- Chinese Food
- Chinese Restaurant
- California
- San Francisco County
- San Francisco
- North Beach
- Chinese Restaurant in Powell Street
- Lai Hong Lounge
Lai Hong Lounge Photos










Hours
Monday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PMTuesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Wednesday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Thursday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Friday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Saturday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Sunday, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
About Lai Hong Lounge
Welcome to Lai Hong Lounge, a Vietnamese restaurant located at 1416 Powell St in the heart of San Francisco, California. While the platform category is listed as Chinese Restaurant, Lai Hong Lounge offers a distinct Vietnamese culinary experience for residents and visitors in the 94133 area. You can contact us at (415) 397-2290 or our mobile number, +1 415-397-2290, for any inquiries.
Based on recent customer feedback, Lai Hong Lounge appears to be a popular spot, particularly during peak hours such as Sunday brunch. One reviewer noted that the atmosphere was "a little chaotic" during this busy period, which is understandable given the potential influx of diners. Despite the bustling environment, the same reviewer highlighted that "the food was great!" Specific favorite dishes mentioned include the "coffee ribs," "green beans," and "salt & pepper tofu," suggesting that these are standout items on the menu and highly recommended by patrons.
The reviewer also offered a piece of advice for those visiting during busy times, suggesting to "Be ready to be assertive if you’re hungry and it’s busy :)." This implies that while the food is enjoyable, the service might require a proactive approach from customers when the restaurant is crowded, possibly due to the high volume of orders and the pace of the environment.
Another customer shared their experience meeting family who were visiting town. This group encountered a wait in line, indicating the restaurant's popularity. They also experienced some confusion with the numbering system for being called, which resulted in others behind them being served first. This suggests that the system for managing waiting customers might be a point of congestion or could benefit from clearer communication, especially for first-time visitors or larger groups.
The same reviewer noted that the restaurant was "crowded even though it was after 1pm," further emphasizing its popularity beyond typical peak brunch hours. They also observed some cleanliness issues, mentioning that they "Saw napkins on the floor that didn’t get picked up and will probably stay there for a while." This suggests that maintaining cleanliness during busy periods might be a challenge for the staff.
Despite these observations about the busy atmosphere and a minor cleanliness concern, this reviewer also affirmed that "Food was good." Additionally, they noted a positive aspect of the service, stating, "They didn’t rush us," which implies that even with the crowd, the staff allowed diners to enjoy their meal at their own pace without feeling pressured to vacate their table quickly.
Based on the limited information provided, it's challenging to give a comprehensive description of the environment beyond it being potentially chaotic and crowded, especially during peak times. The mention of napkins on the floor suggests a casual setting where maintaining perfect tidiness during high traffic might be difficult. However, the positive remarks about the food being "great" and "good" are consistent across both reviews, indicating that the culinary offerings are a significant draw for customers.
In terms of services, the reviews primarily focus on the dine-in experience. One review implicitly mentions a system for calling numbers, suggesting an organized approach to managing waiting customers, although its clarity could be improved. The comment about not being rushed indicates a customer-friendly approach to dining duration. However, there is no information provided about other potential services such as takeout, delivery, or reservation policies. Customers interested in these aspects would need to contact Lai Hong Lounge directly.
Regarding the features of Lai Hong Lounge, the standout feature appears to be the quality and taste of its Vietnamese cuisine, particularly dishes like the coffee ribs, green beans, and salt & pepper tofu. The restaurant's popularity, evidenced by the crowds and lines, suggests that it has established a reputation for serving enjoyable food that brings customers back. However, potential customers should be prepared for a lively and possibly chaotic atmosphere, especially during busy times, and may need to be proactive in seeking service if needed.
Finally, the provided text does not contain any information about current or upcoming promotional offers or special deals at Lai Hong Lounge. Customers interested in knowing about any discounts or promotions should contact the restaurant directly at (415) 397-2290 to inquire.
In conclusion, Lai Hong Lounge on Powell Street in San Francisco is a Vietnamese restaurant that appears to be popular and well-regarded for its food, with dishes like the coffee ribs, green beans, and salt & pepper tofu receiving high praise. However, potential diners should be aware that the atmosphere can be chaotic and crowded, especially during peak hours like Sunday brunch, and service might require some assertiveness during these times. While the food quality seems to be a major draw, there are mentions of potential issues with cleanliness and the clarity of the waiting system. Information about the restaurant's environment beyond its busyness, additional services like takeout or delivery, and any promotional offers is not available in the provided reviews. Local users looking for tasty Vietnamese cuisine should consider Lai Hong Lounge, keeping in mind the potential for a lively dining experience.
Lai Hong Lounge Location
1416 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
Customer Reviews
TBH it was a little chaotic (Sunday brunch, I realize), but the food was great! Our favorites were the coffee ribs, green beans, and salt & pepper tofu. Be ready to be assertive if you’re hungry and it’s busy :).
Met with family who were in town. They waited in line for a while. Others behind them because we didn’t understand our numbers getting called. It was crowded even though it was after 1pm. Saw napkins on the floor that didn’t get picked up and will probably stay there for a while. Food was good. They didn’t rush us.
Easily the best dim sum place I’ve experienced in the US. All the dishes we tried were on point with their complex yet balanced flavors and textures. The ribs were incredibly tender and juicy on the inside with a thin, crispy outer layer of starch-based fried batter, coated in a sweet and savory sauce. The sauce had a note of caramel and fermented black beans. The dried beans were perfectly seasoned and crunchy, and the chive dumplings were so full of grassy, fresh flavors of chives with a hint of fatty pork that provided richness. Chicken feet were so tender and gelatinous that the skin and meat separated from bones so easily and just melted in our mouths. Sticky rice steamed in banana leaves, turnip cakes, pork and shrimp siu mai were all delicious with chunky bits of ingredients in them that enhanced the tactile experience of eating them. The black sesame rolls were also so moist and packed with rich black sesame flavors. Each dish is cooked fresh and delivered straight to your table, instead of being served on carts, so the dishes are not dried out or overcooked. The atmosphere is very charming and familial, and the service is well-oiled even during the busiest hours. Recommend arriving early when they open on weekends to avoid the wait. Highly recommended! Tips are included in the bill, FYI.
Visited here on a weekday morning, it was a long queue outside before opening time. The food was great. But I don’t think they have enough staffs to serve that each time we have a request we have to wait for a while.
Pricing: ~$30 per person to get you very full This dim sum spot in the lively North Beach neighborhood is good choice for a casual, comforting meal. The food is about what you’d expect from a humble cantonese restaurant—nothing mind-blowing, but delicious and satisfying. We tried a variety of dim sum, including shrimp dumplings, siu mai, pan-fried tofu skin rolls, XO sauce stuffed eggplant, and chicken feet. Everything was good, but the standout was definitely the pan-fried turnip cake—perfectly crispy on the outside and packed with flavor. The sautéed taro root cake, made with taro, bacon bits, and dried shrimp, was surprisingly tasty, even for someone who’s not a big fan of taro’s texture. Service was fast, and the waiters were friendly. Overall, we had a good time.
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