Zac Maluhia

My best restaurant experience while visiting San Francisco. Wasn't wildly loud like most places. Reservation is likely necessary. Food is unique and fantastic! Don't hesitate to go!

Kevin W

Came to try the 1st time with Californian food, really wanna see what’s it ! Everything is amazing ! We don’t have reservation so can only sit at the bar. The bartender was so nice and attentive, the cocktail was so good here, and all the food we order were stunning, I’m really shocked that the tasty and the way the cooked, absolutely coming back to try the rest of the menu.

+4

Angela Song

Incredible food! Every dish we ordered was delicious, unique, and flavorful. We ordered the duck, squash blossom and ricotta sopresine pasta, and fried green tomatoes, all of which were 5/5. Will definitely be coming back again to try their other dishes.

G P

Fantastic celebration dinner, excellent service and amazing food. We enjoyed every dish and relaxed atmosphere. Duck is not to be missed. Thank you!

+1

贺海Jorge

Absolutely the BEST restaurant in California. The service, food, and ambience were exceptional from beginning to end. Our server suggested the peppers and tofu, which were a pleasant surprise, very unique flavor and texture. Props if you’re into chinese food. The seaweed noodles also delicious, good for two people. The bbq duck is a must have, just like everyone says. For dessert we got the floating island, very creative flavors and nice sweetness with a taste of mint. I’m just really happy to have chosen this place, we had an amazing dinner and the staff made us feel at home. Would 100% come again, thank you for an amazing night.

+1

It’s a Popeyes, the quality is as expected. The location has a few indoor seats, and some shambolic energy, but surprisingly fast service. I got a chicken sandwich in like 3 minutes.

The spicy chicken tenders are amazing with a good spicy sweet/sour sauce & they reheat well in an air fryer. I ordered from Uber Eats & they didn't give me a breast substitution I paid for. (UPDATE REVIEW 1/10/22): Uber Eats order was old chicken, not spicy as ordered, greasy, watered down red beans/rice, missing breast substitutions I paid for and missing coleslaw. This is the 2nd bad online order I've gotten from this location. It's obvious that they don't deliver fresh chicken unless you happen to order when they have cooked it. Last time ordering delivery. Edit 6/1/24 THEY GAVE ME OLD CHICKEN THAT WASNT SPICY, check your bag guys.

Food was great! But a little messy in the store. Not to mention the area 😅

It's your typical city Popeyes - pretty grimy, usually pretty busy, but it gets the job done. I came at a pretty busy time of the evening on a weekday and I was in and out in about 25 minutes. The chicken and fries were tasty as usual for Popeyes. The sitting area is not exactly the cleanest, but for takeout purposes there really isn't anything to complain.

I came in the other day ordered two chicken wings got home and had six so I was happy

Get your chicken and don’t expect service here. Spicy chicken breast awesome, don’t forget to order online with coupons and deals

I went in to get two chicken wings and some fries and when I got home realized they had given me six. That's always a plus LOL. Plus the food was good hot and fresh. I've always had good experiences at this Popeyes.

This is a small facility with limited sitting areas. Parking is also limited since the disbanded Safeway conned all most the parking lot. Friend chicken burgers were excellent with crunchy skin with excellent price at 2 for $10. Please note: it's address is at Fillmore Street but the entrance to the facility is on the parking lot side.

Kyla W

I really want to love The Progress (and state bird) because the vibes are so good, the service is great, and some of the dishes are legendary, but it was my second time for dinner there last night, and 4 or so visits to state bird next door, and I see too much of a pattern to want to really come back to either ever again. How can these dishes be SO all over the place but coming out of the same team? What is going on?! I see other reviewers here posting similar things so I know I’m not alone. On the one hand you have perfectly balanced, creative, generously portioned dishes like the duck or the seaweed pasta, and on the other you have dishes with flavors or textures that do not come together at all and are even bordering inedible. The “lamb” dish last night was actually chopped up sausages that you had to roll up in big greasy tortillas, with large chucks of pumpkin, raw half-tomatillos and then garnish with fresh oranges and some kind of mole-like sauce. Who wants to this like craft project in the middle of a nice meal out? Dripping and making a mess and then taking a bite and it’s just a full raw tomatillo? LOL Or some dishes are super unbalanced (borderline gross flavor combinations), way too salty to be edible, or portions that are comedic. The bok Choy is HALF OF ONE bok choy cut into quarters for like $20—what???— We would have had to order like 4 of this dish for the table to share a reasonable portion per person!! BUT then you have the duck— perfectly cooked like something from a dream, and incredible rice with nuts that is a huge crunchy and squishy and just wonderful platter. Or the pasta dishes which were delicately balanced (Bonito with the brown butter and seaweed was like a flavor bomb! Amazing!!!). You are left thinking about your memory of these dishes later they are so good. The dessert isle flotant arrives looking like a science experiment (again— what are we doing here with textures and plating?!) but is saved by the incredible sensory mix of everything but the sorbet (which should probably be dropped from this dish because it is too dense and intense compared to the textures and flavors of the other two things, and increase the portion of the meringue which melted into the sauce in a few mins…). Why is this happening? Anyway, this review is way too long. In the end, dining here and exploring the menu and dishes (or at state bird)—as you want to do because the descriptions and ingredients are exciting!— becomes like gambling, and then when you look back on the experience/meal as a whole you are just left mostly with feelings of confusion. It’s like a flavor, texture (and emotional) roller coaster… and not in a good way. Since I’m often the one to coordinate dinners out, I don’t think I can bring people to either of these places again for anything but cocktails (which are actually all amazing!!! And the somm was super nice!) because they will think I am loco. Please do something to fix this, chef. You are better than this, I know you are. PS: shout out to the Glassy baby candles. Incredible organization !!

+2

Oliver Pe

December 2025 Californian cuisine with a more Asian slant in terms of flavor profiles while using mainly local ingredients. The food and specialty beverages all lend to the use of many Japanese and Chinese elements as well. Plating ideas are inventive and combines both tapas small serving style as well as family shareable offerings. With this style flavors are often strong and distinct. Service was a basic rotation with stated introductions to the courses but often feels hurried and pressured. Considering a seated reservation this leaves the service style a bit disappointing. The place is of a longitudinal tunnel with recessed tables as well as centered sets while an open kitchen is located at the rear. The place feels casually Californian but the lighting in muted to the point where reading is a bit difficult as well as having a clearer impact on the visuals of the dishes. Spacing though is well maintained. Ideal for small groups and dates, though in these types of highly recommended establishments where dining is also an experiential factor, service is of major consideration.

+27

May Bresler Herzog

Good dinner, with some truly delicious dishes (like the duck and the radicchio salad) balanced with some that failed to impress us. The portion sizes are the biggest downfall, and were unbalanced for a place that instructs visitors to share dishes for the table. For a table of 4 - the duck and salads are a good large portion each and were delicious, but the potato foam despite being great is a tiny portion, the noodles are fairly small (about a spoonfull per person for a table of 4, with the seafood noodles being surprisingly good and the chanterelle sorpestine too salty) and the masa dumplings are tiny and uninspired in flavor. The desserts were good (but again, floating island is tiny), and overall this meal is worth it, I just wish they'd balance the portion sizing better.

+3

Kimberly Do

The Progress is a very nice restaurant inside. The space feels modern, stylish, and welcoming once you’re in. The only downside was the walk there; the area felt a bit sketchy, and we had to park about five blocks away. We tried the Caviar Cloud, the Whole McFarland Springs Trout ($74), and the BBQ Liberty Farms Half Duck ($80). The trout was served whole with beech mushrooms, pickled ginger, and toasted black rice on the outside. The black rice gave it a grainy texture and an interesting flavor that paired well with the sauce. The duck, their signature dish, came with peanut fried rice and smoked chile vinegar. It was rich, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. We also ordered two cocktails: the One Punch Man with rum, bourbon, pandan, rau ram, cashew, lime, pineapple, and milk-washed; and the Bird’s Eye View with rum, lilikoi, Thai basil, Thai chili, chrysanthemum, and lime. Both were creative, balanced, and beautifully presented. Service was excellent and accommodating. They even reached out when we were running late for our reservation, which was a nice touch. Overall, great food, drinks, and atmosphere once you’re inside, though the neighborhood and parking situation bring it down a notch.

T Y

Overall: 3.5/5 Food: 4/5. We ordered the cloud potato caviar, pigs head, and duck. PSA, the cloud potato caviar is tiny (fist size). I enjoyed the different textures of this dish (cloudy foam, caviar, and some crunchy potato crisps). All together the taste reminded me of Pringle’s a little 😂. This was my favorite dish. Pigs head is similar to smoked prosciutto on top of salad. Duck was disappointing. Peanut fried rice and pickled vegetables were flavorless in my opinion. Tried the donut and peanut milk for dessert. Personally wasn’t a fan of the dry donut taste and the yogurt but it is a unique dish. Peanut milk tastes good but portion very small. Felt like everything is kind of overpriced for portion size. Drinks: 5/5. Tried 3 drinks and enjoyed them all. Felt like the drinks were well mixed and creative. One punch man is especially delicious. It’s sweet but not overall sweet. Service: 2/5 Not good. We had a reservation and still had to wait which is a little annoying. Our table was seated so close to another table. Waitress was not friendly whatsoever. Food order came out SO slowly. I think we waited for 30 minutes for the duck to come out and I was starving by then. The waitress never stopped by in this 30 minutes to check on us or give an update. Ordered a second round of drinks after we finished the appetizer and that took another 30 minutes (we were so sure the order was forgotten). We got the dessert menu and had to wait forever to put in our order. I was very close to just wanting to walk and call it a night at that point. Visited on a Monday evening and the restaurant was packed. Highly recommend making a reservation in advance. It’s probably difficult to find street parking so I recommend but the Japan town parking structure is a close walk away.

Kyung

Food was very good but nothing blew out minds. I think our favorite was the seaweed butter noodles. Their sauces are very tasty in every dish. The person next to us was seated very close to us so no real privacy if you are looking for a intimate dinner. Would come again to try the other dishes. The desserts were so so.

+2

Angie Hong

First off, I LOVE this place! From the moment I walked in, I was warmly greeted by the staff. They were so friendly and welcoming, which really set the tone for the evening. The Progress is such a great spot for a date night - cozy, modern, and intimate, but it also works well for a dinner with friends. The vibe is relaxed yet elevated, and I really enjoyed the ambiance. Now to the food, Caviar Potato Cloud (10/10): Light, creamy, with just the right touch of caviar flavor. Absolutely perfect. Smoked Duck (10/10, must-order): Pricey, but worth every bite. The duck was cooked beautifully and paired perfectly with the rice. "Stir-Fried" Pork Sausage & Monterey Squid (6/10): This one fell flat for us, flavor was pretty average and not worth the price. I'd skip this dish. Dessert: We tried the chocolate cake with ice cream and Sichuan sauce. Creative and interesting, though a little too sweet for our taste. If I had one wish, it would be for slightly larger portions. But overall, the food was excellent, and I'm already looking forward to coming back to try more dishes. Definitely recommend checking this place out.

Johnny L.

Food is leaning toward salty on most dishes and at times difficult to finish. Please refer to the following attached photos: Good dishes: duck (most popular), caviar potato foam appetizer, halibut , and desserts (finished strong!), particularly the Sichuan flavored cake (totally a positive surprise). Salty dishes: pasta dish (forgot the name) Let down dishes: Mango appetizer Their menu rotates so most of these might not be relevant. Hope they can balance out the salt level a bit better.

+5

These people always want higher pay but can’t even do a simple task. I order 3pc chicken tenders with fries and sweet tea. How I end up with 3pc fried chicken with rice and beans. Where’s the biscuit?! Didn’t even give me my sweet tea. Then again it’s my fault for not checking my order before leaving, when I know these people are incompetent.

It is a very busy location so expect a few missing items in your order, which happened half of the time. The staff are usually doing their best to get the orders out.

I got takeout from Popeyes using Uber Eats, expecting a super spicy and tasty meal. But, sadly, it didn't turn out as I hoped. I ordered 6 Ghost Pepper Wings and 8 Spicy Signature Chicken pieces, with coleslaw and a small Coca-Cola®. I was really looking forward to the spicy wings and chicken, but they weren't spicy at all. It felt like they forgot to add any spice. As someone who loves spicy food, it was a big disappointment. The 8-piece Spicy Signature Chicken wasn't as exciting as it sounds. It was dry and not very flavorful. I was hoping for a bold and tasty experience, but it didn't happen. Overall, the meal didn't live up to my expectations, and it left me wanting more flavor.

Food & staff are great but it's not a good place to have have a dining experience. The place, inside & outside, are filthy and littered with trash left behind by the kind of patrons they have in the area. Homeless & thugs come in & out and litter the place.

Food is decent, but the service is consistently terrible. I’ve been to this Popeyes on multiple occasions, and no one ever greets you when you walk in. I usually have to approach the counter to ask if my order is ready—and most of the time, it isn’t. After waiting an extended period, I’ll check again, and often the food has been sitting there ready with no one bothering to notify me. I’ve also had my order made incorrectly multiple times, so I now check my bag before even driving away. Parking lot is also a little sketchy and run down.

Noji Oji Oji

We had high expectations given the Michelin recognition, and while the service and ambiance were good, the food itself didn’t justify the price for us. The flavors leaned toward subdued Asian influences, and several dishes bordered on oversalted. The pacing of the meal felt off, with long gaps between dishes rather than being able to enjoy them together and alternate between salty flavors. Because of this, each dish felt heavier on its own instead of part of a cohesive progression. We ordered the duck, hamachi, and brown butter seaweed noodles, but none of them made us want to keep eating. What stood out is that my hubby and I usually have opposite palates, yet we were both underwhelmed. We decided to skip dessert given the price and were happier eating cookies at home instead. Overall, it was a one-and-done for us.

The staff was extremely rude, and the service was unacceptably slow. I waited 45 minutes for a single order, and there was no communication or concern shown during the wait. Uber Eats and DoorDash drivers are also customers, but the staff treated drivers disrespectfully and acted unprofessionally. Overall, there was a clear lack of customer service and accountability. Very disappointing experience.

Ordered bigger box from DoorDash and it turned out to be a bad idea. Chicken was dry and tasteless. There was more wings to make up for 10 pieces so didn’t get the value for the money. Very disappointed.

I was over halfway through my 5 piece tender meal when I looked down and saw a ripped, blackened fingernail that had been underneath one of the tenders. I don't typically complain about food but this was disgusting and straight up a health violation. I've reached out to Popeyes for some kind of reimbursement, as my boyfriend and I got nauseous at the sight of this and did not want to finish the $30 worth of food we purchased.