Chef Jia's Restaurant

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Jennarchie

Joined 4 years ago

I dream about his Onion Cakes. I still dream about Chef Jia's onion cakes and peanut sauce! I try to replicate it - but it's impossible. I also love that his stir fry has sweet potatoes in it. I am a vegetarian and found a large amount of menu items I could choose from. I loved his rolling lettuce vegetables and still think that there is no comparison to Nanking. I always walked right in - an ate - no wait! I also remember seeing him and his wife walking down Kearny to work every day hand in hand! Love and miss Chef Jia!

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Editorial Review. Locals frequent this Chinatown restaurant for spicy Hunan specialties at rock-bottom prices.

Doesn't Recommend

ralomar

Joined 6 years ago

DISGUSTING FOOD!. I just don't get it! We ate there last night (6 of us) and ordered a bunch of different things and were HUGELY disappointed! Almost everything we got was prepared in the same way: covered in batter, deep fried and then covered in a gloopy sauce. Even the fish fillet which I was hoping would resemble a fillet was like this. The only dishes where I could tell what kind of meat I was eating was the mushu chicken and that was mediocre at best. I will never return to this place nor recommend it. I am so disapponted I feel like I threw my money away and wish that I could take back the evening and eat somewhere else. If you must eat here, then the only thing I would order is the Chinese broccoli and rice- I wish that's all I ordered. We are embarassed that we brought people her.

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pb800

Joined 7 years ago

Delicious Cheap Eat. This place is great. I ate like a queen for 5 bucks. I had the spicy honey chicken. It was out of this world.It also came with soup and rice. Highly recommended. No line and fresh, sizzling hot food!

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jack_n_marin

Joined 7 years ago

This is the place for delicious cheap eats. I was walking around chinatown with a friend and saw the long line at House of Naking and no people next door. There were several newspaper/magazine articles about the place though. I ask a man coming out if the place was good and he said best honey chili chicken in town. In fact, that is what appealed to me when looking at the menu posted outside. Anyway, it was really delicious and a great value. The honey chili chicken was great and they have the best onion cakes I have ever had. They give you peanut sauce to put on it. Yummy! The hot and sour soup was very different from the usual stuff you get at most chinese places. It had chicken and shrimp and was very spicey. I am getting hungry for it just writing about it.

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luxtron

Joined 8 years ago

locals favorite. every review below this one has hit the nail on the head--chef jia's is excellent! cheap, fresh, and delicious! vegetarian rice plates are only $4.80, and the portions are gigantic. it amazes me this place isn't always packed, but it's better because unless it's 7:30 on a saturday night, you never have to wait to be seated, even with a large group.

recently they have added brown rice to the menu, which is a huge plus! they have the best onion cake in the city, and superior string beans. be prepared though, the place is cash only; and they are, sadly, closed for lunch on the weekends (opening for dinner at 4pm).

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emeraldas

Joined 8 years ago

Best Chinese food in the U.S.A.. When my husband and I moved to the Bay Area in 99, we sampled different Chinese restaurants. THANK GOODNESS Nanking was closed the day we first visited Chinatown, otherwise we would have missed the glorious experience that is the gourmet delicacies of Chef Jias. Thereafter, we refused to eat anywhere else in SF. The piquant sauces, large portions, and inexpensive prices are just too yummy for words. We tended to choose the same entree at every visit, and pretty soon the server knew our order by heart. A few years later, we had to move, and since then have yet to find a better restaurant. Chef Jias hot and sour soup is still the best weve ever tasted. Now, after 3 years, we are back in northern California and will be resuming our regular trek to this astounding restaurant. Give Chef Jias your undying devotionyou will not regret it!

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webbie

Joined 9 years ago

Smart tourists go here. When my wife and I travel, we ask the locals where we should go eat. We were directed to the House of Nan King. As we turned the block and saw the line, I remembered reading on Citysearch about a place right next door to the "tourist" spot that was just as good. Luckily for us, there is only one Chinese restaurant right next door to HoNK!.

The locals are right, this place ROCKS! I highly recommend the hot and sour soup - best I've ever had. I also recommend "The Lover's Prawns".

I really wanted to tell everyone standing in line for the place next door that they were wasting their time, the real deal is at Chef Jia's

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joemck65

Joined 9 years ago

Top dog in a city full of great chinese. After 6 years in SF I can say with confidence that Chef Jia's is the best chinese food in the city.

Ignore the fools in the long line next door at House of Nan King (everything there tastes the same).

SF is a city full of great chinese food and this is the best, what else is there to say?

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meltingspace

Joined 9 years ago

The best damn place in the world!!!!!. this is my favorite rest. in the world. I love steven & nancy. they always have a warm smile for me and the food is fabulous. cheap, fresh, and excellent.

the best, hands down. sorry suckers next door.

honey chili chicken and onion cake are to die for.