Harborview Restaurant @ San Francisco

The food was so good that I went for lunch and dinner on the same day.

With a behemoth $14-million space in the Embarcadero Center to call its own, Harborview Restaurant and bar is no mom-and-pop Cantonese joint. For lunch, you can order from the extensive dim sum selection, a separate kitchen menu or simply pick whatever strikes your fancy from the passing carts. And for dinner, you order fresh seafood from the live tanks that you can see as you walk into the dining hall.

In fact, its dining room showcases impressive views of the Ferry building and Bay Bridge from its sunny upper deck patio; add to that a beautiful and polished interior space offering sun-drenched rooms as well as more intimately lit nooks. And it’s the perfect spot to watch the New Year eve fireworks.

Lunchtime Dimsum Menu

We went for dim sum lunch and ordered an assortment of classic items.

雪山叉燒包 Baked BBQ Pork Buns with Crunchy Sugar Crust

This is a signature item of Harbourview. Baked charsiu bun with a sugar crust similar to the Hong Kong chachaanteng favourite of pineapple bun.

瑤柱珍珠米鷄 Glutinous Rice and Assorted Meat Wrapped with Lotus Leaf

Only one? The lormaigai was one of the best I have eaten outside of Hong Kong.

黑豚肉燒賣 Kurobuta Pork & Shrimp Siu Mai Dumplings

While there was only one piece of lormaigai, there were four pieces of siewmai and hargow, when Hong Kong portion has already shrunk to three pieces. And mind you, there were large siewmais which you could taste the shrimps and pork distinctly.

鮮蝦腸粉 Shrimp Rice Flour Rolls

The rice flour rolls were a bit too thick for my liking, but it was compensated for large shrimps and a really nice sauce.

水晶鮮蝦餃 Shrimp Har Gow Dumplings

Like the rice rolls, the skin was too think.

盤龍蝦多士 Deep Fried Shrimp Toast

This open face toast with minced shrimp was delicious.

Dinner A la Carte Menu

Because the food was so impressive, we decided to drop the plans to dine in Chinatown and returned for dinner.

燉黃毛雞湯 Double Boiled Chicken Soup

Nice hot soup to kick off dinner. Our choice (Chinese herbal chicken soup) was not available, so we have to settle for second best. The daily soup (watercress soup) was too large for two persons.

清蒸珊瑚蝦 Steamed Coral Prawns

Live prawns from the live tanks, all you need was to poach them in boiling water and serve with a chilli soy dipping sauce.

瑤柱扒瓜脯 Dried Scallops with Steamed Chinese Melon

This is a very old school Cantonese classic of conpoy (dried scallops) used as a sauce for the steamed winter melon pieces and surrounding by balanced spinach. I have not had this dish for years, and I was surprised to find it here in San Francisco, and it tasted just like how I remembered it.

清蒸多寶魚 Steamed Turbot

We saw the lone turbot in the tank as we walked in, and we decided to end its misery. We went for the classic Cantonese style steamed fish, and it was the perfect technique for a very fresh fish.

澳門葡撻 Baked Portuguese Style Custard Tart

The Portuguese egg tarts were complements on the house. I suspected they were left overs from the afternoon dimsum but they were flaky and fresh. My bad for doubting their sincerity.

Very popular place so reservation is recommended. The food was really good, authentic Hong Kong-style Cantonese food that reminded me of good o’times. Service was prompt and not pushy. You will get a really good meal even if you do not know what to order – the waiters are very knowledgeable and would recommend the right stuff.

凱悦滙 Harborview Restaurant & Bar
4 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA 94111 
Tel : +1 (415) 399-1200

Visited Apr 2024

Michelin California Guide Selected 2023, Bib Gourmand 2019