Bao Bao Dumpling

Loved this place! It was very authentic Shanghai food. We got the Shanghai Braised Wheat Gluten (cold dish). Couldn’t decide if we liked the Xiaolongbao or Shengjian Bao better. The sizzling eggplant was incredible. Would definitely go back!

I usually don’t leave reviews, but I think my experience at this restaurant was definitely worth a 5-star rating! I really loved the pan-fried pork buns here: so juicy, flavorful, and authentic! In fact, they were as good as the ones I had in Shanghai! The fried noodles and the tea they served were also perfect! The lady who served us frequently checked whether if the tea should be refilled. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to try authentic Chinese/Shanghaiese food!

Tried this restaurant with a friend from Shanghai, and we were both blown away. Before this, our favorite was Dumpling Home in Hayes Valley — their xiaolongbao is solid, but not quite the flavor we grew up with. This place? Nailed it. The xiaolongbao tasted exactly like the ones from our childhood. The deep-fried sweet soy fish (熏鱼, xunyu) almost made me cry — perfectly crisp on the outside, tender and sweet inside. First time I’ve had this level of flavor in the U.S. It tasted just like what my uncle used to make for me. The wontons had beautiful wrappers, though I wasn’t a huge fan of the shepherd’s purse (荠菜) filling — it was packed with greens, but a bit too dense for my liking. We also tried the curry beef rice noodle soup, which was rich and comforting — hard to find in other Shanghainese spots here. The owner spoke to us in Shanghainese — big plus — and told us more dishes are coming soon, like crab xiaolongbao and you dun zi (油墩子/萝卜丝饼，fried savory cakes stuffed with shredded daikon). Can’t wait to go back. Super friendly staff, and for us, it really tasted like home.

My friend raved about this place and I agreed - this is hand-down the best pan fried pork buns in SF. Super juicy and crispy on the bottom. It reminded me the one I tried when I first traveled to Shanghai ten years ago. The owner let us know that the pastry chef has 28 years of experience making the pork bun. My mom loved the taro puff pastry as well. Super friendly staff. Exceptional clean. We’re definitely coming back next week.

Delicious food and great service! We enjoyed the five-spiced smoked fish, pan-fried pork buns, and stir-fried pork noodles. The buns came out fresh, hot, and full of flavor, absolutely delicious.

The Shengjian Bao (pan fried pork dumpling) was good--crispy & juicy. Also enjoyed the Five Spiced Smoked Fish, Garlic Smashed Cucumbers, Salted Pork & Vegetable Fried Rice. However, on a previous visit, some dishes (Shanghai fried thick noodles, Shanghai rice cakes, Braised beef noodle soup) were greasy.

The Bao Bao trend just hit the Richmond district! Although, there are a bunch of dumpling places in the Richmond , this place has hands down the best pan fried shengjian bao outside Shanghai! 😋 fried to perfection! Portions are just right. The pork chop noodle soup is 10/10! The space is super modern and has qr code menu where you can order through your phone. No need to wait for someone to take your order. I love love this style of ordering. Super efficient and no need to wait for someone to take your order if you want more dumplings. 😋Although parking could be challenging the bus stop is super convenient only a few blks away and the 38 Geary comes quite often. Love this new addition to the neighborhood 😍

I got soup dumplings and pan-fried pork buns. Unfortunately, the soup dumplings had a strong pork smell. It seemed like both had the same filling, but the pan-fried ones didn’t have that smell at all. The pan-fried buns were really good. They were crispy and juicy! I hope they check the soup dumpling and change ☺️ and staff was friendly

A true Shanghainese restaurant, with all the flavors I remembered. Must try their braised wheat gluten and the meat pastry. Their fry rice cake not oily at all, which is hard to do. The service is a bit slow because they are short handed at busy times. Modern decor with QR code ordering, very up to date but I see older seniors hesitating. I will definitely be a returning customer.

The Shengjian Bao are fantastic and as good as any that I have eaten anywhere, including Shanghai. Pan fried Pork Dumplings filled with Pork and Shrimp, crispy on the base and soft on top, brought back memories. The restaurant is modern and basic , and delightfully clean. You order at your table via QR code, and you are offered iced water or Tea at the table. There are no alcoholic drinks served here. Dining for one is always challenging when ordering Chinese food, and would recommend going with some friends to try more dishes. The Pan fried Pork Dumplings is a good solid litmus test of what's on offer here.

A pretty great spot, with some of the best pan fried buns I've tried in the city. They offer some Shanghainese dishes that are hard to find, but I wouldn't say I was super impressed by the flavor of the stir fried rice cakes I tried. Favorite dishes by far were the scallion pancakes, buns, and XLB. Service was sweet!

Service is good, we made a reservation and we're seated instantly. Definitely get the soup potstickers, those were my favorite. You can't go wrong with any of the dumplings. The jellyfish was kind of bland so I would have opted out on that one. The noodles were okay as well, not the best I've tried. The place is bright and fairly large. It got pretty busy around lunch time so make a reservation or go before 12:30; that's when the rush started kicking in. I'd recommend and come back.

There have been a lot of dumpling places opening recently, with this being one of them. It's worth a try, and I'd say the food is pretty decent

Having a good dumpling place nearby is such a game changer. Located near park presidio / ggp, you can grab flavorful xiao long bao and other home style dishes, like their stir fried rice cake dish! Honestly sf gets so cold and foggy, that sometimes you just need to warm yourself up with some soup dumplings and this is the perfect place to go. It's like a modern mom and pop shop, our waiter was the kindest older woman and she made sure we had everything we needed from the vinegar to the ginger for the dipping sauce. * not pictured * shrimp toast - love the siracha mayo (friend did not) it's very dough heavy but so nostalgic cannot pass this up pictured soup dumplings - soooooo flavorful pan fried soup dumplings - these are everywhere now but i can never get over them regular pan fried dumplings (no soup) - crispy but not too greasy i love their little dumpling spoon too!!

Service was excellent and food was very good. Only two people so we didn't get to try too many items. The signature fried bao was better than expected. To be picky, the wrapping was a little thicker than I personally like them to be, but my friend loved them. They were obviously hand made, which is the good part. Fried bao was very very good - will order again Shanghai fried cake was excellent - will order again Fried fish appetizer was good, but includes bones - probably won't order again. Will come back.

Replaced the Old Shanghai Restaurant. Quality/Quantity - Shanghai Pan Fried Pork Dumplings - My favorite of all the dishes. Decent size and quantity. And yes, see signs, the soup is HOT, so be careful. Steamed Pork Dumplings - Smaller than expected. Fresh and again, HOT soup in the center. Shanghai Thick Noodles - Barely enough for two people, and we are both light eaters... The flavor was okay and it had generous amounts of napa cabbage. But we could have used more noodles. All the foods were of good quality, but not much quantity. Simple menu done well. For two light eaters, it was just enough food. But I would suggest another dish for "regular" or heavy eaters. This would be a 5 star experience if they gave more food. Atmosphere - Beautiful remodel, but it took them FOREVER! Not sure if it was due to the city, budget, covid, etc?!?! It just took the construction forever; if I were to estimate, it took them years... Both upstairs and downstairs remodeled. And did they add an additional kitchen upstairs...? It has been so long since I went to the very outdated previous business. Also love the decor, see pictures. So much history. If I can suggest, please add more information on each picture. Excessive construction, so VERY limited parking; see picture. Open 6 days a week from 11am to 9:30pm; closed Tuesdays. Service - You can order via QR code. They do give a paper menu if you ask. There are also posted menus outside. Price - $45 + tip. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since April of this year, 2025.

Service was good. Place was clean and bright. Xiao long bun had juice inside. That was nice. The pan fried shrimp dumpling was ok. There's two types of eggplants so I got the skinny japanese kind with green beans. Friend liked it.. A tiny spicy kick. Don't order the spicy wonton. I have no idea what was the flavor. Inside was dried up spinach. There was no peanuts included. You can read QR to order more items than the paper menu. Water or tea. There's so much more dumpling places to go to.

This spot is relatively new to the area, decided to stop by for a quick afternoon snack. They only offer pork xiao long bao, no crab version on the menu. The pork soup dumplings and pan-fried buns were solid. The dumpling skin is nice and thin, the filling is juicy and flavorful, though I do wish they had a bit more soup inside.I also tried the spicy beef noodles, which was tasty with a good kick. The wontons were not my thing, would not order them again. Ordering is done through a QR code on your phone, but they do have a physical menu available upon request. Staff was attentive with topping off tea and water. Request for check in the app & it'll print out and brought over to you. When I was ready to pay, I request the check through the phone, and it prints out for the staff to bring over. The space is clean and modern, with flexible seating that works for small groups or larger parties. I've walked in twice so far, both times it was busy but no wait. Definitely my new go-to spot now when I'm craving soup dumplings in Richmond.

New Northern Chinese dumpling restaurant on Geary Blvd.... Replaces the "Old Shanghai" restaurant. Food is decent, self-order thru a QR code accessed menu, prices are two-three dollars more per dish than other established Northern Chinese restaurants. Had: - Five Spiced Smoked Fish, which had a lot of inedible fish bones, some places have edible fried fish bones, BBD's version had a lot of bigger spinal column bones, also didn't taste smoky, but more like a dry fried sweet soy sauce that you would find on fried chicken. - Shenjiang Bau, nicely fried, a bit doughy, but had decent amount of soup. Filling smaller than other places. - Shanghai Style Rice Noodles with Pork and Vegetables, decent-sized dish that had the requisite pork and preserved vegetable saltiness. Overall, decent Northern Chinese restaurant on busy Geary. Can't comment on service since you order using QR code and they just bring you the food. No interaction needed....

A Shanghainese friend recommended this place to us. The server was very friendly, and we asked her for a few suggestions. She was great at explaining how the dishes might taste. For example, some Shanghainese food is sweeter than other Chinese cuisines, which can be helpful to know since the flavor profile is a bit different. She also suggested a taro dessert that was not very sweet, and we liked it a lot. There were so many dishes we wanted to try, but we finally chose three and a dessert. The eel was my favorite, probably because it reminded me of the dish my mother used to make. The smoked fish was also quite unique. It was warm, crispy, and slightly sweet, very different from the versions I have had elsewhere.

Recently ventured into Bao Bao Dumpling on Geary, located where Old Shanghai Restaurant used to be. Great to see life coming back on this part of Geary. Hope more places continue to open up in the City and particularly in this neighborhood. Bao Bao Dumpling serves Shanghainese-style dim sum and food. Currently soft-opening. Very bright and clean interior and you can view an employee in the back making dumplings. QR code ordering. Vegetarian Chicken with Honey Glazed tasted flavorful. The shredded radish and jellyfish with scallion oil tasted slightly salty but crunchy and delicious. The XLB (steamed pork soup dumplings) was well balanced and skin not too thick and soupy. The spicy chili oil wonton is not spicy but tasted heavily of peanut butter. Different than what we were used to but not bad. The Shanghai stirred fried rice cake with Napa Cabbage and pork is delicious. (I missed the one from Taiwan Restaurant since they closed, so this filled the void). Service polite & courteous. Accepts most credit cards. Located on Geary and 16th Ave.

Quite pricey for the portions! My family and I came for lunch on a weekday and the place was fairly empty. The interior is nice, clean, and you can watch them making dumplings through the glass window. We ordered the steamed pork dumplings, pan fried pork buns, chili wontons, radish buns, and Shanghai noodles. The XLBs had a good amount of juice but the tops were a little doughy. The pan fried buns also had a lot of juice but not much filling. The chili wontons were good and the sauce was pretty unique, haven't had a creamy chili sauce like this before. The radish buns were underwhelming, small, not much filling, and you only get 4pcs for $14. The Shanghai noodles didn't have much flavor and had almost no meat. Was fun to try tho!

We wanted to change things up and try a new dumpling restaurant. With the reviews and some interesting dishes, I thought it would be a new favorite. Unfortunately I don't think I'll be coming back. It was pretty empty before noon but filled up very quickly. It was awkward that the first server told us to sit anywhere and after we sat down another came over and told us we couldn't sit there. When we moved he made us uncomfortable almost like we "chose the wrong table again". Everything was ordered through the phone. The food came out extremely slow. All items besides the dumplings were room temperature. A table that was eating before us was still waiting for food when we were paying. The portions were very small for how much they were charging. But the big disappointment was the pan fried baos were not good. The bottom had SO much dough and the meat inside was extremely tiny. I would totally skip this item. The rice cakes dish tasted boiled. The rice cakes and pork were mushy, and I was bummed it was made with just cilantro and not mustard greens as the dish is usually sir fried together with these ingredients. It also had no flavor so I had to put a lot of hot sauce and soy. My favorite was the fish appetizer but just be careful as it's crunchy and does have bones. The XLB were good but very small. I didn't care to order the noodle soup since the pictures didn't look too great. Each table only has red vinegar so you do have to ask for soy sauce, hot sauce, etc. It seems they either don't have enough sauces or again, each server is inconsistent. Some people received a soy sauce bottle, when I asked they gave me a ramekin with soy sauce which was hard to use. We also got hot sauce and someone else got chili oil. It's funny that you order on your phone but cannot check out and pay on your phone. You have to ask them for the check, they go print it, then come back to you to pay on their iPad/iPhone electronic system. I was just underwhelmed with this place from the food, price, and service.

Stopped by here on Sunday during dinner time, and there was not many people inside around 6pm. But as we were leaving, this place was packed! I've heard great things about their pan fried dumplings, so as a Self proclaimed pan fried dumpling connoisseur, I had to check it out Here's how I'd rate the items we ordered: Pan fried dumpling bao (sheng jian bao): 3/5, the bottom was crispy, but the filling inside was bland. Pan fried dumpling (Guo tie): 2/5 the bottom was not crispy even though we asked for extra crispy. The filling we even more bland than the shengjian lol I don't know how that's possible because it seems like they used the same meat filling for both items. Meat puff pastry: 2/5 the puff pastry was dry, the filling was also bland Great service though. But unfortunately I won't rush back any time soon.

The staff and service left much to desire. You order from a QR code yet they can still mess up your order. We waited over an hour before anyone was available for us to check in on our dumplings just for them to realize they gave it away to another table. It was disappointing as we were looking forward most to trying this dish. The mapo tofu that did arrive mainly tasted like sugar and chili sauce and lacked the depth of flavor you would expect from this dish.

I lived in Shanghai for a few years and this place is closest to what I had there. The owners were great and friendly. They made sure everything was great and would do what they could to fix any issues. My go to place for their signature pan seared dumpling!

The pork dumplings and spring rolls are great. Can't wait to come back and try more of their menu.

This is located where the Old Shanghai restaurant was, and it definitely hit the spot! We went for dinner with my family and it was a great cozy meal. The service was quick, and the interior was nice and spacious. They had the Warriors game going in the background too. I checked out the upstairs area and it looks to be good for large groups. Standouts were the shengjian bao (pan fried pork buns) and the pan fried potstickers. Super juicy with perfectly crisp bottoms, oh my gosh. Some of the best I've had around, and my family eats at a bunch of Chinese places in SF/around the bay. Also loved the desserts - the sesame balls with fermented rice soup had a lovely balance of sweetness and alcoholic taste, perfect for me. Taro puffs were flaky and delishhhh

I ordered delivery from here on Doordash it was good option I would probably bring my friends or family here. For the amount you get it is reasonably priced. I enjoyed the potstickers and the shumai. This place is walkable from my house on Geary Blvd. I am glad that there is another dim sum place that is open later than the ones on clement in the inner Richmond District.

Food was good, service was not bad. But we came when it first opened and it reeked of bleach. I'm glad they clean the place, but they should air the place out or do if the night before so we don't have that strong chemical smell when we're trying to eat delicious dumplings and noodles.

The service was downright horrible. We waited an hour for 1 (one) order of pan fried dumplings while the entire restaurant was served all the dishes. We asked 3 (three) times what happened to our order. Did not do us any good. We paid for 2 appetizers and went for Japanese down the street. So ON TOP of the indignity of having us sit around for an hour while everybody around us (many pf whom arrived long after us) were being served massive gut busting complex tables full of steamy fresh hot food, and despite us having to figure out some other way to complete our lunch after their complete abject failure, THEY STILL MADE US PAY?!?! The food looked amazing. I would MAYBE (doubt it) go once more. If the service is ok, I'll revise this review. But as Nina Simone said best, gotta know to get up from the table when no love is being served. So... 1 star. I would give less if I could.

get the bow buns and the pork ribs, they were delicious!! service was great. the restaurant is very well decorated

The front desk girl is very bad, the food tastes like boiled water, and you can wait for an hour for a fried noodle

Picture speaks a thousand words. If you want some authentic XLB and pan fried bun, this is the place to be. Their ingredients are so fresh and their appetizer dishes are so refreshing. I will definitely go back again to try the other dishes.

Best new dumpling spot in Richmond! We've been to Bao Bao three times since it opened, and it just keeps getting better. This place easily beats out Dumpling Home and is go-to spot for authentic dumplings. The food is so good, I keep forgetting to take pictures before digging in. We ordered a good spread: Cucumber Salad: Super refreshing and not the typical vinegar-heavy version. It tastes more like garlic pea sprouts--bold on the garlic, which we loved. It's my Taiwanese boyfriend's favorite and a must-order. Shanghai Pan Fried Pork Buns: Absolute standout. Crispy golden bottoms, fluffy QQ buns, rich broth, and juicy pork filling. In my opinion, these are better than the ones at Dumpling Home. Boiled Pork & Chive Dumplings: Generous filling and chewy, QQ dough. Really solid and on par with what you'd get at Yuanbao Jiaozi. Spicy Beef Noodle Soup: Flavorful and actually spicy (in a good way!). The homemade noodles were a highlight--bouncy and delicious. Xiao Long Bao: Thin skin, pork-forward broth, well-executed. Beef pancake: Not the taiwanese style with cucumbers and cilantro, but equally as good. Similar to a green onion pancake, but with a layer of well spiced ground beef. Will happily order again. Taro Pastry: The owner gave this to us to try (so kind!). Light flaky crust and a not-too-sweet filling. Lovely finish to the meal. The restaurant is clean, and you can watch the team rolling out dumplings fresh, which is always a great sign. Service is friendly, fast, and never pushy. Plus, the prices are super reasonable for the quality you're getting. If you're a dumpling fan or just looking for comforting, high-quality Shanghai eats, Bao Bao is absolutely worth a visit. We'll definitely be back for a fourth (and fifth) round.

The food was amazing! I went with friends from Shanghai, and we all loved it. Pan Fried Pork Bun is the best in north bay. The flavors were truly authentic and reminded us of home. The service was excellent, and it was easy to find parking nearby, which made the whole experience even better. Recommend!

Original Shanghai foods, good environment, the foods are excellent. Next trip will try pork kazoo and rice cake with vegetables.

The restaurant is remodeled and it's very clean. The food is very tasty and the pork dumplings are very authentic Shanghainese flavor. I'm from Shanghai and I can say the food is delicious and authentic Shanghainese food. I love it!

Delicious and delightful! Definitely get the house special pan fried pork dumplings which were perfectly crispy with an especially delicious "broth." Scallion pancake had the perfect amount of scallion and a great lamination and crunch. Service was modern (QR code at your table where everyone's order popped up) and also warm with friendly servers. Great value, too! Worth every penny of my rides there and back.

Shanghai's famous pan-fried buns have finally landed in SF! The spot used to be "Old Shanghai Restaurant,老上海" but now called "Baobao Dumpling" 杨生煎-- same owner, location, fresh new look with a clean and modern vibe. I always get the pan fry bun, wontons soup, and Xiao long Bao, plus sweet rice pudding filled with red bean... Their service also excellent! Very friendly, and attention to details! Thanks!

yumyum～ The food was delicious, especially the pan-fried buns. We had a wonderful evening.

The food was good but pricey. Good and friendly service, restaurant is clean and simple

Food was awesome. Great house special pork fried dumplings. Service was quick and easy and they didn't even care that we brought in a 9 month old baby and made a little bit of a mess. Will be back!

Delicious and quick with a bright and friendly atmosphere. We loved the pork buns and pot stickers like the other reviews mention but we also loved the scallion pancake. Staff was very friendly.

Loved this place! Took my extended family here yesterday and a delicious and very satisfying dim sum meal. The staff were extremely attentive and friendly. Would definitely recommend!

New Shanghai restaurant in the Richmond District. Ordered Shanghai dumplings and quite a lot of soup inside which was good. Also ordered the curry beef vermicelli soup noodles which was tasty but somewhat expensive for the small amount inside the bowl. The rice cake was good and chewy and the Osmanthus sesame balls with fermented rice was good.

Good food, wish to have more varieties on the traditional Shanghai dish. Can't wait for July when they have more dishes to come out.

Brand new dim sum restaurant on Geary. Walked by randomly and decided to order the xiao long bao on a whim (the menu lists it as "steamed pork dumplings"). Super delicate wrapper, good filling, and flavorful broth. Excited to explore the rest of the menu!

Delicious food!! We tried out their dim sum items and all very tasty, the sweet rice one could be a little more flavorful but otherwise amazing!

Not a single complaint. The food was great, the place is homey, and the food came out quickly. All the dumplings are amazing. Highly recommend if youre near the golden gate bridge!

Just go here. It's new. The restaurant is aesthetically pleasing. Light airy and clean. The food is delicious. We got the fried pork chop. Yum. The spring rolls, OK. The pork dumpling house special will change your life. OK a bit dramatic but absolutely delicious. The soup dumpling has a nice crispy bottom. The broth is like a hug. Even my picky husband thought it was delicious. Just go here.

The food is amazing! Everything that we ordered came out fresh and hot. The flavor is amazing! The staff are very kind and attentive. Restaurant is super clean, cute and cozy! Would definitely recommend and will definitely be back!

Newly renovated and the best staff. We came with a large group and ordered a big chunk of the menu. No misses but the sheng jian bao and the string beans were my favorite.

Bao Bao Dumpling truly stands out! Everything I tried was fantastic. Each bite of fried pan bun is bursting with rich, savory juices, wrapped in a perfectly crisp and golden crust。The restaurant is very clean, the staff are friendly and welcoming, and the prices are reasonable for the quality. We'll definitely be back.

Highly recommend this new dim sum restaurant on Geary. The pork soup dumplings and pork buns were both incredible - filled with soup. Great food, great service, reasonable prices!

The pan-fried buns are delicious, with a crispy bottom and rich soup inside. Six pieces for $15 is also a great deal. A very nice experience that's worth trying, and the service is good too.

Food was great and very tasty. Service was excellent. Fully remodeled. Use to be Old Shanghai Restaurant. Fresh made dumplings that you can see being prepared. It's a soft opening right now. Can't wait to try everything at their grand opening!