Mission Chinese Food Reviews

Mix Asian cuisine plus Deli? - think Kung Pow Pastrami! All the dishes here are new takes on your favorite Chinese/Korean/Thai/Filipino, etc. etc. foods. Suspend your doubt, be adventurous, and you will be rewarded with a fun, loud, very tasty meal. Note: dishes get served as they are finished in the kitchen, which can be a little haphazard.

We had friends in town and took them here, following the stellar ratings. It is basically a noisy spot with overpriced, greasy food. Next time, we'll just order take out and have a much better experience.

The "Mission Chinese" name isn't even represented on the yellow awning above the entrance door. On first inspection, this is a dark, old Chinese restaurant that's seen better times. Even after entering, with the dim lights, cheap tables and chairs, pounding hip-hop music, and thrown-on decorations, you wonder whether you've made a good choice. But starting with the attentive service, all things begin to change. The menu is brief, which is quite a contrast to most Chinese restaurants. There are some obvious plays on familiar dishes, like a "beef brisket with broccoli" dish. But absolutely nothing is ordinary about the food, and every bite was a new and welcome adventure. We sampled a broad array, and all I can say is try everything. And if you're particularly daring, go for the chicken wings; like it or hate it, you won't forget the experience.

It's a grimy place, and it doesn't look like much, but ask a local about the story... Here's the short version, a once mediocre Chinese restaurant lets a pop-up Chinese restaurant into its kitchen for a weekend. It's so popular, the deal extends again, again, and again. Finally, the project just bought out the restaurant and you're left with one of the best Chinese restaurants on the west coast. The Salt Cod Fried Rice & General Tsao's Veal are just a few modern twists. Arrive early to ensure a seat!

Loved it – great place- great atmosphere, energy and great staff. AND – the food is really good – best meal we had the whole week in SF. Nicely spiced – a little salty but worth the splurge. The waiters know what to order, take their suggestions.

Mission Chinese Food is one of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco, mostly because you can't find food like this anywhere else in the city. It's intensely flavorful and interesting and not even what I would consider as Chinese food but still delicious in its own right. There are also plenty of options for vegans or vegetarians: my favorites include the thrice cooked bacon without bacon and the egg egg noodle. But pretty much everything on the menu is good (and I've actually eaten probably 75% of the things on the menu). Notes: Do not go here if you want Chinese food. Do not go here if you don't like heavily spiced (not necessarily spicy) food. Do not go here if you're looking for superb service. Do not go here if you hate waiting in lines.

Was expecting normally good SF Chinese food, but this place is something else. The lamb dumplings came in a sort of tzatziki sauce, the stir-fried kale and delicatta squash was perfectly seasoned, and we had the sour chicken with peppers and potatoes. Each dish had something surprising in it - plump gigante beans in a stir fry? Potatoes in a Chinese main dish? Tzatziki anywhere on a table with an Asian dumpling? - but the cooks are in perfect control of each dish. We were so happy! The green tea could've been better quality, but everything else was great. Prompt service, helpful advice, we never felt rushed. The whole vibe was kooky - shifting Vegas lighting, big paper dragon all over the ceiling, moody music. Perfect dinner for a rainy Friday night.

We had made a reservation, so were seated fairly quickly at this busy, much hyped spot. The decor is very Chinese and the noise level is high. The place is small, with crowded tables, but the servers are fantastic and helpful. We found the menu to be a bit on the adventurous side. Probably over ordered due to curiosity. We loved the Ma Po tofu and the beef/vegetable dish, but the 3x bacon was disappointing. Appetizer pickles were tasty. At least we can say we have been there.

We had the cumin lamb, sour chicken and the lamb dumplings all were amazing. Don't expect much in decor but they play a good soundtrack. We were able to just walk in for lunch $44 for 2 at 1pm. We've been here several times nice confirmation that Anthony Bourdain goes here when he visits San Francisco😀

The atmosphere is unbelievably cool, specially at night :) Great beer selection and food is terrific! I remember being nervous when my cousin's boyfriend told me we were going to Mission Chinese but what a surprise I had as it was amazing! I had a really good time!

Decided to go as I had heard a lot about this place and felt I needed to visit. The good news is that that food is good and interesting. Settings are not for everyone though. Found the dining room dark and noisy and felt a bit rushed at times. So overall not a great experience and this probably because it wasn't what we expected. I am sure it will suit some other people though.

We raced in here for a quick dinner but realised when we got there that a waitlist was already on the door. Fortunately the wait was only like 10 minutes and they got us in and served right away. They definitely like to turn the tables over but there didn't seem to be pressure on those who stay longer. Two entrees, two beers, mains and rice was $52 so pretty good value. Certainly worth visiting when in SF. See their website for a menu.

Went here with about 10 friends. Such delicious food, easy to share family style. They used to be BYOB, but that changed so you can still bring your own wine and beer and pay a corkage fee. Otherwise, they have a healthy list of options now.

Really enjoyed the food, had it delivered to my hotel room! All of the dishes were very creative. Highly recommended.

Went to Mission on recommendation of family member- the chef is renown with 2 other restaurants in other cities. This place is awesome! All the dishes are fantastic! If you like Asian food this is a must try!

It helps to eat like a senior citizen sometimes - I bet the wait later on is NIGHTMARISH. Anyway - Mission Chinese gives the hipsters a good name and it omits a retro-cool vibe backed up by some banging food. We had Mongolian long beans w. horseradish & chili oil (YUM), ginger, scallion & chicken fat fried rice (YUM), fried chicken (way YUM), and rice cakes which weren't my fav buy my friend loved. Service was better at the end, a bit inattentive at the onset. Portions were big (family style). But man did that place get crowded by 6:30pm!!

Me and my wife visited Mission Chinese restaurant tonight and were very impressed with the menu. The macha squid ink pasta was very delicious. Very umami with a good amount of spiciness. We also had the general tso rotisserie beef rib and Hokkaido scallop sashimi - both very delicious. The only reason why I am taking down my rating is because he 3 courses and a beer came out to around $70. Also navigating from the BART station to he restaurant was kind of a shady experience. Overall, great food and worth the visit. Take an uber.

So we went to Mission Chinese because we saw it on Anthony Bourdain 48 hr layover in San Fran we tried to go to the Tonga room first and after almost passing out climbing the hill we then noticed it was Closed !!!!! So off to Mission we went man it was so good we were lucky the wait wasn't long some people were missing. But man that food was good we had the Pork Belly, general tso veal and the pork dumplings the food was a modern take on Chinese and they did a great job. I am not spreading the word it was totally worth the train ride and passing by some shady looking types (I am use to it lived in NYC for 22 years lol). They also have a location in NYC and I am telling all my friends about it.

Our take-out was delivered very quickly. Some unusual and delicious flavours, which we enjoyed. (We did, however, suspect lavish use of MSG.)

Buzzing and with good, friendly and helpful service. Food interesting and different. Worth a try at least.

This was the best Chinese food I ever had, eat here for sure. Everything we had from the menu totally rocked!

We went there because my son in law recommended this place. We were happy to try and it was good. Greasy but good. We took the pork belly and the beef and brocoli and we had enough for the two of us. There was a salter containing msg ! However, it was a fun experience, the food was good, the decor was kind of really kitsch and to go to the toilet you have to pass through the kitchen... And the music was eighties hits. 😍😀

No reservations were available - we took a chance for a walk-in. Put our name on the list outside and waited for only 5 mins. Food is excellent, we really enjoyed the tofu and pork dish.

Had a sampling of their dishes delivered to Russian Hill. It was very tasty and some of the dishes had a great smoky element that was unique to Chinese food. Would definitely order again next time I'm in San Fran.

Unique combinations merging asian food with California sensibilities and a touch of other cultural influences. Food is always wow!

Great tasting Chinese with bold flavours, using ingreadients like peppercorns, quality fresh ingredients, with bold flavours. best part it is very good value for money. Loved the Kung Pao pastrami. Livens up at night time with a hip crowd.

I cannot believe how bad my meal was here. Starting with the rudest waitress I've ever encountered. She was terrible; she threw the dirty dishes in the kitchen so aggressively you heard a disturbing ruckus. Everything we ordered was inedibly over salty. Last but not least the restaurant itself was super dirty. I would advise to avoid at all costs.

My son was super excited to eat at this restaurant. As a vegan, he knew he was in for a treat. He lives in NYC and knows the reputation of this restaurant and it's famous chef. As a pescatarian, I ordered a meal with crab-meat. The portion was large and tasty. My son ordered mapo and the thrice smoked bacon, the vegan version. We got an order of the tiger salad, based on the rave reviews. I was not a fan of the salad, but my son liked it. His mapo was good and he wanted me to taste the bacon dish. That was when disaster struck! He asked our waitress how the bacon was smoked and she said that a mistake had been made and he had received the non-vegan version of the dish...needles to say, he was very, very sick...several times. She apologized over and over and took it off our bill. We in no way want to discourage any vegans and vegetarians from eating here, as their efforts to appeal to a wide range of tasted is fantastic. Just be very sure to clarify that if you order a vegan entree, that it is vegan. Mistakes happen, and we understand that, but for a die hard vegan it was very unfortunate. He is fine now and would probably go back some time, but most likely wouldn't order the trice smoked bacon. He enjoyed the mapo very much.

Wonderfully innovative Chinese dishes. This restaurant does not have a sign, it uses the old sign from the Chinese restaurant it replaced. We went for lunch and had: --Smashed cucumbers: Not what it sounds like. Chunks of cucumber with salted chili and sesame paste. A great pallet cleanser. --Kung Pao Pastrami: Great take on Kung Pao with pieces of smoked pastrami. Delicious. --Salt cod fried rice: OK dish of rice with fish flavor and pieces of sausage --Mongolian long beans: Delicious beans cooked in spices and chili oil. Get there early for dinner or have a late lunch. Customers line up to get in and there often is a wait. I will definitely return for more of this non-traditional fare.

Yes, it's a cool environment. Yes, it's trendy. But for all of its unusual, "creative" takes on Chinese dishes, the food here is merely over spiced. Yes, that's right. You don't get to taste any of the ingredients in anything because the kitchen has confused over spicing and over salting with cooking. Maybe if I had been on a coke bender I'd have appreciated the "bold" flavors of Mission Chinese, but instead I was left scraping off salt from my tongue with my Mexican Coke bottle. Glad I went to experience the hype, but can't say any of it came to anything great.

The Wandering Yank here again. My son highly recommended this Asian fusion restaurant on Mission St. I used to work in the area, and I can attest to its "urban" character, as in, it's not the greatest (I've never been there at night). I think I had a burrito in this restaurant many years ago when it was a Mexican place. No matter, this place is great! Not your traditional Chinese place with the usual items. I had my son's recommendation, the thrice-cooked bacon (they had me at "bacon"), and it was delicious! We had various vegetable and noodle dishes as well, most of them at least a bit spicy. An unusual bottled IPA was a great accompaniment to the meal. Service was enthusiastic, and our waiter had a couple of suggestions for us. It's not the most formal place, but this is San Francisco after all. My son tells me this place is amazingly popular, so prepare for a wait at most times. We happened to hit it on a Saturday afternoon about 2, and they close at 3 before reopening at 5, so maybe that's why it was almost empty. BTW, when I walked through the kitchen to use the restroom, I didn't see any Asians in the kitchen. Now that's pretty unusual for San Francisco.

We went on a Friday in July and had a short wait. If you are looking for your standard fare this is not your place unless you're feeling saucy. The menu blends classics with new twists and flavors. We had the lamb dumplings (AMAZING!) and spring rolls to start. Both different and delicious. My husband had the Kung pao pastrami which was our absolute favorite of the night, and I chose the lamb pho. The textures were good but the flavor was to mild for me. I added a fair amount of salt and chili to the dish to make up for it. The beer was cheap and the service was sufficient enough. Overall it was one of our favorite meals in San Francisco.

So my husband dragged me here on a quick trip to San Francisco. We pull up and I thought of telling the driver to go on. Good thing I did not. We waiting an hour outside and watched the people go by. Finally we get in and at night the place is lit up with red lights and a giant dragon hanging from the ceiling. Ok...interesting. The waiters were hoping and fun. The wings were great with a good amount of heat. The Green Beans were zinging with flavor but the winner was the Cherry Ribs.....Outstanding. Do not pass this place up...... No one was leaving either so call head and get on the list.

I cannot even begin to explain how good this food was. Just go there. It is small and doesn't look like much. Ignore the disco light. Just eat. We had eight different dishes that ranged from good to mind blowing. The best: the peanuts, the short ribs, and pork belly with delicious chewy little rice cakes. Try it all. And the service was what you might expect in a five star fine dining restaurant.

I came here for dinner after seeing the restaurant on a travel/food show. We ordered the squid ink noodles and the salt cod fried rice. The noodles were very different from anything we've had before, so it's hard to explain, but we were just okay with it. Not bad, not good, just different. The rice was good, but very little sausage or ingredients, just rice. Luckily, I love rice so I was happy. The ambiance was fun with upbeat music, bright red lighting, huge dragons above your head, and really great service. Glad we tried it once, but if we come back, we'll order more simple dishes and maybe not be as adventurous.

Super glad that our Airbnb host and a guy at Brasserie Saint James recommended Mission Chinese to us, because our lunch here was faaaaantastic! As surely everybody knows by now, Mission Chinese is in a completely unassuming storefront that looks like a crap Chinese takeout joint, but is in fact an awesome, casual, incredibly creative restaurant that should not be missed! We had no problems getting a table for Friday lunch, and between four of us shared the Chongqing chicken wings, the Mongolian Long Beans, Thrice Cooked Bacon and Rice Cakes, and Broccoli Beef Brisket, with some steamed rice. I am drooling just remembering this meal. Okay first up - chicken wings. We were warned that Szechuan spice is different than spicy food we may be used to - it sort of numbs your mouth more than overtly burns it. This is totally true, and these chicken wings will definitely do that to you. They were dry-fried, which my husband loved, as he is a chicken wing aficionado and sometimes gets tired of the ones soaking in sauce. Crispy, piping hot, and numbingly spicy as previously mentioned, these were a hit for my husband, and I liked them, but not as much as he did. I loved the texture, maybe the numbing was too much for me? I don't know. They're worth a try, though. Everything else, however, was perfection. The broccoli beef brisket isn't spicy at all, and isn't in the same league as any "beef with broccoli" you've had at a Chinese restaurant. The brisket tasted right out of a Jewish grandmother's kitchen, and the dish was full of leafy, rich-green Chinese broccoli, not regular broccoli. Smoky, hearty, with tender meat and yet somehow seeming healthy-ish from the abundance of veg, it was a great dish. The bacon and rice cakes may have been my favorite - this unusual dish features chewy Chinese rice cakes, sort of shaped like UFOs. They are addictive, glutinous little discs of yumminess, and they were drenched in savory sauce and surrounded by crispy, hearty pieces of thick bacon. YUM. The long beans were perfectly cooked, boldly flavored with chili oil and horseradish, and a great companion to the rest of the meal. We talked about the meal the rest of the day, my husband saying it was the best Chinese food he's ever had, and I think I must agree. I'm only sad we didn't have room to try the other dishes, because everything on the menu sounded truly delicious! And $58 for 4 people to be completely full of delicious food ain't bad at all!

A San Francisco favorite, this place offers a special ambiance with tacky dragons hanging down from the roof and funny hipster waitresses. Try the pork belly in a Polynesian sauce, the ginger-scallion and spinach noodles and the classic pastrami. The food is not authentic Chinese but it will make you happy-oh so happy!

Really great place. Food was delicious. Great atmosphere and fantastic music. Highly recommend a visit

I had read about the Mission Chinese before visiting San Francisco, and was determined to fit in a meal here as it sounded fabulous! If you are taking a taxi here, make sure you write down the number of the building so that your taxi driver can locate it, as it has absolutely no signage out front. it is very small from the outside view, and a red glow from the Chinese lantern lighting inside, and a paper menu pinned up in the window is the only hint that you are at the right place! We went early evening on a Saturday, around 5pm. It wasn't too busy at the point. There is a clipboard hanging outside about eye level near the door. Write your name and the number in your party here and wait outside, someone will come and get you fairly quickly! It's an odd system! Just a note of caution about waiting times- while we were eating our dinner it ended up with a long line waiting outside! The Mission area, while considered pretty trendy, and full of hipsters, is pretty rough and crummy. Don't go wandering about after dark if you are unfamiliar in the area, as you may stumble into trouble. We were pretty scared when driving into the area as it looks so bad - full of drunks/hobos and generally rough. However, we encountered no issues. The service was a little slow - we were shown to our seat by an unfriendly man who never said two words to us, and then ignored until they were ready to serve. After that, a waitress served us, and advised us on some of her favourites, some of the dishes they were famous for, and how much order. She was much friendlier anymore helpful. We ordered smashed cucumbers with salted chilli and sesame paste, and beer brined sishuan pickles to start. Both entrees were amazing, I could have eaten a bucket of them! The smashed cucumbers were a nightmare to tackle with chopsticks though! Next we had the salted cod fried rice and the Ma Po Tofu, which was a super spicy tofu, in chilli paste with peanuts and mushrooms. The salt cod rice had little sliced of really tasty sasuge, plus some veg through it, It was really tasty and light. We ordered a rice entree and a tofu entree and then split both Between us. I would recommend doing this, as a rice entree may be a little dry just as it is. We didn't manage to finish either plate between us, as the servings are huge! The food is superb, nice and spicy, really flavourful and tasty. The restaurant itself is a bit of a dive, being honest! It looks like a cheap little hole from the outside, and inside its tatty and scruffy. The floor was covered and crumbs and doesn't look the best. We were also served our drinks in very chipped plastic tumblers, and while I don't mind a general scruffy appearance, the glasses are plain unhygienic. Plastic is porus anyways, and with chips in them, it just means they absorb germs. Off putting. Once it gets dark though, the restaurant comes into its own. A great babble of chatter, very cool music on the sound system, and the giant Red dragon lantern hanging on the ceiling fills the room with a great cosy glow. The food is great, and I would recommend this place just for the experience. It made me feel really cool and'in'to be eating here!

We arrived early on a Sunday evening and were glad we did. We knew there could be a line and by the time we were served they were standing outside. Great place to share since most tables are for four to eight.

For a city with such wonderful Asian cuisine, this place falls short in my book. The wings were the best thing we had, and even they were just odd. The flavors of the wings were generally good - though they had some spice that made it feel like your tongue had pop rocks on it. The broccoli beef was average, and didn't have that much meat on the plate. The General Tso's veal rib flavor fell short, and was super oily. I'm much more used to this sauce being thicker and more full of flavor. Overall a disappointment. I won't be back.

I have to say, in our experience the spot lived up to the hype. We went right at 5:00. We're from out of town, it only took a little planning! Got in fairly quick. We were 5, with one of us being an 18 year old guy. Why is this important? He's like a shrew. I swear, he needs to eat his weight everyday just to survive. This means we can just about sample everything on the menu! Atmosphere is tight, messy, loud and perfect!

We went at lunch, went out of our way on a recommendation. We had the Tiki pork belly - ok. Garlic rice - good. Filipino Fried chicken - great. Weird Techno Music - HORRIBLE. Restroom - ewwwww. Of course, SF parking - $15. Then this meal, and you have $75 invested. Only eat here if you are in the area and only order the Fried Chicken in this chinese restaurant.

Amazing. The Kimchi was unique, peanut noodle salad was good (wide noodles, not udon), the tofu was good, the pastrami was unreal.

At first sight, doesn't look like a nice place, but this alternative chinese-inspired food is really good. Expect big lines specially for dinner. I arrived there just 20 minutes before closing, for lunch, and found the place completely empty.

We were told about this restaurant by friends and were so happy to have followed their advice. Its a small restaurant with great dishes and great service. The dishes can easily be shared and are delicious. It takes reservations via their website, but you can also put your name on the list that hangs next to the door when you arrive.

The location, finding the place, the sign-up and the line are all as previously described but frankly, not at all an issue. Get that done and you'll enjoy some damn good food in a rather quirky room, with hit or miss service but very reasonably priced. Smashed cucumber was delicious, gyoza were spicy and a highlight, the pastrami was good but not great, the cherry ribs outstanding. I don't mind communal tables but the one annoyance is that the room is so flippin' dark in places you can barely see what you're eating. Some tea lights on the table would make a positive difference and wouldn't screw the atmosphere up one iota.

The restaurant itself is pretty cool. There were a lot of people there when we went so it was promising. The place feels like you are eating in a hip club-loud music, low lighting, lots of energetic and happy customers. The customer service was really good too. The atmosphere was great, but the food was so so awful. The kimchi was really gingery and not very spicy and the mapo tofu made our tongue numb. Apparently this is supposed to happen, but it made the meal really unpleasant. The waiter was really nice about and brought us broccoli beef, but that ended up not being very good either. It tasted like burnt wood and was really salty. I wanted to like this place more, but I just didn't. 10/10 for the waiter, but if I could give the food negative points I would.

This was some of the best food we have ever eaten. The thrice cooked bacon and rice cakes were a highlight as were the mongolian long beans and the slow cooked beef rib. Our only regret was that we didn't make it back a second time before leaving this fine city.

Lots of dishes to share as a group. Watch out for the Wings-Numbingly spicy good. Be adventurous in ordering. All goes the best with cold beer. Located on the mission- very funky and busy.

If you are looking for a sign with "Mission Chinese Food", you will never be able to find this gem. It has a yellow sign with blue Chinese writing (see pic). Inside is dark and hip hop music is on at all time. As a result, it becomes an interesting Chinese food experience that you probably wouldn't have elsewhere. Most dishes offer a fusion twist but the flavors are amazing nonetheless. My favorites were the Ma PO Tofu and the General Tso's Short Ribs (comes with knife). I'm drilling just thinking about my meal...

we waited about 35 minutes to be seated. The food tastes great, the service was average . They 90's rap music , the ambiance is very casual. People seem to enjoy the music and the food. I would eat here again.

Interesting neighborhood of Mission District San Francisco. Not as touristy, busy Chinese restaurant

Interesting flavors ... a great experience with nice ambiance and large portions. The family style service for all plates is great .... really a must ... the beef rib was great as was the soup we tried.

Loved everything - but especially the Thrice Cooked Bacon, Kung Pao Pastrami, and the Sizzling Cumin Lamb - all spicy and all savory. It's tight in there so bring a sense of humor and enjoy. FYI - the outside says " Lung Shan" that was the previous traditional Chinese restaurant from before...they do take reservations - recommended otherwise you'll stand outside for an hour.

We were told to go here by a local and happy we listened. Its hard to spot and the sign on the outside has a different name. Its definitely a hole in the wall and not fancy but don't let that scare you. The menu is very unique with pastrami , burritos and pastas but also traditional Chinese dishes. We went for lunch and got right in, in fact it was a bit empty. There are vegan options as well. We ordered the Pork Ma Po Tofu and it was delicious!

This is one of those places that dictates the rules so show up, put your name on the list and you may/ may-not be left guessing as to what is going on. The place so is so hectic that you just need to stand around and cross your fingers. I only say this because everyone in line was standing around with the same confusion. Just don't ask any questions however, as it may get you moved down the list (this happened to a couple waiting in line which i thought was unfair). With that said, here is my review. Venue: Chinese restaurant / night club. You can hear the person right next to you without yelling. The music is interesting and quite bearable but be warned, it's loud. It's dark, not dirty but more your standard Chinese Restaurant type cleanliness. Food: - Smashed Cucumber (fresh, delicious) - Fried chicken (not great. It's fried chicken with a powdery sichuan coating that isn't too spicy, just too powdery for my liking) - Squid ink / lamb pasta (this is freakin tasty, you must have it) - Mapo Tofu (I like sichuan but one spoonful of this left my mouth tingling in a way that took about 3 - 4 minutes to stop. I like Sichuan food but this meal is for the Sichuan Grandmaster, if there is such a thing). Staff: The guy on the door seemed like he was so wired that he had to be on something. I honestly don't blame him with how busy the place was, it'd be hard to keep up. The serving was standard Chinese restaurant efficient but I didn't feel rushed at any point. Overall: This place has good food. It's one of those places that has been hyped up by a few different people and we're definitely in the Bourdain fan club which is what brought us here. If you're after a nice experience in a town like San Fran, there's a lot of other places to go so not to forget that when the hype train shows up during your restaurant selection time. The staff seemed fine but the guy on the door carried an air of superiority/ too-cool-for-school attitude that bothered me a little. I may just be sensitive but hey, I also don't like seeing people getting treated like they're punks in a night club line. I'd recommend this venue (with the exception of the fried chicken and mapo tofu) but don't forget the'res a lot of other places to choose from if the wait is too long or if you're looking for a nice experience. Bone apple tea ;)

The restaurant has a certain cool and is obviously popular. We queued for about 15 minutes on a Tuesday night. Liked the feel of the place - bench tables, low light, loud music and lots of talking, however I tend to go to a restaurant for the food and in this respect the Mission was poor, bordering on awful. Only 2 out of our 6 ordered dishes were OK and 1 absolutely disgusting. The ingredients were of poor quality and generally over seasoned or spiced. No beef in the beef and broccoli and vegetables so raw you could break a tooth on. My vegetarian daughter struggled to eat either of her two dishes and she loves any Asian food. The only redeeming features we could find about our visit were, the taxi driver on the way there was nice and the Chinese beer was good.

I agree with other reviewers that this did not look very promising on the outside, but take one step in and start eating and you will change your mind in a heart beat! Service was lovely, drinks list was nice. Fun, busy atmosphere, but could still hear ourselves talk. Really enjoyed.

Not so easy to find as the name on the facade is different. There is a small sign in the window that indicates “ Mission Chinese “. And the area at night feels a bit rough. When you enter the place it feels a bit tacky and you wonder if you got to the wrong place. But the place is busy. Laid back yet excellent service. Food is very tasty and yummy ! Interesting experience to go to the rest room as you literally pass thru the kitchen ( the rest room is probably where they could invest a bit ! ). Definitely a good and unusual experience !

I went to this restaurant only because my husband it came up on TV on Vice, I would've never arrived there otherwise, the restaurant is literally a hole in the wall in a not so good neighborhood, there's typically a waiting list but it is worth the wait. We ordered the pork Belly (appetizer) it is AWSOME, a must try!, and the pork won tons but those are ok.... both of the main dishes we got were excellent, only a bit spicy. If you are a tourist get a cab that can take you straight there, because it is kind of scary to be walking around by night.... definitely a must try!

What a trendy little joint! This little place is one of the most interesting places I've been to and was definitely an experience to remember. The unassuming store front doesn't even have the name of the restaurant and the only way of really knowing that it's the right place is the small crowd of people standing around outside. The queue moves insanely quickly as the restaurant concentrates on spinning customer, so you might feel slightly pushed to eat quickly. Other than that, the food is unlike anything I've seen before and literally a must try. Go for variety - the value is great. Don't go if you're looking for pretences and pomp. Do go if you're looking for a no-frills fantastic meal.

The food was really good but my friend and I both got food poisoning. We split 2 dishes- the rice cakes and the beef chow neon and we suffered the next day. Will spare you the details but we did not enjoy it. Will not be returning because of this.

This was the worst restaurant I have been to in the last year and is in good competition for the worst ever. The concept of a mash up of Chinese and American food is ok, but the execution is terrible. Chicken wings fried in old oil, fishy tasting steak tartare, greasy fried rice..... Ugh! Combine with poor service,loud music and unattractive decor and you have the essence of this place. It's surprising that they exist in a city with excellent Chinese restaurants.

but be sure to go. The food is leading edge, creative and most interesting. We live in the neighborhood and this is a go to place for us. Lines can be very long, so look for off times, afternoon as opposed to dinner. much fun. The custard with sea urchin is a surprisingly tasty find....who knew? Plenty of not-so-edgy food....pork belly, ribs and the like. Non meat dishes are good also.

Fusion...what a crazy concept sometimes! Folks at Mission Chinese also came up with smashed cucumbers (in garlic sauce with sesame paste & chilis), tea-smoked eel rolls (with chinese celery, plum sauce, and braised pork), Kung pao pastrami (with peanuts, celery and chili), thrice-cooked "bacon" and rice cakes (sweet tofu skin, bitter melon, Szechuan pepper), squid-ink noodles (with lamb and yogurt sauce) and much, much more. But we couldn't try EVERYTHING! That Tiki pork belly, by the way, is made with soy caramel, mandarin orange, pickled pineapple, shaved coconut and macademia nuts. I found that one especially tantalizing and the meat just fell into your mouth like the best pulled pork you've ever had! I didn't know if I was ready for eel, but this blend of flavors surely made it tasty. The place was small and the seating a bit tight, but the large paper dragon overhead and the delicious entrees soon distracted me. I would encourage the owners to remodel enough to provide a path to the restroom that does not go directly through the kitchen! The portions were not very large, so be sure to try a few entrees, which makes it all more interesting anyway!

I've been dying to go here, since a foodie friend mentioned it to me. And it didn't disappoint. It's good Chinese food with really small twists in it. And for the twists, you get to pay the privilege for eating not 'traditional' Chinese food. It's crowded, it's noisy, and it's got a long line up. But it's good -- because the twist was worth it.

Ate here twice while in San Francisco recently. Both times were just simply stunning. Had to queue, but moved quite quickly and got there earlier the second time to avoid queuing the second time. Service was great, I asked lots of questions and it was clear the waitress knew the menu well. I had 3 cooked bacon and beef chow mein with salt cod fried rice - all amazing. The texture on the rice cakes with the bacon was weird in a good way. The rice was scrummy. The chowmein was unlike any other chowmein I've had, really flavorsome. Second time around we had squid ink noodles, the rice again and porky ribs, which I really really liked - a lot of meat, but all slow cooked and delicious, the sour plums worked well and in no way overpowered the dish. The ink pasta with lamb was also very nice and unusual. They cranked up the music on Saturday night, atmosphere was great - somewhat surreal with the lights and the buzz in the restaurant. This is by far the best chinese I've ever eaten in...I would have eaten there every night of our stay if I had the choice but they were closed on Wed

Favorite dish: Wings Pros: New dishes on the menu after every few weeks or so. Huge portions. Tasty food. Right in the Mission -- accessible and easy to find (there's always a line outside). Great value for your money. Excellent customer service. It's just... So... San Francisco. They changed the name of the business but the sign is still of the old one as of my last visit. I've moved out of SF years ago but I always make it a point to eat here as much as possible whenever I come by the city. Cons: ...nothing that I can think of, really. Bottom line: Like I said, I never fail to recommend this spot, invite friends for dinner here and/or talk about their wings.

Eclectic vibe - best music, paper dragon ceiling hanging, New York style waiters full of personality and fun. Most importantly the food is immensely delicious, unique and a great value. All in the heart of the Mission. Just go!

My friend and I dined here on a rainy Tuesday night, and after waiting in the cold and rain we were treated to an amazing dining experience. The dishes we had were tasty, flavourful and very special. I am not sure I've had flavours like it before and I've been lucky enough to eat out lots. The decor was kitsch, as expected, and it added to the experience. The portions were huge, and it was really affordable. I can see why food critics have been giving this place such rave reviews, it is super special and yummy! Well worth the wait and I will come here again....

So this place has some very unique dishes on the menu, which makes it quite intriguing. We tried the smoked eel small plate ($9), which is like a California roll, only wrapped with rice noodle, and included Chinese celery, smoked eel and a pork confit. It was quite tasty. We also had the Sichuan pickles, which is just like kimchi with peanuts ($4). My husband loved the Kung pao pastrami ($12) but I thought it was too spicy for me. We also ordered the salt cod fried rice ($12), but were disappointed that it didn't taste anything like salt cod, there were bits of what looked and tasted like pepperoni in it. I was thrilled with my Iceland white beer, delicious! Service was ok - when we first walked in, I asked a staff member if we could just sit at a table (there were many open) and he brusquely said no and told us to wait outside. But nobody came outside to guide us to our seat. Odd There are lots of other places to try out in the Mission, this place is good, but not cheap, so I will try some other places first before coming back here.

There aren't a lot of tables at Mission Chinese and it was pretty packed when we got here so we decided to get the ma po tofu to go. If you order to go, head to the back counter and someone will take your order and pay. It was awkward being in the restaurant since there wasn't really anywhere to stand or sit while they were making the order and we felt like we were in everyone's way since servers were rushing back and forth from the back to the front and vice versa. Our order was made very quickly though (They must make a huge batch and ladle it out as orders come in) and we were on our way. The ma po tofu was a very generous portion, and at $15 it better be! It was a pleasant balance of delicately fragrant Sichuan peppercorns, bold spicy doubanjiang, black bean sauce, with soft tofu and ground meat. The soft tofu had soaked up the flavor of the sauce which was nice. Unfortunately even though we paid so much for our meal it didn't even come with rice so we had to get rice from another restaurant on the way to our hotel. It did come with a spoon at least. Good ma po tofu, but a bit pricey for my tastes especially since rice apparently costs extra.

When you are looking for something totally different in all the wide array of oriental options Misión Chinese Food is the place to go! The menu has an eclectic variety of world dishes transformed to an oriental dish, for example “the friend Oaxacan style chicken with pistacho Mole. Very interesting and tasty!!

No reservations at this shabby chic, no frills chinese in Mission. Sign up on the clipboard and wait for your name to be called. Those who know London - this would be a typical Shoreditch style place. We were seated on a sharing table alongside another couple, who wanted to sit next to eachother rather than face to face, fine by us but continued to confuse the staff all night... Hip hop and 90s soul pumped out v loud, loved the music but may not be everyones cup of tea The staff seemed very busy yet on inspection didnt seem to actually do much, I had to ask 3 times for some cutlery, some were friendly/flirty and one was very surly, I'd prefer a happy medium. 2 beers, tap water, 2 small plate starters (bowl of soggy spiced peanuts, garlic and a plate of 4 bland dumplings and salad) plus 2 mains (beef & broccoli - saviour of the meal, chilli tofu with sweet potato & bacon???) and some steamed jasmin rice cost $55 plus tip. Was quite tasty but does not lives up to the hype

I definitely recommend visitors and locals try the food at Mission Chinese. Don't expect 5- star service, it's all about great food pairings and tasty flavours at this joint. We definitely ordered too much food, but it was worth testing some unique combos. The ribs are a must. I wouldn't recommend bringing your parents here, unless they are ok with the loud musical stylings of the late 90s. Nice to see the a percentage of the profits go to a charity feeding San Francisco's homeless.

We knew upon our arrival that the food at this small restaurant was going to be good....there was a line out the door! (Reservations definitely recommended!) We were seated after a short wait, though, and dug in immediately with the vinegar peanuts....delicious! Service was efficient, and everything we ate was a delight. Could highly recommend the cumin lamb larb, the pork ma po tofu, and the Mongolian long beans. Excellent!

This is a great place to go if you love Sichuan cuisine. It's slightly Americanized of course, but there are enough things to keep you entertained. They change the dishes periodically.

I really enjoyed eating at mission chinese food. The place was packed full and there is not much space to move either, they has loud music from "gui boratto" playing and a low lit atmosphere. Well all of this was not negative, it made up the atmosphere. The waiters were quite friendly and food tasted great (a bit salty though). I would recommend the minced meat dish with cumin. Would definitely go there again.

Liked the vibe, food was o.k. The Beijing vinegar peanuts and the hamachi Kama were our faves. Very nice service. Over all a pleasant experience.

I have been here several times and it's always an out of the box culinary experience. I took a professional chef once and he looked at the menu and commented "this is an adventurous menu". I rest my case. The atmosphere is "old school Chinese" with rock music.

First, let me tell you about myself and my food likes etc. I admit I am a foodie. I have eaten at the best dives around the world and have eaten at five of the top 10 restaurants in the world, depending on the the year and current ranking. I also love to cook and my friends and family want me to cook for them. I ended up here with my kids and college friend and her family by accident this summer while showing my friends the Mission. I know the New York outpost is a must eat by many famous chefs and travel chef experts, so I was excited to try. We ordered about 8 of their best dishes. here are some of our favorites: Broccoli Beef Brisket - FANTASTIC General Tso's Beef Ribs - Amazing Spring Rolls - Different and Yummy Fried Rice - Very Rich and excellent Squid Ink Noodles - a fantastic chinese interpretation

Mission Chinese has a great reputation in NYC, so we were excited to try the original. We weren't disappointed. The dishes were very interesting, and great for a family-style sharing meal. Chicken wings, beef brisket, and thrice cooked bacon and rice cakes were all out of this world! Our only disappointment was with the beef tartare, the only unmemorable dish of the night. Everything went down even better with a couple of their Moscow Mules.

I’ll admit that as a tourist I just wanted to see what the hype was about and also because I would not have access to anything like this in the Midwest. I was not disappointed. The only “criticism” I had was that both dishes we got were too greasy for my taste. Luckily I had insisted on ordering a rice dish, which my bf later thanked me for and it was probably the dish that impressed me the most out of the 3 things we ordered. The thrice cooked bacon with tofu and rice cake was outstanding because of its “different” flavor than what I was used to in a traditional savory rice cake dish.

everything was great, food was awesome, everything on menu was good, all dishes are a'la cart, parking is limited, but is worth the hassle.

Mission Chinese we saw a travel show stopover in sfo for 24 hours so we did a couple of places in this show. You get the feeling the restaurant not in the right area for Chinese as the taxi driver asked us why were we going to Chinese restaurant in the Mexican part of town. When you arrive the line up out side the door gives you comfort that the food must be good . We waited about 20mins . Restaurant smallish and very packed in . Staff great and food even better well worth the taxi fare to get there

We came here since our son has a cookbook by the chef who owns the restaurant and has enjoyed the recipes. Everything was very good, ribs, watermelon salad, chicken, and even the porridge which had some unique flavors. Prices were surprisingly reasonable.

Drove in from Yosemite and our delivery guy met us at the door of our hotel with dinner. Veal ribs, salted cod fried rice, chow mien and pork dumplings were all SO, SO good. These four were a perfect combo of spicy and savory. Wish they had one in Atlanta.

If you are strolling the streets of San Francisco, walk the Mission St. It is fun, eclectic, filled with stores and restaurants and then stop at Mission Chinese Food. The place is filled with pleasant aromas that will make you hungry right there. The garlic rice was fenomenal, try also the vegetables, fresh and with a lot of flavor, the fried chicken is crispy and delicious, the noodles are excellent, the spring rolls are unexpected and they have an excellent Riesling.

We had reservations for 6, and a table was ready when we arrived, so high marks for honoring a reservation on a busy night. But this place was noisy, crowded, hot, and the food is only mediocre or less so. My favorite item was a dish that looked like a salad, but was composed of wide green noodles with cheese and pieces of lamb. Was delicious and imaginative. But the Kung Pao Pastrami had a cloying flavor and had way too much salt in it. Also, other items (including Thrice-Cooked Bacon) were overly salted and greasy, too. If salt and oil are your favorite ingredients, this is your place! Would have been nice to end the dinner with a scoop of green tea ice cream or similar to offset the harshly-flavored food; however, no desserts are offered here. This restaurant might be OK for hipsters, but for good Chinese food in more comfort, you can do much better than this in SF's Chinatown.

I traveled and went to a lot of restaurants. This by far was one of the best meals I had in my life. Normally I'm not a big fan of fusion, but the flavors and spices and creativity of all dishes were amazing. Even though it is fusion it has a lot of traditional Chinese ingredients in many dishes. We went 25 minute before closing (which I recommend if you don't want to wait too long) so we didn't even wait! We had a group of 9 and we tried a bunch of dishes. The more people the better so you can try everything. We ordered the pork belly, Kung Pao pastrami, mapa tofu, salted cod fried rice, green beans, short ribs. Everything was good. My favorite was the Kung pao pastrami, the salted cod fried rice, and short ribs. All these dishes were flavored well and was cooked perfectly. The ambience is pretty cool too with the red lights. Not a luxury scene but for the $ you cannot expect more. Service was excellent as well. This is my first time giving any restaurant a perfect score.

My husband and I went for dinner on the recommendation of a foodie friend. She was right this place was good. We had the lamb dumplings and the short rib. The dumplings were excellent and my husband like them better than our main. The rib was very good, I really enjoyed the flavor of the sauce and the crunchy glaze. I would recommend getting another main with the rib if you're very hungry. Our server recommended a side of rice as well and it was just enough for us. We also had the mules, which were good. They served them in plastic cups and my husband thought it could have used more ginger beer. The restaurant itself is hip and funky, playing techno music and dimly lit with a cool dragon on the ceiling. MAKE A RESERVATION! There are not many tables but since we had a reservation we were seated immediately. Also the sign out front does not say Mission Chinese so you can miss it if you aren't paying attention.

The outside of the place is very modest. Interior is crowded and bustling and a bit like a worn diner. The service is fast and casual. The food has some unusual twists....not your traditional chinese. It was good, but not great. Relatively inexpensive in comparison to other dinner options in San Fran. Fun place for the young crowd.

Very nice place to taste different flavors...but don't forget to write your name at reserves list right fixed at facade.

Very subtle , basic exterior. On the inside , delicious , creative Chinese food with incredible flavors. Spend some time walking along Mission street.

The atmosphere and the music are a mixture of kitschy Chinese + nightclub, and the food is absolutely delectable. I don't know what they do to make this Chinese food that good, but it's magic. I wouldn't say that this is a romantic place... I've always come with a group of friends, and it's rather loud inside with the volume of music pumped up. It's right on Mission street so it's easy to find and get to from the BART.

I crave this place on the regular, mission Chinese is where its at. Gangster rap and the best Chinese food you will ever have.

The place has a Nice vibe but the food isnt that great . The kimchi was not fermented enough wich we adressed and the headwaiter was really rude and pointed out this is how we do it and through our plate into the kitchen. We are restaurant proffesionells and have several guide Michelin restaurants behaind us so we know how to behaive. The head waitress ran out and Said we where not welcome again wich just choose this place is not somewhere to come.

The food was alright (sesame chicken), but a little too salty without much other flavour (apart from sour). At $16ish for a main with rice and water, it wasn't exactly cheap, but there was plenty left over to take home. It didn't change my world.

This restaurant is an icon in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco. It is unusual. Who ever heard of Kung Pau Pastrami? But, then who cares - the dish is so incredibly salty it was inedible. Several problems. First, the food is mediocre. Don't order the Kung Pau Pastrami, Lemon Noodles (bland) or the Hamachi Collars. Second, the waitress kept encouraging us to order more dishes and in the end we had way too much food for the 6 of us. And finally, after we finished eating we began to open birthday presents and the waitress asked us to leave - so totally rude. Maybe its one of those places where rude waiters are part of the ambiance - they succeeded.

Star chef and James Beard award winning Danny Bowien is an important icon in our panoply of fusion star chefs ... and a semi-local SF boy at that (transplant via punk band from Oklahoma). And Mission Chinese Food *was* obviously critical in furthering his career and the food scene overall But this original site in SF’s Mission *fails* on several levels... (a) The interior is *so* dimly lit that you cannot see what you are eating .. eating is about tasting, smelling *and* seeing ... there is minimal joy of almost being blindfolded to what you are eating (b) Sichuan peppercorn use is overwhelming such that it totally numbs one’s mouth and you are unable to truly enjoy the food (c) Certain dishes simply don’t work ... or the chef on duty has lost the location’s mojo Don’t get us wrong. We love the concept of Asian fusion. And we have eaten many times in Chengdu the capital of Sichuan, China where we had our mouths treated to (and abused amply) by the use of Sichuan peppercorn there ... and we truly enjoyed Sichuan Mapo Tofu in that province The wait staff is great, knowledgeable, fast, courteous, available, patient, etc. The food: (1) WESTLAKE FRIED DUMPLINGS were fried to the point of being not crispy, but actually hard/brittle and difficult to crunch into (2) CHONGQING CHICKEN WINGS do share on the menu they are “very spicy and numbing” .. due to the heavy use of Sichuan peppercorns ... the first several bites were #*&@(*! numbingly over-spiced ... after 1 day in the fridge as “take home”, they were edible .. again, we like *some* Sichuan peppercorn use, and we are *very* desiring of endorphin-raising spice levels ... but this was INEDIBLE (3) SICHUAN CARBONARA was a mishmash of mystery items ... no individual item could be independently tasted – not the egg, not the mushroom(s), and not onion ... or even the pasta .. it was if they had run everything through a blender and dumped on cold-to-room temp fettucine (4) SALT COD FRIED RICE ... while we are not fans of “fried rice” at a run of the mill Chinese outlet, the notion of “salt cod” was intriguing ... it could have been because of the disastrous other dishes that we fell into this with some gusto .. we were after all hungry and looking forward to this meal (5) WATERMELON ONION SALAD ... that Saturday evening, this dish surprised us at its simplicity and very welcomed mx of textures and flavors ... it worked (!) .... but on the website, I see it is no longer offered ... maybe it was a special that day BOTTOM LINE – I feel sorry if this is what we are pushing on innocent Brooklynite diners ... while we live in SF and visit NYC for fun and business, we get bombarded by RESY with SEATING DEALS at the Brooklyn outpost ... our SF experience at the mother ship was *not* as expected ... even if our expectations were for “just a very good meal” we would have been disappointed as this was mediocre at best

We walked far to reach this Chinese food restaurant we had heard about on our tour, can I say how worth it it was??!! At first glance it looked tight and cramped inside, always a good sign of great food. We chose some choices off menu that resembled what we thought to be Western Chinese food, nothing could compare to how creative and tasty they were. The Pork Brisket, with pineapple and coconut was a blend of sweet and savoury. We also had the chili chicken, so wonderfully spiced, fresh jalepeno on top, the rice dish made with chicken drippings, covered in green onion and fresh cucumber was to die for. Don't let the outside fool you, go in, take a recommendation from staff, and enjoy!

We really wanted to eat here this trip. My husband was having an allergy attack, so on a whim, I thought maybe I could pick up food. Then I found they would deliver, my husband was so impressed. Now, to the food. We ordered several plates, and have food for lunch today. Our favorite hands down were the Golden Mountain spring rolls. Perfect, we loved the crunch of the shrimp/pork filling, and the wonderful rice noodle wrapper and basil. The sauce was perfect. There wasn't a dish that was not great, Chongqing Chicken wings, Tiki Pork Belly, Fried Garlic Chicken & Rice (vinegar sauce was the perfect foil) and Lung Shan Mushroom Chow Mein. We will be back next trip to the city. I want to have the Matcha Meyer Lemon Noodles!

They had a table for all 10 of us. My kids 16 & 14 and my 3 nieces 2 are teens. Our parents and me and my sister & brother in law. We ordered family style. You could pick any of the specials and be happy. The pork belly was delicious and I turned everyone at the table to be pork belly lovers! The sweet & sour jowl was yummy, the chicken was amazing. And the broccoli beef was excellent! Highly recommend it and it's not greasy Chinese food at all!

Mission Chinese opened about 3 years ago as a pop-up sharing space with a non-descript Chinese restaurant. The pop-up took over the space and is now a regular fixture; not that you’d really be able to tell. If you focus on any one aspect you’d wonder why they are packed with an anxious crowd waiting to get inside. Let’s take a look. The atmosphere is definitely divey with tables far too close together. If you get a seat toward the back where the speakers are located, conversation will be near impossible; not that it’s easy anywhere else. The overly long communal table is easier to snag than the individual side tables; lending a subtle but interesting class structure to the scene. The food is so called “Americanized Chinese”. It tends toward fast food for the appetizers. For example, the Spring Roll is nothing more than a deep fried stick of shrimp and pork surrounded by a generic Chinese wrapper. The dumplings are deep fried dough balls usually filled with meat (check the menu). They seem to be made in bulk and come out lukewarm. The mains are a bit better but tend to be oily. Spiciness is moderate; a nod to broadened appeal. The beverage list is tiny. Wines are less than mediocre but you might find a beer or two to your liking. They clearly don’t want people lingering with just drinks. Service is apropos for a place like this, so no complaints. However, the kitchen has way too much to do and is also driven by take-out and delivery orders. To keep your sanity order appetizers first, after they arrive, order the mains. If you order everything, things will come out randomly or all at once, depending on what else is in the pipeline. Don’t be tempted and over do the rice, any one bowl will stuff two people. So, why do they come in droves? Well, each part melds into one to make you feel like you are eating in a divey hip in-demand pop-up. Even the digital reservations are transcribed to a sheet of paper hanging by the door alongside the walk-in wait list. Now, that’s attention to conceptual details. Hey, you don’t come here for the food or drink. You come so you can tell your friends you ate at Mission Chinese.

we had a couple cold beers, squid ink and lamb pasta, half a chicken. this was loads of food of the two of us. the staff were fantastic. worth the trip from central san fran tourist area. simple bart trip. 2 stops from powell. 16th and mission. walk two blocks on mission towards 18th.

Went here while visiting friends in San Fran this weekend. Restaurant decor was eclectic and dance style music was pumping Even during our 7pm reservation time (which we didn't mind). Food options were unique and all came extremely fast-especially when thrown down on the table by the wait staff. Water bottle was dropped later in the meal, catapulting food sauce on my husband and friend. Nicely, the waitress took off their drinks from the bill for the mistake. Nevertheless food was tasty and enjoyable-we got two meat dishes, rice, greens, and spring rolls and four adults left feeling full. One last note-don't expect a fancy restroom experience; you literally walk through the kitchen to an outside room to the bathroom. Just want to warn anyone who may be skeeved out!

I visited Mission Chinese based on the recommendation of a work colleague. We visited at lunch time as a group of 8. Very easily catered for and a simple short & to the point menu. We pretty much had one of everything on the short menu to spread between the right of us & we weren't disappointed. Food was outstanding. Have to say that it was some of the best Chinese food I've had. I highly recommend the wings, too hot for some of our group but very good! Cost was reasonable & service was fine, but visit purely for the food! Doesn't look like much from the outside, or inside, but don't be put off!

Really glad that this restaurant was recommended to me by a chef I know. We did walk by the place twice before realizing we were there because the signage is pretty misleading but that kind of adds to the charm of the place. The food was great. Innovative and interesting. I loved the custard with Uni and fish roe. Some things were a touch too spicy for my toast ( and I like spicy) butnimwould highly re moment checking this place out!

Incredible the crowd that you meet outside the door waiting for their names to be called as the wait can be long at some point in time during any giving day. The surprise when you finally get to sit down, and let me tell this establishment is small the seating area is so packed that you can't enjoy your meal sitting uncomfortably, they either have to take out some tables to make room for a comfy seat and of course the waiting time then will be longer or they can move out of this location and get into a bigger wider spaced location. Not impressed with their dishes really , you can't even see your meal as it is too dark inside and the lights are do Dim. This place has a big fuss about what...myself don't have the answer . Don't waste your money or time .

A friend told me to try Mission Chinese so we did and it was great! I made a reso and called to say we would be a few minutes late which they said was no problem.. sadly they gave the table away and we had to wait about 15mins for the next table which wasn't a huge deal but a bit annoying. The food made up for it! We had the cold Thai noodles and beef and broccoli with of course their famous chicken wings... definitely get the chicken wings! The sake was good too! GO GO GO!

We went here for dinner on the recommendation of a friend that used to live in San Francisco. It was DELICIOUS!! The food was so good. I highly recommend the Thrice Cooked Bacon and Rice Cakes and Salt Cod Fried rice. We also had and loved the General Tso's ribs. You can't go wrong! But... I highly recommend getting a reservation ahead of time. It can be made online.

Worth the walk from union square hotel. Incredible interpretation of Asian food. Very affordable. Delicious , delicious.

We went to SF to visit our son in SF and he took us out for dinner to Mission Chinese for dinner, every dish is unique, very flavoursome, I still remember the beans that we had, if they cld make a humble veg like beans taste so good you can imagine what to expect, must try while in SF

Recently ate here again, and it was so perfect. I love tofu, and these folks clearly do as well, as they offer it up in so many tasty ways. Cucumbers make a perfect contrast to the spicy flavors.

Cool restaurant in the Hackney of SF. Great Chinese food - really flavoursome, big portions so be prepared to bloat or share.

This was my second visit - easily one of my favorite restaurants. I had the eel and squid ink noodles and found the tastes, textures and value to be outstanding. You are well advised to arrive early. The place is clean and loaded with local Mission color - not the place for ascots and the glitterati.

What a great dinner! I had heard about this place from a friend of mine and could not wait to visit. We took a cab which got us right to the front door. Other reviews have talked about the neighborhood and, yes, it is still rough. But, as with any place at any time, pay attention and be aware of your surroundings. Also, even though it was a Sunday night, there were about 25-30 people waiting in line outside so it was nice to talk to these folks and get the lay of the land. Once we were seated we were able to order and were served right away. The service was great here. As packed as the place was, they were remarkably kind about answering any questions we had. The food was the shining star of the evening. We ordered the chicken wings, the dumplings, the cumin lamb ribs, and the Schmaltz Fried Rice and everything, to an item, was outstanding. Yes, the food is spicy. If you are not a lover of spice, I would caution you on visiting. Not to say that you should not go, but just be aware that there is some serious heat to some of the dishes. The spice was not a problem for us at all. The chicken wings, for instance, had a very special Szechwan peppercorn that coated your tongue with a cool spiciness. I would have ordered another plate if we were not already so full. The pork dumplings had a little kick. The rest of our dishes were very mild but flavorful at the same time. Mission Chinese is definitely a must visit while in San Francisco.

Go there. Eat.enjoy. Book a table in advance. Superpopular and amazing food. Highly recommended and so worth going here 😋

Bigger food portion than I expected but staff really need to try make customers feel more welcome. Decor could do with a fresh cleaning and touch up. Food is what you expect for the price, nothing more. Ordered Brisket of beef - there was more fat than meat but lots of veg. Overall - nothing special lots more places just like it.....

This is not fine dining by any stretch of the imagination, housed in the 'bones' of an old Chinese restaurant with the old signage still intact, loud music, rowdy, crowded and a queue on Mission St. Perfect! My partner and i had all the Small Dishes on the menu that had a vegan option (about 5 dishes) and our friend had the Thrice Cooked Bacon and Rice Cakes. They were inventive and filling with takes from japanese, korean, chinese and vietnamese cuisines. All were superb with an array of flavours seldom experienced eating out. $45 for the 3 of us...insanely cheap. The 'reservation' system was so easy and simple. Put your name on the sheet, indicate if your party is all present and wait on the street until your name comes up. Diners can mingle and wait in a chilled atmosphere. Inside is dark, noisy and cramped...loved it! Service was excellent considering how crazy busy this place is. The guys also have a toe in the recently opened Linea Caffe around the corner on 18th St. Waffles and salads looked awesome. Coffee was equal to best from Australia/NZ. We will definitely be back to this place next time we are in SF...

A referral from a friend that owns a Chinese restaurant in DC so I figured it had to be good. It was not only good, it was amazing. We went a little before dinner and the line was already building up. You place your name on a clip board that hangs outside. As people leave the staff will call the next name. They sit you wherever they have room so you might be eating/touching elbows with a person that you don't know. Try a few of the plates. Our favorite was the salted cod friend rice. Enjoy!

My friend and I had a great time at Mission Chinese. Although it doesn't look like much on the outside,, the interior decor is funky and the music is awesome. Great vibe! and the food is excellent. Can't rave enough about the rice porridge with dungeness crab. Service was quick and helpful. The place is small so make a reservation.

Reasonably priced complex food that wows. Over delivers in most dishes. unassuming location that belies its goodness. Careful of some dishes which may have high sodium contents for some folks.

Got lucky on a Tuesday afternoon--no wait and food came quickly. Nothing like the hours long wait we were forewarned about. It's definitely not your typical Chinese food, but it's incredibly delicious. If you're not into spicy, definitely stay away from the spicy dishes, as they are a bit overwhelming, but somehow the flavor of the food still comes out. Would definitely go back the next time I'm in SF.

Visiting here from Seattle so thought we would have some Chinese food while here. Our son said we really should try this place knowing that one of things we love to do is visit dive Chinese restaurants in Seattle's international district (ID) looking for hidden gems. This gem outshines anything we have found in the ID. We had a short 5 minute wait for a table which was a bit of a surprise for a Saturday night but no complaints here. We started with the smashed cucumber salad which was delicious. Made with tahini and house chili sauce, we loved it. Next was the cherry glazed pork ribs and these were perfectly cooked and a larger than expected portion. We also ordered the sour chili chicken and I thought it was good but didn't appeal to me nearly as much as to my wife. She loved the way they seared the vegetables. My absolute favorite was the spicy beef chow mein. The noodles were basically noodle perfection. I would be content if this was last dish before they slip on the noose. Service was good, friendly and prompt. The pinot we chose complimented the meal nicely. The place was packed, so what. The music was loud, so what. The lights were dim, so what. Altogether we had a really good experience. Next time we are in San Francisco we will be back.

The food is brilliant, the staff are really willing to share their suggestions and the atmosphere is really enjoyable. I highly recommend the squid ink noodles!

This restaurant is located in the Mission District. It looks like this area has seen better days but at night time appears to have a vibrant (as in lively) nightlife. I spent at least 10 minutes driving around looking for a parking and finally found a spot on a side street. We arrived at around 8:45 and there was still a short line-up outside (less than 10 people). It only took about 15 or so minutes to get seated. The restaurant has red lighting. However, there is not enough lighting and as a result it was difficult to read the menu. Snaking its away along the the ceiling was a suspended dragon. The restaurant itself is not that big with seating for maybe 60 person and the tables are very close together. It would be very difficult if not impossible to enter or egress in a wheelchair when the restaurant is packed. The small restaurant was packed and very noisy. I took a quick scan around the room just to see what kind of clientele this restaurant attracted – mostly a younger, “hip” crowd with a liberal sprinkling of middle-aged people. In addition, this is not your typical Chinese restaurant that you would find in Chinatown; none of the first and 2nd generation Asians that you would normally associate or see frequenting Chinatown area restaurants. This is not your typical “mainstream” Chinese restaurant in terms of the food offered but a mix of different Chinese regional dishes and also the restaurant’s interpretation of some Chinese entrees. Our party of 5 ordered the following (keeping in mind 2 in our party had dietary restrictions – one with no pork or shellfish and the other a vegetarian): • Tiki pork belly ($11) – soy caramel, mandarin orange segments, pickled pineapple, shaved coconut & macadamia nuts. I would give it a 3.5 out of 5 rating – good. • Spicy beef chow mein ($16) - hangar steak, spicy miso, fried shallot, bell pepper, pickled mustard green. This dish was served with the thick Shanghai noodles; not what I was expecting and in my opinion overpriced for the serving size. I just checked their website and the menu includes “Shanghai noodles” in the entrée description. The menu we ordered from (on May 19th ) didn’t include “Shanghai noodles”. • Beer brined Sichuan pickles ($5) with cabbage, cucumbers & peanuts. • Tiger salad roll ($10) with fine herbs, lettuce & fresh turnip wrapped in a large rice roll and cut into 4 pieces. This was a disappointing dish. Other than the taste of the fine herbs, there was nothing else in the flavour profile. • Vegetarian Ma Po tofu ($12) – braised shitake mushrooms, aged chili paste & Sichuan pepper. The dish was nothing special. I’ve had better. My spouse who doesn’t mind spicy foods says the dish was really spicy and didn’t have any more of this dish. • Mongolian long green beans ($12) – with xinjiang spices, horseradish & chili oil • Sour chili chicken ($13) – chicken breast, marble potatoes & pickled chili • 3 Strawberry coconut mochi ($2 each) – very good 3.5 out of 5 rating There was a $2 charge for pot of hot tea. The bill came to $113.30 with the gratuity included. Check your bill as it’s not computerized. In my case there was an arithmetic error leading to a $5 overcharge. There was nothing really extraordinary about the dishes; although the pork belly and coconut strawberry mochi were good. Was it a good meal? No, just an “okay” meal that was not memorable. If anything, I’ll remember the experience more for the ambiance (or lack thereof) and the dragon hanging from the ceiling. I didn’t care much for the ambiance – dark and noisy; more so the lack of lighting. I like to see what I am eating as “you eat with your eyes”. The service was okay. I thought the prices were okay until I saw the portion sizes; in my opinion a little on the small side. I would give the overall food experience – food, service and ambiance a 3 out of 5 – average at best. Notes and Tips: • Check the website • There are lots of vegetarian options • There are numerous spicy dishes. Pay attention to the number of “flames” that indicate spiciness! • If there’s a line up, make sure you put your name on the waiting list that’s attached to the clipboard • Restaurant was still full when we left at 10:30 PM • Parties of 5 or more get an automatic 15% gratuity added on. • There is a clean bathroom in the back past the kitchen. You can actually see the kitchen workers going about their business. It would be difficult if not impossible for wheelchair access to the unisex washroom • There was a Chinese cook smoking outside the kitchen door. • If you’re looking for the restaurant’s name on the front canopy you won’t see it. The restaurant name on the canopy is “Lung Shan Restaurant”. • Finding street parking can be a problem. • Came here based on recommendations from daughter’s friend who used to live in San Francisco. This was one of several recommendations in the Mission District including a couple of Mexican restaurants. • This restaurant used to be rated as a Top 100 restaurant by a San Francisco paper.

Don't let the names of the dishes put you off (Kung Pao Pastrami?)--these dishes really work! Had the Westlake lamb dumplings (lamb? who knew?), thrice cooked bacon and rice cakes, tiger salad, and beef chow mein. It was all delicious. Courteous and attentive service. Go early if you want to avoid the line.

While on a recent visit to San Francisco I made plans to meet up with an old friend who has a shop in the Mission District of San Francisco. He immediately said we should eat at a "mind-blowing" local Chinese. Well, I love just about all cuisines, EXCEPT, Chinese! He was so enthusiastic that I didn't have the heart to say no. Lucky me!!! This is Chinese, I guess, but with so many other influences and flavour explosions that it is like nothing I have had before. This place is funky, tiny, and loud, and it all works. Be warned though, get there early or be prepared to wait. But if you do find you have to wait,do it. You'll be glad you did.

We've all suffered through meals at upstart hipster restos attempting to fuse our childhoods and gourmet with a pinch of irony. You know, the places that try to re-invent the peanut butter and jelly sandwich; places where ideas are served, not dinners. I hate those places. When I read about the Kung Pao and pastrami mash-up at Mission Chinese Food I figured I'd hate this place too. There's definitely a large helping of hipster on display at this divey, Chinese-American joint: Marc Bolan blasting through vintage speakers, cool-kid servers, cliché decor and menu items with names and descriptions determined to poke the bear. I put my bias and hipster fatigue aside because I was hungry and because something smelled good coming out of that kitchen full of very non-hipster Asian moms and daughters. We started with the Black Vinegar Peanuts. They were tangy and soaked long enough to leech some of the crunch out of the nuts, infusing them with lots of drink-it-up flavour. Paired perfectly with our beers. Next up was the aforementioned Kung Pao Pastrami. My dining partner ate one of the smoked chilis on her first mouthful and this left her on the sidelines as I picked through every smokey, spicy, crunchy, soft and meaty bit of this delicious plate. It truly is a signature dish worth writing down. Rising to the challenge, the Squid Ink Rice Noodles took us to another level of amazing taste, while the Sour Chili Chicken lost out only because the other two dishes were so damn good. The SCC did, however, improve dramatically overnight once all of its ingredients were able to bind into a lunch-time leftover treat. There's so much more on the menu we were forced to skip, but no matter since we'll be back.

A friend of mine told me to come here and mentioned that I should try the thrice cooked bacon and I definitely wasn't disappointed. There were quite a few things on the menu that looked great and I wanted to try, but it was just me for dinner, so I went with the bacon. It had a "spicy" symbol next to it and definitely lived up to the spicy rating! Usually things aren't spicy enough for me, but I was sweating through this one. Delicious!

Off the chart creativity (Pastrami Kung Pao? WOW!) in the most incognito location EVER. Short but good wine list with at least one of everything necessary, and good service. No reservations but if there's a line, and there nearly always is, there's a list outside the door you simply add your name to. Tables turn fast, and well worth the wait.

This place is always packed and must of the time you need a reservation but because of its high demand (and line of people waiting outside) they let you in if you promise to take only 1 hour, which was more than enough for us. We had 2 orders of the garlic fried rice since it was so good among other things and there was even an option for my vegetarian friend... we loved it.. food coma!! Warning: the fried chicken is enormous !!!!

Creepy area, and kind of creepy restaurant as well, but the food was really amazing! Staff was friendly enough, but the hole apperance of the restaurant is really not that good. But I mist emphasize that the food was excellent!

I had high hopes of Mission Chinese; we ordered 7 different dishes, they were all decent, but not great. All 7 dishes were very salty. The service was poor; the host was rude and the waiter rarely checked on us. Mission Chinese has potential but did not satisfy with food or service.

Very popular restaurant with unique food. Worth some wait. Very crowded inside but the food makes for it. Is a sharing dinner experience were many plates are ordered and that way you can taste many different dishes. Outside yellow sign at the restaurant said Lung Shan Restaurant. Don't judge by outside appearance.

DIdnt wait long for reserved table...neighborhood is a bit sketch but that seems to be on par for most of San Francisco. Couldnt feel my tongue when we left but I expected that. Delicious food and good service. Worth a visit.

A friend took me there for dinner and it was a great experience! The food was delicious and the decoration of the place makes it look like a very hipster place! Also very cheap Something that I found amazing was the fact that to go to the restroom you need to cross the kitchen where you'll find people washing the dishes and slicing vegetables - awesome!

The food here is delightfully flavored, though some of it is pretty greasy. Had the sweet corn dish (corn, cilantro, serrano chiles) which is actually a take on a Mayan dish...it was excellent. The chow mein was also good but it was greens and noodles...part tradional Chinese and part soba-like noodles. The pork tofu dish was seasoned well but two or three bites was enough before the grease did me in. Folks really liked the eggplant. Portions are very generous.

If cramped quarters and loud hip hop are your game then you will enjoy this place. While both the food and the service were both average, the menu items are interesting. Do yourself a favor and read the two and three star reviews to get a better idea of what to expect here.

Met a friend for dinner here, having no idea what to expect. Definitely not traditional Chinese food but totally worth it! Space is small so might have to wait but the service is pleasant and they offer communal dining if you are up to it. Good beer/ drinks selection and loud fun music make this spot unexpectedly funky and fun. Loved the Breakfast Rice with rice, egg, Ikura and Bonito. Great flavor combos for meat & veg dishes. Lots of peanut recipes in case you have an allergy but my friend was able to navigate the menu with ease

Yes, the decor is nothing to write home about but we loved the food here. Not your standard Chinese food. The Deep Fried Squid Ink Noodles are amazing. Went on a Thursday for lunch, no line ups!

We all enjoyed the food, especially the Egg, egg noodle! However, we had older (elderly) adults with us for whom the atmosphere was NOT pleasing at all. The rap music complete with profanities didn't help. I would not take young children or older people, but the food was well worth the trip! Delicious! I would not say the portions are huge.

On a Saturday evening, we had reservations but it was not busy enough to be required. We were greeted and seated promptly. The menu has many interesting options, some Chinese standards with a twist. We had the smashed cucumber, which was tasty, cool. Next was pork jowls with radish, not very good meat,taste not so interesting. Then came ma po tofu, which was spicy and had fresh, silky tofu. Nothing we had was bad, just not very special, it was on a par with many other Chinese restaurants. Therefore rated just average.

Not your typical Chinese Restaurant.Salted Cod Fried Rice, Pastrami Kung Pow, Thrice Cooked Bacon... Everything was delicious. Highly recommended!

Chef Danny Bowien's menu is truly inspired and the place is charming. I've never been to another restaurant that better combined cheap AMAZING food and such a low key environment. The Tiki Pork Belly alone is worth the price of admission (So tender! So sweet!), the Stir Fried Pork Jowl is divine and the Cumin Lamb Ribs were rich, fragrant and melt-in-your-mouth tender with a perfect hit of spice. The portion sizes are truly immense as well- incredible value! The cherry on the cake is that they donate some of the profit from every entree to the SF food bank. If you're visiting San Francisco then I would highly, highly recommend coming here. This is one of my favourite restaurants on planet earth :)

This is an original for sure. Great tasty dishes. But flaming hot, super spicey so if that's not your thing, ask them to chill a bit and make them manageable for you. The mapo tofu is my favorite; it is sublime.

After walking right past the unassuming store front that is Mission Chinese, my husband and I got the last table before the dinner rush on a Sunday night. We ordered a pea dish and the thrice cooked bacon. Chef Danny Bowien's unapologetically irreverent take on Chinese food is spectacular. Watch out for the peppers, though, they're REALLY hot. The restaurant doesn't have a sign out front, just a menu taped to the window, so it's easy to miss. If we hadn't been looking for it, there's no way we would've happened into MC. I really felt like I was "in the know" to find this place. The service and atmosphere are not anything to write home about, but the experience is something to remember. I loved the giant dragon hanging from the ceiling! The value is incredible for the food of a James Beard Award winning chef! My husband is still obsessing over probably our cheapest meal in SF 9 months later. We will certainly be trying the Mission Chinese in NYC next time we go. This place is DEFINITELY worth a visit!!

Terrible decor, dim lighting that hides the crappy food! The service was quick. I have never been to a restaurant where every item was terrible. We were three couples (six of us) and the bill came to $240 which included one bottle of wine.

We got off the plane, dropped our stuff off at the apartment in Hayes Valley and caught an Uber here. If it's your first time you'll be a little skeptical, this a don't judge a book.. kinda tale. The Chinese mule was nothing too special, but it hit the spot after a 12 hour flight. Then, the food comes out and fast, very fast. A bowl of mouth tingling pork and tofu, fluffy jasmine rice and a heaping general tso's beef rib. The ladder will disappear quick into the hungry mouths at the table. My favorite is the tingly pork, I can't explain why without this getting published, it's just great. It's why we went and it didn't disappoint yet again. Recommended highly, go at odd hours unless you don't mind a wait.

I'm a HUGE fan of Chinese food; almost snobbish. Being born and raised in New York, I grew up on the stuff. So I'm pickier than normal. I saw a segment on local San Fran cuisine while watching Food Network one day and knew that I needed to try this place while we were going to be there in the coming months. So once we got to San Fran, I needed to find where this place is. We took a cab there that night. The place is very unimpressive and in a bit of a quasi seedy area on Mission Street. A clipboard hangs on the wall surrounded by 15 people waiting outside on a Monday night. I knew the place had to be good. Who waits for Chinese food outside a dump on Mission Street on a Monday night?.....at that moment, it was ME! Lol. But it was well worth it. Food was AMAZINGLY fresh, spicy and tasty. The service was great and quick. The atmosphere was unique to say the least. Slightly crowded, hot (no air conditioning) and pretty loud. I'd do it again in a minute. I'll be back!

I was really doubtful this place would live up to the hype, especially with its attempt to take the ambience in the opposite direction with it's grungy, dive look, but wow. The most imaginitive Chinese food I've ever had. We 3 got 6 items and they were all mind blowing. Only advice is to order small and add on later. Portions of all are bigger than you think, and don't come out based on type. Also the staff is a bit surly, but not offensive.

This place is not to be missed, I had dinner with friends twice in a 3 day time span. Tea smoked eel, squid ink pasta, broccoli beef - terrific

While vacationing in San Fran a buddy of mine who lives their recommended this place. We went on a Friday evening and had to wait about 15-20 min for a table (party of 4). They had a waiting list hanging outside for patron to sign. From the outside it looked like a hole in the wall spot to eat. Once we were seated I felll in love with the atmosphere. The lights were very dim, a red paper dragon was hanging from the ceiling, and they were blasting good music...mainly hip-hop. They even had a random, life-size Michael Jordan cut out in the corner of the restaraunt. This place was random but AWESOME! The place was packed and the food smelled wonderful. It tasted even better. I read a review that said you couldn't see the food which was not true but it was darker than what you would expect. The service was good considering how busy they were and prices were not bad at all. I highly recommend this place for friends and/or couples. Maybe not for families with small children or couples you want a nice, quiet romantic environment. But if you want to eat somwhere to get you ready for a late night out on the town, this place is for you.

Sure, the foods good but given the hype in the place, i think its a bit overrated. the thrice cooked bacon ricecakes are one of the best items but overall the food is a bit greasy. But this place is a fun "san francisco" place to go!

We went her with my daughter and her boyfriend, at their request. The appetizers were our least-favorite items; we had spring rolls and the ground lamb. We definitely would pass next time. The brocccoli and beef dish was excellent, as were the rice cakes and the chicken. The later might have been our favorite. The brisket was monstrous in size and a bit fatty for our tastes. All the mains were large enough to share.

Yes yes yes! Mission Chinese is a poetic interplay of everything I enjoy. It's where grit meets graciousness and flavors get their makeovers. I lick my plate, slurp down the last drop of savory soup, dance in my seat, and enjoy the unfolding mystery of combinations. Don't change a thing!

First, this place is pretty off the beaten track. If you assume, rightfully so, that it's in or near Chinatown, well you'd be incorrect. Also, it's a far drive down Mission St departing from the Union Square area, but it's very close to the 16th/Mission Bart stop. If you're looking for a sign that says "mission chinese food", you'll miss it, because there isn't one. The food is very good, ecletic! I had the fried rice with pork, curry and pineapples. My MIL got the porridige, not so delectable, but my husband loved the spicy wings. The place itself could definitely use a sprucing up, starting with a proper/accurate sign, but a great place nonetheless!

What a delightful culinary experience in this hole-in-the-wall restaurant with a 3 pages menu - of delights. Every meals from regular to extra spicy had TASTE. No tongue burning hot here, just enough to awaken the mouth for it to appreciate the culinary feast. The tiger salad is the best Asian salad I tasted. One great advantage for vegetarians is the amount of "meat" dishes with a vegetarian (Tofu) option. Still excellent.

Four of us went here after work -- including one person from Shanghai China. I tried to describe the food here to them but it's really hard -- "modern cool take on Chinese flavors" really doesn't translate well, but it's basically what it is! I called ahead to make "reservations" -- and thank goodness I did. When we got here there was a small queue of people waiting for a table (there is a signup sheet outside you put your name on). Luckily I scooted inside and asked for "David" who I talked to and viola, within 2 minutes a 4 top opened up and down we sat! Yay! One person (Italian) didn't like spicy food so I made sure to order a mixture of spicy and non spicy. We started with some of the peanuts (awesome!) and pickles (also awesome) and the special braised pork belly. All were winners and enjoyed by everyone . We then got the famous Kung Pao Pastrami -- and I know why it's famous. The mixture of the traditional sichuan flavors and pastrami is out of this world. The smoky and "fatty" pastrami really does work with the spice! We also got the Filipino Fried Chicken (the table favorite) and the lamb ribs. I found the lamb rib texture perfect -- but the flavor was a bit too much in the cumin (?) department for me. It was good -- but the spice (not heat) was a tad overwhelming and didn't really let the lamb flavor come out. Still, didn't stop me from eating like a whole lamb's worth. Anyway, we left feeling stuffed (plenty of food for the money) and our taste buds happy as can be! Nice alternative to more traditional Chinese offerings here in San Fran! Pro Tip : The sign above Mission Chinese says nothing about "Mission Chinese" -- something like Leung Blah blah .. but the address # is correct. Tip # 2 : If you are still hungry, right next door is Wes Burgers, maybe one of the best burgers around. :)

If greasy food in an eardrum-piercing setting is your thing, this is the best place. If you prefer second-rate food at elevated prices to be served with weak drinks in an overcrowded place, even better.

The menu made my mouth start to water, so many great sounding dishes. An order of pickles made for a tasty beginning. Anything with pork was great, especially the Tiki pork with pineapple. My fave was the kung pao pastrami, crazy good and spicy. Come here for a delicious twist on Chinese food. Enjoy!

Feelings are moving towards 3.5 stars for Mission Chinese. This place had been on our list for sometime and finally got to try it out back in August. I am a chinese food lover but not sure why I didn't love this place enough. We came on a weekday at lunch hour but the place was deserted which kind of scared me in the beginning since I had heard about huge lines. Our waitress was a little rude in coming 3 times in a span of 5 minutes while I kept asking her we needed more time to decide. We had literally just sat down and was checking out the menu. No one likes to feel rushed when they try out a new restaurant! I've tried few asian places so far and no matter how small they have been, usually the kitchen doesn't pave the way for the bathroom. For some reason, the sight of seeing staff chopping veggies while i'm walking through to get to the restroom just left me disappointed. Between the 3 of us we shared: - classic chow mein with eggplant - kung pao pastrami - mapu tofu Loved the chow mein it was really tasty and delicious and went so well with the eggplant! Kung pao pastrami was a great dish but I felt it was too heavy, way too salty and way too much meat eventhough we shared. Mapu tofu was something I was looking forward to and I really liked the few first bites but the tingling feeling perhaps is not for me as it just got too much at the end. Also it was swimming in oil :( Needless to say we were unable to finish these 3 dishes so we packed them to go. The portions are really huge so unless you come starving in a large group you will pack leftovers to go. Not sure I would want to come back again.

Trendy, popular. Loud pop music. Food was not tasty. Chow mein was burned. Each dish shared a characteristic of acrid, burnt flavor. Pricey for what was offered. Wait service forgot to bring the drinks ordered (hot tea) I am not likely to return Three plates and steamed rice @ 60 USD