5 to Try: Dim Sum

by Chelsea Lin - Citysearch Editor - 82 Reviews - 92 Lists

Updated: January 08, 2009

It's true: good things do come in small packages. The filled dumplings, fried goodies and plump steamed buns that constitute most dim sum options can make an adventurous and enjoyable brunch, especially if you've got the time (and appetite) to do it right. From high-end to total dive, these five restaurants are the city's best for the traditional Chinese tea-time meal.

Divine Dumplings

  1. 1 S&T Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant
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    2578 Noriega St, San Francisco, CA 94122 (map)

    Famished families line up to score a table and feast on dumplings at this affordable Outer Sunset dim sum haven. Because it's off the beaten track, the food is made for the predominantly Asian locals, meaning it's as authentic as you'll find outside Hong Kong.

  2. 2 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Wing Lee Bakery
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    503 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118 (map)

    If the mark of a good restaurant is the quality of its food and not the atmosphere or cleanliness, this bustling Richmond bakery and dim sum spot is the tops. It's a little like visiting Seinfeld's Soup Nazi, but you can easily feed a group of four for $20--a major plus.

  3. 3 4 Star Rating: Recommended Yank Sing Restaurant
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    101 Spear St (One Rincon Ctr), San Francisco, CA 94105 (map)

    Upscale decor and prime Embarcadero real estate means you're paying top dollar for the dim sum dishes--ranging from the ordinary (Shanghai dumplings, Peking duck) to the extraordinary (snow pea shoot dumplings, stuffed crab claws)--but that doesn't keep people from ranking this among their favorites. The to-go options are especially enticing for downtown workers.

  4. 4 3 Star Rating: Average Koi Palace Restaurant
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    365 Gellert Blvd, Daly City, CA 94015 (map)

    Daly City may not normally be a dining destination, but this always-packed Cantonese restaurant puts it on the map. Dim sum addicts know that the eatery's well-executed dishes are worth the drive, and the seriously long wait.

  5. 5 3 Star Rating: Average Dol Ho
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    808 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133 (map)

    While Chinatown is generally a tourists-only destination for those in-the-know, there are a few well-kept secrets (like Dol Ho) that keep diners coming back. This no-frills storefront is a popular stop for deliciously cheap dumplings and spare ribs over rice.