Guide to Dim Sum in The Bay Area
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 my guide to dim sum in the Bay!
SAN FRANCISCO
Palette Tea House
(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. The food looks and tastes like a dream so what's not to love? Delivery available through Grubhub, DoorDash, and Postmates.
Hong Kong Lounge
(5322 Geary Blvd // Inner Richmond)
Ask a few locals where 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). Delivery available through Grubhub, DoorDash, Postmates, and Seamless.
Good Luck Dim Sum
(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.
Dumpling Kitchen
(1935 Taraval St // Sunset District)
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 don't go on a Wednesday - they're closed. Delivery available through Grubhub and DoorDash.
Kingdom of Dumpling
(1713 Taraval St // Parkside)
Practically neighbors with Dumpling Kitchen, Kingdom of Dumpling also specializes in - you guessed it - dumplings! And yes, they are open on Wednesdays. Delivery available through Grubhub, Postmates, and DoorDash.
Dumpling Time
(11 Division St // Mission Bay)
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 that'll have your mouth watering until your food is served. Delivery orders can be made here.
Yuanbao Jiaozi
(2110 Irving St // Inner Sunset)
Fresh, handmade dumplings at a reasonable price. It can't get any better than that, can it? Wrong. They've got delicious noodle soups that warm the soul, especially in the chill of the Sunset. Delivery available through DoorDash and Postmates.
Good Mong Kok Bakery
(1039 Stockton St // Chinatown)
Find this popular hole-in-the-wall bakery smack dab in downtown San Francisco. The compact take-out shop keeps its plethora of Chinese chows under $10.
EAST BAY
Hong Kong East Ocean
(3199 Powell St // Emeryville)
Easily the most popular dim sum spot in the East Bay, Hong Kong East Ocean delivers homemade dim sum (and wicked weekend specials!), ridiculously fresh seafood, and a breathtaking view of the Bay Area.
East Ocean Seafood Restaurant
(1713 Webster St // Alameda)
East Bay, meet East Ocean. The traditional restaurant calls Alameda home and remains one of few East Bay spots still using rolling carts to display dim sum. Fair warning, late risers: dim sum hours end at 2:30 pm. Delivery available through Grubhub and DoorDash.
Daimo
(3288 Pierce St // Richmond)
Need a place to satisfy your late-night munchies? Look no further. Daimo in Pacific East Mall is open until 3 am and has over 500 items on its affordable menu. Delivery available through Seamless, Grubhub, and Postmates.
Koi Palace
(4288 Dublin Blvd #213 // Dublin // Multiple Locations)
Temporarily Closed. Want Koi Palace, but not in the mood to go all the way to Daly City? Check out Koi Palace’s Dublin location. Despite being smaller than the Daly City location, the lavish and upscale interior makes up for the size difference. Delivery available through DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub.
Chef's Wok
(1821 Webster St // Alameda)
Chef’s Wok is a cornerstone of the Alameda community. Expect to find clever and modern interpretations of traditional recipes. Delivery available through Postmates, Seamless, and Grubhub.
Creek House Dim Sum
(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. Let's just say, not all heroes wear capes. Delivery orders can be made here.
Gourmet Delight
(701 Webster St // Oakland)
Temporarily Closed. If the hustle and bustle of food carts roaming around and having to wave them down to get your delicious fix of dim sum doesn't excite you, well then, come here anyway because it's that good.
Peony Seafood Restaurant
(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. Extra perk: they have a parking lot! Delivery available through Uber Eats.
NORTH BAY
Tru Gourmet
(Marin Civic Center Parking Lot // San Rafael)
This organic dim sum food stand is a hidden gem! 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 the local farmers' markets.
Hang Ah Dim Sum
(2130 Armory Dr // Santa Rosa)
A more traditional dim sum restaurant, Hang Ah 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.
The Canton
(951 Lakeville St // Petaluma)
So, chicken or pork? Maybe both — and get it delivered! If you're looking for a place that's sure to never disappoint, check out Petaluma's star Chinese cuisine.
SOUTH BAY + PENINSULA
Din Tai Fung
(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. Specializing in soup dumplings and noodles, their Xiao Long Baos are second to none. Delivery available through DoorDash and Grubhub.
Mom Dumplings
(1726 N Milpitas Blvd // Milpitas)
This mom and pop shop is serving up dim sum and dumplings so good that yep, you guessed it, even mom would approve. Tip: make sure to have cash, or you can also make payment via Venmo.
(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. Trying to eat without breaking the bank? Most dim sums go for less than $5. Delivery available through Grubhub and DoorDash.
Pan Fried Dumplings
(Newark // Cupertino)
Now these are sum dumplings I can get behind. For 2021's celebrations, they're offering red dumplings – the coolest thing you've ever seen, right? They're about to be the coolest thing you've ever eaten too. You're welcome.
Saigon Seafood Harbor Restaurant
(1135 Lawrence Expy // Sunnyvale)
Loud, bustling with food carts, and absolutely delicious dim sum: that's the Saigon Seafood Harbor way. Come hungry, too, since their larger portions will fill you up for hours. Delivery available through DoorDash and Postmates.
Koi Palace
(768 Barber Lane // Milpitas)
The Milpitas location is one of three Koi Palace locations -- and always worth stopping at if you're in the South Bay. Delivery available
