SanWang, a well-known restaurant serving Korean Chinese cuisine (中華料理 중화 요리) in The City for nearly three decades that is located on Post Street in the heart of Japantown 日本町,which destination can be reached by riding Muni Buses 2, 38, 38R, 22 (maybe even 31 or 1 if you do not mind walking around a few blocks to explore the historic Fillmore District.) The owners are actually six brothers whose family like many other ethnic Chinese living in South Korean were originally from Shandong Peninsula which consists one of Big Eight Famous Chinese cuisine (Note: its old spelling Shantung also represents a special type of silk plain weave fabric used to make sombreros, Estilo Sinaloense. )
My favorite dish at SanWang is Chǎomǎmiàn (炒碼麵) (Jjamppong) a spicy noodle soup in red chili generously flavored with green vegetables (chives, bok choy, you choy, or sometimes Napa, depends), black mushrooms, meat (beef or pork) and a variety of seafood including Tiger shrimps (size 16/20 at least 4-6 pieces), scallops, clams (small but in shell), squid, etc. The noodles are house made possibly by the Brother No. 5 who appeared in “Martin Yan Mondays” (“If Yan Can Cook You Can Cook”) on KQED in 1980s.
Other signature dishes of SanWang are jajangmyeon(炸醬麵) Tangsuyuk (탕수육) (糖醋肉-Sweet Soup Pork) Kkanpunggi (깐풍기) (乾烹鷄-similar to General Zuo Chicken) Kkanpung saeu (깐풍새우) (宮寶蝦- Kung Pao shrimp) etc. Also, SanWang is said to process its own sea cucumber and you can try there or buy some to cook at home. SanWang is a popular destination for locals, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, White and even Pilipino like to host parties of banquets there. A few times I ran into a big table of 10-12 SFPD officers having a big lunch at SanWang.
Finally, I have heard a lot about another popular Korean Chinese restaurant called SanTung 山東小館(actually walked by many times seeing lines of usually young people on Irving between 11th and 12th in the Inner Sunset but never have tried its food as I am quite honestly skeptical if not worried about any popular restaurant resulted from social media frenzy. However, I will pay a visit in the next few weeks when I am roaming down there then give “my two cents” solely based on food quality, cooking skill, and overall environment without being influenced by or from any social media frenzy.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Jajangmyeon, San Wang Noodle Soup, San Wang Clam
holly wong
Delicious chicken wings, mapo tofu, and fresh jajang mien. It’s the best mix of Korean and Chinese fusion. I can’t believe I haven’t gone sooner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maria Eoff
Excellent, all around. The food continues to be delicious and plentiful.
The owners (5 brothers) and a sister are exceptional. Brother #5 takes the time to meet with his patrons in the midst of cooking! A special place to dine.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christian Hunters
Koreans don't need to go here.
Benjamin Chung
Atmosphere is good, but could be slightly better. Then again, this is an old Chinese mom and pops.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jajangmyeon, Dry Fried
Jorge Organista
The food is really good. I travel from Merced to come and eat here. Been coming here for 20 yrs. Great service and family owned...
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dry Fried
Erika Organista Aguilar
Have been coming here for over 20 years with my pat now I bring my kids. Food is extremely delicious. Service is amazing the staff is the most weary and welcoming.
I highly recommend the dry fried beef.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christopher Chung
This old school Chinese Korean eatery is one of the last remaining from the 1970s in San Francisco. Many of the staff have been working here for decades.
Serving jjajangmyeon (짜장면) and jjampong (짬뽕) noodles to Korean immigrants and presidents alike, San Wang fulfills a craving among those nostalgic for Chinese food made their way. Yet another example of the adaptive nature of the Chinese kitchen globally.
Seafood is their specialty, often served in a thick and flavorful sauce for mixing with rice — a Korean secret. Shrimp with hot pepper sauce (매운새우) is crispy, yet saucy. Sautéed “Happy Family” (팔보채) combines eight different seafood and vegetables in comforting brown sauce. The house specialty, spicy San Wang Clams (매운조개) are plump and clean tasting — reflecting the waters off Washington state from which they’re harvested.
While some menu items were a bit bland (e.g sizzling rice soup), the overwhelming majority of flavors carried over in this time capsule of a restaurant are well-worth a try among those seeking novelty.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sizzling Rice Soup, San Wang Noodle Soup, Jajangmyeon, San Wang Clam
Shan Jin
I never knew there’s a Chinese - Korean restaurant in the city! I I really love this Northern China environment, food is delicious and in huge portion. Ordered 3 dishes for two people, have a lot to take away.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Minna Suh
This review is limited to the Korean-Chinese dishes only. I think this is one of the most underrated Chinese restaurant in SF. Yes the dishes don look instagram-y but the food is always consistently high quality and authentic . I’ve been coming here for almost 20 years and still cannot find a better place to satisfy my jjangmyeon and jjambbong cravings. The seafood dishes are all excellent with subtle homy but umami taste. The only Korean-Chinese dish that didn’t hit the spot was the tangsooyook (sweet fried pork) - the pork is sliced too thin and overpowered by the batter and the sauce . But still I’m sticking to five stars cuz all the other dishes are all so good!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Noodles with Plum Sauce, Jajangmyeon
Food is great and authentic! A true Korean-Chinese fusion in the heart of San Francisco Japantown. 5/5 would come again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeongwon ha
Please don't go there.. I went there thinking it was a good restaurant, and the food was delicious, but it seems like they have a serious hygiene problem. I could barely even touch the food and when I entered, I was taken aback by how empty it was with almost no customers. If you come to Japan Town, it would be better to eat Japanese or Korean food. I recommend not to eat in Japan Town.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
sohyang moon
I couldn't eat any of the spicy stir-fried clams because they seemed spoiled, the sweet and sour pork meat was gray and the sauce had a sour smell. I went to see your blog and was really surprised. Never go there.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jamin Gee
Mongolian beef is a must as it is super delicious and the portions are big. They’re super friendly and inviting. Great food and even better people. Go and try!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dry Fried
Wendy Chou
We ordered the combo fried rice and Jiangjianeng, but we think think the foods don’t taste really good as we expected. And the side dish is kimchi is not fresh, seems was made long time ago. And I heard the staffs said to each others their food seems outdated in the kitchen, this makes us feel like entering Gordon Ramsay’s Nightmare Kitchen.
SanWang, a well-known restaurant serving Korean Chinese cuisine (中華料理 중화 요리) in The City for nearly three decades that is located on Post Street in the heart of Japantown 日本町,which destination can be reached by riding Muni Buses 2, 38, 38R, 22 (maybe even 31 or 1 if you do not mind walking around a few blocks to explore the historic Fillmore District.) The owners are actually six brothers whose family like many other ethnic Chinese living in South Korean were originally from Shandong Peninsula which consists one of Big Eight Famous Chinese cuisine (Note: its old spelling Shantung also represents a special type of silk plain weave fabric used to make sombreros, Estilo Sinaloense. )
My favorite dish at SanWang is Chǎomǎmiàn (炒碼麵) (Jjamppong) a spicy noodle soup in red chili generously flavored with green vegetables (chives, bok choy, you choy, or sometimes Napa, depends), black mushrooms, meat (beef or pork) and a variety of seafood including Tiger shrimps (size 16/20 at least 4-6 pieces), scallops, clams (small but in shell), squid, etc. The noodles are house made possibly by the Brother No. 5 who appeared in “Martin Yan Mondays” (“If Yan Can Cook You Can Cook”) on KQED in 1980s.
Other signature dishes of SanWang are jajangmyeon(炸醬麵) Tangsuyuk (탕수육) (糖醋肉-Sweet Soup Pork) Kkanpunggi (깐풍기) (乾烹鷄-similar to General Zuo Chicken) Kkanpung saeu (깐풍새우) (宮寶蝦- Kung Pao shrimp) etc. Also, SanWang is said to process its own sea cucumber and you can try there or buy some to cook at home. SanWang is a popular destination for locals, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, White and even Pilipino like to host parties of banquets there. A few times I ran into a big table of 10-12 SFPD officers having a big lunch at SanWang.
Finally, I have heard a lot about another popular Korean Chinese restaurant called SanTung 山東小館(actually walked by many times seeing lines of usually young people on Irving between 11th and 12th in the Inner Sunset but never have tried its food as I am quite honestly skeptical if not worried about any popular restaurant resulted from social media frenzy. However, I will pay a visit in the next few weeks when I am roaming down there then give “my two cents” solely based on food quality, cooking skill, and overall environment without being influenced by or from any social media frenzy.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Jajangmyeon, San Wang Noodle Soup, San Wang Clam
Delicious chicken wings, mapo tofu, and fresh jajang mien. It’s the best mix of Korean and Chinese fusion. I can’t believe I haven’t gone sooner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent, all around. The food continues to be delicious and plentiful. The owners (5 brothers) and a sister are exceptional. Brother #5 takes the time to meet with his patrons in the midst of cooking! A special place to dine.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Koreans don't need to go here.
Atmosphere is good, but could be slightly better. Then again, this is an old Chinese mom and pops.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jajangmyeon, Dry Fried
The food is really good. I travel from Merced to come and eat here. Been coming here for 20 yrs. Great service and family owned...
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dry Fried
Have been coming here for over 20 years with my pat now I bring my kids. Food is extremely delicious. Service is amazing the staff is the most weary and welcoming.
I highly recommend the dry fried beef.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This old school Chinese Korean eatery is one of the last remaining from the 1970s in San Francisco. Many of the staff have been working here for decades.
Serving jjajangmyeon (짜장면) and jjampong (짬뽕) noodles to Korean immigrants and presidents alike, San Wang fulfills a craving among those nostalgic for Chinese food made their way. Yet another example of the adaptive nature of the Chinese kitchen globally.
Seafood is their specialty, often served in a thick and flavorful sauce for mixing with rice — a Korean secret. Shrimp with hot pepper sauce (매운새우) is crispy, yet saucy. Sautéed “Happy Family” (팔보채) combines eight different seafood and vegetables in comforting brown sauce. The house specialty, spicy San Wang Clams (매운조개) are plump and clean tasting — reflecting the waters off Washington state from which they’re harvested.
While some menu items were a bit bland (e.g sizzling rice soup), the overwhelming majority of flavors carried over in this time capsule of a restaurant are well-worth a try among those seeking novelty.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sizzling Rice Soup, San Wang Noodle Soup, Jajangmyeon, San Wang Clam
I never knew there’s a Chinese - Korean restaurant in the city! I I really love this Northern China environment, food is delicious and in huge portion. Ordered 3 dishes for two people, have a lot to take away.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
This review is limited to the Korean-Chinese dishes only. I think this is one of the most underrated Chinese restaurant in SF. Yes the dishes don look instagram-y but the food is always consistently high quality and authentic . I’ve been coming here for almost 20 years and still cannot find a better place to satisfy my jjangmyeon and jjambbong cravings. The seafood dishes are all excellent with subtle homy but umami taste. The only Korean-Chinese dish that didn’t hit the spot was the tangsooyook (sweet fried pork) - the pork is sliced too thin and overpowered by the batter and the sauce . But still I’m sticking to five stars cuz all the other dishes are all so good!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Noodles with Plum Sauce, Jajangmyeon
Restaurantji Recommends
Food is great and authentic! A true Korean-Chinese fusion in the heart of San Francisco Japantown. 5/5 would come again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Please don't go there.. I went there thinking it was a good restaurant, and the food was delicious, but it seems like they have a serious hygiene problem. I could barely even touch the food and when I entered, I was taken aback by how empty it was with almost no customers. If you come to Japan Town, it would be better to eat Japanese or Korean food. I recommend not to eat in Japan Town.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I couldn't eat any of the spicy stir-fried clams because they seemed spoiled, the sweet and sour pork meat was gray and the sauce had a sour smell. I went to see your blog and was really surprised. Never go there.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Mongolian beef is a must as it is super delicious and the portions are big. They’re super friendly and inviting. Great food and even better people. Go and try!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dry Fried
We ordered the combo fried rice and Jiangjianeng, but we think think the foods don’t taste really good as we expected. And the side dish is kimchi is not fresh, seems was made long time ago. And I heard the staffs said to each others their food seems outdated in the kitchen, this makes us feel like entering Gordon Ramsay’s Nightmare Kitchen.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
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