Bao Bao Dumpling

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.

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

The Shengjian Bao (pan fried pork dumpling) was good--crispy & juicy. However, other dishes (Shanghai fried thick noodles, Shanghai rice cakes, Braised beef noodle soup) were greasy. All the dishes are on the small side.

Came here on a Sunday afternoon with a friend and was very happy we ate here. We ordered the noodles with scallion oil, house special shengjian bao, soup dumplings, shredded radish and jellyfish salad with scallion oil, these fire green beans, and ube taro pastries. Everything was delicious! I need to come back and try the rest of the menu soon 🙂‍↕️

We took our 2 year old here tonight and we all LOVED it. Great friendly service. Quiet restaurant, no loud music or TV’s. Delicious homemade dumplings. We liked the spicy pork soup too. All the flavors were slight different at better than our last Shanghai dumpling experience, which was also great! Happy to have them in our neighborhood!!!

We ordered sheng jian bao, chilli oil wonton and pork chop noodles. The sheng jian bao was very juicy, slightly chewy and crispy at the bottom (albeit a bit charred which I'm not a fan of, but my partner likes it that way). The chilli oil wonton has sesame/peanut sauce on it as well. Very well balanced and even nicer with the vinegar. Pork chop noodles was also good. I loved the braised egg that came with it. It's a new place so the interior is very clean and spacious. You can see the chefs making the dumplings through the glass panel as well. Overall very nice addition to the neighborhood and I will definitely be back again.

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 😍

Food was so yummy, and service was quick. Ube pastry and soup dumplings SOO FLAVORFUL

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.

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.

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.

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....

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

The place was empty when we arrive and 1/2 hours since opening. The tables were all set up with plastic plates cups and condiment utensils. I don't care for dark plastic, probably BPA in the service ware and we will be eating microplastics with our food. Ordered the steamed pork soup dumpling $12.95. The dish came out fast but the only problem, it was NOT hot.... Luke warm. The skin was not delicate and the broth inside was cloudy, like the scum you have when boiling pork bones and you discard. Filling was okay. House special shengian bao (pan fried pork bun) $14.95 came out very hot. The skin is too thick and dumplings are filled with juice. When I bite into the baos, liquid squirted out both time about a foot. That has never happed before. Maybe because the bao was so hot and the steam could not escape because the thickness of the skin? The filling is okay. Nothing special. Sizzling eggplant in spicy sauce $17.50 was not too spicy but on the greasy side. My friends all felt the same way about the food, cold, skin too thick and greasy. Overall ok, but there are better places for all these dishes. The service was however good.

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.

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!

Food is really good and authentic. Their shengjian (fried dumpling) and xiaolongbao (steamed dumpling) is the best I have had in Bay Area by far. It is absolutely fantastic and exactly the same taste as in Shanghai. Really recommend this place to everyone!

Great ambiance, super clean space, and good service! The pan fried pork bun tastes very authentic and noodles have a really good chew to them. Appetizers were refreshing and a great start to my meal. Reasonable prices and would definitely come back again

Wanted to support local business in the neighbor and went there tonight with family(5). Food is 3 out of 5 star. Service is 0 star. Ambiance is clean and nice but server is VERY RUDE. 1. The waiter didnt know where to place the hot soup and tried to put down it in front of my kids 5 and 9yrs old. I cleared the table for the server so she can place it in safe space. 2. My husband gave wrong card, declined and she laughed out load and went away, took the card with her instead of letting us know. 3. Its pricy for almost all items on the menu. Family dinner ended up horribly wrong. We couldnt really eat much and left half of the food. NeVEr going back there. Still feel very uncomfortable about how the server treated us.

Amazing dumplings. From XL dumplings to pan fried pork buns, everything was delicious. Service was steady and polite. Ambiance was clean and inviting.

Been watching this place go from old Shanghai to what it is today over that past several months. Came in for lunch with mom and boss (wife). We ordered the following: 5 spice smoked fish. This item arrived first - felt like eating paper. Flavoring nothing to write home about. One needs to be careful of bones. Garlic smashed cucumber. 3rd item to arrive. Was expecting this to arrive first. No garlic taste. Matter of fact. No taste at all. Requested some chili oil that had no chili taste and didn't help the dish. Major bummer Shredded Radish Pastry. Arrived fifth. Not bad but not outstanding. XLB. Arrived second. Very plain. No vinegar, or the classic vinegar associated with XLB. Found to stuffing to be more suitable in wontons (more in this later). Found the dough to be too thick for my preference. Interesting that there was virtually no "juice" within the XLB. XLB arrived at zero temperature. Meaning that it was not even hot or luke warm. Shanghai Wonton Soup in Clay Pot. Arrived fourth. No warmth. Meat stuffing virtually same as the stuffing in the XLB. Found to be dry and lacks traditional Shanghai wonton flavoring. Seaweed in soup had absolutely no flavoring. Soup was just cold. Steamed Pork Soup Dumpling. Never had I had dumpling dough stick to my teeth. Enough said. Items did not arrive to our table at the same time and when did arrive, they were cold. Basically not even lukewarm. Place is bright and tables were nicely spaced. Young lady performing the role of Hostess, waitress and cashier didn't say much if anything but was attentive. Based on our experience, it is highly unlikely we will return and would not recommend, if asked. Bummer

The deep fried pork chop was super crispy on the outside and tender inside--seasoned just right without being too greasy. It totally hit the spot. The service was great too,recommended a side that went perfectly with it, and made sure we had everything we needed. Just a really solid experience overall.

Best Sheng Jian Bao in the city. As for the other food, not bad either. You can get seated fairly quick depending on day and time you go too.

Very authentic food and great services! We love their Sheng Jian Bao, dumplings, noodles and fishes. It is surely a great places that offers food for both kids and adults. Highly recommended if you enjoy good Shanghai food!

Delicious food. We ordered Pan fried dumpling, pork and chive dumplings, pot stickers. Easily the best 3 items that we ordered. High quality food. Also ordered spicy beef noodle and pork soup noodle. Spicy beef noodle was tasty, pork soup noodle was just OK. Would go back for the dumplings and pot stickers for sure!

Great, freshly made food in a clean space. Service was excellent. Can't wait to go back.