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The Happy Crane
Modern Cantonese
Artichoke hearts turn up in a mala beef shin appetizer, which tells you everything about where this Cantonese restaurant is coming from. The Happy Crane is chef-driven contemporary Chinese in Hayes Valley, the kind of place where fennel and Italian charcuterie find their way into char siu and gold coin chicken without anyone apologizing for it. A James Beard semifinalist, and reservations are the first obstacle you'll face.
Six honors, in evidence:
The record strongest first
- Eater The Best New Restaurants in America
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Chinese food and restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The Hit List: New San Francisco Restaurants To Try Right Now
- San Francisco Chronicle #61 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation #5 · San Francisco’s Best New Restaurants
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best New Restaurant
One number, weighted & current 83
How we scoreThe dishes from the writeups
- Málà beef shin San Francisco Chronicle
Nearby in the record closest first
- The Bird Fried chicken American Eat · 65
- Absinthe French Drink · 78
- Arbor American Eat · 65
- Nightbird Californian New American Eat · 79
- Hayes Street Grill Seasonal Seafood Eat · 67
- Robin Omakase Sushi Eat · 72
- Dingles Public House British Eat · 69
- Dumpling Home Chinese Eat · 74
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