Em’s Place

CLOSED — After 20 years of serving the Tenderloin community and all the wonderful customers, Em’s Place is now closed. We would like to thank the customers for their business over the years and am glad to hear we were able to feed many customers who came in hungry and left the restaurant heartily satisfied.

em… no.
I came here and ordered the Won Ton Soup. Never order the Won Ton Soup. It had a few old chopped up brocoli, green beans, and cucumbers. The «won tons» were just the skin with something that tasted like raw dough inside and it smelled like soap. To top it off there was a fly in my soup.
The couple who works there seems nice, but my food experience was horrible.
Sorry Em, only 1 star for you.

This place gets a 5 for what it is: a hole-​in-​the-​wall place to get cheap, delicious, unhealthy food.
I’ve only gotten breakfast here, and it’s fantastic, especially for its price. The couple running the place are sweet and adorable and provide great service. I’ve tried my friends’ dishes when here and they’ve all been great, too. A few friends swear it’s the best take-​out Chinese in SF.
The only bummer about this place is they charge $.50 for coffee refills. The mugs are tiny and it really does not seem like a place that would charge for refills.

I gave this a 5 star, but it really should be a 4 star (considering budget and taste!).
I gave it a 5 because some Unilocalers are reviewing this place with a single lens, judging it compared to all types of restaurants. thats not fair. This is a mom and pop chinese restaruant hole-​in-​the wall in the TL. They have a TL ambiance and TL prices.
i am part chinese, and lived in china and have a keen chinese taste pallet. THIS PLACE HAS THE BEST CHICKEN FRIED RICE in the city. ok there i let the $ 5.75 secret out. Ive tried the tomato beef noodles and they were good. Ive had nothing else since discovering the fried rice.

These places are disappearing in the city-​unpretentious and plain but still rocks!
Satisfying food, good portions, and inexpensive-​really!
Patronize this business before it is gone-​replaced by yuppoid nonsense.

I like coming here once in awhile when I have lunch with friends. You can get a good burger for a good price. They also serve some other American food like fish and chips, steak, etc. It’s owned by Chinese people, so you can also order Chinese food too if you like.

Em’s fed me through 3 years of law school =) Thanks Em’s!
The Chinese American couple that works here are super super nice. They are really patient, and the husband actually grills/​stir fries/​cooks your order to order, when you order.
Although the inside of the restaurant is dated, it is surprisingly clean. It is a great place for a cheap/​yummy meal in the Tenderloin. It certainly is tastier and cheaper than the gross Carls Jr down the street. Here are some dishes which were my staples during law school.
1. Breakfast sandwich ~ super yummy and made fresh. Egg (cooked to order), slice of American cheese and bacon squished between fluffy slices of toasted English Muffin. Under $ 3 and super yummy.
2. Black Pepper beef ~ Stir fried fresh. Almost as good as Asian/​Cantonese Cafes from Southern California (where I’m from). The rice is fresh (you can tell b/​c it is not hard) and the sauce is not overpowering. They give you a really generous portion of the black pepper beef with veggies.
3. Burger & Fries ~ nice, simple, burger and fries. The oil they fry the fries in must be super hot because the fries always come out really crispy and never over done.
I’ll admit that the first time I walked in I was kinda scared… the plastic, the formica, the smell of oil ~ but taste the food and chat with the owners ~ you will love Em’s!

A very good greasy spoon diner. The owners are really nice people and will customize your order with anything they have available. It’s always nice to find a place that will make egg white omelets.
Prices are low (for downtown SF), especially their breakfast sandwich, which is a total steal. If you need a quick breakfast, a decent burger or some fried noodles, Em’s is a safe choice.

Adding a star because I had a really excellent lunch there today. The Bean Cakes with Broccoli dish is very good.

1. decent food
2. good prices
3. decent selections
4. quick/​friendly service
only downside is their hours… (but considering its just 2 of them running the place and the location isn’t the safest… who can blame them)

This morning: Crim: Steph and I have bad hangovers. I also have an undying urge for fries and spicy tofu and steamed veggies. Where the hell can I get those at the same time?
Steph: «I’m going to Em’s place. Wanna come?»
Me: «They sell fries? Yes.»
They also sell chinese food, and have a decent vegetarian/​vegan menu– which includes a tofu and spicy veg dish.
Fries and a tofu and spicy veg plate later, I am a happy girl and a new fan. I can’t believe I used to make fun of this place.

Welp, I’m downgrading this place again.
I thought I was going to be a regular customer at this joint solely because of its good variety of Chinese and American foods. However, the last time I went, I couldn’t help but notice that the size of my portion reeked of complacency. This place is along the busy street of McAllister, next to the law school full of students who need a quick convenient bite, such as myself. In fact, this convenience compels me to leave the 2^nd star. I guess I might take advantage of the 1000 lazy students, too, and pass off a cup of rice as a $ 6 dish (AKA the BBQ Pork Fried Rice). This isn’t just for this particular dish. I’ve always felt that the portions were small, but I just didn’t notice the gravity of this offense to my hollow, echoing stomach until that sometimes-​friendly chef deceived me for the last time. Just kidding, I’ll probably go in the future but only if I’m desperate for some of dat chinkanese.

This place is soo good! Their omelets are delicious and their grilled cheese is yummm! The place is owned my some happy Chinese people. Go here if you are, for some reason, in the tenerdoin and hungry!

Em’s confuses me. Is it Chinese food? Is it American? I don’t know! The menu has grilled cheese and fries next to the mongolian chicken and rice next to the BLTs. Wait. What?
Despite the mind-​boggling identity crisis of Em’s menu, they manage to pull it off. It’s like an American diner with a Chinese twist. The owners are super nice and friendly, and the food, while not gourmet, is pretty good for its price.
I had a grilled cheese when I went for lunch today. With fries. You can’t really go wrong with grilled cheese (American cheese with two slices of white bread), so I definitely enjoyed myself. My friends had the wonton soup (beef and vegetarian, respectively). It looked pretty good– and relatively healthy. I’ll have to try it next time.
The three stars comes from the fact that the quality of the food is 3-​stars. But if I could make it 3 ½ stars for the quality of service + prices, I would (maybe I’ll write another review next time and put it at 4 stars so I can average out to 3.5 stars. .. ?)

Em’s Place is a greasy spoon if I ever saw one and I would never have set foot in there if my co-​worker (whose taste I trust) hadn’t suggested it. For a few bucks you can get an order of perfect fluffy and delicious pancakes for breakfast or for lunch! Definitely a hidden gem.

I live on the same block so my BF sometimes go here for breakfast when I’m too lazy to make it. It’s a great little place owned by a Chinese couple. They have a breakfast menu, sandwiches, random American selections and some chinese food.
It’s great if you want something really simple and fast, and pretty cheap. And the breakfast is really great! So even though it doesn’t look all that grand inside, don’t be scared :)

This place is pretty much awesome when your pockets are hurting and you want a good, filling meal on the cheap.
Or when your running late and need a quick breakfast; $ 2.45 gets you a legitimate breakfast sandwich in about 2 – 4 minutes.
Or when you just want that comforting diner-​food taste and experience.
Or when your hungover and need food to settle your stomach but just can’t muster the energy to make something yourself.
Or when you want service with a smile.
Or when, well you get the picture.
There are many circumstances under which food at Em’s place fits the bill. Its cheap, easy, good, filling, etc, etc, etc. Just don’t expect the stars.

Good food (beef chow fun, chicken fried rice, breakfast), super cheap (under $ 7), and friendly service.
The end.
P. S. I agree with Jason B. «This is a three star joint, but an extra star is awarded for the price and service.»

I love Em’s. Spotted it one day while walking to hotel from the Civic Center Bart stop. Like a fucking beacon of grease. It’s kind of like the after school soda shop on the late 70’s tv show ‘What’s Happening’ if it was run by an old chinese couple. Like it hasn’t been redecorated since 1978 as well. Serving standard breakfast and lunchtime staples like BLT’s with a few chinese platters thrown in, too. A place, whenever i’m in town, i like to go. And the right price.

Em’s Place is the perfect spot if you have less than $ 10. It’s not gourmet food or a 5 star restaurant. it is what it is… a good spot for a fast, greasy spoon eats. the «fried» pork chop (cooked like chicken fried steak) is great AND you can have it with vegetables, in case you feel guilty about the fried stuff.
My personal favorite the bacon mushroom cheese burger with fries. Sooo good!
The place is kept pretty clean considering that it’s on the edge of the Tendeloin.