Great Eastern Restaurant

Great Eastern Restaurant in San Francisco's Chinatown is an absolute visit if you're looking for sit down dim sum service. There's a lot of space in the restaurant as we were seated with no wait during prime lunch time. They have multiple menus (both those with Chinese letters, English, and pictures), perfect for those ABCs who need a little bit of both. The plates/baskets are served steaming hot, and the flavors are spot on.Apparently Obama himself stopped by when he was in town, which adds a little extra level to the whole experience. Whether you're grabbing brunch with friends or just looking for a great meal in Chinatown, Great Eastern is definitely a spot you don't want to miss.

This place has that classic Chinese family style restaurant vibe that I grew up with - food is good enough, service isn't super attentive but is very efficient, and the vibes are nostalgic. 4 of us shared 4 dim sum plates, 1 soup, 1 noodle, and 1 vegetable dish and it came out to $118 total (including tax and tip). The food isn't anything special but it gets the job done if you're looking for something to feed a large group for a reasonable price. Would say the flavors are pretty authentic - it's not a super Americanized restaurant. The servers are swamped so they don't check on you but will listen if you flag them down. Will definitely return for other group dinners!!

I think this is a solid option for dining in Chinatown. We went on a Friday evening and it wasn't very busy, but there was a small rush after we got there. We got the following:- steamed pork buns. Tasty but pretty small compared to other restaurants - deep fried minced meat turnover. Good texture but really wish it had more meat inside. Disappointing for the price.- cilantro shrimp dumplings. Very good- turnip cake. Not great honestly, not much flavor.- pan fried shrimp rolls. Very good!- steamed Shanghai dumplings. Tasty and juicyOverall I think the portions weren't very good for the price, as each dish is in the $9 range but not super big. Staff was kind and helpful throughout our dining experience as well. I'm not against coming back but I'd also like to try other restaurants. But I don't think this was bad.

Food came quickly. Everything tasted high quality. My favorite were the potstickers and the green beans!!

Did you know Obama has visited this place? Oh yeah, his picture is shining brightly up on the wall for you to get a glimpse of. I came here because I wanted a sit down dim sum experience with my parents early in the morning and we got lucky to come across this place. They seat you right away and there are constant servers walking around to help you whenever you need. We ordered a medley but my favorites were the Shanghai Dimplings with the juicy steaming broth in the inside pouch of the dumpling and the order of the duck. The texture was so crispy on the outside that you could hear it crack but also feel the deep crunch when you bit into your first bite. Then when you get past the first layer you come across the savory dark duck meat that you've been waiting for. I like this place. President Obama likes this place. I think you have to fine and decide if you do.

Recently celebrated one of my siblings' birthday here with his family. We originally wanted to go to another dim sum restaurant nearby, but that place doesn't take reservations and we had 7 people in our party so that's a no-go. Luckily, Great Eastern has Yelp reservations which is very convenient. Great Eastern had been around for a long time. It was here when I was a child and my dad used to take me to lunch. Also, our family occasionally gather here when we have out of town guests come to visit.On this day, we ordered a lot of dim sum and food. It's good luck to have lots of leftovers. Everything was delicious. We had a great time. Although a bit shabby in the interior compared to another newer renovated dim sum restaurant, this place is still very popular and good. Hope it stays around for many more years.Located on Jackson St. in the heart of Chinatown between Kearny and Grant.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Great Eastern with my dear friend Dianne for a weekday dim sum lunch, and it was a delightful experience from start to finish. This spot is a gem for anyone seeking authentic, quality dim sum in a warm and inviting setting.From the moment we arrived, the attentive and friendly staff made us feel welcome. Despite it being a Wednesday, we were seated promptly, and the service throughout our visit was impeccable. Servers were constantly nearby, ready to assist with anything we needed, which added to the overall comfort of our meal.Now, let's talk about the food--simply outstanding! Every dish was served hot and freshly made to order, showcasing the care and craftsmanship that has made Great Eastern a staple in the community for years.Mushroom Pork & Shrimp Dumplings: These dumplings were a perfect combination of flavors and textures. The savory pork and tender shrimp were complemented beautifully by the earthy richness of mushrooms, all wrapped in a thin, delicate skin that held everything together without being heavy. Each bite was pure comfort.Shrimp Dumplings (Har Gow): A dim sum classic, these translucent dumplings were packed with succulent, juicy shrimp. The freshness of the seafood shone through in every bite, while the wrapper was soft and slightly chewy, giving them a satisfying mouthfeel.Deep-Fried Taro Turnover with Minced Meat: This dish was a revelation. The crisp, golden shell of fried taro gave way to a creamy interior and was paired perfectly with the savory minced meat filling. The contrast between the crispy exterior and the rich, flavorful filling made this a standout dish.Rice Noodle Roll Stuffed with Beef: Silky, tender rice noodle sheets enveloping seasoned, juicy beef created a dish that was both hearty and delicate. The soy-based sauce added just the right amount of umami to tie it all together.Great Eastern isn't just about the food--it's about the experience. This restaurant holds a special place in my heart, as it's a spot I remember visiting with my dad as a child. Decades later, it's just as popular and just as good. It's heartwarming to see this place thriving and continuing to serve the community with the same high standards.Whether you're a dim sum enthusiast or introducing someone to this beloved cuisine for the first time, Great Eastern is the perfect choice. The combination of excellent food, quick service, and nostalgic charm makes it a place worth visiting again and again.Here's hoping Great Eastern remains a cherished part of the community for many more years to come.

A tasty dumpling spot in Chinatown. We ordered a handful of items that came out pretty quick.We got seated right away but didn't get acknowledged until 15-20 minutes after we sat down. We were seated in the corner and it felt like we were put to the side. I would rather wait at the front if we had known all their servers were busy. There was a weird smell where we were sitting that threw me off, however the food was tasty.

This restaurant has been on my list to visit for a LONG time, it just happened to be close by and we had time to scope out for a dim sum spot to eat brunch at. Food here is great especially the har gow and siu mai along with the ham sui gok! It was light and crispy being perfectly fried (meaning clean oil) which was a plus in my book. Waiting for a table was not too bad however it was a bit hard to get attention from the staff for a menu to order our food and the wait was even longer for the food to start coming out to our table. If I didn't know how to speak Cantonese then the service would have been more troublesome. Regardless, the experience was decent and I would come here again to eat. Con was the cleanliness of the restrooms downstairs because it literally smells like a public restrooms on the streets of SF! Big no no to using the restroom there, I would rather go elsewhere to use the potty.

Of all the options in Chinatown we found ourselves standing in front of Great Eastern when hunger struck! After a quick Yelp check we figured if it was good enough for our POTUS when why not give it a shot!The dining room had good a/c and was open with comfortable seating, which was a bonus since we had been hoofing it around town all morning. Service was friendly and attentive. Food was served hot -- made to order. We especially enjoyed the pork-mushroom-shrimp shumai (dumplings), as well as the har gow (shrimp dumplings) and ham sui gok (deep fried sweet glutinous rice meat dumplings).Highly recommend if you find yourself in Chinatown and craving dim sum.