very friendly and walk you through the menu. Would definitely recommend a visit!

The attention was very good!! Excellent food, I recommend the Hong Kong noodles, simply delicious, try any noodles, very good!!!!!

Hubby & I had lunch here on a Monday. We both had the Mongolian beef, & it was wonderfully spicy & flavorful. Service was good & the ambience was warm & pleasant.

In town for a visit and brought here by locals with a predisposition to Asian food. We were somewhat in a rush for an appointment and the service did not disappoint. Our party of 6 enjoyed the salt and pepper squid; butterfish; veggie fried rice; salmon dish; curry noodles; greens and a chicken dish which was brought out in record time. The highlight was the butterfish steamed with coriander and bok choy likely with peanut oil and was delightfully light and flavorful. The squid was large pieces mostly body with few tentacles, lightly fried with spot on seasoning. The salmon worked well with the tofu and pleasing citrusy sauce. No grease or MSG here, just flavor. Can't wait to go back.

We were visiting our daughter who lives in the Marina district of San Francisco. We had attended the San Francisco International Film Festival to see the world's premier of a film which we saw being filmed, in part, in Paris in 2014: "Our Kind of Traitor". We returned to the Marina to have diner and decided on Dragon Well (we had done take-out from Dragon Well in the past, and our daughter eats there frequently). We were lucky to get one of the last two tables as it was the diner hour on a Sunday evening. The four of us ate family style, with three appetizers and 4 main courses. The service was excellent and the food arrived at the table hot (and spicy). At the end of the meal, the woman at the front desk and our daughter said hello, having recognized each other but never having exchanged first names.

Service was very attentive and responsive. The food was good and moderately priced. It was a short walk from our B&B, Union Street Inn. Many locals were picking up take out, so that is always a good sign and more were entering to be served. Enjoyable meal.

Dinner for 4 that includes a toddler can be hard, but not here. This place was perfect for a nice sit down dinner. the staff was attentive and helpful. I would eat here again.

This is one of our favorite ‘go too’ for dinner. It’s always good food. Not your typical Chinese restaurant. This place is special and local family owned. They use fresh high quality ingredients. Every dish tastes like a favorite homemade recipe with fresh vegitables from your grandmothers garden. The service has always been good. You can dine in or order take out. Give it a try!

8 of us were looking for a good place to eat in the area and we were lead here by the great reviews and reasonable prices. each of us had different dishes, from the pork fried rice, to the chicken chow mein, to the mongolian beef everything tasted wonderful and very fresh.. Ryan, I believe was his name, was our server and was great. We visit this area of San Francisco often and now know where to go for great Chinese cuisine

We were delighted the windows were open to the street In February - nice atmosphere - not too noisy. We had Potstickers, fried rice,the prawns, and perfectly cooked green beans. The service was impeccable. A super find for a Boston traveler!

Dragon Well has very good food, and we go here and order delivery often. But the service is decidedly subpar.

Got take out last night from Dragon Well on Chestnut St. I was helped by one of the owners, Christine. We ordered chicken chow mein, salt & pepper calamari Mongolian beef and King Pao chicken The food was fabulous, fresh, well seasoned and very tasty. They have been in business for decades and produce quality Chinese food Treat yourself!

We were walking back up from the Marina in the rain and didn't really know what type of food we wanted. We found Dragon Well, and decided to take a chance. Wow. Food absolutely fantastic. I would highly recommend the Crab Won Ton appetizers. OMG. Out of this world! My husband had a beef noodle dish, (I think it was Beef Chow Fun), which was excellent, and I had Walnut Shrimp. Again, OMG fantastic! The staff were great with recommendations and brilliant service. If you're around Chestnut Street and looking for great food, look no further than Dragon Well. You'll thank yourself for it!

Excellent hot (spicy!) food, and vegetarian options. Their dishes with lemon grass are fabulous and their tofu is good in anything. Order it with light oil for the freshest experience! Free chocolate fortune cookie for desert. :)

Dragon Well delivers on quality Chinese food and great service. We enjoyed a dinner of Salt and Chili Pepper Calamari, Lemon Grass Chicken, Moo Shu Pork, Stir Fried Pea Shoots, Sichuan Green Beans, and Mongolian Beef. Everything was well prepared and tasty. In addition, they do not use msg in their cooking.

My family and I get takeout from Dragonwell or eat there at least 2-3 times a month. The food is incredible and the menu provides a dish for everyone (vegetarian, meat lovers, salads, soups, etc.).

Dragon Well offers a fantastic blend of Flavor & Finesse. Where some restaurants try to stress their ‘authentic’ regional Chinese flavors you often find a near one-to-one correlation between the term ‘authentic’ and a ‘what was in that dish?’ experience. This is not the case at Dragon Well. The flavors are distinguished and outstanding. The Wok-Tossed Prawns, Sweet & Savory Beef, Curry Mi Fun noodles, and Lemongrass Chicken to mention a few dishes are truly fantastic and at no point in time do you loose sight of just what is being served. Whether take-out or dine-in, every guest we’ve hosted at Dragon Well has found their meal to be an up-level California-Chinese gem!

As a celiac sufferer, trying to find good GF options anywhere is difficult, especially Chinese. However if you suffer from Celiac or a gluten intolerance and love Chinese, look no further. The meal was absolutely amazing and hard to believe the ABC chicken could be GF and the Mongolian Beef, amazing. The standard of these two dishes were superb, so can only assume the rest of the menu is to. Thoroughly recommend.

By far the best Chinese food we have ever eaten! The food was cooked to perfection and despite a full and very busy restaurant the staff and service were first class, very attentive, friendly and helpful.

Many years ago, when my kids were younger, I dragged them into the Dragon Well after a long day of sight-seeing. Their palates, being tuned to the brown diet (i.e., some version of chicken nuggets, fries, and cheese pizza) at the time, were none too happy, but they were tired so they put up little struggle. To their surprise, they loved everything I ordered and by the end of the meal, they were professed chinese food lovers. However, as they have learned, not all chinese food is the same....whenever we sit down to a chines food meal, they remember fondly that day in San Francisco when they were introduced, and forever ruined by the best food they have ever tasted....ruined because we have never found its equal. As I strolled into the Dragon Well this week, I found the dumplings a delicious as ever, the hot and sour soup perfect, and the kung pow chicken divine. I teased both kids that I dined here and they are now mad at me. We can not wait to go again.

We followed a recommendation and we had a fantastic time: We met Christina, the owner, and her suggestions were really great. She was also super gracious and fun. Order the potstickers: tasty. Do not leave without trying the moo shu pork (soooooooo yummy!! the pancakes are so thin and light, the pork tender and yet crunchy, plum sauce is divine) the bbqe pork fried rice is delicious (fluffy, light, it doesn’t taste a bit like it’s fried: scrumptious). The prawns yum. Ample beverage menu (we had a small bottle of Duckhorn white and it complemented very well our meal). Sweet little place with a seriously tasty menu. I’d love to go back.

My husband and I always enjoy eating here after work or picking up takeout on our way back from a country weekend. Favorite dishes are the chicken lettuce cups, scallop and yellow chive yi mein, ma po tofu, salmon in black bean sauce.

Took an Uber from hotel to eat here because of the reviews and were not let down. One problem was that the duck app we ordered came out late and they took half off for the inconvenience without us asking. food was great....It's a bit pricey for what it is but we learned in SF you cant sit down to eat for less than $50 for two people. Would make it a point to go back if ever in SF again..

Situated on a foodies street in Cow Hollow, the pricing was reasonable for the area. Food was above average and the service excellent. Not the best Chinese food out there, but very good for what it is.

We tried the pork fried rice and the Hong Kong noodles, both were amazing. The fried rice was as good as have ever had, simple, fresh and so tasty. The Hong Kong noodles were packed with chicken, prawns, beef, bok Choy, broccoli, carrots and mushrooms over crunchy noodles. The combination was amazing with great flavor!

The portions are very big! We actually had to cancel one because we were full from the first. The service was super curteus and fair. Will come again.

For our last night in San Fran, following an outstanding weekend of dining, this was a lovely way to end. As others have noted, Dragon Well has the feel of a neighborhood restaurant. The flavors were bright and clear and the ingredients fresh and healthy. Service was excellent and the owner personable and welcoming.

Food is excellent and incredibly fast service, but I've been here maybe ten times over the years and EVERY TIME I have been cheated on the change. Maybe scamming older folks, who knows, but it happens every time so it can't be a coincidence, and every time the waiter is different and they ALL give you the wrong change. Maybe this is the way they're taught? Go for the food, it is very good, but check your change VERY carefully because if you're like me, you'll get the wrong change EVERY TIME!

We visited this restaurant on our first night in San Francisco, after a long drive down from Red Wood National Park. This place was phenomenal. All of the waiters were friendly (and sort of gorgeous) the food was out of this world amazing, service was prompt and the food was piping hot. Between three of us we ordered 2 starters and 3 main meals and even though we were starving, non of us could finish off our mains! Luckily the dishy waiter offered to pack our food to take back to the hotel, before we could even ask him. AMAZING. If you haven't gone yet, go now! Like, 5 minutes ago.

good food, friendly service, say hi to archie

Wasn't expecting much - but turned out to be a delicious meal. VERY accommodating with our allergy needs - food delicious, fresh and tasty. Located on trendy Chestnut Street - restaurant nothing much in appearance, but makes up in food quality!!

We had a very nice dinner here on our recent trip to San Francisco. Food was good decor and atmosphere was good. The staff where great and very informative. We will definitely be back.

Very good food, great vibe, awesome service. Be sure to ask for Lilly! She was new but she made the experience perfect! Sweet and bubbly and helpful. A breath of fresh air after a long travel day getting to SFO. (I had to order something healthy. But my husband got our traditional Kung pao and said it was great!)

My husband and I live nearby on the crooked block of Lombard Street. This is our favorite eat-in Chinese place. The food is very fresh, authentic, and a well-edited menu makes ordering easy. The service is friendly and professional, not the too-often-seen surly and abrupt one finds in Chinatown joints. I love the salmon in black bean sauce, their prawn dishes, the Yi Mein mushroom and scallop noodles, and the chicken lettuce cups. It's our default tired, need good food, end of the work day place. We have other places for delivery, but they are not as good. Sometimes on our way back from out of town we will order take out, which is always excellent as we are able to eat it within five minutes at home!

After walking from Sausalito to SF we were starving & decided to continue walk to Chestnut Street. Stopped into Dragon Well for lunch. Very fresh food and my favorite was the Hong Kong dish of fresh vegetables, steak & shrimp over crispy noodles. Will definitely go back again.

In the Marina neighborhood a small place on a busy street full of restaurant. This one deserves a lot of attention. Obviously well known around for the takeaways which is a positive indicator. The dining room is not fancy but you are greeted with a warm welcome. By Chinese standards the menu list is small still 2 pages. Everything looks attractive. The prawns I selected were excellent served quickly and very warm . An address to remember

Read about Dragon Well on Tripadvisor and the reviews were right on target. Lettuce wraps and wonton soup were delicious start. The prawns were the best I ever had. Service was impeccable.

Dragon Well is in a trendy neighborhood. Parking can be a problem. We ordered dishes without extra spice because not everyone in our group enjoys spicy food. We enjoyed the homemade pot stickers. They were served with a highly spiced dipping sauce. We asked for something less spicy and got a bottle of low salt soy sauce. Hardly a good alternative. That said, we felt the dishes needed some kick. Our recommendation is to have the kitchen add a modicum of spice so the dishes aren't bland. Service was quite good. Sodas were pricey--$4 a glass.

They staff was friendly but the food was American Chinese. These dishes we had were ordinary and average. Nothing special. They did not have the flavors of authentic Chinese dishes we had in other area places.

We have lived in the neighborhood for many years. Dragon Well is our go to place for carry out. The menu has options for the entire family and the food is high quality. We recommend that you give Dragon Well a try! Local Tip - stop by the Marina Lounge (next door) for an adult libation before/after dinner. I recommend trying a Ft. Point on draft (local SF brewery). Enjoy!