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    Bao Bao dumpling

    4.3 (92 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:30 pm

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    BAO BAO DUMPLING ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

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    dumplings pork
    Michelle Z.

    Bustling spot in richmond for a variety of dumplings and other dishes. We came here for the juicy pan fried pork bao specifically since I wanted to compare them to the ones at dumpling home. The ones here have thicker skin than I remember DH having and less soup, so I did prefer the DH ones but they were still pretty good! I just wish there was more soup inside and the meat flavor was more complex. I did love the braised beef noodle soup though (wish it had more beef) and the noodles had such a good al dente texture. The soup tasted very clean. The braised pork belly dish was also good -- pork was cooked well and sauce was super flavorful, but definitely got too salty after a few bites. Service was extremely fast and very friendly, though they did clear my bowl of soup before I was done eating without asking. There's a lot of seating inside so walk ins are definitely doable but you can also make a reservation online.

    Outside
    Katrina D.

    Delicious place. I love watching them make the dumplings from the window. Came with hot tea. The flavor was really nice. Salt pork and vegetables rice I like to add vinegar to it. The Shengjian Bao was perfect filled with soup inside with the perfect temperature. As we order by scanning the QR code it seem to be down but the worker checked up on us and took our order. And the food arrived fairly quick. I would be coming back. I am getting inspired to make my own dumplings!

    Shanghai Noodles with Shredded Pork and Cabbage
    Jessica H.

    Visited on a Thursday night. Found parking quickly and no waitlist at Bao Bao. Ordered the following. shanghai style stir fried noodle with shredded pork (3/5) Upon serving, I was disappointed. Was expecting bigger thicker noodles. It was a bit greasy and not alot of meat or cabbage. The flavor was good. Had nice "wok hei" aka smokey flavor. I did enjoy it but there could be improvement for the price. house special shengjian bao (pan-fried pork buns (4/5) These came hot! After taking a bite of one,experiencing the degree of temperature and amount of hot soup inside, I pre-poked a hole in each to vent. Despite doing this and waiting, the baos stayed hot right till the last one. The bao was soft with a crispy bottom. The meat was tender, savory but slightly too sweet for my tastes. sizzling eggplant in spicy sauce (5/5) This was my favorite dish. The eggplant was flavorful and retained their bite. I do not tolerate spicy well, yet this was just spicy enough that I could still eat. Overall, dishes were tasty but not for the price and the portion size. There are other restaurants I would visit and would only dine here as they have later closing hours.

    Onion pancake
    Brooke A.

    Excellent group dinner location with an open window to peer into the kitchen as food is being made! I had the beef curry noodle soup and it was the perfect flavor and amount of noodles. I would've loved a few more veggies in the dish, but it was an amazing warm meal. We also had a table order of the onion pancakes which were crispier than I am used to, but still delicious! Service was friendly and we were able to get a table within minutes of getting there!

    Eggplant
    Qiuyuan Z.

    The shengjian baos were so satisfying juicy with a crispy exterior - so good they could be eaten without any sauce. The eggplant was also good - the sauce was flavorful, and the eggplant was just the right amount of tender. Definitely get some rice with it to soak up the flavor and sauce. The Dan Dan noodles were less remarkable and could use more sauce and flavor - had to eat it with chili sauce

    Table setting
    Mercedes Y.

    First time I saw the restaurant when I was driving on Geary Blvd. I told my Y friends and they said they have not been there. After our Zumba class on 18th Ave today, one friend said she wanted a little lunch. We opted coming here. So we went & just walked in. We got the table as it was very late for lunch. The restaurant holds 48 customers so the dining room is small & they were mixed customers eating. The baskets hanging on the wall had the appeal of the restaurant. We can see the employees making the dumplings. We ordered the Steamed Pork Soup Dumplings, Green Onion Pancake, Garlic Smashed Cucumber & finally the Pan Fried Pork Buns. The food came fast. We started with the garlic with cucumber. It had the taste of sweet & lots of fresh garlic. The Xiao long bao is a little bigger from the other restaurant I had been but it was 6 pieces only instead of 8. The soup was hot. I didn't realize when eating the pan fried pork buns, it had the soup as well & hot. When I bit it, the soup squirted on my left wrist with beaded bracelets! So I had to clean my bracelets with wipes. The food was delicious. The staff were nice. When we were leaving a man behind the counter asked us how was the food so I gave him a thumb up. I asked if he was the owner and he said yes. Derek is his name. I told him I will come back with my husband or my friends. He said he looked forward to see us. It's nice to support small businesses in the neighborhood.

    Shanghai Stir Fried Rice Cake With Shredded Pork And Vegetables
    Kelly N.

    What a lovely surprise! Everything we had was unique and bursting with flavor. So glad we ventured out and found this place. We'll be back! The restaurant is on a busy street and only street parking is available so save some time to find parking. We were able to easily make a reservation as well for a Friday night which was perfect because the restaurant had only a few tables left when we arrived. The space is cozy but it has a good amount of tables for groups and smaller parties. The staff were very friendly. The Pork XiaoLongBao was delicious. It had a good amount of soup in it and was flavorful. The shrimp and crab pan fried pork buns were a splurge but they were so savory and delicious. My husband was also surprised to see Stir Fried Eel on the menu so we also got that and it was nicely cooked in a savory sauce.

    Rhea A.

    Wanted soup dumplings but didn't want to make the trek from Richmond District to Hayes Valley for Dumpling Home.... so Bao Bao it is! Came directly after a yoga class so that I could inhale all the dumplings without batting an eye. We ordered cucumber salad, xlb, and pan fried xlb. I thought the xlb was generic but the pan fried xlb was yummy! Service was pretty fast and you order through the QR code with your phone. Would definitely come back if im craving dumplings and don't want to drive across SF for it!

    上海炒年糕 Shanghai Stir Fried Rice Cake With Napa Cabbage And Pork
    Rose T.

    New Shanghainese restaurant located on Geary Blvd between 15th & 16th Avenues that's modern yet features classical Shanghai dishes. Steamer lids lined the walls while a TV screen played Chinese cooking shows. I walked in during prime lunch time and a friendly auntie greeted me. There were 2 groups and a couple of solo diners. I decided on the 上海炒年糕 Shanghai Stir Fried Rice Cake With Napa Cabbage And Pork ($13.95): +Great wok hei! +Rice cakes were chewy +Napa cabbage was crisp and pork was tender. -On the salty side -Wish there was a bit more napa cabbage Side notes: 1.) If you're eating at the restaurant, scan the QR code on the table to order and pay with staff after eating. If you're ordering takeout, order and pay at the kiosk. 2.) Hot water available upon request: I thought it had an unpleasant aftertaste. *Verdict: I want to come back with a group to try the SJB and XLB!

    Jasmin P.

    Unfortunately, the vegetarian options were pretty mediocre here. We ordered the scallion pancakes, pan-fried vegetable potstickers, sizzling spicy eggplant, and white rice. The eggplant was probably the best of the three. The scallion pancakes were just okay, and we ended up waiting quite a while for the potstickers. The filling in the potstickers was pretty bland. It seemed to be just shredded cabbage and carrots. You order through a QR code, with the option to pay through your phone or call the waiter to pay in person. The restaurant itself is small, cozy, and clean, but overall our experience wasn't great -- especially as vegetarians and because of the long waits between each dish.

    pan fried buns
    Adel W.

    A pretty great spot, with some of the best pan fried buns I've tried in the city. They offer some Shanghainese dishes that are hard to find, but I wouldn't say I was super impressed by the flavor of the stir fried rice cakes I tried. Favorite dishes by far were the scallion pancakes, buns, and XLB. Service was sweet!

    Cole O.

    The soup dumplings were packed with flavor easily some of the best I've had in a while. The pan-fried dumplings were just as good. Everything else was delicious, and the service was excellent!

    Fried fish appetizer.
    Bessie T.

    Service was excellent and food was very good. Only two people so we didn't get to try too many items. The signature fried bao was better than expected. To be picky, the wrapping was a little thicker than I personally like them to be, but my friend loved them. They were obviously hand made, which is the good part. Fried bao was very very good - will order again Shanghai fried cake was excellent - will order again Fried fish appetizer was good, but includes bones - probably won't order again. Will come back.

    Soup potsticker sooo good

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Food was so yummy, and service was quick. Ube pastry and soup dumplings SOO FLAVORFUL

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Great, freshly made food in a clean space. Service was excellent. Can't wait to go back.

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    1 year ago

    Fantastic dumplings! Best xiaolongbao and shengjianbao in bay area. Strong recommendation!

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    1 year ago

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    Page 3 of 3

    Bao Bao dumpling Reviews in Other Languages

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    Four Kings 四大天王

    Four Kings 四大天王

    4.2
    (457 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$$

    I saw online that this place is one of the most sought after reservations on Open Table. I tried my…read moreluck at getting a reservation and was pleasantly surprised when I was able to get a reservation! Reservations open 3 weeks in advanced at noon. Walk ins are also welcome. One note is that parking can be a bit challenging so get there a bit early. The inside is lively and filled me with so much nostalgia with the decor. The staff is really attentive and friendly. I also appreciate the free peanuts and cucumber salad that you get when you're seated. My boyfriend and I ordered a lot of food because we wanted to try so many things! The lamb skewer was super moist and had a nice flavor. The XO escargot with milkbread had a nice buttery, garlic taste. The milk bread was fluffy and when dipped in the sauce it tasted very rich. We also got the clay pot rice and it reminded me of when I had it in China. The rice was crispy at the bottom and well seasoned. My favorite dish of the night was the squab. It was cooked excellently and the skin was really crispy. The five spice powder on the side really brought out the flavor of the meat. The eggplant was cooked well and portion was good but it didn't stand out as much as the other dishes. Overall, I would visit this place again. It definitely lives up to the hype. The squab and and clay pot rice were the stand outs to me but all the other food was really tasty as well.

    I saw a random 9:15pm reservation for 2 available, so I snagged it, excited for this very hyped…read morerestaurant. Was it worth it? Honestly, I think I have to readjust my expectations for the SF food scene. If there were no wait/reservation, I would think of this as a very solid restaurant (hence the 4 stars). The beef chow fun is on par with ones I'd get in NYC Chinatown, and was actually not very overpriced. Our server was very sweet but only recommended things that my friend did not love (seafood/spicy food). I was excited for the spicy cabbage, hoping it'd be comparable to the addictive spicy cabbage at Uluh (NYC). I was disappointed. The popcorn chicken was a bit dry; I would not get it again. The mapo spaghetti had heat, but not much flavor, and it was okay for me - worth getting because it sounded intriguing, but fell short of my expectations, especially since I've made mapo udon, mapo ramen, and mapo pie at home that were better. The escargots with milk bread was definitely my favorite; sourcing escargot alone is a plus and it was very well-executed. The milk bread was fantastic, pillowy and soft. Our server was very nice and offered to move us to the cute window seats after we were already seated at the counter, which I really appreciated. However, would I spend energy trying to get a reservation here or waiting in line? Absolutely not. It makes me sad to think that this is the pinnacle of Cantonese food in this city full of Cantonese people, but I guess it makes me extra appreciate food in NYC.

    Photos
    View of kitchen
    View of kitchen
    Sichuan cabbage
    Sichuan cabbage
    Fish fragrant eggplant

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    Palette Tea House

    Palette Tea House

    4.1
    (2k reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Speaks Mandarin

    Strong five star experience…read more I came here for a work dinner and it felt like the food just kept coming. I wish I had a better memory of everything that I ate, but there was too much. I do remember that I absolutely loved the Peking duck. They came with very thin, I can only describe it as tortilla crêpe things that you would put it in. I love this so much better than the standard buns. I also loved the fried string beans. It was tempura fried and very light. It didn't taste greasy at all. Out of three places we went to dinner for work, this was my favorite by far. It is right in Ghirardelli Square so there's a lot of things you can walk around and do either before or after. Service was great. They were very attentive. The restaurant itself was very open and lit well. They had us in a back area so it was easy to chat with my coworkers. There wasn't a single dish I didn't like so I would highly recommend coming here.

    We came in at 7 pm and the kitchen closes at 7:30, but no problem. We ordered some wine and our…read morevarious dumplings. The mango kissed Seafood crispy came out first & it was so delicious & it really set the tone for a positive & flavorful dining experience My favorites were the classic Ha Gow Shrimp Dumplings & the Chicken Soup Dumplings "XLB", but everything we ordered was very good. Service was attentive and kind. The dining area is colorful, bright & upbeat. This location is also in Ghirardelli Square, so it is a fun, bustling area with lots to see and do before or after your meal. If you'd like a more authentic dim sum meal, perhaps you may enjoy heading to Chinatown to experience a more traditional set of dim sum offerings, but for our purposes today, this was more than adequate. Peace!

    Photos
    Palette Tea House
    Palette Tea House
    Palette Tea House

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    Hon's Wun-Tun House

    Hon's Wun-Tun House

    4.1
    (696 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    Little bit small interior. Nice big XLB (xiao long bao), crispy green pancake, flavorful Sichuan…read moredumplings (could be spicier), and good eggplant/green bean dish. Service was pretty fast, in and out quick with food being served quickly as well

    This is the kind of restaurant where you need to go in knowing what's good here, so let me break it…read moredown. Get: - house special wonton noodle soup - any wonton noodle soup but try the house special first - pan fried pork dumplings; watch your tongue, it's HOT - curry beef stew - spicy wontons (appetizer); the sauce slaps Pass on the hot and sour soup, it's neither hot nor sour here. I'll report back when I've tried more of the menu but if you somehow need to order more than what I've listed above on your first visit, you're built different from me. Try to come for an earlier lunch, like before 12:30pm, because a line tends to build up outside. There's a tablet for you to join the waitlist when you enter the restaurant, make sure to join the waitlist!! If you're a solo diner (or even a party of 2), they may ask if you're willing to skip the line by sharing a table. Communal dining is fun, say yes! The inside is clean and spacious, but very noisy and hectic-feeling with waitstaff rushing about.

    Photos
    Interior, there's more seating behind that partition.
    Interior, there's more seating behind that partition.
    Braised Tofu + Seafood in Clay Pot
    Braised Tofu + Seafood in Clay Pot
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    Harborview Restaurant & Bar

    Harborview Restaurant & Bar

    4.1
    (1.9k reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    Harborview serves premium food and their dim sum are seemed to order; always fresh and super tasty…read more I've been here numerous times for yum cha (dim sum bunch) before, and trying their HH (Happy Hour) for the first time today.. and it was just simply excellent!!! The quality dim sum that we've come to expect.. plus two delightful bonuses: Excellent Margarita and their OMG - so Tasty and Addicting Tofu Fries!! YUM yim yummmmy!! Service is excellent and their wait staff checked on us every now and then, and everyone is always friendly and helpful. Nicely located in EC4; the restaurants is always super clean and comfy for hanging out. Their balcony seating also very nice, weather permitting. Bonus: they also validate parking, at (I think ) $6 off your parking rate at the Embarcadero's. Great good + Great service! Recommended!!!

    I'm posting this review a little later, but this experience happened during a visit about a month…read moreago and it has stayed with me. One thing that stood out was the restaurant's mandatory 18% gratuity, which is automatically added to every bill. While I understand and respect service charges, I also believe they should come with a reasonable standard of service. During our meal, we politely asked our waitress, Lily, if she could please bring us some soy sauce whenever she had a moment. In response, she audibly sighed, turned her head, and rolled her eyes, which felt unnecessarily rude and unprofessional. Throughout the rest of the meal, whenever we thanked her for bringing our dim sum, she didn't acknowledge us, and simple requests like refilling our water were ignored while she happily chatted with other coworkers and the table immediately next to us (which appeared to be people she knew outside of work). The rest of the staff seemed normal-friendly, which made this interaction stand out even more. Had the gratuity been optional, I would have tipped based on the service we received. Because it was mandatory, paying an 18% service charge for an experience that lacked basic courtesy and attentiveness felt particularly unfair and disappointing. This was my second visit here, but it seems bad service is not uncommon based on other yelp reviews.

    Photos
    Black Sesame Mochi with Grated Peanut
    Black Sesame Mochi with Grated Peanut
    Enjoy dining or Happy Hour on our spacious patio!
    Enjoy dining or Happy Hour on our spacious patio!
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