The best dim sum San Francisco has to offer

Back in 2019, San Francisco mourned the closure of its reigning king of dim sum, Hong Kong Lounge II, after it was damaged during a gas line explosion. Four years later, the restaurant's owner re-opened the restaurant under a new name: HK Lounge Bistro. This SoMa spot attracts families, dates and business folks alike all eager for a taste of the Shanghai dumblings filled with fresh crab, to the classic shumai and baked pork buns. In addition to the dim sum menu, the restaurant offers noodles and rice dishes, in addition to entrees like oven-smoked Chilean sea bass and classic whole roast duck.

One of SF’s newer dim sum spots is also one of the splashiest. Located at Ghirardelli Square, Palette Tea House focuses on fresh seafood and Instagram-worthy dumplings such as xiao long bao, abalone shumai, lobster dumplings with butter sauce, and wagyu pot stickers. Although it’s new(ish), the restaurant was founded by the same family that runs Koi Palace and Dragon Beaux—in other words, this place has serious credentials.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SF BAY | LA FOOD •TRAVEL• LIFE (@hungryhungryheejin)

This small Richmond shop serves up an authentic dim sum experience that won’t dominate your day or decimate your wallet. With only six tables, most guests opt for takeout, and although lines are long on weekends they move quickly. The brusque but efficient service at Good Luck Dim Sum doesn’t hurt either. Don’t miss the nuomici, a mochi-like coconut rice ball that’s filled with peanut paste before it’s dusted in ground peanuts and shaved coconut.

New to the scene, chef Ho Chee Boon opened Blue Whale in 2023 as a more casual spot to grab a meal and some drinks than his more high-end Chinatown restaurant Empress by Boon. Here, you can share plates, opt for full entrees, or grab drinks on the back patio. But the dim sum is truly the star of the menu—don’t miss the perfectly done xiao long bao, kurobuta pork buns and spicy wontons.  

A multi-floored ode to modern Chinese food, this stylish downstairs restaurant at China Live is worlds away from the classic no-frills dining rooms of most San Francisco dim sum spots. The food here is just as creative, with flavor-filled bites that include a succulent sheng jian bao 'SJB' (pan-fried pork dumplings), spicy Sichuan "Working Hands" dumplings in sesame butter and peppercorn-chili broth, and kumquat glazed Peking duck tucked into sesame bread pockets.

At Yank Sing, a 2018 Michelin Bib Gourmand winner, it’s OK to point: instead of placing an order, dim sum carts whizz around the room and all you need to do is point at any of the options being carted around (you may not always know exactly what you’re getting, but the unexpected culinary surprise is half the fun). Their Shanghai dumplings are iconic, as are their har gow (shrimp dumplings), but we also love the snow pea shoots and mushroom dumplings. Pricier than your typical dim sum restaurant, think of Yank Sing as the go-to special occasion destination.

Tucked away in Chinatown, Osmanthus is a modern dim sum restaurant relatively new to the scene. Choose from a large menu by checking off the dishes you want to be sent to your table; classics are the move here, from baked BBQ pork buns to garlic noodles. Don't miss a drink from the vibrant cocktail list or the tea menu.

Mama Ji (named after the owner, Lily Ji) lovingly puts her own spin on family recipes and traditional dishes. Highlights include the pea sprout shrimp dumplings, chicken shrimp shumai, spicy cold noodles, and sesame balls or seared pumpkin cakes for dessert. On weekends, cure your hangover with a smattering of dim sum plates coupled with a Belgian ale.

Clean, bright, and modern, Dragon Beaux is a sleek Outer Richmond dim sum experience from the owners of Daly City’s beloved Koi Palace. The restaurant serves a variety of elevated favorites, including vibrant xiao long bao (Shanghai soup dumplings) colored with beet, turmeric, spinach, or squid ink. Make sure to order the lau saa bao (rice flour bun filled with sweet, creamy egg, and sugar custard), shrimp rice crepe rolls, and durian puffs.

This long-standing dim sum restaurant relocated to new digs in 2023 following a dispute with its previous landlord. The menu continues to offer classic items including green onion pancakes and pineapple lava buns. While the new space is much more modern, City View is still on a no-reservations system, so be prepared to wait during peak hours.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @EatingNOLA (@eatingnola)

Great Eastern has long been a Chinatown institution drawing presidents (Obama ate here in 2012), tourists, and locals for a taste of its old-school dim sum. Favorites include seafood dishes like cilantro shrimp dumplings and deep-fried seaweed roll with fish, alongside only-for-the-experienced-palate options like bitter melon beef dumplings. Black sesame balls and deep fried pumpkin and egg yolk custard balls are a sweet ending for some of the city’s best Chinese fare.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Allie Tong | Food + Recipes (@allie.eats)

At this Chinatown hole-in-the-wall, the takeout-only dim sum is generous, cheap, and delicious. Good Mong Kok's menu includes classics like shui mai, steamed chive dumplings, and BBQ pork buns along with more old-world options like “shark fin” dumplings, turnip cakes and preserved egg and pork porridge.

With hip hop blaring and carafes of saké flowing, Chubby Noodle is popular for its bottomless dim sum brunches ($45 per person on weekends). If you can't make brunch, there's the $9 margaritas nights (Tuesdays) to wash down the selection of "Asian comfort food." Fill up on Kung Pao wings, salt and pepper shrimp, steamed pork buns, and mountains of noodles at this festive hotspot that has since expanded to Cabo San Lucas.

Koi Palace is just south of San Francisco, but it’s worth the drive to Daly City for its extensive dim sum menu and range of seafood options. (If you don’t plan to leave the city, the Koi Palace owners introduced Palette Tea House in Ghirardelli Square.) Don’t miss the shrimp dumplings, a variety of xiao long boa and the Peking duck if you’re with a crowd. The vibe here is classic dim sum, too, with lofty banquet-style dining rooms and oversized fish tanks.