China Live
China Live is a privately held, multi-format Chinese culinary destination in San Francisco's Chinatown operating a three-story flagship with eight open-kitchen stations, the Cold Drinks Bar, a retail shop, private event spaces, and the Eight Tables sub-brand fine-dining experience, serving gourmet diners, event clients, and retail consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What China Live does
China Live is a privately held, multi-format Chinese culinary and cultural destination headquartered at 644 Broadway at the gateway of San Francisco's Chinatown, founded in 2017 by world-renowned chef George Chen and his wife-partner Cindy Wong-Chen. The three-story, 100-250-employee complex integrates an open-kitchen main dining hall with eight specialized cooking stations (including a Hestan wok line, a wood-fired charcuterie oven, a tandoor-style earthen oven, and cast-iron dumpling stations), the Cold Drinks Bar speakeasy with over 350 rare Scotches and whiskeys, the China Live Shop for house-made and curated Asian pantry products, and five private event spaces (Space*88, Gold Mountain Lounge, China Live Library, Upstairs @China Live, and full buyouts) hosting groups from 10 to 850 guests. A separate high-end Eight Tables fine-dining experience and a monthly Marin County pop-up extend the footprint beyond the flagship venue.
The company monetizes through four primary streams: dine-in restaurant service, private events and banquets (multi-room, quote-based pricing for 10 to 850 guests), retail (in-store, e-commerce at shop.chinalivesf.com, and B2B wholesale via the Faire marketplace), and the Cold Drinks Bar cocktail program. Reservations route through OpenTable for both the restaurant and bar, while delivery and pickup are managed via SpotOn and order.online integrations. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, leveraging press coverage, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), and an email VIP list to drive bookings and retail sales.
China Live is not a technology company; it is a hospitality operator whose moats are chef-led brand recognition, multi-format real-estate footprint, and award pedigree (Eater 'Restaurant of the Year 2017,' Time 'World's Greatest Places 2018,' La Liste 'World's Best Restaurants 2019'). The company is founder-controlled with no disclosed institutional capital, funding rounds, or M&A activity. Integration stack is conventional restaurant SaaS (OpenTable, SpotOn, Faire, Picknic, Google Maps); there is no AI/ML capability, proprietary software product, or data flywheel.
China Live firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- China Live
- Legal name
- China Live
- Website
- https://chinalivesf.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- China Live is a privately held, multi-format Chinese culinary destination in San Francisco's Chinatown operating a three-story flagship with eight open-kitchen stations, the Cold Drinks Bar, a retail shop, private event spaces, and the Eight Tables sub-brand fine-dining experience, serving gourmet diners, event clients, and retail consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
China Live industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Chinese Restaurant and Hospitality
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ethnic & Regional Cuisine Restaurants (THAFACAD)
Keywords
Where China Live is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
China Live business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Dine-In Restaurant: Main dining hall featuring eight specialized stations with a seasonally changing menu curated by Chef George Chen. Operates as the primary revenue driver with lunch and dinner service, offering indoor and outdoor dining.
- Cold Drinks Bar: Award-winning cocktail bar on the second floor offering over 350 fine and rare Scotches and whiskeys, with craft cocktails and a menu of sophisticated drinks. Featured as one of the best cocktail bars in San Francisco.
- Retail Shop: Retail store offering Asian spices, sauces, condiments, snacks, and kitchenware items curated by Chef Chen and his wife-partner Cindy Wong-Chen. Products include house-made condiments and artisan goods, with both in-store and online shopping options.
- Private Events & Banquets: Event hosting across multiple spaces including Space*88 (180 seated/200 standing), Gold Mountain Lounge (50 seated/60 standing), China Live Library (26 seated/30 standing), Upstairs @China Live (60 seated/70 standing), and Main Dining Room buyout (250 seated/300 standing). Capacity up to 850 guests for full buyout.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Fine dining restaurant with seasonal menu |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
China Live product offering
Product offeringCore offering
China Live is a multi-level Chinese cuisine restaurant and cultural destination in San Francisco's Chinatown offering dine-in service, a bar and lounge, a retail marketplace, and private event spaces. It sells prepared Chinese food and beverages directly to walk-in diners and event guests, and merchandise through its on-site retail shop. The business functions as a physical hospitality and food-service venue rather than a technology or marketplace platform.
Product overview
China Live is a three-story interactive culinary and cultural destination in San Francisco's Chinatown featuring multiple integrated dining and retail spaces. The core offering is the China Live Restaurant with eight specialized cooking stations, complemented by the China Live Shop for retail products, the award-winning Cold Drinks Bar for cocktails, and various private event spaces (Space*88, Gold Mountain Lounge, China Live Library, Upstairs @China Live). The company also operates the high-end Eight Tables fine dining experience and a Marin Pop-up location for pre-order pickup. The portfolio spans casual dining, retail grocery, cocktail lounges, and private event hosting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cold Drinks Bar: Award-winning speakeasy-style bar on the second floor featuring over 350 fine Scotches and cocktails, named one of the 'Six Best Cocktail Bars in San Francisco' by Newsweek.
Products and services
- China Live Restaurant Dining Multi-level Chinese cuisine restaurant in San Francisco's Chinatown serving traditional and modern Chinese dishes, dim sum, and à la carte menu items to walk-in diners. Targeted at individual consumers, tourists, and small groups seeking a premium Chinese dining experience.
- China Live Bar and Lounge Upstairs bar and lounge at the China Live venue offering Chinese-inspired cocktails, spirits, and beverage service to walk-in guests and diners. Targeted at adult consumers seeking a nightlife and beverage experience tied to the restaurant.
- China Live Retail Marketplace On-site retail shop at the China Live venue selling curated Chinese-themed merchandise, food products, and gift items directly to walk-in customers. Targeted at consumers and tourists seeking Chinese culinary and cultural products.
- China Live Private Events and Banquets Private dining, banquet, and event space rentals at the China Live venue, including set menus and beverage packages for group celebrations, corporate functions, and family gatherings. Targeted at individuals, families, and small organizations booking private events.
Quantifiable outcome
- Named 'Restaurant of the Year' by Eater San Francisco
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use China Live
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
China Live technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature2 records
China Live partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- SF2BayminorMarin County delivery and pickup partnership for China Live products. SF2Bay platform handles logistics for the monthly Marin pop-up location, allowing customers to pre-order and pick up China Live essentials.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
China Live competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mr. Jiu's: Chef Brandon Jew's modern Chinese fine-dining restaurant in San Francisco. Comparable on Chinese-cuisine premium positioning, single SF location, and chef-driven identity in the same Bay Area market.
- M.Y. China: Upscale Chinese restaurant concept by chef Martin Yan with a destination-format venue and retail component. Comparable in combining fine-dining Chinese cuisine with curated culinary retail in a single branded destination.
- Mr. Chow: Iconic upscale Chinese fine-dining chain co-founded by Michael Chow. Most directly comparable to China Live as a globally recognized elevated Chinese dining destination with a celebrity-chef founder and multi-city presence.
- Benu: Three-Michelin-star tasting-menu restaurant in SF by Corey Lee. Comparable as an ultra-premium, single-location, Asian-influenced fine-dining destination within the same SF market.
Emerging players
- Fly by Jing: Specialty Chinese condiment and CPG brand (chili crisp, sauces) founded by Jing Gao. Comparable in the retail/CPG vertical where China Live's house-made chili crisp and sauces compete for shelf and DTC share.
Broad incumbents
- Hakkasan: Global luxury Chinese fine-dining brand with locations across the US, Europe, and Middle East. Comparable as a high-end, design-led Chinese restaurant group operating speakeasy-style bars alongside dining rooms.
- Din Tai Fung: Globally scaled Asian (Taiwanese) specialty dining brand. Comparable as a multi-format Asian restaurant operator with retail/gift offerings and a strong brand-led experience, though more limited-service focused.
Regional players
- Yank Sing: Established SF dim sum and Chinese banquet operator known for large private-event and catering business. Comparable as a Bay Area Chinese restaurant operator whose revenue model is anchored by private events and banquets.
- House of Prime Rib: Long-running San Francisco destination fine-dining restaurant with a singular focus and cult following. Comparable as a single-location, highly awarded SF destination operator with private-event programming.
- State Bird Provisions: James Beard-recognized innovative SF restaurant by chef Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski. Comparable as a chef-driven, award-laden, single-location SF dining destination with experiential service.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
China Live social profiles
Digital presenceChina Live financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
China Live leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
China Live funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
China Live M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about China Live
What does China Live do?
China Live is a multi-level Chinese cuisine restaurant and cultural destination in San Francisco's Chinatown offering dine-in service, a bar and lounge, a retail marketplace, and private event spaces. It sells prepared Chinese food and beverages directly to walk-in diners and event guests, and merchandise through its on-site retail shop. The business functions as a physical hospitality and food-service venue rather than a technology or marketplace platform.
Is China Live a public or private company?
China Live is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was China Live founded?
China Live was founded in 2017. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is China Live based?
China Live is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does China Live make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Dine-In Restaurant is the primary driver. The others are cold Drinks Bar, retail Shop and private Events & Banquets.
Who are China Live's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mr. Jiu's, M.Y. China, Mr. Chow and Benu. Fly by Jing is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Hakkasan and Din Tai Fung. Regional players are Yank Sing, House of Prime Rib and State Bird Provisions.
Does China Live have an API?
No public API is recorded for China Live.
What industry is China Live in?
China Live's product category is Chinese Restaurant and Hospitality. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAD, Ethnic & Regional Cuisine Restaurants. Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5810.