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

30 person line, on Memorial Day. 1 hour for us to get inside and order. Food is served immediately…read moreover the counter. Waiting in the line is an experience in itself, if you have a group, time will go by faster because you can yap. An hour was a dread. But 30 minutes do fly. There's a grocery store next door to snack on/explore if you have a group member that'd you want to send in there. If you don't know what to get, there's a sign outside the door when you hit the front of the line that lists the top menu items. We got an order (each) of the shrimp, chive dumplings. And the baked pork buns were absolutely worth the wait. Don't be afraid to get one too many, as you can take it home and reheat. And by the way, we arrived during lunch time. The line was half the size around 2p.

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.

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

BIG TIP: You need to make a reservation to order their famous peking duck…read more We walked in on a Sunday afternoon, no other customers. It was nice having the place to ourselves. But it takes them over an hour to prepare the duck, so we weren't able to try it. Everything else was pretty good, but nothing I'd really make the trek (and find difficult parking!) for. We got the duck cups, duck curry, corn soup, and chow mein. Next visit will be for the peking duck, hopefully sometime in the future when I can muster the mental bandwidth to try and find parking in the area again.

A beautiful Michelin-recognized tea house experience with amazing service, flavorful food, and a…read morereally unique atmosphere. Stopped by Palette Tea House with The Kid after FoodieLand thinking we were just coming for tea... and ended up having a full experience. We sat at the communal high-top table in the center of the restaurant, which has a small pond built into it with little goldfish and even a tiny rubber duck sitting on the rock formation -- such a cute detail and definitely adds to the ambiance. Our server Ken was fantastic and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. He recommended the Iron Goddess tea, which ended up being excellent. The Kid ordered the Milk Aroma Oolong, which surprisingly tasted almost like milk tea even though it's just brewed tea. Each tea comes with its own kettle, and Ken even came back to refill the hot water for us. For food, we ordered the Wagyu Beef Fried Rice, which was a huge portion and easily shareable. Very flavorful and well prepared. We also tried the Sichuan Seafood Dumplings and the Iberico Pork Dumplings, both of which were delicious. One order is definitely enough to share. The dumplings come with several dipping sauces including soy sauce, vinegar, chili oil, hot mustard, and a cilantro-based sauce that had a slightly sweet, horseradish-like flavor that really stood out. Service throughout the meal was amazing. Even without a reservation, we were seated immediately. As a Michelin-recognized restaurant for 2025, it definitely felt like a special treat and lived up to the experience.

Out to a new place for dinner with family…read more Palette Tea House Server - Westley, was so good in helping us pick the best dishes and drinks. Jordan Chardonnay, 2022 Russian River CA Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023 Alexander Valley, CA Fort Point Villager IPA Dinner Chinese Olive Fried Rice Cumin Spicy Lamb "Longevity" Noodle Palette Soup Dumpling "XLB" Sampler (5 Pieces) Chicken Soup Dumpling "XLB" (3 Pieces) Black Swan Tara Puff (2 Pieces) Lotus Wrap Abaline Sticky Rice Wok Fried Gai LAN and Shitake Mushroom Desert Steamed Custard Dumpling Durian Custard Bao Wow, I could not say which one was my favorite dish. Every dish was great. In addition to the deserts. The deco was real nice and colorful. The had Peking Ducks all set for roasting on display. Must visit.

Another great visit at Osmanthus! Delicious food. Great service. Love the atmosphere…read more I am impressed with their tea selection. There's just so many to choose from! This visit we tried Alishang Milk Oolong. It was absolutely wonderful! It's not milky, yet it has a lovely milk feel.

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

Lunch. Special. Vibe…read more I have more time on my hands on weekdays these days and finding a great lunch spot tend to be a challenge. But the "new" Red Jade came to mind. They are known for their reasonably priced lunch specials without breaking the bank. Good selection, fast service, they have you in and out before you know it. Quite taken aback by efficient service. But it's a welcoming spot off Market Street and on Church. Food is great, delicious, good for meet up with a friend, centrally located. What's not to like about this Chinese restaurant in the City outside of Chinatown?

After Exploring Castro Last Wednesday April 8,2026 My Friends And I Have Visited New Red Jade…read moreRestaurant As I Use To Dine Over Here When I Was Still Working At Gap Inc Corporate Office Back Then For After 7 Years Have Decided To Revisit The Restaurant And I Was So Glad That I Did. As We Entered The Restaurant We Were Escorted To Be Seated And Was Given The Menu Surprisingly All My Favorite Taiwanese Dishes Were Still Available So After Ordering It Only Took 15 To 20 Minutes as Our Orders Arrived One At A Time. I Was Over Joy As Menu Bursting With Great Flavor As Its Savory And Portions Are Great. The Restaurant Ambiance Is Nice Decent And Clean And Very Accomodating. The Staff Is So Friendly And Courteus. Have Attached Photos To See The Different Dishes We Ordered And The Ambiance That The Restaurant Has For Dining Public To See And Experience.

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.

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!

I love watching them make dumplings in the window. This is a great location on Valencia with some…read morenice outdoor seating. I love people-watching in the Mission! This is slightly more upscale Chinese/dumplings/dim sum than I'm used to (I usually go to Chinatown.) I like their - Steamed Sweet Red Bean Bao, Steamed Sweet Egg Custard Bao, (very Instagrammable and not overly-sweet.) - Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings. Pretty good - Sichuan Xiao Long Bao and Shanghai Xiao Long Bao: must-get! - shiu mai and har gow: my must-gets at any dumpling/dim sum place. Interior is polished and clean. Nice to bike to or go to before or after Dolores Park. Service is fine. I keep coming back!

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.