Amazing flavors, and amazing service. The environment and ambiance is so relaxing. 10/10 recommend!read more

this place was too good!!…read more had made a reservation about 10 mins before we got there but still waited a good 20-30 mins so we were nervous we would be turned down since closing time was an hour away. place was small and filled. we ordered everything on our phone and was able to place more items without having to wait on a waiter/tress. everything we got was so good!! (spicy XLB, salt and pepper chicken, green beans, shrimp toast, fried wontons, regular and spicy dumplings) would recommend everything, such a good place to eat with family or friends

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

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!

SO DELICIOUS!! Based…read moreon recommendations from fellow foodies, this was our first stop in San Francisco--and it did not disappoint. They offer several varieties of dim sum and bao buns. We ordered: #20 Steamed BBQ Pork Bun #27 Steamed Sticky Rice Bun #2 Shu Mai #4 Chicken Shu Mai #6 Shark Fin Dumpling Favorites? Definitely the Shark Fin Dumpling and BBQ Pork Bao. Service: It's Chinatown, so if you don't speak the language, no worries--they have a simple English menu with numbered items that makes ordering easy for everyone. It's a cool cultural vibe for sure! We had a massive order (feeding a party of 8), but they were still kind, patient, and efficient. Helpful tip: When lining up, be mindful of neighboring businesses. The owner next door did ask the line to shift away from her entrance, which was totally understandable. BONUS: They accept Apple Pay. We will absolutely return on our next trip. If you're visiting the area, we parked at Chinatown Parking for a very reasonable price, and it was an easy walk to all the restaurants we wanted to try. Pro tip: Make an afternoon of it. Grab your food and enjoy it at the local park just south of the restaurant.

We just discovered our favorite peking duck @yh_beijing in SF…read more The skin was next-level crispy. It was not greasy, not heavy, just pure crunch. We tried it Beijing-style dipped in sugar and I was SHOCKED at how good it was Then they bring out the rest of the duck sizzling hot, wrapped in a lighter, thinner wrapper (as a Vietnamese girl, I usually love the sweet bao but this one let the duck shine) Tip: make a reservation since they serve it fresh and you might be too hungry to wait

This duck truffle fried rice honestly changed my life. I love duck. Love truffle even more. The…read morefried rice brought both together in a brand new way. Very clean aftertaste, with a rich savory and umami flavor. Amazing even as leftovers. The shredded pork was pretty good too. The little thin dough wrapper things that came with it were interesting, and I loved the cucumbers. I didn't try much of the noodles, but they were delicious as well. The atmosphere of this place is more upscale than your average Chinese restaurant, and the prices are a tad bit higher too. It was really quiet when we went, midday, but beautiful inside and the service was great. I appreciate that they have a unique menu that introduces a lot of brand new flavor combinations. A refreshing opportunity to try new things. Most definitely will go back for that duck truffle fried rice and to see what else they have.

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!

Great as always! Salt n Pepper fish - 6/5 great!!…read moreHand cut noodles with chicken was ok - 3/5

ALWAYS delicious. I have come here like over five times when visiting, and it is so close to City…read moreLights Bookstore down the road. Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 5/5 Noise level Quiet, easy to talk Group size 2 people Seating type Indoor dining area, Bar area, Outdoor patio / terrace Recommendation for vegetarians Highly recommend Vegetarian offerings Large vegetarian selection Vegetarian options We LOVE the mushroom pan-fried buns, salt and pepper tofu, and their green beans are so crunchy and garlic-y. Parking options Paid parking lot, Paid street parking, Paid parking garage Parking Two different paid lots for $20 right next to them (1 building away on either side). And some street parking. Kid-friendliness Seems kid friendly. Wheelchair accessibility I think there were two doors for opening in the front? But the patio is accessible.

I love coming here for their lunch specials, a great deal for delicious food. Always busy, but the…read morestaff are quick and accommodating. Weekday Lunch special comes with soup and tea, and a little dessert donut. I come here frequently

Love red jade. Their fried rice is the best. The portions are great, and the customer service is…read moreconsistently excellent. Staff is friendly and welcoming.

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.

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!

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.