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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.
The awards strongest first
- Chinese Restaurant Awards Elite 12 United States
- 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 85
How we scoreThe dishes from the writeups
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Firecracker shrimp
“Firecracker Shrimp delivers a lively burst of flavour”
Chinese Restaurant Awards, 2026 -
Lobster noodles
“Lobster Noodles draw on the appeal of a classic Chinese seafood feast”
Chinese Restaurant Awards, 2026 -
Jian dui
“a Ferrero Rocher-inspired Jian Dui gives the traditional sesame ball a chocolate twist”
Chinese Restaurant Awards, 2026 -
Char siu pork
San Francisco Chronicle
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The neighbors closest first
- The Bird Fried chicken American Eat · 65
- Chez Maman West French Eat · 66
- Arbor American Eat · 65
- Absinthe French Drink · 78
- Nightbird American Eat · 79
- Hayes Street Grill Seasonal Seafood Eat · 67
- Wise Sons Jewish Deli Eat · 66
- Robin Sushi Eat · 72
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