Why did we dine here? – Happy Crane is a brand new modern Chinese restaurant in San Francisco that has been eagerly awaited after a successful popup. In Chinese culture, the crane symbolizes longevity, wisdom, and nobility, while the name itself also pays subtle homage to the charming, storybook-style names found in traditional English pubs. Chef James used to work at Benu among other prestigious kitchens. We’ve eaten at Bo Innovation in Hong Kong, where he had worked. Definitely see the influence. This restaurant continues the movement toward modern Cantonese food in San Francisco. It builds upon the momentum of Four Kings and Mister. Jiu. We have eaten here twice. It is located in the former Monsieur Benjamin location. Needless to say it was hard scoring an Opentable reservation, but we managed to get in a couple weeks after they opened. They just started accepting walk-ins for the bar! Insider Tip – Setup OpenTable alerts to score a rez Cuisine – Modern Chinese Location – San Francisco City Hall Area Opened – 2025 Service – Happy Crane was competent but not omnipresent. Order was taken faster than expected. Food came fast. Slight delays in some refilling and some pacing issues. […]

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