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    Happy Chinese Restaurant

    3.0 (41 reviews)
    InexpensiveDim Sum
    Closed • 7:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

    Happy Chinese Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    HAPPY CHINESE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Happy Chinese Restaurant

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    Sean B.

    I really wanted to like the place, as it had a Mom and Pop Chinese vibe which I always prefer over the corporate P.F. Chang's thing. But I just didn't. Dim Sum brought us in... but they didn't offer it in the late afternoon, and wouldn't make us anything. The sticky laminated menus had a decent, if uninspired, variety of dishes. We got the eggrolls, the walnut shrimp, and a vegeterian chow mein. Everything was a notch below average. And it's cash only, but not well-promoted as such, so it was only dumb luck that didn't send us running to an ATM machine. Not so much this place, no.

    Winnie W.

    This is a typical Chinatown local joint where they serve mainly locals. Come for the good food and excellent value... and not the service. This place is hustling and bustling during brunch/ lunch hours especially on weekends. They are famous for their: 1.) Jook or Congee. The best congee here is pork stomach w ginkgo nuts and bean curd congee... so good! Other congee selections are just as good - preserved egg with pork, minced beef congee... all yum! and super fresh. They make their congee batch daily and often sell out before 12pm/ 1pm. 2.) Rice noodles - plain rice noodles or wrapped with shrimp, beef, BBQ pork etc. They make all their noodles here fresh daily too. 3.) Turnip cake - or their turnip black eye pea cake. With green onion, dried shrimp... unique and again, made fresh daily. 3.) Clay pot rice - ask them to make it "more dry" and get the 'slight burnt' at the bottom of the clay pot for the rice ... if that suits your taste. Dinner tends to get slow here but we would come if we'd prefer a quieter dinner. Often we'll order a live fish from the tank and steam it (about $26 each) , plus a few other dishes and that's dinner! You can't go wrong with dinner at this local joint... good food always at great value. And, lunch is a slam dunk of you go with congee (jook) and rice noodles.

    leaf wrapped rice.
    Luke C.

    Happy Chinese Restaurant has been around in Chinatown for a while now. I remember going to it when it was a newer restaurant when I was in high school... and that was a loooong time ago. The restaurant is your typical dim sum place at lunch, but I would say serves up food that is above the average for San Francisco's Chinatown. I was surprised at how tasty and full of flavor some of my dishes were! Like many dim sum restaurants in Chinatown, Happy Chinese Restaurant serves its food on carts that roll around the dining room area. When the cart comes by you can select which item you'd like to have and the server will mark the menu with the appropriate price. Today I wanted to eat a bit lighter so we went easy on the ordering. Usually it's so easy to just eat with your eyes and ask for over the amount of food you can actually eat. We selected some bamboo leaf rice and some spinach wraps. The rice is a sticky rice that comes with Chinese sausage and a hard egg yolk. It was a decent item, but I've definitely had better versions of this elsewhere. During our lunch, this was probably the least impressive item we ordered... but I still enjoyed it. The spinach wraps were extremely tasty. After the rice item I was a bit skeptical, but each filled wrap was definitely hitting high notes in terms of flavorful punch - not too much... but just right. Aside from ordering from the cart, you can also special order other dishes like noodles or congee. Our family 99% of the time gets a noodle dish, but today was different. I felt like congee so we got some. Oh man... it was soooo good! Again, the flavor was there. We got a small bow (which was still pretty large) and finished it all up. I was surprised at just how much I enjoyed the congee here. In terms of service, everything was good for a Chinese restaurant. One of the ladies was quick to make sure I didn't forget my camera which was on the table. I appreciated that! The restaurant is pretty clean and bright. Happy Chinese Restaurant surprised me today, and I'd be happy to have it surprise me again when I return for my next visit.

    Thu T.

    Yeah no. Save your time and money. 0 stars for service, 0 stars for food...no stars for anything...The servers don't speak English, so ordering itself was a whole ordeal. They're also keep trying to up sell you by bringing stuff out and insisting that you ordered it. We showed them PICTURES of what we wanted, and they STILL managed to get it wrong... We ordered the siu mai, shrimp dumplings, chicken feet, pan fried chive dumplings, lotus paste bun, beef rice noodle roll...all of which were just...EHHH. Mushy and just plain gross. We saw the bad yelp reviews already, but my parents wanted to leave early so it was one of the only places opened at 7:30 am. This place ONLY TAKES CASH to beware! Also recalculate your bill yourself. They tried to rip us off but thankfully my sister and I caught it just on time. All in all...just steer clear of this place. There are plenty of other good Chinese/Dim Sum restaurants around, they just open a little later. Just save yourself and wait a few hours to eat.

    Look closely - this bug came out of the soy sauce bottle!! Horrible, disgusting, unsanitary restaurant!
    Suki B.

    Happy Chinese Restaurant? It should be called Yucky Chinese Restaurant!! If I could give this place zero stars, I would! I guess this is what you get if you waltz into a restaurant without Yelping beforehand! My coworkers and I went on a little mission to Chinatown a few weeks ago to buy little pet fish for our desks! Anyway, we decided to stop and have lunch. The place we originally wanted to go (can't remember the name) had a long wait and we saw this restaurant a few doors down and decided to go in. Such a bad idea! This place was totally unsanitary - a bug came out of the soy sauce bottle, the dishes were dingy. Ew, just the thought is making me cringe. I'm not going to go into further detail, I'm sure you all get the picture. Not a good place to eat - period. Absolutely disgusted. :/

    Siu Mai
    Gloria H.

    They were closed for a while for remodeling, not sure what they did except maybe changed the floors and moved the register. The walls, tables, ceiling tiles...are all the same. With the remodeling comes the price increase but they are still reasonable for Chinatown. We had the minced beef congee - small is now $5. It was good and on the watery side, which we didn't mind but may not be ideal for some. All their dim sum is $2.50, which is their medium price - a bit sneaky since most of the dim sum they serve are considered small elsewhere except for maybe a few. We had the siu mai (ok), chiu chow dumpling (good) and chicken feet (too sweet, did not enjoy). Will only return for their congee and to try their clay pot rice.

    My husband scarfing down on some dim sum! Delicious and hot.

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    Dumpling House - Dumpling wonderland

    Dumpling House

    4.4(633 reviews)
    2.6 mi•Castro
    •$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    I initially did a schedule-ahead large order with 36 items at Dumplings House through DoorDash for…read moredelivery to a nearby hotel where my daughter and her friends were celebrating the end of a bachelorette weekend "recovery brunch". The event going off without a hitch was really important, especially because the bride had lost her mom and didn't have her to celebrate this special milestone. I wanted to make sure the order was on time and there were no issues with delivery. I ended up canceling my original order because DoorDash wasn't going to confirm a dasher until the day of the delivery. I re-ordered through DoorDash but this time as a pick up. Again, DoorDash's service was leaving me unsure because they weren't going to send the order through until the pick up day. This was $500 worth of dim sum and I didn't want to take a chance the restaurant didn't receive the order or that they couldn't fulfill it in time. So, I canceled that order as well. I called the restaurant directly. They took my order without hesitation and made me feel at ease that everything will be ready on time. I called again in the morning to confirm my order before leaving for pick up. I couldn't get a hold of anyone, most likely they were busy with their Sunday rush, but they called me back even without me leaving a message! When I arrived my order was ready, The food was hot, packaged so nicely, and everything was clearly prepared with care. I was helped by a very nice staff member who made us feel like we were longtime customers. My daughter and her friends absolutely loved the food! Thank you so much, Dumpling House. We live in the Peninsula but will be making the trek to the Castro to support your restaurant. THANK YOU!

    Tl;Dr - Reliably delicious take out. Soft, flavorful dumplings paired with solid savory sides. They…read morehit all the notes on every dish and I have had every single one of them. Haven't been in person yet so I am speaking solely off of takeout options. So after getting their food about 4828732 times I think its pretty long overdue I drop the deets on this little gem. This is our "official" dim sum option for weeknight take out. Personal favorites for me are always going to be the salt/pepper wings, the steamed pork buns, the crystal shrimp dumplings, and the scallion pancakes. My wife loves the soup dumplings, the shu mai. We could eat those dishes every week until we die pretty much, they are reliably good and comforting. Particular shout out on the pork buns though because they are just the absolute best consistency from a filling/bun standpoint. Soft, pillowy, they are glorious. I used to get pork buns from Good Mong Kok Bakery, but tbh, this is about 10x better. The soup dumpling also are quite good, I like the spicy ones but the black truffle is defintely worth it for the occasional splurge. They give you the red vinegar for it too which not all places do. Everything one needs to enjoy. I haven't been in person so I couldn't speak for the service or the location, but if you want a spot that delivers on time and often includes items for free (the pork buns are now free for orders over $50), this is great value and just great food. Chefs kiss.

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    Dumpling House - Menu

    Menu

    Dumpling House - Make the call to start your happy dim-sum trail

    Make the call to start your happy dim-sum trail

    Dumpling House - Received tons of support from the neighborhood and friends!

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    Received tons of support from the neighborhood and friends!

    Shanghai Dumpling King - XLBs

    Shanghai Dumpling King

    4.4(177 reviews)
    2.3 mi•Duboce Triangle
    •$$

    I was looking for a late night option in the area, and Shanghai Dumpling King stood out to me!! My…read moreboyfriend and I got the chicken corn soup, the cha siu bao, siu mai, and liu sha bao. The chicken corn soup was delicious and hearty- definitely filled me up and was what I was looking for. The cha siu bao was fluffy and came packed with meat inside, definitely a good ratio and very warm and yummy. The liu sha bao was similar, the bao was so soft and fresh. We had a very good experience dining here. The front desk guy/server was also really nice. I would definitely come back here if I was craving an authentic Chinese meal.

    [Takeout Order] What an absolute bummer. An old colleague of mine and I loved going to their…read morerestaurant on Monterey Blvd and it was always so delicious. Naturally, I thought the same would be for this location, ordering for delivery. Sadly, I was proved very very wrong. I got a total of 3 items and paid a little over $50 not including tip.First plate, stir fry noodle Shanghai style 0/5. Noodles were stiff, entire plate lacked flavor, it was really dry. The cabbage was just sort of thrown in there and to my surprise, there was chicken (I didn't think it came with meat) and it was so suspicious, one bite and I immediately had to spit it out. It was chewy and tasted uncooked. I began to lose my appetite... Sesame Chicken 0/5 - it was all batter, little to NO meat inside whatsoever. Saucy but it was very clumpy. I was so disappointed with this one. It was literally just eating fried batter in sesame sauce with sesame seeds thrown on top. Braised String Beans - 2.5/5. They were fine, flavored enough with the grilled onions and garlic other than that, not impressive at all. I had really high hopes for this place/order. I had been craving Chinese food for so long and was going to order from my typical place but decided to give this one a try. I definitely should have stuck to what I know would have hit the spot. An absolute waste of $50, so frustrating.

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    Shanghai Dumpling King
    Shanghai Dumpling King - String beans

    String beans

    Shanghai Dumpling King - D2. / Spicy Wonton (8)

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    D2. / Spicy Wonton (8)

    Good Mong Kok Bakery - Fried Meat Dumpling ($3.50 for 3)

    Good Mong Kok Bakery

    4.1(3.9k reviews)
    0.1 mi•Chinatown
    •$

    Good food, fast service despite the long line. It's helpful…read moreto check yelp for the menu ahead of time.

    A line snaking out of this shop is a common sight as a local favorite that has generated notoriety…read moreand has attracted visitors into the city. Good Mong Kok Bakery gets its name from the well known district out in Hong Kong where classic dim sum originated. Sharing this moniker, there's certainly an expectation but this bakery does a great job representing this amazing culinary culture. At the heart of the city, you won't find much parking as the spots are frequently occupied by locals or loading trucks so your best bet is to commute here on foot or by way of public transportation or taxi service. But once you do arrive, be prepared to stand in line for a good 10-15 minutes. Service is quick so you won't be waiting long but it'll feel that way as you salivate at the sight of such delicious looking snacks. We came on a weekday and it was still pretty busy. The line made up of locals and tourists alike was filled with excitement as each group inched closer to the storefront. While you wait, consider checking their menu or look through the window. We got a few items to try but you won't go wrong with any of your dimsum choices. BBQ Pork Bun - can't go wrong with a good BBQ pork bun, especially one that is packed with good chunks of meat in it. Siu Mai - meaty pork bites packed with flavor. Best eaten hot as the taste just steams out into your mouth as you chomp into them. Shrimp Dumplings - chunky bits of shrimp wrapped in a thin rice noodle casing. Comes out hot and fresh, retains heat well, and maintains structure after each bite. Egg Tarts - the buttery and flakey star of our visit has the perfect balance of crisp from its exterior and softness from its inner custard. Could easily eat half a dozen of these! The service as you may expect is quick, efficient, and minimal in hospitality. But of course, you came here for the food - service isn't too important here. Overall, Good Mong Kok Bakery will have you satiated with its extensive dimsum offerings. For those looking for some classic dimsum staples to go, this is your one stop shop to get them all at a reasonable price, excellent quality, and fairly quickly. Naturally there are competitors all over town and they each have their advantages but for a tried and true (and if time is limited for you), consider stopping by here first.

    Photos
    Good Mong Kok Bakery
    Good Mong Kok Bakery - Baked Char siu bun and Seasame balls

    Baked Char siu bun and Seasame balls

    Good Mong Kok Bakery - Scallion bun

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    Scallion bun

    New Red Jade - Combination chow mein

    New Red Jade

    3.5(1k reviews)
    2.3 mi•Castro
    •$$

    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?

    After Exploring Castro Last Wednesday April 8,2026 My Friends And I Have Visited New Red Jade…read moreRestaurant As I Use To Dine Over Here When I Was Still Working At Gap Inc Corporate Office Back Then For After 7 Years Have Decided To Revisit The Restaurant And I Was So Glad That I Did. As We Entered The Restaurant We Were Escorted To Be Seated And Was Given The Menu Surprisingly All My Favorite Taiwanese Dishes Were Still Available So After Ordering It Only Took 15 To 20 Minutes as Our Orders Arrived One At A Time. I Was Over Joy As Menu Bursting With Great Flavor As Its Savory And Portions Are Great. The Restaurant Ambiance Is Nice Decent And Clean And Very Accomodating. The Staff Is So Friendly And Courteus. Have Attached Photos To See The Different Dishes We Ordered And The Ambiance That The Restaurant Has For Dining Public To See And Experience.

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    New Red Jade
    New Red Jade - Salt and pepper chicken wings

    Salt and pepper chicken wings

    New Red Jade - String bean with chicken

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    String bean with chicken

    Dumpling Time - Pork Soup Dumplings

    Dumpling Time

    4.2(2.9k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    •$$

    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.

    Photos
    Dumpling Time - Inside w large screen playing K POP music

    Inside w large screen playing K POP music

    Dumpling Time - BBQ Pork Bao

    BBQ Pork Bao

    Dumpling Time - Lamb Dumpling

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    Lamb Dumpling

    House of Dim Sum

    House of Dim Sum

    3.4(60 reviews)
    2.9 mi•Mission

    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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    Happy Chinese Restaurant - dimsum - Updated September 2026

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