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    Bao

    4.3 (454 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    BAO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Bao

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    Bi Feng Tang Har Gow (4)
    Terence T.

    For two people we definitely stuffed ourselves full with this order. No wait time at 7pm, we sat and ordered quickly. My partner is pescatarian so previous dumpling restaurants have had extremely bland tasting vegetable bao or no consideration for that diet The vegetable bao here was flavourful, maybe strongly of mushroom but it did have flavour! And so this gives it some plus points. Bi Feng har gow is basically deep fried har gow. Usually deep frying things makes them better but this was a miss for me. Other dumpling dishes were pretty decent, nothing to write home about but made well, solid tastes The green beans were excellently cooked. Great flavour. Would be back again!

    Salt and pepper veggie
    Sydney J.

    I ordered vegetarian xiao long bao and salt and pepper veggies from them. It was a nearly 30 wait for them to get my food ready, but a person who ordered after me got their takeout first. I'm not sure if it's because the restaurant makes fewer of the vegetarian items than the meat ones? Vegetarian xiao long bao: It was so-so, the insides weren't adequately seasoned or flavorful. I wish they made a version that was more comparable to the meat version since I was disappointed by this and would not recommend it. Salt and pepper veggie: It does taste like salt and pepper tofu in flavor profile, but with battered vegetables, kind of like tempura. Pretty good. I liked the kabocha, there's also mushrooms, green beans. I was pleasantly surprised by this one.

    Chicken Fried Rice
    Anh T.

    On a Saturday night, our group of 4 waited 30 minutes before being seated on the farthest inside table. Shanghai Xiao Long Bao: Broth was delicious and bao wrapper was tasty and not sticky! Steamed BBQ Pork Bun: soft, fluffy bun with good pork savory filling. Steamed Shrimp Har Gow: nothing too special, but juicy shrimp Spicy Wontons: This was one of my personal favorites since the chili oil was not too spicy, but it complemented the silky texture of the wontons. Stir-fried String Beans: Good & garlicky Pan-Fried Pork Pot Stickers: The pot stickers were slightly difficult to separate since the crispy skin stuck together, but they were deliciously crispy Chicken Fried Rice: We ordered this later into the night as we felt there wasn't enough food, and the fried rice hit the spot for filling up our stomachs! Steamed Egg Custard Bao: Pillowy, cute decoration on the outside and sweet (but not too sweet) egg taste on the inside!

    Wendi K.

    The sweet buns are so CUTE and heavenly tasting. We had some of these catered to a company event. I tried the sesame bun (black swirl) and the lava bun (panda shaped). So I suppose this review is based off those two flavors only. They are fluffy and fresh and I 100% approve of the filling to bun ratio.

    Shao long bao, Steamed Pork & Shrimp Shumai  (4)
    Manny Y.

    Wanted to get some dumplings today so I came back to Bao. The food was good, but I found the Singapore noodles to be a bit salty this time.. I ordered a shao long bao,pork and shrimp shims in, Singapore noodles, pepper beef. See photos. I came around 2 pm on Sunday and they close lunch at 2:30 pm. I didn't have to wait for a table. You order by writing in a menu piece of paper. I ordered a bit much. Sinnpire Noodles came first. (Odd because I thought dumpling would come out first) I also got pepper beef, shao long bao, and shunning with pork and shrimp. No complaints except the Singapore noodles was a bit salty. Service was good. As for ambiance, they have outside seating as well inside.

    Coconut Bunny (4)
    Lisa X.

    Visited Bao with some work friends. Great selections of dim sum. Tasty and very cutesy. I love the panda face baos, the coconut bunnies and the corn shaped pudding is just adorable. Besides being cute, all the dim sum tasted delicious. I also like the xLB. On par with another restaurant that's known for xLBs. Service was courteous. And the ambiance is lovely. Friends and I had a great time. Located on Valencia and 17th St.

    Shrimp balls and Mango Swans
    Kevin P.

    I had a really great experience here! The service was fast and efficient!! I barely had to wait, and everyone I spoke with was friendly and attentive. It's nice to see a place that actually delivers on both quality and speed. Everything was clean and well-organized, which made the whole visit even better. They also have a ton of options, so whether you're in the mood for something classic or want to try something new, you'll definitely find it here. The menu makes it easy to mix things up each time you go. Overall, a solid spot that I'd happily come back to again.

    Pan Fried Pork Pot Stickers (5)
    Yuri H.

    We arrived about an hour before closing. They were preparing to close. There was one other party there wrapping up their dinner. It took the staff a while to take our order. The wonton soup dumplings were average. The pot stickers greasy not my favorite. The sesame donuts were the highlight. The decor was standard. I probably will not return. Not good, not bad.

    Mary M.

    An excellent spot to enjoy authentic Chinese food. The space is small but pleasant, the food is exquisite, and they also offer a great menu at very reasonable prices. Always a good place to come back to.

    Jackie M.

    Good vegetarian and vegan options. I appreciate that the menu was clearly labeled with what's vegan, but I wish there would've been a symbol for vegetarian too (I initially overlooked some yummy bites that contain egg, but no meet). The service was fast and friendly and the space felt busy, but not too crowded or overwhelming when we dined in on a Saturday evening.

    Fried Shrimp Toast
    Divya K.

    Loved everything we ordered. The ambiance here screams comfort Asian food restaurant. Service is pretty quick too. I love the shrimp roast at dumpling time but the one here may have topped that. Custard buns were just okay.

    Pan Fried Chives & Shrimp Dumplings (5)
    Fancypants X.

    I've given Bao two chances to win me over; the first time, shortly after they opened, was completely forgettable, hence my giving them a second shot via delivery. This order jogged my memory & now I'm documenting it so I don't inadvertently give them a third chance to disappoint me. I vaguely remember trying their XLB & Steamed Chicken Bao & not enjoying the flavors, but thinking perhaps I need to try more items to give them a fair assessment. Years passed & just recently I placed an order of overpriced Honey Black Pepper Beef; bland Pan Fried Chives & Shrimp Dumplings; Steamed Sticky Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaves that didn't taste the way I'm used to this dish tasting; & a Steamed Bao Special containing four different fillings, none of which I liked with the worst being the vegetarian. I'm always searching for what's familiar to me in every restaurant I try. I've been to enough dim sum spots to know that not every place's way of cooking is for me & that's ok; it might be someone else's cup o' tea.

    Vegetarian Xiao Long Bao (6)
    Namratha P.

    Oh my god! I love this place!! Can't believe it took me so long to try it out. I've been on the hunt for vegetarian soup dumplings for so long and finally got to try it here and loved it!! They have so many vegetarian options and we tried all of them, and every single one was delicious!! It was pretty good easy to find a table for early dinner but got pretty crowded during the peak hours. The service was amazing with very attentive staff who cleared the table very quickly between dishes and had a good pace in bringing the food out. I highly recommend trying out different types of dumplings and dim sums and also trying the dessert ones. I won't stop raving about this place to my friends and so many have tried it since then and have all loved it! I will definitely be coming back often!

    Bao sampler (vegetable, kimchi beef, chicken, bbq pork)

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    Bao Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bao

    Is the dim sum menu open for dinner as well?

    Yes

    Are the coconut bunnies or the mango pudding corn vegan?

    Yes

    Are you open new years day?

    Yes we open new year day.

    Are the vegetarian dishes vegan? No dairy, egg, or oyster sauce.

    Yes, all the dishes marked vegetarian on the menu were actually vegan. I asked about a noodle dish that sounded vegetarian from the description but was not marked, I was told it was not marked because noodles were made with eggs...so I think many… 

    Does this restaurant have outside dining with heaters ? Also do they accept service dogs?

    They have outside dining, but they don't have heaters. The last time I was there, I was cold sitting outside! Bring an extra jacket! I don't know whether they accept service… 

    What is the little sour fruit in the egg tarts?

    Yes, two tasty sour-ish raisin-like fruits were incorporated into (or atop) the tarts. There is no much of the flaky pastry, not enough of the (slightly overcooked) filling in this dish at Bao - not worth the price.

    Are there any vegan options?

    I think some of the vegetarian options are vegan, as they don't seem to contain dairy.

    Do you have calorie counts for each of your buns and dumplings?

    No, they don't.

    Do they take reservations?

    i only saw a paper/pen sign up on the door

    Is it safe for people with shellfish allergies to eat here? I see there are dishes that don't contain shellfish, but I worry about cross-contamination, or shellfish in the kimchi.

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    Four Kings 四大天王 - sichuan cabbage

    Four Kings 四大天王

    4.2(468 reviews)
    2.3 miChinatown
    $$$

    I've had this spot bookmarked for ages now and my boyfriend was able to snag a birthday…read morereservation!! Unless you're a party of 1, I highly, highly, recommend a reservation. While we were waiting for our table, we saw 2-3 couples get turned away. The restaurant is small, but the interior is well-decorated. It pays homage to HK posters, music, and culture. They offer two complimentary small bites of smashed cucumber and peanuts. - XO Escargot: a must order, the dish only comes with 6 pieces but it's so worth it. The sauce is garlicky, buttery, and each bite with the milk bread is so good. The bread also has a crispy outer layer while the inside is super soft. - Eggplant: at first, we thought the dish was good, but the pieces on the bottom that soaks up all the sauce makes the eggplant full of umami flavor. This paired so good with rice. - Mapo Tofu Spaghetti: just as you imagine, but very yummy. I wish there was more of a numbing spice personally! - Black Pepper Steak: The steak was cooked perfectly to medium rare and the sauce was very yummy. This dish did not blow me away like some of the others but was still good nonetheless. I really wished we could have try the Singapore Chili Crab, but that would have been too much food. Our server was also fantastic and so kind, I wish I caught her name. Will def be back!

    Want to thank my friend for managing to get reservations for this place even it was at 10 PM at…read morenight! We came here May 2025 and ready to eat. Service was excellent. Nostalgic interior with posters of Canto celebrities on the walls and Chinese pop music playing in the background, but not to point where it was drowning out conversation. We had the fried rabbit (limited quantities), green beans, the claypot with Chinese sausage and bacon, the chili crisp pig head, escargot with XO sauce and milkbread, the fish fragrant eggplant (aptly named), the fried squab, the HK black pepper steak, and the abalone special over vermicelli. For dessert, we had the mango pudding, red bean shaved ice with culde de leche , and the huckleberry silken tofu. Like I said, we came hungry. We did struggle to figure out how to go about splitting the abalone over vermicelli amongst our group since everything was piled on a small abalone shell and not enough abalone to go around for everyone. The HK black pepper steak was very good and cooked perfectly medium rare, but wasn't a fan of the raw onions that accompanied it. Everything else was scrumptious! My parents would most definitely gawk at how much we spent on our meal, but I think overall it was worthwhile and I'm glad we got to try it.

    Photos
    Four Kings 四大天王 - View of kitchen

    View of kitchen

    Four Kings 四大天王 - Sichuan cabbage

    Sichuan cabbage

    Four Kings 四大天王 - Fish fragrant eggplant

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    Fish fragrant eggplant

    Palette Tea House

    Palette Tea House

    4.1(2k reviews)
    2.9 miRussian Hill, Fisherman's Wharf
    $$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Speaks Mandarin

    Excellent service and meal choices. Thoroughly recommend. Also quick if that's what you want. V…read morerelaxing.

    Beautiful space, generous portions, and a tea selection that deserves its own spotlight…read more Came in with The Kid and one of her friends and had a great experience from start to finish. We had reservations, arrived a little early, and were seated right away. We ordered the XO Wagyu Beef Fried Rice, made with minced Wagyu, egg, XO sauce, and scallion, along with the Wagyu Beef Chow Fun, which comes with wok-seared Wagyu, flat rice noodles, and bean sprouts. We also had the Pork Soup Dumplings. Everything was flavorful, and the portions were generous--one order of the fried rice and chow fun was enough for the three of us to share and still take leftovers home. The tea selection was one of my favorite parts. I had the Iron Goddess, The Kid had the Milk Aroma Oolong, and her friend had the classic Oolong. All three were delicious and made the meal feel even more complete. I also tried one of their mocktails from the menu--the Lucky Red Horse- and it was a fun addition to the meal. Service was great, the space is beautiful, and the overall experience felt polished without being stuffy. Between the dim sum, noodle dishes, rice dishes, and tea selection, there's still so much left to try. Definitely looking forward to coming back again.

    Photos
    Palette Tea House
    Palette Tea House
    Palette Tea House

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    Harborview Restaurant & Bar - Dim sum much?

    Harborview Restaurant & Bar

    4.0(1.9k reviews)
    2.6 miFinancial District
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    I want to give a great shout out to Harborview Restaurant for hosting a luncheon / dinner for my…read moredaughters wedding day activities. There was only 8 of us and we wanted a luxurious Chinese meal to celebrate the wedding. We've eaten at Harborview before and were extremely pleased with their culinary quality and service so we chose to celebrate here. We made a reservation for a patio table for 10 even though we were only 8. We chose their banquet meal plan C which had an abundance of seafood. Plus we also ordered a couple extra dishes for our guests to enjoy. Surprisingly we got a phone call from Angel who questioned our order. Why so much food for 8 people? We knew we had too much food but we were okay with it. Long story short, she suggested some alterations to the "C" banquet and gave us the additional dishes at the same overall cost as the original banquet price. This was super nice and appreciated. We still had a ton of take home and everyone was full. Let me say the food was excellent and some of the best I've ever had. Yes it is a bit pricey but it wasn't the most expensive plan they have. We chose "C" because it had all the dishes we really enjoy and seldom get to eat. The restaurant is simply gorgeous especially the entryway on the ground level of Embarcadero 4. You can park in EC4 garage and get some validation at the restaurant. A quick overview of the dishes.... BBQ Combination Platter. Not sure if BBQ describes it well, its more like a cold appetizer delicacy plate, Fresh and crisp seaweed, cuttlefish, baby octopus, BBQ pork and tofu. A super tasty and refreshing starter Dried Scallop, Fish Maw and Sea Cucumber soup. Hot seafood flavored soup with plenty of julienned seafood. Rich, thick and warming. Salt and Pepper Dungeness Crab. This was hands down the surprise of the meal. TWO huge crabs deep fried with a delicate battered crust. Served piled high with the crab shell on top. Make sure to enjoy the crab butter in the shell it is the best. If you know... you know! Peking Duck with Steamed buns. Hands down a family favorite served with 12 buns, shredded scallions and plum sauce. Crispy duck skin carefully dissected from the soft and juicy duck meat. Really good. Stir fried Scallops and Prawns. Served on a bed of snow peas. Honestly, how often do you get to eat sea scallops? Perfectly cooked soft and tender. Prawns fresh and firm texture. Steak Cubes & Broccoli. Sounds plain but the beef cubes with a glistening sauce simply melted in your mouth. Oh man this was fantastic! Broccoli cooked al dente with a nice crisp texture. Baked Black Cod. Can it get any better? Super tender, flakey, moist, juicy fish steamed to perfection. man!!! Sautéed Pea sprouts with dried scallops and Mushrooms. Pea sprouts are expensive but well worth the price. Topped with the mushrooms and sauce was a great pairing. Golden Supreme Fried Rice with XO sauce. Some of the tastiest fried rice you will ever encounter. Fine grains of rice seasoned with a ton of flavor and enhanced with XO sauce Black Sesame Mochi in Ginger Tea. Soft moist chewy Mochi balls served in hot Ginger Tea. The black sesame is delicious and pungent. The ginger tea warming and aromatic. so good! FYI corkage is $25 per bottle and cake service is $1 per person. They take the cake and put it in the fridge during your meal. All that being said the meal was fantastic. Servers came around several times to change out our dirty plates. Some of us ordered drinks a few times which they served quickly. It was a wonderful day and capped off with this special meal. Thank you Harborview!

    This is nestled within a bunch of shops and restaurants with the back part of the restaurant right…read moreon the water making for really nice outdoor seating with a great view. The inside decor is very fancy and upscale. This restaurant can make for a great date night or even a casual hang out, but they also have great Family Style tables which are typical for Asian restaurants seating for like 10-15 people. Overall, I would say that this restaurant is pretty good, but perhaps a bit expensive. If I'm honest, I was kind of hoping for a wow moment eating each dish because of how expensive and fancy the place was (plus sporting that Michelin star). So TLDR; good but underwhelming. Let's start with what was good! Pork buns or char siu bao: 5/5! Wow this was amazing! Like actually amazing. The crust on that bun added like a sweet outer layer was fire, the meat was super tender and great! Prob the best dish we had! The spicy wonton: 2.5/5 this was just okay imho, lacked depth of flavor and that ma la you'd want in the spice, honestly just okay and wouldn't order again. The roasted pork/charsiu: 3.5/5 pretty good overall! I do feel like some parts were a bit tough but mostly tender pieces of meat. The shu mai: 3/5 it was good, a little too chewy for me but was decent. XLB: 2/5 probably the most disappointing, lacked depth of flavor and the broth was just okay, average at best, Honestly expected more. Prob wouldn't order again. Deep fried crab claw and shrimp ball: 3/5 good crab and good seafood taste. The dipping sauce was just okay, wanted more flavor. Overall all, service was super fast, food came out in no time, could've been better with water refills. I wished that some of the dishes had a richer flavor profile that made me say wow, but unfortunately most of the dishes fell short. The char siu bao however was the star of the show! Cute place but a bit overpriced for an underwhelming flavors. Made it a four star because of the bun and the service and ambience.

    Photos
    Harborview Restaurant & Bar - Black Sesame Mochi with Grated Peanut

    Black Sesame Mochi with Grated Peanut

    Harborview Restaurant & Bar - Enjoy dining or Happy Hour on our spacious patio!

    Enjoy dining or Happy Hour on our spacious patio!

    Harborview Restaurant & Bar - Baked Coffee Lava Buns with Crunchy Sugar Crust

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    Baked Coffee Lava Buns with Crunchy Sugar Crust

    Bao - chinese - Updated August 2026

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