Shanghai Dumpling King looks completely unassuming from the outside, but inside they are cranking out 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! read more

I had this place bookmarked. We tried it and it was good. 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 read more

Most people seem to get takeout. Tables are downstairs but since it's open to the street level there are high ceilings and good air flow. Service was quiet and friendly, and most importantly accurate. Tofu thread salad was the surprise standout dish -- probably a dozen ingredients and therefore not something I could easily make at home. A mild (room temperature) dish with a slight acidity and range of textures from things like cucumber and green onion. Shrimp hargau was standard, a little sticky. Lamb potstickers were good -- true potsticker preparation with a brown bottom and steamed/moist upper wrapper. Some places these days fry the whole thing. Potsticker filling was a little gristly with perhaps a couple small bone chunks. But this is something I'm used to from childhood, so it don't really bug me. I ended up here because the Bay Bridge home to Oakland was jammed up and I decided to eat dinner in town and wait out the traffic. A nice quiet spot to be away from the bustle. read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - Shrimp dumplings / Har gau - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Nice, clean, and casual spot to pop by for some generous soup dumplings, delicious soup, and great stir-fry dishes. Incredibly fast service. Very reasonable prices. read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - H2. 酸辣湯 / Hot & Sour Soup - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

It doesn't look like much from the outside but Shanghai dumpling king is delicious and they do it well. The pan fried pork dumplings were my favorite, the tofu with century egg is an acquired taste but hits the spot, and the hot and sour soup is perfectly eggy but I prefer slightly more salt. This was a perfect amount of food for two with a bit of leftover. Not to be missed if you're in the area and need some comforting Chinese food. read more

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It's been a couple years since I last went to Shanghai Dumpling King, and we were in the area for a show with some out of town friends, and they were craving dumplings so we decided to take them here. We came on a rainy Saturday and the place was pretty full. Luckily they had a table available for 4 and we were a seated right away. Looking at the menu, there were so many things we wanted and we ordered a bunch of things. My favorites: pot stickers, XLBs, Mongolian beef, and hot and sour soup. XLBs were really tasty, plenty of soup inside, and perfect on a cold night. My least favorite was the spicy bok choy and kung pao chicken. The bok choy was sour without any other flavor. And the chicken in the kung pao chicken was bland. Wouldn't get those again. I think for the city, the prices and portion sizes are pretty good. While it's the best dumplings I've had, it's a spot that if I lived nearby, it would be on the regular rotation of places I'd go to. If you are in the area and craving dumplings, it's worth checking out without worrying about breaking the bank. read more

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I've come here a plethora of times and have thorough enjoyed my meal every time. Would highly recommend the Spicy Fish Fillet Szechuan Style (6/5) if you're looking for something with an authentically spicy and numbing flavor. Pan Fried Pork Bun (3/5) can probably be found better elsewhere -- I thought the bread-to-meat ratio can be improved. For a party of 2, we usually order one of their dumpling entrees (you can't go wrong; they're all good), one of their veggie entrees like the Pea Sprouts (6/5) or Eggplant (5/5), & one other meat-based entrees like the Twice Cooked Pork (5/5) or Mongolian Beef (5/5). Staff seems to be a family and the vibes aren't fancy. Come for a great reasonable and casual meal. Happy eating! read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - D13. / Pan Fried Pork Bun (8) - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Absolutely my favorite restaurant, I always order togo spicy wontons, the spicy bacon rice cakes, and the dan dan noodles. I tried many different dishes at their other location on Monterey Blvd (family owned). The brothers that own both the restaurants are super nice. The owners always recognize me whenever I call for takeout. I would consider this restaurant a hole in the wall, because if you had it before, you know it's that good. This location closes later than the other, so it's better for the late night food. I will definitely recommend this location and the other restaurant to everyone. read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - D2. / Spicy Wonton (8) - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

This a no frills, super tasty dumpling spot near Duboce Ave. Highly recommend the soup dumplings. Their mapu tofu is also super tasty.

Guys, if a place has dumpling in their name-- you order their dumplings!!!! And omg, this place is my absolute favorite spot for fresh dumps now I'm SF..... Like, all the filling in these dumplings are.. uniquely FRESH! Is it because i didn't know the difference before and that other places buy their frozen? Probably... but this place does it fresh and so well!!! Aghhhh My favorite things to order: - their combination wonton soup for take out... so good and full of chicken and lamb and beef sprinkled into the soup - their lamb dumplings are the best I've ever had.. silky lamb is that a thing... it is here lol - and if you get to eat in, you gotta get their soup dumplings so fresh and they give you the sweet vinegar to enjoy it with... ugh so good... can't wait for my next visit. Also, like -- last rites is next door, so perfect date night spot!!!!!! read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - The spread!! - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

They cook your order fast, servers were friendly and food was served fresh. My favorite was the braised pork. read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

My friends and I shared the pan fried pork dumplings & the pork & chive dumplings. They were just ok. They needed more sauce. About $30 for both. read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - pan fried pork dumpling - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The steamed vegetable buns are back as of last Wednesday and I can see why the people including me love this dish! The portion is large, five buns come to an order, and the individual buns themselves are each big and densely delicious, filled with chopped vegetable goodness. The bun flavor is not sweet, more neutral tasting, and it is even more fantastic when the diner concocts your personal favorite blend of the soy sauce, vinegar and chili sauce that sits on each table at SDK. Dollar for dollar with walking away feeling awesomely full as the goal, you can't beat the value, flavor and delightfulness of SDK's steamed vegetable buns. read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - Steamed vegetable bun - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Server, host, cashier, busser, all one person who did everything with a smile. Great guy. Low key Chinese spot serving up some interesting dishes. Rice cakes with bacon and black bean sauce was a little spicy, very savory, and great chewy texture. Solid dish. Lamb dumplings in chili oil was a little under seasoned but had good lamb flavor and benefitted from some soy sauce and vinegar. Wonton soup with noodles was great, homey, big plump wontons, savory broth with white pepper and sesame oil. Good value for the portion sizes. Solid place. Would return. read more

Amazing dumplings, great price, and the service is always great. My go-to for comfort food. read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - Spicy shrimp dumplings with chives, steamed pork buns, soup dumplings, and Shanghai style wanton soup. - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

Shanghai Dumpling King is a small restaurant, very unassuming, but has fantastic dumplings!! I am so glad my friend introduced me. Right on the corner of Church and Market, it's pretty easy to get to by public transit. We went in hoping to share some plates family style. The service was awesome- everyone was nice, quick, the tables were clean with all the great condiments. The server also offered tea right off the bat which is my favorite! They have a spicy chili sauce right at the table- I think it's homemade, it's very good. We got the braised green beans, spicy pork dumplings, spicy shrimp dumplings, spicy pork wontons with peanut sauce, and the combo soup. Okay usually vegetables are meh, but here, the green beans were seasoned well and cooked perfectly. I was so stoked to get the rest! The dumplings were amazing, the spicy chili sauce/chili oil with the dumplings was so flavorful, spicy enough but not too hot. I liked the shrimp ones because the filling had extra green onion. The soup was comforting, peppery, I am a big fan! I would drench the pork wonton with the spicy peanut sauce, it was chef's kiss perfect. For 3 people, less than $30 each for such a delicious, filling, meal is such a win. I will be back soon! read more

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This place is a gem & I'm so happy we found it!! My favorite was the soup dumplings. They provide tea too. Also the prices are so reasonable & I like how they're open late! read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - noodles, spicy dumpling, soup dumpling - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

The best dumpling spot in the area! The spicy dumplings in peanut sauce is the best. I also really enjoy the onion pancakes, but honestly everything there is delicious. The staff is quick, the food comes out quickly, and I don't feel rushed when I'm socializing with friends. The restaurant is narrow, which I like and think adds to the charm. There's even a big round table if you have a large party. Definite must try. read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - D2. / Spicy Wonton (8) - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Overall: A good option in the neighborhood for some legit Chinese food. The extended review... Food: 4/5 - Got a bunch of things to share family style ranging from veggies to dumplings to noodles. All were very fresh and tasty. Service: 4/5 - Friendly and attentive staff. Ambiance: 4/5 - Definitely better than most Chinese places. Doesn't feel like a hole in the wall. read more

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Came here with two friends after a Barry's workout and enjoyed the experience for dinner! Good: - Food came out pretty quickly and the place was fairly empty so we got seated immediately - I enjoyed the meat bun here a lot - The fried rice cake was super tasty here - Not too oily food for a Chinese place - Prices are good! Good value Bad: - Pretty casual place, you'll need to flag down the waiters Overall this place was great and would come again. read more

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Overall, it's okay but *small* portion size for to-go orders. - Shrimp and chive dumplings: filling is good but the skin is thick - fish and pepper: great flavor and crisp - pea shoots and garlic: yummy - mapo tofu: this..this is not mapo tofu. It's not bad, it's just not mapo tofu. It has peas, a rice-vinegar tang and very-little-to-none mala For ~$80, other restaurants at this price point offer larger servings read more

This place is so good! I ordered a bunch of food to-go: veggie buns, veggie dumplings, chicken and chive dumplings, mixed veggie soup. Everything was a 10/10! Prices are more than reasonable. Highly highly recommend! read more

Decent Chinese spot in the Castro/mission district, although not the best when comparing to Chinatown or Richmond. We got the seafood dumpling soup and XLB. XLB came out freshly steamed and a good amount of soup broth, but the pork itself could use some flavor (or maybe some green onion)? Seafood dumpling soup was good, the broth was rich and hearty, perfect for a chilly night. It was filled with veggies like bok choy, carrots and bean sprouts and had some small shrimps. There were no noodles, but they put a generous amount of boiled seafood dumplings in there (maybe 8). Service was decent, nothing to write home about. Ambiance is fine. read more

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Solid Chinese restaurant offering dumplings, wontons, and other dishes. The first floor is for takeout but the lower level has multiple tables for seating, including a couple large ones which can fit groups of ~10. We had the soup dumplings, some veggies, wonton soup, chili wontons, and egg drop soup. Everything was pretty good -- the egg drop soup was great, both light and warming, I could probably have 5 bowls. The soup dumplings were a bit large and had too much meat filling for my preference. read more

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I didn't realize this place had a sit down area, but it's hidden downstairs a bit! They give great portions, have fat wontons, but can be a little hit or miss depending on what you order. We got: - Spicy Wontons (4/5): These weren't very spicy, more peanut butter heavy. The filling is pretty authentic with shepards purse, but ours were a bit mushy (overcooked). - Salt and Pepper Fish Fillet (5/5): Good quantity of fish for the price ($16)! I enjoyed the flavor and crispiness. - Twice Cooked Pork (2/5): Didn't love this dish. Portions were good but the flavor was kind of off. Total was about $56 after tax and tip! Seems like a small business so would def come back and support :) read more

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The portions are generous here and service is fast! It's quite a small and casual place that appears to be underground. I felt my pork dumplings were a little undercooked but the fish was the star of the show! It was softy with great spicy seasoning. read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was walking around and wanted something cheap to eat. I checked Eater for affordable options in San Francisco, and this place was the nearest to me. When I arrived, it wasn't busy at all, which worried me. I sat myself at one of the tables and one of the staff dropped off a menu. Looking at the space, it looks like a classic family run operation. They don't spend any effort on ambiance , which is fine as long as they do the food right, and they do. I ordered the Shanghai Soup Dumplings (XLB) and they were good. Skin often broke because they stuck to the steamer, but still tasted good. I also had the potstickers which I preferred. Service was minimal. Overall, I'm glad I stopped here for the dumplings. Good quality and reasonable portion size for a good price. read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - D14. Pot Stickers (8pcs) / - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

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(3.5/5 stars) was craving chinese food and this spot is one of the few still open around 9pm in the city. We got a total of 3 items (green beans, spicy wontons, and salt pepper fried fish) and the total was around $56 including tip. it's on the pricier side for takeout. The green beans were yummy, and the sauce for the wontons was really good. however, the salt and pepper fish batter was really chewy and had no crisp whatsoever. I know takeout isn't as fresh but I've had salt pepper fish from other spots that are still crispy when I get home. I can see the appeal of this place for the quick friendly service and the convenience, but the food and price are alright. read more

I have never dined -- this review is for their takeout. This is our go-to Chinese takeout on Doordash! They are usually done with our 6 dish order in 10-15 minutes, which is insanely fast. Our favorites are the pea shoots, wonton in peanut sauce, xiaolongbao, and pan fried bao. read more

A group of coworkers and I visited Shanghai Dumpling King for lunch. The restaurant opens at 12 PM on the day of our visit, but when we arrived a few minutes before noon, it was still closed. It took several minutes past 12 PM for the restaurant to open and begin receiving customers. We were somewhat apprehensive about dining there since we had a meeting scheduled for 1 PM and were uncertain about how quickly they would prepare and serve our food, which would allow us to eat without feeling rushed. However, we were finally seated about five minutes later. There was only one employee attending to customers and processing payments, although we were the only diners at that time. It appeared that they received a significant number of takeout orders. Nevertheless, the gentleman was able to take our order, which consisted of approximately six dishes, and it took around 15 minutes for some of the dishes to be served so we could begin eating. Complimentary tea was provided. We ordered Broccoli with beef, Mongolian beef, Sweet and sour chicken, Shrimp and pork Shumai, one soup, and a side of chicken fried rice and steamed rice. The food was quite good! I enjoyed it, as did my coworkers. I should mention that one other coworker and I ordered Thai iced tea, which was very concentrated; it was still delicious, but we had to dilute it with water or additional tea, and then it was perfect. Overall, the experience was quite positive! I have no complaints about the food; it was very tasty! The service was also commendable! I would like to acknowledge the one employee who assisted us. I accidentally spilled my cup of water, and he was very kind, offering me extra napkins to clean myself and the table, and he even fetched a mop to soak up the water. Although we were the only customers in the restaurant and it wasn't particularly busy, he was still very gracious! I would definitely recommend trying this place if you are nearby. read more

We came late, and they accommodated us with my friend in a wheelchair. They have a great ramp, and a nice big table that seated all of us. The food was delicious, and we had a great time! They're also very conveniently located. read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - We're having a great time! - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

the whole family was so happy to eat this, best soup best dumplings but for me i love love love the soup, earned the name. Best and real shanghai style! read more

Consistent good quality Chinese food with reasonable (cheap) price! Service is efficient and homey. Seems like the server is always excited to see me whenever my partner and I come in. The spicy wonton is a must get every time. The filling in on the sweeter side compared to all the other spicy wonton (紅油炒手) that I have in the city and I'm not mad at it. It's not greasy at all and the sweetness actually brings the whole dish together along with the sesame paste and the pickled veggies. Tbh the best variation of the spicy wonton I had around the bay :) They use the same dumpling fillings for their XLB too so it may taste slightly different from the traditional XLB but again, it's good and definitely worth ordering! The pan fried dumplings had too much dough and not enough crisp. Almost feels like a bun instead of dumplings. Not recommended:( I wanted to try something new so got the salt and pepper fish fillet + extra spicy. Got exactly what I expected. The flavor is excellent, however, just wish the fish was fried abit more crispy. The pieces seem a little dense... It's a solid hole in a wale spot and will definitely come back and order my regulars. read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - D2. Spicy Wonton (8pcs) - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

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What I liked most was that the price was reasonable and portions were great! We got their lunch special deal which came with rice or you could choose to pay an extra $2 to switch out the rice for noodles. We went with the rice since it paired better with what we ordered. I got their $12 Kung Pao Shrimp and my sister got their $12 String Bean with Beef. On the side, we also ordered their $11 Spicy Won Ton with Peanut. 4/5 stars for my Kung Pao Shrimp. Taste was average, a bit too spicy, and very fulfilling so I was satisfied and very happy with the price and portion size. 5/5 stars for my sister's String Bean with Beef. It was yummy. The meal wasn't the best I've tasted, but for the price and portion size, we were very satisfied. 3/5 stars for their Spicy Won Ton with Peanut. Let's just say that when we saw Spicy Won Ton on the menu, we were expecting something totally different. What we ended up getting looked and tasted completely different than what we've had from other restaurants that served spicy won tons. Although I prefer other restaurants' spicy won tons over theirs, I thought it was decently made and definitely fulfilling. I think since I love anything peanut butter tasting, I liked it more than my sister did. 5/5 Service: Although there wasn't much service, but the waiter was nice. Environment: Tables were clean and ambience was good. read more

Shanghai Dumpling King - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Super good and Authentic, pretty quick too! My go to for lunch for that special. Owner's really a good funny guy

The service was ornery. All the vinegar tasted like soap. The Shanghai dumplings that this place was named after... were just terrible. The dumpling skins were too thick, and the filling was rather flavorless. We also ordered the spicy lamb dumplings and chicken corn soup.... Both were mediocre at best. Not worth the circles around the block to park. I can't imagine coming back here, ever. read more

Ordered on Ubereats for delivery. Maybe the items we ordered would have tasted better at the restaurant. For delivery, not so much. We ordered pan fried Shanghai pork buns, pea sprouts with garlic, shrimp and chives dumplings, green onion pancakes, string beans with beef, fried rice combo, Dan Dan noodles, and sweet and sour pork. The pork buns had too much dough and no longer had a crispy bottom because it steamed up in the container. Green onion pancake had the texture of cardboard. It was so hard and it didn't taste good. The Dan Dan noodles was soggy and the sweet and sour pork was not crispy because of the steam in the container again. If I'd order again, I'll stick with the stir fry dishes instead. read more

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I did a pick up order. The spicy wonton is a 10/10. The garlic in the salt and pepper fish was burnt. I ordered an hour and 30 mins before closing, maybe that's why. But that would not stop me from coming back for the spicy wonton. :) read more

have had better dumplings in sf but the stir fried rice cake are a good portion, affordable, and filling fast service, i usually get takeout but the ambiance inside is great for casual dining read more

This book should not be judged by its cover. The food is amazing and it's an incredible deal. The staff is also very sweet and attentive. One of the best deals in town. read more