At 28 Waverly Place in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Mister Jiu’s gives Cantonese and Chinese-American cooking a contemporary, California-led twist. The historic building holds a dim bar and a bright dining room overlooking Chinatown, with golden lotus chandeliers above the tables. Order family-style so you can sample across the menu: scallion milk bread, shrimp chips, silky cheong fun and mapo tofu are all good starting points. Creative cocktails make the bar a draw in its own right. This is an upscale dinner for sharing, not a quick or budget meal.
A Chinatown building with two moods
Mister Jiu’s occupies 28 Waverly Place, in a building that dates to the 1880s. The restaurant opened in 2016 after a renovation that reshaped the interior. Its entry leads into a dark bar, then a passage opens onto a lighter dining room. Large windows look out over Chinatown, while salvaged gold floral chandeliers connect the room to the building’s past.
The bar and dining room suit different kinds of visits. If you are dining alone, the bar offers a place to sit with a cocktail. For a group, the broad tables and communal turntables make it easier to pass dishes around. The room’s scale and setting also suit a celebratory dinner.
Chinese cooking with a California point of view
Chef Brandon Jew’s menu draws on Cantonese cooking, with occasional Sichuan influences and seasonal California produce. Traditional flavors meet contemporary techniques, and the selection changes with the season. The result is a modern Chinese-American meal rather than a fixed list of dishes to expect on every visit.
Cheong fun, the soft rice-noodle rolls, is one of the kitchen’s standout preparations. The uni version is a distinctive choice; lobster cheong fun has also appeared on the menu. Scallion milk bread brings the savory flavor of scallion pancakes into a soft, buttery loaf. Salt-and-vinegar shrimp chips make a crisp start, while mapo tofu brings a Sichuan-style option to the table.
For a larger group, Peking-style roast duck is a centerpiece to consider. One account describes a whole bird served with thin pancakes, cucumber and peanut-butter hoisin; it can feed a group of six. The restaurant’s menu changes, so treat specific dishes as examples rather than guarantees. Sharing several plates lets you try a wider range of flavors.
Cocktails and planning your meal
The drinks program is part of the experience, not just an accompaniment to dinner. The cocktail list includes savory combinations built around ingredients such as millet, dill and crab oil, as well as mezcal with osmanthus, aloe, scallion, verjus and lime. If you arrive before your table is ready, the upstairs Moongate Lounge is another place to have a drink, though it can be loud.
Make a reservation in advance, particularly for a busy dinner service. The restaurant is upscale, and a meal for a group can add up; one reported dinner came to $350 for three people, though that is not a set menu price. Check the current menu when planning a visit, since dishes and formats can change. If you want a quieter meal, choose an off-peak time. Service pacing has been uneven on some visits, so leave room in your evening rather than scheduling a tight follow-up.
FAQ
Where is Mister Jiu’s?
It is at 28 Waverly Place in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
Should I make a reservation?
Yes. Dinner reservations are recommended, particularly at peak times.
What should I order at Mister Jiu’s?
Scallion milk bread, uni cheong fun, mapo tofu and salt-and-vinegar shrimp chips are good options to consider. The menu changes seasonally.
Is the food served family-style?
Yes. Sharing plates is a good way to try several dishes, especially with a group.
