Dumpling Kitchen

Neighborhood favorite. everything is delicious but a special shout out to the custard buns

I can't count how many times I've ordered takeout from this place. It's definitely my go-to Chinese spot. My usual order is in the photo and listed below:

-Shanghai-style chow mein: super thick chewy noodles
-Shanghai-style pan-fried pork buns: if you've never had these before, you are in for a treat! They have the slightly crunchy exterior of a regular pan-fried dumpling, and the interior is a partially soupy filling. VERY GOOD. Only downside is that I regularly ask for extra dipping sauce and do not receive it. The dipping sauce containers are also barely filled. I ended up buying my own chinese black vinegar to supplement.
-dry-braised string beans: very garlicky! And good level of firmness.

Other things to note:
-they are WICKED FAST. Usually my order is out the restaurant door in 15-20 min. Great for you hangry people out there.
-ordering is on the ChowNow app. I know it's a drag to download yet another food app, but this one is well worth the download bc the fees are MUCH lower than other apps, at least when you order from Dumpling Kitchen (i think it varies by restaurant? Not sure).

Very nice service, extremely attentive and fast! Food was really good, we ordered:

-pan fried XLB (the standout)
-dry fried green beans (excellent)
-wontons in chili oil (excellent)
-bean thread salad appetizer (meh)

I would say prices are average, after all it is San Francisco. I did like that they offered a cash discount.

We came during the week, around 7pm and were seated right away.

Easily one of my favorite dumpling spots in sf. I'm a frequent visitor and it's always my go to recommendation for those visiting and wanting dumplings.

My go too order is for the Shanghai style steamed pork dumplings, the Shanghai style stir fried rice cakes (short flat wide noodles), and dry-braised string beans.

The service here is variable and totally dependent on where you are sitting, how busy they are, and how much you ordered. You usually have to flag your server down.

Let's start off by saying the portions are generous, we usually encounter XLBs coming in 8 and not 10, and the beef tripe being a much smaller portion, but they charge around the same compared to other restaurants, which is great!

The food was decent, the XLBs were filled with broth and flavor, and came very hot. The tripe could've been spicier to really bring out the OG flavor, the pan fried pork buns were drier on the inside than I'd like, it lacked broth. The salted egg custard buns were perfect, we tore them in half and the custard was oozing, which is already a way better sign than other restaurants service solid custards.

The service was quick and easy as you'd expect, they were quite busy on the weekend. The inside has tons of seating, and even though the restaurant was full, it didn't feel cramped.

Great food, great service. This place is awesome - came at peak dinner time on a Sunday and they weren't too busy at all. We got seated quickly and they took our order within 5 minutes of sitting down.

Food is good. We got the fish filet in chili oil and it came with a lot. We also got shanghai noodles and those were pretty good and the green beans were solid. The pan fried dumplings were okay - I've had better.

The tables are far apart from each other which makes the restaurant feel roomy and not cramped. Really enjoyed this place overall!

Dumpling Kitchen is different but still good! Friends ordered delivery for us, and it arrived hot and delicious, so this review will be based on how the food was delivered.

Pan Fried Dumplings: The dumplings are stuffed with juicy pork balls and seared to perfection. The fat from the pork is balanced by dipping it in dark vinegar, creating a delectable and savory dish.

Spicy Dumplings: Served with chili oil and vinegar, these dumplings are simple but delicious. They taste better in-restaurant, however, because the dumpling skins stick together, making it difficult to share.

Mongolian Beef: Fresh vegetables and very tender beef reminded me of how my momma makes it. The sauce was a tad salty, so I suggest pairing this dish with white rice.

Beef Fried Rice: The dish tasted good as far as fried rice goes but nothing stood out.

String Beans: The beans were tender, but good Lord, they were on the salty side. This one would be a pass for me next time, and I would substitute it with another vegetable dish.

Overall, still tasty and Yummy Certified!

Came here with a friend and my daughter after my friend read about this place and wanted to give it a try for lunch. We went on a Sunday for lunch at 11.30am and luckily were able to get a table with no wait. The dining space is about medium sized and I can see this place easily filling up on a busy day. The service was friendly and the space was inviting and clean. The food came out quite quickly which was good since we were hungry. This is what we ordered:

Shanghai style stir fried rice cake (LOVED this one with the chewy texture)
Braised tofu with vegetables (a bit too saucy and salty)
Shanghai style steamed pork dumplings (XLB, excellent!)
Shanghai style pan fried pork buns (yummy and juicy)

I would recommend all of the above except maybe the tofu. I look forward to coming back again and trying some of the other dishes!

Eight years later and this place still makes the best of everything. I've read other reviews that complain about the food not having been made exactly to each person's childhood memory specifications, but I'm not buying it. Don't come here--the rest of us will keep eating it up.

Saturday afternoon with two of my friends where we waited a few minutes without reservations before we were seated. Food came out in a timely manner and everything was delicious as always. Place can get a bit loud as it gets busy but we were all able to hear ourselves. They do take credit cards.

* Wontons in Chili Oil $12.80
* Shanghai-Style Steamed Pork Dumplings $13.80
* Shanghai-Style Pan-Fried Pork Buns $12.80
* Pea Sprouts w/ Garlic $18.80
* Steamed Vegetarian Gow $12.80