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Dumpling Zone

4.6 (248 reviews)
ModerateDim Sum, Noodles
Open 11:00 am - 8:30 pm

Order Dumpling Zone Takeout or Delivery

Dumpling Zone Photos

Business Info

DUMPLING ZONE ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Dumpling Zone

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Reviews With Photos

Crab Xiao Long Bao
Katherine C.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Restaurant is on the smaller side but a decent amount of tables for the space. Residential street parking, there might be a lot but we missed it if there was. Come here for the xiao long bao -- thin skin and good soup. The big plate noodles were okay -- good noodle texture, sauce tasted just like beef noodle soup though. Green beans were decent, not a fan of their pan fried pork baos (I thought it was too doughy). Overall decent, but in the future I'd only come if I was craving xiao long bao in particular.

Shanghai Pan Fried Pork Bao
Sandra S.

Very friendly service and the food was good. We stopped by since it was conveniently located along our San Francisco Crosstown Trail route, and I was more than happy to take a walking break to grab a bite and use the restroom. The noodles were delicious, though I wished there were a bit more of them and a little extra sauce. The dumplings were well done, with nicely crispy bottoms that we really appreciated. The Shanghai pan-fried pork bao arrived steaming hot, something the server thoughtfully warned us about. A good stop if you're in the area!

4. Spicy Xiao Long Bao (4 Pcs / 8 Pcs) / 香辣小籠包 (4個/8個)
Roxana G.

Absolutely the best soup dumplings I've had in San Francisco. Favorite dish: spicy soup dumplings. From a technical standpoint difficult to make. The skin was thin and held up well with the soup. Lots of flavorful liquid but also a good amount of meat there. Other dishes tried: non spicy soup dumplings, pan fried pork buns. Thought both of these were just ok. Service efficient and friendly. Ambiance casual. Street parking not a hassle.

3. Green Onion Pancake (2) / 上海葱油餅 (2)
David L.

We had driven by Dumpling Zone several times and finally had the chance to try it out. There was no wait on a mid-afternoon Wednesday. Steven was friendly and provided great service. All our items came out quickly and piping hot. Everything tasted fresh and was delicious. The XLB had a good amount of flavorful broth, the tan tan noodles were chewy, the green onion pancakes were really crispy and light, and the Nutella/banana XLB were a sweet treat to end a great lunch.

Braised Beef Noodle Soup
Keviee Y.

Stumbled upon this gem while driving past Laguna Honda. Lunch time was right around the corner so this was the perfect place to pull up. Their Braised Beef Noodle Soup was the perfect comfort food for me! Broth was a bit too salty but savory, tender meat and bouncy noodles. Service was quick and friendly, it's a QR code to order but the food arrived fast and piping hot. Relatively spacious restaurant, perfect for small groups. I'd like to come back and try other dishes on the menu in the near future.

Menu
Ry T.

3.5 stars. I like this restaurant. The food is good and Eddie, tackles the front room all by himself with an even keel demeanor even when it's really busy while Momma works her kitchen magic on the food. We brought friends with us in this trip who've never been here before. We consumed all the dishes we ordered: Pan fried dumplings - full of meat and lots of hot broth. Steamed XLB - made just right. Full of broth, dough thin enough to not be doughy yet firm enough to hold the hot broth without breaking open when you pick up eat dumpling by the tip with chopsticks. Stir fried bok choy- firm and cooked right Tan Tan noodles- our friends really liked the dish, one of our favs here. Green onion pancakes - a crispy treat even if a bit oily as it's fried. Won ton soup - 8 won tons for 4 of us. It was my least favorite dish. I've had better versions of this. Glad we made a return visit.

CHOCOLATE Xiao Long Bao
Akari Y.

Pretty good food but i come here for the chocolate banana xiao long bao!!! they are truly the best & i crave it all the time! Good service but i feel like it's easy to miss where the restaurant is because it's right off that intersection. Parking isn't too bad either

Cabbage and Pork Dumplings
Mike L.

With all due respect to the Forest Hill neighborhood, it's one of the last places I would think to find good noodles or dumplings. Don't get me wrong - it's a nice part of the city to live in, but despite how it's home to ChouChou, which has been a long time staple for French food on this side of SF, it's not exactly area known for its restaurants. So, you can imagine how pleasantly surprised (and delighted) I was by Dumpling Zone after my friends suggested we meet up here for lunch! So much so, in fact, that I couldn't help but come back multiple times since to try more! Much like its surroundings, Dumpling Zone is a cozy, unassuming sort of spot. The small strip of businesses that it sits along is easy to pass by without noticing (I've certainly done it), but it kind of adds to their appeal - convenient to get to yet not packed with customers. What's more, the menu, with its mildly extensive array of dishes to offer, is awesome. In addition to the numerous varieties of their namesake dumplings, whether they be pan fried, teamed, or boiled, they also have a wide assortment of appetizers, soups, noodle soups, stir fried noodles, dry noodles, and vegetables to choose from. In short, a collection of dishes that really hit the spot on those cold, SF nights! -- SHANGHAI PAN FRIED PORK BAO...$12.99 As fantastic as these looked (plump with golden, browned bottoms), they tasted more solid than spectacular. While I liked that the skins were relatively thin and not doughy, the filling didn't have that porky lusciousness that steamed xiao long baos typically have. -- BRAISED BEEF NOODLE SOUP...$14.99 This felt (somewhat ) like a Cantonese beef stew noodle soup, but better. While I liked that they didn't skimp on the beef and the bite the noodles had, the soup was the star - flavorful with a nice richness/body to it. I do wish the beef had been more tender, though. -- SHRIMP, PORK, AND CHIVE POTSTICKERS...$11.99 These aren't your typical potstickers, but in a positive way. Besides their elongated shape, I loved how juicy the filling was and that it had recognizable chunks of shrimp in it. The outside of them were a little oily, but not terribly so. -- SPICY BEEF NOODLE SOUP...$14.99 Like the Braised Beef Noodle Soup, the noodles were just as good and this also had a fair amount of beef. It also had a lot more spice to it, too, and perhaps even a bit too much chili oil, but I wouldn't say it was ridiculously spicy either. -- TAN TAN NOODLE...$13.99 Not quite what I expected, to be honest. Instead of the classic tongue numbing spiciness, the sauce was actually really sweet. That being said, it was still pretty decent enough, especially after adding some of their chili oil. -- SHANGHAI XIAO LONG BAO...$7.99 (4pcs) Although they weren't the best I've had, these were terrific! The skins had the perfect thickness to them and the filling in each piece was sizable. Plus, there was a good amount of soup in them, which delicious and just slightly fatty. -- FRIED BEAN PASTE WITH PORK NOODLES...$13.99 This was...interesting. The black bean sauce was rather slick/oily, but it had an intense flavor to it that I really liked. Plus, the dollop of sauce they gave was spot on - enough to coat the noodles, but not so much as to drown everything. -- CABBAGE & PORK DUMPLING...$8.99 Ehh...not too shabby, but hardly special. The skins were soft and each one was decent in size, but the inside of the dumplings were oddly watery. I assume that wasn't intended since, unfortunately, it ended up diluting down the taste. While the food here has been mostly great, the thing I actually like most about this place is the service. Each time I've been here, the workers have all been awesome. More specifically, there's one guy in particular who is always here that is super friendly. Plus, I love how fast they get dishes out even when they have a steady crowd (can't say how it is when it's packed). Given that, the food, and how easy it is to find nearby street parking, Dumpling Zone is an awesome spot for a quick bite...both in Forest Hill and SF as a whole! FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded down for now.

Liz P.

On Saturday around 7 PM, we stopped by Dumpling Zone after reading solid reviews online. The wait for our party of five was about 30 minutes, but parking was easy since it's located in a residential part of Midtown. The restaurant is small--maybe a dozen tables--and was packed with families and a large birthday parties. It's a casual spot with one main server and one runner. You can order food online or directly through a staff member, and they'll bring everything to your table. We decided to try all the most recommended dishes from the review sites and the photos displayed on their window--and we were so glad we did. Every dish we ordered was delicious. Prices were very reasonable--actually more affordable than many other dumpling places we've tried, probably because of its unassuming location. Portions were generous too, which made it feel like a great deal overall. The vibe is super casual--nothing fancy--but the service, while basic, came with a smile. We really appreciated the personality of our server; he was friendly, attentive, and made sure we were updated on our table status. He was clearly keeping an eye on everything and even watched for when guests were wrapping up so he could manage the waitlist efficiently. No reservations are taken, but he kept names on a handwritten list. We were so stuffed from our meal that we didn't make it to dessert, but we'll definitely be back to try more items next time we're in town. Highly recommend!

CJ H.

The first time I came to this restaurant, I missed it because it was already past 8:30. This time, I made sure to arrive earlier. After reading the online reviews, I really wanted to try their pan-fried buns and beef noodles. I ordered several items from their soup dumpling series, and here's my review based on what I thought tasted the best: The cabbage and pork dumplings were light and not greasy. You can eat a lot of them without feeling heavy. The braised beef noodle soup and the tomato beef noodle soup both had flavorful broth and delicious noodles. The tomato one had a very nice, rich tomato taste. The shrimp dumplings had a thicker skin, but the shrimp inside was quite good. The pan-fried buns and xiaolongbao were also pretty good. The marinated cucumber had just the right balance of sourness and saltiness. Overall, considering its location, the food and pricing at this restaurant are definitely worth it. I recommend it. 第一次來這家店的時候因為已經超過八點半所以沒有趕上,這次特別趕上了。看了網路的評價,特別想來品嘗生煎包和牛肉麵,點了不少他們的湯包系列,我按照我認為最好吃的逐一評論:白菜豬肉水餃,清淡不油膩,可以吃很多也不膩;紅燒牛肉麵和蕃茄牛肉麵,麵條好吃,湯頭濃郁,蕃茄味道非常不錯;蝦餃,皮厚但是蝦仁好吃;生煎包和小籠包還不錯;小黃瓜,酸鹹調配的恰到好處。總體來說,位於這位置來講,這家餐廳的價格和美食是物有所值,推薦給各位。

#1
Katja K.

Solid dumpling restaurant. Soup dumplings were soupy. Garlic vegetables were garlicky. This place is also a couple dollars cheaper than other dumpling hotspots in the city! We wouldn't say this is our all time favourite but would come back one evening.

Muoi H.

Doing the crosstown trail in SF and needed a place to refuel !!Everything we order was enjoyed ! The green beans were fresh and to my surprised not overly fried/oily! Soup dumpling came out hot , generous portion of filling and soup inside .As for the pan friend dumpling they were probably the best one I've tried ! Braised beef soup was a bit salty but the flavor was aromatic and noodles were chewy/bounchy not overly cooked ! The staff were friendly and attentive ! Will definetly swing by again

Xiao long bao
Mindy H.

This place is right next to Forest Hill station, so it was pretty easy to get to. We ordered the Xiao long bao, beef noodle soup, pan fried pork buns, and cucumber salad. My favorite was actually the beef noodle soup as it was the closest to Taiwanese beef noodle soup I've been able to find in the city. The pan fried pork buns were also pretty good and had a crispy bottom.

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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!

I had this place bookmarked. We tried it and it was good…read more Convenient location in the Castro right next to Last Rites. Free tea, quick service and dirty restaurant are signs of very authentic Chinese food you're about to get. It was dead empty when we arrived and minutes later every table was full with a line forming, everyone waiting to be seated. That said, their dumplings and xialong baos are very good! Yes come, yes they accept credit cards

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30 person line, on Memorial Day. 1 hour for us to get inside and order. Food is served immediately…read moreover the counter. Waiting in the line is an experience in itself, if you have a group, time will go by faster because you can yap. An hour was a dread. But 30 minutes do fly. There's a grocery store next door to snack on/explore if you have a group member that'd you want to send in there. If you don't know what to get, there's a sign outside the door when you hit the front of the line that lists the top menu items. We got an order (each) of the shrimp, chive dumplings. And the baked pork buns were absolutely worth the wait. Don't be afraid to get one too many, as you can take it home and reheat. And by the way, we arrived during lunch time. The line was half the size around 2p.

A regular trek to the city was in order where a stop to China Town on the list. We do something…read moreunusual when in China Town, we go to several food establishments and purchase a couple of pork buns to compare with others. It's been a fun family tradition for years. Today we visited Good Ming Kok Bakery. The shop is small and crowded with cookware and patrons. The order board is on the wall with corresponding numbers to make it go quicker. It's a walk in, order and walk out establishment. Be prepared...there is a line. The ladies working are not personable and act as if they are doing us a favor. Very stern faced. (Service 1/5) The buns (5/5) were very tasty, light and full of meat. Definitely will keep this one on our radar when the kids come for a visit.

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Out to a new place for dinner with family…read more Palette Tea House Server - Westley, was so good in helping us pick the best dishes and drinks. Jordan Chardonnay, 2022 Russian River CA Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023 Alexander Valley, CA Fort Point Villager IPA Dinner Chinese Olive Fried Rice Cumin Spicy Lamb "Longevity" Noodle Palette Soup Dumpling "XLB" Sampler (5 Pieces) Chicken Soup Dumpling "XLB" (3 Pieces) Black Swan Tara Puff (2 Pieces) Lotus Wrap Abaline Sticky Rice Wok Fried Gai LAN and Shitake Mushroom Desert Steamed Custard Dumpling Durian Custard Bao Wow, I could not say which one was my favorite dish. Every dish was great. In addition to the deserts. The deco was real nice and colorful. The had Peking Ducks all set for roasting on display. Must visit.

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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?

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Dumpling Time - Pork Soup Dumplings

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4.2(2.8k reviews)
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I don't live in the city but I've had to come up here every day because my wife had been…read moretransferred to a hospital in San Francisco. She went through a spell of being terribly nauseaus and only certain foods could be kept down. She's a fan of dumplings so we found this place on door dash and tried it. The Wagyu XLB is one of the best things I've ever eaten. And no that's not hyperbole.Everything we had from this place was great but those specific dumplings were amazing. My wife also was a big fan. She had the vegetable dumplings and not only was able to keep it down with her nausea, but would also get it again and she is a picky eater. The worst thing we ate there is something I would descriebe as "good but I don't need it again." I won't name the item because it really wasn't bad at all, it was just outshined by everything else. I have since recommened thist o a few different doctors and nurses at her hospital and two have reported back to us that they loved it as well. In fact one nurse's wife now wants Dumpling Time at least once a week. When I die, if the Wagyu XLB is the last thing I eat, it would not be a wasted life.

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4.3(450 reviews)
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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!

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3.4(60 reviews)
2.3 miMission

Quick and tasty spot. Came here to split a siu mai while waiting for my order from another spot…read more The cashier was super friendly and the food came out quickly. Heads up that this is mostly a takeaway spot and they only have 1-2 small tables. The siu mai was fairly big and I liked that the order came with a bunch of sauces- chili oil, soy sauce, and a hot sauce. As a big sauce fan, I appreciated the selection! I'll be back to try most of their selection.

I've only ordered dim sum from here through Too Good to Go (2g2g). Like their Chinatown location,…read moreI find the dim sum to be oily. But overall, it's good. The baked bbq pork buns are sweet with a decent amount of filling. The deep fried dumpling is plump, juicy, and crunchy. The shrimp and chive dumplings are my favorite. It's full of shrimp with a slightly thicker skin, which I think adds a nice chewiness. The veggie egg rolls were okay. I personally wouldn't order those, even if I was craving them. The spare ribs had a really nice savory flavor from the sauce. The egg tarts were okay. I need to note that these bags are leftovers from the day, so they're not as fresh. But they held up the next day so I was able to stretch 2 meals out of them. I can't comment on service since these bags are only for pick up. But they quickly provide the bags once the window open. And it's a small space, with maybe 2 tables. So this place is probably best for to-go orders. Their 2g2g bags have more variety than their Chinatown location. Not sure how many dim sum options there are in the Mission, but I would go here if I was in the area and craving a shrimp and chive dumpling.

Photos
House of Dim Sum - Bakery Display

Bakery Display

House of Dim Sum - Baked BBQ Bun, Chives & Shrimp Dumpling, egg tarts, Egg Roll, Steamed Pork Spareribs, Deep Fried Meat Dumpling

Baked BBQ Bun, Chives & Shrimp Dumpling, egg tarts, Egg Roll, Steamed Pork Spareribs, Deep Fried Meat Dumpling

House of Dim Sum

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Dumpling Zone - dimsum - Updated May 2026

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