This place is indeed a specialist with dumplings (and more)! We tried a number of dishes including the shrimp chow mein, xiao long bao, pan fried pork buns, and the sticky rice roll. The noodles were scrumptious and the soup dumplings had super thin skin with the meat was flavored with gingery pork goodness. The pan fried bao was also super tasty. We ordered the sticky rice roll out of curiosity and thought it was also pretty good. The place is super cozy with an only about six or so tables, service was fast and efficient and we are sure to come back the next time we have a craving for some comfort food! read more

I only ever get dim sum togo so I can't speak much to a dining experience here but every time I want dim sum I go here. Super consistent, priced right, good portions. I have never been let down by this place. Highly recommend!! read more

The food here is delightful. It is very simple and delicious. It is not Americanized. The service is pretty good considering there was only one person doing the serving and taking phone orders. The store is very small but functional and clean. I will definitely be back. The food was not salty which is usually my problem. read more

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Take out only. Super fast service when you call ahead for pick up. Braised beef over rice , black bean sauce with fish fillet and 5 piece Shanghai dumpling. All were a good price for the amount of food you get. Shanghai dumpling was super juicy. Recommend if you want a quick meal on the go. read more

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This place is delicious. The service is fast and they are nice. There are only a few small tables inside, so eat fast!! Overall though, this is solid for what you want. The food was fresh and fast. It has a lot of young Asians and Asian Americans, so you know the food is familiar and delicious. One issue was the gave us four guo tie instead of five but whatever it was so good and the portions were filling. EAT HERE; IT'S GOOD! read more

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Cozy neighborhood spot. Came in for lunch so it was not busy. Got the sweet soy milk, Shanghai dumpling, har gow, and sui mai. Soy milk was good, hot and not too sweet. Had gow and sui mai were big and have good flavor. I think the thin skin on the Shanghai dumpling was appropriate, good flavor of meat, just want more juice inside. Everything was great and will be back for more. read more

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I love Dumpling Specialist! It's a cozy restaurant, but I haven't had too much difficulty getting a table for two for Sunday lunch. The service is quick and efficient. They serve piping hot tea and delicious food - such a comforting meal! My favorites are the XLB and wontons in chili oil, but everything I've tried here is great. The sticky rice roll is fun to share and the veggies (broccoli and green beans) are quite flavorful. They charge 4% for credit cards, but they accept venmo. Street parking is relatively easy by the nearby park. Overall, one of my favorite no-frills dumpling spots in SF! read more

give dumpling specialist a try now that the taraval street construction is over! pan-fried baos, chow mein, rice plates, garlic-infused greens and more! read more

Dumpling Specialist - Exterior front - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here to order some lunch on a Friday. They are take out only FYI. You cannot eat in! So just prepared to either eat by the park down the street or in your car. This past Friday, it was wet and misty so eating at the park wasn't really an option. Since we're visiting, we didn't exactly have a place to go to so we decided to eat in the car. My husband and I decided to get: Shanghai dumpling (aka XLB) 5pc Steamed pork/cabbage dumpling 5pc Sweet soy milk (cup) Five spice beef stew noodle soup It took about 10-15 minutes before our food was ready. The Shanghai dumplings were decent. I've had better but I've also had worse. The dumplings were decent as well. The sweet soy milk tasted a bit watered down ... and kind of wished they had a cold option. The best item was definitely the five spice beef stew noodle soup. It's different from the Taiwan version, which is what I'm used to. The broth is way lighter but still had a good flavor. The meat isn't as tender as I had hoped but the flavor made up for it. The noodles were a nice texture. Overall, the food is very good and is a great price! I think if I lived in the area, it would definitely be one of my to-go places. However, I can't say that it's a destination. It probably isn't a place that you have to go to when you're visiting. It's just a good place for some comforting food at extremely reasonable prices. Also, there's a 4% charge if you use your credit card, which why the prices are slightly higher when you order online through their website. So if you want to save that cost, use cash or venmo. read more

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I came here on a Friday afternoon and it was quite empty. The restaurant is a bit small but very cozy and simple. The food came out super very quick, and our server was very efficient! I ordered a Sticky Rice Roll, which was perfect! Super crispy on the inside with the perfect amount of pork shreds and pickled veggies. I also ordered their Shanghai Dumpling, Pork & Preserved Vegetable Stir-Fried Rice Cake, and Hot and Sour Soup. These dishes were quite mediocre. The skin of the Shanghai Dumpling was way too thin on the sides, causing it to break apart every time I grabbed it with chopsticks. The Pork & Preserved Vegetable Stir-Fried Rice Cake didn't have too much flavor and was quite forgettable. The Hot and Sour Soup was decent but did not stand out. It didn't have much depth in the flavor and honestly tasted like something I can cook at home. Overall, it was a nice experience! I would definitely come back again just for the Sticky Rice Roll! read more

Such a wonderful addition to Parkside! I came here for a late lunch one day, and the staff was so nice about us. We were probably terrible guests, as we stayed past the lunch closing hour. We ordered dumplings, pan fried buns, and the stir fry rice cakes. All of them were delicious, and quantity was respectable for the amount it costs. It literally came out to under $20 for each of us, which is unheard of now. The space is very small, so it might be a wait on the weekends. If it's a warm day (or you're wearing warm layers), I'd suggest taking it to go and going up to McCoppin Square for a picnic. Otherwise, come early and wait. There's boba shops, bars, and interesting art throughout the immediate area while you wait! read more

Everything seems to be a pretty nice quality here and reasonably priced ::::wonton chili oil w peanuts::::: ~6$ delicious if you eat pork. It's got a thickly n chewy outer skin n the roasted steamed peanuts were tasty. :::::vegetarian dumplings:::: 6$ also decent although nothing super special I'd still get it again but wouldn't go outta my way for them. ::::sticky rice roll:::: ~5$ is a fan tuan made of soft white sticky rice, pork floss, Chinese donut and pickled veggies. Delicious and they accommodated request to make one without the pork floss. No seating. Ordered at the entry and came back on 10-15 min to pick up. There's a park down the block or a small bench outside of u wanna eat there. Or, just in ur car :) Easy metered street parking in front. Go on a Sunday and it'll be free. There's a 4% surcharge for cc which sucks but it's a mom n pop shop so no biggie. read more

Dumpling Specialist - 5 Wontons in Chili Oil w peanuts. Delicious ~6$ thick, chewy skin. Yum - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Since we were only able to order takeout, we didn't bother trying anything with soup. Ordering on the phone was quick and easy. Food Peanut noodles - I missed the chili pepper on the menu when I ordered my fault for ordering it for our son. But for my wife, she loves peanut noodles overall and didn't expect the Szechuan spice... she still liked it tho. Five spice beef - this was disappointing. Beef was somewhat dry. Wonton in chili oil - all the wontons stuck together and just tasted like a big blob of wonton skin in chili oil. (Din tai fung does it way better) Pan fried buns - these were ok. Got pretty soggy by the time we ate it at the park. Granted Togo food is never as great as dining in, I could see how the wonton and pan fried buns could taste better if it was eaten fresh. The highlight of the meal were the rice rolls! The fried doughnut was super crispy and combined with the right amount of pickled veggies. Overall, wifey said we would make our way back here just for the rice roll whenever in the area but we'd probably skip the rest. Bordering 3-4 stars Cash or venmo only. read more

Dumpling Specialist - Peanut noodles, 5 Spice Beef Stew Over Rice, pan fried dumplings, 5 Wontons in Chili Oil and 1 Sticky Rice Roll - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

Very hot and fresh made to order we had the pan fried dumplings and steamed char siu pork bun and springs rolls everything was so hot and fresh had to let it cool down a little very tasty read more

Dumpling Specialist - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

I first tried Dumpling Specialist when I moved to the city a few months ago. Since then, it has become my go-to for both take-out and dining in. Almost every meal has been outstanding, and I've figured out which dishes I especially like. I highly recommend the beef, fish, and vegetable dishes, and no meal here is complete without one of their fantuan! read more

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Quality, authentic food! Note they are pick-up only, no outdoor seating. We walked to the park a block away and ate at the picnic tables. We arrived around 1pm on a Monday and our order took about 15-20 min. * Pan fried buns dumplings - 4 stars Good! Nice crisp on bottom. Tasty sauce. * Shanghai dumplings - 3.5 stars (no photo) Fine but could use more soup inside. * Noodle wonton - 3 stars Generic, fine, but nothing special. * Beef string bean - 4 stars Good, meat soft. read more

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After our Dance Fit class at Y in Stonestown today, my friend asked me to check out the Dumpling Specialist on Taraval for lunch. We found parking on the street. She said it was a small restaurant that we may had to wait. But we were lucky when we arrived. It is a small restaurant with 6 tables. The host told us to sit anywhere. We found an empty table. There were some diners. The tables were really small. We noticed there was a lot of pickup order. We ordered Shanghai Dumpling, Steamed Pork/Cabbage Dumpling, Sticky Rice Roll, and Five Spice Beef Stew Noodle Soup. Actually the server recommended it to us. My first choice was the Wonton Noodle in House Broth. The Sticky Rice Roll was split into 4. Looked like there was a Chinese doughnut inside and tasted good. They don't have knives as I asked to cut the baby bokchoy. My friend said I had to eat by biting it little by little. It worked. The beef stew was tender. The dumplings were very good that they were a meal in a bite. The server was alone being a small dining room. He was the cashier and server. He told us if we use credit card, the surcharge was 5%. So my friend paid in cash. I was surprised she treated me for lunch. I will return only when my other friends like to experience eating at this restaurant. It is a comfort food and is reasonably priced. read more

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Holy sheet.. they closed for a while and I thought the owner was away for Chinese new year and I was wrong.. their soup dumpling is about the same but the peanut noodle is nowhere near.. eeew what a waste of my money. Old owner - please let me know if you open a new restaurant read more

I've ordered the fan tuan from here before, but never ate in or tried anything else on the menu. The restaurant is very small, but clean, and when sitting down it doesn't feel cramped. Service is a bit slow because they're so popular, and one person was taking dine-in orders and to-go orders. Not a big deal though, because the food comes out so quickly! Everything was also delicious! read more

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The soup dumplings had a very good broth. Very flavorful. The BBQ bao buns were so soft and fluffy. read more

Dumpling Specialist - Soup dumplings - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Summary: Solid, affordable takeout Details: * Extensive menu that includes plenty of non-dumpling eats, despite the name * Affordable eats, with the majority of the menu being under $10 * Takeout only, with orders done near the entrance, cash or Venmo only * XLB are served in individual foil cups, with good flavor (and not too sweet, like many places) and thin skin, but prone to breaking * Fantuan was pretty basic fillings wise, and sweeter than I'd like, but came with a nicely crisp youtiao Accessibility: No dine-in as of when I went, with ordering happening at a table right inside the venue. That section can be a little tight so worst case, those in wheelchairs will find themselves needing to back out instead of turning around inside. read more

Dumpling Specialist - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place was very good. Their noodles are extremely flavorful, especially the Shanghai style stir fried rice cakes. It was the perfect chewiness and had good wok flavor. This place is doing very well considering the new ownership and would definitely recommend because of the very affordable prices! read more

Small restaurant with solid Chinese food. The dumplings are good but my go-to is the dandan noodles (peanut noodles) with extra chili oil. Would recommend as the prices aren't too expensive and they're pretty quick. read more

I was in the neighborhood for smog test, ordered to go & was told ready for pickup in 15 minutes at 5:30pm, but waited 35 minutes after 6pm - there's only one person covering everything from serving 6 tables to cash register to take orders & prep togo packages. (I had to watch & wait the table servings done before my food sitting at counter to be packed). That's a lesser extent to the rest. The food was average or meh, the Xiaolngbao has no juice or dry, pan fried baoz are just meat in the wrap & almost identical to Xiaolongbao but worse. Wonder who are these 4.5 reviewers - must be non-Shanghainese! The only item was good: the rice burrito is quite different & actually fresh & tasty! Also, you get charged 4% extra fee if pay credit card! Please be aware. There's no notice anywhere on website or in store. I was told in person on the spot. If you want to eat REAL authentic Shanghai food, try Dumpling Story on Fillmore or Dumpling Union on Union. read more

Dumpling specialist is one of my favorite local chinese restaurants. I love that they have rice roll (飯團) every day (except wed when they r close). The pan fried dumplings are also tasty with juices. Xlb is also on par - just wish it is a little less sticky to the wrapper (i often accidentally rip the dumpling as a result). The restaurant is generally clean with 4 tables or 2 and 2 tables of 4. Go early to secure a spot as it gets busy. Service is a little slow cuz they usually only have one person in the front - hosting, taking to to orders on phone and in restaurant. Prices are super reasonable. ~$15/person for lunch or dinner. read more

Dumpling Specialist - XLB (soup dumpling) - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

This our 2nd time here and it was great as usual. We shared the Shanghai dumplings and BBQ pork buns. Both were delicious and fulfilling for a light lunch. The place is tiny but we got lucky and did not have to wait. I like their hot tea, I wonder what kind is it? TY :) read more

Dumpling Specialist - The picture does not do justice because I was so hungry lol. BBQ pork bun. - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

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- Pan fried pork bun - Steamed pork/cabbage dumpling - Siu mai - Spring roll 5/5 - These were all so so good. Spot on flavor, texture, juiciness. - Wonton in chili oil 4/5 - Good but not my desired level of spice and flavor. read more

Dumpling Specialist - Pan fried pork bun, steamed pork/cabbage dumpling, wonton in chili oil, spring roll - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

Got food to go- ordered before they opened. It probably was ready earlier than the phone app said by 10+ minutes. I'd say just head to the door if you think you are too early. Nice tidy and modern space. Recommend the dumpling broth soup- broth was very peppery- nice for the throat- must be white pepper as u can't see it. 5 soup? dumplings and sliced bok choy and some noodles. Shared everything. It was filling! Egg rolls were delicious and perfect.5 stars!-does NOT even need a sauce! Pot stickers were all right.3.5 The pan fried pork dumplings with the twist- I thought would be more like a bao but was a "dumpling" as it said. But how is it different than the pot sticker? Well it has a dome of air.I don't understand what this is supposed to be. It was kind of repetitive but tried a new place and items. I would return for that soup and egg rolls and try something else! Lots of metered street parking. read more

Dumpling Specialist - Store front. Middle of block kinda blocked by tree - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is an updated review on my recent take out experience with Dumpling Specialist. I ordered via UberEats and noticed they've added a bunch of new items to the menu since my last visit. In addition to their appetizers, noodles, and dumplings, there are also entree options (i.e. beef, seafood, etc), which is a pleasant surprise. Happy to support local businesses and will be back again! This time I ordered: - Noodles in Peanut Sauce (hint of spicy, noodles had a good texture) - Fish Fillets with Mixed Vegetables (simple dish, but fish was cooked well and gravy had a good flavor) - Mu Shu Pork (came with 4 wraps, enjoyed this) - Steamed Pork and Cabbage Dumplings (filled and flavorful) - Dry-Fried Chicken Wings (had a lot more sauce than expected, reminded me of Peking spareribs) - Pan-Fried Pork Buns (wish these were pan fried more and didn't break as easily, still enjoyed them though) read more

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$7.50 for a DELICIOUS, hearty beef noodle soup? I will definitely be returning here in the future. My friend was raving about the Five Spice Beef Stew Noodle Soup, so I thought I'd give it a try. There was no line at 12:30 PM on a Sunday, which was a relief! Our order took about 10 minutes for an order of Five Spice Beef Stew Noodle Soup and Fan Tuan (Sticky Rice Roll). + Five Spice Beef Stew Noodle Soup: The broth is unforgettable. It is hearty, has a meaty flavor, a bit sweet... but it is somehow still such a light soup! The beef is incredibly tender and flavorful. I do wish that they cut the bok choy up a bit more, but that's a minor inconvenience. + Fan Tuan: It was honestly pretty small in size for $4. The flavor was pretty good and the donut was very crispy. It just lacks egg and I wish it had more pickled greens. Overall not bad! read more

Dumpling Specialist - Five Spice Beef Stew Noodle Soup ($7.50) - takeout - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

We love this place. This one of our regular restaurants that we frequent. The service is great- very efficient. All the dishes are delicious. We love their Shanghai dumplings, beef noodle soup, savory rice rolls and savory soy drink with Chinese donuts. Their stirred fried Shanghai noodles and rice cakes are great too. It is a small restaurant but cozy and clean. read more

I popped in for a quick lunch on a Monday, there was only one other table seated so no wait. I thought about going for one of the lunch specials, but dumplings aren't on there (think traditional US Chinese dishes like General Tso's). I ordered the Shanghai Dumplings and the Wontons in Peanut Chili oil, for a whole $14. The shanghai dumplings were nothing special, but a great price point. The wontons were great, the sauce had good texture. For a drink, he just set down hot tea in a disposable coffee cup which I found odd considering I was dining in. It's a tiny space, I could see it getting nuts on the weekends but there is a park directly across the street if you need to spread out. All in all, super fast, super cheap, and solid food. read more

The foods here are inexpensive. That's why they didn't separate the soup. The Wonton flavor is there but the skin is so soft and has no texture. The noodles tasted the same, some flavor but the noodles is so soggy and no texture. I may come back for the same order but I will pay extra for extra container :) read more

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There are many choices in the city for dumplings but this place is a hidden gem in a more local area. The dumplings are delicious. The service is quick. The price is very reasonable. read more

Definitely a great find. Small unassuming place. Simple menu. Food was delish. The XLB Shanghai dumplings and pan fried pork buns were the favs. Both had great flavor, texture. I thought the pork buns had the right balance of skin to filling. XLB was warm and comforting. I would order both again, two orders each minimum, they are 5 to an order. The pot stickers were also great. The veggie dumplings and pork and cabbage dumplings were ok, but I prefer the original. Cucumber salad was good, refreshing. The sticky rice roll was ok, had a Chinese donut inside and some other items. I would definite make a trip here again to enjoy these amazing dumplings. read more

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It is January of 2023, but still no indoor dining here. I prefer to eat my noodle soups at the restaurant because noodles in soup are not good for to-go. It also adds to plastic waste. They do put the soup and noodles in separate containers so that the noodles don't get saturated. I had their 5 spice beef stew noodle soup $8.50 and a wonton noodle soup $8. I did enjoy my meal. The food wasn't overly seasoned and had a clean non-MSG taste. The noodles weren't the traditional thin yellow noodles but a thicker noodle. It reminded me of the Taiwan night market beef noodles (台灣紅燒牛肉麵) but the ones here don't have that tasty red chili sauce mixed in. The wonton noodle soup was fine. Nothing special. My noodles were ready in less than 10 minutes after ordering in person at around 6:30pm. No wait. Good job Dumpling Specialist. read more

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This small cozy place is clean and warm and the service is friendly and kind. They have wonderful Chinese dishes that are clean and straightforward. I love all their dumplings and their generals chicken. The generals chicken is tender and soft, not overcooked andover sauced. It feels light and healthy and the flavor is just yummy. 10/10 on everything. Love this place. read more

Staff was a little understaffed. But the food was tasty and the dumplings were worth coming for. First time here and it's a small seating area but the food was tasty and felt like it was from a Chinese friends' mom vibe. Parking can be tough but the food is tasty I recommend the crispy pan fried pork dumpling. The beefy noodle soup was also amazing highly recommend the season beefy noodle soup read more

Dumpling Specialist - Dim Sum Near Me - San Francisco, California

My parents craved for wonton noodle soup so I went to Yelp and search for a place to order food to go for my parents! Dumpling Specialist was on the way so I decided to give this place a try. It's a place to order food to go only. No dine in option at this time. My parents and I enjoyed the meals I ordered here. Everything was delicious, fresh, tasty, flavorful, and perfect! I love the wonton noodle soup. The broth is clear and very tasty. The portion was also generous. The place looks organized and clean. The price is inexpensive. The menu is extensive and surely, you can order your favorite meal here! The service was excellent as I got my order within 20 minutes, even there were many people waiting for their orders ahead of me. What I like most was the person who took care of my order being very helpful, polite, nice, and efficient. I like this place. Give it a try when you are near by and want good to go. I definitely will return to try the spicy beef noodle soup and other dumplings. read more

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3.5 stars but bumped up because it's a friendly cute joint serving cheap Chinese comfort food that is hard to find elsewhere. The last time I went I ordered the sticky rice roll / fan tuan (which I haven't been able to find anywhere else in SF) and the pan fried pork buns / sheng jian bao. The rice roll was pretty standard and had a really good ratio of chewy sticky rice to the crunchy fried donut along with the perfect amount of flavorful pork floss and preserved vegetable filling. The pan fried pork buns were tasty, but definitely don't order these if you're looking for the classic shanghainese style of sheng jian bao -- these are definitely not it. There's no soup and the dough is bready, it's almost like a steamed bao with the bottom slightly fried. I'm sure I'd have to try their other dumplings though (it is called dumpling specialist after all) It's a pretty good place all around to get some Chinese style breakfast foods! read more

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