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Favorites- Big plate noodle (flavorful, MEATY, saucy, good portion to share!), xiao long bao, green onion pancakes. There's a dessert xiao long bao too if you're feeling adventurous Street parking in a residential neighborhood Service is kind and efficient. Casual ambiance in here. Small restaurant.
Dumpling Zone is a solid (if not spectacular) dumpling restaurant in the Forest Hill district, a short walk up the hill from the Forest Hill Muni station. We checked it out around 7pm on a Tuesday night, and it was about half full. We started with the OG - the Shanghai Xiao Long Bao. This was probably the hit of the evening. The dumplings were flavorful, with a good (but not excessive) amount of soup. The dough was just right - not too thin and not too thick. There was vinegar on the table, but we had to ask for slivered ginger. Next, we tried the Shanghai Pan Friend Pork Bao (sheng jian bao). They were ok - a little on the small side, and the dough was so-so. There was an appropriate amount of fried dough on the bottom, but it seemed the oil could have been hotter to get a better browning. To complete the evening's dumplings, we tried Shrimp Pork and Chives Dumplings. For my tastes, there could have been more chives, but they were fine. Lastly, we had an order of Stir-Fried Green Beans. I enjoyed the vegetables, but they could have been more flavorful. I did appreciate that they took the time to take out the "spine" from the beans. I really wish that they provided soy sauce dishes, or the round, flat-bottomed spoons that many dumpling shops have. Instead, there were traditional Chinese soup spoons which weren't great for enjoying dumplings with sauce. Some deets - probably not easy to fit a larger group. You scan a QR code and order and pay online. There were paper menus available with some items crossed-out; I'm guessing they primarily have people ordering online and haven't updated the menus; I don't know whether or not you can order and pay without a phone. There's no street parking, but there is a small, shared parking lot in the back. If you live in the neighborhood and want solid dumplings, Dumpling Zone is ok, but I think there are better dumplings offerings elsewhere.
Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 3.5/5 Portion to Price: 3/5 Overall: For me this place is very convenient given that it's in the neighborhood. The taste is actually pretty good as well. The extended review... Food: Braised Beef Noodle Soup - 3/5 - This dish is pretty standard fare. Could use a bigger portion. Shanghai Pan Fried Baos - 5/5 - Definitley one of the dishes you should try. Very well and they hold the same standard as other restaurants. Service: 4/5 - Friendly and attentive service. Ambiance: 3.5/5 - Pretty standard ambiance and it's not too claustrophobic. Portion to Price: 3/5 - On par with other restaurants.
Everything tasted so clean and fresh. I loved the juicey soup centers. I like nibble the skin and drink the center. There is vinegar on the side of table if you like to the that route and take it down in one bite. We each got our own cucumber salad because I could eat a whole one by myself. We got 4 of each of the original flavor, crab and shrimp with meat ( pork maybe). Very filling! We were both full after the 10th of 12 dumplings. Update: I think they gave me to wrong bill now that I think about it because we order 5 items but the bill was over $70. When the bill came it was in Chinese and not itemized. I thought it was a bit high but I was in a rush and SF has so many hidden fees now and days. Play it's safe and order through the QRL link.
We had driven by Dumpling Zone several times and finally had the chance to try it out. There was no wait on a mid-afternoon Wednesday. Steven was friendly and provided great service. All our items came out quickly and piping hot. Everything tasted fresh and was delicious. The XLB had a good amount of flavorful broth, the tan tan noodles were chewy, the green onion pancakes were really crispy and light, and the Nutella/banana XLB were a sweet treat to end a great lunch.
Very friendly service and the food was good. We stopped by since it was conveniently located along our San Francisco Crosstown Trail route, and I was more than happy to take a walking break to grab a bite and use the restroom. The noodles were delicious, though I wished there were a bit more of them and a little extra sauce. The dumplings were well done, with nicely crispy bottoms that we really appreciated. The Shanghai pan-fried pork bao arrived steaming hot, something the server thoughtfully warned us about. A good stop if you're in the area!
Absolutely the best soup dumplings I've had in San Francisco. Favorite dish: spicy soup dumplings. From a technical standpoint difficult to make. The skin was thin and held up well with the soup. Lots of flavorful liquid but also a good amount of meat there. Other dishes tried: non spicy soup dumplings, pan fried pork buns. Thought both of these were just ok. Service efficient and friendly. Ambiance casual. Street parking not a hassle.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Restaurant is on the smaller side but a decent amount of tables for the space. Residential street parking, there might be a lot but we missed it if there was. Come here for the xiao long bao -- thin skin and good soup. The big plate noodles were okay -- good noodle texture, sauce tasted just like beef noodle soup though. Green beans were decent, not a fan of their pan fried pork baos (I thought it was too doughy). Overall decent, but in the future I'd only come if I was craving xiao long bao in particular.
Tried it out, spent enough, wasn't worth it and won't be back. They messed up my order but its totally ok because i had no idea there was a difference between shrimp, pork & chive dumpling (4pcs) for 11.99 and a boiled shrimp pork and chive dumpling (8pc) for 12.99. That was the first red flag. I called them they explained there was an error on their end and i ordered an 8pcs. There was probably a language barrier on that end but it was totally OK. I was still going to give it a chance. But I won't be back not because they messed up my order but because there "pork meat" didn't smell right, my shrimp smelled like it was frozen and it was cold. It was not fresh... /: i took a couple of bites and have to waste all these dumplings because it smelled like a bad batch of pork ... the only mid and edible thing was the chowmein :( so disappointed! $40+ dollars for stinky pork... literally call the health inspector
Stumbled upon this gem while driving past Laguna Honda. Lunch time was right around the corner so this was the perfect place to pull up. Their Braised Beef Noodle Soup was the perfect comfort food for me! Broth was a bit too salty but savory, tender meat and bouncy noodles. Service was quick and friendly, it's a QR code to order but the food arrived fast and piping hot. Relatively spacious restaurant, perfect for small groups. I'd like to come back and try other dishes on the menu in the near future.
3.5 stars. I like this restaurant. The food is good and Eddie, tackles the front room all by himself with an even keel demeanor even when it's really busy while Momma works her kitchen magic on the food. We brought friends with us in this trip who've never been here before. We consumed all the dishes we ordered: Pan fried dumplings - full of meat and lots of hot broth. Steamed XLB - made just right. Full of broth, dough thin enough to not be doughy yet firm enough to hold the hot broth without breaking open when you pick up eat dumpling by the tip with chopsticks. Stir fried bok choy- firm and cooked right Tan Tan noodles- our friends really liked the dish, one of our favs here. Green onion pancakes - a crispy treat even if a bit oily as it's fried. Won ton soup - 8 won tons for 4 of us. It was my least favorite dish. I've had better versions of this. Glad we made a return visit.
Pretty good food but i come here for the chocolate banana xiao long bao!!! they are truly the best & i crave it all the time! Good service but i feel like it's easy to miss where the restaurant is because it's right off that intersection. Parking isn't too bad either
With all due respect to the Forest Hill neighborhood, it's one of the last places I would think to find good noodles or dumplings. Don't get me wrong - it's a nice part of the city to live in, but despite how it's home to ChouChou, which has been a long time staple for French food on this side of SF, it's not exactly area known for its restaurants. So, you can imagine how pleasantly surprised (and delighted) I was by Dumpling Zone after my friends suggested we meet up here for lunch! So much so, in fact, that I couldn't help but come back multiple times since to try more! Much like its surroundings, Dumpling Zone is a cozy, unassuming sort of spot. The small strip of businesses that it sits along is easy to pass by without noticing (I've certainly done it), but it kind of adds to their appeal - convenient to get to yet not packed with customers. What's more, the menu, with its mildly extensive array of dishes to offer, is awesome. In addition to the numerous varieties of their namesake dumplings, whether they be pan fried, teamed, or boiled, they also have a wide assortment of appetizers, soups, noodle soups, stir fried noodles, dry noodles, and vegetables to choose from. In short, a collection of dishes that really hit the spot on those cold, SF nights! -- SHANGHAI PAN FRIED PORK BAO...$12.99 As fantastic as these looked (plump with golden, browned bottoms), they tasted more solid than spectacular. While I liked that the skins were relatively thin and not doughy, the filling didn't have that porky lusciousness that steamed xiao long baos typically have. -- BRAISED BEEF NOODLE SOUP...$14.99 This felt (somewhat ) like a Cantonese beef stew noodle soup, but better. While I liked that they didn't skimp on the beef and the bite the noodles had, the soup was the star - flavorful with a nice richness/body to it. I do wish the beef had been more tender, though. -- SHRIMP, PORK, AND CHIVE POTSTICKERS...$11.99 These aren't your typical potstickers, but in a positive way. Besides their elongated shape, I loved how juicy the filling was and that it had recognizable chunks of shrimp in it. The outside of them were a little oily, but not terribly so. -- SPICY BEEF NOODLE SOUP...$14.99 Like the Braised Beef Noodle Soup, the noodles were just as good and this also had a fair amount of beef. It also had a lot more spice to it, too, and perhaps even a bit too much chili oil, but I wouldn't say it was ridiculously spicy either. -- TAN TAN NOODLE...$13.99 Not quite what I expected, to be honest. Instead of the classic tongue numbing spiciness, the sauce was actually really sweet. That being said, it was still pretty decent enough, especially after adding some of their chili oil. -- SHANGHAI XIAO LONG BAO...$7.99 (4pcs) Although they weren't the best I've had, these were terrific! The skins had the perfect thickness to them and the filling in each piece was sizable. Plus, there was a good amount of soup in them, which delicious and just slightly fatty. -- FRIED BEAN PASTE WITH PORK NOODLES...$13.99 This was...interesting. The black bean sauce was rather slick/oily, but it had an intense flavor to it that I really liked. Plus, the dollop of sauce they gave was spot on - enough to coat the noodles, but not so much as to drown everything. -- CABBAGE & PORK DUMPLING...$8.99 Ehh...not too shabby, but hardly special. The skins were soft and each one was decent in size, but the inside of the dumplings were oddly watery. I assume that wasn't intended since, unfortunately, it ended up diluting down the taste. While the food here has been mostly great, the thing I actually like most about this place is the service. Each time I've been here, the workers have all been awesome. More specifically, there's one guy in particular who is always here that is super friendly. Plus, I love how fast they get dishes out even when they have a steady crowd (can't say how it is when it's packed). Given that, the food, and how easy it is to find nearby street parking, Dumpling Zone is an awesome spot for a quick bite...both in Forest Hill and SF as a whole! FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded down for now.
3 years ago
Business owner information
Jian L.
Thank you Wendy for give us a try,and we appreciate your good review,…
4 years ago
Their specialty pan fried dumplings are amazing, as are the xiao long baos. So delicious! I'd skip the chow mein next time and stick with the dumplings and baos. Plus, the TV with cute animal videos was a hit with the kids. Can't wait to come back! read more
Business owner information
Jian L.
Thank you for your support and leave a good review, we also have…
3 years ago
Welcomed addition to this small area for delicious foods. Dumpling Zone took over the spot that was Foodie Burger. We loved Foodie Burger. Dumpling Zone service is very attentive. Restaurant is kept clean which is a plus in enjoying your meal. We had the Shanghai Xiao Long Bao which was not fatty. Inside the soup broth was tasty and best of all the dumpling skin didn't puncture which meant you didn't waste the delicious broth. Their Shanghai Pan Fried Bao is a must have. Soup broth is inside that too! Delish. Vegetable Chow Mein was tasty. We loved the Green Onion Pancake. Crispy and not soggy. And their Stir Fried Green Beans were yummy. Can't wait to go back for more! read more
Business owner information
Jian L.
Thank you Cheryl ,can't wait to see you again
2 years ago
The tomato & egg dry noodles and the braised beef noodle soup were not excessively large and very flavorful. We're coming back for dim sum next time! read more
3 years ago
This place is awesome!! The dumpling skin was so thin and the filling and soup were so juicy!! I'd dare say they were better than Dumpling Home's soup dumplings. Also got the Tan Tan noodles, Chili Oil Noodles, green beans, cucumber, and pan fried dumplings. Everything we got was delicious. 10/10 read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Jian L.
Thank you for support us
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We must have gone on an off day. The service was excellent. The food was well presented but it did not get close to the 5 star reviews. We were disappointed...maybe expected too much. The crab pork dumplings were juicy, skin was thin but it just tasted fishy. Maybe we should've stuck with just plain pork. The pan fried steamed buns were cute and tasted good but I've eaten ones with more fluffy dough. The potstickers were good but nothing overly exciting. The jajangmyeon was really bad. It looked great. Beautiful long noodles, good texture and chew. But the sauce was very salty and had no other flavor. I don't think I will go back to give it another try for a while. I expected a bit more especially given the current restaurant prices. read more
Business owner information
Jian L.
Thank you for letting us know about this! Your feedback helps us do…
2 years ago
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This is our 3rd time coming and I'm so hooked! I love the Shanghai pan fried pork baos. Nothing else like it here in SF. The crispiness is unforgettable and you can really taste how clean the oil is that they use to make them. The Shanghai Xiao Long Baos are also really tasty - love the nice hit of ginger and how nice and thin the casing is. Just like back in Hong Kong and China . Eddie serves us so quickly and also offers suggestions when we ask. The place is easy to find, ample parking, and nice and quiet inside. One of my new go-to lunch spots now! read more
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The service and food were excellent here. Nice and clean place to enjoy the food. For sure we will come offen. read more
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Fantastic dumplings and in the 'hood! DUMPLING ZONE next to Forest Hills Station was amazing!! Just opened this week. We had the Shanghai pan fried pork buns, crab and pork XLB, and ginormous fish dumplings! We will be coming back for more from this family owned small business! read more
Business owner information
Jian L.
Thank you Ravi, will see you guys in the near future
3 years ago
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This is a small mom and pop local eatery. Service is excellent and friendly. Great for a couple or group of fours. Was told that they only opened for less than a month. Lots of variations of dumplings to choose from from steamed, boiled , pan fried and in soup. They also have noodle soup. Got the famous xiao long bao( shanghai dumplings) which they had many different fillings to choose from. I don't usually order this item at all. I think its overrated and when its not made right, it's a great disappointment which occurs 90% of the time. Thought I'd give it a shot since its a new place. The soup inside the dumpling was actually very flavorful. Not a typical flavor coming from this item cuz I chose crab filling. The steamed dumpling was pretty good as well. Had to dip in chili and soy sauce since most steam dumpling tend to be pretty light in flavor and salt. Beef stew noodle ok. Was typical flavor and soup was thin. Every place makes it different. The beef broth in the soup was watery thin while some other places make it thick and rich. I would definitely recommend trying this place. Flavor is definitely there. I will personally revisit if I am in that area again. read more
Business owner information
Jian L.
Thank you Tarzan, we appreciate your detailed review.
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i have to say i was so incredibly impressed by dumpling zone, i couldn't stop complimenting how good the food was at dinner. i didn't realize this restaurant was fairly new, but came across it on yelp just looking for a place for dumplings! i stay loyal to Dumpling Kitchen on Taraval, but wanted to take a friend in town to a different spot this time around and saw that chocolate banana xiao long baos were on the menu!!! we love the chocolate ones from din tai fung, so this was a no brainer for us to check out! it was moderately busy on a sunday night with big groups at large tables, but we weren't waiting for long to get seated and its order through qr scan and the items have pictures so it's convenient and quick. the food started coming out almost instantly and piping hot, which we were so happy about because we were starving. the food we got: pan fried pork buns, pork xiao long bao, green beans, vegetable chow mein, choco and banana xiao long bao for dessert. the pan fried pork buns had such a nice crisp, you could hear the crunch in the bite and it was obvious they were fresh off the pan! the bottom had a notable yummy fried dough flavor that reminded me of chinese donut sticks (youtiao). the XLBs were SO SO SOUPY, it was insane. the thin skin was easy to bite into but sturdy enough to pick up with chopsticks and when you dump out the soup, it quite literally filled the entire soup spoon. the broth was light, but flavorful and i have to spotlight their chili crisp oil that paired so lovely with the xlbs. the chow mein was delicious, very standard dish with chewy noodles and an array of veggies. but the green beans was really the topper for me!! the moment it was on our table, the garlicky aroma filled my nose and the taste was even more promising. it was umami garlic taste with a soft tender chew that was way better than the green beans at DTF, i noticed other reviews mention that it's a bit salty which i don't disagree, but i personally like food that is more on the saltier side. the choco xlb had a nutella taste to the chocolate and was on the thicker side, but the pieces of banana paired perfectly with the sweetness. def something worth getting if you're looking to try a sweet! we finished everything between two people because it was just that lipsmacking delicious. the service was amazing as the son runs front of house and seems to be the only one bussing, hosting, etc but he was still friendly and dropped every dish with a smile! the only con is that the parking situation isn't the best as the side parking lot is small and the restaurant is on a main road/intersection so theres a high volume of traffic. circling around for parking may be more difficult to maneuver in this area. we were lucky that night to find a curb parking spot a tiny walk down on the main road in front of the surrounding houses, but i can't imagine how tedious it would've been if we didn't. nonetheless, i am absolutely coming back with more friends to try their other dishes and for those xiao long baos!! read more
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Holy crap this place is amazing. We had the Truffle Pork XLB, the green beans, the green onion pancake, fried bean paste pork noodles. I want to come back every day to try the rest of their menu. Umami to the max. Service was lovely and friendly. Feels cozy in the space, like a sweet, unassuming neighborhood spot. Go there. read more
4 years ago
We had our hike around the area and had to check out the newest spot to quench our thirst and hunger at 14k steps! The crab XLB hit the spot and so did the braised beef soup together with the shrimp and chicken dumplings!!! read more
Business owner information
Jian L.
Thank you for your support vix .
More info about Dumpling Zone
408 Dewey Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94116
Forest Hill
Directions
(415) 665-6888
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http://www.dumplingzonesf.com
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