Abacus
Categories: Chinese, American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA2078 Hayes St
(between Clayton St & Cole St)
San Francisco, CA 94117 (415) 387-2828
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Sat 5:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Sun 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
1070 reviews
Neighborhood: Mission
"It was nice coming here for a business dinner because, well, I didn't have to pay for anything! So, that was the best part of the dinner,…" read more »
116 Reviews for Abacus
The location is pretty sweet - it's on a very, very cozy and quiet block of Hayes. The decor is fun and what I mean is they have artwork with action figures! Plus, the service is SUPER! The wait staff was attentive and friendly. I loved the wallet-friendly menu items too - most plates were under $15. We had the Kung Pao Seafood Trio, Pork Katsu, garlic noodles and brown rice. The food was good, but nothing extraordinary. I'm lookng forward to my next visit and trying out the more exciting items.
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Review based on over two dozen visits at Abacus.
Restaurant (4 Stars)
Service (4.5 Stars)
Food (3.8 Stars)
Price (3.5 Stars)
Location (5 Stars)
They are right by my alma mater USF !
You won't be disappointed if you dine here knowing they serve Chinese cuisine with a nice touch of California style.(don't look for authenticity)
True review 4.78 Stars
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I came here based on the reviews and ordered a variety of things to try...
The small soups are HUGE, 16 oz to be exact - for $6 each. One small bowl of soup is good for 2 people. We ordered 2 different soups - carrot puree soup and hot and sour soup. The carrot puree was exactly what it says - carrot puree without much more; and the hot and sour soup was solid - I enjoyed it - but 16 oz is like a big gulp - too much.
The vegetarian egg rolls were 4 big egg rolls - again - bigger than I expected. Standard taste and a tad greasy, but satisfying. Good presentation on a long slim plate that fits well on the table.
The tangerine chicken is fried and looked like popcorn chicken - my husband devoured it but complained of a stomach ache later. Not sure if it was the popcorn chicken, the carrot soup, or the veggie eggrolls, or the dessert - but I suspect it was the popcorn tangerine chicken.
I had the sea bass, good taste, nice sauce - but it was served on a bed of pea sprouts. Pea sprouts are like grass, really - imagine eating a big wad of grass that's been stir fried with soy sauce - maybe a bit tasty, but you really cannot chew grass - it doesn't break down. I had to spit it out into my napkin (not the best choice, but the only choice I had). So, I just ate the fish.
And, my biggest complaint: the white rice was not good. Fresh steamed rice should be soft and a little gooey and slide right down your mouth. The rice seemed like it was overcooked, or old, or sitting in the pot for awhile - because the grains were hard and separated a bit.
Finally, the dessert we shared was a mango cheesecake - which was FANTASTIC - light, smooth, creamy, and perfect.
The restaurant is well decorated, small (maybe only 10 tables), mostly tables for 2. Had some fun art on the wall with spider man, super man, and bat man figurines.
The staff was excellent, fast service, and nice.
The meal was $85 for 2, I know we ordered alot - but that's pricey for Chinese food.
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Very elegant and pricy - I love the interior. They weren't overly nice. A little yuppified perhaps, or fusional. But interesting concept. I'll try it again!
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The reviews here were spot on with Abacus. I tried to walk in on a Friday night which was a bad move, but eventually got back over there yesterday in the early evening and, I got to eat! Abacus will be in my regular restaurant rotation from here on. Its high quality Chinese food-- good ingredients, good flavors and a nice place as well. Its definitely more on the American-Chinese style of cooking, but the food is much lighter and more delicate than your typical spot. I think its more a 4 star restaurant than a 5 star, but I give them the bump for being rather unique in their combination of food, service and ambience at a fairly modest restaurant.
The Food:
Ahi w/ Mango Salsa Appetizer-- The tuna itself was excellent and the portion was giant. The cracked pepper rub on the outside of the tuna steak was a little excessive, but not terrible. The thin sauce was quite tasty. The diced mangoes in the salsa weren't ripe enough. Riper mangoes and this would have been phenomenal. As it was, good but not great.
Ginger and Chili Prawns-- These were absolutely decicious. Big prawns and a very flavorful sauce (a little sweet, a little spicy) that wasn't heavy or overwhelming. I will definitely order this again.
Mongolian Chicken-- Good, but not earth shattering. The chicken was largely white meat and the sauce was light for mongolian chicken while still flavorful. I'm not a huge fan of mongolian chicken to begin with so take my opinion for what its worth.
That was the meal. Quite good overall and it doesn't totally weigh you down either. There was a decent wine list as well. Prices are on the high side for Chinese food, but Abacus is definitely 2 steps up from your usual take-out/eat-in place. You are paying for quality.
On a final note, it's a nice little space, small and intimate, with orchids and other flowers, some art on the walls, etc... It wouldn't be a super romantic, special occasion place, but it is quite nice could certainly suffice for a night out.
I recommend abacus highly.
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I am in trouble with my friend Tati K. Abacus was on a short list of SF restaurants that we would try together. Ok I cheated. I was in the area for an appointment and couldn't resist the chance. So I had lunch.
As an appetizer, I stuck with the specials and had Pea Sprouts Pot Stickers. The 6 pot stickers were filled with pork and had more vegetables than I normally have. The wrap was green in color, the first I've seen. With more veggies, this made for a more subtle flavor which was delicious.
For my lunch plate, I went spicy and had the Prawns in Ginger Chili Sauce. The prawns were the largest I've had in a long time. Also, the ginger and chili sauce combination was spicy and out of this world. The plate includes steamed rice and a mixed salad (the dressing was very light and flavorful).
All this was washed off with a Tropical Iced Tea. A nice, smooth flavor. I took note of the impressive wine list -- good news for you Tati. For great California Chinese cuisine, Abacus is a fresh perspective. Will be back for dinner with Tati in the near term!
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Close to work...cheap and filling lunch specials...tasty, fresh ingredients. Glad I found this place in an unassuming section of Hayes St.
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There is a lot to like about this place. It's neighborhoodish. It's small and kinda quaint. The menu isn't exhaustive, which means it can focus on what it does best. And the food is not greasy in the slightest -- which is a big double plus when considering any Chinese-oriented cuisine, California-inspired or not.
The flavors, however, were absent. The flounder in a spicy garlic sauce (I hardly ever eat fish anymore) was as tender and beautifully cooked as ever. The dish even had a kick to it (I did ask for it on the spicier side). But -- and most importantly -- it was flavorless. Where was the garlic? Where was the declaration? Had I been blindfolded, my review would not veer in the slightest: tender fish, but I can't tell if this is a black-bean sauce, a Szechuan sauce, or something Hunan. Unfortunately, I have to say the same for the vegetarian spring rolls we shared. It was wonderful that there was an assortment of vegetables, but I only sensed the texture, not the flavor. You can't taste texture.
A silver lining: I don't think they use MSG.
All in all:
5+ stars for the non-greasiness.
3.5 stars for the ambiance.
1.5 stars for the (lack of) flavor.
It's hard to imagine a kitchen with such a delicate hand not having more flavor. Did I catch it on an off-night? I'd try again if the circumstances were right, but as of right now, I can't say that I'm taken, as much as I wanted to be.
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Holy freaking, Moly!
What a surprise this was. This place is by my girlfriend's house, I've passed by it a bunch of times and never even noticed it. Tonight, she and I, both sick, wanted some Hot & Sour soup so we went in. Our food and service were great, and wow, this place is clean. While not an epic dining experience, I bumped them from 4 to 5 stars because I think they deserve it. Such a pleasant surprise.
I'm going to have to agree with K.L. about the food, don't go for authenticity go for Chinese + California. Oh and go for DELICIOUSNESS.
Amazing food. Everything was delicious and there, for the first time ever with my family, there were no left overs. True, it might have been because there were 9 of us. This place is teeeeeny tiny, but accomidated all of us at a center table. We ordered about 12 different dishes and every single one was polished off. While the chow mein and fried rice were on the bland side, all entrees were delicious. I HIGHLY reccomend the beef with fresh pineapple. It was the stand out dish of the night. The beef with basil was amazing as well. The art on the walls all incorperate superheros, which I thought was pretty f-ing cool. All in all a really good experience.
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We came for lunch today and I tried the braised duck leg with wonton egg noodle soup. I opted for the thick egg noodle and found them ok, nice and al dente, but I'd try the thinner next time. I tried my SO's hofun noodle and those were better, but not as silky as I've had.
The broth tasted like a mix of pork and chicken broth, it was a tad salty and a dark brown color with a bit of fat floating on top.
The wontons were average, nothing special, but I did get about 5 or so. The braised duck leg tasted of your typical 5-spice and soy seasoning, but it was nice and tender. It came with the skin on, so you can indulge if you're in the mood.
The condiment tray featured soy sauce, vinegar, fresh pickled jalapenos, a sweet hot sauce, hoisin sauce, and chili oil. I mixed the chili oil with the hot sauce for dipping and used some jalapenos in the broth for extra acidity and heat.
Overall, it was satisfying, but I'd give some other places in the TL a shot before returning.
We snuck in a little after 2pm yesterday for lunch. They've got a great, reasonably priced lunch menu with hot and spicy Kung Pao Chicken, Chili Lime Prawns and Mongolian Beef.
For twenty bucks we had delicious hot ginger tea, corn and egg drop soup, salad tossed in a great sesame/citrus dressing and two niced portioned entrees.
The waiter was friendly and prompt, the decor was clean and pleasing, and the food left us very satisfied. We'll be back!
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This place is almost as good as panda express. No joke. As a chinese person, I would say this is pretty average.
There are some pros: everything is flavored in a safe manner, so its veggie friendly, also friendly to those who aren't too familiar with chinese food.
Cons: if you are really chinese, you would not eat here. Then again, its california chinese style for some reason.
Ate: Shrimp with snow peas, short ribs, orange chicken, baby bok choy, sweet and sour soup, corn chowder, and beef with broccoli.
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Just tried the flounder in schezuan garlic sauce. Best dish I've had there. So buttery and flavorful and the veggies were cooked to the perfect texture. Try it. I also learned that Abacus scored a 100 on their most recent restaurant inspection score and received an Award of Excellence. Well damn.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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07/03/2007
I had a really interesting, mind-boggling, experience today. I went to a Chinese food restaurant,… Read more »
Very pleasant and quiet place! This is really cheap for the food you can have. It is really good and well presented.
I had the potstickers as a appetizer, and they probably are the best potstickers I ever had (don't be surprised, they are green!) and I finished with the spicy chicken with peanuts and it was really tasty.
I'll go back there, for sure!
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Abacus is a mere 5 minute leisurely stroll from my house and yet I've only been here 4 times.
This is a tragedy.
Every time I go I am blown away by the simple fresh NON-GREASY chinese food served in this little gem tucked away in my mostly residential hood.
The Ma Po Tofu was excellent and had the best little spicy kick. The mixed veggies were crisp, fresh and not overwhelmed by a sticky sauce. No cornstarch here kids!
We left the restaurant feeling satisfied but not disgustingly bloated.
They offer brown rice too. A+++
I've had a chicken dish here before, and I liked it, but not enough to remember what dish it was.
This is a great little place for those with veggie only friends.
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I don't know why I'm writing you to tell you about this place - it is a small restaurant and some day you may get in the way of me and the succulent pork belly dish they make. I've been here 3 times in the last 3 months and every time the food was outstanding. The service is also attentive without being too effusive and you can have a laugh with the staff. I haven't ordered anything I didn't like off the menu so I can't really tell you what to watch out for. Just this... as good as the pot stickers and soup and entrees all are, do yourself a favor and save room for dessert. I don't think of Chinese restaurants (and yes, I know it's a "fusion" restaurant) and think "great dessert" but tis true! The mango cheesecake is light and fluffy and wonderfully, lip-smackingly mangoey. I haven't been to any other Chinese restaurant in SF in the 16 years I've been calling this town home that beats this place. Oh, and it's lovely inside with great superhero art on the walls!
Now you know how much I love you...
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I went here for dinner with four other people. There are lots of tempting things on the menu so it was good to go with a group and get to try lots of dishes. I liked everything we ordered, though nothing totally blew me away. Favorites were - portobello mushroom fritters, spicy basil chicken, orange beef. Also liked the garlic noodles and pea sprouts with garlic.
The restaurant was pretty empty for a Friday night and the service was good. It's a nice atmosphere for a night out (a modern, white tablecloth kind of place). One thing that seemed strange is the blue eerie glow that would come out of the back of the restaurant whenever they opened the fridge to take out a beverage - very X-files.
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I dislike Chinese food, because I was taken to nothing but the most inexpensive, greasy, cockroach infested dives in San Francisco from the age of 3 to 30. But as it was, on one particular night, I was starving and needed sustenance...and FAST.
My hub and I were stuck in an unfamiliar area, and knew no restaurants there except for the unpleasantly hot as Hades Poleng, which we swore we would avoid at all costs. Luckily for us, we stumbled upon this little gem tucked between the residential apartment buildings and cooler-than-me condos. I was hesitant, because of my dislike of all things greasy and fattening.
Well, slap my hide and call me Betty! I love this California/Chinese fusion restaurant!
The food was delicious! The flavors were clean, strong, and well-defined. Everything had a very distinct and unique, yet familiar, flavor. Hub had the twice-braised pork belly, which was basically the morbidly obese cousin to bacon. I had the eggplant, which was sweet and slightly spicy, with some coarsely chopped green onions thrown on top for a fresh, crisp bite. It was such a generous portion, I ended up taking most of it home.
The service was friendly and appreciative. They attended my water glass every ten minutes or so. I had a very enjoyable dinner for under $30. Not bad, for two dishes, drinks, tax and tip.
Eric's, Alice's, and Eliza's have some serious competition.
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It's a tad pricey. The food isn't bad, but it isn't spectacular. The ambiance is nice, and it's very cozy. They got my order wrong, but I didn't mind them giving me chicken instead of beef. The garlic noodles are yums. (but overpriced)
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for appetitzers we decided to try their spinach pork filling potstickers and their portobello mushroom fritters w/ ginger aioli sauce. we were blown away. i love their spinach wrapper pork filling potstickers there was so much flavor you can just forget about the sauce! but the sauce is a plus ;p but inside these cute little green wraps had some sort of mixture of crispy veggies or i dont know.. im not good with words haha but yet im still going to try to write this review but it was so good. for me i have to have a little vegetable with my meat so i really enjoyed the potstickers.. and then.....! i love portobello mushrooms and oh.... the ginger aioli sauce... oh... my friend and i litterally left the sauce dish spotless! but their appetitzers make my tummy smile :] next course.. we ordered crispy orange beef, garlic noodles, and honey glazed walnut prawns. the crispy beef was crispy and had a zesty orange flavor, the garlic noodles were okay i think i'd order it with more garlic next time cause i love garlic, the prawns were pretty big and the taste was sweet and juicy. we were stuffed and had no room for dessert :[ i wanna try the vanilla flan with fresh berries.. maybe i'll make a trip down there today :]
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It's so much fun to find a great restaurant nestled in between Victorian houses and tree lined streets. Abacus is a romantic, yummy, cozy, affordable find. A true gem. I'll be back for some more Kung Pao Chicken!
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I just can't seem to get enough of Abacus. It's still, after more than two years, my regular Monday dinner place out. I continue to bring new friends and they always seem to return and they in turn are bringing their friends. It's consistent, fresh, wonderful ambience, and friendly staff. Keep up the good work.
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I went here on a Saturday, but early ("old-people dinner" I call it) because I wanted to make a movie after. The staff was very polite and service was great, and we really enjoyed the food. I think we had Tangerine Chicken and a dish with beef and basil that was very good. We also had potstickers- boring choice I know, but they were made with a spinach dough and they were probably the best potstickers I or my date have ever had.
It's very small in this restaurant, but I don't care, I would definitely go again.
Abacus is a GREAT place to go for classy, delicious Chinese food with a date who'll enjoy the cute, intimate interior and not-in-your-face service!
The fried wonton appetizer was excellent - mushrooms made it earthy, pine nuts gave it texture, parmesan made it just creamy enough - and was great for the price since we got 8 of them!
For entrees, mongolian beef was perfectly spicy, melty and aromatic; kung pao seafood trio was spicy, fresh and in a great sauce; garlic noodles were tasty but a bit plain, so I mixed it with my kung pao and DELICIOUS!
The only thing missing was the complimentary dessert (typical to many Chinese places) that everyone was Yelping about. We got nothing except for a boring looking dessert menu that we passed on. What's up with that?
I would definitely come here again for a more upscale Chinese dining experience :)
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OMG: some of the best Chinese food in SF in an unlikely location. We started off with Coconut Prawns with Spicy Mango Sauce and Fried Won Ton stuffed with Mushrooms, Parmasan & Pine Nuts. We were transported to heaven! For main courses we were thrilled with the unusual flavors of the Sesame Encrusted Ahi Tuna and Wok Seared Beef Tenderloin. We also ordered Kung Pao Chicken: so fresh and nicely spiced. The service and decor were tops. We'll be back!
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Excelleht meal - everything, from the egg rolls to the seared ahi, to the sea bass, to the eggplant, was fantastic. I worry about it's longevity, though. It's a bit pricey to be a regular neighborhood eating spot, but parking is way too difficult to be a destination spot. We ate there on a Thursday - early, granted, but when we left it was almost 6 pm and still not one other customer set foot in the place. I hope they do a good lunch and evening business, because they deserve to stay in business with their food and presentation and friendly service.
best high end chinese in San Francisco
Abacus has consistently tasty food. It makes me smile so big that my double chin shows. And if you're lucky, you get the server that sounds like Bruce Lee...or maybe he strikes a slight resemblance of him, too.
What is usually ordered:
-Pot stickers: So yummy. Sometimes I think I could just eat pot stickers for dinner.
-Honey glazed tangerine chicken: Get it next time and it will probably become your regular food item here, too.
-Staple of brown rice: Usually fine. Last time the rice was either old or overcooked.
Other food I have tried: I sampled the Hot and Sour soup. Too hot for people who are not able to stand spicy stuff. I didn't order it. I thought I could be a tough cookie and bare the spicyness. It was pretty good while my taste buds could handle it. The bok choy is nice. I didn't realize there was garlic in it until I came home and had garlic breath. So don't get the bok choy during an intimate date. Bacon wrapped prawns= full-of-sin goodness. However, not so impressed with the Mango Chicken and Braised Tofu with Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms.
An extra star for serving Mighty Leaf tea in Jasmine.
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SF Food Inspection Score: 100!
So good, we gave them a 25% tip. i don't think i've ever done that before.
first time at this place, i made reservations for 9 but it dropped to 7. they were cool about it.
the rm was very nice, not pushy, and we had three waiters helping us out.
like other reviews, i agree the service was a little slow BUT it gave me and my friends a chance to talk and catch up and if you order apps, you'll be all good. i reccomend the fried tofu. so light, not greasy, and so flavorful!
for entrees: spicy basil beef, honey glazed tangerine chicken, green beans in chili sauce, and braised tofu with veggies.
and you MUST get the garlic noodles! two orders for a party of 6.
this is the BEST part: FREE DESSERT! very nice folks and very good food.
i will be coming again.
Discovering Abacus is like waking up Christmas morning, eating, opening all your presents, taking a nap, then all of a sudden noticing an envelope perched inside the Christmas tree with YOUR name on it and money inside. It's a hidden gem really.
Great addition to the Western Addition, not so much new as it has been around for two years. Lawrence and David are very nice, hospitable people and really know how to throw around a light saber. As soon as I walked into the place I KNEW it was five star worthy judging by the action figures hanging from the all of the artwork.
The food though - Oh Mah Gah! The goat cheese, pine nut, and mushroom won tons came out with no sauce which at first was weird - pretty much anytime you have Chinese food apps you dip it in soy sauce or duck sauce, right? You don't need sauce with this food. It is that tasty and just cooked to perfection. The pot stickers are wrapped in spinach pasta and well, those had sauce, but didn't need it.
We ordered to share everything which I suggest - every dish is exceptional and while you may not want to share, it's definitely the way to go. I honestly have never had American Chinese food this good folks. Scallops, Edamame, Sweet Corn and Water Chestnuts? Seriously? Fuck yeah. Just go here on your next night out - don't forget to make reservations and definitely ask Lawrence about his real life light saber, just trust me.
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Good local 'not-so greasy and generic' Chinese food. The mushroom soup is quite tasty - your mouth is treated to an assortment of mushrooms in a light broth. The Mongolian chicken was the perfect amount of spice and flavor, and the decor was cool. Apparently they have a thing for super heroes, which is evident from the elegant portraits of them surrounding you as you eat.
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I seriously feel like I missed something here, or was it just a bad case of my expectations being set too high by all of the Yelp reviews? I feel like I've just gone over a friend's house whose mom was a really good cook but it turns out that the night I was invited over for dinner was when they usually order in a pizza.
Service was slow even though it didn't seem like there were very many people there, and that "muzak" they played in the background - I felt like I was in a fluorescent-lit Asian super market where flies lazily buzzed over the produce and the stench of fish slaughtered past hung in the air. Really, I got all that just listening to their "muzak." I just didn't think it tied in with the contemporary decor, which was just "alright," by the way.
The food..."Meh!" was just about all I can say, "meh!" Yeah, I guess it's a little less greasy than their counterparts served at just any ol' Chinese restaurant, but I could've gotten the same dishes at any ol' Chinese restaurant for far less and with the same amount of flavor.
I'm sorry guys, I really want go along with everybody here, but I can't in good conscience. It just wasn't all that. With everyone's 4-5 star ratings, I was truly expecting "all that, and then some with a bag of chips." Maybe I just came on a night when things were a little off? I'll come back again someday and see if it'll be any different then.
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So my first review...whew...better shake out my hands....okay, here I go:
My friend Adam from college is in town for a week and wanted to eat at a great Chinese restaurant for his last night...so I tell him about yelp and that while I was at work, his mission was to find the best place.
Well, he couldn't have picked a better place than Abacus. He talked it up for about an hour before we arrived, so I came in with elevated expectations...and it exceeded them. This is going to become a go-to place for a casual scene with sophisticated Chinese food.
The whole experience was five stars...but let's start with the intangibles. The artwork of action figure toys like spiderman or batman imposed on city skyline paintings was awesome, the highly personal and friendly service from the wait staff (granted this was a Monday night, the place is only half full, but still was great none the less), the ultra clean and pleasant smelling bathroom (even high quality soap, not the stuff that makes you smell like, well, a bathroom) and timely service of fresh food from the kitchen (not too fast, but not too slow...just right).
Now to the real deal, the food. We started by sharing the hot and sour soup and vegetable egg rolls. The soup was just right with a little spiciness and the the egg rolls were lightly batter fried with a great, somewhat unique dipping sauce. Adam had the honey glazed tangerine chicken...amazing! I can see why others recommended it...very distinct flavors that come and go so you taste all the ingredients. I had the kung pao seafood trio, also amazing. The shrimp, scallops and white fish were tasty in a mellow sweet but spicy sauce with ample veggies, peppers and pineapple. Both of us shared the fresh and sticky jasmine rice which was a clincher.
I am really excited to bring back some friends for another dinner and try some different menu items. Highly recommended to all!
Full disclosure: hampered by high expectations, desire for very local and affordable Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese food.
I waited until we had eaten here a few times in order to review. I feel guilty not liking it more since people seem to have such nice things to say about it, but I can't change the fact that this place just doesn't strike my fancy. This is despite the fact that I would really like to support any local eateries (I live around the block).
It's casual in a general sense since I don't like walking in here in schleppy jeans/t-shirt because the two guys who work here (and own it?) usually eye me like I am bringing down the vibe. It's small which isn't necessarily a negative, but I usually feel like I am crawling over people to sit down. It's also often a little chilly in here. Ok, those are my major gripes.
Otherwise, the menu is decent and I find that their dishes are generally pretty tasty. It never seems expensive when I order, but the bill is always sort of depressing because we never feel like we got what we paid for. I don't know, but something is lost in the math.
I wouldn't tell someone not to go there, but Clement is close and so much better and cheaper (though less trendy)!
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Pretty damn good for "chinese food." I'd say it's more chinese-fusion, because many of the dishes have a nice twist. Seemed healthier and less greasy than typical chinese. We had:
- The hot & sour soup was pretty good (although not up to all the stellar reviews).
- Seabass was excellent.
- Green beans were tasty but a bit too mushy
- Garlic noodles were flavorful, but I think a better noodle could be used instead of spagetti
- Spicy basil chicken was disappointing.
- Mango cheesecake... yum
- Fried bananas & coconut ice cream... double yum!
I have a feeling that many of their other dishes are quite good. I'll definitely return for another taste. The place has some character and they seem to have a sense of humor. Good vibe for a solid meal.
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the osha of chinese food. but better. clean bright modern, and delicious. i've been a few times now, gotten something different every time, and everything has been very consistently spectacular. especially the prawn dishes. they go well with the vegetable fried rice which i might be so bold as to say is the best fried rice i've ever had. i normally have to cut the heavy oilyness of chinese food with plain steamed rice, but their food is not at all heavy or oily which is often typical of chinese food, the vegetable fried rice is the perfect accompanyment to all their dishes. and with plastic spiderman toys dangling from the walls, it really can't get much better. i'm going to make it my mission to make the guys operating the joint to crack a smile once during my visit. the service is very good, but so serious. the last time i was there our server actually cracked a pretty funny joke so i know there's a sense of humor in there. i'm on it.
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This place is kinda tucked away on Hayes Street, but the ambiance of it is really nice. My sister and a bunch of her friends pretty much took over the middle table for the evening. The food is pretty tasty. I sampled some Hot and Sour Soup, garlic noodles, mandarin chicken, a couple of appetizers, etc. A friend of a friend who came here to work from Singapore said this was the best meal she's had in San Francisco to date. That comment alone should tell you something. The prices were surprisingly reasonable. It's worth trying if you ask me, just make sure you make a reservation if your party is big cuz chances are you won't get in.
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Matt is trying to acquire a lesson in using the old Ancient Chinese counting frame. Maybe the abacus can also be a useful calculating tool to help Matt in his Advanced Calculus homework or at least trying to figure out the gratuity for his upcoming dinner.
Parking in the area as always was a challenging task on Friday night. The restaurant looks like your typical Chinese restaurant, regardless if it is located in Chinatown or elsewhere.
The two of us started with a small bowl of Creamy Corn soup with Crab-meat. The $7.00 warm and soothing creamy soup had odds and ends in the corn soup. The smallest size soup was just enough for the both of us.
For our entree, we had a dish of spicy Flounder filet and plate of Baby Bok-Choy w/ Oyster Sauce. The $10.00 flounder was pan-fried and the fish meat was tender and fell right off the scale of the fish. The $8.00 veggie side was very colorful, crunchy and paired well with the thick oyster sauce. We also split a plate of Yang-Chow Fried rice. The $5.00 side had a combination mixture of items in the Fried Rice.
We also had small bowl of cold Red bean soup for dessert, complimentary after the meal.
Ok, so Matt may never be able to solve his Advanced Calculus problems with a Abacus. But he did find a pretty good Chinese Restaurant in the Haight area
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