San Wang Restaurant

I have been coming since I was a kid a few decades ago or more...

I can recommend the sea food ggagganmyun still.

Get it enjoy.

This restaurant is a classic. They have been in the same location offering the same great food and good value for the last 50 plus years. Owner is super friendly and staff are very nice.

Right in the middle of Japan town. Strongly recommend for anyone who loves quality Chinese food.

The place has that warm, family-run vibe that makes you feel right at home.

Sweet and sour beef was perfectly balanced. Not your typical sweet and sour chicken... the sauce has a very original taste that I haven't really tasted anywhere else.

Dry fried chicken - crispy and juicy, seasoned to perfection. You can tell it's a recipe that's been honed over generations.

Black bean noodle, rich and savory, with noodles cooked just right, holding the sauce beautifully.

Every dish feels like a hug from the kitchen, consistent and satisfying. This spot never disappoints.

Everything was so delicious! We have been customers for over 45 years and never disappointed. Dry fried chicken wings - dry fried squid- clams- and shrimps with tomato sauce is our GO to order. Annie is the best and always take good care of us!

I thought that San Wang did a couple things very well and others just ok. The clams rank in the exceptional menu items - these were HUGE clams that were very tender and doused in a silky sauce. The walnut shrimp were also a very generous portion and a great balance of crisp and sweet.

On to the not so good - The vegetables weren't anything to write home about. The water we got seems kind of dirty. We came for the lunch special but none of the dishes that we wanted were included in the special pricing.

I give all the stars to the clams and shrimp , I would come back just to eat this again! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I am beyond impressed! Not only was the food good, but the service was 10/10. They recommended these dishes we tried and we LOVED IT. I definitely recommend this hidden gem & the staff is the sweetest. They brought us complimentary grapes & Fortune cookies!
Will definitely return!

Wow, I mean WOW! What a great find.
This place is amazing!
We will be back, and hopefully soon.

Quality/Quantity - Today's order:
Sauteed Pork with Two Pieces of Skins - Generous portions, generous seafood. See pictures.
San Wang Clam - Fresh and alive clams. Again, generous portions and did you see the size of the clams!? I have NOT seen clams this large (and fresh) in a very long time. Even at some of the very expensive restaurants. Of course it has good flavors.
Dry Fried Chicken - Okay, repeating myself! Generous portions, good flavors. Tied for my favorite dish here; the fresh huge clams were my other favorite. I want and need to cut back on my deep fried foods, but I could not resist it here. Maybe I will start to eat healthier tomorrow...
Noodles with Plum Sauce - Good, and enough for two people.
San Wang Soup Noodles - Look at all the seafood in this dish! See picture. Mild spiciness, just the way my wife likes it.
Complimentary Fried Tofu - Thank you! Same recipe as the fried chicken, so good.
Complimentary Dessert - Lychee and oranges, see pictures.

Side dishes, banchan - See pictures. Four generous portions. No need for refills as it was more than enough for the entire meal.

This place is also known for hand pulled noodles, see pictures.
Can someone say "Martin Yan? Yan can cook?"

Many drink options - Beer, wine, soju, etc. See pictures and/or menus.

Atmosphere - Good size restaurant. Two floors, not sure if the upstairs was open...?
Street parking, good luck, but we got a perfect space right in front. Our lucky day!
Also because this is Japantown, a tourist area, be careful of car break-ins. See my Japantown Yelp review.
Open 6 days a week from 11am to 9pm; closed Wednesdays.
Free wifi, I did not use it.
Clean spacious bathrooms.

Service - 6 stars. Not only because our guest knows the owners, but I noticed that all the owners, cooks, and employees were VERY engaged with all their customers. I see them hanging out and talking with each and every table. Who does that? What great service! And they were busy.

Price - $125 + generous tip; but our guest took home enough food for an entire second meal!
$20 minimum for credit card purchase.

Owner Comment - Congrats on your success for 46+ years...? We are now regular customers.

Decent portion sizes. The honey walnut shrimps were very big (about 3 bites per shrimp!), but needed a bit more sauce. The vegetable deluxe was just alright - nothing special. I highly recommend the San Wang clams! These clams are super meaty & the sauce is plentiful & pretty tasty too.

The service was alright. Right when we sat down we got free small appetizer portions of kimchi. The food came out fairly fast after ordering. I will say there was not a lot of checking to make sure our waters were full, but my partner's water had some dirty floaters in it so we didn't want any extra water anyway.

Overall decent portion sizes but not the cleanest restaurant. I would come back for their lunch special which seems to be a good deal, $13-15 for entree plus rice & soup but it's only M-F from 11am-2pm. I probably wouldn't return just for a normal dinner.

Over the years, I've been frequenting this unassuming Korean Chinese restaurant in San Francisco's Japantown, when I have a craving for dry-fried chicken, pan fried jajjanmyuen; essentially Mandarin dishes with a Korean flair. My latest visit has only reaffirmed my love for this hidden gem, and I felt compelled to share a follow-up review based on this recent experience.

The "double-skin" or Yan Jang Pi remains an unparalleled favorite of mine, showcasing the restaurant's ability to deliver rare and impeccably crafted dishes. This warm mung-bean noodle concoction, bejeweled with prawns, scallops, surf clam, and an assortment of vegetables, all dressed in a zesty mustard sauce, continues to impress with its complex flavors and textures.

Their combination chow mein still stands out with its exceptional wok-hay aroma and the delightful chewiness of the noodles, embodying the essence of authentic Chinese cooking.

This visit, the San-Wang clam also hit the spot with its savory and subtly sweet sauce. The dried fried chicken, with its light batter and crispiness, remains a refreshing contrast from the overly sauced versions prevalent at other establishments.

Comparatively, this restaurant still better many, including, dare I say, San Tung, especially given the absence of the lengthy wait times. It's astonishing that this local gem remains under the radar for many.

Honestly better than what I was expecting; the owners speak mainly korean and some chinese. The food is not bad but not great, place is clean, big, and
prices are decent for the portions!

We got the eggplant with garlic sauce and sweet and sour pork (tangsuyuk), and both were not bad. The rice is $2 per person, and they sell alcohol too.