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Dim Sum San Francisco: My 10 Favorite Places to Get Dim Sum in SF
By: Jill Loeffler • Updated: May 28, 2025 • Published: February 26, 2013
Are you interested in trying dim sum during your visit to San Francisco? Discover my list of top options in Chinatown and throughout the city.
If you're not familiar with dim sum, it is Chinese cuisine served in small amounts so that you can order a variety of items for your meal.
Many dishes consist of steamed or fried dumplings, served on small plates in quantities of two or three.
Jill's Pro Tips for Eating Dim Sum
1. Dim sum is usually a late morning or early afternoon meal. You'll find a handful of restaurants open until evening, but for the most part, plan for going early in the day and trying to beat the crowds.
2. It's meant for family-style dining and you can always order more! The small plates are easy to share so everyone can try some. If you get something that everyone loves and are left wanting more, no problem! Ask for more and take your time! That's part of the fun of the experience.
3. Carts or menu? Some restaurants serve their small plates stacked on rolling carts so you can choose what looks good as they pass by. Others offer a menu where you can mark your choices and the waiter will tally the number of each item you order. Each style has its charm!
4. There are a few essential dishes that make a good place to start: Har Gow (shrimp dumplings), Siu Mai (pork dumplings), Char Siu Bao (BBQ pork buns), and Egg Tarts (custard-filled pastries for dessert).
5. Many dim sum places are cash only. So, come prepared! I've let you know in the descriptions below which of my favorite restaurants also accept card.
Whether ordering from the paper menu or the cart that gets wheeled around, in my opinion, the best way to eat dim sum is to order four or five plates.
Once you finish those, you can order a few more or maybe even repeat some of your favorites.
Since San Francisco is a fairly expensive town to visit, so dim sum offers some of the best food value in the city.
My friends and I can typically eat a full meal and still only pay less than $10 per person.
NOTE: Be prepared to bring cash before you sit down and eat. Many of these places do not accept credit cards or traveler's checks.
Now that you know a little more about dim sum, check out this list of my favorite places to enjoy it.
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Best Dim Sum in Chinatown
You will find dozens of places to eat dim sum in San Francisco's Chinatown. They are often very small, with only six or seven tables.
These restaurants may look similar from the outside, but there are major differences in ambiance and quality of the food. Here are my five favorite places to eat dim sum in the Chinatown district.
1. Delicious Dim Sum
Address: 752 Jackson Street
Hours: Thursday through Tuesday from 8 am to 6 pm (closed Wednesdays)
This is my favorite place to grab dim sum in San Francisco. However, it's small and often crowded, so make sure you have a few alternatives in mind.
They accept both credit cards and cash.
2. Good Mong Kok Bakery
Address: 1039 Stockton Street
Hours: Every day from 7 am to 6 pm
This is another one of my personal favorites. It is very reliable and always affordable. It is often crowded, but customers usually take their dim sum to go.
They accept cash or credit cards.
3. Wing Sing
Address: 1125 Stockton Street
Hours: Every day from 7 am to 6 pm
Wing Sing Dim Sum is another local favorite in the heart of Chinatown.
This restaurant only accepts cash.
4. Hang Ah Tea Room
Address: 1 Pagoda Place
Hours: Every day from 11 am to 8 pm
Hang Ah Tea Room claims to be one of San Francisco's oldest dim sum restaurants. I love it because it's small, colorful, and tucked away in a little Chinatown alley!
Since they're open later than most other dim sum places, this great option if you get a nighttime hankering for dim sum.
5. Dol Ho
Address: 808 Pacific Avenue
Hours: Thursday through Tuesday from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm (closed Wednesdays)
This is a great spot to enjoy dim sum in San Francisco for lunch. I recommend heading over just after the lunch crowd (1:30 pm to 3 pm).
Dol Ho accepts both cash and credit cards.
Other Chinatown attractions: Fortune Cookie Company | Shopping
>> More great cheap eats around SF
Dim Sum Options Outside of Chinatown
You will also find a few good options outside of Chinatown. Many of these places are slightly larger, so they can accommodate parties of more than four or five people.
These are my five favorite dim sum San Francisco restaurants outside of Chinatown.
6. Yank Sing
Locations: 101 Spear Street (Financial District) and 49 Stevenson Street (SoMa)
Hours: Both restaurants are open Wednesday through Friday from 11 am to 3 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
Yank Sing is more expensive because they offer higher-end dishes that provide a modern take on traditional dim sum. Due to their locations, they appeal to the working crowd who stop in for lunch near their offices.
Note: Take-out and delivery are available from their Spear Street location until 7 pm from Wednesday to Sunday.
They accept cash and credit cards.
7. Good Luck Dim Sum
Address: 736 Clement Street (Inner Richmond)
Hours: Wednesday through Sunday from 8 am to 4:30 pm (closed Mondays and Tuesdays)
Although it's a bit of a trip to the Inner Richmond district, this is a great option for a more traditional restaurant, as there are places to sit here.
It's very affordable, but they only accept cash.
8. Wing Lee Bakery
Address: 503 Clement Street (Inner Richmond)
Hours: 8 am to 7 pm daily
They offer quick service, cheap dim sum, and ready-to-go baked items like pork buns and egg tarts. You can expect very casual service because it is more of a bakery than a restaurant.
They are cash only.
9. Hong Kong Lounge
Address: 5322 Geary Boulevard (Inner Richmond)
Hours: Weekdays 10:30 am to 2:30 pm and 5 pm to 8:30 pm; on Saturday and Sunday, the hours are the same except they open at 10 am)
The Hong Kong Lounge offers dim sum as well as many other Chinese dishes. It's a full-service restaurant that accepts credit cards, and stays open a little later than most.
This one is a bit pricier than the others on this list, but it's a good choice when traveling with a larger group or with children.
10. Chase Luck Bakery
Address: 1325 Ocean Avenue (Ingleside, on the southern end of SF)
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 7 am to 6 pm (closed Mondays)
A bit out of the way, but this is a great choice if you want dim sum that is authentic, delicious, and cheap. Their dim sum is made fresh to order.
They only accept cash.
Another Way to Sample Dim Sum in San Francisco
If this all seems a bit overwhelming, and you want a guide to take you to the best dim sum spots around San Francisco, then check out one of the food walking tours around the Chinatown district.
These tours offer you the chance to sample dim sum and other traditional Chinese cuisines. Your knowledgeable guide will tell you more about each dish. You will also learn all about each place where you are eating and the district.
Here are a few options:
Food Walking Tour of Chinatown and North Beach
This four-hour tour offers tasty samples in two of SF's top districts. In Chinatown, you'll sample dim sum, taste teas, and enjoy traditional Chinese food.
You'll then head over to North Beach for Italian goodies, including pizza and wine.
This tour is usually offered daily at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm, but hours may vary especially on weekends. You'll start at the Chinatown Gate.
Chinatown Culinary Walking Tour
On this Chinatown walking tour, you will sample local dishes, including dim sum.
You will also enjoy tea tastings, look inside a Buddhist temple, check out Chinese antiquities, watch artisans make fortune cookies, and learn more about this historic district.
It's a three-hour tour that runs seven days a week. There is a tour at 10:30 am most days (10 am on Saturdays), and some dates may have an additional afternoon tour.
Recommendations for First Timers
If this is your first time trying dim sum in San Francisco, here are a few of my favorite dishes that you might enjoy. Classic picks include bao, siu mai, and har gow.
- Steamed buns (bao): This is a fluffy white pastry with meat or veggies inside of it. I usually love pork steamed buns the best.
- Dumplings: These are smaller with a thin layer of dough around them. They come filled with veggies, meat, or both. The siu mai are egg noodles stuffed with pork and shrimp. The har gow are translucent noodles filled with shrimp.
- Fried shrimp balls: If you love shrimp, you will love these tasty nuggets. They are often breaded with the shrimp on the inside of it.
- Potstickers: These are like dumplings, but fried, and usually filled with pork on the inside.
A few other items I enjoy are sticky rice dishes and egg rolls. I also recommend trying one of the desserts with bean paste. It can be an acquired taste, but I recommend you try it!
More Things to Do In and Around Chinatown
Chinese Historical Society: Head over to the Chinese Historical Society before or after you enjoy your dim sum to learn more about the history of Chinese Americans. This small but interesting museum features artifacts, stories, and other cultural exhibits that give you some insight into this community.
Chinese Temples: Another great way to learn more about the community in Chinatown is stopping by one of three Chinese temples. All visitors are welcome as long as you are respectful of those coming to pray. Click on the link above to learn more and find out how to visit these temples in the Chinatown District.
A Perfect Day in Chinatown: Do you only have one day to visit Chinatown? If so, then you will love this self-guided itinerary. In one day, you will take the best route through this SF district and see as much as possible. It's free and a great tour to do at your own pace.
Hi, I'm Jill!
Dreaming of a San Francisco vacation? As a proud local, I'm here to share my insider tips and personal experiences to help you make the most of this iconic city!
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