Big Lantern

I’ve had the Wood Ear Mushroom with fish and the Portobello Mushroom with fish here at Big Lantern. Both were delicious, with lots of added vegetables cooked to perfection. Also, when I’m sick, my go-to is their chicken rice porridge. Service is very friendly and fast

The family here is so sweet. And the food is so diverse and fantastic. They have both authentic Chinese food as well as American Chinese. Very affordable.

Omg since learning about this place 10 days ago, I have somehow ordered from them THREE times. I hardly ever order delivery, and yet, I am obsessed. This food is super fresh and flavorable. There are many great vegetarian options. My favorite items are the crispy fried tofu (it tastes like McDonald’s chicken nuggets, but juicier), the vegetarian wonton soup, and the turnip cakes. The dim sum items are also good.

We have been coming here about once a week in the past 2 years. Basically another kitchen. You’re free to judge, but the service is wonderful, the food is consistently great, and they have many different vegan and gluten free options. Very thankful for Joyce!

It was quiet and nice when we went.. the waiter was kind and funny + THE FOOD ! Honey walnut tofu was spectacular 🤘

Soooo good!! The cumin lamb and mandarin eggplant are my favorites, but it’s hard to choose! Service is impeccable and the flavors are great. Also prices are very fair - $10 soju cocktails! Definitely some of the best Chinese food in the mission.

great late night restaurant serving amazing and comforting chinese american food with plenty of vegan options (tofu and meatless chicken/beef/fish). the service was fantastic and the food came out fast, fresh, and perfectly prepared.

Amazing for vegetarians who want dim sum and Chinese food

My kids are both very picky particular eaters. We always order the pork fried rice and pork chow mein and thanks to the wonderful staff the kids have even started to venture into trying new things each time we go. The prices are very fair and the quality of the food they serve his amazing. We're thinking of even finding out if they are open Christmas evening for dinner that's how much the kids love it

Service was really lovely! Judy was amazingly warm and friendly! The food was fantastic! We had spicy cucumber,chicken fried rice, garlic, chicken fried rice and shrimp siumai! My kids and I loved it all! Thoroughly recommend.

We've been coming here the last few years and they never disappoint. The food is yummy, the customer service is above and beyond. Don't sleep on their Dim Sum... it's delicious.

I love Big Lantern. I honestly feel that this place deserves a higher rating than it currently has (4.2). I have been here multiple times, in person and ordering online. In person the restaurant is your typical old school Chinese spot with aunties taking your order. The place has no frills, it’s a very straight up and down Chinese restaurant. The waitress was quick to take our orders. I wouldn’t expect the service to be at the same level as a fine dining establishment, because it just isn’t. When ordering online, you can order directly from their website (FREE DELIVERY). Don’t support Uber eats or DoorDash when these Big Lantern employees will get you your order faster than you could pull out your chopsticks. There’s no tracking information but believe me my order came to the door in less than 10 minutes (I also live <1 mile away so temper your expectations). The delivery lady was quite chipper and had a lovely smile. Though she did not expect a tip, I recommend tipping generously anyway. The food is delicious. Portions are large. Prices are fair and actually quite cheap compared to other spots. I’ve tried their orange chicken, chow mein, fried rice, crispy chicken, and a few other dishes (they escape the mind…). The combination chow mein has that nice wok hei flavor and is soooo good. Nice portions of chicken, beef and shrimp. Really, everything is good. Chicken is juicy and flavorful. Fried rice is spicy and has a good amount of meat in it. But if you’re ordering the vegan stuff I don’t know, haven’t tried it yet. I plan to continue supporting their business. I love this place and I think you will too!

Open late and serving mouthwateringly delicious vegetarian food, this place is an absolute gem! Highly recommend: ✅Chives and vegetarian chicken dumplings – Bursting with amazing flavor. ✅Big Lantern fried rice with meatless chicken – Incredibly flavorful and satisfying. ✅Singapore noodles – Deliciously seasoned and well-balanced. ✅Hot sake – The perfect warm-up on a windy night in SF. ✅Wood ear mushrooms with meatless fish – A bold and flavorful dish, though it would be even better with some complimentary rice. ✅ Spinach tofu soup – A simple, comforting soup that gives a warm, cozy feeling. Also nice: 🆗 Meatless chicken shiu mai – A decent option, though it could use a bit more flavor. 🆗 Chili cucumber – The sauce was delightful, but I’ve seen more refined cucumber preparations. 🆗 String beans with meatless chicken – The dish felt a bit dry and could have used more sauce. The texture of the meatless chicken was nice, though the string beans might not have been the best choice for me. That said, like every dish here, it was packed with flavor. Lively even on a weekday night, this spot offers great prices, a cozy atmosphere, and an unbeatable vegetarian menu. Highly recommend!

great american chinese and also dim sum place in the mission, so many vegan options, tofu, veggies, "meatless chicken". inexpensive compared to other surrounding places, fast service, love it!

Ordered orange chicken, vegetable egg rolls, and hot and sour soup here, and was thoroughly impressed. The soup was a 7/10, not quite spicy, sour, or savory enough for my likings as served, but the red chili oil and soy sauce at the table helped balance it out nicely. Why 7/10 then? The ingredients were fresh, high quality, and well-curated. The consistency was perfect! The orange chicken was a 9.5/10, incredibly good quality meat, the breading was great, the serving was large, and the sauce was delicious. Not as sweet and sticky as many places, but more spicy and savory, which I’m usually opposed to. This place nailed it! Egg rolls were great too, and were very crunchy and had lots of flavor. Service was a 10/10, our server was very nice and attentive and kind. Prices were very reasonable here too! Another great thing is that they have an open kitchen, which gives me great trust in the food prep and cleanliness.

Delicious late night snack. The salt and pepper pork chop was cooked perfectly. No heavy batter. Juicy and flavorful. Perfect with a side of rice 🍚 Friendly auntie takes your order. Quick service. Feels like home 🫶🏻

Epic food, great service, and reasonable prices (around $13 per plate). Many vegan options (including dumplings) and gluten free is possible too.

Adorable simple Chinese spot with a huge veg-meat menu and smiley staff.

I simply loved this place. Their dim sum is amazing and at a really good price. I never thought that having 4 pieces could be so filling. Their vegetarian options are highly recommended for folks who don't eat meat. Regarding the space, my experience here was enjoyable and very pleasant 😊

This restaurant is located in the Mission District, so parking may be an issue. The restaurant was clean and not busy, but take out orders were off the hook. Service was friendly, helpful and fast. My food was packaged in the ziplock containers which smelled delicious. Since I eat in my car due to work this Chinese food kept me warm and full. Definitely a Return Visit will be made!

Today, few days into 2025, having dinner while reading FT before watching David Lynch ‘s Mullholand Drive at Roxie . Love the spaciousness, personal warmth and delectable food here at reasonable prices: hot and sour soup, and vegetarian lo mein . I read Anthony Lane review titled “Road Trips” in the restaurant . The server was great. The film disappointed. RIP Lynch whose Blue Velvet mesmerized.

This is one of the best Chinese restaurant in town. I had a bowl of beef noodle soup there yesterday and was impressed by the tenderness of the beef, super fresh vegetables, chewy noodle and the broth that taste just right. This place will be our default restaurant in SF.

Emily

I love Big Lantern. I honestly feel that this place deserves a higher rating than it currently has (4.2). I have been here multiple times, in person and ordering online. In person the restaurant is your typical old school Chinese spot with aunties taking your order. The place has no frills, it’s a very straight up and down Chinese restaurant. The waitress was quick to take our orders. I wouldn’t expect the service to be at the same level as a fine dining establishment, because it just isn’t. When ordering online, you can order directly from their website (FREE DELIVERY). Don’t support Uber eats or DoorDash when these Big Lantern employees will get you your order faster than you could pull out your chopsticks. There’s no tracking information but believe me my order came to the door in less than 10 minutes (I also live <1 mile away so temper your expectations). The delivery lady was quite chipper and had a lovely smile. Though she did not expect a tip, I recommend tipping generously anyway. The food is delicious. Portions are large. Prices are fair and actually quite cheap compared to other spots. I’ve tried their orange chicken, chow mein, fried rice, crispy chicken, and a few other dishes (they escape the mind…). The combination chow mein has that nice wok hei flavor and is soooo good. Nice portions of chicken, beef and shrimp. Really, everything is good. Chicken is juicy and flavorful. Fried rice is spicy and has a good amount of meat in it. But if you’re ordering the vegan stuff I don’t know, haven’t tried it yet. I plan to continue supporting their business. I love this place and I think you will too!

Snigdha Agarwal

Open late and serving mouthwateringly delicious vegetarian food, this place is an absolute gem! Highly recommend: ✅Chives and vegetarian chicken dumplings – Bursting with amazing flavor. ✅Big Lantern fried rice with meatless chicken – Incredibly flavorful and satisfying. ✅Singapore noodles – Deliciously seasoned and well-balanced. ✅Hot sake – The perfect warm-up on a windy night in SF. ✅Wood ear mushrooms with meatless fish – A bold and flavorful dish, though it would be even better with some complimentary rice. ✅ Spinach tofu soup – A simple, comforting soup that gives a warm, cozy feeling. Also nice: 🆗 Meatless chicken shiu mai – A decent option, though it could use a bit more flavor. 🆗 Chili cucumber – The sauce was delightful, but I’ve seen more refined cucumber preparations. 🆗 String beans with meatless chicken – The dish felt a bit dry and could have used more sauce. The texture of the meatless chicken was nice, though the string beans might not have been the best choice for me. That said, like every dish here, it was packed with flavor. Lively even on a weekday night, this spot offers great prices, a cozy atmosphere, and an unbeatable vegetarian menu. Highly recommend!

Camilo Dolorier

great american chinese and also dim sum place in the mission, so many vegan options, tofu, veggies, "meatless chicken". inexpensive compared to other surrounding places, fast service, love it!

Setu Upadhya

Epic food, great service, and reasonable prices (around $13 per plate). Many vegan options (including dumplings) and gluten free is possible too.

Austin Meyer

Ordered orange chicken, vegetable egg rolls, and hot and sour soup here, and was thoroughly impressed. The soup was a 7/10, not quite spicy, sour, or savory enough for my likings as served, but the red chili oil and soy sauce at the table helped balance it out nicely. Why 7/10 then? The ingredients were fresh, high quality, and well-curated. The consistency was perfect! The orange chicken was a 9.5/10, incredibly good quality meat, the breading was great, the serving was large, and the sauce was delicious. Not as sweet and sticky as many places, but more spicy and savory, which I’m usually opposed to. This place nailed it! Egg rolls were great too, and were very crunchy and had lots of flavor. Service was a 10/10, our server was very nice and attentive and kind. Prices were very reasonable here too! Another great thing is that they have an open kitchen, which gives me great trust in the food prep and cleanliness.

Charles the First

Delicious late night snack. The salt and pepper pork chop was cooked perfectly. No heavy batter. Juicy and flavorful. Perfect with a side of rice 🍚 Friendly auntie takes your order. Quick service. Feels like home 🫶🏻

Tal Peretz

Adorable simple Chinese spot with a huge veg-meat menu and smiley staff.

Ariel Belmont

I simply loved this place. Their dim sum is amazing and at a really good price. I never thought that having 4 pieces could be so filling. Their vegetarian options are highly recommended for folks who don't eat meat. Regarding the space, my experience here was enjoyable and very pleasant 😊

Timbuk2Crusader

This restaurant is located in the Mission District, so parking may be an issue. The restaurant was clean and not busy, but take out orders were off the hook. Service was friendly, helpful and fast. My food was packaged in the ziplock containers which smelled delicious. Since I eat in my car due to work this Chinese food kept me warm and full. Definitely a Return Visit will be made!

Krishin Asnani

Today, few days into 2025, having dinner while reading FT before watching David Lynch ‘s Mullholand Drive at Roxie . Love the spaciousness, personal warmth and delectable food here at reasonable prices: hot and sour soup, and vegetarian lo mein . I read Anthony Lane review titled “Road Trips” in the restaurant . The server was great. The film disappointed. RIP Lynch whose Blue Velvet mesmerized.

I don’t like dim sum but my friend swore this place would change my mind. Not only was the dim sum good but the tofu and green beans plate was out of this world. Some of the best tofu I’ve ever had. On top of that, they had great service and PLENTY of vegetarian options. Would definitely go back.

We stopped by for a quick bite found this spot on tik tok and man was it delicious with great pricing it was our first time when we walked in & seen staff removing fresh peas from the leaf for food preparation by hand I knew the food was going to be fire & it definitely was will 100% go again we ordered orange chicken, rice & chowmein every single bite was mouth watering woild recommend using spot hero for cheap nearby parking garages to eat here as parking in the city could be hectic at times thank you for a great experience

In many ways this is a typical Chinese restaurant, but my wife is strict vegan and we enjoy the variety of meatless dishes and dim sum available here. Staff/service is always prompt and attentive, which we appreciate. We now come every 4 to 6 weeks and look forward to it as part of our regular nights out as a couple.

Neo “Xi Jinping Fan” Matrix

The family here is so sweet. And the food is so diverse and fantastic. They have both authentic Chinese food as well as American Chinese. Very affordable.

Mobina Riazi

I don’t like dim sum but my friend swore this place would change my mind. Not only was the dim sum good but the tofu and green beans plate was out of this world. Some of the best tofu I’ve ever had. On top of that, they had great service and PLENTY of vegetarian options. Would definitely go back.

Heidi

Omg since learning about this place 10 days ago, I have somehow ordered from them THREE times. I hardly ever order delivery, and yet, I am obsessed. This food is super fresh and flavorable. There are many great vegetarian options. My favorite items are the crispy fried tofu (it tastes like McDonald’s chicken nuggets, but juicier), the vegetarian wonton soup, and the turnip cakes. The dim sum items are also good.

Eric Bishop

I’ve had the Wood Ear Mushroom with fish and the Portobello Mushroom with fish here at Big Lantern. Both were delicious, with lots of added vegetables cooked to perfection. Also, when I’m sick, my go-to is their chicken rice porridge. Service is very friendly and fast

Don Walling

In many ways this is a typical Chinese restaurant, but my wife is strict vegan and we enjoy the variety of meatless dishes and dim sum available here. Staff/service is always prompt and attentive, which we appreciate. We now come every 4 to 6 weeks and look forward to it as part of our regular nights out as a couple.

I ordered delivery from here and it was pretty good. I particularly liked the scallion dumplings.

+3

A++ vegetarian options- tofu and ear mushroom entree was good. The green onion pancake was the best in the city.

Good food at great value especially the lunch specials. I have become a regular during my 1 month stay in SF. EDIT: Tried several of their dishes, the best is their roast duck, the rest are just average.

* dim sum veggie combo platter - 9/10 great * fried taro - 8.8/10 great but a bit too fried * pumpkin bun - 7.5/10 very good * meatless chicken congee - 9/10 great * mapo tofu made vegan - 9.4/10 great * general tsos meatless chicken - 9.4/10 great * chow mein - great 9.3/10 * wood ear mushrooms and tofu - great 9/10 * veg fried rice - 8.8/10 great, liked that it wasn't too fried * turnip cake with meatless chicken - 9.5/10 excellent * veg crab cake - 9/10 great, but wish is was less fried * Vegetable turnip bun 9.3/10 * Big Lantern spicy chow fun with meatless chicken 9.2/10 * meatless chicken w/ satay sauce - not sure if we were given the right order because it didn't come with satay sauce. It had these delicious crispy seasonings throughout it, with onion and peppers. * braised tofu with bok choy - 9.5/10 excellent * Meatless chicken traditional rice pudding - 7/10 good, but dry and should be paired with something saucy like garlic eggplant * Sweet rice tamale w/ meatless chicken - 9/10 great * Tofu vegetarian roll 10/10 excellent * Garlic eggplant 8.8/10 great, pairs great with the dry traditional rice pudding - chive dumpling - 9.3/10 great - Rice roll (vegetable) - 6.5/10 had a weird burnt taste inside, but without that would have been great Love the amount of vegan options, but would be really helpful to have all items that are vegan or plant-based be clearly labeled as such on the menu. You have to ask at the moment. Second time going, they seemed confident when we stated to make sure everything in the order was vegan before starting to order.

Get food to go her often big portions, tasty. fair price

Many vegetarian options. The dumplings were thick and not very tasty. The tofu dish was ordered as spices but came with sweet sauce.

Big Lantern became the spot for a Thanksgiving lunch this year because of their plentiful veggie based dim sum options and Cantonese dishes. Nearly everything on the menu can be veganized especially with using their faux meat. There is already a lot of plant-based options available to choose from. We went with their Vegetarian Dim Sum ($13), Mock Chicken Congee ($10), Rice "Tamales" as they called them ($6 for two), and an order of their Kung Pao Faux Chicken. The congee, cha siu bao from the dim sum platter, and their 'tamales' were all fantastic. It reminded me of what I used to eat back in the day. Their kung pao could've been a bit spicier but I appreciated being able to enjoy it with their plant-based chicken, which seems to be made from seitan. Some of the vegan faux meat items though weren't as exciting. The Chicken Siu Mai was the biggest letdown and I wouldn't get that again, but everything else where they used the faux chicken was great. Aside from the food, service here was incredible. Everyone was super sweet and checked up on us often. Fun fact - they were once ranked the best restaurant in all of the U.S. by a publication and you can find their accolade proudly displayed inside.

I had a nice experience here and I’ll be back. I loved that they gave a complimentary tofu soup. The restaurant is spacious yet cozy. My Ginger Onion Beef dish was great! It also came with ride and a small salad. All <$12 before tip. I heard their veggies options are great, like the veggie orange chicken. I’ll be trying the vegetarian options next.

Boligala Raju

Many vegetarian options. The dumplings were thick and not very tasty. The tofu dish was ordered as spices but came with sweet sauce.

Andy Ng

Big Lantern became the spot for a Thanksgiving lunch this year because of their plentiful veggie based dim sum options and Cantonese dishes. Nearly everything on the menu can be veganized especially with using their faux meat. There is already a lot of plant-based options available to choose from. We went with their Vegetarian Dim Sum ($13), Mock Chicken Congee ($10), Rice "Tamales" as they called them ($6 for two), and an order of their Kung Pao Faux Chicken. The congee, cha siu bao from the dim sum platter, and their 'tamales' were all fantastic. It reminded me of what I used to eat back in the day. Their kung pao could've been a bit spicier but I appreciated being able to enjoy it with their plant-based chicken, which seems to be made from seitan. Some of the vegan faux meat items though weren't as exciting. The Chicken Siu Mai was the biggest letdown and I wouldn't get that again, but everything else where they used the faux chicken was great. Aside from the food, service here was incredible. Everyone was super sweet and checked up on us often. Fun fact - they were once ranked the best restaurant in all of the U.S. by a publication and you can find their accolade proudly displayed inside.

Jerry L Javier

I had a nice experience here and I’ll be back. I loved that they gave a complimentary tofu soup. The restaurant is spacious yet cozy. My Ginger Onion Beef dish was great! It also came with ride and a small salad. All <$12 before tip. I heard their veggies options are great, like the veggie orange chicken. I’ll be trying the vegetarian options next.

Excellent option for vegan chinese food and dim sum. Menu is not clearly labelled but easy to intuit (vegatable and tofu, meatless chicken, etc). Staff are also knowledgable about vegan options. Have enjoyed every vegan option tried so far. Good option for small and large groups, they also have free delivery is within the delivery zone.

Angela Yue

Excellent option for vegan chinese food and dim sum. Menu is not clearly labelled but easy to intuit (vegatable and tofu, meatless chicken, etc). Staff are also knowledgable about vegan options. Have enjoyed every vegan option tried so far. Good option for small and large groups, they also have free delivery is within the delivery zone.

No thrills no chills but if you are in the mood for some decent Chinese food, Big Lantern works. Certainly the menu is way too long and americanized to a large degree but the flavours are alright. I stayed away from the typical sweet and sour dishes and instead enjoyed the asparagus in black bean sauce, the crispy chicken is yummy and the Mandarin lamb was tendered and not dripping of hoisin sauce which I appreciate. Good spot for a quick fix without killing your wallet.

R M

No thrills no chills but if you are in the mood for some decent Chinese food, Big Lantern works. Certainly the menu is way too long and americanized to a large degree but the flavours are alright. I stayed away from the typical sweet and sour dishes and instead enjoyed the asparagus in black bean sauce, the crispy chicken is yummy and the Mandarin lamb was tendered and not dripping of hoisin sauce which I appreciate. Good spot for a quick fix without killing your wallet.

Food was super greasy, chicken was over cooked and the meat in the wontons tasted like it had gone bad. And they forgot one of my items, buyer beware

Not even half way through my food when I found this peace of metal in my meat.

I had a terrible time at this establishment today, I got salt and pepper chicken and it was extremely hard and not edible in the slightest, and I had the employee tell me her chicken was amazing and ignored the fact that it was hard as a rock, the people are extremely rude here and I do not recommend people eating here.

The food is hit or miss. Service SUCKED. Nice ambiance except for being ignored by waitresses while trying to get their attention. Having to wait 20 minutes for our shrimp fried rice just for it to come out last and having no compensation for our wait and food getting cold, and never receiving an item we ordered. Only thing worth online ordering from here is the crab ragoons/crab puffs. And I say that because they prioritize online orders more than their in person customers. Orange chicken are very large pieces and not sweet enough, salt and pepper fish does not taste like quality fish although it’s supposed to be cod and didn’t take my request of (extra crispy) shrimp fried rice was okay, over salted, and not flavorful while the shrimp looked and tasted gross.

The worst Chinese vegetarian I have eaten! The veggie dumplings were horrible, so doughy and tasteless. The turnip pastry was greasy and oily. The stir fried noodles with vegetables had no real taste and the string beans were oily and didn’t have the strings removed. The portion of string beans was ridiculously large with no option to order a smaller portion. For two people it was like a mountain of string beans which were super oily and didn’t taste great either. I would not recommend this place. We are vegetarian and so I write only about the vegetarian choices. The servers were very friendly and pleasant. My husband and I both have an upset stomach less than an hour after eating.