Agree with a lot of the other reviews on here, pretty mid food overall, some hits some misses. Escargot was one of the best dishes we tried. I grew on hk food and want to see this place do well but was unfortunately underwhelmed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: XO Escargot and Milk Bread
Ashley Huang
Reservations are really hard to get, ended up going at Monday 10pm for a party of 3. It was definitely good, but maybe a bit over hyped. Portions were small but flavor was good. Black pepper steak was delicious, but the drinks were what really stood out. We got the Osthmanthus Lemon and the Chinese Almond Milk high balls and they were some of the best cocktails I've ever tried. Good service and really nice vibe. 4 stars for the difficulty getting in and value.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: HK Black Pepper Steak, Three Colored Steamed Egg, Cucumber Salad, Salted Egg Squash Croquette
Beatrice Li
Overall, overhyped and not worth the trouble.
Reservations go fast, so having premium access through Visa Signature on Open Table can help, or you need to be quick as soon as slots open up. Some people did manage to get seated as walk-ins. After seeing all the videos, I was excited to try this place. We ordered the poached chicken, XO escargot, clay pot rice, and the squab.
The experience didn’t quite match my expectations. I felt I could’ve had a better meal at a more affordable hole-in-the-wall spot. The Cantonese poached chicken, a dish I grew up with, looked interesting in presentation but lacked the flavor of the original. The XO escargot was also a bit bland. The clay pot rice was okay, but the Chinese bacon in it tasted tangy? which made me wonder if it was cured fully? Just different than the flavor I was used to. The squab was the standout dish, well-cooked and seasoned, but you could easily get a similar-tasting roasted duck with more meat for less money. Overall, it was a nostalgic experience, but I’m not convinced it was worth the hassle.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fried Squab
nabska
We got here at 5:10pm for a walk-in. Thankfully we were the third group in line so were among the first to get seated at 6pm. It’s a casual atmosphere with some really tasty eats. The fish fragrant eggplant and the clay pot fried rice with Chinese sausage and bacon wee the favorites. XO escargot with milk bread is definitely something to try if you’ve never tried snail. It tasted like seafood and it was well spiced. The milk bread was good but not the best we’ve ever had. The lamb skewers were generously portioned despite the 1 skewers order size. The popcorn chicken was moist and flavorful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: HK Black Pepper Steak, Snails, Claypot Rice with Chinese Sausage and Bacon, XO Escargot and Milk Bread, Sorbet, Popcorn Chicken
Julian Mehnle
Great food, though small portions. The atmosphere is good, but incredibly loud. I had to put in earplugs, or my head would've started spinning. They should invest in some noise absorbing decoration.
Vegetarian options: Very few vegetarian options. Two out of four "vegetable" dishes contain meat or fish sauce.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Claypot Rice with Chinese Sausage and Bacon, Sorbet, Garlic Green Beans
Abigail Wong
I think the main hiccup is that it’s labeled as Cantonese food, but it really wasn’t. Some things SOUNDED Cantonese, but then it came out with a bunch of chili oil and pepper flakes. Let’s call it Chinese fusion.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Cucumber Salad
Jennifer Tsang
I personally think this place is overhyped and overpriced. If you want authentic Cantonese dishes, this is not really the place and you’re better off going to Chinatown since it’s more affordable. Most of the dishes here are nicely plated, elevated, and the restaurant is nicely decorated with all the classic Cantonese artists and music in the background.
I would still recommend trying this place once.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Snails, Claypot Rice with Chinese Sausage and Bacon, Cucumber Salad, Salted Egg Squash Croquette, XO Escargot and Milk Bread, Roasted Peanuts, Tofu Dessert, Fried Squab
Leo
TLDR: Average food, overpriced, and not worth the hype. Coming from a Hong Kong native.
I visited this restaurant on a Sunday evening with reservations, drawn in by its reputation and popularity. The ambiance was pleasant, and the environment had a lively, bustling energy, which set the stage for what I hoped would be an exceptional dining experience.
I ordered some of the restaurant’s most highly recommended dishes, including the squab, croquette, and pea shoots. Unfortunately, none of these dishes lived up to their hype. While the presentation was good, the flavors were underwhelming, and the quality simply didn’t justify the steep prices. For what you’re paying, you’d expect a culinary experience that stands out, but sadly, it all tasted rather ordinary.
On a positive note, the service was attentive and efficient, and the staff were accommodating throughout the meal. Despite the great service, I wouldn’t return. There are far better options in the city offering much more for your money, especially if you’re here for a truly memorable dining experience.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
D. K.
Food is interesting and okay. Lots of hit or miss.
Overpriced...but they were nice and friendly and gave us a free dessert.
Liked: Clay pot fried rice, ma po spaghetti, fish fragrant eggplant
Wouldn't get again: jelly fish, fried squab, escargot
Would have given 4 stars if it weren't for the price.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Claypot Rice with Chinese Sausage and Bacon
My American-born kids love this place—perhaps because the fusion style reflects how I adapted my traditional Chinese cooking using ingredients available in the U.S. in a rush for hungry kids. However, I find many dishes a bit too salty and overly spicy, with some flavor combinations that don’t quite work for me (like eggplant with dried bonito—it's creative, but not necessarily delicious). That said, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere of the small shop is relaxed and welcoming. Still, there are definitely better dining options in San Francisco. I will not recommend this to my friends.
PS. We also tried all three deserts, nah. Only the red bean shed ice is ok.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Daphne van der Werf
Very tasty food here. The two of us took four dishes. Rice in a clay pot with sausage and bacon was especially delicious. Most dishes are very spicy
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yara C
Was here late March 2024 during one of the weekends - didn't manage to make a reservation but made it second in line for walk in. Despite that, we (group of 4) waited for at least 2.5 hrs before getting seated.
I admit that I was quite skeptical and was ready to be disappointed given the long waiting time. I was pleasantly surprised with the flavor and balance of the dishes, the attentiveness of the servers as well as the kitchen staff.
That aside, I also appreciate the deco revolving around the top 4 cantopop stars in the 1990s (which I believe inspired the restaurant name Four Kings) - that brought a sense of nostalgia and memories of watching TVB.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alex
I came by on 9/27 for a dinner reservation at 8PM.
The restaurant is located off a small side street, next door to a Kumon learning center.
Inside, the decor of the restaurant had a very sushi bar/izakaya vibe, with hanging lights, a bar seating along their open kitchen, as well as a light wood theme. Posters of Chinese movies, artists and other memorabilia decorated the walls, and lended to a very comfortable and cozy dining room. However, due to the warm day and the open kitchen, the dining room was quite warm, not quite uncomfortably so, but definitely not cool, with not a lot of airflow
Between two people, we were recommended to order between 4-6 dishes. We decided to go a little light and ordered two sets of skewers from their specials for the day (1 order of squab skin, and 1 of squab liver - 2 skewers an order). We followed up with an order of their salted egg croquettes, the fried squab, and the fish fragrant eggplant, which came highly recommend.
We were provided a small dish of salted roasted peanuts and one of vinegared cucumbers as a small appetizer while we waited for our order.
The skewers came first - the squab skin was flavorful, fatty, and lightly crispy, covered in a sweet glaze and paired with some powdered Szechuan peppercorn for a slightly spicy and numbing note. The squab liver also came with a similar glaze - the outside of the liver was grilled well, and the interior was creamy and not overpoweringly organy, as liver sometimes can be.
The croquettes came next, and were lightly fried, not oily, and covered in what tasted like salted egg shavings (though it wasn't very prominent). The croquettes were filled with a squash cream, which was both a little savory and sweet.
The eggplant and squab came next, and they were by far the stars. The eggplant was braised, and came in a sizzling pot, covered with Bonito flakes. It had a rich umami flavor, and the Bonito flakes added a touch of fishiness and smokiness to the dish that rounded it out beautifully.
The squab was cooked medium, and came in four equal portions. The squab meat was lightly gamey, and was extremely tender and was easy to pull off the bone, though it was a little challenging with chopsticks. It's a little small for a main entree, so I would definitely pair it with another main dish or two. The squab is sold in limited quantities each night, and was definitely worth it.
All in all, the bill came out to just a little over $90 (excluding tip). For a nice night out with really good food, this was totally worth it, and I would definitely come again - if I can manage to get another reservation, that is!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Squab
Janet Lin Craft
Attention: ABCs, FOBs, natives SF and new SF. This place reawaken a feeling g that I’ve been suppressing. And it’s a struggle that most hyphen people have. Chinese-American: am I more one side of the hyphen or the other? It’s fluid, situation and environment dependent. At Four Kings, I felt authentically me at level 100. As a native sf, and raised between the traditions of Chinatown and the western neighborhoods surrounding Chinatown, the push and pull and needing to pick a side. Kings was able to bridge the fine dining, western service with authentic Chinese dishes. There’s is something for everyone. The Chinese side of the hyphen will love then nostalgia of 80s and 90s HK pop with dishes that you would normally only eat during special occasions. The American side of the hyphen will appreciate a reimagined menu of westernized Chinese dishes that hits all the senses. I cannot say enough good things about this establishment. From the fact that the Kumon sign is its neighbor, the location on Commercial Street (an unofficial gateway to and from Chinatown and the western world) within the shadow of the Transamerica building and the its interior design; it’s all perfect for 2024 and I am grateful that I got to visit.
Agree with a lot of the other reviews on here, pretty mid food overall, some hits some misses. Escargot was one of the best dishes we tried. I grew on hk food and want to see this place do well but was unfortunately underwhelmed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: XO Escargot and Milk Bread
Reservations are really hard to get, ended up going at Monday 10pm for a party of 3. It was definitely good, but maybe a bit over hyped. Portions were small but flavor was good. Black pepper steak was delicious, but the drinks were what really stood out. We got the Osthmanthus Lemon and the Chinese Almond Milk high balls and they were some of the best cocktails I've ever tried. Good service and really nice vibe. 4 stars for the difficulty getting in and value.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: HK Black Pepper Steak, Three Colored Steamed Egg, Cucumber Salad, Salted Egg Squash Croquette
Overall, overhyped and not worth the trouble.
Reservations go fast, so having premium access through Visa Signature on Open Table can help, or you need to be quick as soon as slots open up. Some people did manage to get seated as walk-ins. After seeing all the videos, I was excited to try this place. We ordered the poached chicken, XO escargot, clay pot rice, and the squab.
The experience didn’t quite match my expectations. I felt I could’ve had a better meal at a more affordable hole-in-the-wall spot. The Cantonese poached chicken, a dish I grew up with, looked interesting in presentation but lacked the flavor of the original. The XO escargot was also a bit bland. The clay pot rice was okay, but the Chinese bacon in it tasted tangy? which made me wonder if it was cured fully? Just different than the flavor I was used to. The squab was the standout dish, well-cooked and seasoned, but you could easily get a similar-tasting roasted duck with more meat for less money. Overall, it was a nostalgic experience, but I’m not convinced it was worth the hassle.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fried Squab
We got here at 5:10pm for a walk-in. Thankfully we were the third group in line so were among the first to get seated at 6pm. It’s a casual atmosphere with some really tasty eats. The fish fragrant eggplant and the clay pot fried rice with Chinese sausage and bacon wee the favorites. XO escargot with milk bread is definitely something to try if you’ve never tried snail. It tasted like seafood and it was well spiced. The milk bread was good but not the best we’ve ever had. The lamb skewers were generously portioned despite the 1 skewers order size. The popcorn chicken was moist and flavorful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: HK Black Pepper Steak, Snails, Claypot Rice with Chinese Sausage and Bacon, XO Escargot and Milk Bread, Sorbet, Popcorn Chicken
Great food, though small portions. The atmosphere is good, but incredibly loud. I had to put in earplugs, or my head would've started spinning. They should invest in some noise absorbing decoration.
Vegetarian options: Very few vegetarian options. Two out of four "vegetable" dishes contain meat or fish sauce.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Claypot Rice with Chinese Sausage and Bacon, Sorbet, Garlic Green Beans
I think the main hiccup is that it’s labeled as Cantonese food, but it really wasn’t. Some things SOUNDED Cantonese, but then it came out with a bunch of chili oil and pepper flakes. Let’s call it Chinese fusion.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Cucumber Salad
I personally think this place is overhyped and overpriced. If you want authentic Cantonese dishes, this is not really the place and you’re better off going to Chinatown since it’s more affordable. Most of the dishes here are nicely plated, elevated, and the restaurant is nicely decorated with all the classic Cantonese artists and music in the background.
I would still recommend trying this place once.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Snails, Claypot Rice with Chinese Sausage and Bacon, Cucumber Salad, Salted Egg Squash Croquette, XO Escargot and Milk Bread, Roasted Peanuts, Tofu Dessert, Fried Squab
TLDR: Average food, overpriced, and not worth the hype. Coming from a Hong Kong native.
I visited this restaurant on a Sunday evening with reservations, drawn in by its reputation and popularity. The ambiance was pleasant, and the environment had a lively, bustling energy, which set the stage for what I hoped would be an exceptional dining experience.
I ordered some of the restaurant’s most highly recommended dishes, including the squab, croquette, and pea shoots. Unfortunately, none of these dishes lived up to their hype. While the presentation was good, the flavors were underwhelming, and the quality simply didn’t justify the steep prices. For what you’re paying, you’d expect a culinary experience that stands out, but sadly, it all tasted rather ordinary.
On a positive note, the service was attentive and efficient, and the staff were accommodating throughout the meal. Despite the great service, I wouldn’t return. There are far better options in the city offering much more for your money, especially if you’re here for a truly memorable dining experience.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Food is interesting and okay. Lots of hit or miss.
Overpriced...but they were nice and friendly and gave us a free dessert.
Liked: Clay pot fried rice, ma po spaghetti, fish fragrant eggplant
Wouldn't get again: jelly fish, fried squab, escargot
Would have given 4 stars if it weren't for the price.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Claypot Rice with Chinese Sausage and Bacon
Mid slap but slap for vibes
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
My American-born kids love this place—perhaps because the fusion style reflects how I adapted my traditional Chinese cooking using ingredients available in the U.S. in a rush for hungry kids. However, I find many dishes a bit too salty and overly spicy, with some flavor combinations that don’t quite work for me (like eggplant with dried bonito—it's creative, but not necessarily delicious). That said, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere of the small shop is relaxed and welcoming. Still, there are definitely better dining options in San Francisco. I will not recommend this to my friends.
PS. We also tried all three deserts, nah. Only the red bean shed ice is ok.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Very tasty food here. The two of us took four dishes. Rice in a clay pot with sausage and bacon was especially delicious. Most dishes are very spicy
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Was here late March 2024 during one of the weekends - didn't manage to make a reservation but made it second in line for walk in. Despite that, we (group of 4) waited for at least 2.5 hrs before getting seated.
I admit that I was quite skeptical and was ready to be disappointed given the long waiting time. I was pleasantly surprised with the flavor and balance of the dishes, the attentiveness of the servers as well as the kitchen staff.
That aside, I also appreciate the deco revolving around the top 4 cantopop stars in the 1990s (which I believe inspired the restaurant name Four Kings) - that brought a sense of nostalgia and memories of watching TVB.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I came by on 9/27 for a dinner reservation at 8PM.
The restaurant is located off a small side street, next door to a Kumon learning center.
Inside, the decor of the restaurant had a very sushi bar/izakaya vibe, with hanging lights, a bar seating along their open kitchen, as well as a light wood theme. Posters of Chinese movies, artists and other memorabilia decorated the walls, and lended to a very comfortable and cozy dining room. However, due to the warm day and the open kitchen, the dining room was quite warm, not quite uncomfortably so, but definitely not cool, with not a lot of airflow
Between two people, we were recommended to order between 4-6 dishes. We decided to go a little light and ordered two sets of skewers from their specials for the day (1 order of squab skin, and 1 of squab liver - 2 skewers an order). We followed up with an order of their salted egg croquettes, the fried squab, and the fish fragrant eggplant, which came highly recommend.
We were provided a small dish of salted roasted peanuts and one of vinegared cucumbers as a small appetizer while we waited for our order.
The skewers came first - the squab skin was flavorful, fatty, and lightly crispy, covered in a sweet glaze and paired with some powdered Szechuan peppercorn for a slightly spicy and numbing note. The squab liver also came with a similar glaze - the outside of the liver was grilled well, and the interior was creamy and not overpoweringly organy, as liver sometimes can be.
The croquettes came next, and were lightly fried, not oily, and covered in what tasted like salted egg shavings (though it wasn't very prominent). The croquettes were filled with a squash cream, which was both a little savory and sweet.
The eggplant and squab came next, and they were by far the stars. The eggplant was braised, and came in a sizzling pot, covered with Bonito flakes. It had a rich umami flavor, and the Bonito flakes added a touch of fishiness and smokiness to the dish that rounded it out beautifully.
The squab was cooked medium, and came in four equal portions. The squab meat was lightly gamey, and was extremely tender and was easy to pull off the bone, though it was a little challenging with chopsticks. It's a little small for a main entree, so I would definitely pair it with another main dish or two. The squab is sold in limited quantities each night, and was definitely worth it.
All in all, the bill came out to just a little over $90 (excluding tip). For a nice night out with really good food, this was totally worth it, and I would definitely come again - if I can manage to get another reservation, that is!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Squab
Attention: ABCs, FOBs, natives SF and new SF. This place reawaken a feeling g that I’ve been suppressing. And it’s a struggle that most hyphen people have. Chinese-American: am I more one side of the hyphen or the other? It’s fluid, situation and environment dependent. At Four Kings, I felt authentically me at level 100. As a native sf, and raised between the traditions of Chinatown and the western neighborhoods surrounding Chinatown, the push and pull and needing to pick a side. Kings was able to bridge the fine dining, western service with authentic Chinese dishes. There’s is something for everyone. The Chinese side of the hyphen will love then nostalgia of 80s and 90s HK pop with dishes that you would normally only eat during special occasions. The American side of the hyphen will appreciate a reimagined menu of westernized Chinese dishes that hits all the senses. I cannot say enough good things about this establishment. From the fact that the Kumon sign is its neighbor, the location on Commercial Street (an unofficial gateway to and from Chinatown and the western world) within the shadow of the Transamerica building and the its interior design; it’s all perfect for 2024 and I am grateful that I got to visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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