I been coming here for years and it’s great!! Stuff have good stuff but their French fries has gone downhill. Their chicken wings are still good though and they are the best wings. Other items are the same and I love their mix grill, but it does come with French fries as well, so I got it for all the meats on the grillVegetarian options: There are good vegetarian options but there aren’t any dedicated sections for vegetariansParking: Hard to find parking since a lot of people park here. There are a lot of local Chinese but also tourists and people who are eating Italian in the area and there are also adult entertainment nearby.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Braised Ox Tongue in Tomato Sauce, Pork Chop and Rice with Red Sauce, Fried Chicken Wings w French Fries, Baked Pork Chop over Rice, Pineapple Fried Rice in Whole Pineapple, Wings and Fries
Chris H.
Came here on a rainy day and just wanted a cozy place to enjoy some grub. Ordered wonton noodles which were okay. Milk tea is too sweet and not strong flavored. They keep the front door open and a few of the patrons will stand right in the front smoking so the entire restaurant will have cigarette smell. If you try to close the door staff will open it back up. When leaving waitress stands right at your table demanding high tip.
Jesse Lee
They are way under staffed, too many uncles and aunties are sitting eating inside. So service is really slooooow. If you are in a hurry this place isn’t for you.The food is basic low end Hong Kong old school style. It’s simple basic foods, not fancy or trendy. Like the thousands years old egg and salted pork congee. Pineapple bun was ok.Super nice but busy ladies.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Frank Mo
Reasonable price. Great pork cutlets.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sarah Y.
The food has improved here. The place can get smelly when you walk in, though, but the food is good. The service will depend on who is working that day, since they only have one server on the floor. The lady with glasses is good and attentive to people, while the others might not be. There is one old lady that works here who isn't very attentive and can be very rude, and the worst part is that she doesn't seem to pay much attention to non-Chinese, so I have seen visitors and tourists walk out of this place because they were waiting like 15-20 minutes with no menu, no drink or water and no attention.
Winnie W.
Whenever I'm in SF Chinatown, I can't stay away from VIP's famous HK milk tea that is packed with caffeine but oh - so - tasty!!! ... makes for a good afternoon tea or a grocery shopping break. Since the pandemic, it has been easier to get seating at this once packed coffee shop. Their "premier" booth seating is now easily available ;) My go to at VIP is their HK Milk Tea (hot or cold), and their VIP sandwich. This place is definitely dated and for the old timers, but clean and reasonably comfortable. Service is what you expect from a local, inexpensive local coffee shop... meaning, don't expect much! lol You should be quick to place your order, and be aware enough that you will need to leave after finishing your meal IF there is a line. This is not your sit-down-for-hours or laptop/ working kind of coffee shop. Just setting the right expectations ;)
norris tran
This has been a vital Chinatown neighborhood coffee shop and Chinese-American diner serving the local community for well over 40 years. A true old school diner, the service is rude but fast with cheap prices and the food, while not even close to gourmet, definitely delicious to the loyal customers they serve.Pictures on the wall are helpful for tourists but the regulars already know what they want walking in the door.No real ambiance since locals don't want the prices to go up because of that.Everyone who comes here has their standard favorites with mine being the Sultan double pork chops smothered with orange sauce over spaghetti paired with a coffee or milk tea.While copy cat restaurants have popped up around the area, this has and will always be my favorite original old fashioned Chinese-American diner in Chinatown.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 3
Ryan
Reasonably priced restaurant
Joe W.
Waited for the wait staff at least 15 mins for menu, totally ignore almost everybody, wasn't that busy at all. There were at least 6 open table, had to wave them down to place 2 orders, which took another 20mins, finally got my first order of shrimp chow fun, it was tasteless no wok hay at all, another 20 mins past by still waiting for my second order, ask the waitress 2 times where was our order, it was simple seafood over rice, tried of waiting so I ask them to cancel my second order and give me my bill, they thought I was kidding and totally ignore me, so I had to get up to the counter to ask for the bill, when I turn around they finally brought our our order, I told them I already cancel the second order because it took more than 1 hour, they started to argue that I can't cancel my order, I told them I not paying for the second order, they finally took it off the bill, paid and left, not only the service was horrible, the food was slow and terrible, will never go back
Kelci Briggs
My family and I stopped in here for lunch and it did not disappoint! Great prices for great food, and large portions. I really liked the wonton noodle soup.
VIP Coffee Shop has been on my list of restaurants to revisit for a long time. They close at 6pm and I can't make it to Chinatown until after 6pm on weekdays. I had a day off today and it took over 25 minutes for them to make my baked pork chops spaghetti $14 at 11am. There's this single waitress that handles the dining room orders, phone orders, bus the tables and the bakery take out counter. Obviously they are short handed. The pork chop spaghetti tasted OK. It was slightly burnt on top to infuse the tomato taste onto the dish. It would have been nice if there were cheese or chopped onions in there. It was missing that wow factor. With Washington Bakery gone, this might be the next best option for HK style tea cafe food in Chinatown.
Elvis Mak
This place was used to be my best favorite Hong Kong style neighborhood cafe in San Francisco, so sad that time and people have changed worst. And not anymore a first to go place to enjoy their food and my time there.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Jeffrey Ho
VIP Coffee Shop has been on my list of restaurants to revisit for a long time. They close at 6pm and I can't make it to Chinatown until after 6pm on weekdays. I had a day off today and it took over 25 minutes for them to make my baked pork chops spaghetti $14 at 11am. There's this single waitress that handles the dining room orders, phone orders, bus the tables and the bakery take out counter. Obviously they are short handed. The pork chop spaghetti tasted OK. It was slightly burnt on top to infuse the tomato taste onto the dish. It would have been nice if there were cheese or chopped onions in there. It was missing that wow factor. With Washington Bakery gone, this might be the next best option for HK style tea cafe food in Chinatown.
Jeff H.
VIP Coffee Shop has been on my list of restaurants to revisit for a long time. They close at 6pm and I can't make it to Chinatown until after 6pm on weekdays. I had a day off today and it took over 25 minutes for them to make my baked pork chops spaghetti $14 at 11am. There's this single waitress that handles the dining room orders, phone orders, bus the tables and the bakery take out counter. Obviously they are short handed. The pork chop spaghetti tasted OK. It was slightly burnt on top to infuse the tomato taste onto the dish. It would have been nice if there were cheese or chopped onions in there. It was missing that wow factor. With Washington Bakery gone, this might be the next best option for HK style tea cafe food in Chinatown.
Melanie K.
If you're looking for authentic Hong Kong style cha chaan teng food, this is the spot to go to. Super hole in the wall and unassuming, but as an HK local, I would say this is the closest resemblance to food in HK. The macaroni was super comforting, and perfect for a rainy day. The interior is a little beaten down, but I personally think the food makes up for it. Make sure to bring cash with you since they don't take card.
I been coming here for years and it’s great!! Stuff have good stuff but their French fries has gone downhill. Their chicken wings are still good though and they are the best wings. Other items are the same and I love their mix grill, but it does come with French fries as well, so I got it for all the meats on the grillVegetarian options: There are good vegetarian options but there aren’t any dedicated sections for vegetariansParking: Hard to find parking since a lot of people park here. There are a lot of local Chinese but also tourists and people who are eating Italian in the area and there are also adult entertainment nearby.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Braised Ox Tongue in Tomato Sauce, Pork Chop and Rice with Red Sauce, Fried Chicken Wings w French Fries, Baked Pork Chop over Rice, Pineapple Fried Rice in Whole Pineapple, Wings and Fries
Came here on a rainy day and just wanted a cozy place to enjoy some grub. Ordered wonton noodles which were okay. Milk tea is too sweet and not strong flavored. They keep the front door open and a few of the patrons will stand right in the front smoking so the entire restaurant will have cigarette smell. If you try to close the door staff will open it back up. When leaving waitress stands right at your table demanding high tip.
They are way under staffed, too many uncles and aunties are sitting eating inside. So service is really slooooow. If you are in a hurry this place isn’t for you.The food is basic low end Hong Kong old school style. It’s simple basic foods, not fancy or trendy. Like the thousands years old egg and salted pork congee. Pineapple bun was ok.Super nice but busy ladies.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Reasonable price. Great pork cutlets.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food has improved here. The place can get smelly when you walk in, though, but the food is good. The service will depend on who is working that day, since they only have one server on the floor. The lady with glasses is good and attentive to people, while the others might not be. There is one old lady that works here who isn't very attentive and can be very rude, and the worst part is that she doesn't seem to pay much attention to non-Chinese, so I have seen visitors and tourists walk out of this place because they were waiting like 15-20 minutes with no menu, no drink or water and no attention.
Whenever I'm in SF Chinatown, I can't stay away from VIP's famous HK milk tea that is packed with caffeine but oh - so - tasty!!! ... makes for a good afternoon tea or a grocery shopping break. Since the pandemic, it has been easier to get seating at this once packed coffee shop. Their "premier" booth seating is now easily available ;) My go to at VIP is their HK Milk Tea (hot or cold), and their VIP sandwich. This place is definitely dated and for the old timers, but clean and reasonably comfortable. Service is what you expect from a local, inexpensive local coffee shop... meaning, don't expect much! lol You should be quick to place your order, and be aware enough that you will need to leave after finishing your meal IF there is a line. This is not your sit-down-for-hours or laptop/ working kind of coffee shop. Just setting the right expectations ;)
This has been a vital Chinatown neighborhood coffee shop and Chinese-American diner serving the local community for well over 40 years. A true old school diner, the service is rude but fast with cheap prices and the food, while not even close to gourmet, definitely delicious to the loyal customers they serve.Pictures on the wall are helpful for tourists but the regulars already know what they want walking in the door.No real ambiance since locals don't want the prices to go up because of that.Everyone who comes here has their standard favorites with mine being the Sultan double pork chops smothered with orange sauce over spaghetti paired with a coffee or milk tea.While copy cat restaurants have popped up around the area, this has and will always be my favorite original old fashioned Chinese-American diner in Chinatown.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 3
Reasonably priced restaurant
Waited for the wait staff at least 15 mins for menu, totally ignore almost everybody, wasn't that busy at all. There were at least 6 open table, had to wave them down to place 2 orders, which took another 20mins, finally got my first order of shrimp chow fun, it was tasteless no wok hay at all, another 20 mins past by still waiting for my second order, ask the waitress 2 times where was our order, it was simple seafood over rice, tried of waiting so I ask them to cancel my second order and give me my bill, they thought I was kidding and totally ignore me, so I had to get up to the counter to ask for the bill, when I turn around they finally brought our our order, I told them I already cancel the second order because it took more than 1 hour, they started to argue that I can't cancel my order, I told them I not paying for the second order, they finally took it off the bill, paid and left, not only the service was horrible, the food was slow and terrible, will never go back
My family and I stopped in here for lunch and it did not disappoint! Great prices for great food, and large portions. I really liked the wonton noodle soup.
Restaurantji Recommends
VIP Coffee Shop has been on my list of restaurants to revisit for a long time. They close at 6pm and I can't make it to Chinatown until after 6pm on weekdays. I had a day off today and it took over 25 minutes for them to make my baked pork chops spaghetti $14 at 11am. There's this single waitress that handles the dining room orders, phone orders, bus the tables and the bakery take out counter. Obviously they are short handed. The pork chop spaghetti tasted OK. It was slightly burnt on top to infuse the tomato taste onto the dish. It would have been nice if there were cheese or chopped onions in there. It was missing that wow factor. With Washington Bakery gone, this might be the next best option for HK style tea cafe food in Chinatown.
This place was used to be my best favorite Hong Kong style neighborhood cafe in San Francisco, so sad that time and people have changed worst. And not anymore a first to go place to enjoy their food and my time there.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
VIP Coffee Shop has been on my list of restaurants to revisit for a long time. They close at 6pm and I can't make it to Chinatown until after 6pm on weekdays. I had a day off today and it took over 25 minutes for them to make my baked pork chops spaghetti $14 at 11am. There's this single waitress that handles the dining room orders, phone orders, bus the tables and the bakery take out counter. Obviously they are short handed. The pork chop spaghetti tasted OK. It was slightly burnt on top to infuse the tomato taste onto the dish. It would have been nice if there were cheese or chopped onions in there. It was missing that wow factor. With Washington Bakery gone, this might be the next best option for HK style tea cafe food in Chinatown.
VIP Coffee Shop has been on my list of restaurants to revisit for a long time. They close at 6pm and I can't make it to Chinatown until after 6pm on weekdays. I had a day off today and it took over 25 minutes for them to make my baked pork chops spaghetti $14 at 11am. There's this single waitress that handles the dining room orders, phone orders, bus the tables and the bakery take out counter. Obviously they are short handed. The pork chop spaghetti tasted OK. It was slightly burnt on top to infuse the tomato taste onto the dish. It would have been nice if there were cheese or chopped onions in there. It was missing that wow factor. With Washington Bakery gone, this might be the next best option for HK style tea cafe food in Chinatown.
If you're looking for authentic Hong Kong style cha chaan teng food, this is the spot to go to. Super hole in the wall and unassuming, but as an HK local, I would say this is the closest resemblance to food in HK. The macaroni was super comforting, and perfect for a rainy day. The interior is a little beaten down, but I personally think the food makes up for it. Make sure to bring cash with you since they don't take card.