New Woey Loy Goey Reviews

If you want an authentic experience while in Chinatown, have lunch or dinner here. The proof that this is a good place is that most of the customers are Chinese and, most importantly, the bathrooms are clean...a good indication of how clean the kitchen is. The place is downstairs, no elevator...and you might have to share tables with people who may or may not speak English....a real experience. Good portions and fair prices.

From the outside this restaurant does not look very special. We were looking for a place that served traditional Peking Duck. My guests were a little skeptical about the food, and ordered lamb as an alternative.. However once the Peking Duck arrived it was devoured by everyone at the table. All in all a wonderful safe, clean, and very enjoyable meal. One small downside to ordering here -they don't take AMEX. Otherwise, I might give them another star. All in all a safe bet if you plan to visit Chinatown, SF. And worth a repeat visit.

NELG is a living monument to a mostly bygone era. Service is by heavily accented middle-aged staff who even if there is only one customer in the place manage to be impatient, slightly neglectful, and even a bit surly. The food that some reviewers found “authentic Cantonese,” I would describe as authentic Chinese American, meaning a bit too much sugar, salt, and corn starch, with most things cooked slightly longer than necessary. Nouvelle cuisine chinoise this ain’t. Yesterday was my first return since the early 1970s. Nothing had changed! And that was perfect. I had orange peel chicken (marked spicy, but not really), plain noodles, and a beer. It came to $22, plus tip, which in today’s SF is very reasonable. There are plenty of dishes for just $6. There are even a number of “classics” like chop suey and egg foo yung. In sum, NWLG is a much loved neighbourhood place where everything is just as expected. For a similar restaurant just up the hill (Clay near Stockton), check out Capital.

Following the recommendation of a review, we ate lunch here while on vacation. We are so glad we did! Although the outer facade may not be appealing, the experience inside is worth the visit. The staff is conscientious and the food arrived hot, fresh, and flavourful. We not had happy plates. With so many restaurants to choose from, know that New Woey Loy Goey is a good selection. Enjoy!

Small and subterranean Chinese. The set menu is pretty decent price. Food is acceptable. Nothing to write home about. So have a go if on a budget or nearby. But I wouldn't go out of my way to visit.

It doesn’t look like much from the street but food is exceptional and service very good. Huge portions and well prepared. Not fast food!! We had roast duck wonton soup, shrimp rolls and chicken egg foo young. Really enjoyed everything!

It has been 10 years since I've been back and was looking forward to eating here again. It was better than I remember and mi amour said it was the best Chinese she's ever had. Nothing was greasy, chow fun had the right balance of black beans and onions, orange peel chicken had true flavor unlike that General Tso garbage served in pseudo-Chinese restaurants. Pot stickers are served with vinegar so pour some on your plate and add chili pepper oil and flakes and mush it around. You'll be glad you did. Enjoy!

Odd little place downstairs, but great authentic cantonese food. We had salt & pepper calamari, seafood chow Mein on pan fried noodles and steamed pork hash. All were excellent and extremely reasonable. Wish we would have found this spot on our first night instead of our last or we definitely would have returned.

Went for dinner here after getting it recommended by our hotel. Judging by the looks it wasn’t anything special but we decided to try it anyway after all we were there for the food not the looks. After getting seated at a dirty table with foodstains from previous guests a waiter quickly came to take our order (here we ran into trouble because this waiter and the others aparently didn’t understand english). Because of the language barrier we ordered som simple dishes that we had tried other chinese places with great succes. To our big surprise was the food tasteless, had a cosistency close to that of rubber and was soaking in oil. The disapointing experience doesn’t end here because halfway through the meal the waiters askes us to move out of our way because they had to go out with the trash. The staff then proceeded to drag 3 big, overful and smelling dumbsters through the restaurant. When paying the staff expected atleast 15% in tip despite the fact that we hadn’t been given anywhere close to the amount of service which can and should be expected at a restaurant. :( Don’t go here - AWFUL PLACE!!!

Not your 1st thought for a Chinese Restaurant (underground), but definitely worth the simplicity! Try the Honey Walnut Prawns(shrimp) & Chicken Chow Mein.

Friendly Chinese restaurant. Great service & food was good too. Service was quick & friendly. Much cheaper than the main tourist parts.

Best cantonese chinese food in san francisco. Definitely worth the walk down scary steps ;) fresh seafood at really great prices. The linch specials are a fantastic deal. Just skip the restrooms if you can.

Every time we are in SF we go drunkenly looking for this restaurant as we could never remember its name, now that we know it we thought we would review it but next time I still won’t look at a map, the drunken quest to find it is part of the fun. It is really authentic and the food is amazing. It’s no mistake that you might be the only non-Chinese people in the restaurant which I think is always a good sign. Our last visit here we ordered beers, loads of food and sat back and watched Bruce Lee movies with the “locals”. Very enjoyable indeed.

I went to this restaurant as a kid 40 years ago; kinda forgot about it. Had an optical appointment in Chinatown, asked the Cambodian couple who have owned the shop for decades where they eat Cambodian food. They said "we don't! We eat Chinese food almost every day for 50 years at Woey Loy Goey. Almost everyone who works in the neighborhood eats there, including workers from other restaurants !" lol. Really fresh, semi-open kitchen (shows cleanliness). rice plates, soups, etc. The ginger chicken knocks me out, as does the Wor won-ton soup. The chow-mein is not the ordinary stuff. Plates large enough to share; plan on $10 a person, and you should be full..It's an institution, for a reason. If you don't hafta put on the dog for someone, and want to look "in the know"; this is the place. Couple steps off of Grant, then walk downstairs..At the end of each meal they always ask me "Good? you Like?" and I say "TERRIBLE!!" as I hand over my clean plates and smile, and they giggle and tell all the staff, who all have a good laugh....

Cane here on the recommendation of a friend who has spent quite some time in SF. Was not disappointed. We walked down the stairs to the restaurant area and were the only non Chinese customers. A good sign for somewhere with authentic food. The service was super quick and the meals came with free tea. We got mainly noodle dishes which were super cheap (~$7 per main) and we're huge portions. We left feeling happy and stuffed.

Its in a basement, however its our go to spot for Chinese, nothing fancy service isnt that great, but the food is tasty and the prices are cheap. Give it a try if in China Town

Hidden below the walkway we found this hidden beaut. So lush, food was amazing so tasty. We had veggie spring rolls, veggie chow main , veggie rice. Place was rammed with locals which spoke volumes. Simple tasty chinese food 5 star for price , taste and service.

Was our last night in San Francisco and I wanted to try a place in Chinatown. Based on TripAdvisor reviews, we selected this place. It was exactly what we were looking for / not fancy, reasonable, good portions, and very tasty! If in the area, I would definitely go again.

Unfortunately, despite our hunger after walking Chinatown for a long time, we arrived to this dingy looking basement restaurant and had to leave right away. My father saw a mouse scurry across the floor as we were looking at the sticky menus and we left.

I 'd looked on Trip Advisor for recommendations for a good Chinese restaurant in China Town, and nothing really stood out. So we took one of the traditional cable cars up to Lombard street to the wibbly wobbly road as I call it, walked up that and found a nice wine bar. From there we walked to China Town and came across this place by chance. No fancy restaurant front and situated on a corner. So we ventured down the steps and it was obvious that the locals ate here. We ordered the set menu for four and beers . The food came out quickly and was very good indeed. Wonton soup, chow mein ,pork dish, chicken and almonds , a beef dish and rice. Great food at a good price. I recommend checking this one out.

The "New Woey Lot Goey" restaurant is for those seeking to escape the typical "tourisata" restaurant which en-mass in San Francisco's China Town. Authentic Cantonese Dishes are their specialty. However, I was disappointed in their Bird's Nest Soup which was greatly lacking and seemed more like simple egg drop soup. They did promise to take it off the bill, BUT. . . make sure that you check your bill twice to make sure that you are charged correctly. There were mistakes on our bill. As I said, the food was in general, wonderful, but

This restaurant has the best food in San Francisco, maybe in the whole state of California. The first time I visited this restaurant I'm not even sure they had menus in English. I had sat down at the counter and looked at a wonderful large bowl of soup that a man 2 seats down was eating. It was full of meat and vegetables. I said, I'll have that. Turns out it was a large bowl of War Won ton soup and the man was a taxi driver. He told me this was indeed the best food around. I've been back to San Francisco since and each time I make sure to eat here. Great food, great prices. Don't be afraid to walk down the stairs. The restaurant is bright and clean and has great food.

The actual building is kind of old and worn, but the food and service were first class. My friend and I stopped in here without knowing what to expect. We were amazed at how good the food was, with large servings by happy and energetic employees.

First, if you prefer an upscale ambience, this place is NOT for you. If the food of high value is more important than ambience, this is the place for you. A colleague and I had a satisfying, filling lunch totaling $10.35 before tip (that's cheaper than fast food). A bowl of soup and a pot of hot Chinese black tea was included. The rice plates are an exceptional value. Service was typically Chinese-efficient. Just remember it's a different culture. Speaking English is fine. I recalled New Woey Loy Goey as one of the places our family would go to for a good, cheap meal while visiting Chinatown. I was certainly glad the quality was still strong as other restaurants of my youth and young adulthood are gone. There are many such restaurants in Chinatown that the locals go to, but tourists are afraid to enter. Yes, Chinatowns nationwide can have a certain smell and a certain urban level of grime. But, growing up going weekly to Chinatown has now meant those are olfactory and visual cues to authenticity. Persons who are squeamish entering a hole-in-the-wall establishment may wish to gather some courage and a sense of adventure to experience a good, down home Chinese meal.

We were very disappointed in our dinner here. We were here about 2 years ago and really enjoyed it, but tonight, the chicken was barely cooked in a combination noodle dish. The place was also very dirty. The ceiling tiles were disgustingly filthy. We definitely will not be back here the next time we come to San Francisco.

We enjoyed a nice meal during our trip through Chinatown. The highly rated restaurants all had long lines at lunchtime or were take-out only. New Woey Loy Goey was busy, but had a sitdown table for our party of eight. The food was very good, and just what we expected. They had a wide selection, and we had a variety of dishes.

If you're in China Town already wondering where to eat this is a good choice! A local suggested we eat here and would pass the same along. Great price, good size portions. Friendly place and at least half the patrons if not more were definitely locals. We could tell by the friendly greetings. Look for the stairs going down. It's located on the corner with access off Jackson.

We ordered the food for 5 persons for our family of 5. The food was great & service was really quick & heaps of it, admittedly it was 4 in the afternoon. Premises itself old but for value for money really good👍

Old-fashioned Chinese spot full of locals. I'm not an expert on Cantonese cuisine, so I'm not sure I ordered the best dish. I had black mushroom chicken chowmein and found it to be so-so. Service was lackadaisical. Excellent price, however. I would return with someone who could guide me through the menu, and even better, with a group so that I could sample several different dishes because people around me were eating from piles of food that looked very interesting.

Great prices. Huge portions. Very good value for price. Don't judge a book by it's cover. The decor needs updating but the food is fantastic. Crab with garlic and ginger is delicious.

Down those unglamorous metal stairs is a pretty standard Chinese restaurant with friendly and efficient staff. It's not dressed up for the tourists but did have a good few Chinese people in.

Ate two bites and was done. Not for the faint of heart

Family trip to SF for 3 days, wife is Chinese, so we had to visit Chinatown. This was the first restaurant we tried and it was fine. Prices were very reasonable, setting was ok. Wife said that food lacked flavor, but my daughter and I thought it was ok. We checked a number of other restaurants, couldn't match the price for what you get. Came back here for another meal before leaving the city. LOVED the name!!

Unexpected, given hidden entrance of building (downstairs ), Food was really great, service was fantastic despite a full restaurant. Highly recommended... Perfect night out...

If I could give zero stars I would. I often visit china town in London and have good idea what constitutes a decent Chinese restaurant. We visited off the back of the @eater, trip-advisor and google recommendation and wholeheartedly warn any and everyone off a trip here. Food is average at best, service non-existent, management very rude and unwilling to listen to any feedback. Language skills are also below basic. While its "cheap" avoid like the plague! The good reviews here blow my mind...ignore them all. I could go on but will save you the details 😑

This restaurant is in a basement, but don't mind it's a very interesting place. We went there for lunch (2 adults, 3kids) and we were the only non-Asian in the restaurant. The food was exceptionally good and portions more than enough. The service was friendly. Too bad we didn't read Chinese because there is a menu on the wall all in Chinese. The English menu is for sure not the same than the Chinese one, just looking at the food of other clients. Next time, we will try to get the Chinese menu.

Walked around Chinatown to find a good place to eat... I let my nose find the right place serving Cantonese style cooking. Walked by this restaurant and could smell the aroma of good Chinese. When I walked in, the quaint little restaurant was packed with Asian people having dinner (a sign to me I'm at the right place). Enjoyed a great roast duck dinner with Chinese bok choy. Just what this gal was looking for!

If you're looking for an inexpensive lunch meal that's ok quality, come here. For less than $5, you can get a lunch rice place with a variety of topping which fills you up and taste ok. Do not expect any type of service and expect to leave shortly after your meal as they are not very patient about diners who eat, linger and chat at their restaurant. Also, expect to share a big table if they are out of the small ones...

Wow! Absolutely great food, service ok and the cost amazing. We had 4 dishes between the two of us and it came to about £16.00. The portion size was very big. You have to look carefully for the restaurant as it has steps leading down. It doesn't look much from the outside but really worth a visit.

We had a nice meal here. The food felt fresh and had a good balance of flavour. The decor and menu doesn’t look to have changed since the early 80’s but this seemed to add to the charm.

Great little Chinese, the service was quick and huge portions for a reasonable amount! It got busy quickly after 6pm.

We was there with friends, the food was not very bad we was ordered chicken with soup forfour person. But the services was terrible because waiter was angry.

Stopped here for dinner on a recent visit to San Fran. This place is obviously a favorite of the locals, because they seemed surprised to see obvious tourists come through the door. They were, however, extremely welcoming. The restaurant is below street level and could use some fixing up. There are large aquariums in the back full of fish and crabs. Not the decoration, ambiance kind, the fish market, dirty water kind. After eating at several outstanding restaurants in the San Fran area, this place was a bit of a shock to the senses, but if you can get over the atmosphere, it is worth a try. My son is trying to be more of an adventurous eater and decided to order the jellyfish and carrots appetizer. The dish is served cold and there were no carrots visible. Overall the flavor was actually pretty good, although I was not a huge fan of the texture. Kind of like trying to eat cold rubber bands. For our dinner we ordered the Szechuan Family dinner for 3 which included 8 dishes off the menu and hot tea. We could not believe how much food they brought us. Large steaming plates of authentic Chinese food just kept coming out of the kitchen. Everything was delicious. None of it looked exactly like the food from our local takeout place back home, but all of it tasted way better. Clearly this place is more authentic than we are used to. Our biggest problem was that we could not finish everything and we did not have a refrigerator in our hotel room to take it back with us. My advice if you are just visiting, order less than you think you need and order more if you are still hungry. The portions are really large. The best part of this dinner was the price. We got 8 entrees, an appetizer, hot tea and 3 soft drinks for less than $70. We spent that on breakfast for 3 and the food and service weren’t half as good. Prices for meals can be outrageous in San Fran, but this place was a bargain. Great food and great service at a great price.

were looking for a normal very Cantonese style restaurant and whilst walking in Chinatown saw this restaurant was full and went in which is at basement level, very very Cantonese with all the noisy and ambience we ordered some wonton soup , seafood noddles. huge serves, and very quick. if you took me in blindedfolded I would have said it could be anywhere in Hong Kong or Guanghzou in China. the food was tasty and nice. the only time when we realised we were in the US when the waiter "politely"reminded my wife who is Chinese that a tip has to be paid.

Stumbled in this place while doing the tourist thing around Chinatown. Saw this had good reviews and gave it a try. Excellent food at reasonable prices. Mostly filled with locals which is always a good sign. I highly recommend.

This is a downstairs restaurant that has been there for over 60 years with a 2-year closure but still the same people running it they have very good food for a reasonable price it is not fancy by any means but if you are hungry you will not be disappointed I have been eating there for 60 years and every time we go to San Francisco we try and go there as much as possible

While touring SF, my wife, son and I stopped in for lunch. We all enjoyed our food very much and I appreciated the service and value this restaurant and staff provided. We enjoyed the authentic atmosphere and comfortable, simple lunch venue. The restaurant is just a short walk downhill and over from Lombard (which we walked downhill - just for the fun of it after debarking from the Powell-Hyde line at Lombard...) The lunch was a refreshing break after the walking. Highly recommended!

We love Chinese food and went to this place based on recommendation from the local (great guy from Apple store but it is different story). So the place looks very authentic - we saw it in a different countries. Be prepared to sit under simple table with a simple dashed atmosphere around you. The majority of guests were chinese but there were some tourists. There is great variety of food. Simple and well cooked. The service was disappointing. The price of beer was not mentioned in the menu. The cheque came all in Chinese with no breakdown and just the total. When we requested the breakdown the beer (Tsing Tao) came at the price of around 8$ per bottle. That was a bit surprising. We wanted to pay with credit card but were politely asked to pay cash. When we insisted the new cheque came and it is appeared that 15% has been already included and card was already swiped. Subsequently the price of the beer magically decreased. Standard trick to rip off tourists. Watch out. The approach is disappointing but the food was good.

Our son found this place a couple of years ago when he was on a mission trip and has been raving about it ever since, so we knew we had to go while we were in San Fran. Parking is completely inconvenient, so scope out a big lot ahead of time and prepare to walk a few blocks to the restaurant. I think we would have liked it more if we had chosen different dishes. The food on the tables around us looked fantastic. Ours was very good, but I'd opt for other things if I went again. The prices were great. This is a very authentic Chinese place, so don't go there unless you're willing to feel a little out of place (assuming you are NOT Chinese). A couple of tips: 1) Tall men will have difficulty fitting into the restroom and 2) Know that they add the tip into your bill (which is written in Chinese). I'd go again.

We come here for great 'wok hay' cantonese cooking. The dishes are plentiful and very reasonably priced. Don't judge the decor. This is the definition of 'hole in the wall' but food is so yummy. We always make sure we come here whenever we come to SF.

When I come to SF Chinatown this is my go-to for authentic Cantonese Chinese food. Large portions and great prices. Their fried noodles and fried rice dishes are great value and tasty. You know it’s good when the locals come here.

I was visiting China Town and randomly picked this restaurant. The waitress was abrupt and somewhat rude. She pretty much ignored us after we ordered. We did not get the soup that was supposed to come with our meal. I requested it and was told the soup was "gone." It was "too late." Our meals were excellent! It was, perhaps, the tastiest Chinese food I've ever had. But, then they served some Asians the soup. I pointed that out, but they did not adequately explain why they got soup and we didn't. I still give this place 4 stars. The portions were large and yummy. Who really cares about the service? Perhaps it even added to the authenticity of the place. And I would definitely return the next time I'm in the area.

We first went to this restaurant 47 years ago and have been there a few times over the years since. It is still good with tasty well cooked food and good sized portions. Chinese people serving are pleasant and friendly and nice pot of Chinese tea makes a good drink. The prices are reasonable and food was freshly cooked. Looking forward to another visit sometime.

This is one of those underground, hole in the wall kind of restaurant in Chinatown. But don't let that fool you. This place has some very good authentic, almost home-cooked like Chinese food. I like this place for the fish filet or frog (it does taste like chicken!) and bok choy rice plates for lunch. They have a very good (and reasonably priced) whole fried flounder and salty spicy peppery prawns (they give you lots for the price). I give this place 4 starts instead of 5 solely because of the place itself. If it was solely for the food, I'd give it 4.5 - 5 stars. You'll have to get over the whole in the wall, basement type of place. I would highly recommend you check it out!

Restaurant doesn't look good from outside, but I had shrimps Kung bao which were the best Chinese food I ever had. Fresh shrimps, fresh vegetables and fresh rice. Food was ready within 10 minutes, despite the fact that it was packed with people. I was skeptical, but if you in china town, this is the place to go to eat.

Randomly chose this place for lunch and it did not disappoint! Don't let the basement location and humble decor sway you. My husband and I each got the meal for one and the food is great; I ate my food so fast there wasn't time for picture. 😂 The service is good as well. I don't think anyone speaks very good english but we were still able to laugh.

It's always fun and an adventure trying hole-in-the-wall places. This one turned out to be a good choice. It was inexpensive and tasty. Service was efficient. The flavors were excellent. I had almond chicken, which looked like the cashew chicken picture that someone else posted. Also had the tender greens with beef. It is baby bok choy with slices of beef. The flavors of the sauce on both dishes were simple and allowed the vegetables and meat to be the star. I was also happy that the entrees were not overly salted. I would return to this restaurant again when visiting San Francisco.

I took my seven-year-old daughter there, who has been studying chinese language for four years. We were the only non-Chinese there, and it was filled to capacity with families who were obviously having a wonderful time. The ambience is nothing to write home about -- we sat at the linoleum counter -- but the place is 100% authentic. The good was fresh and delicious and generously portioned. The service is a little haphazard -- you have to ask for what you want, and if you can't ask in Chinese, then be prepared to do a little sign language! So, be warned: this is no white-linen-napkin kind of place! But the food is good and people are friendly. If you bring your sense of adventure you won't be disappointed.

We thought this place was great. San Fran is quite expensive and this little find was just what we wanted. Value for money, generous portions, great tasting Chinese food. We walked in a little unsure but the place was busy, lots of Chinese families dining out (I thought that was a good sign) we were seated at the bar. Service was no nonsense and quick. The menu is huge, we couldn't decide so went for the set menu for two. It was delicious, soup lovely, all the dishes were great. I definitely return to this place.

Authentic, you will enjoy authentic food if you do not impress yourself by the aesthetics of the facade.

This restaurant was recommended to me by a veteran who used to frequent this restaurant for lunchwhen he was working. It was good then and is still good now! We ordered salt and pepper pork chops, tomato beef Hong Kong style crispy noodles, and fillet rock cod with tofu with rice. The server gave us the house suit soup and the house sweet tapioca dessert. The portions were generous! The prices were reasonable. We will definitely return and try other dishes that we saw other customers eating. We even took home. leftovers. For some reason, I cannot access the photos I took so you could see how delicious the food looked and tasted!

Pure simple luck had us find this place. Down the stairs to the best, and I mean the best Chinese I have had. I walked around the tables with the waiter and selected what the mostly Chinese patrons were having. Man o man what a meal. Try weird stuff its great. A must try while in S.F.

The restaurant is simple and has good chinese food. Haven't been to SF Chinatown in a few years and was looking for somewhere to eat now that Sam Woo's is closed. We came on a Saturday night and the place quickly filled up with local Chinese families with several generations enjoying a meal together. Very few people in the restaurant were speaking in English. We ordered a family style meal for three. This is a good value and probably more food than you can eat. The food here is fresh, tasty and met my expectations.This restaurant accepts credit cards (which is a plus in Chinatown). Enjoy!

We came across this pace by accident on a cold Wednesday night. By 7pm the place was full of mainly Asian diners. I thought this was a good sign, and I was right. The food was fantastic. Vegetables crisp, not oily and very fresh, meat cooked to perfection. The chicken and sweet corn soup (we were staying safe in our choice at the start) was amazing, real chicken, real sweet corn and perfect broth. This restaurant is run by Chinese, some of the attendants spoke broken English. Service was a bit rough an ready which gave the place quite a character ! However everyone was very polite and timely. So good, we are plNning to go again before we leave San Fransisco.

When I lived in San Francisco in the 1970s, the Woey Loy Goey was my second favorite Chinese restaurant. My first favorite, the Universal Cafe, closed years ago, but the Woey Loy Goey is still there and still good. I was delighted to find it with the same huge menu and the same lack of style. Love it! I had the shrimp with lobster sauce and my partner had a whole flounder. Tasty and inexpensive. That's why it's been around all this time!

I did some research and decided for tourists on vacation this would be our lunch. We had six in family. Had chicken, beef and seafood dishes. All great. Comes with soup which was outstanding. Lots of locals so that clued us in. We were seated at a table with a couple who had been eating here for 50 years. Great conversation. Nothing fancy, just great food in cool setting.

We asked where to find the most authentic Chinese food in Chinatown. A wise person said, "Go where you see mostly Chinese people eating." This is it! So, so good and so, so much. We ate the dinner for six and the food just kept coming. I've never eaten better Chinese. The restaurant itself isn't much, look for the down staircase. It's below street level.

We ordered our dinner online and paid for it online. When we came in to pick up our order the staff was literally asleep - one guy was sleeping at the bar and another was asleep at a table. The woman who came out to help us spoke little to no English and tried very hard to get me to pay for the meal a second time although I insisted that I had already paid in full online. I refused to pay a second time and she finally gave us our food. Sadly, when we brought the food back to our hotel and sat down to eat it the food was actually rather tasteless. Very disappointing meal.

Not for the faint of heart. This menu serves the tourists and the community. So don't get ethno-phobic. Walk down those stairs and have a great meal. The food is solid (minus egg rolls). It's a nice change because you will see a nice mix a tourist and locals. And if the locals eat here you know they've got the goods. And they do.

We walked around a few restaurants initially, recognised this from a review on trip advisor and decided to try based on mix of locals and tourists, along with reasonable priced menu visible at the entrance. We had a good meal, friendly staff and overall food for 4, with drinks came to just under $60. We had two starters, two mains and a rice dice which was ample for a family of 4. Mains and starters did all arrive together, but all piping hot. Would recommend and come back again.

This isn't a fancy restaurant...nor is it Asian Fusion, or Chinese gourmet....What it is is a home style, down to earth Cantonese restaurant that offers food that Chinese families really eat. Try it!

Years ago we discovered this Chinese restaurant on a visit to San Francisco. We had been feted and treated to all sorts of Chinese restaurants but none of them felt authentic. So one night we decided we had to find the real deal. And this is it. It's at 699 Jackson, down some rather steep and unprepossessing steps. On our first visit (about 20 years ago) we walked in and it was packed, and everyone was Chinese. The menus were only in Chinese. The specials written on the walls were only in Chinese. When we were seated it was near the bathrooms - and when the waiter finally came over to take our order we had no idea what to do. He spoke no english and we had no idea what was available. And then along came the owner. And from that moment on there has never been a Chinese restaurant to equal the many, many experiences we've had there! She took us in hand. She promised to bring things we'd like and keep the cost down - and the variety was staggering, the food delicious, fragrant and colorful. It was fabulous. We went back again and again over the years, and then one visit - it was gone. Dark and closed. And again a year later. Reluctantly we figured it was over. Until thanks to Trip Advisor I found it was still in business. There had been a fire and it took nearly 2 years to renovate. And now - better than ever - there it is. Still at 699 Jackson. Still down steep, daunting steps. And as for the bathrooms - well let's just say the restaurant was renovated but the bathrooms are still - a challenge. And the food? It's divine. On our last visit the snow pea leaves were perfectly cooked with huge chunks of garlic. The eggplant claypot with onions was spicy but not overpoweringly so. The salt and pepper beef was tender and fabulous. Thank you New Woey Loy Goey for marvelous memories and the ones we haven't made yet. We're THRILLED you are still in business (although next time there's some spare cash -- we suggest you renovate the bathrooms!!) and we'll be back. Again, and again, and again..... you get the idea!!

Ordered the wrong thing. The price was right but not the food. I’ve had Peking pork chops which were good, and the customer on my right ordered bitter melon with beef which looked good. The customers on my right had eggplant with tofu which looked delicious. I ordered the oxtail stew with rice which was below par and wasn’t fresh and tender. You have to know what’s good by word of mouth. I was served a huge bowl of house soup which was better than the dinner. I was very disappointed this time.

I have been coming here since I was born. My father would come here for lunch as he worked in SF but would bring us to Chinatown and here when relatives came to town. Now I take my family. So authentic with great rice, noodles, egg rolls to delicacies like jellyfish. Always packed at lunch for a good reason. Service is efficient but not overly friendly but that's ok with me, great food and clean white tablecloths are always consistent. There are so many people trying to lure you into restaurants in Chinatown, skip them and head straight here.

A literal hole-in-the-wall, this family run restaurant made for a great and affordable dinner in Chinatown. Food was filling, well prepared, and delicious. The lunch plates (available throughout the day) boast a filling portion of entree and a large side of rice, and all of them hover around 12 dollars (including a drink).

Doesnt look much from the outside bbut it's authentically Chinese with mostly Chinese customers...Staff were charming...great value, food was freshly cooked, no MSGs so we slept well.

We found this restaurant after walking one end of Grant Ave to another. Most of the restaurants were "touristy." This one is just off Grant and you go down some steps to get to it. We immediately noticed most diners were Chinese families and couples. The food was authentic, tasty and cheap. The tea was excellent, they packed our rice bowls (free), the vegetables were fresh and the proteins well seasoned. There is no ambiance which is why I gave them a 4/5 stars.

Stopped into this place only because the other Chinese restaurant we were looking for was closed. Well I am glad we did. We stumbled onto a gem in Chinatown. We had 8 people in our group and were seated immediately. We all had the family special. Tons of food was then cast upon our table. Soups, appetizers, 5 different entrees, tea. Way more than all 8 of us could eat. Service was very good as well. They were constantly waiting on us. Do yourself a favor and stumble into the New Woey Loy Goey.

So after getting recommendations I planned to go to ZandY. When I got there I saw it was full with tourists. Which probably means it is good but I was looking for somewhere the "locals" eat. Looking around in restaurants this place was full with chinese and without any tourists so it seemed like the right place for me. The food was very good. The wonton soup was tasty and could be a whole meal for someone less hungry. I had the roast duck for main course which was a large portion, tender and juicy. I enjoyed the meal very much. The staff was efficient and quick with the order. As an extra bonus of athmosphere it was around Chinese new year and the tv was showing the celebrations from china.

Trust your intuition and do not enter: Really unhygenic eating area, unfriendly and NO WORD ENGLISH speaking staff, bad service and the best: force you to give a minimum gratuity of 18%…the Processing Are probably cheap for SF area, but every cent is too much for this disgusting restaurant. NEVER EVER AGAIN!

Ate in February 2018 with three of my teaching colleagues. It was the day after the Lunar New Year and wow what an experience. It was like stepping back into time and I honestly enjoyed sitting next to the fish tank and watching the crab swim around. I had an almond chicken dish with Chinese vegetables. Food was excellent service just fine. Also entertained by the loud and numerous fireworks going off just outside the door. If you want to experience some authentic culture in Chinatown this is a nice little spot.

This may be hard to find, (steps lead below street level) but the food is worth it. China Town authentic cuisine (garlic frog, octopus, pork tongue) as well as known Chinese favorites and fish. Tea is sweet, so if you like it unsweetened, order something else (perhaps an imported beer).

This is a typical authentic Chinese restaurant. Really tasty food, if a bit scruffy. Not Michelin star style cooking just good honest Chinese food & great value; took me back to when I was a kid in Hong Kong. Waitress was v efficient if a little short on words. Everything came piping hot in huge portions. Would definitely go back there again and would highly recommend the food.

Most of what we ordered was ok. Only the salt pork ribs were fried flavourless. Shrimps in lobster sauce was good. Mongolian beef was also good. Everything else I could get the same in s food court. The waitress understood very little English so I changed some of my order so she could understand. If I lived in this city I would not return. If this is a 4 star Chinese restaurant in San Francisco I will probably go for other food for the rest of the trip.

My dad is really particular when it comes to Cantonese food and Chinese restaurants in general. We ended up having dinner here almost every night of our San Francisco trip. Just a basic restaurant with traditional well cooked Cantonese food that caters to the general public. No fusion (as already said in another review), no fancy decor or other weird enhancements to attract clientele. The food speaks for itself and prices are reasonable compared to similar restaurants in Chinatown. Not a high-end Michelin star restaurant but it's a place you can take your family (kids are welcome), friends, date, etc. for some good food in a casual setting. Lots of locals; one table was celebrating Grandpa's birthday...multi-generation appeal!

Chinese restaurant with a taste of authentic China

I come here every time I am in San Francisco (I stay nearby), and get Vegetable or Chicken Fried Rice. It is SO GOOD, and there is SO MUCH OF IT, and there are SO MANY VEGETABLES IN IT, and they speak only a little English, but they I speak NO Chinese, and they are SO FRIENDLY that it just does not matter. Go here. It is really good, and homesy and I am STILL eating it in my hotel room while I type this....

DO GO THERE !!!!! I never write bad reviews but you need to know what happen there . The waitress eat in same time as us just the table behind . And we ask for the check , they start to speak bad and racist if you don’t leave 20%.

My husband and I were in China town and figured we should have some lunch. How do you pick when there is a restaurant every two steps? Well, our thought was to look for something a little less glitzy and touristy, where the food would be authentic. We were not disappointed. As we walked down the stairs, I was pretty much ready to walk right back up and find a new restaurant. It's not the nicest looking restaurant and I'm a bit of a germaphobe when it comes to food and ....clean utensils and chairs etc. We went in and right away we were shown a table and brought a bowl of soup, on the house. We then ordered (too much food!), the roast duck (which my husband thinks is the best he's ever had- it was pretty good), the chow fun and the lamb clay pot. Everything was delicious...and really cheap (about $25 for everything)! I was still a bit uneasy about the overall appearance of the restaurant,but I must say all the dishes were clean, the floor was clean, the table was clean, the service was great, the staff were friendly and welcoming, the food was delicious and I didn't get food poisoning...at the end of the day what else can you really ask for.

Don't get turned off by the decor or rundown appearance. This Cantonese restaurant is a favorite of locals and cab drivers for flavorful and reasonably priced large portions. I love the Noodle dishes, egg rolls, and chicken dishes. Excellent seafood items. Give it a try.

Wonderful dinner! Guys, how serious food! I ate super well for a fair price. The service leaves to be desired, but the food was flawless.

Delicious food. Order the family dinner for... ( we did five). You will get tons of food, something for all tastes. Very well prepared. Ambiance isn't flashy but who cares?

Dined here with spouse and shared Mongolian beef and potstickers. Ate at the counter. Service was good, food was tasty. An authentic old Chinatown vibe. Not a hipster hangout. Would go back.

Went there about a week ago. Though it is on the strip of restaurants it can be easily missed. You proceed down a flight of stairs. No real big signs outside the establishment. I find some of these chinese restaurants can be somewhat snobby if you are not of chinese descent. Not so here. We were immediately greeted shown to our table and had menus with the hot tea within moments. Too bad I cannot say the same with other chinese places. Me and my spouse ordered Chicken Curry and Mongolian Beef. The plates arrived within 10 minutes of ordering. They are not skimpy with the food. Lots and lots of it. I also ordered a couple of vegtable egg-rolls and they were cruncy and moist. The other think that came to my table was "House Soup" Not sure what was in it but it did not taste that great. The carrots were somewhat raw and the broth tasted like river waste. Anyway aside from that the rest of the food was great. Do not forget to ask for your fortune cookiies. Waiters were friendly and did speak some english. Yes the decor can be updated. If I have a choice between good food or good decor, I rather take the food. If and when I return to SFO I would definitly visit this place again.

My daughter and I ventured into this little basement restaurant after speaking with a lady at one of the local tea shops. The restaurant was clean, service was fast, and food was great. We ordered the braised black cod dish and the mixed vegetables. Everything tasted really fresh and delicious. I wouldn't say the service was exceptionally friendly but not a big deal. Glad we went!

Was a luncheon guest at New Woey Loy Goey hosted by a Chinese friend. This restaurant has been a family favorite because of the well prepared and authentic Chinese menu offerings. One will find more than the usual Americanized food on menus in most Chinese restaurants. Our party of thirteen people was treated to platters of food that I had certainly not seen before, or at least prepared as they are at Woey Loy Goey. One after one a beautifully arranged platter of eye appealing fare kept replacing almost bare platters from the table. What a wonderful culinary experience it was. We were served Salt and Pepper Calamari with dipping sauces, Jellyfish with Chinese sliced meat cold cuts (DELICIOUS...with the taste of crunchy cole slaw) ,Steamed Whole Fish..(Simple and wonderfully fresh), Seafood soup, Shrimp and Scallops with Snowpeas, Peking Duck..(the best I've eaten), Stuffed whole Chicken with Sticky Rice..(Wonderful!), Lobster, a Medley of Mushrooms and Chinese Greens...(most unfamiliar to me, but delicious), Pork cutlets with a sweet vinegar sauce....WOW! This small restaurant located located a few steps below street level is crowed with tables and frequented mostly by locals and "those in the know". Not fancy at all, but one can imagine this place being here for many years. Wonderful friendly and polite service. My only complaint is that the restrooms are third world, tiny, cluttered, messy and uncomfortable; best attitude is to "get over it" and go with the flow. So if you are adventurous and enjoy a different Chinese eating experience than you would find at your local neighborhood Chinese restaurant, then Hoey Loy Goes is a great choice.

We stumbled on this restaurant by accident. We were shopping closeby and I noticed these steps going down to this restaurant. We were curious and wanted to only check out the menu and found ourselves ordering. There were a lot of Chinese people eating and I remembered a friend of ours saying that a good chinese restaurant can be roughly gauged on how good it is by the number of chinese customers are actually eating there.

Bottom line: This restaurant served us the best Chinese meal we have ever eaten. While in Chinatown, I referred to Trip Advisor for a good review and happened on this restaurant. Basically I understood that the food was great and pay no attention to the entryway as it looks to be needing a bit of work. They were 100% correct. Great food and great service. We ordered the Szechuna Family Dinner which included Hot & Sour Soup, Fried Wonton, Pot Stickers, Mongolian Beef, Cashew Nut Chicken, Tunglok Special Fried Rice, Cookie & Tea. Everything was excellent. We also tried a Chinese Beer which was very good. No complaints at all and I highly recommend trying this meal.

Great food. Definitely where the locals eat. Large portions, good prices. Would eat here again for sure.

We where walking aimlessly around Chinatown looking for somewhere to eat lunch when we found this place by chance. (We only saw the TripAdvisor sticker when we were eating.) We decided to eat here since this looks most decent--and English-speaking-friendly--among other eateries we peeked in. The place is interesting being in underground but is definitely clean. The food is very delicious and it makes me miss home. Flavorful, savory and filling. Will definitely go back here next time!

Walked past this place while wandering around Chinatown. Checked TripAdvisor reviews and decided to try it out. Was there about 3pm on a weekday, very quiet which was nice for us. Wide selection of dishes catering for both single diners and larger groups. Old style decor and seating, nothing fancy. My husband and I chose 2 main dishes with rice. The corn fed chicken tasted good with chopped ginger and spring onion dip. The seafood tofu hotpot had lots of prawns, squid and small scallops.  Complimentary Chinese soup and Chinese tea provided. Good portions, we were very full. Would recommend if you're looking for  traditional Chinese food in Chinatown at very reasonable prices (bill came to $25.50 excluding tip).