D & A Cafe

Disclaimer: I deliberately waited over 24 hours before writing this review as I am trying to write this review as impartially as I can. When we visit the establishment, we normally dine in. However, we figure since we were in a hurry to get home, maybe try their takeout. I probably should, but I typically don’t examine the itemized receipt for accuracy. I thought maybe I will try examining it one time, and behold, it was inaccurate. I was charged $53.80 for a $45 meal before taxes: San Francisco doesn’t have a sales tax that is nearly 20%! When I brought this issue to the store owner and the three waitresses and waiter who were present, instead of issuing a refund of the overcharge, I was yelled at, not that I understand what they were saying, since they were using Cantonese, a dialect which I don’t speak. The only waiter who could speak fluent English, however, has for unknown reasons chosen not to help. The foursome insisted that they don’t calculate the numbers on the receipt, that someone else told them to charge me $53.80 for a $45 meal after tax, so they did. The male store owner in particular insisted that the math isn’t wrong, that a $45 meal should be $53.80 after San Franciso tax, yelling the entire time—although he didn’t calculate the numbers, and that he was told by someone else. Strangely, the store owner suddenly decided to give something back, but then as suddenly decided not to give them back, back and forth a few times, each time giving less and less of the overcharge back. I thought to myself, that it was only about $5 overcharge, so while I don’t want to tip for such bad service (who enjoys paying to be yelled at?), I was just going to let it slide and take my order as soon as it was ready. So when the final dish came, I just walked out of the restaurant, ready to drive home since I live afar. When we got home, we were shocked to find that, the last dish, which was the topmost box, was wrong: I ordered fish with bitter melon but it has not a single piece of fish in it! This has never happened with the dine-in. Someone I was eating with suggested that this can be their retaliation since it was the last dish that was delivered after I inquired about the overcharge, where the store owner was yelling at me. I readily dismiss the possibility: maybe it’s just a coincidence, although to be fair, they have never messed up the order before, during the countless times we were eating there. And the place wasn’t busy that day either but I still refuse to believe that they would do such a thing on purpose. In sum, I would advise not ordering takeout at this place. As for dine-in, usually the food is fresh, but on a few occasions, it wasn’t fresh at all, and when the people I was eating with complained, it was readily dismissed. I guess I should known back then that this establishment doesn’t treat its customers with due respect. In sum, I think the service isn’t acceptable, the food can be good if they visit them on a good day, and the atmosphere is reasonably quiet. I however am unsure if I can recommend this place after this experience.

Really good Chinese food. Got the four dishes and rice and soup combo and fed the whole family. The soup of the day was amazing. All of the food was a great deal and will keep us well fed for generations. I especially enjoyed the chow fen. Will definitely be going back again to get more of this delicious and cheap food!

Best Hong Kong Milk Tea in the Bay Area I've been coming to D and A Cafe every day for over 10 years now , and it’s my go-to spot for authentic Hong Kong-style milk tea. I feel like I’m back to Asia. After picking up my kids from school every weekdays , I stop by and the staff already know my order, especially the owner. She always brews it just right: strong tea with a smooth, silky texture, I love sweetened and unsweetened condensed milk that they add to the drink. Their iced lemon tea (dong ling cha) is excellent too. It’s my wife’s favorite. The way the owner crushes the lemon before making it gives the drink a fresh, balanced flavor, not too sweet, just perfect. The staff is friendly, I highly recommend D and A Cafe to anyone looking for quality milk tea and great service

Takeout 5/9/2021. I was at another restaurant trying to do takeout on Mother's day and their kitchen was backed up for two hours. Luckily D&A Cafe saved the day. My meal was ready in 15 mins after I ordered in person. Tonight we had the mother's day lobster special, pea shoots, baked seafood spaghetti, salt pepper spareribs, squid and it came with rice and soup. The staff did an excellent job anticipating the mother's day rush and got everyone's takeout orders in and out as humanly fast as possible. It takes a seasoned chef to get orders out that fast and for it to taste reasonably well. I like how they poked holes in the to-go container on the salt pepper spareribs so it didn't get soggy when I got it home. The lobster, pea shoots and baked seafood spaghetti tasted alright. The salt pepper spareribs and squid were only meh. The included soup was a good appetizer. Good job D&A Cafe!

We went to order food with colleagues today and took it back to the hospital. When we started eating, there were bugs in the chicken wings. So we kindly called the restuant to tell them to be more careful next time, but the owner told us that the chicken wings were sold to them by someone else Someone else sold it to them, so if you want to complain, blame them instead of saying they have no problems. Their attitude is very bad We will never go to such a restaurant again.