Chinese Lunch and Dinner
Five Happiness Restaurant
4142 Geary Blvd (5th/6th Aves), 387-1234
11:30am–3:00pm, 5:30-10:00pm Mon–Fri.
11:00am–10:00pm Sat–Sun.
The first review I did of this restaurant appeared in the very 1st Edition of my book, San Francisco on a Shoestring, in 1982. It has remained a staple for future editions since then. Chinese friends of mine still praise it, and eat there often.
Lunch Special, $4.25 & $4.95, Mon-Fri, 11:30am-2:30pm (not holidays). Consists of soup, steamed rice, fried won ton, and choice of some 50 entrees over rice, e.g., broccoli with beef, sweet & sour pork, cashew nut & shrimp ($4.95), black mushroom with bean curd, Szechuan eggplant.
The extensive menu for lunch and dinner has 17 appetizers, e.g., 3 egg rolls $3.50; 12 soups (each serves 4), e.g., hot & sour $4.25; 3 duck dishes, e.g., tea-smoked duck $8.95; 16 chicken dishes, e.g., lemon chicken $6.25; 9 pork dishes, e.g., mu shu with 4 pancakes $6.50; 24 seafood dishes, e.g., shrimp with snow peas $7.95, Mandarin scallops $8.95; 12 vegetarian dishes, e.g., Szechuan eggplant $5.50; and a number of chow mein and fried rice dishes, $4.50 each.
All dishes are ample. Two or more persons can put a bountiful family-dinner together by ordering one soup (enough for 4-5), hot & sour recommended, and one dish per person, and stay under $10 per person for a good party. And probably take a doggie-bag home.
Most dishes can be ordered mild, hot, or very hot.
Wine is $5.50 half-carafe, $10 carafe. Beer $2.50 domestic, $2.75 imported. Tea is free.
Parking can be difficult around Five Happiness. If you don’t find a place right away, go to the parking lot of Kaiser’s French Campus, on 5th Ave. Cost is $1 an hour for the first two hours.
Five Happiness reviewed 10/01/01 by Louis Madison
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click images to enlarge
Entrance on Geary St.
Five Happiness Dining Room
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