Do The Bay’s Best Dim Sum & Dumplings
Written by Ben Ng
Mini culture-slash-history lesson: two essential components of Chinese tradition are Yum Cha (drink tea) and Dim Sum (touch heart). The roots of both customs can be traced to the Silk Road, a crucial series of trade routes that connected the East and the West and allowed a cultural and material exchange for centuries. Traders traversed the Silk Road routes with spices, materials, livestock, and goods for months at a time, periodically stopping to rest at teahouses along the route. Those teahouses offered small, bite-sized snacks to visitors -- in other words, dim sum.
The Silk Road eventually declined due to the fall of the Mongol Empire and the devastation of the Black Plague, but dim sum survived long enough to evolve into a modern and wildly popular dining experience all over the world. Dig into this ancient tradition with our guide to dim sum in the Bay!
East Bay
(1291 Parkside Dr // Walnut Creek)
Frustrated by the lack of dim sum options in Walnut Creek, owners Sheke and Connie Chow came out of retirement at 70 and made it their mission to bring the flavors of home to the Bay. With more than 50 dim sum selections, let's just say, not all heroes wear capes.
Hong Kong East Ocean Seafood Restaurant
(3199 Powell St // Emeryville)
Easily the most popular dim sum spot in the East Bay, Hong Kong East Ocean delivers with homemade dim sum (and wicked weekend specials!), ridiculously fresh seafood, and a breathtaking view of the Bay Area. If you're not into fish, no worries -- they have a huge variety of other options as well!
(1713 Webster St // Alameda)
East Bay, meet East Ocean. This traditional restaurant calls Alameda home and is one of few East Bay spots still using rolling carts to display dim sum. Fair warning, late risers: dim sum is only available from 10 am until 2:30 pm.
(3288 Pierce St // Richmond)
Need a place to satisfy your late-night munchies? Look no further. Daimo in Pacific East Mall is open until 11:45 pm and has over 500 items on its affordable menu. They have dim sum, of course, but also hot pot, ramen, BBQ, congee, and so much more.
(Daly City // Dublin // Milpitas // Cupertino)
Want Koi Palace, but not in the mood to go all the way to Daly City? Check out one of their other locations! Each location has slightly different menu options for dim sum and dinner, and the Dublin location even has an express option if you're in a hurry.
(1821 Webster St // Alameda)
Chef’s Wok is a cornerstone of the Alameda community. Expect to find clever and modern interpretations of traditional recipes for a reasonable price. It's definitely a come hungry, leave happy kind of place!
(388 9th St #288 // Oakland)
Thanks to their revamped kitchen, the food at Peony is more top quality than ever. Come for the unique buns and stay for the delicious noodles. The restaurant is roomy and the menu is extensive, so there's really no reason not to go. Extra perk: they have a parking lot!
San Francisco
(900 North Point St, Suite #B201 // Fisherman's Wharf)
Discover the art of dim sum at probably one of the most IG-worthy dim sum spots the Bay has to offer. While servings are relatively small, it makes for a great excuse to try a wide range of options. Everything looks and tastes like a dream, so what's not to love?
(5322 Geary Blvd // Inner Richmond)
Ask a few locals about the best place in San Francisco to get your dim sum fix, and Hong Kong Lounge will come up a few times. The lounge makes everything to order, so no matter which of their 80+ individual dishes you choose, you're bound to find a winner (or five).
(736 Clement St // Jordan Park)
Far from the congested sidewalks of Chinatown, this casual dim sum takeout spot in the heart of the Richmond is a perfect alternative to its crowded counterparts. It's also a great option to get heaps of food without spending heaps of cash.
(1935 Taraval St // Parkside)
For those who love their dumplings and Shanghainese cuisine, you can't miss Dumpling Kitchen. Their crave-worthy Xiao Long Baos never fail to satisfy. Just be sure to hit it Thursday through Tuesday -- they're closed every Wednesday.
(1713 Taraval St // Parkside)
Practically neighbors with Dumpling Kitchen, Kingdom of Dumpling also specializes in - you guessed it - dumplings! With 20 different varieties to choose from, you'll find something to suit you no matter what kind of mood you're in. And yes, they're open on Wednesdays.
(11 Division St // Design District)
What time is it? Dumpling time, DUH. This spot is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for your stomach. You can watch as authentic dumplings are made from scratch -- it'll have your mouth watering by the time your food is served.
(2110 Irving St // Inner Sunset)
Fresh, handmade dumplings at a reasonable price. It can't get any better than that, right? Wrong. They've also got delicious noodle and dumpling soups that warm the soul, which is necessary given the chill of the Sunset.
(1039 Stockton St // Chinatown)
Find this popular hole-in-the-wall bakery smack dab in the middle of downtown San Francisco. The compact take-out shop keeps its plethora of Chinese chows under $10, and also has plenty of sweet treats on the menu, like melon cake and raisin buns.
North Bay
(San Rafael // Oakland // Palo Alto)
This organic dim sum food stand is a hidden gem that pops up at farmers markets around the Bay. If you don't mind spending a bit more, you can indulge in dim sums carefully crafted with love. To top it off, they source all their ingredients from local farms.
(2130 Armory Dr // Santa Rosa)
Currently only open for takeout, Hang Ah is a traditional dim sum restaurant that delivers genuine flavors to Santa Rosa. Considering it's near impossible to find another dim sum spot within a 30-mile radius, Hang Ah is almost always flooded with patrons.
(951 Lakeville St // Petaluma)
Check out The Canton if you're looking for quality, tasty food that never disappoints. There's plenty to choose from as the dim sum only occupies a corner of the menu, and they even have family-style dinner options if you're going out with a crew.
South Bay + Peninsula
(2855 Stevens Creek Blvd // Santa Clara)
Founded as a cooking oil shop, Din Tai Fung slowly evolved into one of the Bay's most prevalent dim sum spots. The big and buzzy restaurant specializes in soup dumplings and noodles, and their Xiao Long Baos are second to none.
(824 W El Camino Real // Sunnyvale)
A low-key dim sum spot with a modest interior, Dim Sum King's homemade dim sum exceeds expectations. If you're trying to eat without breaking the bank, many of these Hong Kong-style small plates go for less than $5 (and there's no shortage of options!).
(6180 Jarvis Ave Ste U // Newark)
With quick service and sparkly digs, these are sum dumplings we can get behind. One of their signature offerings is red dumplings – the coolest thing you've ever seen, right? The rest of the menu is just as good, we promise.
Saigon Seafood Harbor Restaurant
(Sunnyvale // Richmond)
Loud, bustling with food carts, and absolutely delicious dim sum: that's the Saigon Seafood Harbor way. Whether you're in the mood for buns, rolls, or dumplings, they've got you covered. Come hungry, too, because their larger portions will keep you full for hours.
** This article was originally published by Do The Bay. CLICK HERE to view the full article.