Muy amables, riquísima la comida! Great food, Chinese families order a lot of food, slow kitchen and service but friendly. Yes I would return. Hopefully bathroom would work by then.
Jeff Ho
Kam Lok is a classic SF Chinatown basement style restaurant. I've eaten here in the past and didn't post a review. Tonight, I had the runny egg shrimp chow fun $12. This was delicious with ample wok flavor. This dish can be challenging to make because chow fun and egg are kind of plain. That gravy has to be good. Their menu is limited if you are ordering fried rice, noodles and etc. It is more family style dishes orientated with only one page for rice and noodles. Not on the menu is crispy Hong Kong style noodles, which I love. If you ask, they will make it for you. So, don't rely too much on the written menu. Service was excellent.
Jeff H.
Kam Lok is a classic SF Chinatown basement style restaurant. I've eaten here in the past and didn't post a review. Tonight, I had the runny egg shrimp chow fun $12. This was delicious with ample wok flavor. This dish can be challenging to make because chow fun and egg are kind of plain. That gravy has to be good. Their menu is limited if you are ordering fried rice, noodles and etc. It is more family style dishes orientated with only one page for rice and noodles. Not on the menu is crispy Hong Kong style noodles, which I love. If you ask, they will make it for you. So, don't rely too much on the written menu. Service was excellent.
kennedy johnson
Very authentic Cantonese food. The pork belly with preserved veg was mindblowingly delicious. So tender and juicy. Only cost $12 at lunchtime. What a deal! Service was fine. The decor was a bit rundown and the restaurant is in the basement so not much light. Would
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Alice H.
Spectacular service. Always checking in with us if we needed anything. Food came out pretty quickly too. I love their river snails, it's super flavorful and the sauce is amazing. It can pair well with rice. Overall experience was 10/10.
Kennedy J
Very authentic Cantonese food. The pork belly with preserved veg was mindblowingly delicious. So tender and juicy. Only cost $12 at lunchtime. What a deal! Service was fine. The decor was a bit rundown and the restaurant is in the basement so not much light. Would
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Brian Bulkowski
if you are into old
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Anna Lobastova
The walnut shrimp and garlic green beans were phenomenal, some of the best I've had in my life. Complimentary tea served at our table was very nice. The garlic eggplant and mapo tofu were just okay. The service was great and I enjoyed the casual atmosphere.I hate to say this because I don’t enjoy leaving negative reviews for small businesses, and I hate that this was my biggest takeaway, but this was one of the dirtiest restaurants I've ever been to. Everything from the menus to the walls to the restroom was covered in a thick layer of grime. My aforementioned cup of tea had a fly in it; I got a new one, and there was an eyelash in it. Hopefully this can be an impetus for them to do some serious deep-cleaning soon.
Recommended dishes: Walnut Shrimp
Mason K.
A hidden gem of SF! Service is amazing, staff is chinese but speak good english, big menu with lots of choices for people who'd want more traditional chinese food or american-chinese food. Hole in the wall can look intimidating from outside but once you're inside it's very welcoming and friendly. Great food, best sweet and sour chicken i've found in the Bay Area! Dad got fried softshell crab which he loved. Will come back!
T'shan Chamberlain
The service was really good, they recommended a beef dish which was lovely.
Actually, 3.5 stars! Very good choices on old-time Cantonese dishes. Good friendly service. Very reasonable prices post Covid!! Many locals eat here and we'll be back.
Allena C.
This is old school Chinese food! My bf has been to this restaurant years ago, while growing up near Chinatown. So it was a trip down memory lane and nostalgic for him! Kam Lok is not ground level and located downstairs. There may be a few tourists that might take a chance and check this place out but more than likely, people who live in Chinatown come here to chow down! It's a no frills, hole in the wall restaurant. Don't expect great ambiance, service, or spotless silverware. That's typical in Chinatown! You come hungry, expect to pay lower prices and go away satisfied. Well, that's how it went for us. We ordered shrimp with scrambled eggs over rice noodles, garlic yam leaves, and beef stew with curry sauce on crispy Hong Kong style noodles. After ordering, she gave us the house soup and a pot of tea. Nowadays, you pay for these things but here, it's complimentary. The food came out quickly and piping HOT! You get a decent amount of food and may need to bring leftovers home unless you wanna stuff yourself silly! Just might be our new go-to resto in Chinatown!
J. Lee
Go-to place for authentic Cantonese dishes like grandparents used to make for family dinner. This place never disappoints. Go & bring ur appetite!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Vincent L.
Wow a really inexpensive Cantonese restaurant. The roast squab is excellent. The steamed savory egg custard is filled generously with clams. I ordered a striped (largemouth) bass in advance for $25/lb.; they regularly stock cheaper live catfish and tilapia for $15/lb. Their secret live crab or lobster set menu for 4 has increased in price from under $40 a decade ago to $88 now. They now close at 8pm and also on Tuesdays.
J V
Kam Lok is in the basement of hunan house. Nothing special about the atmosphere, but the food was DELICIOUS. Genuine Chinese food, served family style in center of table. All the dishes were great!Vegetarian options: Yes.
Muy amables, riquísima la comida! Great food, Chinese families order a lot of food, slow kitchen and service but friendly. Yes I would return. Hopefully bathroom would work by then.
Kam Lok is a classic SF Chinatown basement style restaurant. I've eaten here in the past and didn't post a review. Tonight, I had the runny egg shrimp chow fun $12. This was delicious with ample wok flavor. This dish can be challenging to make because chow fun and egg are kind of plain. That gravy has to be good. Their menu is limited if you are ordering fried rice, noodles and etc. It is more family style dishes orientated with only one page for rice and noodles. Not on the menu is crispy Hong Kong style noodles, which I love. If you ask, they will make it for you. So, don't rely too much on the written menu. Service was excellent.
Kam Lok is a classic SF Chinatown basement style restaurant. I've eaten here in the past and didn't post a review. Tonight, I had the runny egg shrimp chow fun $12. This was delicious with ample wok flavor. This dish can be challenging to make because chow fun and egg are kind of plain. That gravy has to be good. Their menu is limited if you are ordering fried rice, noodles and etc. It is more family style dishes orientated with only one page for rice and noodles. Not on the menu is crispy Hong Kong style noodles, which I love. If you ask, they will make it for you. So, don't rely too much on the written menu. Service was excellent.
Very authentic Cantonese food. The pork belly with preserved veg was mindblowingly delicious. So tender and juicy. Only cost $12 at lunchtime. What a deal! Service was fine. The decor was a bit rundown and the restaurant is in the basement so not much light. Would
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Spectacular service. Always checking in with us if we needed anything. Food came out pretty quickly too. I love their river snails, it's super flavorful and the sauce is amazing. It can pair well with rice. Overall experience was 10/10.
Very authentic Cantonese food. The pork belly with preserved veg was mindblowingly delicious. So tender and juicy. Only cost $12 at lunchtime. What a deal! Service was fine. The decor was a bit rundown and the restaurant is in the basement so not much light. Would
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
if you are into old
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
The walnut shrimp and garlic green beans were phenomenal, some of the best I've had in my life. Complimentary tea served at our table was very nice. The garlic eggplant and mapo tofu were just okay. The service was great and I enjoyed the casual atmosphere.I hate to say this because I don’t enjoy leaving negative reviews for small businesses, and I hate that this was my biggest takeaway, but this was one of the dirtiest restaurants I've ever been to. Everything from the menus to the walls to the restroom was covered in a thick layer of grime. My aforementioned cup of tea had a fly in it; I got a new one, and there was an eyelash in it. Hopefully this can be an impetus for them to do some serious deep-cleaning soon.
Recommended dishes: Walnut Shrimp
A hidden gem of SF! Service is amazing, staff is chinese but speak good english, big menu with lots of choices for people who'd want more traditional chinese food or american-chinese food. Hole in the wall can look intimidating from outside but once you're inside it's very welcoming and friendly. Great food, best sweet and sour chicken i've found in the Bay Area! Dad got fried softshell crab which he loved. Will come back!
The service was really good, they recommended a beef dish which was lovely.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Actually, 3.5 stars! Very good choices on old-time Cantonese dishes. Good friendly service. Very reasonable prices post Covid!! Many locals eat here and we'll be back.
This is old school Chinese food! My bf has been to this restaurant years ago, while growing up near Chinatown. So it was a trip down memory lane and nostalgic for him! Kam Lok is not ground level and located downstairs. There may be a few tourists that might take a chance and check this place out but more than likely, people who live in Chinatown come here to chow down! It's a no frills, hole in the wall restaurant. Don't expect great ambiance, service, or spotless silverware. That's typical in Chinatown! You come hungry, expect to pay lower prices and go away satisfied. Well, that's how it went for us. We ordered shrimp with scrambled eggs over rice noodles, garlic yam leaves, and beef stew with curry sauce on crispy Hong Kong style noodles. After ordering, she gave us the house soup and a pot of tea. Nowadays, you pay for these things but here, it's complimentary. The food came out quickly and piping HOT! You get a decent amount of food and may need to bring leftovers home unless you wanna stuff yourself silly! Just might be our new go-to resto in Chinatown!
Go-to place for authentic Cantonese dishes like grandparents used to make for family dinner. This place never disappoints. Go & bring ur appetite!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wow a really inexpensive Cantonese restaurant. The roast squab is excellent. The steamed savory egg custard is filled generously with clams. I ordered a striped (largemouth) bass in advance for $25/lb.; they regularly stock cheaper live catfish and tilapia for $15/lb. Their secret live crab or lobster set menu for 4 has increased in price from under $40 a decade ago to $88 now. They now close at 8pm and also on Tuesdays.
Kam Lok is in the basement of hunan house. Nothing special about the atmosphere, but the food was DELICIOUS. Genuine Chinese food, served family style in center of table. All the dishes were great!Vegetarian options: Yes.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: shrimp fried rice