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    Dumpling Empire

    3.8 (1.1k reviews)
    ModerateDim Sum, Noodles
    Closed • 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Dumpling Empire Takeout or Delivery

    Dumpling Empire Photos

    Business Info

    DUMPLING EMPIRE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Dumpling Empire

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    麻辣牛筋  Spicy Beef Tendon &  滷味醬牛肉  Five Spicy Marinated Beef
    Bethany W.

    This is a solid (kind of hole in the wall) Chinese place in downtown South SF. Service was a bit slow and not the most attentive but......what can you expect hahahaha. Food was solid, nothing more special than any other Chinese place though. Prices were a bit higher for the portions? Overall, solid place to get dumplings and other Chinese dishes close to downtown.

    Garlic string beans and pork dumplings
    Brennan S.

    The garlic string beans have an immense amount of flavor- so delicious! The freshness of the pork dumplings are also really great, too! The service is always super fast and the restaurant is extremely laid back- I prefer to do take out at Dumpling Empire. The restaurant itself is pretty small and it can get a little overcrowded in there pretty easily.

    Rose C.

    A true representation of a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. I must admit we were a bit fearful and unsure when I walked in through the thick, heavy plastic strip door curtain. In my mind I was debating to see if we should just turn around and leave. But we were greeted right away, the server motioned to a table with menus on her hand already, so we sat down. Although the main dining was clean enough, the surrounding area was visibly cluttered. There was an older gentleman lounged at one of the tables with a shower cap looking thingy on. He quickly got up and head to the back room. We placed our order and soon enough our food came out one dish at a time served by this person. I'm assuming he was the chef. The food was piping hot! Freshly made! It was awesome! Every dish was very flavorful, well seasoned, and delicious!!! The food was spot on! We were very impressed and so glad we didn't missed out!

    Jacob C.

    The garlic string beans have a lot of flavor. The spicy chicken pot is a generous portion (was two of these containers). The salt and pepper tofu is crispy and savory. The pork and chive dumplings were solid. First time picking up to go. A little hard to find parking

    Xiao Long Bao + Hot Chili
    Supar K.

    One Month One time eat here. Professional & experience serving, place clean . The Best Dumplings & Spicy Braised Beef with Fresh Noodles and don't forget to add Spicy Chilli

    Lamb and pork dumplings and crispy lotus root.
    Andrea Z.

    Visited on a Thursday night around 6:30, walked in and grabbed a table. Restaurant had one other party seated but seemed like more of a takeout spot. Very casual hole in the wall spot. Food: pork and chive dumplings - served boiled, wrappers are of medium thickness with a slight chewy texture, generous amount of filling which was well seasoned, savory with a nice garlic chive flavor, soy sauce, vinegar and chili sauce all paired well with this Crispy lotus root salad - okay, served cold, lotus root slices in a soy, sesame vinegar dressing with lots of scallions, was expecting a hot dish so a little surprised lotus root had a nice crunchy texture overall but bottom of the dish soaked in dressing was a little slimy and scallions were in long pieces that were a bit hard to eat Lamb and vegetable dumplings - also good, again served boiled, generous with the filling, which was savory with a hint of gaminess that worked well in the dumpling, this was great with some added vinegar Service was okay, quick and efficient, water and tea provided when we started our meal. A free sesame red beans mochi was provided for dessert but was quite dry a nice touch none the less. Cleanliness could be improved as well. Overall great dumplings, would order takeout from this spot in the future but probably pass on sit down dining.

    Deepthi T.

    Dumpling Empire is a great spot in South SF to grab a warm, delicious lunch! It's a very no frills, classic dumpling spot. Great spot to share food. We got sat immediately, we ordered a variety of dishes, pea shoots, pork dumplings, lamb dumplings, shrimp dumplings, spicy wonton, XLB. We also got hot tea, it was all the classics. The service was great food came out at a good pace for sure. I loved the classic XLB. Lamb dumplings were not my favorite-that might be a personal preference. I loved the spicy wonton. The pea shoots were bright, cooked well. For simple dumplings, this is your spot. It did hit the spot. I would come back for a group lunch. The prices were pretty good as well. I appreciate the portion sizes here.

    Beef Stew Soup Noodle
    Christina L.

    The food was okay! The restaurant is not very large, about 8 tables (best for groups of 2-4). There's also one waiter, so be patient. Appetizer: Cucumber with mushroom ($8.75), crunchy and good sesame oil flavor. Salt and pepper chicken wings ($12.96) are lightly seasoned with five spice seasoning. The wings can be crunchier and have better frying color. The dumplings are made in house, occasionally see dumpling cart. The soup dumplings ($12.95) were tiny, definitely can have more filling. The chives dumping ($12.95) were good. My favorite was the beef stew noodle soup ($13.95). The noodles are made in house and have a great chew texture to the noodles. Plenty of bok choy and the meat was tender. The food can be better, not too much flavor.

    Hot Tea
    Me Iz S.

    The best dumplings, authentic, fresh, sooooo good! I've been going here for 18 years - the service is the same ..warm really nice people! It's a true gem, a hole in the wall, functional ambience; the food makes up for every bit of it!

    Menu
    Joey Y.

    This place is definitely a hole-in-the-wall. When we first walked in, there weren't many people, but once we sat down and started looking at the menu, we suddenly heard a zapping noise. They were using a flyswatter to kill the flies floating around the restaurant, which I thought was a bit unusual. The food here is definitely good. I tried a few things I've never ordered before, and at the end, they gave us sesame balls for free, which was a nice touch. Most of the time, they prefer cash, but they do accept card. Just be sure to bring cash.

    Alex L.

    Great hole in the wall for dumplings in ssf. Found this place from DoorDash with a bogo offer on dumplings. Order and was impressed. The dumpling was flavorful and the skin wasn't too thick. After trying this from doordash we decided to go try this place out for dining. The food was delicious. We order the Napa cabbage,corn dumplings and the spicy dumpling. We got the dan dan noodles and it was delicious. The service was great and friendly. Definitely worth coming back to as the prices was reasonable and delicious. The portions are good size.

    Small spot, good service, would return!
    Christine V.

    The other reviews do not lie. It's a little hole in the wall spot. The pot stickers were my favorite, the dough was thick and the filling came out. Green onion pancakes were great, soup dumplings were nice and the little red bean sesame dumplings were a really nice finish. Would recommend!

    Fresh Cucumber with Straw Mushroom Hot and Sour Soup shrimp and chive dumplings

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    Dumpling Empire Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Dumpling Empire

    This place has a private parking?

    No only public street parking or garage lots

    Do they pan fry the fish dumplings upon request?

    If u need, for large quantities, we will do it for you. Thanks

    Was this place called Sky Dragon?

    Dumpling empire for the last 12 years as far as I know

    Do they do large orders for parties?

    No. Sky dragon is another place known for their lollipop chicken or fried chicken wings

    Is this restaurant open for eat in?

    It is, though the decor is very minimal. But they will serve you and you can have a good meal while watching the dumpling making operation through the door into the next room.

    What is the orange hot sauce made of? It's really good!!

    https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dumpling-empire-south-san-francisco?select=3tsOfz_eFRVRSFMiw9DXxg

    Hello, I am wondering if anyone use the restaurant.com certificate here in this restaurant before. Do they accept it?

    I've used it and it works

    Are there gluten free options (including no soy sauce)?

    Only regular dumpling and soy sauce is not gluten free. Maybe green beans without sauce might work.

    View All 10 Questions

    Yan Peninsula - Lava salted egg sesame ball

    Yan Peninsula

    3.5(334 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    •$$

    Sunday morning 11:20 arrived at the restaurant, first time that we were able to find a parking spot…read morein the lot. And we got greeted and welcomed right away. Inside has modern decoration and clean . The waiter served us tea right after we seated, maybe there were not a lot of people, the service is surprisingly decent-- he offered kids utensils and collect the empty plates right after we finished. The traditional dishes like egg tart, sweet rice cake, dessert were good, also highlighted on the pork belly dish-- crispy skin and juicy meat. The not so great adventurous dish -- fried duo chun fish, bitter ending taste. Other than that, this restaurant still on my top list whenever craving for dim sum or Cantonese dishes. This restaurant staff is very friendly to kids and the food selection is kids friendly.

    Dim sum was pretty good 3/5. Table was crap, we had 3 ppl…read morebut got seated at a 2 person table. The sides of the table had a bar across it so the 3rd person in the side couldn't pull their chair in. Ambience terrible, they were setting up for an event so there was a guy testing karaoke and mic checking half the time. When I paid the bill, they brought the check back without my credit card, they had to go find where it dropped out. And I couldn't lower my tip because it was a pre-set service charge, even tho just for 3 ppl.

    Photos
    Yan Peninsula - Inside the restaurant

    Inside the restaurant

    Yan Peninsula - Crispy shrimp rice noodle rolls

    Crispy shrimp rice noodle rolls

    Yan Peninsula - Chinese donut wrapped in rice noodle

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    Chinese donut wrapped in rice noodle

    Koi Palace

    Koi Palace

    3.4(4k reviews)
    3.3 mi
    •$$$

    I was pleasantly surprised to quickly find a parking spot without circling the lot. But, despite…read moremaking reservations and confirming days in advance, the receptionist made us wait in line for a number. That said, the wait was only a few minutes for a 1:00 PM Friday lunch. I can live with that. We were shown to a middle table surrounded by other diners, but able to sit comfortably without bumping into anyone. We could get in and out of our seats without doing gymnastics or mortal combat - a problem in the past here. The ambience was festive without being explosively loud. Wce could actually hold meaningful conversation - such a lovely surprise! The furnishings could have done with some upgrading (carpets and decor felt a bit shabby). But the lighting was comfortable - I was grateful not to have glaring fluorescent fixtures illuminating us and the food. Service was unusually attentive, as I was accustomed to being abandoned by wait staff after putting in our orders in the past. I suspect they recognized our guests, two prominent and beloved retired local politicians. The variety and creativity of their dim sum was the best I've tasted in years. No ubiquitous dumpling fillings here! No gummy gravies or sauces. Each flavor was distinct, unique and scrumptious. Two rice roll dishes were the standouts. One had green spinach in the rice noodle and a crunchy, but chewy texture with the shrimp filling. The cha siu roll was generously filled and included a light sauce reminiscent of that used in cha siu bows. Every dish was fresh, sporting beautiful vibrant colors, with delicious sauces for each item. Servings were generous and satisfying. The roast duck was to die for and quickly devoured. After a hideous dinner banquet here years ago, (overpriced, slow and bad service, food served cold with sauces congealed, days-old rock cod passed off as "live from the tank", lobsters too tough to cut or eat), I had avoided coming back to Koi Palace until this current meal. Thankfully, this experience restored my faith and I will be returning more often. I am glad, because I've been following the chefs / owners for decades and admired their food since their Happy Valley hot pot days at Levi Plaza. Long live Koi Palace! I'm glad I gave it another chance.

    My parents wanted to have dim sum here after going to the Serramonte Farmers Market. I was…read morereluctant since we didn't have a resy (not sure why it says "Seated via Yelp Reservations"...)and it was a Saturday, but they really wanted to go. It ended up being a 1 hour wait, which was definitely not worth it. Our order: Tea: $2.00/person (香片 Jasmine Jade) +Tea pot was kept over a candle, so it stayed warm throughout our meal. -Tea bags, not loose leaf tea 濃香咖啡骨 Espresso Ribs: $13.80 +Bone-in riblets were succulent on the inside. +Thick glaze was full of coffee flavor -They were left too long in the fryer b/c they were dry on the outside 生煎灌湯包 Pan Seared Soup Filled Pork Buns (4 pcs): $12.80 +Thin skins encasing juicy pork fillings: Better execution than the XLB +Black & white sesame seeds added a fragrant toasty flavor. -Considering "pan seared" was in the name, the bottom was soft and not crispy. -Inconsistent quality: 1 of them had no soup, while the rest of them did 韭菜猪红 Pork Blood with Chives: $7.80 +Large portion +Pork blood was silky smooth and not chalky +Perfectly seasoned -Skimped on chives 鮮蝦腸粉 Shrimp Rice Roll: $9.80 +Shrimp were large and plump -Rice noodles were thin and gummy 六彩小籠包 Six Guys XLB (6 pcs): $13.80 Paprika & chicken, Red beet & beef, Spinach & kale, Squid ink & black truffle, Turmeric & crab roe, Regular & pork +Fillings were juicy. -The XLB at Koi Palace used to be AMAZING, so these were disappointing. They were deflated and lukewarm, which was a bad sign. Once we picked them up, they tore, so it seems like they're not made fresh anymore. In addition, even though the wrappers supposedly have different flavors, they weren't noticeable. 鹵水鴨舌 Soy Marinated Duck Tongue: $13.80 +Large portion +Marinated soy beans were cooked through and seasoned well -Salty Side notes: 1.) Hot water is $1.00/person 2.) Automatic 18% service charge 3.) Large lot w/free parking *Verdict: With its expansion, I think the quality of their dim sum has gone down.

    Photos
    Koi Palace
    Koi Palace
    Koi Palace - Dim Sum!

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    Dim Sum!

    HL Peninsula Pearl - lobster vermicelli

    HL Peninsula Pearl

    3.2(653 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    •$$

    I have to say the view of the water is astounding. I like the view a lot. I would say this is one…read moreof the best dim sum restaurants I had in a long time. I usually stick to the South Bay Area for dim sum and wouldn't go anywhere outside of it. Service is good. I was able to get the jelly pig dessert dish and it was so fun to see it jiggly. They gave a couple of elevators to get to the second floor which is good for me and people who can't walk well.

    Food: (3 star)We ordered the king crab ahead of time and had it prepared three different ways. The…read morelegs were steamed with garlic and cooked just right, fresh and flavorful. The body was fried with garlic, with a crispy batter while the crab meat inside remained juicy. The steamed crab head with egg was salty and not very good. The fried pork (咕嚕肉) was soggy and stuck together. The pea shoots were tender but quite oily. The abalone with chives was good, and the steamed fish was fresh and cooked just right. Service: (1 star) We sat down for about 30 minutes and no one came into our room. We eventually went downstairs to let them know that we were waiting, but even after we notified them, they still did not send a server to attend to our room. They simply told us that someone was already upstairs. We waited even longer and still could not find anyone upstairs. There was also a party singing karaoke next door, which was extremely loud. To make things worse, we were told the remote control was broken, so the TV in our room could not be turned on. Overall, it was definitely not the place to host a dinner. Ambience: (1 star) The room itself was fine, but the noise from the guests dining and singing karaoke in the next room was extremely loud and disruptive.

    Photos
    HL Peninsula Pearl
    HL Peninsula Pearl - House Special Fish Fillet Vermicelli Soup - a large bowl enough to share for 4 people.  Very tasty

    House Special Fish Fillet Vermicelli Soup - a large bowl enough to share for 4 people. Very tasty

    HL Peninsula Pearl - Egg plant in sizzling plate

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    Egg plant in sizzling plate

    Tai Yuan

    Tai Yuan

    3.5(302 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    •$$

    We (18 of us) came here for a family dim sum lunch without reservations at 11am on a Saturday and…read morewas lucky enough to be seated at 2 large tables. They are located in a strip mall near several different food places, bakery, and a bowling alley. This is a solid dim sum place, with no frills and reasonable prices. You order off a printed menu that's in Chinese with tiny English subtitles. You can also order off their regular menu if you want to supplement the dim sum dishes. Their food is very good, and some dishes were excellent. The service was pretty quick, and before we knew it, all our dishes were out with almost no room on the lazy Susan. The standouts for me were: + Steamed custard buns (piggy buns) - I ordered these for the kiddies, but dang they are so good. The custard filling is so velvety, it's almost like pudding. I think I detected a hint of coconut too - yum. + Beef chow fun - this had a really good wok flavor and the noodles were less wide than most. The noodles didn't clump either, and the bean sprouts were still crispy. + Roasted pork belly - the skin was so crispy and the pork was juicy. We ordered most of the basic dishes like har gaw, sui mai, noodle rolls, turnip cake, stuffed eggplant, chicken feet, etc. and they were all above average. My only complaint is if you don't read Chinese, the menu is a little hard to navigate. The English subtitles are so small that if you're looking for something, you have to scan the front and back of the menu trying to find the item. I was looking for sticky rice in lotus leaf, but found sticky rice roll and thought it was the same thing. It wasn't. The sticky rice roll was not bad, but I found the rice drier than when it's in lotus leaf. We ordered a few things by mistake because the English subtitles were not that descriptive. Overall, a great alternative to more popular places like Koi Palace. The menu may not be as creative as Koi, but you don't have to deal with the lines and you still get great food.

    Came to Tai Yuan for lunch on a Friday and was pleasantly surprised by how smooth everything went…read more We were a party of three and there was no wait--we were promptly seated and given a high chair. The dim sum menu was extensive, and they also had daily specials. Everything we ordered came out hot, fresh, and in a reasonable amount of time. One of the staff came around with a tray of baked goods immediately upon seated. We tried the BBQ Pork pastry, and it was flaky, flavorful, and just the right amount of sweet and savory--definitely recommend that one. Overall, we enjoyed almost everything we ordered. The only miss for us was one of the fried fish dishes and the green onion mantou, which was just okay. Would we come back? Absolutely. The service was efficient, the portions generous, and the food solid. Great spot if you're looking for dim sum that delivers on quality without the usual weekend chaos.

    Photos
    Tai Yuan - This is the beef I Shabu at home with.

    This is the beef I Shabu at home with.

    Tai Yuan - Big clams with vermicelli and garlic

    Big clams with vermicelli and garlic

    Tai Yuan - Weekly night special from M-F only

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    Weekly night special from M-F only

    Dumpling Empire - dimsum - Updated September 2026

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