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A hole in the wall on Balboa Street if you're looking for Shanghainese food! Note that this place is cash only! Items ordered: - Pickled veggie with soy bean and shredded pork noodles soup: Pretty big bowl of noodles soup and very comforting taste. - Sauteed green beans: A bit spicy and oily, but pretty saucy too. - Shanghai panfried dumplings: Delicious and pan fried pretty well. - Shanghai style pan fried noodles: Also a pretty big bowl of noodles and comes with lots of veggies. I would get this again. Knocking off a star because service can be a bit slow, but the food was delicious overall. Would come back again!
A little bird whispered in my ear "will you join me in making Women's History Month extra special?" Absolutely! I would be honored. I have 3 favorite restaurants that come instantly to mind. The first is Big Fish House. The second is Shanghai House and the third is Capital. Here's my shout out for Teresa at Shanghai House. Teresa is very kind and very quiet. She takes you to the table, gives you a menu and places a tea pot on the table. We always order the same dishes because we know what we like. Steamed dumplings, fried dumplings, chicken wings, green beans and honey prawns with a few bowls of rice. This is our go to dinner when we eat at Shanghai House because it's tasty, satisfying and consistently delicious. And seriously, SH has the best dang chicken wings and dumplings in our mind. Check please! After paying, Teresa will crack a little smile showing appreciation that we continue to patronize her restaurant. No words are needed here. Just dang good food.
A hole in the wall spot that can very easily be missed! The restaurant is very tiny, but serves delicious affordable food. The xlb is better than most. My favorite are the SJB, which is rare to find where it's a dumpling instead of a bao. Absolutely love. Note cash only so come prepared.
I'm always on the search for shengjianbao (SJB) and xiaolongbao (XLB), so I suggested this spot to my family for lunch on a Saturday. This is a small, no frills Shanghainese restaurant with 6 tables. It seemed like it was run by a couple with the husband as the cook and the wife as the cashier/server. Our order (from most to least fave): 鍋貼 Potstickers (8 pcs): $11.95 +Thin skins with crispy exteriors +Juicy meat filling 小籠包 Shanghai Steamed Baby Dumplings (8 pcs): $10.95 +Juicy meat filling -Thick skins that tore easily -Initially, we only received 7. I showed the lady my picture and she brought us 2 to make up for it. 上海炒年糕 Stir Fried Shanghai Rice Cake: $12.95 +Rice cakes were chewy. +Bamboo shoots and cabbage were crisp and pork was tender. -Dish as a whole was salty and the sliced shiitake mushrooms tasted like they were brined. -Seasoning was uneven: Tasted patches of white pepper 生煎包 Shanghai Panfried Dumplings (8 pcs): $14.95 +Sesame seeds and scallions added color and fragrance. -The worst SJB I've eaten: Skins were thick with burnt bottoms and they barely had any soup inside. -Pork filling was salty. Side notes: 1.) Complimentary hot tea 2.) Restroom available for customers. Go through the kitchen and up a flight of stairs to get to it. 3.) Limited street parking *Verdict: Long wait for disappointing food.
Shanghai House has been around. My friend had their pan fried dumpling or do you call them bao, slightly bigger than Xiao lung bao. The bottom suppose to be crispy. The juice did squirt out (that's a good sign). It was pretty with slivers of green onions. My eating mate said it was really hot. The question, do you eat it before it becomes soggy, but you don't want to burn your mouth. Quandary again. It was good and the juice was sweet. Xiao Lung Bao has a slightly thick skin. Chopsticks didn't puncture the skin. They give you a tiny condiment plate of vinegar but no sliver of ginger. I wonder if different regions or cost saving? We got rice cake noodles with tiny gravy. Not a fan of gravy. It wasn't heavy with gravy. The tea was good but it wasnt topped off. CASH only. Be warned.
They're back open! During COVID, they closed down for over a year. My family of 5 came here on Christmas Day and only had to wait 5~ minutes for a table. They were completely packed! They're mainly known for their Sheng Jian Bao and rightfully so because this was the best thing on their menu; the skin is thin and the soup is plentiful but the flavorful itself was just ok. Everything else was also just ok. We ordered the Xiao Long Bao (the skin was too thick and soup was ok), Shanghai Style Pan Fried Noodle (very different from the Northern style version that I'm used to - their sauce was very oily and salty), Spicy Wonton in Red Oil (was not spicy), and the Crepe Filled with Red Bean (this took forever to come out and I was surprised it was so deep fried). Overall, a place for Sheng Jian Bao but otherwise meh.
I'm gonna tell the y'all a secret. Chinese people give their favorite restaurants 3 stars so the line isn't long at their favorite restaurant. Honestly, I almost don't want to write this review because Shanghai House is that good, and I don't need everyone rushing in and ruining it. But fine, here we go. First off, if you know, you know. The pan-fried dumplings? Perfection. Crispy bottoms, juicy insides - something only a true connoisseur of dumplings would appreciate. Then there's the Xiao Long Bao. I can already tell some people will go there and order them without understanding how to eat them properly. Newsflash: if you're not savoring the delicate balance of the broth, skin, and filling, you don't deserve them. And the dry-fried chicken wings? A masterpiece. But let's be real, they're not for everyone. These wings are for those of us who understand the nuances of a perfectly crisp, flavorful bite. If you think chicken wings are just bar food, don't even bother. Look, Shanghai House is not for amateurs. It's for those of us who know great food when we see it. So please, if you're not ready to appreciate every bite, stick to your chain restaurants and leave this place to the pros.
I popped in and just wanted to try this place I have never been. We ordered three dishes, and two of them turned out to be great. My favorite is the pan fried Shanghai dumplings. They really have their own flavor. It's different than any other places. I would come back just for that. The mapo tofu was good too, but the twice cooked pork doesn't not live to its name. You don't need to order that one. The place is small, family style. People here are fast, but could wait for a while.
Tl;DR: quick little meal but nothing special besides pan fried dumplings Small little hole in the wall in the Richmond. A little underwhelming on all the food. Service is what you'd expect at a Chinese restaurant. -FoOoD- !-GET-! Pan fried: Love the added crunch from the pan fried oil. Gave it a nice texture and filling was flavorful. Best thing here. !-PICK YOUR POISON-! Xlb: fair, wasn't anything special Wings: If you're hoping san tung-esque wings, don't LOL. They were more on the sweet side. Eggplants: Pretty good, gottta always have some veggies! Shanghai style noodles- Felt like chow mein, a little oily as well.
My go to spot fo Shanghainese cuisine, especially sheng jian bao. I haven't been anywhere else in SF yet that makes them like the ones here. They are perfectly crispy with plump meat inside and rich flavor. Be careful as eating this can be comparable to XLB - it can be incredibly hot inside and the juice can sometimes squirt out. XLB are also worth trying. I did find the dough just a slight but thicker than I would like but the flavor was really on point. Bean curd is also a must in a savory soy based sauce. Service is casual and direct. No frills.
Must get the sheng jian bao!!! They are crispy, juicy and oh so delicious. This spot has one of the thinnest wrappers and isn't doughy at all. Nothing worst then an overly doughy dumpling that fails on the filling to wrapper ratio. This spot is easily my favorite shen jian bao spot in SF. We also ordered the beef noodle soup and the green onion pancake. The beef noodle soup had thin noodles that were handmade bouncy. While the broth didn't have a deep beefy flavor it paired nicely with the noodles. The beef itself was tender and fall apart. The green onion pancakes were crispy but I would have liked them to be a bit more flakey and layered. Would highly recommend if you're in the area and craving some soup noodles or pan fried bao!
2 months ago
Food: 3/5 Service: 3/5 Ambiance: 3/5 Portion to Price: 3/5 Overall: Standard fare for Chinese cuisine. The extended review... Food: 3/5 - Did this meal family style. We ordered dumplings, duck, chicken wings, and string beans. They were all pretty standard fare. Service: 3/5 - Standard service. Ambiance: 3/5 - As Chinese of a hole in the wall you can get. Portion to Price: 3/5 - Pricing is standard fare. read more
The Shanghai dishes were so delicious here. Favorites were the panfried dumplings $16.95 for 8. They were thin skinned, soft tender pork with a crisp base. The vegetarian goose $13.95 also stood out with its tender filling of mushrooms and full of flavor. Both a must order. We were disappointed that we couldn't order the golden sautéed prawns, even though it was on the menu. Also soy milk and sticky rice was not on the menu either. Overall, a solid place for Shanghainese food. Remember to bring cash as it's cash only. read more
1 year ago
A hole in the wall on Balboa Street if you're looking for Shanghainese food! Note that this place is cash only! Items ordered: - Pickled veggie with soy bean and shredded pork noodles soup: Pretty big bowl of noodles soup and very comforting taste. - Sauteed green beans: A bit spicy and oily, but pretty saucy too. - Shanghai panfried dumplings: Delicious and pan fried pretty well. - Shanghai style pan fried noodles: Also a pretty big bowl of noodles and comes with lots of veggies. I would get this again. Knocking off a star because service can be a bit slow, but the food was delicious overall. Would come back again! read more
A little bird whispered in my ear "will you join me in making Women's History Month extra special?" Absolutely! I would be honored. I have 3 favorite restaurants that come instantly to mind. The first is Big Fish House. The second is Shanghai House and the third is Capital. Here's my shout out for Teresa at Shanghai House. Teresa is very kind and very quiet. She takes you to the table, gives you a menu and places a tea pot on the table. We always order the same dishes because we know what we like. Steamed dumplings, fried dumplings, chicken wings, green beans and honey prawns with a few bowls of rice. This is our go to dinner when we eat at Shanghai House because it's tasty, satisfying and consistently delicious. And seriously, SH has the best dang chicken wings and dumplings in our mind. Check please! After paying, Teresa will crack a little smile showing appreciation that we continue to patronize her restaurant. No words are needed here. Just dang good food. read more
A hole in the wall spot that can very easily be missed! The restaurant is very tiny, but serves delicious affordable food. The xlb is better than most. My favorite are the SJB, which is rare to find where it's a dumpling instead of a bao. Absolutely love. Note cash only so come prepared. read more
I'm always on the search for shengjianbao (SJB) and xiaolongbao (XLB), so I suggested this spot to my family for lunch on a Saturday. This is a small, no frills Shanghainese restaurant with 6 tables. It seemed like it was run by a couple with the husband as the cook and the wife as the cashier/server. Our order (from most to least fave): 鍋貼 Potstickers (8 pcs): $11.95 +Thin skins with crispy exteriors +Juicy meat filling 小籠包 Shanghai Steamed Baby Dumplings (8 pcs): $10.95 +Juicy meat filling -Thick skins that tore easily -Initially, we only received 7. I showed the lady my picture and she brought us 2 to make up for it. 上海炒年糕 Stir Fried Shanghai Rice Cake: $12.95 +Rice cakes were chewy. +Bamboo shoots and cabbage were crisp and pork was tender. -Dish as a whole was salty and the sliced shiitake mushrooms tasted like they were brined. -Seasoning was uneven: Tasted patches of white pepper 生煎包 Shanghai Panfried Dumplings (8 pcs): $14.95 +Sesame seeds and scallions added color and fragrance. -The worst SJB I've eaten: Skins were thick with burnt bottoms and they barely had any soup inside. -Pork filling was salty. Side notes: 1.) Complimentary hot tea 2.) Restroom available for customers. Go through the kitchen and up a flight of stairs to get to it. 3.) Limited street parking *Verdict: Long wait for disappointing food. read more
Shanghai House has been around. My friend had their pan fried dumpling or do you call them bao, slightly bigger than Xiao lung bao. The bottom suppose to be crispy. The juice did squirt out (that's a good sign). It was pretty with slivers of green onions. My eating mate said it was really hot. The question, do you eat it before it becomes soggy, but you don't want to burn your mouth. Quandary again. It was good and the juice was sweet. Xiao Lung Bao has a slightly thick skin. Chopsticks didn't puncture the skin. They give you a tiny condiment plate of vinegar but no sliver of ginger. I wonder if different regions or cost saving? We got rice cake noodles with tiny gravy. Not a fan of gravy. It wasn't heavy with gravy. The tea was good but it wasnt topped off. CASH only. Be warned. read more
5 months ago
They're back open! During COVID, they closed down for over a year. My family of 5 came here on Christmas Day and only had to wait 5~ minutes for a table. They were completely packed! They're mainly known for their Sheng Jian Bao and rightfully so because this was the best thing on their menu; the skin is thin and the soup is plentiful but the flavorful itself was just ok. Everything else was also just ok. We ordered the Xiao Long Bao (the skin was too thick and soup was ok), Shanghai Style Pan Fried Noodle (very different from the Northern style version that I'm used to - their sauce was very oily and salty), Spicy Wonton in Red Oil (was not spicy), and the Crepe Filled with Red Bean (this took forever to come out and I was surprised it was so deep fried). Overall, a place for Sheng Jian Bao but otherwise meh. read more
I'm gonna tell the y'all a secret. Chinese people give their favorite restaurants 3 stars so the line isn't long at their favorite restaurant. Honestly, I almost don't want to write this review because Shanghai House is that good, and I don't need everyone rushing in and ruining it. But fine, here we go. First off, if you know, you know. The pan-fried dumplings? Perfection. Crispy bottoms, juicy insides - something only a true connoisseur of dumplings would appreciate. Then there's the Xiao Long Bao. I can already tell some people will go there and order them without understanding how to eat them properly. Newsflash: if you're not savoring the delicate balance of the broth, skin, and filling, you don't deserve them. And the dry-fried chicken wings? A masterpiece. But let's be real, they're not for everyone. These wings are for those of us who understand the nuances of a perfectly crisp, flavorful bite. If you think chicken wings are just bar food, don't even bother. Look, Shanghai House is not for amateurs. It's for those of us who know great food when we see it. So please, if you're not ready to appreciate every bite, stick to your chain restaurants and leave this place to the pros. read more
I popped in and just wanted to try this place I have never been. We ordered three dishes, and two of them turned out to be great. My favorite is the pan fried Shanghai dumplings. They really have their own flavor. It's different than any other places. I would come back just for that. The mapo tofu was good too, but the twice cooked pork doesn't not live to its name. You don't need to order that one. The place is small, family style. People here are fast, but could wait for a while. read more
2 months ago
Tl;DR: quick little meal but nothing special besides pan fried dumplings Small little hole in the wall in the Richmond. A little underwhelming on all the food. Service is what you'd expect at a Chinese restaurant. -FoOoD- !-GET-! Pan fried: Love the added crunch from the pan fried oil. Gave it a nice texture and filling was flavorful. Best thing here. !-PICK YOUR POISON-! Xlb: fair, wasn't anything special Wings: If you're hoping san tung-esque wings, don't LOL. They were more on the sweet side. Eggplants: Pretty good, gottta always have some veggies! Shanghai style noodles- Felt like chow mein, a little oily as well. read more
6 months ago
2 years ago
My go to spot fo Shanghainese cuisine, especially sheng jian bao. I haven't been anywhere else in SF yet that makes them like the ones here. They are perfectly crispy with plump meat inside and rich flavor. Be careful as eating this can be comparable to XLB - it can be incredibly hot inside and the juice can sometimes squirt out. XLB are also worth trying. I did find the dough just a slight but thicker than I would like but the flavor was really on point. Bean curd is also a must in a savory soy based sauce. Service is casual and direct. No frills. read more
3 months ago
Must get the sheng jian bao!!! They are crispy, juicy and oh so delicious. This spot has one of the thinnest wrappers and isn't doughy at all. Nothing worst then an overly doughy dumpling that fails on the filling to wrapper ratio. This spot is easily my favorite shen jian bao spot in SF. We also ordered the beef noodle soup and the green onion pancake. The beef noodle soup had thin noodles that were handmade bouncy. While the broth didn't have a deep beefy flavor it paired nicely with the noodles. The beef itself was tender and fall apart. The green onion pancakes were crispy but I would have liked them to be a bit more flakey and layered. Would highly recommend if you're in the area and craving some soup noodles or pan fried bao! read more
1 year ago
During their closure, they replaced their tables and chairs. It looks cleaner now. Their food was just as delicious as always. Be patient though. There's only one waitress. read more
4 months ago
the website prices are unreliable and wrong, what we were told would be $10 was $38. the service was sloppy and rude, spilled our food, and was disrespectful to customers. the food was good but the prices weren't worth it. read more
No frills mom and pop shop that is known for their dumplings! I personally think they have the best sheng jian bao in the city, and this is the main reason that I come here. This is basically a crispy soup dumpling- I love how the outside is crispy but the inside is still moist enough to still have soup. If you're going to get one dish only here, this is a must try. Other notable dishes: - Chicken wings: These are fried chicken wings with a thick sweet sauce on top. Similar to San Tung and honestly the portion and size of the wings are much better here. Very crunchy with good flavor! - Xiao long bao (soup dumplings): These are decent but the skin is a bit thick. There was definitely soup inside though with good flavor. Came out piping hot. - Hand cut noodles: Very chewy thick noodles. I loved this! You can tell that they really put time and effort into making these noodles. The service was not the fastest but I've never had a rude or negative experience here. I think sometimes we all need to remember that small restaurants may be short staffed especially during these trying times, and we could all be more patient. I have been here 5+ times and would go back again. read more
4 months ago
5 months ago
3 years ago
Shanghai House is a sweet little local shop serving some delicious food! Service is a little slow since there is only one person working but they are super friendly. What I got: salty pork clay pot rice, meat balls, pork wontons with red sauce, and shanghai panfried dumplings. The dumplings were juicy but the wontons were the highlight of my meal since they were meatier. The red sauce that came with the wontons was really interesting and had a nutty flavor; so if you have an allergy I'd double check with the staff before ordering. The meatballs were large and super tender and juicy so I'd recommend those as well. My only complaint was the clay pot which didn't really have any crispy bits that you'd expect from clay pot rice. There also was not a lot of meat but I think it was for good reason bc the meat is a preserved salty pork and it's super salty. If you've had salty fish before, it's in the same league as that. All in all it's a pretty nice and quiet spot and I had a good time. Also note it is CASH ONLY. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
1) dry fried chicken 10/10 -- one of the best I've had. 2) eggplant w/ shrimp and chicken 8/10 3) Shanghai noodles 8/10 -- noodles were cut to small pieces. 4) green onion pancake 9/10 -- not the flimsy type. Crispy, thick, and tasty! 5) pan fried Shanghai dumpling 9/10 -- fried to perfection and not greasy. One attentive waitress to tend to patrons of this small restaurant. Ambiance is of an old school, hole in the wall, Chinese restaurant. Just come for the food. Restroom is a single bathroom for which you have to walk to the kitchen and up the stairs to. read more
I used to come here prior to the pandemic and it seemed like it has been closed for a while. I came here recently and this restaurant deserves 4 stars just for the Sheng Jian Bao. I would come here over and over again just for those Bao's. One of my favorite in the city, it's more savory and not sweet. I've tried the other dishes but I thought they were ok. read more
2 years ago
The sheng jian bao (pan-fried pork buns) are best I've had in San Francisco! Good skin, juicy and flavorful on the inside, well crisped on the outside. This spot has authentic ones. I also got the soup w/ minced pork and pickled veggies which was very flavorful. I added $2 for the hand-cut noodles which reminded me of childhood- they are basically just strips of dough but very delicious. The dry fried greens beans were flavorful but not dry fried, they were pretty wet and saucy. Overall a very good spot! It's cash only and currently takeout only. read more
5 years ago
My parents have always been passionate about pan fried pork buns (sheng jian bao), so I have been spoiled by really good ones from LA. I tried Shanghai House for their pan fried pork buns, but they didn't cut it for me. The skin was too thick, the bottom wasn't crispy enough, and there wasn't enough soup. The xiao long bao were better, but the amount of soup in each one really varied. There were a couple that already had holes and the soup dumplings weren't hot enough. We ordered over phone and were able to pick up in 15-20 minutes. If you're looking for a quick spot to grab takeout, the food is still decent! But if you're in the SF area, I think there are spots like Dumpling Home that offer better versions of these dishes. read more
Decided to come here since the restaurant we came for was closed in the same area. At first glance, it looked very small; there were only 4 tables being used, with a 5th one by the door that was only used later on for some reason. It was uncomfortably quiet after walking in, with the occasional slight chatter. The xiao long bao was juicy, but if you prefer a more meaty bite, then it was mid. It seemed to mostly be skin and soup with a small, flat piece of meat. Same with the pan fried dumplings; although the bottom had a delightful crunch, it was mostly juice. The taste for both was alright, but there are definitely better places. The chili wontons were just okay; they had the slightest spice and a peanut taste to it. The fried chicken was almost too crunchy due to all the fried batter, but the inside was pretty juicy. The sauce coating the chicken was slightly sweet, which I kinda liked. Overall, I thought the stuff was just okay. I probably won't be coming back knowing there are better places in SF. read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
We came here for the pan-fried pork dumplings and THEY WERE DELICIOUS! Note: Cash only! We had a little trouble ordering on the phone because we were trying to confirm the number of dumplings and they hung up on us. Ha! Once we called the order, the person on the phone said it would be about 15 minutes to be ready. 15 minutes later, we arrived at the shop and the dumplings were packed and ready for pick up. There wasn't a place to eat, so we walked over to the parklet by the theater to enjoy them. We opened up the dumplings and they were beautiful! Perfectly browned bottoms and a little container of the sauce, which I accidentally spilled (...but there was still enough!). The dumplings were still very hot, so it took us some time to bite into them, but once we did!!!! It was awesome. Juicy, salty, crunchy, pillowy goodness. 100% would order again and looking forward to it! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Food is good. Their service is quick and fast. Know what to order. Ambiance is nice quiet place. It can be loud if 4 or more parties and/or kids. read more
2 years ago
Came here a few weeks ago and unfortunately it did not end up meeting my expectations. I should have taken it at as a sign that this place was empty on a Friday night but we went anyway. Their soup dumpling are just alright, the skin is a bit thick. Also their clay pot rice with veggies and salted pork is pretty plain. The highlights though are their rice cakes and wontons in chili oil. The wontons in chili oil were our table's favorite given the chili oil was also accompanied by a delicious sesame sauce. This place wasn't bad but also wasn't great. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Ok I hate to put a bad review like this. We come at 12 noon table of 7. We have observed there are groups of 2 -4 who came after us. We order very ordinary food. For whatever reason we have to wait over 1 hour for our food. While all other tables has their food and finished. While after an hour of waiting none (literally zero) dish arrives. This is insensible in terms of their order management. I would not recommend this place. read more
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More info about Shanghai House
3641 Balboa St
San Francisco, CA 94121
Outer Richmond
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(415) 831-9288
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Ask the Community - Shanghai House
Is this restaurant open for dine in dinner?
Yes! They are open for dine in both during lunch and dinner, in addition to Togo.
Is it only takeout?
Nope, they are open for dine in both during lunch and dinner, in addition to Togo.
Are you open for indoor dining 3/14/22?
Yes, they are open for dine in both during lunch and dinner, in addition to Togo.
Have they opened back up for indoor dining?
Yes! They are open for dine in both during lunch and dinner, in addition to Togo.
Is this place still open?
Yes, they are just on vacation until the end of the month.
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