The Best Dim Sum in San Francisco
Cart-pushed Cantonese classics and modern dim sum rooms, from Chinatown to the Richmond.
San Francisco dim sum runs two ways: the rolling carts, where steamer baskets and small plates circle the room and you point at what looks good, and the made-to-order kitchens that fire each dish fresh. The tradition is Cantonese, carried by the city's Chinatown banquet halls and the Cantonese restaurants strung along Geary and Clement in the Richmond and out into the Sunset. Some rooms keep it old-school with pushcarts and live seafood tanks; others give the canon a modern remix. These six are each scored and verified by Dim Hour.
A note on the order: build around the staples — har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork-and-shrimp), char siu bao (sweet-savory roast pork buns), and rice-noodle rolls. Soup dumplings (xiao long bao) turn up across town, and the bigger Cantonese houses carve roast duck. If carts are running, pace yourself; the baskets keep coming.
Mister Jiu's
Brandon Jew's modern Chinese room above an 1880s Chinatown banquet hall on Waverly Place, holding a Michelin star. The cooking pulls the Cantonese canon forward: order the whole roasted duck (place it in advance), the salt & pepper Dungeness crab in season, and the sourdough scallion pancake.
Yank Sing
Third-generation family dim sum at Rincon Center, a James Beard America's Classics winner and Michelin Bib Gourmand. Over 100 rotating dishes arrive from traditional pushcarts: get the char siu bao, pork xiao long bao, and har gao, and watch for the Peking duck carved tableside.
Dragon Beaux
The Koi Palace team's upscale dim sum room on Geary in the Outer Richmond, where the classics get a modernist remix. By day it's the rainbow soup dumplings with five colored skins, sea bass dumplings, and baked BBQ pork puff pastry; by night it pivots to premium hot pot.
Harborview
A Cantonese room at Embarcadero Center built on cart service and live seafood tanks, with bay views through floor-to-ceiling windows. It's the classic FiDi business lunch — order the roast duck and the XO pan-fried rice and work the carts as they pass.
HK Lounge Bistro
The successor to Hong Kong Lounge II, reopened in SoMa after a 2019 fire closed the Geary location. The room is a tiny sliver, but the dim sum still draws families: steamed siu mai, delicate xiao long bao, and fried sesame balls. Lunch fills fast, so reserve or arrive early.
Palette Tea House
A modern Cantonese dim sum house near Fort Mason on North Point, a short walk from the waterfront. The kitchen is known for elaborate dumplings and buns — the pumpkin puffs and lobster dumplings are the ones to order. Pair lunch with a stroll along the bay.
What is the best dim sum in San Francisco?
Where can I get traditional cart dim sum in San Francisco?
What should I order at dim sum?
Which San Francisco dim sum spots take reservations?
Where is the best modern dim sum in San Francisco?
Is there good dim sum in the Richmond District?
Where can I get dim sum with a view in San Francisco?
Which San Francisco dim sum spots have awards?
Where can I get dim sum in Chinatown?
How many San Francisco restaurants does Dim Hour cover?
Dim Hour scores every restaurant on food, service, ambiance, and value, and verifies every listing. This guide is updated as the catalog changes. Explore all San Francisco restaurants →