Chinatown Restaurants Claim Top Spot on SF Chronicle's Best Bay Area Eateries List

Four Kings, a Cantonese restaurant blending global influences, takes number one ranking

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:55am

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print depicting a repeating grid of a steaming plate of scallop vermicelli, the signature dish at Four Kings restaurant in San Francisco's Chinatown, conceptually representing the restaurant's blend of traditional Cantonese flavors and global culinary influences.The innovative Cantonese cuisine at Four Kings, crowned the top restaurant in the Bay Area, is celebrated through a bold, pop art-inspired visual.Sonoma Today

The San Francisco Chronicle has released its annual Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area list, and the top spot goes to Four Kings, a Chinatown restaurant that serves Cantonese cuisine with global influences. Co-owners Mike Long and Franky Ho, who both grew up in China and previously worked at the acclaimed Mister Jiu's, lead the kitchen at Four Kings. The restaurant's menu features innovative dishes like scallop vermicelli, XO escargot, and mapo spaghetti, blending traditional Cantonese flavors with French, Italian, and Japanese elements.

Why it matters

The Chronicle's Top 100 list is a highly anticipated annual ranking that showcases the diversity and quality of the Bay Area's vibrant food scene. Four Kings' number one placement highlights how Chinatown restaurants are pushing the boundaries of traditional Chinese cuisine and gaining recognition for their culinary creativity and execution.

The details

Four Kings opened just two years ago on Commercial Street in San Francisco's Chinatown. In addition to the Cantonese-inspired menu, the restaurant's decor and playlist pay homage to '90s Cantopop stars, creating a nostalgic atmosphere. Co-owners Lucy Li and Millie Bookokua, along with Long and Ho, have crafted a dining experience that blends their Chinese heritage with global culinary influences.

  • Four Kings opened its doors in Chinatown about two years ago.
  • The San Francisco Chronicle released its annual Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area list in April 2026.

The players

Four Kings

A Chinatown restaurant in San Francisco that serves Cantonese cuisine with global influences and was named the top restaurant in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Mike Long

Co-owner and head chef at Four Kings, who grew up in China and previously worked at the acclaimed Mister Jiu's restaurant.

Franky Ho

Co-owner and head chef at Four Kings, who also grew up in China and previously worked at Mister Jiu's.

Lucy Li

Co-owner of Four Kings and partner with Mike Long.

Millie Bookokua

Co-owner of Four Kings and partner with Franky Ho.

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What they’re saying

“Their childhood and work experience both inform the food here.”

— Lucy Li, Co-owner, Four Kings

“The playlist actually came first above all else. That's why we named it Four Kings. The Four Kings of Canto pop from the '90s.”

— Lucy Li, Co-owner, Four Kings

“It's just like this gravy-esque sauce, that's the mapo sauce, with Sichuan peppercorn and then it's over spaghetti and the sauce is incorporated well into the noodles.”

— Lucy Li, Co-owner, Four Kings

What’s next

The Four Kings team plans to continue expanding their innovative approach to Cantonese cuisine, potentially opening additional locations in the Bay Area in the coming years.

The takeaway

Four Kings' rise to the top of the San Francisco Chronicle's prestigious restaurant rankings showcases how Chinatown eateries are redefining the boundaries of traditional Chinese food, blending global influences to create unique and celebrated dining experiences.