Teakwood
San Francisco
At a glance
Teakwood, located at 399 Grove St in San Francisco, offers a refined dining experience with Burmese roots, carefully balanced by a touch of modern Southeast Asian influences. A member of the Burma Food Group family, Teakwood is the more mature sibling of notable venues such as Burma Superstar and Burma Love. It presents a nuanced, sophisticated dining atmosphere without pretense.
The venue strikes a balance between elegance and comfort, featuring warm teak furnishings and soft lighting that welcomes both casual diners and those searching for an intimate setting. Its aesthetic appeals equally to those donning sneakers or dressing up for an occasion.
The menu at Teakwood includes familiar, cherished Burmese dishes like tea leaf salad and samusa soup, distinguished by subtle yet distinctive variations. The culinary approach is understated, introducing slight Thai and Vietnamese influences that surprise without overpowering.
During the day, patrons can enjoy a brunch or lunch menu presenting options like mohinga and khao soi. As day transitions to night, a more expansive dinner menu is unveiled, featuring an array of curries, main courses, and innovative cocktails. The compact location is perfect for a leisurely drink before a nearby event or a relaxed evening with friends.
Reviews
First time that I tried Tea leaf salad. What a treat. The food qas exceptional although it seemed a mixture of Southeast Asian dishes rather than pure Burmese. The roti (Malaysia paratha) was so good that we got a 2nd order. Great, attentive service. Reasonable prices. The cocktails were excellent.
This spot is part of the Burma Love restaurant family. The Tea Leaf Salad ($22) was the highlight of the meal, full of flavor. The Garlic Noodles ($22) were also good. However, the Fried Rice ($29) was just okay and the Steak Curry felt way too heavy and overly salty. The restaurant had a really strong chemical smell inside.
Food is delicious, service could be better. I’m giving a 4-star review because our server seemed out of it and wasn’t attentive enough. We tried the tea leaf salad which was excellent, roti platha is good. We also had the fiery tofu and the garlic noodles which were delicious.
Very pleasant lunch experience on a Sunday before the opera nearby. The restaurant is peaceful and very friendly with really well done food. The flavor's some of the best I've had for what I ordered and I will definitely go back. The location is very good near classical music and opera and ballet in addition to lots of shopping.
Teakwood is a good place to enjoy your dinner before a show due to it's convenient location to the theaters. The interior is tight and the atmosphere is loud. We had reservations for a Sunday evening and when we arrived the place was packed. All tables are super tight, so if you intend to have a private convo... don't... Service was inconsistent and I feel like our server was either new or just off his game. We started with the traditional tea leaf salad. Rather unimpressed as there just wasn't much flavor and no heat at all. Next was the standout Hen of the Woods dish.... excellently prepared and outstanding. Mains were the lemongrass steak, and the spicy noodles with shrimp. Both of these were very good and well prepared. The steak was tender and flavorful, and the noodles were cooked just right. Not gummy and not tough... very enjoyable.
