Shanghai Dumpling King looks completely unassuming from the outside, but inside they are cranking…read moreout some seriously delicious food. The staff were friendly and super prompt about clearing empty plates and refilling our tea whenever we signaled it was done, which is always great as the dishes just get on coming! We ordered a bunch of dishes to share, and several really stood out. The spicy tendon was fantastic, shredded paper thin and swimming in a classic spicy sauce. The spicy lamb dumplings were another highlight, with an incredibly thin wrapper and a super flavorful and not gamey at all lamb filling. I also loved the stir fried rice cakes, which were sliced thin enough to avoid that overly chewy texture, and the stir fried noodles Shanghai style were classic and simple in the best way, with big chunks of cabbage and meat and just executed really (the chefs clearly have some serious wok skills!). Not everything we ordered was an absolute knockout as the vegetable dishes could use a bit more flavor and seasoning, but everything overall was good, and the portions across the board were very generous. The desserts were a last-minute decision and I am so glad we went for them. The lava custard buns were fluffy and amazing, with a molten salted egg custard inside, and the sesame balls had a satisfyingly crispy exterior that gave way to a perfectly chewy interior and sweet red bean filling. The value here is also excellent. We left absolutely stuffed and spent around $30 per person, which felt like a great deal for how much food we got and how much we enjoyed it. Highly recommend!

Flat out, I didn't like my meal. Service was great. The place was nice and clean. But the food…read more . . no. Shanghai soup dumplings were leaden. That's it. Heavy. The combination egg foo young had very little detectable egg and I could find only scraps of shrimp and whatnot. Another big miss. But I'm an outlier and most people like this restaurant. I just use Yelp as a diary so I can remember what was good or not so good to me.

I've been coming here for a very long time, maybe almost 20 years. This is a SF institution…read more Everything they have is very good! Everything is cooked/baked the day of sale and it's all to go. There's nowhere for you to eat onsite. Find a park nearby and eat there! Or just eat standing on the sidewalk! Depending on who you get, the service varies. They sometimes yell at you. The woman that helped me today was yelling at me. I think it's not meant to be rude, or so I keep telling myself. Ha ha. I used to work nearby so it was very easy to grab takeout for lunch or to bring home. it's hard to know how much things cost, all you have is the big sign on the wall. They do not give you an itemized receipt. Don't even ask! All

I heard this is a great place to get dim sum in China town. It was a bit of a line and busy so it…read morewas chaotic to order due to translation and orders being taken at the same time as others. I personally thought the rude staff influenced the experience. While ordering, they completely cut us off and asked the couple behind us what they want instead and let them go in front of us. Yes we were ordering a lot due to us ordering ahead for a larger group of people. We tried ordering 3 two pound containers of noodles and the woman said that's too much so we ordered 2 two pound containers instead. We ate at a bar near by. While eating I found a lot of fatty pieces in all the of the dim sum which was not my favorites although some people prefer it that way. The noodles were pretty good too but very dry, needs siracha or some type of sauce. Wish they had chopsticks too but they only had forks.

We just discovered our favorite peking duck @yh_beijing in SF…read more The skin was next-level crispy. It was not greasy, not heavy, just pure crunch. We tried it Beijing-style dipped in sugar and I was SHOCKED at how good it was Then they bring out the rest of the duck sizzling hot, wrapped in a lighter, thinner wrapper (as a Vietnamese girl, I usually love the sweet bao but this one let the duck shine) Tip: make a reservation since they serve it fresh and you might be too hungry to wait

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

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!

Recently came by and dined outside with my little pup. I had such a great time enjoying their NA…read morecocktail, Garden & Grove with all the dim sum dishes. Aside from wishing this drink to be a little bit more sour, I love this type of seedlip NA beverages. For those that enjoy alcohol and can have it, Osmanthus DSL serves some great whisky pairings with dim sum. They also have a great list of tea which I didn't partake on this occasion. Great service and I enjoyed people watching from sitting outside this Broadway street facing restaurant. Located on Broadway and Kearny (next to the Peter Macchiarini steps).

Gave this a try for late breakfast or lunch while in town. Service was very prompt and easy to get…read morea table. Had soup dumplings, pork and shrimp sui mai and lastly Szechuan boiled beef in flaming chili oil. All were pretty good. Really liked the soup as it was the real deal with peppercorns and all. Would go back and try more things off the menu next time in town. Just was a light lunch so didn't experiment too much.

Perfect spot when you're looking for a quick bite and want great food without a long wait. The…read moreservice is always fast and easy, and the food comes out surprisingly quickly--especially the rice dishes. My personal favorites are the honey walnut shrimp, shrimp fried rice, and the fish dish. The crab rangoons are an absolute must-order and probably my favorite item on the menu. It's family-owned and operated, which makes the experience feel even more welcoming, and they even handle their own deliveries. It's the perfect place to stop after a long day at the park or to grab takeout and enjoy it outside. If you're looking for delicious food, quick service, and a local family-run business to support, this place is definitely worth checking out.

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

from the favorite to least: 1. bbq pork buns (toasted)…read more 2. Beijing noodles 3. pork dumplings 4. wagyu soup dumplings 5. spring rolls food was good. service was good too. recommend getting the first two i suggested, wagyu soup dumplings were nothing special. indoor and outdoor seating, not too crowded. message me for $50 off your order we ended up paying around $30 for all this food.

We've been coming to this place since 2020, and it has changed a lot over the years. (I wish I…read morecould say it got better, but unfortunately it got worse.) For example, the seafood gyoza used to come with that delicious mayo-looking sauce, and not anymore. The servers were really friendly and helpful back in the day, but not anymore. We asked what happened to the sauce, and she was just like, "Not anymore." Another example, the lamb dumplings also used to come with a special sauce, and they don't have that anymore either. Honestly, we were kinda scared to even ask about it because our server didn't seem like she was having a good day. The cucumber salad also used to be a much bigger portion, but this time it was super small. Idk what happened to this place. It used to be amazing, and I really hope it goes back to how it was. We heard from some friends that it has a new owner (not sure if that's actually true), so maybe that's the reason. I'll definitely update my review after my next visit if things get better, and I do apologize for the 3-star review.

It was a literal dark and stormy night so between squalls I geared up and headed down Guerrero…read moretoward 17th Street and swung down to Valencia for another perfect simple dining experience at Bao. I walked into the restaurant about 45 minutes before closing time at 9:30 PM and several other diners came in after I was seated. The unsettled weather made the people hungry for dumplings. Bao is warm and woody and serene on the inside, a great counterpoint to the bustle of Valencia at every hour. Upon entering there is a large window looking on to the kitchen prep area where culinary experts are often at work constructing the food diners later enjoy on their plates. Tonight a couple of wizards were in the process of making chicken potstickers. Even being vegetarian, just seeing how the dumplings and other items are made is like seeing secrets being shared. I love it and it sets the vibe for the restaurant. My order consisted of the steamed vegetarian buns and sautéed string beans. The buns come out beautifully presented and taste even better: the bun itself is just slightly sweet and that sweetness adds an amazing dimension to the chopped fresh vegetables inside. Can't tell you what any of these veggies are individually and I don't care, they are so good. Next came the sautéed string beans and the sear on the beans themselves was perfect and smoky and delicious. The crispness of the sautee makes the string beans a lovely pairing with the soft yummy of the steamed buns. Last came the sesame balls as a sweet meal ending. I love donuts and fresh-made sesame balls are similar to a donut hole just with a filling that is actually food and so sweetly tasty. The outer fry was crisp and the insides absolutely perfect. Three dishes, all fantastic, and I walk home happy and thankful to Bao for a great simple meal!

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