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

The Empress by Boon

4.5
4.5
1358 Reviews
$50 and over
Chinese

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 20 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Fancy
  • Romantic
Empress by Boon is San Francisco’s newest, must-visit epicurean destination, offering a seasonal menu in modern Cantonese gastronomy. Michelin-starred Chef Ho Chee Boon applies traditional techniques to fresh, local ingredients to produce distinctive contemporary dishes infused with Cantonese flavors.

The spacious restaurant occupies the former location of Chinatown’s celebrated Empress of China with striking city views. Reimagined by Chef Boon and team, the Empress was brought back to its former glory by embracing modern design elements while incorporating restored original features, creating a welcoming atmosphere that pays homage to the history of the beloved location.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Chinese
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (415) 757-0728
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Ho Chee Boon
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Area
    Chinatown
  • Cross Street
    Clay Street
  • Parking details
    Public Parking available at Portsmouth Square Plaza Garage. Entrance at 733 Kearny Street.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Empress by Boon Prix Fixe Menu

    US$118.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    We offer a prix fixe menu that showcases Chef Boon's focus on using only the freshest ingredients available, while offering unique taste combinations not seen in other Cantonese cooking. Our offerings change often to allow for a truly seasonal menu to be executed.
  • Lunar New Year Celebration

    US$168.00 per person

    28 Jan 2025 - 2 Feb 2025
    Chef Boon is excited to create a celebratory menu to ring in the Year of the Snake! His international culinary expertise transforms any menu into a true epicurean experience. Chef Ho's traditional techniques combine fresh ingredients from local purveyors to produce dishes that are not only contemporary but have the essence of traditional Cantonese cuisine.
  • Lunar New Year Celebration

    US$168.00 per person

    28 Jan 2025 - 2 Feb 2025
    Chef Boon is excited to create a celebratory menu to ring in the Year of the Snake! His international culinary expertise transforms any menu into a true epicurean experience. Chef Ho's traditional techniques combine fresh ingredients from local purveyors to produce dishes that are not only contemporary but have the essence of traditional Cantonese cuisine.

What 1,358 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • San Francisco Bay Area

    Chinese

  • San Francisco

    Romantic

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Empress by Boon offers a "stunning food" experience with exceptional service and breathtaking views of San Francisco. Diners rave about the "attentively crafted" dishes, especially the tasting menu, which is both inventive and satisfying. While the ambiance is lively and the decor beautiful, some diners find it a bit noisy. Overall, it's a "hidden gem" perfect for special occasions.

1,358 Reviews
  1. Jen

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Very delicious food in a gorgeous setting. The views of San Francisco are stunning from the 6th floor.

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  2. Mike

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Kinda too expensive for the food and portion is really small

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  3. Grace

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I've been looking forward to "coming back" since I heard about Empress by Boon! I grew up going to the Empress of China for countless weddings, red egg & ginger parties, birthday parties, fundraisers, etc. I even shook Mrs. Barbara Bush's hand in front of the restaurant as she got out of her vehicle to attend a Republican event. So many precious memories at this land mark. It's so exciting to see how Empress by Boon has transformed it into its own special modern style while preserving some of the images of the past. It's beautiful; helps us natives to appreciate what we have in the City. The food portions are just right, & the tastes are so unique & fulfilling! This gives me a good excuse to treat my loved one down a trip on memory lane in addition to sharing a new experience! Thank you for re-creating this special place for all of us to enjoy!

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  4. V

    San Francisco

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 November 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    I’ve been to Empress by Boon many times, but this visit might be my last. We went as a party of five, and the food was incredibly salty—almost inedible. We didn’t feel well after eating. The service was okay, but there was a loud, screaming group next to us. We paid almost $1K for five people, and it was the worst Chinese food I’ve ever had.

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  5. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A very different experience from the usual steak and seafood restaurants. The view and ambiance has a classy and fun feel. The food is very tasty and not overly rich. Highly recommended.

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  6. Tim

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 15 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My family and I were celebrating a special occasion, a family reunion of sorts. The atmosphere of the surprising restaurant was stunning. The delicious plates of food that came out one after the other were delicious. The cocktails were works of art! Have I mentioned a great view of Coit Tower.abd Telegraph Hill? All in all it was a very special night in a delightful environment It's super tasty food! highly recommend

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 14 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Party of three - family from out of town. We walked over from the hotel so no comment on parking. Wonderful service fabulous food. We ate early and it was reasonably quiet for most of the meal but then the restaurant filled in and got a bit louder but not any worse than any other place. Prix fixed meal - balance of flavors and textures artfully crafted - I would dine here again in a heart beat. A wonderful and innovative meal!

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  8. DJ

    Chicago

    55 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    55 reviews

    Dined on 2 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such a great experience in San Francisco! Intimate bar and 'tea room' for cocktails, and the views from the dining area are simply spectacular. Innovative cuisine and a beautiful wine pairing. The Sweet and Spicy Lobster and the Scallion noodles were standouts, but honestly everything was excellent!

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  9. Vinson

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 26 October 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Food: Above average for Chinese in Chinatown. Nothing really fancy. Peking duck doesn't come with bread. Lol Ambiance: place is very dark, but music is kinda loud, but it's supposed to be a high end restaurant. Service: they charge a 22% service fee, but service is pretty bad, servers aren't very professional, they clean out our utensils before all the food is done. Overall: Average Chinese restaurant posing as a high end place, keeps it dark and loud so you don't see their flaws. Has nice view of the city. But you could get that for free around the city hahaha.

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 26 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The pre fixe menu was delicious! Lovely service and views. Will definitely be back

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Empress by Boon is rated 4.5 stars by 1358 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 20 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Empress by Boon

838 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108-1738

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Cross Street
    Clay Street
  • Area
    Chinatown
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Chinese
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Parking available at Portsmouth Square Plaza Garage. Entrance at 733 Kearny Street.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Ho Chee Boon
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
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  • Cookie Preferences
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