The first mistake at PPQ Dungeness Island is turning up at the wrong address. The restaurant spent years at 2332 Clement Street before moving to 5821 Geary Boulevard in February 2023, so older recommendations still point towards the former room. The second mistake is treating the crab as a solo order. The current menu makes a stronger case for a small arrangement: one garlicky, buttery Roasted Crab, House Garlic Noodle, and enough room for the dishes that make the meal feel complete. In the Outer Richmond, this is a place to approach with a little timing and a clear order, rather than stroll into casually and improvise.
The old Clement Street address and the dinner queue can still make a first visit less simple than the pin suggests. Ask Karpo what the current dinner wait and reservation option look like right now.
The crab is the point, but the noodles are the counterweight
PPQ's current menu lists Dungeness Crab at $81, with roasted, peppercorn, salted egg yolk, chili, curry, Cajun, house special and garlic-steamed preparations. The Roasted Crab is described as garlicky and buttery, which is the useful shorthand for ordering it: this is the central plate, not a minor appetiser to be added after everything else has arrived. The menu labels the dish Roasted Crab rather than using the full phrase roasted Dungeness crab, but the crab section makes the identity and price plain.
House Garlic Noodle costs $13.50 and is also described as garlicky and buttery. That makes it the sensible companion for two people sharing the crab, while Crab Garlic Noodle costs $33 for a more substantial second crab-led dish. The common error is ordering both without considering scale. The $113 Crab Dinner for 2 already bundles one roasted crab with house garlic noodles, imperial rolls, cabbage salad with chicken and fried banana ice cream, so the set menu is the cleaner starting point when those additions appeal.
The Outer Richmond address is part of the meal's practical logic
The restaurant is at 5821 Geary Boulevard in the Outer Richmond, in the former Ton Kiang space. That room closed in 2020 after 42 years, and PPQ's arrival brought a more modern, updated look while retaining the crab, lobster, garlic noodles and imperial rolls associated with the restaurant. PPQ Dungeness Island dates to 2000, and Charlie Chang is its owner. The result is an established restaurant in a newer setting, not a brand-new opening with an untested menu.
The move was prompted by the old Clement Street building getting old. PPQ's last service there was February 20, 2023, with the Geary location planned to open on March 8, 2023. That history matters because the former address remains an easy mistake to make when arranging a meal from older notes. Use 5821 Geary Boulevard, not 2332 Clement Street, and treat the Geary room as the current base for both ordinary dinners and larger bookings.
For two, the set menu removes most of the guesswork
The $113 Crab Dinner for 2 is unusually clear about what the table is buying: imperial rolls, cabbage salad with chicken, one roasted crab, house garlic noodles and fried banana ice cream. It suits a pair that wants the restaurant's main combination without turning the order into a negotiation over how many extra plates the crab requires. The price also gives a useful frame for the individual dishes: ordering the crab and noodles separately leaves the rest of the meal open, while the set adds a defined beginning and end.
Larger tables have a different calculation. The $539 Crab Dinner for 10 includes two roasted crabs, one peppercorn crab, house garlic noodles and several additional dishes. It is built for a group rather than a loose collection of individual orders, so the useful question is whether the table wants a shared spread before everyone arrives. For an informal meal, two people can keep it to the crab and noodles. For a celebration, the set menus make the portions and direction of the meal easier to manage.
Arrive early enough to choose the dinner you actually want
Wednesday through Friday, the earliest listed dinner arrival is 4:00 pm, and those evenings run until 9:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday open at 12:00 pm and also close at 9:00 pm; Monday and Tuesday are closed. That split is more important than it looks. A late weekday lunch is not an option, and waiting until the last stretch of service leaves less room for a relaxed order, especially if the room is busy.
The restaurant usually has a wait at dinner, and reservations are recommended. Reserve if the meal has a fixed start time, then arrive ready to order rather than assuming a spare table will appear immediately. For walk-ins, the early weekday window is the least awkward choice simply because it begins at 4:00 pm. At the table, decide first between the $113 dinner for 2 and separate dishes; adding the crab, noodles and several extras without a plan is how a manageable meal becomes an over-order.
The room can handle a party without making every meal feel formal
PPQ offers a banquet room seating up to 80 people and a private karaoke room seating up to 15. Those spaces give the restaurant a useful range: a small table can focus on the crab and noodles, while a larger gathering can use a set dinner and keep the ordering communal. The karaoke room is the more specific option, suitable when the private setting is part of the plan rather than an accidental upgrade.
For a party, book around the room you need instead of arriving with an oversized group and hoping the main dining room can absorb it. The $539 Crab Dinner for 10 provides a clear starting point for a larger table, while the private rooms establish the upper limits that matter when organising. The Geary Boulevard location is therefore not only a replacement for the old address; it is arranged to support dinners that run from two people to a substantial banquet.
Practical notes
PPQ Dungeness Island is at 5821 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94121, in the Outer Richmond. Current hours are Sunday 12:00 pm-9:00 pm; Monday and Tuesday closed; Wednesday through Friday 4:00 pm-9:00 pm; and Saturday 12:00 pm-9:00 pm. The restaurant sits on the 38 Geary corridor, with SFMTA stops listed at Geary Boulevard and 22nd Avenue and Geary Boulevard and 23rd Avenue. Dinner reservations are recommended, as the room usually has a wait. Prices include Dungeness Crab at $81, House Garlic Noodle at $13.50, Crab Garlic Noodle at $33 and Crab Dinner for 2 at $113. The menu calls the featured dish Roasted Crab, described as garlicky and buttery, rather than using the full phrase roasted Dungeness crab. Arrive at 4:00 pm Wednesday through Friday for the earliest dinner seating.
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Sources consulted: ppqcrabsf.com · ppqcrabsf.com/menu · ppqcrabsf.com/private-dining · sfgate.com · sf.eater.com
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Ask Karpo first
The difficult part of PPQ Dungeness Island is not finding a crab dish; it is getting the current Geary Boulevard address, split opening hours and dinner queue to line up. Ask Karpo for the present wait and reservation picture, the best arrival time for the roasted crab and garlic noodles, and what else around the Outer Richmond is worth the walk.
