Where to Find the Best Dim Sum in San Francisco
Here's our guide to the best dim sum spots in San Francisco, the steamers, carts, and hole-in-the-wall counters worth building a weekend around.
There's a rhythm to dim sum in San Francisco that doesn't really exist anywhere else in the city. It's unhurried but social, casual but full of ritual, a rolling cart, a pot of tea, a table that somehow always has room for one more plate. Whether you're new to the city or just looking for your next go to order, here are the spots locals keep coming back to.
Yank Sing
Photo Credits: Allie Tong/Yank Sing
No list of dim sum San Francisco spots is complete without Yank Sing. It's one of the city's oldest and most beloved institutions, known for har gow, xiao long bao and Peking duck that regulars order without even glancing at a menu.
The SoMa location has a polish to it, with white tablecloths, attentive service and a room that feels like an occasion rather than a quick lunch. It's the kind of place you bring visitors when you want to show off the city's food scene.
Hong Kong Lounge
Photo Credit: Anthony M. on Yelp
Out in the Richmond, Hong Kong Lounge trades cart service for a made to order menu, which means everything arrives hot and fresh instead of sitting under a heat lamp. The chicken bao and baked pork buns are the ones people talk about, but the menu is deep enough to make repeat visits feel new every time.
The room is bright, unfussy and always full, a reminder that some of the best dim sum restaurants SF has to offer aren't downtown at all.
Dumpling House
PHOTO CREDIT: JULIA CHEN
In the Castro, Dumpling House on Noe Street is the neighborhood pick for anyone craving dumplings made fresh and to order. It's a small, cozy spot with a homey feel, tucked away on a side street just off Market. The soup dumplings are the house specialty, along with fried pork bao and a solid rotation of pork, shrimp and vegetable options that keep regulars coming back.
It's a great option if you want dim sum Castro style, without the wait times that come with the bigger downtown institutions.
City View Restaurant
Photo Credits: Stefanie Tuder
City View in Chinatown is one of the last spots in the city still doing traditional cart service, which makes it a favorite for anyone who wants the full, old school dim sum experience, pointing at whatever rolls by and building a table full of small plates as you go.
It's lively, a little chaotic in the best way, and ideal for groups who want to share everything.
Dragon Beaux
Photo Credits: Dragon Beaux
Also in Richmond, Dragon Beaux leans modern, with sleek interiors, a longer wait on weekends and a menu that pushes past the usual staples — the Five Guys xiao long bao, with its five different colored and flavored wrappers, is a good example — into more inventive territory. It's a solid choice when you want dim sum with a bit more polish, without losing the classics.
San Francisco takes dim sum seriously. Between the classic cart service, the counter spots, and the different styles you'll find across neighborhoods, it's easy to make an afternoon of it.
Staying at Neighbourgood puts you close to some of the city's best food neighborhoods, from Chinatown to Hayes Valley to Richmond, so a dumpling crawl is never more than a short ride away. It's a comfortable, well-designed home base for exploring everything San Francisco's food scene has to offer - browse experiences around the city to build the rest of your weekend around it.