Mister Jiu’s in San Francisco’s Chinatown stands as one of the most celebrated examples of how Chinese-American cuisine can be elevated with refinement, creativity, and deep cultural respect. Led by chef Brandon Jew, the Michelin-starred restaurant has become both a tribute to Cantonese culinary heritage and a platform for innovation, making it a dining essential not only within Chinatown but across the Bay Area. Occupying a beautifully restored historic building on Waverly Place, the restaurant blends old-world grandeur with contemporary design, pairing its inventive foods with an atmosphere that is stylish, romantic, and distinctly San Francisco.
Recent Changes & Menu Experience
In August 2025, Mister Jiu’s introduced some of the biggest changes since earning its Michelin recognition. For years, its five-course tasting menu was a hallmark of the experience, guiding diners through seasonal stories shaped by classic Cantonese inspiration and California produce. That format has now been replaced with an à la carte menu, designed to restore choice, spontaneity, and the tradition of sharing dishes among a table. With this change, guests can explore the kitchen’s seasonal offerings in a freer way, ordering family-style and building their own dining arc.
Alongside this new model, the restaurant has launched a Chinese banquet menu—a celebratory option that leans into Chinatown’s rich cultural traditions. Priced at $125 per person and available by pre-order only, the banquet menu guarantees the restaurant’s signature Peking duck and ensures an abundant flow of courses sized for group dining. This banquet format reflects the communal values of Chinese dining: tables filled with dishes meant to be shared, laughter and conversation woven into endless plates, and food treated as cultural celebration as much as nourishment.
For those not opting for the full banquet, Peking duck remains available à la carte as one of the restaurant’s most coveted dishes, though advance reservation is highly encouraged. With these new options, Mister Jiu’s has found a way to honor tradition while remaining contemporary and flexible—equally suited for a date night, a celebratory family dinner, or an adventurous culinary outing.
Signature Dishes & Acclaim
Mister Jiu’s has always been known for its combination of heritage recipes and modern California minimalism. The updated format has not changed the attention to detail or inventiveness of the menu. Notable dishes include:
- Sourdough scallion pancake — a base of San Francisco’s baking heritage enlivened by Cantonese sensibility.
- Heart Arrow Ranch BBQ pork — glossy and juicy, combining classic char siu with precise sourcing and modern balance.
- Tea-smoked Liberty Farm Duck — richly flavored and aromatic, epitomizing the restaurant’s ability to layer traditional technique with seasonally driven accompaniment.
- Salt-baked McFarland Springs trout — elegantly served with minimal fuss, showcasing Cantonese technique married to pristine, hyperlocal produce.
- Chilled beef tendon — textural, delicate, and layered with both heat and coolness.
- Cheong fun and roasted quail — soft and savory, offering a refined twist on beloved Cantonese dim sum-style classics.
- Black sesame cake — a dessert that mirrors the kitchen’s precision and creativity, bringing nostalgia into the context of modern pastry.
These dishes capture chef Jew’s philosophy: honor the past, embrace the present, and use California’s bounty to anchor the narrative.
Chef & Recognition
Chef Brandon Jew has become one of California’s most influential chefs, recognized not only for redefining Chinese-American cooking but for anchoring Chinatown within the larger conversation of world-class global food culture. His career spans training at institutions like Quince and stints abroad in Shanghai and Italy, bringing a wide range of techniques into his repertoire. At Mister Jiu’s, he combines this technical foundation with the traditions passed to him by family, creating food that feels both familiar and re-imagined.
Jew’s accolades include winning the James Beard Award for Best Chef: California in 2022, and under his leadership Mister Jiu’s secured its Michelin star, becoming the first Chinese restaurant in California with that distinction. His work is often cited as a bridge—connecting heritage to contemporary dining and elevating Chinese-American cuisine with honesty and innovation.
Practical Information
- Location: 28 Waverly Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108
- Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 5–10pm; closed Sunday/Monday
- Price: $$$ (average $100+/person)
- Atmosphere: Sleek, romantic, trendy, and upscale; family-friendly and LGBTQ+ inclusive
- Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible entrance, seating, restroom, and paid parking
- Dining: Dinner only, reservations strongly recommended
- Amenities: Full bar, acclaimed wine list, dessert menu, high chairs
Why Mister Jiu’s Stands Out
Mister Jiu’s holds a unique place in San Francisco’s culinary landscape. Its significance extends well beyond Michelin recognition: the restaurant reshapes how Chinese-American cuisine is both perceived and experienced, elevating it to the level of fine dining while preserving the warmth, generosity, and communal tradition central to its story. Chef Brandon Jew’s thoughtful cooking, soaked in Chinatown history and enriched by California seasonality, appeals to diners seeking depth, authenticity, and modern artistry.
For those eager to experience the evolution of Chinese cuisine in America—told through flavors, history, and innovation—Mister Jiu’s remains a must-visit, a restaurant where dining transforms into cultural celebration.
For information, please visit Mister Jiu’s