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Blue Whale Restaurant & Lounge, San Francisco, CA

Blue Whale Restaurant & Lounge

4.6 (251)
$31 to $50
Asian
2033 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123-4102

Make a booking

2 people
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
19:00
Booked 7 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Charming
  • Good for groups
Blue Whale Restaurant & Lounge offers an upscale Chinese dining experience in the heart of San Francisco. Led by Michelin-starred chef Zhineng Chen. We blend traditional Chinese and Asian flavors with modern creativity, featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Whether you're enjoying a romantic date, celebrating a birthday, or planning a private event, our stunning patio, elegant dining spaces, and exceptional service set the perfect stage for unforgettable moments.
Join us for an elevated journey of flavor, culture, and hospitality at Blue Whale.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Asian, Contemporary Asian, Chinese
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Fri–Sun 11:30–16:45 Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 17:00–20:45 Fri, Sat 17:00–21:45
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Zhineng Chen
  • Private party facilities
    Host your next celebration, corporate event, small wedding, or bridal shower at Blue Whale. Enjoy upscale Chinese cuisine, a stunning patio, and personalized service in an elegant private dining setting.
  • Private party contact
    Haley Atchison: (415) 592-6009
  • Area
    Cow Hollow
  • Parking Details
    None
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Private dining

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What 251 people are saying

Blue Whale Restaurant & Lounge reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • San Francisco Bay Area

    Asian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Blue Whale Restaurant & Lounge offers "delicious food" with "excellent service" in a "beautiful restaurant." Guests rave about the creative menu, standout dishes like Beijing dumplings and sweet and tangy chicken, and a vibrant atmosphere. Perfect for events, thanks to "professional" staff and a "sophisticated" yet "reasonably priced" experience.
251 Reviews
  1. Megan

    Chicago / Illinois15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 3 July 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was delicious and the service was phenomenal. Everyone was very helpful, offered great recommendations and were professional while still being friendly and welcoming. The ambiance was very fun and I appreciated the vibey music. Would recommend.

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  2. John

    New Mexico6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 2 July 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent service and excellent quality food Highly recommend

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  3. cheryl VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area187 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 29 June 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What a wonderful time we had at our wedding. After 32 years together, my partner Terry and I decided to celebrate our love with a small group of close friends and family—and it was a perfect event. We chose Blue Whale, hands down the best outdoor restaurant in San Francisco. The food is always creative and delicious, with a menu that constantly evolves. The outdoor deck is both elegant and easy to use, and the entire space is beautifully designed to Accommodate each part of the event. We planned everything in just two weeks, and thanks to the amazing team at Blue Whale, it came together seamlessly. The owner, RunRun Li and the event coordinator, Haley, were incredibly helpful, kind, and professional. There are multiple areas throughout the venue that allowed us to move smoothly from ceremony to celebration. We held our ceremony in an amphitheater-like space with about 40 guests, and it felt intimate, warm, and just right. Our dear friend, Karena, helped with seating and other helps.. For music, we had classical pieces for the first three hours from a company called garden strings, followed by tracks from my own music catalog—Duchess CT who just released her sixth album, Wild Dogs, now streaming on Spotify and all major platforms!. Duchess CT is me. Dinner was a spectacular 12-course feast that included duck salad, vegetarian dishes, fresh lettuce cups , lobster ,beef and more. The wine selections from their cellar were outstanding—carefully chosen and perfectly paired with each course. And every cocktail on the restaurant’s menu was available, which thrilled my friends who are cocktail enthusiast. The ceremony itself was short, sweet, and unforgettable. We were married by Rafael Mandelman in a ten-minute service. When Terry read her vows, I was so overwhelmed with joy I couldn’t speak my own—I was crying Blue Whale is a sophisticated restaurant—just like its owner—yet it’s reasonably price and they know how to do an event. Restaurant instagram page video

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  4. Jackie VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 16 June 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food is delicious. The pork buns and crispy tiger prawns never disappoint!

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  5. Wesley VIP

    Washington, D.C. Area2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 8 June 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing food and beautiful restaurant! Well worth a visit!

    Is this helpful?

  6. amy

    San Francisco Bay Area6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 8 June 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious and great service! Can’t wait to go back and try more dishes.

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  7. magan

    San Francisco Bay Area7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 5 June 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Another great experience. The food was wonderful and the lovely owner came out to say Hi. Definitely recommend and we’ll be back soon.

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  8. Michele VIP

    Sunshine Coast8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 31 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was great and we loved the atmosphere. Would eat here again.

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  9. Ella

    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

    3.0

    Dined on 29 May 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    The service was not good. There was only one server (so we were often left waiting - not necessarily her fault), but she was also not polite. The food and ambience is good though.

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  10. Paul VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area45 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 25 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A truly outstanding meal. Everything was delicious, the service was attentive, and the heated patio was an oasis (but not covered, so keep that in mind if rain is forecast!) The pumpkin puffs were amazing and the coconut panna cotta was one of the cutest desserts I've ever seen. Convenient parking in the next-door garage on Union Street. Lots of spaces available even on Saturday at 6pm.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Blue Whale Restaurant & Lounge offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (415) 592-6009.

Blue Whale Restaurant & Lounge is rated 4.6 stars by 251 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. San Francisco
  5. Cow Hollow

Make a booking

2 people
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
19:00
Booked 7 times today
Google Map for Blue Whale Restaurant & Lounge

2033 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123-4102

Additional information

  • Area
    Cow Hollow
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Fri–Sun 11:30–16:45 Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 17:00–20:45 Fri, Sat 17:00–21:45
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Asian, Contemporary Asian, Chinese
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress Code
    Business Casual
  • Parking Details
    None
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Zhineng Chen
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Private party facilities
    Host your next celebration, corporate event, small wedding, or bridal shower at Blue Whale. Enjoy upscale Chinese cuisine, a stunning patio, and personalized service in an elegant private dining setting.
  • Private party contact
    Haley Atchison: (415) 592-6009
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