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    Big Lantern

    3.4 (1.1k reviews)
    ModerateDim Sum, Vegetarian
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Big Lantern Takeout or Delivery

    Big Lantern Photos

    Business Info

    BIG LANTERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Big Lantern

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    Reviews With Photos

    Good fortune
    Aaron W.

    I love this place. A go-to lunch special spot. Huge menu with many options for all dietary needs. Super friendly staff. Great delivery as well. The Hunan fish is my favorite. They also have dim sum options. Highly recommend for good old American style Chinese with some interesting choices.

    Vegetarian turnip cake, the sausage is not meat. Tasted great
    Jay P.

    We came after watching "A Better Tomorrow" at the Roxie and it felt fitting to eat Chinese food after seeing this John Woo and Chow Yun Fat classic. There is a famous scene in the movie in a Chinese restaurant with potted plants and this had a very similar vibe. One of our friends is Vegetarian so we only ordered vegetarian, even though it was meant to be just a light snack we ended up over ordering but the food was so good we finished everything. Just browsing on yelp I see the owner with an award in 2019 for the best Asian Food in the US! Vegetarian Fried Rice: This was excellent and it did not make me miss meat at all. It was well seasoned and had that wok char taste that makes Fried Rice like this taste unique. Imitation meat Cheung Fan: The rice paper was not too thick and the fake meat tasted great. Fried Turnip Cake: Also with fake meat, tasted excellent and everyone who was not hungry had a bit and kept eating after tasting how good this was. We had a bottle of Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc and it was surprisingly good as well!

    Kung Pao Faux Chicken
    Andy N.

    Big Lantern became the spot for a Thanksgiving lunch this year because of their plentiful veggie based dim sum options and Cantonese dishes. Nearly everything on the menu can be veganized especially with using their faux meat. There is already a lot of plant-based options available to choose from. We went with their Vegetarian Dim Sum ($13), Mock Chicken Congee ($10), Rice "Tamales" as they called them ($6 for two), and an order of their Kung Pao Faux Chicken. The congee, cha siu bao from the dim sum platter, and their 'tamales' were all fantastic. It reminded me of what I used to eat back in the day. Their kung pao could've been a bit spicier but I appreciated being able to enjoy it with their plant-based chicken, which seems to be made from seitan. Some of the vegan faux meat items though weren't as exciting. The Chicken Siu Mai was the biggest letdown and I wouldn't get that again, but everything else where they used the faux chicken was great. Aside from the food, service here was incredible. Everyone was super sweet and checked up on us often. Fun fact - they were once ranked the best restaurant in all of the U.S. by a publication and you can find their accolade proudly displayed inside.

    Curry Meatless Chicken
    Karishma P.

    Came here for the various meatless protein options in the menu did not disappoint. They had a full page dedicated to meatless or vegetarian options, which was really appreciated and unique to this type of cuisine. We did order the crispy garlic, meatless, chicken, and accidentally received the curry meatless chicken, which was still phenomenal, but would be very interested to return to try the crispy garlic. Also enjoyed the Mongolian beef. It was super saucy and very well cooked. We also ordered the numbing spicy noodles and it was interesting and definitely made our mouth tingle, but would maybe pass on it next time. Did appreciate how saucy it was. Last week we ordered the hot and sour soup. I wish it came out a little bit hotter, and it was more spicy, but it was still comforting, and I liked how chunky and thick the tofu pieces were. We were served by a very sweet waitress, who was really kind and took the time to explain the different menu options.

    Big Lantern Flaming Szechuan Chili Fish
    Amelia D.

    Classic American style Chinese food, with just the right amount of vegetables. Excellent lunch specials, I like the Szechuan fish, the mushroom medley, and the Chinese medley. The sesame beef is very crispy but good if you're into that. They make a vegetarian version of pretty much any dish.

    dim sum combination
    Serena H.

    very solid place! ambience was good and food was pretty affordable. not my favorite dim sum but it was decent and we also got the green beans with tofu which was excellent! quick service, wish they didn't charge for tea but overall still good value for the meal

    Spicy chicken
    Steven S.

    I just had the best Chinese food ever at this restaurant. The food tasted really good and the service was really amazing and the ambiance of this restaurant was great and was really decorative. I did not leave this place hungry. I highly recommend people try this place out if you are in town. I can definitely see myself coming back here

    Alice S.

    It's hard finding a decent Chinese spot in the Mission, and sadly this was not it. I will not order from here again. I ordered takeout and got the baked dim sum combination, Shanghai baby bun (pork), string bean with beef, and chicken porridge. The baked dim sum combination was disappointing. I hate being wasteful, but the curry chicken puff tasted rancid and was so bad that we had to throw most of it in the trash. The BBQ pork bun was bland, and the egg custard was just okay. The Shanghai baby bun (pork) was really just 4 pieces of soup dumplings, or xiao long bao. The naming was super confusing. Unfortunately, there was barely any soup in these. The string beans with beef was so ridiculously salty that it was difficult to eat without downing multiple cups of water. The chicken porridge was actually decent (for the most part) but a bit too oily. Everything was pretty pricey here. For the high price point and low food quality, I don't recommend this place at all. For now, I'll still have to resort to places farther out in the Richmond and Sunset for decent Chinese food.

    Salt pepper tofu. Get it without lemon wedges.

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    1 month ago

    Excellent food, service and an overall fun experience. Reminds me of the Chinese restaurants in New york.

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    4 months ago

    Got food poisoning from their prawns. Stay away from this place. Don't really need to say much more.

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    9 months ago

    I'm vegetarian so I enjoy their vegan dim sum selection. However, I do link their entrees are a bit overpriced for what you get.

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    1 year ago

    They have really good food. Very delicious. I go there all the time and most of all their fast.

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    Big Lantern Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Big Lantern

    Does anyone know what the main ingredients are in their meatless chicken options? I am vegetarian but allergic to tofu. What's the base of their faux meat? They have tons of meat-free things I would love to try. Thanks!

    I can't be certain, but I'm pretty sure that they use seitan.

    View All 3 Questions

    Shanghai Dumpling King - XLBs

    Shanghai Dumpling King

    4.4(171 reviews)
    0.4 miDuboce Triangle
    $$

    Shanghai Dumpling King looks completely unassuming from the outside, but inside they are cranking…read moreout some seriously delicious food. The staff were friendly and super prompt about clearing empty plates and refilling our tea whenever we signaled it was done, which is always great as the dishes just get on coming! We ordered a bunch of dishes to share, and several really stood out. The spicy tendon was fantastic, shredded paper thin and swimming in a classic spicy sauce. The spicy lamb dumplings were another highlight, with an incredibly thin wrapper and a super flavorful and not gamey at all lamb filling. I also loved the stir fried rice cakes, which were sliced thin enough to avoid that overly chewy texture, and the stir fried noodles Shanghai style were classic and simple in the best way, with big chunks of cabbage and meat and just executed really (the chefs clearly have some serious wok skills!). Not everything we ordered was an absolute knockout as the vegetable dishes could use a bit more flavor and seasoning, but everything overall was good, and the portions across the board were very generous. The desserts were a last-minute decision and I am so glad we went for them. The lava custard buns were fluffy and amazing, with a molten salted egg custard inside, and the sesame balls had a satisfyingly crispy exterior that gave way to a perfectly chewy interior and sweet red bean filling. The value here is also excellent. We left absolutely stuffed and spent around $30 per person, which felt like a great deal for how much food we got and how much we enjoyed it. Highly recommend!

    I had this place bookmarked. We tried it and it was good…read more Convenient location in the Castro right next to Last Rites. Free tea, quick service and dirty restaurant are signs of very authentic Chinese food you're about to get. It was dead empty when we arrived and minutes later every table was full with a line forming, everyone waiting to be seated. That said, their dumplings and xialong baos are very good! Yes come, yes they accept credit cards

    Photos
    Shanghai Dumpling King - Pick up counter

    Pick up counter

    Shanghai Dumpling King - String beans

    String beans

    Shanghai Dumpling King - D2. / Spicy Wonton (8)

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    D2. / Spicy Wonton (8)

    Good Mong Kok Bakery - Fried Meat Dumpling ($3.50 for 3)

    Good Mong Kok Bakery

    4.1(3.8k reviews)
    2.3 miChinatown
    $

    Got their deep fried meat(number 44). I think in Cantonese it's ham sui gok, but I have no idea, I…read morejust know I love it and I ate it a lot as a kid. Also got an egg tart and number 11, which is the soy sauce lo mein. The portion is huge for the soy sauce lo mein. Definitely worth $4! Service was okay, could've been better, but there was only one lady working the register and filling orders and you could definitely tell she was exhausted. There was also a line out the door, so one person handling ordering and filling the orders all day sounds exhausting. The food was good though! No seating, order, pay, and leave. Don't worry the food is good!

    A regular trek to the city was in order where a stop to China Town on the list. We do something…read moreunusual when in China Town, we go to several food establishments and purchase a couple of pork buns to compare with others. It's been a fun family tradition for years. Today we visited Good Ming Kok Bakery. The shop is small and crowded with cookware and patrons. The order board is on the wall with corresponding numbers to make it go quicker. It's a walk in, order and walk out establishment. Be prepared...there is a line. The ladies working are not personable and act as if they are doing us a favor. Very stern faced. (Service 1/5) The buns (5/5) were very tasty, light and full of meat. Definitely will keep this one on our radar when the kids come for a visit.

    Photos
    Good Mong Kok Bakery
    Good Mong Kok Bakery - Baked Char siu bun and Seasame balls

    Baked Char siu bun and Seasame balls

    Good Mong Kok Bakery - Scallion pancake

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    Scallion pancake

    Palette Tea House

    Palette Tea House

    4.1(1.9k reviews)
    2.8 miRussian Hill, Fisherman's Wharf
    $$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Speaks Mandarin

    I had made a reservation at what I thought was Palette Tea House in Ghirardelli Square, when in…read moreactuality I made a reservation for 24 people at Palette Tea Garden in San Mateo! (Only a 22 mile discrepancy -- yikes!). I was horrified at my mistake, arriving with 24 hungry co-workers but NO reservation. Fortunately, Dennis and his co-workers were amazingly gracious and able to accommodate our large group of people. The food was AMAZING!!!!! Best dim sum I've ever had. Even my fellow employees (who are normally meat and potato types) were impressed and pleased with the food and beverages. Our servers were attentive and gracious, the ambience is lovely, but the food was the star here. I can't say enough wonderful things about Palette Tea House. Do yourself a favor when you're in San Francisco and visit this restaurant! I live in the Los Angeles area, but next time I go visit my mother-in-law, I'm taking her to Palette Tea House! Yummy!!!!!!

    Went to this tea house first time over the weekend for Mother's Day…read more We reserved a table days in advance. We chose the outdoor table because of our dog. First off, great vibe and ambient. Modern decoration with touch of traditional Chinese accents. The food was 4 stars out of 5. -5 stars for presentation. -3.5 stars for the taste. The presentation is fancy and luxurious. We ordered both the scallops and abalone shui mai. The abalone is okay but the scallops ones are way better. We also ordered the lotus leaf with abalone. While it looks so fancy, the rice is really wet but not binding together. The flavor is lacking as well. The best dish was the Iberico cha siu (bbq pork). It was so tender and flavorful. All of their food would looks really good on IG but I personally prefer my food have wonderful taste than wonderful photos. The service was good overall but it is a little slow given how fancy the food looks like. Empty plates were not removed until requested or when new plates have nowhere to place. Price point wise..Definitely on the higher end but not too crazy especially this place is in the heart of SF. There is a parking structure next to the tea house but it gets challenging during the weekend. I would rather take ferry and grab a Lyft next time. Will I be coming back? Maybe but it will not be my top choice while I'm in SF. Will I recommend? Yes! You should absolutely try it for yourself!

    Photos
    Palette Tea House
    Palette Tea House
    Palette Tea House

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    Dumpling Time - Pork Soup Dumplings

    Dumpling Time

    4.2(2.8k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I don't live in the city but I've had to come up here every day because my wife had been…read moretransferred to a hospital in San Francisco. She went through a spell of being terribly nauseaus and only certain foods could be kept down. She's a fan of dumplings so we found this place on door dash and tried it. The Wagyu XLB is one of the best things I've ever eaten. And no that's not hyperbole.Everything we had from this place was great but those specific dumplings were amazing. My wife also was a big fan. She had the vegetable dumplings and not only was able to keep it down with her nausea, but would also get it again and she is a picky eater. The worst thing we ate there is something I would descriebe as "good but I don't need it again." I won't name the item because it really wasn't bad at all, it was just outshined by everything else. I have since recommened thist o a few different doctors and nurses at her hospital and two have reported back to us that they loved it as well. In fact one nurse's wife now wants Dumpling Time at least once a week. When I die, if the Wagyu XLB is the last thing I eat, it would not be a wasted life.

    i was in san francisco for a one-day work trip, and once the day wrapped, we all went out to eat. i…read morewas genuinely excited to partake in dumplings because... it's san francisco. you kind of expect a moment. unfortunately, dumpling time was incredibly underwhelming. lots of bland. i understand not every meal is going to be a home run, but wow, this was aggressively average. eating on the company's dime makes it sting a little less (our ceo would absolutely hate to hear this happened, lol), but still. the shrimp toast was truly interesting and delicious. the clear standout in my mind. the wagyu truffle gyoza though... truffle who? flavor where? very much lacking, especially for something that sounds so promising. the tom kha soup dumplings were also shockingly bland, which was the most disappointing part for me. the ambiance itself was laid back, which i did appreciate. overall: sad. not terrible, just forgettable. which somehow feels worse when you're expecting something special in sf.

    Photos
    Dumpling Time - Inside w large screen playing K POP music

    Inside w large screen playing K POP music

    Dumpling Time - BBQ Pork Bao

    BBQ Pork Bao

    Dumpling Time - Lamb Dumpling

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    Lamb Dumpling

    Bao - Baked BBQ Pork Bao (3)

    Bao

    4.3(449 reviews)
    0.1 miMission
    $$

    amazing food, service & atmosphere!! came for their baked bao bun with black truffle, beef buns and…read morestayed for the yellow tiled bathroom. great fun would 10/10 recommend. WILL BE BACK!

    It was a literal dark and stormy night so between squalls I geared up and headed down Guerrero…read moretoward 17th Street and swung down to Valencia for another perfect simple dining experience at Bao. I walked into the restaurant about 45 minutes before closing time at 9:30 PM and several other diners came in after I was seated. The unsettled weather made the people hungry for dumplings. Bao is warm and woody and serene on the inside, a great counterpoint to the bustle of Valencia at every hour. Upon entering there is a large window looking on to the kitchen prep area where culinary experts are often at work constructing the food diners later enjoy on their plates. Tonight a couple of wizards were in the process of making chicken potstickers. Even being vegetarian, just seeing how the dumplings and other items are made is like seeing secrets being shared. I love it and it sets the vibe for the restaurant. My order consisted of the steamed vegetarian buns and sautéed string beans. The buns come out beautifully presented and taste even better: the bun itself is just slightly sweet and that sweetness adds an amazing dimension to the chopped fresh vegetables inside. Can't tell you what any of these veggies are individually and I don't care, they are so good. Next came the sautéed string beans and the sear on the beans themselves was perfect and smoky and delicious. The crispness of the sautee makes the string beans a lovely pairing with the soft yummy of the steamed buns. Last came the sesame balls as a sweet meal ending. I love donuts and fresh-made sesame balls are similar to a donut hole just with a filling that is actually food and so sweetly tasty. The outer fry was crisp and the insides absolutely perfect. Three dishes, all fantastic, and I walk home happy and thankful to Bao for a great simple meal!

    Photos
    Bao - Kitchen magic!

    Kitchen magic!

    Bao - Spicy Won Ton (6)

    Spicy Won Ton (6)

    Bao - Sweet bao plate

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    Sweet bao plate

    House of Dim Sum

    House of Dim Sum

    3.4(60 reviews)
    0.7 miMission

    Quick and tasty spot. Came here to split a siu mai while waiting for my order from another spot…read more The cashier was super friendly and the food came out quickly. Heads up that this is mostly a takeaway spot and they only have 1-2 small tables. The siu mai was fairly big and I liked that the order came with a bunch of sauces- chili oil, soy sauce, and a hot sauce. As a big sauce fan, I appreciated the selection! I'll be back to try most of their selection.

    I've only ordered dim sum from here through Too Good to Go (2g2g). Like their Chinatown location,…read moreI find the dim sum to be oily. But overall, it's good. The baked bbq pork buns are sweet with a decent amount of filling. The deep fried dumpling is plump, juicy, and crunchy. The shrimp and chive dumplings are my favorite. It's full of shrimp with a slightly thicker skin, which I think adds a nice chewiness. The veggie egg rolls were okay. I personally wouldn't order those, even if I was craving them. The spare ribs had a really nice savory flavor from the sauce. The egg tarts were okay. I need to note that these bags are leftovers from the day, so they're not as fresh. But they held up the next day so I was able to stretch 2 meals out of them. I can't comment on service since these bags are only for pick up. But they quickly provide the bags once the window open. And it's a small space, with maybe 2 tables. So this place is probably best for to-go orders. Their 2g2g bags have more variety than their Chinatown location. Not sure how many dim sum options there are in the Mission, but I would go here if I was in the area and craving a shrimp and chive dumpling.

    Photos
    House of Dim Sum - Bakery Display

    Bakery Display

    House of Dim Sum - Baked BBQ Bun, Chives & Shrimp Dumpling, egg tarts, Egg Roll, Steamed Pork Spareribs, Deep Fried Meat Dumpling

    Baked BBQ Bun, Chives & Shrimp Dumpling, egg tarts, Egg Roll, Steamed Pork Spareribs, Deep Fried Meat Dumpling

    House of Dim Sum

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    Big Lantern - dimsum - Updated May 2026

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