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

The Empress by Boon

4.5
4.5
1368 Reviews
$50 and over
Chinese
A photo of The Empress by Boon restaurant

The Empress by Boon

4.5
$50 and over
Chinese
Chinatown

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 27 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Great for scenic views
  • Fancy
  • Good for special occasions
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 17:00–22:00
  • 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.
  • New Years Eve 2024

    US$168.00 per person

    31 Dec 2024 - 1 Jan 2025
    Chef Boon is excited to create a celebratory menu to ring in the New Year! 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 1,368 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
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Francisco

    Romantic

  • San Francisco

    Great for scenic views

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Empress by Boon offers a modern take on Chinese cuisine in a beautifully renovated historic space. Diners praise the "amazing food," "great service," and "stunning views" of San Francisco. While some find it pricey, the "creative and delicious" dishes and "friendly staff" make it a memorable dining experience.

1,368 Reviews
  1. Jon

    San Francisco

    69 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    69 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Every dish was exceptional. We were so pleased we went with the wine pairing option, which enhanced the experience. Our server, Natalie was outstanding. We look forward to returning.

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  2. Carlos

    Tahoe

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on 3 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great value for the experience: what a hidden hem in San Francisco. Just go have a drink and you’ll fall in love with the views high on top of Chinatown! Very classy

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  3. Christy

    Orange County

    3 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 1 December 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    Cool experience e it good wasn’t that impressive for the price.

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  4. Johnson

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 1 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were welcomed and greeted graciously. Our server, Collin was extremely attentive and knowledgeable about each dish. He made our anniversary feel special. There was another female server who served us our first dish who seemed forgetful as she blanked out on the ingredients and quickly left. My partner and I were concerned after she served us, but Collin came through and provided exceptional dinner service. We will consider coming back in the future because of Collin. Foodwise, all the dishes were great with the exception of the Uni. We felt that the Uni was overcooked by the steamed tofu and egg. The Uni didn’t provided the umami flavor we were expecting.

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  5. Christina

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 30 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved the experience here from start to finish. If you want excellent tear-jerking food, service, and elegant ambiance, I highly recommend a visit here. We had a fixed menu of 9 food items worth $118+ per person which I think is relatively cheap for San Fran all things considered. Must visit if you’re a fan of fine dining, seafood, and Cantonese cuisine.

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  6. Elaine or Derek

    Denver

    66 reviews

    5.0

    66 reviews

    Dined on 28 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Back at Empress by Boon which is on our regular rotation when in San Francisco. The food was exquisite as always and every course a real delight. We ordered the optional duck dish which was so good we ordered another instead of dessert. From the greeting at the door by Sean and Jim to the professional service provided by Natalie, Jorge and the young Colombian gent, it was a wonderful time. Throw in the beautiful view of the city and Coit Tower and it is an evening to remember. My wife is from Penang, Malaysia one of the food capitals of SE Asia and enjoyed it as much as I did. Chef Boon (also from Northern Malaysia) came out and we had a very nice chat. What a great evening. Cannot wait to be back.

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  7. Joanne

    San Francisco

    175 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    175 reviews

    Dined on 28 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Prefix menu with a good variety, nice presentation, and delicious food. Service is always impeccable. Nice window views.

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  8. S

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 27 November 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    Stated on open table ressie that this was a for a birthday. Even confirmed with waitress at end of meal that there was a birthday . They did not have any specials like free dessert for birthday even though we saw another table getting it and several Yelp reviews show they got birthday desserts. What's the point in stating the occasion on open table when it is not acknowledged or we have to remind the wait staff? Very disappointed on this not so happy occasion.

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  9. Mila

    San Francisco

    31 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    31 reviews

    Dined on 27 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Last night's dinner was our fourth with them. As usual, all our expectations from the first three good experiences have been met. We are very pleased with this Restaurant and highly recommend it.

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  10. Jen

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 24 November 2024

    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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FAQs

The Empress by Boon is rated 4.5 stars by 1368 OpenTable diners.

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

A photo of The Empress by Boon restaurant

The Empress by Boon

4.5
$50 and over
Chinese
Chinatown

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 27 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 17:00–22:00
  • 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
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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