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    Dumpling Kitchen - Castro

    4.2 (202 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

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    DUMPLING KITCHEN - CASTRO ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Inside
    Dharma M.

    A Chinese restaurant in Castro district specializing in authentic Shanghai-style dumplings and dim sum. We found this when we were in the area and try figure out what to have for dinner. The restaurant is not that large with nice interior, bar. The restaurant serve authentic Chinese dishes. it seems the also serves cocktail as it has bar but we didn't see it in the menu. It was pretty busy and we were lucky we get table. The menu is not overwhelming and have plenty to choose from. We ordered Szechuan Fish Fillet w/ Pickled Cabbage in House Broth and Shanghai style pork dumpling. Our order was ready pretty quickly. Both dishes were yummy. I like Szechuan Fish Fillet w/ Pickled Cabbage in House Broth a lot as it is not numbing and not that sour. The service was good and definitely will come back again when we are in the area.

    Szechuan Dan Dan Noodles ($16.80)
    Tracey A.

    Regularly finding myself in both Hayes Valley and the Castro I've two observations: * The dumpling place in Hayes Valley is perpetually packed, with crowds routinely waiting for a table; and * I've never once noticed a wait at the Castro's Dumpling Kitchen. The take-away of these two facts was a (false) assumption that Dumpling Kitchen was less than good and nothing could be further from the truth. On a Friday evening my party of 3 was immediately seated and served and we liked it all: Green Onion Pancake ($8.95), well-spiced Szechuan Dan Dan Noodles ($16.80), Steamed Pork Dumplings (5 pcs., $11.80), Steamed Scallop & Shrimp Har Gow (4 pcs., $11.80), and a pot of Jasmine tea ($5.25). A solo diner beside us ordered only chicken wings about which she seemed less enthusiastic but order right and you'll leave as happy and full as we did. Service here is the sole weak link. Dan Dan Noodles came out before the Green Onion Pancake which was intended as an appetizer. One dish never came out at all (so we canceled it when asking for the check). And servers are somewhat inattentive when they're not actually serving you (i.e. you may need to flag them down). Still, I appreciated everything about this place. Quick, well-priced, accessible with little to no wait, and really good food. Dumpling Kitchen ought to be as busy as that place in Hayes Valley.

    Ajay K.

    Very friendly and helpful staff but the food itself was pretty mediocre. The string beans weren't flavorful and the skin on the dumplings were too thick / not delicate. They'll have to up their game to compete with all the awesome dumpling spots in the bay.

    mongolian beef
    Akari Y.

    The food here was good but i would say it is more on the smaller portion side. The prices were on the pricier side of chinese food but the food was great! The service was good too.

    G17.Spicy Fish Fillet in House Broth
    Steph C.

    This spot always is satisfying. Love the fish fillet house broth and pea sprouts and beef. Staff are friendly and seats about 8 tables.

    Chicken corn soup
    Poonam M.

    Came here on a cold gloomy day and it was a perfect comfort meal. I got the salt and pepper wings were super fresh literally had to wait for it to cool down. The cucumber salad was something you can skip it was alright. The corn and chicken soup was the excellent and need on a cold sf day. Over all great experience and the service was amazing and quick. Will totally go back soon.

    Welcome Shelf
    Lynn F.

    January 31, 2025 I'm here for the Sizzling Beef. Several 5 star orders. One anomaly. Management responded & spoke to the staff. Anyway, the place is very popular, that's saying something. Interior is thoughtful, orders arrive promptly, friendly wait staff. It's really not fair of me to review the dumplings since I've only tried the har gow. Wasn't my favorite, shrimp filling tasty, but too doughy for me. If you're in the Castro, Dumping Kitchen a solid choice.

    Shrimp toast
    Roselle C.

    We stopped by on the way to another shop and saw this little food spot and decided to check it out. There was a bunch of people eating, but we were seated right away. The menu is QR code and you order on your phone. They have a good amount of dim sum staples. The only thing I was disappointed by was that there was no rice option. GREEN BEANS: this was delicious. The perfect amount of garlic and the beans were cooked well. Shrimp dumplings: comes in 4 pieces, but a good size. Siu Mai: also 4 pieces and a decent size per dumpling. XLB: this came with a ginger sauce. The broth in this wasn't too hot, and wasn't too full. The dumpling itself was great because the wrapper wasn't too thin where the broth and meat are escaping. SHRIMP TOAST: this was great but I did feel like it was a bit skimpy on the shrimp. The sauce on this was a good topping. On our way out, there was a bunch of people waiting so I would plan ahead.

    Soup dumplings, A03.Butter & Garlic Edamame, S15.Steamed Shrimp & Pork Shumai (4 pcs),
    Sydney S.

    Went to a pride night market in the district and there was a food stand that I got soup dumplings from to hold me over for dinner. Well they were so incredibly good that i ended up going to the restaurant which I am so thankful for. They still allowed my friend and I to order while we waited for a table since the kitchen was closing, and service was almost as incredible as every dish we got. The restaurant itself is small but they have a bar and clearly do well for take out. cannot wait to come back next time I'm in town for my next fix!!

    S09.Boiled Fish & Chive Dumplings (8 pcs)
    Camilla M.

    I had dinner on Saturday evening around 6pm and we found easily a table for me, my husband and our daughter. We ordered the dumplings boiled fish and chive (delicious and my favorite) steamed chicken and shiitake baos (really good) and the black truffle and beef fried rice (good also this one and also my daughter ate it). We didn't try anything else because the portions are really good, so we were already full. But a friend of mine told me that their sesame chicken is a must have, so next time. Service was also good and it's a very easy ambiance.

    S05.Shanghai-Style Pan-Fried Pork Buns (4 pcs)
    Char B.

    SOOOO good. Had a work trip in Sacramento and made the drive here just to eat and do a turn around trip. My fave were the pan fried pork buns. I wish I would've just ordered multiple of that. Honey walnut prawns were delicious but literally came with only 12. When she served it to us it looked like someone had eaten 1/4 of it already. Fried rice with chicken was also good but barely had a few bits of chicken. XLB was juicy but just ok. Had to circle a few times for metered street parking. Entrance is so narrow/small and that's where you sign in and wait (also a small bench) while people are coming and going. There's a paper sheet to write your name on when you enter.

    Spencer Q.

    Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Price to Portion: 3/5 Overall: One of the better restaurants I'd consider going to in the castro. Definitely a solid choice. The extended review... Food: 4/5 - Got a bunch of different things. Of course the ones to get always are the soup dumplings and the pan fried Shanghai buns which are delicious. Service: 4/4 - Friendly and attentive staff Ambiance: 4/4 - Nothing special about the ambiance but it's comfortable and spacious.

    S10.Wontons in Chili Oil (6 pcs) (Contained Peanut butter)
    Michelle T.

    Everything was good here! We ordered the string beans and cucumber salad with our dumpling dishes too. Service was attentive and the interior was cute. 10/10 would come back because the quality was good, the dishes were delicious, and price was decent.

    G16.Salt and Pepper Fish Fillets

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    2 months ago

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    3 months ago

    We ordered delivery, the food was tasty and the price was reasonable. Delivery was very fast.

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    2 months ago

    Dumplings were good. Also had the miso soup that was delicious. Place is always packed so that should say something.

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    4 months ago

    Really enjoyed the food and the service! Everything was delicious. Definitely recommend checking this place out.

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Dumpling Kitchen - Castro

    Bund Shanghai - Kao fu

    Bund Shanghai

    3.8(678 reviews)
    3.0 miChinatown
    $$

    Normally, I would write this in the "Tips" section but it's no longer available…read more I am sad to share that this restaurant will close on 6/15/25, final day of service. The owners, the Shen family, are retiring. When they opened in 2008, replacing two popular Chinese western food restaurants, they were a refreshing addition to the mainly Cantonese cuisine Chinatown community. There was only a small Shanghai literal hole in the wall spot across the street that closed many years ago. The mom did the cooking while the daughter ran the front of the house, literally producing home style Shanghainese cuisine. They have regular normal northern cuisine favorites like hot & sour soup and mapo tofu, small bites like XLB (soup dumplings), green onion pancakes, and Sheng jian bao (pan fried dumplings). I often had family style dinners here enjoying Shanghai staples like Lion's head meatballs, Shanghai stir fried shrimp (use that blank vinegar), braised pork shank, and stir-fried eel. Never had the pleasure in trying their Dong Po pork. Get their steamed rice with bacon and vegetable to accompany those saucy dishes. With their departure, I do not know of any authentic Shanghai restaurants in San Francisco... clue me in if you think of one. The closest that comes to mind now is in San Mateo off the top of my head. Thank you, Bund Shanghai and Shen Family for providing my family, my coworkers, and me many meals over the years. You will be sorely missed but enjoy your retirement.

    An institution is going away! If you're reading this then I want you to know that the last day of…read moreoperation is June 15, 2025. The chef is retiring, so wish them a congrats and farewell if you're stopping by soon. I can definitely taste the authenticity behind the dishes. While I thought the crab sauce tofu was a bit too sweet and the rice cakes too salty, there wasn't a single bad dish. It's hard to find Shanghainese food in DTSF and I'm sad to see this one go. If you find yourself here, do order the stir-fried eel, XLB, pickle and ham steamed rice, and the Sheng Jian Bao. Overall, it was worth a visit and hope the area gets more Shanghai cuisine in the near future.

    Photos
    Bund Shanghai - Nanking duck

    Nanking duck

    Bund Shanghai - Nian gao

    Nian gao

    Bund Shanghai - Hong shao rou (Soy-braised pork belly)

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    Hong shao rou (Soy-braised pork belly)

    Shanghai Dumpling King - XLBs

    Shanghai Dumpling King

    4.4(171 reviews)
    0.6 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

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    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)

    Dumpling Kitchen Noe Valley - Patio~

    Dumpling Kitchen Noe Valley

    4.6(162 reviews)
    0.7 miNoe Valley
    Outdoor seating
    Kid friendly

    Dropped by Dumpling Kitchen Noe Valley and it was a great pick The dumplings were juicy full of…read moreflavor and clearly made fresh The place had a lively feel but still comfortable and the service moved fast without feeling rushed Definitely worth a visit if you are craving something warm and satisfying

    The restaurant was pretty busy and lively when we came on the weekend for lunch. There's indoor…read moreseating and a back patio for larger parties. Service was pretty quick. Items ordered: - Steamed pork soup dumplings: Probably the best dish that we ordered! Comes with 6 dumplings with a lot of soup - Shanghai styled pan fried pork buns: Comes with 4 pork buns which were flavorful but less soup and smaller than I expected. Could be a little more crispy. - Cucumber salad: Lots of cucumber which was great! - Dan dan noodles: This wasn't mind-blowing to me and was just ok. Comes with a lot of meat which were mostly at the bottom of the dish after mixing the noodles. - String beans: Good flavor but the dish was smaller than I have had at other places. - Boiled wonton in chili oil: I was disappointed in the flavor as it tasted a little sour to me? Not sure if it's the chili oil or the wonton. - Chocolate dumplings: Comes with 4 dumplings which were really good and tasted like nutella. Wish it came with a couple more dumplings!

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    Dumpling Kitchen Noe Valley - Eat w/ the dragons~

    Eat w/ the dragons~

    Dumpling Kitchen Noe Valley - Dine-in Area

    Dine-in Area

    Dumpling Kitchen Noe Valley

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    San Tung

    San Tung

    4.1(8.8k reviews)
    1.9 miInner Sunset
    $$

    Settling into SF and trying as many neighborhood staples as possible, and San Tung absolutely feels…read morelike one of those classic spots that's been getting it right for a long time. The place was packed at lunch, which is usually the best sign, but turnover was quick and I was seated faster than expected. The lunch special is a solid value with soup, rice, and an entree included. Started with the hot and sour soup which had good balance and depth without being overly thick or aggressive on the vinegar. The dry fried beef was tasty. Great texture, nicely cooked, layered flavor, and the kind of dish that keeps you reaching back in even after you're full. Service was efficient, food came out quickly, and the whole place has that old school neighborhood energy that makes you understand why it stays busy. Not trying to reinvent anything, just executing the classics well.

    San Tung - what can be said that hasn't been written a thousand times over? A San Francisco…read moreinstitution and gem. 75 minute wait for a large group of friends (7-8) on a Monday evening. Always well worth the wait! Highlights are of course the famous crispy dry fried chicken wings that no competitor has truly perfected or copied, the dry fried beef (I may enjoy this more than the chicken!) and dry fried string beans. Be prepared to wait and possibly make friends at a communal table. Oh San Tung, never change.

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    San Tung - Inside

    Inside

    San Tung - Garlic string beans

    Garlic string beans

    San Tung - Chicken wings

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    Chicken wings

    Shanghai Dumpling King - 2. Spicy Wonton/    IG: lisaeatsf

    Shanghai Dumpling King

    3.6(647 reviews)
    2.2 miSunnyside, Outer Mission
    $$

    I can't say how much I love this place, though I almost exclusively go for take-out now. It's been…read morea very convenient stop on the way home. I call in my order, walk in, pay, and get home before my food is even cold. My go-to involved: Dumplings - I've gotten a lot of different ones and they're always spot-on. My only small disappointment is that the pan friend buns (生煎包) have a thick bao bun and isn't juicy. I'm used to the ones with a thicker dumpling wrapper and is almost like a xiao long bao soup inside. Spicy Tendons - I can order these for days. Plus, the collagen is good for your skin! Or something Shanghai thick noodles - Simple and delicious Shanghai rice cakes - Saucy and delicious I see their whole menu and it seems like they cater a bit to the white taste...which given their location on Monterey in Sunnyside...valid. However, their Shanghainese and dumpling selections are really solid. Also a great price - I'm never breaking the bank to come here!

    So I ordered from this place as they were running a special through Uber One. Buy one get one free…read morefor Spicy Chive and pork Dumplings. I work in SF so I wanted to try something different than I usually get as I live in Oakland. The food was ok, but there were 2 deficiencies IMHO. The wrapper for the dumplings was too thick, causing the meat to wrapper ratio to be off. Also they were not at all spicy. I might give this place another try, but I would have to get something different. I thought the food was a good value with the deal they provided. It did come promptly and was still warm when delivered so I'm sure they were freshly made. Hoping I have a better experience when I try it again.

    Photos
    Shanghai Dumpling King - Shanghai Egg Roll, Lamb Pot Sticker, Dan Dan Noodles, Spicy Wonton, Pan Fried Pork Bun @teeeeeeeeeeem

    Shanghai Egg Roll, Lamb Pot Sticker, Dan Dan Noodles, Spicy Wonton, Pan Fried Pork Bun @teeeeeeeeeeem

    Shanghai Dumpling King - Spicy Wonton (8)   IG: lisaeatsf

    Spicy Wonton (8) IG: lisaeatsf

    Shanghai Dumpling King - Garlic green beans   IG: lisaeatsf

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    Garlic green beans IG: lisaeatsf

    Dumpling Kitchen - Castro - noodles - Updated May 2026

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