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Bund Shanghai Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Chinese Chinese [Edit]
640 Jackson St(between Cooper Aly & Wentworth Pl)
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 982-0618
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 3 pm
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Sat-Sun 11 am - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Validated
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
178 reviews for Bund Shanghai Restaurant
Review Highlights
"This place serves excellent xiao long bao."
(in 46 reviews)
"Excellent Shanghainese food."
(in 18 reviews)
"Rice cakes were not greasy unlike most places that serve..."
(in 21 reviews)
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178 reviews in English
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Review from Andrew W.
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Bund has the best soup dumplings in the bay area. The crab ones in particular are incredible. The soup alone is one of the best broths I have ever had. The meat is soft and tender. The skins are not too thick and they don't fall apart. They are cooked perfectly. This alone means Bund gets 5 stars.
The typical Cantonese dishes and lunch specials are good. But, they are nothing special. What makes Bund special is the Shanghainese dishes. The red braised pork shoulder was awesome. You get a soft sweet salty side of pork covered in skin and fat. And, it is so good.
We also had a fish that was perfectly cooked in ginger and wine. Tender, delicious.
The lamb dish is very fragrant with the perfect kick of cumin.
I have only been here once, but every dish that we ordered was outstanding.
What really separated Bund was the service. It was impeccable. The waiters are very attentive. The staff is well dressed. The restaurant is clean. I usually find waiters in Chinese restaurants to be very hands off. I liked the attention I got here.
The ambiance here isn't the best. The restaurant looks like it is due for a remodel. But, because of the food and the service, I can't wait to come back.
Seriously, the XLB are insanely good. -
Review from Alex P.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2012 2 Check-ins Here
XLB - Average at best.
Dong Bo Pork - Very good. MUST ORDER!
Tofu and Ma Lan Tou - Good.
Fried Porn Bun - Good.
Vegetarian Goose - Average.
Pumpkin Redbean Tart (or some dessert like that) - Good.
Overall, this place has solid Shanghainese food although the XLB was a letdown. -
Review from Maya S.
1/3/2012
I have to agree with ethan l., really good ma po tofu. It would be rare for me to order a meatless entree for lunch but the ma po tofu is so flavor packed, I would definitely make an exception. I also had the string bean chicken which isn't sitting in your typical black bean sauce. Bund actually uses white meat and cooks the chicken and string beans in a simple ginger sauce that is a nice change and healthier too but the sauce tastes like it's just thickened with corn starch. The salt&pepper fish is also really good. I did get to sample the drunken chicken which thew me off guard because I had no idea it was cold. If you like pale chicken and the flavor of rice wine, try the drunken chicken.
Friendly service + bright restaurant. I'll be back. -
Review from woojin k.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012
mediocre XLB
everything was pretty damn salty -
Review from Sally Z.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012
Selected this restaurant because of the review on Yelp, and because I've been craving for some decent Shanghai food for a long time.
The restaurant is actually big for a restaurant in Chinatown, and clean too. The service was fast and courteous. The food was awesome! Xiao Long Bao was pretty good, not the best but I liked it. The bamboo shoots and pork soup was very good too, it's a signature Shanghai dish and here it was pretty authentic and not greasy. The braised pork belly with tofu sheet knots was the best I've eaten anywhere. The vegetable rice was very delicious, a little bit on the bland side IMO. The shrimp with loofah melon was very good too. Ma po tofu was a little bland but maybe because we ordered it with less spice.
All in all a very good place, the only thing I regret now is that we didn't order enough. Can't wait till the next time to eat here!! -
Review from ethan l.
San Francisco, CA
12/16/2011
$6.95 lunch special includes a bowl of hot n sour soup. Service is good, nice old ladies.
But the main reason i love this place is their ma po tofu (available with their lunch special). It's the best ma po tofu i EVER ate!!! -
Review from Roy C.
San Francisco, CA
12/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for their soybean milk and chinese donut (dou jiang you tiao)...
Chinese Donut = Excellent. Very crispy with the right amount of doughiness.
Fan Tuan (Chinese Donut wrapped in Pork Sung & Rice) = Too much rice here and too little pork sung.
Soybean Milk = The sweet version is good -- I wish they let us put in the amount of sugar. The salty version is excellent -- just like how I remember in China.
Xiao Long Bao = Meh. Xiao long bao is just okay here -- not piping hot and the skin isn't thin enough.
Dan Dan Noodles = Spicy and tasty. It's overloaded with chili oil and dried chili pepper, so be warned. It definitely is tasty, though.
The service is great here, especially for a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. With the exception of their disappointing XLB, It's definitely among the best Shanghai restaurants in town. -
Review from Jean Y.
12/21/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I love Shanghainese food, and Bund Shanghai offers a lot of dishes that I like and cannot find elsewhere in Chinatown, but unfortunately, not all the dishes are well executed. I also find the food a tad overpriced. I still keep coming back to try more items on the menu though.
The staff are very polite. Service is fairly quick.
Credit cards accepted for purchases of over $10. Parking at Portsmouth Square Garage validated with purchases of over $40.
Dishes I would order again here:
* Pork gravy noodles (zha jiang mien): There are a lot of styles of zha jiang mien, but I was happy to find that Bund Shanghai makes it in the style I grew up eating in Taiwan, with a thick ground pork sauce, without too much black bean flavor, and without any other ingredients besides cucumber. Personal bias!
* Green onion pancake
* Scallion oil noodles
* Vermicelli with tofu in soup (yo do fu xi fen): Din Tai Fung makes it better, but it's ok here too.
Dishes I am less inclined to order again here:
* Sui jiao dumplings: They are a bit dry here. I like the ones across the street at Z & Y better.
* Xiao long bao: Nothing to write home about. Definitely not Din Tai Fung quality
* Shredded turnip biscuits (luo buo si su bing): While the outside was fried nicely, the shredded turnip was too soggy and hard for my taste. It felt like the turnip had been newly shredded and blanched without enough time to dry.
* Soy sauce beef noodle soup: The beef appears to be sauteed separately and then dumped on top of the noodles. The dish is too greasy for me, although I liked the texture of the noodles that were used though. -
Review from Grace B.
Fontana, CA
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came to visit San Francisco's Chinatown and just had to have some dim sum. Honestly we tried to go like 3 other dim sum places but every where was packed on a Sunday morning. While we were waiting at another place we noticed Bund Shanghai. There was no wait and they had dim sum so we decided to give it a go. We were seated right away and our order was taken within minutes.
We got a few different types of dumplings that were all delicious, we got the xiao long bao, the beef pot-stickers and another meat and cabbage one (cant remember what meat it had). We also got the hot and sour soup and the spicy Dan Dan noodle soup which was my favorite out of the two soups. The food was served fast and the price was reasonable. We all left very happy and dreading the walk back to the hotel after stuffing ourselves :). -
Review from Bert K.
12/8/2011
Been here twice now in as many weeks.
Solid Shanghai food here.
Cooked healthy style.
I recommend the clay pot of chicken and water chesnuts and the Bean curd string that comes with chicken, mushrooms and ginger in a delicious broth.
Fine flower tea is served.
$27.00 for both dishes with brown rice, tastey quality and is enough for 3 medium eaters =)
Tip: if you are moderately hungry, just get the one dish and a bowl of the brown rice and you'll be pleasantly satisfied.
We always ask for the brown rice.
Customer service: very good.
Decor: a newer very clean restaurant. Nice floor tiles. -
Review from Lisa Z.
San Francisco, CA
Shanghai dumplings were juicy and flavorful...one of the best I've tried so far. Lunch specials come with rice and soup for under $8. This will be my new favorite lunch place during the work week. Go there early because the place does fill up quick and the waiters do get flustered.
-
Review from Jeanne C.
San Francisco, CA
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very happily surprised at how good this place is. They had the best shanghai dumplings, better than dumpling king or kingdom of dumpling.
Duck was crispy and not greasy. They stir-fry the duck breast meat with bell peppers as a side dish.
I would not order the crab dumplings again. Overall food was really good, not overly seasoned and not greasy. I will return!
half a crispy duck
shanghai dumplings
crab dumplings
5 spice braised pork belly
Total bill $60 -
Review from Cathy S.
10/5/2011
I'm on a quest to discover the best Shanghai soup dumplings in the bay area. It's not easy, let me tell you.
The Shanghai dumplings here are small, which I'm told is the authentic size. Thin skin, flavorful soup, well-seasoned meat- these are delicious and satisfying, though perhaps not the best I've ever had. At around $6.50 a basket, they are pretty decently priced. I would come here again to get my fix until I find the best Shanghai soup dumplings.
They also serve typical Shanghainese food, executed well, which is more than can be said for many of the other Chinatown establishments.
Some recommendations:
_Rice cake (nian gao) with pickles and ground pork
_Mongolian beef
_Lion's head meatball soup in clay pot (SOO good! the meatballs are huge, so definitely share. Comes with a lot of napa cabbage too.) -
Review from Serena Y.
San Francisco, CA
10/8/2011
I loooooove Bund Shanghai, especially since there are few and far between options for non-Cantonese Chinese food in the Bay Area (outside if Cupertino). I am from Taiwan, but my grandparents were originally from shanghai, and Bund truly has food that tastes like home.
Let me just say that I almost NEVER eat Chinese food because it's usually nowhere as good as authentic, home cooked meals by mom.
I think the trick is that you have to know what to order, since their menus aren't terribly descriptive. It also helps if you speak Chinese. Some super good dishes are:
- Courtesan Chicken Wings
- Fish in Wine Sauce
- Shanghai Style Shrimp
- Shrimp with Egg and Chives
- Chinese Squash with Small Dried Shrimp
- Shanghai Style Chicken
- Kao Fu
- Stir Fried Spinach and Bamboo
- Bamboo with Pork and Chinese Spinach
- Any of the stir fried rice cakes
- Cucumber Salad
I love that they have "street style" snacks. I haven't tried them all yet, but I'm just excited that they have them!
There are a few things I didn't love:
- Eggplant with Garlic Sauce - too saucy
- Lions Head Meatballs - too much anise (but I don't really like anise, so you might like it if you do)
- Braised Carp - a little too fishy for me
But overall, there's always something delicious that makes up for it.
I don't know about the dining experience, since I've only gotten delivery, but theyre pretty fast at getting your food to you, packaged nicely so it doesn't spill all over your bag. Also, I've asked them a few times to dial down the oil and salt, and they totally accommodated.
Highly recommended. Might not be for everyone, but I'd give it a try, especially if you are a homesick Taiwanese/Shanghainese, or looking to try something different from the Kung Paos of the world. -
Review from G L.
Marina del Rey, CA
1/3/2012
We were in Chinatown in San Francisco looking for a good place for lunch. We loved Great Eastern menu but the 30 minute wait was longer than we wanted. So we went across the street to Bund's Shanghai even though we were worried because there was NO wait (we may have been lucky because they piled in after we sat down). We had hot & sour soup-very good & hot with lots of the goodies in it. Pork potstickers were pretty good. Our main dishes were Sesame Chicken-good meat that was crispy and not too sweet- and the House Noodles with pork & scallions-AMAZING!! The pork noodle sauce was rich and delicious and the pork and scallions were the best!!
So good in fact we returned 2 days later and had the House noodle again. As good as the first time. We also ordered Spring Rolls-thin,crispy-almost pastry delicate- fried skins with vegetables inside Won Ton soup-very rich stock with plenty of wontons! Awesome Food & great Price! -
Review from Veronica C.
Las Vegas, NV
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
With plethora of restaurants and food options in Chinatown, Bund really sticks out. Their xiao long bao (Shanghai dumplings) were one of the best I have ever had. It was so juicy and flavorful and the skin was thin but held it's shape. They came out piping hot. We ordered two dozens, and now thinking back on it, I wish we had ordered more. The stir fried Shanghai noodles (the oval shaped ones) were kind of sweet, so I didn't really care for that. The Chinese donut wrapped in sticky rice was also good. We ordered the five spice beef appetizer. Although it was really flavorful, it was extremely dry. The food came out super fast. The staff was super nice. They were beyond accommodating. They offered a 15% off with a check-in, and when I showed it to them, they were really sweet about it. They actually thanked me for checking in. They get major kudos for that since most Chinese/Asian establishments would laugh in your face if you brought up the word "discount".
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Review from Dina H.
San Francisco, CA
9/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
UM YES. BIG FAN. It's taken me awhile to find Chinese food that resembles the Chinese food I'm used to from Southern California. I don't know what it is, but most of the Chinese restaurants in the city taste super greasy and Americanized ... like they use one soy sauce base for every dish. Anyway, enough complaining about SF Chinese restaurants ... so glad I've finally found one I enjoy!
RICE CAKES!!! Reminds me of my grandparents.
Dan Dan Noodles ... not exactly what I'm used to, but spicy and satisfying!
Lions Head ... It was cooked with bok choy instead of cabbage, but the meatballs themselves were pretty good.
Xiao Long Baos were good and actually contained soup.
Spinach and bean curd - good
Open heart spinach - also good
Vegetables dumplings - surprisingly tasty ... my roommate is a big fan ... I was skeptical because I usually like my dumplings with some meat ... but I actually really enjoy these
Kung Pao chicken - meh ... chicken tasted a bit chewy
Spicy eggplant - meh ... tasted like what I get at other places
Salt Pepper shrimp/fish - I've tried both here and probably prefer their shrimp ... overall their salt pepper dishes are just ok
green bean with beef - it's not the ground beef you're imaging, but it's still good.
As you can tell, I order in fairly often from this place. They're not the cheapest, but they do satisfy that weekly craving I get for homey Chinese food. -
Review from Albert L.
I am a big fan of xiao long baos and I came here with a friend for the first time not really knowing what to expect....
We sat down and were greeted promptly and after a short time, we decided to go for the Shanghai specialties!! And as such, we ordered the following:
1) Xiao Long Baos - they come in a set of 8, so we ordered 2 sets for a grand total of 16 xiao long baos! they were tinier than most places that I have been to, but they were super tasty!! the skin was a good consistency and did not tear when I picked them up with my chopsticks. The soup/juice inside was YUMMERS!
2) Beef Potstickers - these came in a set of 6, and they were actually filled with a curry-like sauce inside! also, YUMMERS!
3) Zha Jiang Chili Sauce Noodle - the noodles had great texture and the chili blended well with the noodles! I would recommend!
Pricing was reasonable and service was friendly (helps if you know how to speak mandarin)
As always, parking sucks in Chinatown, but I managed to during an off time and I was lucky and found a parking spot that was close-by!
If you're craving Shanghai food, come check this restaurant out! -
Review from Alex C.
Venice, CA
9/4/2011
Bund is one of the best Chinese restaurants in San Francisco's Chinatown despite its simple facade and minimal decor. Owned and operated by a Shanghainese family, their menu features all the local specialties of the region.
The xiao long bao are perfectly done -- meat dumplings wrapped in thin, delicate skins with the right amount of soup. Stir fried rice cakes and thick chow mein are always cooked al dente. Rice cakes with pickles and shredded pork is also great way to sample the unique salty/sour flavor of preserved Napa cabbage. Dishes with bamboo shoots maintain the crunchy texture of the vegetable, while they are frequently overcooked at other restaurants. The Shanghainese dim sum menu offered at lunch time also provides different tastes and perspectives from the Cantonese-style that prevails in San Francisco and most dim sum establishments across the US.
I also cannot resist mentioning my personal favorite, Lion's Head meatballs (braised or in soup). My preference is to have them prepared in soup where the broth absorbs and reinforces the flavor of the entree. The soup ensures that the meatballs remain moist and flavorful and provides an excellent accompaniment to the rice.
This little restaurant outperforms many of its neighbors and really is a great find! Enjoy!Listed in: My Best of SF
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Review from Dj M.
San Francisco, CA
11/13/2011
Excellent Shanghainese food! XLB was pretty good! Really enjoyed the soy-braised pork. Their desserts are definitely a must try since they have specific dishes that you won't find anywhere else.
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Review from Angela L.
8/22/2011
FOOD:
1.) rice cakes w/ pork and chinese spinach = i luvv carbs! These are ovals made out of like noodle.. ;P
2.) tofu crab = Oooh, I really like this. Tasty n nommss
3.) xiao long bao / shanhai dumpling = mmm!
3.) drunken chicken = hm... interesting taste... it's soaked in alcohol? not quite suited with my palate or lack of carnivorous tastes ;P
SERVICE:
Got it delivered to my DOOR from http://grubhub.com wutup! So happy and satisfied mmmm Came 1 hour after order. Not too shabbs, yea? -
Review from Mark D.
8/21/2011 4 photos
First, I did not order any Shanghai specialties.
I was greeted and quickly seated. It was a Sunday evening. The restaurant was less than half full.
The server brought tea and took my order.
In a very short period of time, my hot and sour soup came out.
Even though I was eating alone, the portion was enough soup for four people. The soup was pretty good. I can't say it really stood out from other hot and sour soups but I enjoyed it.
http://tinyurl.com/4xl...
Before I really had a chance to try the soup, the General's Chicken came out. So, I juggled the two.
The General's Chicken was very good. It was spicy. There were lots of peppers. The chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
http://tinyurl.com/3gt...
The service was professional and courteous.
The ambiance is basic and functional.
I thought that overall the price was slightly high for basic Chinese food. It was over $18+ for an entree, soup, steamed rice, and a Sprite. This probably could be mitigated by offering a single portion of soup for a lesser amount.
Overall, this is a straight-forward Chinese restaurant. I enjoyed my meal. The service covered the basics. If there weren't so many other places in Chinatown to try, I would return. -
Review from qirk z.
Los Gatos, CA
8/3/2011
Yum.
Pork special, just the way I like it. Don't know the dish name, but it was braised-like with tofu knots.
The ma po was a big dish and good.
General Chicken was so-so.
Shanghai Noodles are YUM! -
Review from Denise L.
San Francisco, CA
8/17/2011
Meh.
Small portions.
Overly greasy.
Poor service.
I wouldn't recommend this place unless you're really craving Shanghainese food in Chinatown. Otherwise, I'd stick with the Canto-food. -
Review from Misha T.
10/10/2011
kinda meh xlb. the skin was too thick and they were a little dried out.
had some stir fried rice cakes though which were decent. I think there's more out there in chinatown that should be eaten before one makes their way to the bund -
Review from Kevin L.
7/12/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Solid Shanghainese place at a decent price (on the low end).
Savory soy milk: Such a good breakfast item. Fresh soy milk with a drizzle of chili oil, green onions, and generous clump of seaweed. Topped off with some slices of fried dough and diced pickled veggies.
Stick rice rolls: Hello carbs. Rice wrapped around meat floss and fried dough. Great with the above-discussed soy milk
Shanghai-style rice cakes: Very flavorful, though a tad oily.
Soup dumplings are a little meh here. Not seasoned-enough. -
Review from Boris C.
San Francisco, CA
7/17/2011
Chinatown lacks, ironically, good Chinese restaurants.
It's always a pleasure to run into something that is actually good. This is such a place.
I don't think the XLB is the best, or up there, but they were tasty nonetheless, and hit the spot, along with the other yummy goodness on a chilly San Francisco night. The service was pleasantly attentive. Try it out. -
Review from Yvonne Y.
6/27/2011
Authentic, delicious Shanghainese food at a very affordable price. came here for lunch on a Friday at 1pm. Not crowded. Had the kaorfu (tofu cubes) served with bamboo shoots, "cloud ears" mushroom and other veggies. Then 2 orders of savory soy bean topped with fried dough, some seaweed derivative(?), green onions and hot oil. Finally, the turnip mixed with ham and green onions in a puff pastry.
Service was prompt. Food is absolutely delicious. I'm used to slightly smaller portions but I'm not complaining! That was more than enough food for 2 people for lunch. Wish I can go there for dinner! -
Review from Jana S.
3/26/2011 5 photos
A quite solid 3.044
Man!! I had so much delight in choosing that rating... as high on the solid 3 scale doth this place earn, but 3 it shall remain for its many foibles that I do think I glimpsed.
So, I came here because I recently stayed on the Bund (waitan), and it was pure magic in that Chinese city--what T+L calls "a city layered in symbols, shifting signs, mixed metaphors---a place of competing myths, kaleidoscopic dreams, a marshy backwater turned into a thriving metropolis..."
Walking along the dreamy waterfront and the gorgeous influences of European architecture, the realization of many decades worth of waiting, and chilled weather that makes one tighten the scarf and pull down the hat...
Yes, I was awash with nostalgia and that alone accompanied me in driving across the Bridge.
XLB ordered----one basket. Because you're such an astute reader, I know you know that those Shanghai soup dumplings are a common denominator for me. Also ordered a bowl of dou jiang-- sweetened soymilk with obligatory you tiao (Chinese salted fried dough stick). As well, cong you bing (green onion pancake) and guotie (those lovely potstickers!!)
1. XLB---thinly prepared skin, steamed with proper timing.. but the dumplings were like shrunken appleheads one makes in grade school art class, and the pork taste on the palate was too 'rough' and crumbly for me. Soupy, yes, but I craved a higher standard.
2. Dou jiang was hot, smooth, quite a nice taste and finish on the tongue; however, and its standard accompaniment to these things was also a surprise and prepared nicely. That was a score
3. Green onion pancake: too flat, waay too oily, and a let-down in general. Rued the last minute tack-on to the table's order (I was the one who wanted it! ahem)
4. Potstickers: They do a spectacular job with them. Super yummy; high praise for this food item.
Customer service was MEHHH... just ok. The entire staff speaks Mandarin, which does enhance the experience and, at the end of the day, perhaps it is true that this is the best Shanghainese offering in the whole eastern part of the City. Now that I've typed that, bumped up half a star for the claim! -
Review from Amy O.
6/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yeeessss!
Rice Cakes - awesome.
Meatballs - pretty good.
Soy Noodles - awesome.
Bass in Wine - pretty good.
Pork Buns - pretty good.
Onion Pancake - awesome. -
Review from Yvonne X.
San Francisco, CA
7/11/2011
Be honest, Bund Shanghai restaurant ain't as good as I expected. We have ordered four authentic Shanghainese dishes ... pretty much only one dish turned out to be quite authentic ... !!!
So, 1st dish is the soup with bamboo shoots, twisted bean curbs and salted pork meat in there ... and I couldn't believe they didn't even put bok choy in the soup, and plus the soup tasted weird too me ... it's just not right ... !!!
2nd dish is the braised pork meat with bean curb in brown sauce ... lousy and sloppy ... I could even make better ones at home ... thought they would make it better, otherwise what is the point eating at the restaurant ... !!!
3rd dish is the popular dish called xiao long bao ... after reading all the good reviews on yelp about this place's xiao long bao ... I wanna give it a try ... !!! You know what ... total disappointment ... come on ... guys, have u lost your mind ... try the xiao long bao in Shanghai Dumpliing ... then u will know what I am talking about ... !!! The xiao long bao dish just turned from famous to infamous in this place ... !!!
The last dish is the Shanghainese style fried noodle ... this is the only dish probably I will give a 4 stars ... But other three ... I am sorry I have to say NO ... !!!
Thumbs Down ... Not going again ... !!!
What is wrong with San Francisco ... perhaps after ten years of residency in Los Angeles ... u know just nothing taste right here ... especially Chinese food ... !!! -
Review from Dominic T.
San Francisco, CA
6/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here for lunch with 2 friends on a cloudy, rainy day. They are both regulars so I know that this place is the real deal. I love Shanghai food but I am currently on a tight budget so I limited myself to just spicy beef soup noodles while they ordered minced pork noodles (zha jiang mien), fried turnip balls, and bread with condensed milk butter.
The soup noodles came first but wasn't spicy as I expected. The beef was plentiful and there was a decent amount of noodles and choy. The three turnip balls were really good too. The best was the zha jiang mien since they order two bowls usually. I haven't had those noodles in a long time so I was delighted to taste the sweet sauce that was well-mixed into the noodles by my friend. The bread came last and I didn't think it was anything special but I took a look of the "interior" and it's basically strips of mantou (plain white buns) squeezed together. A good way to end the meal. -
Review from R F.
San Francisco, CA
5/12/2011
I have a friend who's originally from Shanghai and she's always saying how (anything and) everything reminds her of Shanghai.
"Man, it's hot outside--it reminds me of Shanghai."
"That lady is SKINNY!--it reminds me of..."
"Dude, there's a Chinese restaurant (in Chinatown no less)--it reminds me of..."
So guess what she said about this Shanghainese place? -
Review from Cristina P.
San Francisco, CA
5/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome dim sum, great prices and fantastic service. Bund's atmosphere, while simple and slightly outdated, is friendly and pleasant.
In the heart of Chinatown + absolutely perfect for lunch.
Bonus: Great for parties of any size. -
Review from Selina T.
San Francisco, CA
6/22/2011 7 Check-ins Here
I love The Bund! They have one of the better and more authentic tasting Shanghai Soup Dumplings. I bite in it and the soup comes out of it. My boyfriend can eat 3 of those baskets alone. (8 per basket) Their Shanghai style rice cakes are also pretty legit and for the most part is quite flavorful. I actually have difficulty finding Shanghai style restaurants that can cook flavorful Shanghai style rice cakes. Shanghai style thick noodles are also pretty good too.
Green onion pancake is more on the greasy side but still pretty delicious. They serve the Chinese doughnuts and soy milk for breakfast and lunch only (based on personal experience as I had it for lunch, and I tried requesting it for dinner but they didn't have any left; but they did give me a Chinese doughnut they probably had left over from the morning). If you're anal about how much grease is in your food, don't order it. But if you're not too health conscious about it, then I would definitely recommend it! It tastes soooo crispy.
I would also recommend their green beans, their noodle soups (forgot which one though since my mom usually did the ordering haha) and their small mochi in rice wine.
I have never seen them get busy to the point where you have to wait for a table. Service in general is usually pretty quick. All in all, if you're in a mood for authentic Shanghainese food, I would recommend coming here. -
Review from Elaine Z.
San Francisco, CA
2/20/2011
People don't ever eat here, what a pity! This place is awesome and the staff and cooks all speak putong hua -- in Chinatown, where 99 percent of the restaurants are Cantonese.
My favorite dishes include the xiaolongbao, fish filet and vegetables, nian gao (rice cake), and lamb. The dishes are clean, simple, and comforting.
They're also on GrubHub so you don't even have to go all the way to Chinatown! -
Review from Cindy W.
3/7/2011
Came for XLB of course. We ordered one basket ($5.95) but certainly wished for more. The skin wasn't too thick, just right, which is like 70% of the battle on these little dumplings. The 30% goes to the meat and soup juices the skin is supposed to enclose. These weren't as juicy nor as flavorful as I had hoped or have had elsewhere.
Tofu & Vegetable Hot Pot ($8.50) - We saw 2 other tables ordering this. It was delivered to the table piping hot in a mini cauldron and then placed atop a Sterno lighter to keep it boiling. Full of cabbage, mushroom, tofu, bok choy, and other greenery, this was a yummy healthy feeling dish.
Ja Jiang Mein ($6.95) - We tried this based on reviews. I have to say I disagree. This is not the sauce I like. It was savory and had some meat bits, but the cucumber juliennes were too small and got lost. The noodles were past al dente. And overall could use more sauce.
And for some reason, it was freeezing in the restaurant. Sure it is still Winter but where's the heat?
And warning, if you ask for a glass of ice water, it may taste funny. Sticking to hot boiled tea seems safer and tastier. -
Review from Jess C.
San Francisco, CA
1/15/2011
Finally, decent tasting fairly priced Chinese, more specifically Shanghainese, food in Chinatown.
Had the XLB. They are tasty, but I feel that they lack just a touch in flavor. Not that I wouldn't eat there again. The wrapper was a touch thick but still tasty.
The lionheads were big and tender. The braising sauce was tasty.
Shanghai Rice Cake: 3.5 - not enough veggies and meat for my taste, but great chewy rice cake texture
Delicate Squash and Egg Soup: 3 - Just like momma used to make. Heavy on the sesame seed oil. It hit the spot for me.
Panfried Bao: 4 - Using a wrap more akin to the Mantou, the sweeter, thicker dough changes up the XLB dynamic. Would have liked a bit more filling.
I'm just so happy to finally eat a darn decent version of this stuff again. My heart is crying food tears of joy. -
Review from Cathy K.
12/8/2010 1 photo
My new favorite place for soup dumplings ~ the crab & pork ones are fantastic! One order includes (lucky #) eight bite-size dumplings of deliciousness. Careful, the bit of soup inside may be a tad hot (temperature-wise) for your palate.
I had a good feeling about this place as I walked in. The hostess reminds me of my mom - very sweet with a genuine smile.
Ambiance = warm yellows, high-ish ceilings, ample elbow room and clean.
We also had the veggie dumplings - a nice balance to the meat-filled ones described above, as well as the spicy soft (mapo) tofu. The ginger in this dish packs a nice kick.
I'll be back. -
Review from Eric G.
San Francisco, CA
2/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The soup dumplings are perfect.
I am here weekly. I think the staple item for all of my visits is the soup dumpling. I can not ask for anything more in these little things. The flavor is perfect. Every time I come it I try and make a point to survey what other people are ordering. I will usually find some other hidden jem. Some jems include: the pan fried pork bun, savory rice roll, and hot & sour soup.
Since I usually drop in with a lot of people I can say that they are great about accommodating a large group. They will however only accept 3 credit cards at a time so it is better to pay with cash.
The staff is usually pretty quick about taking your order but slow to bring the check. In my opinion, this is fine. I know other people who would be put off by that.
