Shanghai Dumpling King
3319 Balboa Street
(between 34th Ave & 35th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94121 (415) 387-2088
![string bean dish [(c)B.K. - no stealing!]](http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/BfSMuSaxpivIe_xb4QyzKQ/xss)
![signature dumplings [(c)B.K. - no stealing!]](http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/-jsWp7RoqRkrF6ewDZVbeQ/xss)
- Hours:
Mon, Wed-Fri 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: None
51 reviews
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
"This a place I have been visting for the better part of 20 years or so. It is located on Balboa next to the Balboa Theatre. I love to…" read more »
285 Reviews for Shanghai Dumpling King
I'm torn.
The dumplings were delicious, for the most part.
Then I got MSG'd and passed out.
I used the leftovers as sleeping pills with a moderate degree of success.
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (6)
Cool (5)
Another great authentic shanghainese food place. They don't open on Tuesdays and they open 10:30 am. Parking is all street parking and the meters charge $1 per 40 minutes.
The food itself was great, we had both the shanghai xio long bao and the hangzhou xiao long bao with the crab meat. Both lived up to the super high standard my family have for xiao long bao and the service was great too.
The only thing preventing me from giving this place 5 star is that there was decent number of flys buzzing around inside the restaurant. I think I noticed about 5 when we ate there. They didn't seem to go after the food, but it's just annoying and really distracts away from the delicious food.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
Shanghai Dumpling King used to be a place I go to often for cheap dinner after studying at a nearby cafe. Aside from Shanghai Dumping King and a few other restaurants nearby, there weren't too many interesting choices.
The food price versus portion is very fair, you can get enough food for you, your friend, and even enough for leftovers next day with twenty dollars. One of my favorite items is the soy milk - cost about 1.25 for a large bowl. The dumplings served here are also very good, although I would avoid the wonton. Overall, this is a great destination for trying something out of the ordinary. You should use caution when selecting the items you want - make sure it's not something you don't want to eat prior to order (the waiters/waitresses here are very polite when asked what each items are specifically).
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Mmmmm. Stumbled upon this place by accident one night while on a super long walk and just at the point when I was beginning to get pretty hungry. I only had 7 dollars in my pocket and peering through the front window, I could see yummy-looking pillowy dumplings being eaten by smiling children. I was a long walk away from being back home. I decided I must have dumplings.
I went for the spicy chive and pork dumplings ($5) and wow, they were really good. They were served in a sauce that was tangy and spicy and a perfect compliment to the mild sweetness of the melt-in-your-mouth dumplings. Unfortunately that was all I could afford but I know I will certainly go back and with friends so we can experience a dumpling bonanza. Recommended!
I'm not going to lie...their food was pretty good. It's just the service I have a problem with. I felt pretty much ignored while I was there when I was clearly in their view. And then they offered me a "reject order," which I thought was on the house, but I got charged, making my bill $16 something. That's pretty expensive for Chinese food for one person. I'm quite bitter about that.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
I have only one thing to say:
shanghai noodle company = THEY HAVE "SOUP DUMPLINGS" !!!
And it is right here in the U.S of A.
If you can't grasp the concept, just go there and ask them for an order.
It does not get any better than this.
One bad thing; they are closed on Tuesday.
Amazing.
One of the thousand places to go before you die.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
The reviews are very accurate of this place. Stick to the shanghai dumplings and you'll leave with a happy tummy. We tried to branch out with a couple other dumplings and we soon regretted it. I did listen to the recommendation for the sesame noodle soup dish and that was a huge hit! Ramen noodles soaked in a thick, slightly sweet peanut sauce. Yummm! They lose a couple stars for service and ambiance, and for the simple fact that they should be able to cook other chinese dishes better than they do. The problem with the ambiance was the smell. The best part of a chinese restaurant should be walking in and smelling the greasy goodness. One of the reviews described the place as a sweaty sock - true dat! For service, they got our order wrong and only brought us 2 orders of shanghai dumplings instead of 4. Eh, what are you going to do? Well, knock a star. :)
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
For one that prides himself on finding the best food deals in SF, I'm ashamed that I've never been to Shanghai Dumpling King until last night. Going with two friends, we proceeded to order a man sized feast.
Shanghai Steamed Dumplings
Crab and Meat Dumplings
Lionhead Meatballs
3 Chicken Clay Pot
Beef Noodle Soup
We were all incredibly stuffed after the meal. The service was fast as we only had a few minutes to talk before all the food started coming out. The lionhead meatball is a huge pork meatball that could be its own meal. Each order comes with 3 so it was perfect for us. The beef noodle stew has really good and clean soup. The noodles are also like ramen noodles, which are my favorite. The 3 Chicken Clay Pot was very tasty as well.
My only disappointment was that the dumplings themselves weren't really that hot when they came out. It's obvious they steam a large amount before the dinner crowd. I typically expect to get burned by the hot juice inside each bao. I believe they would have been tastier if hotter.
All in all, the meal was relatively cheap and could have been cheaper if we had one more person. This is a great deal and I will be adding this to my list of affordable and favorite restaurants in San Francisco.
Always quick to bring our food out, once we have our food service completely slacks. It's sometimes a challenge to get our check, to get change, or our credit receipt back. But don't mistake, the food is always out very quickly.
We usually eat... The pan fried pork buns, the shanghai dumplings, and some sort of chow mein/fried rice, and braised string beans. All are delicious. The shanghai dumplings are excellent in taste but relatively poor quality folding. They usually burst before making it to the spoon and that isn't due to any sort of poor chopstick maneuvering. Pan fried pork buns are like little grilled dumpling and are hands down my favorite.
The fried rice is delicious and the chow mein mediocre. Those brioche like sugar puffs are really good too. Everything is usually really fresh tasting.
Close to home, good prices, good food. Doesn't get the 5th star because I've had better in the area and a more exciting selection
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Excellent. Fresh Dumplings. Great Prices. Quick service after 7:30pm, when they are trying to turn the tables ASAP before 9pm closing. Lively atmosphere. Parking is easy.
People thought this was:
Cool (2)
I liked this place.
The hot and sour was super good. I'm a hot and sour addict. Ever since I was 4 or 5 I remember eating it and loving it. The combo of tofu, chinese mushrooms, omg, I'm so hungry.
Recently my addiction has been waning, alas, I've found a place that makes it better than most. Really hot and sour not bs mid-western hot. This made my nose run. I was happy. The shanghai dumplings and the peanut noodle dish were excellent.
The entire meal came out to 12 dollars per person. Not bad for a big group of 7. I was happy. The spicy dumplings sucked. I wouldn't order them. The spicy bok choy sucked too.
There you have it, 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
Shanghai Dumpling King looks like a typical hole in the wall. The place consists of a few tables and a gross bathroom/storage room. And there was definitely no planning in the decor.
But, the Shanghai dumplings are AMAZING. We ordered the smoked fish soup, that was really good. The green onion beef mostly had onions, and I think my roommate liked her honey glazed prawns.
It took forever to get our order taken and we constantly had to ask for water to be refilled. We even had to ask for our check twice.
Beside the ambiance and service, nothing compare to the Shanghai dumplings. I will be back... most likely just for take out.
The food was decent. I had the xiao long bao (my favorite item on any dim sum menu), green onion pancake, the deep fried fried sugar balls, and shrimp dumplings. The xiao long bao was delicious. The green onion pancake was okay (really starchy though). The shrimp dumplings didn't leave much of an impression. I like anything sugar and deep fried (spoken like a true fatass!) so the deep fried sugar balls were great.
However, the service sucked - it wasn't friendly or speedy at all. Usually I get 1 out of 2 of those things and I'm fine with it - but don't deny me both, or you're condemned to a lower Yelp rating.
Finally, I came down with a bad case of food poisoning after eating here. So, eff any "pity" stars I would've given this place.
Their soup dumplings are delicious! This place is a no frills, small shop that specializes in - what else - Shanghai dumplings. The last time I had soup dumplings was at the Noodle Shop in San Mateo. Noodle Shop's are good, but Shanghai Dumpling King's were better. I knew that they must be good because every table in the place was full of people eating several orders of their specialty soup dumplings. I ate dumplings and the sesame noodles (which could have been better with a bigger noodle, but the flavor was still tasty).
The soup dumplings were a bit smaller than other versions that I had eaten in the past. The skin on each dumpling is very delicate, so make sure to pick them up with caution otherwise all of the yummy broth wills spill out on the table. I find that the best way to eat them is to slowly pick them up and place them in the sou
On our way out I saw a refrigerator case that held pounds and pounds of different kinds of fresh noodles! I talked with the waitress, and she told me to order the special Shanghai stir fried noodles next time if I wanted the thicker noodle.
I love dumplings and the ones here didn't disapoint... They were good, fresh and bursting with flavor. I have to say though that everything about this place other than the food was pretty bad, service was lacking and outright frustrating at times. I think that 3.5 is what this place deserves because it hits high on the food-for-cheap meter but the service issues make me think that it isn't worth the trek out to the middle of nowhere.
This place rocks. It feels so cozy and homey there. They pass out fried sugar dough and the food is SO good. They've got a lot of dishes I hadn't seen before, like the noodles that are very thick and look home made. It really had good energy, too. You know when you go somewhere and you just feel happy? That's how I felt. I'll definitely be going there again.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Good, super affordable food. I prefer the won tons over the dumplings. I thought Shanghai Dumpling King was good but I definitely prefer Shanghai East in San Mateo.
For a restaurant that boasts it's one of the top Chinese eateries in the country- my expectations were dashed and the food fell short.
However, for tasty, affordable dumpings in the Balboa, Inner Richmond area I was satisfied. Our waitress recommended the titular "Shanghai Dumpling" and it was a vinegary meatball wrapped in delicate dumpling foil. The larger dishes, our chinese food standards - combination chow mein and beef with broccli were greasy but good enough that we cleaned our plates.
It's not as cheap as the shabby exterior would have you believe but if I am in the neighborhood I would stop by to give it another try.
I recently discovered this great little hole-in-the-wall for authentic Shanghai bites known as "xiaolongbao" (little bun basket) with my buddy, and, upon my revisit to San Francisco, had to drop in for some dumplings.
Though slow and otherwise inattentive, the service was decent and our waitress was quick to suggest that we try the Shanghai style noodles with seafood. It sounded great so we ordered some, along with some chicken wonton soup, tofu with mushroom sauce, dumplings stuffed with chives, some sweet egg puffs, and the must-have xiaolongbao. All of the food came reasonably promptly, but sporadically and out of turn. The biggest service disappointment of the night was that the Shanghai noodles we ordered on our waitresses' recommendation! Worse yet, she claimed that we never even ordered it. No matter, let's talk about what really does, the food.
The tofu with mushroom sauce showed up first and, while much different than how we expected it to be prepared, was delightful. My first bite of was a good start to my homecoming to the city by the bay. The tofu was lightly fried and shitake mushrooms were abundant in this silky stir-fry, and really hit the spot.
Next came the xiaolongbao in the giant bamboo steamer that it was cooked in. These little dumplings are stuffed with pork and vegetables, as well as a small frozen cube of soup that fills the bun with hot and fragrant broth when it is heated. It's a tasty little bite that is also fun to eat, and delicious with the accompanying ginger and dark rice vinegar sauce.
We ordered some Beijing style chive buns that were also a bit different than I had expected, but were no less delicious. Thinking they would be shaped like little pancakes, these dumplings actually resembled the traditional potsticker than anything, and also served with the same ginger and dark rice vinegar sauce.
We had hoped that our wonton soup would come first, but alas, it actually came just before our dessert. The wontons were a bit overstuffed but that simply conveyed that they were generous with their portion sizes. The chicken was perfectly cooked in the wonton skin and totally satisfying. The hot broth had the distinct white pepper fragrance and taste that was certainly a welcomed addition since I usually find myself adding it to otherwise flavorless soup. The flavor may not be for everybody, but it certainly didn't bother me and even saved me the trouble of adding it myself! In fact, I enjoy white pepper in my soup so much that I even dropped a dash in myself, just for the satisfaction of doing it.
For dessert, I decided to order the sweet egg puffs for everybody to try. They're a bit like big, hollow donuts covered in granulated sugar, but they were absolutely delectable. They were so good in fact, that out of the three puffs in the order, I ate two of them myself! Everybody had at least a little taste, but was pretty satiated by the meal and couldn't fit a whole one in. More for me!
All in all, I really enjoyed my dining experience at Shanghai Dumpling King. The service and overall atmosphere was a little shabby, but you can't beat the prices and great food. If you're in the city, definitely give this place a try, and don't forget to order the xiaolongbao!
Food: 8/10
Service: 6/10
Price: $
Atmosphere: 6/10
I was on a quest for Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings) here in SF and found it here at Shanghai Dumpling King. I didn't order anything else but the 10 dumplings for $5.75. At first I thought they were real small (about the size of a Ha Gow)... but in the end, I loved the size because you can pop the whole dumpling in your mouth all at once to experience the explosion of soup in your mouth as you eat it. I wished they had a seafood version, but they only have the pork. I'd definitely go back... but for the real foodies... you need to go to NYC (Joe's Shanghai) for the good stuff.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
so good I burn my tongue everytime: The Shanghai dumplings, spicy dumplings, bok choy and tofu are delicious. Everything comes out steaming hot and fresh. I've seen people come for just bowls of noodle soup. The onion cakes are good and there is also the Shanghai onion cakes, which are a bit greasy, but would taste great dipped in soup.
Ambiance - it is standard semi-crowded tables, wooden chairs, no glam, no fuss, no muss. You are there for the food.
Service - they are doing what they can.
The crowd - Mostly Chinese with lucky wanderers who have found their way to this very remote little restaurant
This is feel good food. Also I have only been there for brunch.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
One of the best places for Shanghai dumplings. Most places are usually doughy, but this place gets it right. Not as good as Yank Sing, but a good second or third in the Bay Area. Also has one of the best "beignets" too.
Their siu lun bao is friggin good, for $5.25 you get 10 of those. Food portion is very generous and prices are really low, not too greasy and not too salty. -1 star because I'm a huge rice eater and I didn't get enough rice )-: ...
I'd be back again, perhaps for take out..
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
We always love Shanghai soup dumplings, especially from restaurants like Din Tai Fung in Arcadia (L.A.) and Taipei, or Yang Sing in San Francisco.
After reading some nice reviews on Yelp, we decided to check out the Shanghai Dumpling King this past Sunday. We had a not so bad waiting time (we get used to waiting at dim sum places in town).
We immediately picked the famous Shanghai dumplings and Tianjin bums plus side dishes, spicy cucumbers and spicy cabbages. The verdict: the dumplings were not soupy enough. The fillings tasted mediocre with tough dough. The bums are too saggy. I tasted no spicy in both side dishes.
Yang Sing's dumplings are delicate enough to melt right in your mouth. All queens and kings in town should move away from "Shanghai Dumpling King."
This is a true hole in the wall with some really tasty items. Their shanghai dumplings are super flavorful and soupy. The dark vinegar they serve with it compliments the flavors even more and isn't overpowering like some of the other places I've been too that use the red vinegar. My thing is to put the dumpling into a spoon, poor some vinegar over it, and enjoy! That way you don't loose any soup if the skin breaks. The dumplings get to your table steaming hot so becareful! I've burned my mouth many times but it's hard to wait for them to cool down.
My other favorites are the fried egg puffs they bring around from table to table and the noodles in sesame sauce and soup (or something like that). The fried egg puffs are light, airy and not too sweet. The noodles in sesame sauce and soup is very very very flavorful. It's more saucy than soupy, but it just means the spices and flavorings aren't diluted. I'm a huge noodle soup fan and this really hits the spot for me each time. Also, it's really affordable - $5.50 for a huge bowl!
The missing star is for the language barrier. I'm ABC so I can only understand, not speak. Therefore, I find myself repeating things to them a lot. Like my friend and I asked for ice water and they brought us forks. How does that sound anything alike? Also, there is a faint lingering smell of a wet sock in there, but my friend who's the optimist said it just enhances the authentic chinese restaurant experience! Lastly, some dishes are just like whatever (I'm specifically thinking about one of their pan fried noodles but I forget the name of it), but I guess that happens wherever you go.
4.5 stars 'cause it settles that craving for "homey" feeling chinese food.
The dumplings are what do it for me. The shanghai dumplings with the juice inside... they are like little packages of love!! These are the things that make me feel like my grandmother is in the kitchen cooking the dumplings for the family. Aside from the dumplings, they also serve "ja don" which basically means "bomb"... it's pretty much a big fried piece of dough covered in sugar. The chow mein may not seem the most authentic, but the meat is soo tender. The combination chow mein has beef, chicken, and shrimp and the chicken is really tender!
I've actually been to the Shanghai Dumpling Shop over in San Bruno, and actually enjoyed it a little more. I felt they had more of a selection of little dishes, not just your normal chinese food dishes... I'm not sure if they are related to each other in any way. It doesn't say they have other locations or sister shops on their menu, so I'm assuming they don't have any relation to each other. The one over in San Bruno is a definite try if you like this one-- you probably will like it even BETTER!!
Aside from the food, the prices are not bad... pretty decent, actually. I can't wait to go back and try all the other goodies!
Saturday evening dinner at around 6pm was somewhat empty. Yelp reviews said that lines get long, but I suppose that is probably for lunchtimes.
Food:
We ordered Shanghai dumplings, tripe, sweet soy milk, seafood and dumpling soup, and vegetable dumplings. The dumplings fell apart in the soup order and it probably was my least favorite.
The sugar buns were pretty good, not as oily as the usual ones at most dim sum places; they had actual egg inside and it tasted healthier despite the sugar. They were not comp., even though the chef kept walking around with them offering them as if they were.
I am obsessed with Shanghai dumplings and would have been happy with 3 orders (10 dumplings in each order for $5!!), but alas my dining partner wanted to try other dishes. Total bill was $38 for 2 for a ton of food plus leftovers. I have no complaints about the quality of food, but clearly the dumplings were the highlight. I can't vouch for the other items on their menu, but of course, the Shanghai dumplings were my favorite.
Cleanliness:
I was paranoid about roaches, as others had pointed out in their reviews, but didn't find any. Some utensils were pretty dirty and we sent them back. It seemed like the staff was not very apologetic about it.
I watched as the non-English speaking waitress kept picking up a towel that fell on the floor multiple times, then later wiped her hands on it! Ugh, I tried really hard to forget that I had seen it. Luckily she didn't serve our food.
City health code violations: http://www.dph.sf.ca.u...
I would not recommend dine-in if you have a weak stomach or are a germ phobe (like I am), but it will be a great place to get takeout.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Very small place. but the shanghai dumplings are mmMM MMmm good! so much juice inside. Make sure you don't break the skin and let the juice out!
A lot of their other dishes are good as well.
Try the dessert (chinese donut) that is freshly made and typically they walk around offering it. very soft and not TOO sweet!
Make sure you don't get seated right next to the restrooms!
Very satisfying and well-priced. This local spot is a favorite so I suggest arriving before the crowds! The line will extend clear down the street.
They offer a wide arrangement of dumplings that are delicious. You definitely have to try their signature soup dumplings that are extraordinary. This is a great place to have Chinese after a night of drinking!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
You know a restaurant is decent when, no matter what it looks like from the outside, or how tacky and unassuming the inside is, it's always full of people. When the restaurant specializes in Shanghai style dumplings and nearly everyone eating there is Chinese, it's a sure bet.
I haven't visited the Shanghai Dumpling King in nearly a month, and I'm starting to get withdrawals. It's probably from the crack that they inject into their house dumplings, which are cooked with a bit of aspic inside so that they are filled with a rich broth when eaten.
Out of curiosity I once ordered some standard stir-fry dishes and rice and will admit that there are better restaurants suited for this take-out fare. This place is all about the dumplings, so stick to that section of the menu, trust me. Another wonderful dish worth trying if you want some vegetables is the Bok Choy with Bean Curd Sheets. It looks like noodles, but it is really tofu in a wide noodle form.
On one occasion we reluctantly brought our friend who was born and raised in China to the Shanghai Dumpling King. We knew she was very particular about her food, so we warned her that it was good but that we couldn't vouch for its authenticity. She ordered some soy milk, which arrived fresh and warm in a large bowl, and when she began eating the dumplings a look of contentment and nostalgia spread across her face. She was reminded of home; this is the real thing.
Shanghai Dumpling King, do you miss me as much as I miss you?
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
Solid three stars.
Service and quality went down a little bit after they opened up their Millbrae location.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
06/24/2008
Actually, this place should float between 3 and a half stars and 4 stars.
The dumplings are pretty… Read more »
I had heard this place was good and finally got the chance to stop in this evening on the way back from the beach. We asked the kids at the next table what the specialty is, because it's not quite clear from the menu -- all you need to know is #4. These are little dumplings in a bamboo steamer. The dumplings aren't IN soup, the soup is IN the dumplings! That's right, there is a little bit of soup inside each little dumpling. Very tasty!
We also got the pickled cabbage appetizer - sort of like sweet kimchee, the pot stickers (very nice), and one of the dumplings in soup (#8, I think) -- that was just OK.
Service was prompt and very friendly - a relative rarity at this sort of place, and really made it a pleasure to eat there. Yummy red bean pancake dessert too.
Good stuff!
I live in Lower Haight and I'm willing to drive all the way out here for the food. Great soup dumplings and those pastries that are walked around the restaurant on a tray are delish.
MSG just isn't my friend.
I like it, always have, but it just doesn't like me and has to pick a fight with me every time we meet - therefore, I can only handle it very sparingly.
It's hard to find good Chinese that isn't completely awash in the stuff - they exist, but trial and error is a bitch, especially several hours later sitting on the toilet.
I was in the mood for some sort of noodly-type dish and I've been meaning to come out to this place so I did. I got the Shanghai Dumplings and the Green Onion Cake.
The pancake (crispier than others I've had elsewhere, and I did appreciate the sesame seeds) had slightly less MSG than the dumplings, but it was the dumplings I really went to try. They are well-made, and at first taste they were decent, but after I ate them (I had to will myself to eat the final two of the 6) my mouth felt weird, and a while after that I was on the toilet off and on all night.
The major bummer in all this was that I've had better dumplings elsewhere (to be reviewed eventually), and considering the name of the restaurant and its hole-in-the-wall nature I was expecting something far better than what I got.
Oh well, at least now I know. :|
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (3)
Cool (4)
okay FINE. even a freakin bug cannot deter me from coming back here. the xiao long baos are some of the best i've tried...and the sugar egg puffs? HEAVEN.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
04/21/2008
EDIT 4/28/08
found a bug on my beloved xiao long bao. (UGH!!!) of course they replaced it with a new… Read more »
I came here on a lazy-monday-afternoon, so I had not found lines outside the restaurants as mentioned in Yelp.
Honestly it was not my first time to go there and I admit that they do have wide selections of good shanghai meals, but their service + sanitary is barely satisfactory.
While four of us would like to take the large round table instead of the tiny 4-seated-table (that small table definitely not fits we four adults with empty stomaches), the waitress (NB the waitress with heavy eye make-up and medium-long hair) insisted us to take the small one. (I understand that she concerned the business, and would prefer to save the large tables for more people, but MAN, look at us squeezing in a tiny table, and with our dishes piling up like genga, and actually the two large tables are not reserved or occupied during my whole mealtime.)
Since the table is packed closely with other tables, the waitress had KICKED my chair at least five times when she was walking around the tables. In addition, the table was "moist" which you could feel the "moist" was the mixture of the spilled soup, food left on table, and the detergent from the towel.
Despite the above, the shanghai steamed dumplings was excellent as usual, my father ordered sort of fried rice with shrimp, and it was a dish that we regret very much.
Next time, I would order as much shanghai steamed dumplings as I can and would give up any other dishes.
By the way, they also have a good steamed buns (deep fried with condensed milk aside) and the red bean pancake.
Used to love this hole in the wall place and noticed I wasn't alone, in reading the write-ups posted on the door. While becoming regulars, we got to know the owners and the staff. The original chef opened his second store in Millbrae (see Shanghai Dumpling house) while selling this store to a Cantonese family... Sorry, there is a reason why they're called SHANGHAI dumplings... duh! Also, one of the servers walks into the dining area with a plate of sugary, doughy pastries ala dim sum places. This is tacky as many first timers get sucked into getting a plate to try. NO, this is not SHANGHAI cuisine.
Dumpling lover here and I have to say, these were some of the best I've ever had. Good prices. Next time, I will plan better and go in for a sit down meal. Highly recommend. It's well worth the trip to 34th and Balboa.
I'm a huge fan of this restaurant's dumplings (xiao long bao) and the egg puff dessert. The other stuff I've tried here is just okay. This place is kind of a hole in the wall, old-school style, but the people who work there are nice.
Used to love this place. Service has gone continuously downhill and so has the quality of food. Last time I was there I ordered the Soup Dumplings, there was not a drop of soup in any of them. I mentioned this and the cook became very defensive and rude. Which is too bad, I'll probably never go back!
