House of Nanking

Pros: Great place for people who don't care about cleanliness in the kitchen
Cons: Too many to name

It is a genuine mystery to me why people consider this an authentic Chinese experience. The food at House of Nanking (I won't even get into the atmosphere) is an insult all things Chinese.

What you can expect if you eat there: chicken, pork,...

Pros: amazing Dive decor, great food, fun line, great prices
Cons: the line, warm soda

I turned around to face the newcomers in line behind me..."excuse me?"

There were three of them, they said they were from Ohio. They had just joined the line for House of Nanking.

They asked me if I had been there...

Pros: Pushy service (yes, this is a pro, IMO), great food, ok prices, great fun watching new people try to actually order something off the menu.
Cons: Small and cramped, sometimes long waits

Here is how you do it: Go there at a somewhat off-peak hour with at least 3 other people, sit down, don't look at the menu at all, let the owner tell you what to eat while offering only suggestions as to what you want to eat (something with chicken, all...

Pros: Food! (Did I say food?)
Cons: Dirtiness, long lines

Taking a first glance at this restaurant, it looks dirty and crowded. And it is both. But the food is so good! I am from Boston and every time I go to San Francisco, I always have to go here! I have been to a ton of Chinese restaurants but none of...

Pros: cheap prices, fast service, original entrees, delicious!
Cons: crowded, and you might now always get JUST what you ordered...

When I ate at this restaurant last year, I didn't know it was a super-popular San Francisco establishment. Friends had just told me it was excellent - and cheap.

I walked from Third and Market to get here, so I had high expectations after...

Pros: The food, the atmosphere, the owner - all fun
Cons: Very cramped inside - go early to avoid lines

The House of Nanking was probably one of the most bizarre food experiences I have had or probably will ever have. We were recommended this Chinese cuisine restaurant after taking a city tour. My husband and I love Chinese food and were looking for a good ...

Pros: It is better than most tourist traps.
Cons: Ambience of an armpit.

Sometimes the ends don't justify the means. This is evident at House of Nanking. On the positive, it does offer quick if abrupt service and the food arrives hot to your seat. The menu offers what can be called chinese diner food, and yes, I do find it...

Pros: Incredibly tasty food
Cons: Sometimes just ok.

Ok, it's cramped and dirty. Ten inches divide your table from the one next to you; so think of it as an opportunity to ask your neighbors what they're having.

The food here can be amazing. It can also be just ok. We had the squids one day and...