May Lee Restaurants: Celebrating Authentic Chinese Cuisine in San Francisco

Welcome to May Lee Restaurant, where culinary tradition meets thirty years of excellence. Since our inception in 1994, we’ve been dedicated to bringing the vibrant flavors of China to San Francisco.

May Lee Restaurant is a family owned restaurant which has become a beloved culinary destination, cherished by San Francisco neighborhood especially families in sunset district. Our journey began with a passion for authentic Chinese cuisine in San Francisco, a commitment to quality ingredients, and a desire to create memorable dining experiences.

At May Lee Restaurant, we pride ourselves on crafting dishes that honor the rich heritage of Chinese cooking while embracing innovation and creativity. From classic favorites like (Orange Chicken) and (Mongolian Beef ) to modern interpretations of regional specialties, each dish is meticulously prepared to tantalize your taste buds.

But our story doesn’t end with our menu. Over the past two decades, we’ve cultivated a warm and inviting atmosphere that makes every visit to May Lee Restaurant feel like coming home. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, enjoying a casual meal with family and friends, or simply craving a taste of China, our attentive staff is here to ensure your dining experience is nothing short of exceptional.

As we celebrate thirty years of serving delicious Chinese cuisine, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our loyal patrons who have made May Lee a Restaurant cornerstone of the community. We look forward to many more years of sharing our love for great food and hospitality with you.

The word from

OUR CHEF TOM

Meet Chef Tom, a culinary chef with over two decades of experience in the art of Chinese cuisine. Tom’s journey began in the heart of Taishan, where he honed his skills as a dim sum chef at the most renowned and largest hotel in the city. For ten years, he meticulously crafted dim sum delicacies, mastering the delicate balance of flavors and textures that make these dishes truly exceptional.

For Tom, creating consistent dim sum quality was similar to baking – a precise science where measurements and techniques were paramount. His dedication to perfection earned him recognition as one of the finest dim sum chefs in Taishan.

In pursuit of new horizons, Tom ventured to the United States, where he continued to showcase his culinary expertise in dim sum and Cantonese cuisine. Over the years, he lent his talents to various restaurants, each time leaving an indelible mark with his skills and consistency.

Now, after years of hard work and dedication, Chef Tom is realizing his lifelong dream of opening his own restaurant. With a passion for authentic flavors and a wealth of experience behind him, he is poised to delight diners with his signature dishes and culinary creations. From traditional dim sum delights to modern interpretations of Cantonese classics, Chef Tom’s restaurant promises a culinary experience like no other – a true reflection of his journey, dedication, and love for the craft.

What people

SAY ABOUT US

Google Reviews

    
 
 
        
   John Garzee 
 2024-04-07
 
 
  Nice service! Very friendly. Nice vibe and the food was perfect! I’ve always wondered about this place and I’m glad I tried it!
  
 
       
   O B 
 2024-03-28
 
 
  We ordered online through Uber Eats and were not at the restaurant physically.

The food was good and the portions were large enough. Two of us could have shared the Rice and been satisfied without ordering the extra dish.

The food arrived warm enough as well. Sadly, they forgot to include cutlery.

Overall good food but a little pricey so I will not rate it as great value for money.
  
 
       
   Sandra Rosas Olden 
 2024-03-21
 
 
  The restaurant is small and busy, there was a wait for our order to be taken but the food was brought out quickly and it was delicious.
  
 
       
   Kevin Rusher 
 2024-02-12
 
 
  Recommended
  
 
       
   Dyanna Harrington 
 2024-02-03
 
 
  I live nearby & I really love it. So, I have to ask why in the world would they decided after all these years to Close on a Saturday!????? Why not Sunday or Monday???
  
 
       
   David J 
 2024-01-26
 
 
  Highly recommended
Jalapeños chicken over rice is perfect
  
 
       
   Valerie Klinker 
 2024-01-23
 
 
  Food was a good took my boys out to eat here after my eldest orthodontist appointment for his braces kinda of like hole in wall mom and pop restaurant but definitely a good place to check out worth it.
  
 
       
   Cristyle Bae 
 2024-01-12
 
 
  It's been a few months now since I tried this place and I love Chinese food and this place is one of the worst places I've been to overall in every aspect. The food took 45 minutes,the dining area/inside was run down,the kitchen was filthy.The food was dried out/over fried and hard to chew(orange chicken,sweet n sour pork)the Mongolian beef wasn't spicy(enough)the noodles were decent but not good,the fried rice was also just ok. The worst part was the total was almost $100 for 4 meals and one extra order of egg rolls and 3 cans of soda(supposed to be lunch special but I guess since I was ordering at 2:45 I missed the 3pm cutoff??)the plates were not full and they were small black plastic containers like meal prep size.The food had a off taste(orange chicken and sweet and sour pork)and smell. I couldn't finish any of it nor my family due to taste and quality.I absolutely would not try this place again.
  
 
  
 
  
 
   Google rating score: 4.2 of 5, based on 115 reviews

View all Google reviews

Yelp Reviews

    
 
 
        
   Landry V. 
 2024-04-10
 
 
  My partner and I often dine in here, and the service, fare, and hospitality are all excellent. 
The chef's salmon special is second to none!
  
 
       
   J W. 
 2024-04-09
 
 
  Always a great place for us, we love the food, the easy order and pickup. The staff are so very nice.
  
 
       
   Silvia M. 
 2024-02-19
 
 
  Listen. This place is so underrated! It's off the main street so easy to miss, and not as well known as the other Chinese restaurants in the area, but it's my favorite one in Inner Sunset. The wokhei is ‍  None of the plates look like much but the taste is bomb. Everything I've ever tried here gets an A- from me on average. My favorite is the salt and pepper tofu appetizer which doesn't look special but taste is much more layered and delicious than other Chinese places that offer the same dish. It's a classic Chinese restaurant in the US and hits the spot. 

I like that it's almost like being in someone's home too, with water being served in Western ceramic mugs, and the hot tea is served in a colorful floral teapot with matching cups (and different tables get a diff tea set). So cute. Service so nice too.
  
 
       
   Karl V. 
 2024-02-05
 
 
  They're good at making things crispy when they should be. And their vegetables are always perfectly al dente.
  
 
       
   Tawfiq H. 
 2024-01-26
 
 
  Food was perfect , Jalapeños chicken over rice 
Kind customer service 
Highly recommended 
I will come back
  
 
       
   Philip R. 
 2024-01-05
 
 
  Everything you'd want from moderately-priced Chinese delivery. 

The appetizer sampler has tasty fried crab cheese puffs, dense egg rolls, non-greasy pot stickers and fried shrimp, and succulent BBQ ribs. That's a whole meal right there. 

For the main course, so far I've gotten the sweet and sour pork and moo shu beef. Both were big enough to stretch for two more meals. 

Delivery landed at my Castro address within 30 minutes, and the first was there within 20 minutes. Friendly on the phone and in person. Looking forward to sampling more of the menu.
  
 
       
   Joseph F. 
 2023-11-21
 
 
  The best won-ton soup I ever had! Delicious and flavorful! Chicken fried rice also hit the spot!
  
 
       
   Ivan A. 
 2023-10-31
 
 
  Ambiance is very HOMMIE like amazing nothing fancy but super authentic. Great font of the house staff warm yummy food :)
  
 
       
   Alyssa M. 
 2023-10-22
 
 
  I find myself not ever having a go-to food spot when I'm spending the day in GGP, until now !! :) May Lee is right off the park, and so easy to walk to if you're anywhere close to the De Young, CA Academy of Sciences, botanical gardens, or that general area. They have a great lunch special, lasting all the way until 3pm, and even at that point, you can order off the lunch special menu with only a 2$ increase in price. The portion sizes are huge and can easily be made into two meals. They were fast to make our food, and the food itself was delicious. Can't wait for my next park day meal :)
  
 
       
   Abigail H. 
 2023-10-14
 
 
  Cute place!! It was an intimate atmosphere with great food. Something that really stood out was how they always filled our water glasses and I have never felt so hydrated in my life.
  
 
  
 
  
 
   Yelp rating score: 3.8 of 5, based on 268 reviews