# China Live > China Live — Cocktail Bar bars in San Francisco, CA. ## Key facts - **URL**: https://frankiapp.com/business/china-live-34328 - **Type**: Bars - **Cuisine**: Cocktail Bar - **Location**: San Francisco, CA - **Address**: 644 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133 - **Phone**: 14157888188 - **Website**: https://www.chinalivesf.com - **Coordinates**: 37.797873, -122.407737 - **Claimed**: unclaimed - **Vibes**: Modern, Luxurious ## About China Live is a celebrated destination restaurant and cocktail bar at 644 Broadway in San Francisco's Chinatown, created by world-renowned Chef George Chen. Named "Restaurant of the Year" by Eater and featured on Time Magazine's "World's Greatest Places" list, it stands as the most successful independent Chinese restaurant in the United States. The menu blends China's rich culinary traditions with California's seasonal, farm-to-table ingredients across eight specialized open kitchen stations. The space feels modern and luxurious, suited for business outings, group hangouts, and special occasions alike. The award-winning Cold Drinks Bar draws inspiration from Shanghai's historic French Concession and is celebrated for its curated cocktails. ## Hours - Monday: 11am - 10pm - Tuesday: 11am - 10pm - Wednesday: 11am - 10pm - Thursday: 11am - 10pm - Friday: 11am - 11pm - Saturday: 10:30am - 11pm - Sunday: 10:30am - 10pm ## Highlights - **Award-winning restaurant** — Named Restaurant of the Year by Eater and a Time Magazine World's Greatest Place. - **Seasonal farm-to-table menu** — Chef George Chen personally curates a menu rooted in sustainable, fresh ingredients. - **Shanghai-inspired cocktail bar** — The Cold Drinks Bar earned accolades including Cocktail of the Year for its craft drinks. - **Luxurious modern space** — Eight open kitchen stations create a dynamic, front-row dining experience. ## FAQ ### Where is China Live located? China Live is located at 644 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133, in the heart of Chinatown. ### What are China Live's hours of operation? China Live is open Monday through Thursday from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Friday from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, Saturday from 10:30 AM to 11:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM. ### What type of food and drinks does China Live serve? China Live serves modern Chinese cuisine crafted with seasonal, farm-to-table ingredients personally curated by Chef George Chen. The menu spans a diverse range of dishes prepared across eight specialized open kitchen stations that blend traditional Chinese techniques with contemporary California sensibility. The bar program is equally celebrated, with curated cocktails inspired by Shanghai's historic French Concession, including non-alcoholic options like the Boba Bliss. ### How can I contact China Live? You can reach China Live by phone at (415) 788-8188 or explore their full menu and events at chinalivesf.com. ### What is Franki? Franki is a restaurant discovery app that helps you find great places to eat through real video reviews from actual diners. You can browse reviews, photos, and videos of China Live on Franki, and earn cash back when you dine there. Download Franki on the App Store or Google Play to start exploring. ### Is China Live good for groups or business outings? China Live is well suited for group hangouts and business outings, with a modern, luxurious atmosphere that sets the tone for a memorable shared meal. The diverse menu with numerous dishes across eight open kitchen stations gives groups plenty to explore and share at the table. ### What makes China Live stand out from other Chinese restaurants? China Live is the most successful independent Chinese restaurant in the United States and has earned recognition from Eater as Restaurant of the Year and from Time Magazine as one of the World's Greatest Places. Created by Chef George Chen, it merges China's culinary traditions with California's fresh, sustainable ingredients in a format unlike a typical restaurant, with dedicated open kitchen stations and an award-winning cocktail bar on the premises. ### What do diners say about China Live? Guests consistently praise the upscale ambiance, attentive service, and the quality of Chef Chen's creative dishes. Many diners note that the food blends fresh, seasonal ingredients with bold Chinese flavors in a way that feels both refined and exciting. The bar program also draws strong praise, with cocktails like the Silk Degrees standing out as crowd favorites. ### How much does it cost to dine at China Live? China Live is an upscale dining experience, typically in the range of $30 to $50 per person. Diners who have visited consistently find the quality and creativity of the food well worth the price. ## Reviews ### happyepicurean — 5.0/5 · Dec 31, 2022 Serving fresh and seasonal Chinese cuisine ### yumqueso — 5.0/5 · May 1, 2025 pretty good Chinese dishes with a twist. bit pricey but tastes really good ### yumqueso — 5.0/5 · May 1, 2025 great ambiance for upscale Chinese food ### hungryjustin — 5.0/5 · Jul 20, 2025 Best Chinese food I’ve ever had. Definitely a bit more upscale so can seem pricey but in my opinion completely worth it. Service was excellent as well. We got 7 different dishes and all of them were delicious. ### happyepicurean — 5.0/5 · Aug 8, 2023 Esquite dining experience where Chinese culinary meets California fresh ingredients: Eight Tables by George Chen 8 Kenneth Rexroth Place San Francisco, Ca. ### thehungrycurator — 5.0/5 · Sep 12, 2025 China Live is one of those spots that always tempts you into ordering way more than you planned! They’ve got an impressive lineup of vegetarian dishes (green beans = always a crowd-pleaser), plus noodles, creative cocktails, and even fun non-alc choices like the Boba Bliss. Of course, I couldn’t resist the xiao long bao dumplings, and let me tell you—the tamarind baby back ribs for a new dish for me to try! The Peking Duck here has its own gallery– they present tender duck & sesame pockets. ### user_8e1a95 — 5.0/5 · Sep 14, 2025 Came here after it was recommended by a friend and it was good. Interior was great, has an upscale vibe to it. We got the #1 baos along with the mapa tofu and pork chau. Those were good, but we also got the braised beef noodle soup which was the worst by far. It had a sort of medicinal taste to it which was interesting (not in a good way). Other than that everything was good ### duh_lish — 5.0/5 · Jan 20, 2026 Here’s your Chinatown plans for the night! This 2nd floor Shanghai speakeasy style bar actually has a happy hour where you get a free appetizer with every purchase of two adult beverages. Stick to a sweet popular like their Silk Degrees or try a unique rotating drink like their Chinese Chicken Salad. After, head right downstairs for a dinner of fresh made Chinese dishes, some traditional and some with a twist. Definitely save room for one of my faves, their Sesame Soft Serve w/ Mango Shaved Ice ### eddiesclin — 5.0/5 · Apr 10, 2026 Yes, yes, and yes. Love the environment, food was delicious, the service was fantastic. The only thing I dislike is the noise level, but overall experience is amazing.