Winnie Xu

If you want Chinese American but not too American, this is the place. I loved the kimchi dish and the rice cake. The dishes are high quality just like the people I got to cherish them with -- rich with unique flavah, hella saucy, and too good not to be shared. A good option if you're in the area, don't let the external demeanor of the place fool ya.

+2

Robert Ross

Was lucky enough to get taken here by a local who knew exactly what to order. I'm not vegan but one of our group was and everything except the fried chicken was vegan friendly and insanely good. Like I would eat vegan every night if it tasted like this. The food was phenomenal, the szechuan chilli tofu was delicious and a sensation in your mouth. Everything from the interior decor to the pumping music selection made for a great experience. Insider tip would be to ask for the bathroom and get a quick tour of the kitchen on your way. This place set a new bar for me when eating szechuan Chinese food. Highly recommend!

+1

Charlie M

This ain’t your ordinary Chinese-inspired joint. You’ll first learn of this when you walk in and see the giant dragon sprawled across the ceiling over the entire length of the restaurant, or the cut-out of Michael Jordan in the back corner across from the kitchen. To navigate to Mission Chinese, look for the sign under Lung Shan Restaurant. If you make it that far, you’re in for some tasty bites. I especially recommend the Thrice Cooked Bacon and Rice Cakes - it’s savory, it’s got a little kick and the rice cakes are just pillows of chewy deliciousness that ties it all together. When in SF, this should be a stop.

Joshua Michael

Mission Chinese Food has a really cool vibe that immediately stands out. It gives you that classic hole-in-the-wall feeling while still feeling intentional and fun, which adds to the overall experience. The food was great—bold flavors, well executed, and definitely memorable. Everything we tried was satisfying and clearly made with care, making it easy to see why this place has such a strong reputation. Service was good and consistent throughout our visit. Staff was friendly, attentive, and kept things moving smoothly without making us feel rushed. The space itself adds to the charm. It feels relaxed, lively which makes it a great spot for a casual meal or a night out with friends. Mission Chinese Food delivers on vibe, food, and service, we’ll definitely be back.

Brandon Brown

Dishes come out vibrant, layered, and built for sharing, which makes the whole experience feel communal and lively. The space matches the energy of the food: buzzy, creative, and full of personality. It’s the kind of place where a dinner turns into a long night of tasting, talking, and ordering one more dish than you planned. There’s intention behind the chaos, and it works. If you’re craving Chinese food with attitude and imagination something that surprises you while still being comforting, Mission Chinese Food hits that balance beautifully.

Robert Viet Ha

It is a strange place and the food is a twist of classic chinese... well, different for certain. But overall tasty. We had the fried garlic rice, cold noodle with peanut sauce, hot & sour soup, pork belly and fried lamb dumplings. My favorite was the pork belly, but it came with strange presentation with pineapple which wss just watery. Not sure if I'm coming back. But overall nice experience and we enjoyed the meal.

+2

Elly Lin

Rice cakes were our favorite and I’d come back for that. It’s served with a smoky thinly sliced chinese bacon, bitter melon which was a great touch, inari tofu skin and peppers, and was spicy 👌🏻 We didn’t really like the cumin lamb ribs, it was fatty and had a lot of powder cumin piled on top 🤔 Chongqing chicken wings were ok nothing too special. Wasn’t that spicy but was a bit numbing. The Singaporean Mule cocktail was really bad and green 😟 don’t get it Cod fried rice - I didn’t really taste the cod. The taiwanese eggplant wasn’t there for me, I love the ones they make at Taiwan porridge and these weren’t like that. I think it needed some more garlic and flavor, and crispiness from a hotter wok. We also got the peanuts which were a good opening snack. It was interesting as it’s like the traditional crunchy peanuts but also sits in a bunch of the Gold Plum dumpling vinegar. It was confusing to me 😅 I’d still try other things next time as I have good memories here.

Rémi Ferrante

Maybe one of my favorite restaurant as it also such a classic on mission. It used few years back to be totally packed but now it’s easy to get in and try their totally atypical Chinese cuisine. I had the Lo-mein with duck confit, a very large portion that can be shared frankly, beautifully executed and tasted amazing! Got also the pork belly caramelized one of their signature dish. The staff is so nice and welcoming. They even offered me a coke. I am never disappointed

I’d give Mission Chinese Food a solid 3 stars based on this visit. We ordered a pretty wide range: smashed cucumbers, cabbage with pistachio milk, Chongqing chicken wings, salt cod fried rice, Sichuan carbonara, and the tingly mapo tofu with pork. The Sichuan carbonara was the most confusing dish. There was honestly nothing carbonara about it — it came out more like a salty soup. That said, it actually had the best overall flavor despite the mismatch in expectations. The cabbage with pistachio sauce leaned salty too, but it was interesting and different enough that I appreciated it. The standouts were the Chongqing chicken wings and the salt cod fried rice. The wings were the most comforting dish of the meal, and the fried rice was easily the most balanced and well-seasoned item we had. Both felt like dishes I’d come back for. The tingly mapo tofu had the strongest numbing effect, but not enough depth of flavor. It leaned more smoky than savory and ended up feeling a bit lackluster. The smashed cucumbers were refreshing and slightly sweet — simple but enjoyable. Service was another downside. The food came out quickly, but the service itself felt almost nonexistent — very little check-in or engagement, which made the overall experience feel a bit impersonal. Overall, the meal was creative and hit some high notes, but salt levels, uneven execution, and minimal service held it back from being a stronger experience.

Overpriced mediocre food. Our chicken chow mein was missing the chicken and was bland. The ribs were tasty but overpriced at $33. Not a fan of the chicken wings, spicy numbing but not much flavor otherwise and on the dry side. We ordered (delivery) for four people and it was $150, overpriced for the quality. Much better options around the mission.

Amy Tam

We got the lamb rib which was a tiny amount for $31…. But it was well seasoned and tasty! I didn’t like the chili chicken either ($21) but my partner liked it so it’s really dependent on the person. Felt a bit steep for a casual spot and for what feels like small to medium portions.

Stephanie Eatherly

I am so sad, this used to be one of my favorite spots in the city but my tofu tasted like soap and chemicals. I was afraid to finish it :(