ISO Dim Sum-Sit Down in SF (First Dim Sum experience)

[Carbear99]

Going to be in SF for the weekend.

There seems to be a very fierce debate over the best Dim Sum in SF.

This will be our first Dim Sum experience and we are interested in finding a place that is sit down, not take-out. Also the more authentic the better, if possible. Any area within the city is fine.

Thanks for the suggestions and ideas!

[Ruth Lafler]

As you mentioned, there's a lot of debate on this topic.

I don' t think "authenticity" is an issue. Dim sum in places like Hong Kong is constantly evolving to incorporate innovative new dishes. I think, instead, the difference is between "traditional" dim sum and more "modern" dim sum.

My question to you would be, how comfortable are you in jumping in on your own? Are you willing to sit and point at stuff on a cart pushed by a lady who speaks minimal English and take a gamble that you might not like it, or do you want some kind of idea as to what you're eating? Also, you might want to check on line for some kind of introductory guide to the most common dim sum offerings.

[Carbear99]

Thanks so much for your response. We are pretty adventurous eaters. My Husband was in Shanghai and that part of China last October and tried all kinds of crazy stuff. We are definitely willing to try anything once! Don't have a problem jumping in and taking a gamble!

[Debbie M]

The "controversial" Yank Sing (personally, I'm pro-) has a gallery on their website:

http://www.yanksing.com/our-cuisine/d...

[sfbing]

Try Hong Kong Lounge-large variety, neighborhood place, not too expensive. Also, the Irish bakery nearby is excellent.

[sfbing]

Also, whereever you go, go around 11am on a weekend for the real deal and the widest selection.

[stomsf]

In SF you're pretty limited. I've been told the really good dim sum is mostly South, in Daly City and the Peninsula. But since you'll be in the city already (going to HS, as I just posted on your other thread :o)........) then my place to go has been either New Asia or Meriwa on Pacific. I usually prefer Meriwa, as it feels more in tume with the old dim sum houses my Mom would take us to in Monterey Park in So Cal.

One benefit to Meriwa is it has a parking garage right underneath the restaurant. Other good options are out in the Avenues or on Clement, but parking is usually so horrific out there I avoid it.

[Robert Lauriston]

"Pretty limited"? There must at least a hundred dim sum places in SF.

http://search.chow.com/search?query=d...=

[Ruth Lafler]

I'd be surprised if there were 100 sit-down dim sum places in SF (as opposed to take out, or places that have a few dumplings on their menu but don't really serve dim sum).

[stomsf]

Sorry, meant limited as in really good. Quick comments can get me in trouble sometimes.

Mediocre dim sum abounds. As does horrificly overpriced mediocre dim sum (Yank Sing IMHO).

[Ruth Lafler]

Really? When we were checking out places for our dim sum "civil war" a few years back we found New Asia to be middling and Meriwa to be disgusting: dingy, dirty, and more important, poor food and service. IIRC, Melanie likened it to a restaurant in '80s China -- and that wasn't a compliment!

Here's the report:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/22272

[stomsf]

Well I don't doubt you. My experience at Meriwa, granted, is a few years dated. I've been keeping to non-SF places for dim sum as of late as my other half wants to avoid all the oil as he's dieting.

I think it was more the experience -- the bustling carts, the attitude of the servers. The food was decent IMHO, and I grew up knowing we didn't go to have Dim Sum for the atmosphere.

I'll humbly withdraw my Meriwa and New Asia mentions for better alternatives. :o)

[Chandavkl]

Did Meriwa reopen? I know it went through open and shut cycles in the past.

[chefj]

I would give Mayflower at Geary Blvd. and 27th Ave.??? a try.
They cover all the traditional dim sum very well and have some interesting "new" Items as well.
Although it does not get much buzz here, It has been one of my favorites for years.
I believe that the old chef from Honk Kong Flower Lounge circa 1998 is the current chef there.

[Carbear99]

Feeling more confused than ever, but after reading through a ton of threads looks like R & G Lounge and Great Eastern may be good choices... Thoughts?!! (Also going to have our 2 1/2 year old with us!)

[yimster]

Well if you must have your dim sum in San Francisco then one of your best options would be Great Eastern on Jackson in Chinatown or S & T in the Avenues.

But the your best bets for dim sum is not in the City proper.

I have not had dim sum for awhile (Doctors orders) so I am out of touch. Wish I could say I missed it but I have learn not to.

[Ruth Lafler]

R&G doesn't serve dim sum. Great Eastern is good, but as far as I know they only serve dim sum from a menu -- if you're not familiar with the dishes I might be difficult to know what to order. I think carts are better for a newbie because you can see what you're choosing.

[alanbarnes]

I think Great Eastern might be a good choice. Dim sum off a menu has the advantage that of providing a new diner with some sure bets - siu mai, har gow, etc. It has the added bonus of allowing more flexibility as to dining time; you can go at off hours and have a full variety of fresh-made food instead of a limited selection of things that have been riding around on a cart for half an hour.

I used to be a "carts only" kind of guy, but now believe there's room for both systems.

[anyhow]

Another vote for Yank Sing, in the Rincon Center. Reservations are honored, free validated parking, elegant surroundings, helpful service (staff are able to call in requests to kitchen), and wide variety of dishes, choice of teas, and like all dim sum restaurants ... families are expected. If your child will be happier in the atrium, or dining room, you can choose.

Others on this board are better able to judge authenticity, and some like YS and some do not. All agree that there are cheaper places to go for dim sum. I think YS is a good value for the price (but not necessarily the best value if one ignores all the customer experience factors).

Enjoy your meals and please report back.

[JasmineG]

Yeah, I took a friend for her first dim sum experience about a month ago, and we went to Yank Sing, which was perfect. It's definitely more expensive than you'll find elsewhere, but the food was great, the staff can tell you what everything is so you know for next time, and there was a nice variety of what came out of the kitchen to us. There are two locations, but Rincon is definitely a nicer place to eat (I think the food is equally good at each location).

[klyeoh]

Defnitely Yank Sing - they only do lunch tho.

[c oliver]

We've been eating lately at Happy Chinese on Powell between Broadway and Pacific. We go early 8-9 a.m. and are always the only non-Chinese there (but at that time of day, that's pretty typical, we find.) It's clean and well lit with plenty of families. The staff is very nice and overall speak more English than a lot of Chinese places. We usually have chicken feet, har gow, spare ribs in black bean sauce and maybe one more dish. Usually about $10 if I remember correctly. It's very easy to get to. We usually walk but the 30 Stockton is only 1 block east.

[rworange]

Where did you go?

[choctastic]

What about City View? It's right in Chinatown (for the whole tourist experience) and I have always thought their dim sum was actually pretty decent, if not spectacular, but honestly I think you could do much, much worse. It's also a nice-looking restaurant. The prices aren't bad either.

[SuzieCK]

I'm heading to Tiburon next week and will be able to grab late afternoon-early evening dim sum on my way to the airport. Willing to take a cab from Ferry Building but these posts are all over the map. Where can I find dim sum a reasonable cab ride from the Ferry Building in the late afternoon of a weekday that's authentic and yum? Help!

[wolfe]

Walk to Rincon Annex for Yank Sing but only until 3.
Spear Street.
http://www.yanksing.com/home.php

[c oliver]

As Wolfe says, dim sum is a breakfast/lunch meal. I'm not aware of places serving it later.

[Robert Lauriston]

There are a handful of places that serve dim sum all day. Dim Dum King in Daly City is one.

On a short trip, I'd skip Tiburon as well unless you're going there for business. Nice view, that's about it.

[alanbarnes]

I'm not quite sure I understand your itinerary, but am guessing that you may be planning to take BART from SFO to the Tiburon ferry. In that case, your best options are probably near the airport rather than the Ferry Building. I'd take either Peninsula Asian Pearl or Hong Kong Flower Lounge over any place in the City. HKFL gets the nod here because of proximity to the Millbrae BART station.

That said, my experience is that quality starts to decrease sometime shortly after noon, even at good places. Lower demand leads to lower turnover, and the food suffers from sitting around too long. Even if you can find a restaurant that serves dim sum in the late afternoon or evening, I'd only recommend it if you can choose it from a menu and have it prepared fresh to order.

[Windy]

I love Asian Pearl, but it's at least a mile walk, perhaps farther, from Millbrae BART.

[alanbarnes]

Agreed. That's why I said that HKFL gets the nod - it's just two blocks from BART. The cab ride to Asian Pearl from the airport is just 5-10 minutes, and it's even shorter from the Millbrae station, but IMO it's a cab ride regardless.

[Robert Lauriston]

How late does HKFL serve dim sum on Sundays?

[alanbarnes]

3pm, but as with any cart place I'd be hesitant to go in that late.

[Robert Lauriston]

Harbor Village Kitchen at the airport serves dim sum until midnight and it's not bad. They're in the food court at the south end of the pre-security section of the international terminal, which is close to the BART station.

[flavrmeistr]

Good to know. I'll be taking the BART into town next week from SFO. Sounds like a perfect lunch opportunity before making the schlepp to Market and 8th. Thanks, Bob.

[Robert Lauriston]

If you're around at lunchtime during dim sum service hours and have enough time to spare, you could probably do better somewhere else.

[flavrmeistr]

I could go to Yank Sing a few blocks down from where I'm staying, which I plan on doing at least once during the week. Sure, why not?

[c oliver]

I had completely forgotten about that. I can't remember, do you know if they're open real early in the AM?

[Robert Lauriston]

They open at 8:30.

[c oliver]

Thanks. We sometimes fly out of SFO after spending the night with daughter. This could come in handy for those later morning flights. After almost missing a flight in Rio a few years ago, I'm kind of a freak about getting through security quickly.