Dumpling Kitchen - Castro

Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Price to Portion: 3/5 Overall: One of the better restaurants I'd consider going to in the castro. Definitely a solid choice. The extended review... Food: 4/5 - Got a bunch of different things. Of course the ones to get always are the soup dumplings and the pan fried Shanghai buns which are delicious. Service: 4/4 - Friendly and attentive staff Ambiance: 4/4 - Nothing special about the ambiance but it's comfortable and spacious.

Dumpling Kitchen in Castro exceeded all expectations for our friend's birthday celebration. From start to finish, the experience was a culinary delight. The friendly waiter guided us through the menu, and each dish we selected was a flavor explosion. The garlic eggplant stole the show with its perfect balance of savory goodness. Every bite felt like a celebration of taste, and we left feeling fully satisfied. The festive atmosphere added to the experience, making it a memorable evening filled with laughter and delicious food. We can't wait to return to Dumpling Kitchen for another gastronomic adventure.

Yummy dumplings. The Sichuan pickled Cabbage beef soup was a game changer. I now crave it all the time. Super yummy.

We came here for lunch on a Friday last summer. It was pretty busy all throughout, but we didn't have to wait. We sampled quite a few items, and had leftovers (3 people). The highlight for me, unsurprisingly, was the rice cakes/niangao. They were much longer than I'm used to, so I think they may have been handmade/fresh? They were quite tender -- not al dente, but good in their own way. I thought the pickled vegetables added a really nice savoriness to the dish. This dish was different from the niangao I've had at other restaurants, but it stood on its own and was very good. The soup dumplings were quite sturdy with thick skins. There wasn't much soup inside, but the flavor of the soup and the filling was really good. The pan-fried dumplings were quite interesting -- I've never had it this way where it's a thin skin on the top and then a really thick, doughy skin on the bottom with a slightly soupy filling inside. I probably wouldn't get this dish again since it had a lot of dough, but it was interesting to try. It's also *really* hot, so be careful. The eggplant in garlic sauce was better than I expected. The sauce was not overly sweet and had a thick soy consistency to it, which I enjoyed. The eggplant was cooked pretty well. The Sichuan spicy chicken was the weakest link in the dishes we tried. While the chicken pieces were quite big, they were also tough. I'm not sure what the issue was -- if it was the cut of chicken, or marination. It was lacking in both flavor and texture. Overall I enjoyed my time at this restaurant and thought the prices were pretty reasonable for the area and portion sizes. I could see myself coming back.

I had a delightful time at the dumpling house with its extensive menu of selections. The dumplings, although slightly thicker on the skin, were still quite flavorful and enjoyable. The inviting vibe of the restaurant added to the overall experience, making it a great place to relax and enjoy a variety of authentic Chinese dishes.

This was such an amazing find. So excited to have good Sichuan food in Castro!!! The staff was friendly and the food was amazing. We got a bunch of dumplings and the noodles with peanut sauce. They also have a very beautiful indoor patio with heated lamps. Update: I’m really sorry that I have to drop my review but I had a terrible experience with the HungryPanda app they use for delivery. Please avoid it as much as you can. I honestly believe this app to be a scam, so please beware. The food’s still great, but it sucks to be scammed…

After walking around the Castro in support of pride month we decided we needed a bite. We came upon the Dumpling house we entered the small quaint restaurant and were greeted with big smiles. So many dumpling to choose from i wish there were more in our party so we could get a bigger selection, We we decided on the the soup dumplings, Szechuan noodles, & combination fried rice (I know sounds boring) We were amazingly surprised the noodle were obviously house made with all thier lovely imperfections for the wonderful sauce to grab on to. The rice came sizzling coming straight from the wok have a delicious sired smell our mouths were watering. We finished everything!! Sharona <sp> was very pleasant & attending.

One of the many dumpling spots in the city, one of the few that manage to stay consistent. Been here a few times now, love the har gow, and various steamed dumplings. Surprisingly good veggie dumplings and veggie mapo tofu too. The Shanghai style fried pork buns are a must try ( don't forget to add their in-house chilli oil on it). Sichuan fried chicken is the only dish I wouldn't write home about.

If this one is in way related to the one in the Avenues, you could not convince me. Ordered from them one night and it was inedible. I made three trips here just for the hot and sour soup. When I say "hot," I'm talking about two types of hot. First, the steaming, huge bowl that landed in front of me was steaming, almost boiling. Second, that steam carried with it a touch of the peppers infused in the broth. I was NOT disappointed. I'm a Texan, raised on a large ranch with a Mexican cook who was my second madre. From my earliest days, I loved her, her cooking and the heat of the jalapeños, serranos, habaneros, anchos, etc. I swear she put them in everything! My first sip and the broth carried that whisper of pepper that grew into fire in my mouth before I could swallow. The second spoon was an inferno and I WAS IN HEAVEN. The intermingling of spices elevated the flavor above any hot and sour soup I've had anywhere. I really need to not order the soup the next time so I can try the rest of the food. The few other tastes I've had of friends' dishes all proved to be excellent. On previous visits, I tried the dumplings, dim sum and pot stickers friends ordered. They were heaven! Can't say enough great things about this place.

We came here for lunch on a Friday last summer. It was pretty busy all throughout, but we didn't have to wait. We sampled quite a few items, and had leftovers (3 people). The highlight for me, unsurprisingly, was the rice cakes/niangao. They were much longer than I'm used to, so I think they may have been handmade/fresh? They were quite tender -- not al dente, but good in their own way. I thought the pickled vegetables added a really nice savoriness to the dish. This dish was different from the niangao I've had at other restaurants, but it stood on its own and was very good. The soup dumplings were quite sturdy with thick skins. There wasn't much soup inside, but the flavor of the soup and the filling was really good. The pan-fried dumplings were quite interesting -- I've never had it this way where it's a thin skin on the top and then a really thick, doughy skin on the bottom with a slightly soupy filling inside. I probably wouldn't get this dish again since it had a lot of dough, but it was interesting to try. It's also *really* hot, so be careful. The eggplant in garlic sauce was better than I expected. The sauce was not overly sweet and had a thick soy consistency to it, which I enjoyed. The eggplant was cooked pretty well. The Sichuan spicy chicken was the weakest link in the dishes we tried. While the chicken pieces were quite big, they were also tough. I'm not sure what the issue was -- if it was the cut of chicken, or marination. It was lacking in both flavor and texture. Overall I enjoyed my time at this restaurant and thought the prices were pretty reasonable for the area and portion sizes. I could see myself coming back.

Came here for a late lunch and got: -Shanghai style steamed pork dumplings -Shanghai style pan fried pork buns -Pea sprouts with garlic The portions were a tad smaller and pricier than what you can get in other parts of SF, but I kind of expected that. Regardless, the food tasted on point. The steamed pork dumplings were juicy. The fried pork buns were crispy and the pea sprouts were tender with a strong garlic flavor. Service was also friendly and efficient. The covered patio/ back area that I was in had lots of natural lighting and plenty of other seating. Overall, I would still be back if I was in the area and craved some dumplings.

The Shanghai steamed dumplings are my favorite type of dumplings and Dumpling Kitchen has them by the dozen. The juicy broth of the Shanghai steamed dumpling was amazing. The Steamed Shrimp Har Gow was also delicious. This is a must try place if you are a dumpling fiend like me. When I get a dumpling itching , I go to Dumpling Kitchen.

The catering from Dumpling Kitchen was excellent! Johnny was great help, communicative, food arrived in silver party trays as requested as well as sauces with paper plates, utensils, napkins and tongs! Dishes were labeled. Highly recommend them for future events! The whole office was so content and many people went back for seconds! The chest had our food which we gave back to Johnny after unloading. * Pan - Fried Pork Potstickers (24) $59 * Pan - Fried Vegetarian Potstickers (16) $39 * Shanghai Style Steamed Pork Dumplings (30) $54 * Steamed Vegetarian Gow (16) - as a meat lover, this was my favorite and was suggested by Johnny! $39 * Boiled Wonton in Chili Oil (30) $42 * Chicken Chow Mein $52 * Vegetarian Fried Rice $60 * Dry Braised String Beans $60 * Salted Egg Custard Baos (30) $52

Saturday after around 2. Not that busy. Sat immediately. Ordered two most typical Shanghainese dumplings. Food not bad but not the very best. Friendly staff. Good space. Waitress kindly inform me last order around 2 and remind me dumplings hot. May come again to try other food

This is a great spot. We had a little bit of a wait but the staff here are very nice and accommodating. Parking is a little hit if an issue but we found a spot. We started with the chicken wings. They were delicious and a little spicy--pretty much spicy Szechuan chicken. They were enough to share. The shrimp fried rice was delicious. It was served fresh and hot. I love the Thai tea here. The locals flock to this spot obviously because it is so damn good in Chinatown.

Went there on a Thur night - What was quite odd is that shortly after we ordered they said they were closing their kitchen - our main entrees had not come out yet so it was hard to gage if we wanted desert and it was pretty early. We also found out they are always closed on Tuesdays. There was no ambiance .. few people, few staff.. The waiter was very nice, food came out quickly and was pretty. Chow mein was meh. I appreciated the veggie options but wish the veggie dumplings listed what veggies were in there since there were different types. Overall food was good and it was a small intimate space but not particularly romantic nor a warm atmosphere in case that is what you are looking for.

Love coming here for their pan fried pork buns. We also usually get the XLB as well, but we've found that the XLB sometimes stick and get broken. The taste and soup is still really good though and we would come back if we're in the area. Would recommend overall!

Went with a big group and the staff were so incredibly accommodating, helpful and kind. Some places get frustrated with big groups but Dumpling Kitchen was very friendly and patient throughout. The restaurant was busy, and our food still came quickly. I thought that the Shanghai-Style Steamed Pork Dumplings and Shanghai-Style Pan-Fried Pork Buns were a bit thick (skin wise) and weren't wrapped around the meat tightly enough. The flavors of the fillings of all the dumplings though, were delicious, including the Steamed Vegetarian Dumplings and Wontons in Chili Oil. The Pork with Preserved Vegetable Rice Cake was nice as the rice cakes were chewy and soft. The Beijing-Style Noodle in Black Bean Sauce was well-balanced, not too salty. The Five-Spice Beef Stew Noodle Soup had a really flavorful broth. The Mapo Tofu was good, not spicy at all though. The Walnut Prawns were delish -- succulent shrimp paired perfectly with the crisp walnuts. The Dry-Braised String Beans and Cucumber Salad were okay, but I loved the Eggplant with Garlic Sauce.

I came here for a holiday party, and was seated at the patio behind the restaurant. The patio area is pretty cozy, and I love the ambient colors: you get a lovely green from the bamboo, and earth tones from the bamboo canopy. The staff were wonderful, polite and very accommodating and the food was delicious. I enjoyed the Mongolian beef, which wasn't too spicy. The beef itself wasn't deep fried, and it was very tender. The fried rice was very flavorful without being overwhelmingly salty. The egg rolls...were too damn good, I had to hold myself back from munching on too many, and the dumplings stood on their own without needing soy sauce or chilli oil for flavor (however it is more tasty with those added ) I recommend Dumpling Kitchen, if you're in the mood for some solid Chinese food.

3.5 stars: their dumplings were pretty good but I wish the soup filled dumplings had a bit more soup in them. I liked the stir fried rice cakes but they were a bit under seasoned. Could have used some more soy sauce and other flavors, like garlic. The texture of the garlic eggplant was good but the sauce was way too sweet and not garlicky or spicy at all. We even asked for extra spicy haha. The restaurant is clean and conveniently located in the Castro. Waiters were also friendly and you can even see someone making the dumplings in the back!

We've long been fans of Dumpling Kitchen's Outer Sunset/Taraval location. Last time we were there, they shared their Castro location was struggling so that's where we headed on a Saturday night. The food was delicious, as good as their original location except they only serve (6) XLB instead of 10 in an order. Our server mumbled that they didn't have the larger steam basket but with a wink and a smile I told them I was pretty sure they could find some. They forgot the dipping sauce with fresh ginger; I should've asked. We grazed around the menu, ordered standard Cantonese fare: Walnut prawns, Mongolian beef, Fried Tofu and Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings. Every plate was delicious and we took some things to go including a too-large sake. With every seat taken inside the restaurant, we were seated on the patio with its rustic wood and heat lamps to keep off the chill. Within a few minutes even the patio was mostly filled. If you're on a date or dining alone while reading, this is a more agreeable spot to be rather than an overlit dining room. We had an attentive waiter, food came to our table quickly but I was surprised when they told us the kitchen was closing soon (the restaurant closes early, at 9:30pm). If you don't feel like driving across town, this central location is easy to get to and has more street parking (yes, even in the Castro). I think they still have the best XLBs in the City!

The Black Truffle with Beef Fried Rice and Shanghai-style steamed pork dumpling were perfectly delicious for our lunch. The flavors were great and well-seasoned. The portion size was not what I expected but so far the quality didn't disappoint me. The Chow mein was so savory and appetizing too. The place has great vibe and the staff were so friendly.

Stumbling upon this gem of a restaurant couldn't have come at a more opportune time; my friend and I were on a post-dinner walk in the Castro, the cold wind biting at us and a strong appetite growing with each hill we climbed. Dumpling Kitchen's warmth, light, and happy ambiance lured us in and we were quickly seated and served. We ordered two items: the Shanghai-Style Steamed Pork Dumplings (A01) and Wontons in Chili Oil (A13). The pork dumplings (AKA xiao long bao) were delightful: an incredibly flavorful, broth-filled, hearty experience. I would get them again in a heartbeat. The wontons in chili oil were amazing as well, and a good level of spice, though we wished that the filling inside had as much flavor as the xiao long bao. But accompanying them with the ginger dipping sauce or the soy sauce was more than enough to fulfill our flavor quota. I've got to come back to try the rest of the menu!!

So excited that Dumpling Kitchen opened in the Castro, so I don't have to make the trek out to their Sunset location! The location is nicely located in the heart of the Castro district, so there's a lot to see and do while you wait for a table. The food here is always delicious, you can never order the wrong thing. We ordered the shanghai style pan fried pork bun, shanghai style stir fried rice cakes, salt and pepper tofu, steamed pork dumplings, braised beef pancake roll, pork and chive dumplings. The flavors were amazing and it was very filling. My favorite dish was the beef pancake roll, the contrast and coordination of sweetness of the sauce on the roll and the saltiness of the braised beef was so tasty! The service here is amazing, the staff was very attentive and the food came out quickly after ordering. The price is definitely worth it, you can get so much food and don't have to break the bank doing so. I would recommend this place if you are ever craving dumplings! Great spot for a date night or going out with a group of friends.

So once again, Yelp has brought happiness to this foodie! I love my Chinese food, but often I'm disappointed by over cooked chicken, non de script sauces and less than stellar options. Dumpling Kitchen delivered on food, service, cleanliness, and speed of preparation! So far I've been in San Francisco for 4 days and 3 of them I've been able to walk right in. I hear I was pretty lucky! - [ ] Shanghai-Style Steamed Pork Dumplings .... All three times I ordered these. Delivered piping hot, fresh and juicy, so tender and flavorful. They have a home made vinegar they serve for dipping that is so good I could have it as a drink over ice! - [ ] Sichuan Spicy Chicken... have you ordered a chicken dish where the chicken is so over cooked either "firm", bordering on jerky, and so laden with breading you can hardly find the chunk of chicken? This dish the breading is light and simple. Chicken cooked perfectly and is hot and juicy. The peppers give this an incredible kick! - [ ] King Pao chicken. As expected a great mix of chicken and vegetables, with a delicious sauce. I couldn't have been happier! - [ ] General Chicken - slightly sweeter than some places I've visited, but but still a wonderful dish. It's served with some pieces of broccoli that were steamed to perfection and were wonderful. - [ ] Mongolian Beef... wow. One of my dining companions took his first bite and said wow- that beef is so tender! Lots of onions and a few peppers for color. Fabulous dish! - [ ] Pan-Fried Pork Pot Stickers... jumbo size filled generously and served piping hot! So wonderful! Don't miss this place!

Food: wontons in chili oil (5/5) super yummy and the sauce is amazing. Soup dumplings (3/5) - a bit too big and thick for my taste. Truffle beef fried rice (3/5) - just ok wouldn't reorder. Green beans (4/5) they added some Szechuan peppers for us which was a nice added kick. Sat in the back patio which was nice

I walk in , waited for While no eye contact. Nothing. After long time waiting they came assisted, then 4 people walk in, was set , their food oder on it, nothing for me. they were more concerned at big tables, and to go food.not good for single to two couple.

A perfect place to go with a group of 4 people, so you can maximize the dishes you get to try. With a name like Dumpling Kitchen, of course the dumplings are excellent. But there are also some great meat dishes and noodle dishes, so don't be totally dumpling-centric. Shanghai-style Steamed Pork Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao): It's pretty much obligatory that I order these whenever a restaurant has them. That first bite and slurp of soup (i.e. fatty goodness) is so perfect. After all the juice is sucked out though, it's kinda like a regular pork dumpling. Still delicious. Shanghai-style Pan-fried Pork Buns: Seemed very popular here. Thick dough where one side is nicely browned crispy and the other side is steamed like a dumpling. Great texture contrast. Pretty big size and filling. The pork inside is nice too. Boiled Chicken & Corn Dumplings: Kinda bland. Needed a good amount of chili oil from the table to liven it up. Beijing-style Noodle in Black Bean Sauce: Lots of umami goodness in this rich meaty black bean sauce. Also, the noodles are nice and springy. Definitely a fan favorite at the table. Braised Lion's Head Meatballs: Huge balls! Nice mix of minced meat and fat. Lots of rich sauce, so be sure to spoon some extra on what you're eating. Braised Pork Belly with Preserved Vegetables: Perhaps my favorite non-dumpling dish. The pork belly was super tender so the fat was almost melting in your mouth while the meat was easy to shred. What really struck me was how well the fat in the pork belly soaked up the flavorful sauce and spices. Pea Sprouts with Garlic: Why is this veggie dish priced the same as the pork belly? Totally not worth it. It's jut some plain greens with a little garlic. Note that the rich meatballs and pork belly come with some bright greens anyway.

The food wasn't bad and I liked the atmosphere. The service was also good; nothing to complain about. The issue I had though was that all the dishes were lukewarm or room temperature, even the soup. The food was probably sitting out for awhile (or possibly not even freshly made). I say this because the dumplings, shiu mai, and other skins were starting to dry up. Even the dumplings that came in bamboo steamers were drying up, which is weird. My guess is that the bamboo steamer is just for show because the steamer wasn't even hot or looked like it touched any steam. We also got something pan fried and it was again, lukewarm. I would expect something fried to at least have some residual heat.

I've had Dumpling Kitchen bookmarked for almost 3 years now and was so surprised to see they had a second location at Castro, which is much more convenient for me! Definitely glad I finally got the chance to go. Though this definitely isn't the cheapest Chinese spot in the city, the quality and flavors of the food was great. Some of the food I tried and really recommend: - Salt and Pepper Wings (amazing flavor) - Soup Dumplings (thicker skin than I'm used to, but still enjoyed and the pork/soup were great) - Eggplants + Garlic - Pan Fried Dumplings - Shanghai Fried Rice Cakes

Finally, the Castro has a dumpling place, and Dumpling Kitchen did not disappoint! This was my third time visiting with friends on a Friday night, and each experience has been consistently enjoyable. The restaurant had a chill atmosphere, setting the perfect tone for a night of fun and drinks. One thing I loved about the food at Dumpling Kitchen was that it wasn't too heavy. It provided a great way to line our stomachs before a night of indulging in beverages. Moreover, the service was excellent - we were always seated right away when arriving around 6 pm. We kicked off our culinary journey with the hot and sour soup. It had a unique spice profile that set it apart from other hot and sour soups I've tried, but it was undeniably delicious. The heat made me break a little sweat on my forehead, but it only added to the overall experience. The Shanghai style pork dumplings were a definite highlight. Bursting with flavorful soup inside, they were a treat for the taste buds. Just a word of caution - make sure you let them cool down a bit; otherwise, you might risk burning your tongue in excitement! Next up was the wonton in chili oil. It had a pleasant kick to it, but nothing overwhelming. I appreciated that the spice level didn't overpower the flavor of the wontons themselves, allowing their delicious taste to shine. Finally, we indulged in the honey walnut shrimp, my go-to dish at most Chinese restaurants. Dumpling Kitchen's version stood out because of the light batter used, which complemented the creamy mayo and crispy walnuts perfectly. It was a delightful combination of textures and flavors that left us wanting more. To accompany our delightful feast, we ordered their signature cocktail, the Sweet Cloud (Lychee Nigoritail). Bursting with lychee flavor, it was a refreshing and delightful choice that paired wonderfully with the meal. In conclusion, Dumpling Kitchen is a must-visit if you find yourself in the area. The wide variety of dumplings and other dishes, along with their fantastic signature cocktail, makes this place a gem in the Castro. Whether you're a dumpling aficionado or just looking for a delicious meal to enjoy with friends, this restaurant will leave you satisfied and planning your next visit.

A small storefront tucked in the heart of the Castro surprises you instantly if you walk in and ask to be seated in the back patio. We went midday on a Sunday and saw that this place had just had its grand opening! Din Sum gets all the love in San Francisco, it's about time to see another Shanghainese place pop up. We ordered the classics, the pork XLB and the pan fried pork bun, both had incredible flavor and were so juicy. While the flavors were spot on, the XLB didn't have the smooth looking skin you'd expect and the pan fried buns had a bit of a thick bottom. The dan dan noodles were delicious and had a perfect texture, but the chili oil wontons left much to be desired. They were really mild in flavor and had a very thick wonton skin. Overall this place had such a home-y feel and mostly nailed all the nostalgic flavors from my childhood, but there are some imperfections with the skins for the buns, wontons, and XLB. They're just starting out and I'd be interested to check out how they improved in the near future!

overall a really great chinese food option in the Castro! seems much easier to get into than the Sunset location. * no wait on a weekday around 6pm * we had to wait a long time to put in our order (seemed they had a LOT of takeout orders to deal with) but our waiter was super friendly * scallion pancake - 4.5/5, very crisp and not too heavy * veggie bao - 3/5, i appreciated that they had this option but it was rather bland * fish dumpling - 4/5, this was solid but not as good as the Yuanbao Jiaozi ones * steamed veggie dumpling - 4/5, i loved the texture and this had a lot of veggies! but also seemed a bit underseasoned * crab giant soup dumpling - 4.5/6, amazingly this was HUGE and didn't have any pork. they stick to each other and break easily (so sad) but otherwise it was delicious with vinegar.

Overall great place - I came during lunch so I was just in time for their lunch special! This dish was only 11.8 and the portion is pretty big so it aaa hella worth it. The mapo tofu itself was pretty spicy and numbing so do not get this dish if you can't handle your spice. The service was fast and the place has a nice ambiance- perfect if you just want to enjoy a quiet meal by yourself or with a few friends. I would definitely come back and try their xiaolongbao which looked really good!

544 Castro used to be the home of one of my favorite Castro eateries, Nirvana, where the casually exotic vibe was a nice match for their fusion fare. Then it became a splashy cantina, Papi Rico, and I thought it would stick around for a while. But it didn't probably because it couldn't gain traction due to the pandemic. Now it's become what I believe is the third location of Dumpling Kitchen. They started with their popular spot on Taraval, and they recently opened a spot off the Cal campus in Berkeley. In fact, I just tried that one for takeout last week. That's why I was surprised to see them at this prime location where they kept Papi Rico's fluorescent aquamarine facade. Inside it looks like a sleekly contemporary version of their familiar operation. Of course their menu featured a long list of dim sum selections, but there were other dishes as well...noodles, soups, mushu, chef's specials, even steamed chocolate baos. But I was in a dumpling mood, so I ordered two of their specialties. First up were the $9.80 Boiled Chicken and Corn Dumplings, eight little tightly tucked pillows filled with minced chicken and corn kernels (photo: https://bit.ly/3RBRfe5). The red chili oil enhanced the slightly bland flavor. The second dish was the clincher, the $10.80 Steamed Shrimp and Pork Shumai. There were only four of them, but each were meaty and hearty (photo: https://bit.ly/3B4roVi). I definitely want to try those steamed chocolate baos sometime. I hope Dumpling Kitchen lasts longer than Papi Rico. FOOD - 4 stars...solid dumplings, some tastier than others AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...spacious enough though I miss the serene Nirvana vibe SERVICE - 4 stars...enthusiastic, still in the honeymoon phase TOTAL - 4 stars...dumplings in the Castro, a new era begins RELATED - Exploring the Castro? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2HrpFPC

I have fond memories of Dumpling Kitchen's original location on Taraval. It was my dining companion's first time having XLB and he tried to jab it with a metal spoon to pick it up. What monster does that to a XLB?! Oh yea, and he's Chinese. *FACE PALM* So happy to see one of The Sunset/Parkside's local favs open in The Castro because IMO, the Chinese restaurants in this area can be underwhelming/Americanized. And, one of the best parts? They have a outdoor garden patio! Soft opening today is Dumpling Kitchen's second SF location in the former Papi Rico space. They're open for takeout, indoor dining, and outdoor dining. Well-behaved dogs are allowed in the patio. Delivery to come. With the mandate lifted, staff still wore masks. M E N U Northern Chinese & Shanghainese Cuisine. Limited Soft Opening Menu: Apps, Soups, Dumplings, Entrees, Noodles/Rice/Rice cakes, Dessert, etc. -- Page 1: https://bit.ly/3TR3tkr -- Page 2: https://bit.ly/3cUwgUN Exclusive items to The Castro location: Giant Crab XLB and Black Truffle & Beef Fried Rice. F O O D (Excuse the yellow tint on the pics from the yellow sun sail canopy.) * Beef Shank & Tripe in Chili Oil ($13.80): https://bit.ly/3TSjl6k Classic Northern Chinese cold starter with tender slices of beef shank and chewy soft and gelatinous slices of tripe+tendon bathed in a málà numbing oil. * Pan-fried Pork Buns aka Sheng Jian Bao (4 pc - $9.80): https://bit.ly/3exZeuc ***Allow about 20 minutes to prepare. Never tried Dumpling Kitchen's SJB, XLB's cousin so I had to give it a try at their new location. These SJB are HUGE. When I tried lifting it with the chopsticks, I dropped it because it was heavier than the norm. Upon biting into the SJB, it squirted hot soupy goodness. Large, savory pork filling; no huge air pocket. Love the contrasting textures - the bottoms were golden brown and crunchy with nicely chewy steamed tops. Really good with the black vinegar and ginger. * Shanghai Stir-Fried Rice Cakes aka Nian Gao ($13.80): https://bit.ly/3D6Oo8D Deliciously chewy and savory rice cakes with strips of tender pork and crisp cabbage+carrot+onions. Good smoky wok hei flavor. Bomb with their housemade chili oil. If you like chewy rice cakes, GET THIS! S E R V I C E The owner and staff are warm, welcoming, and friendly. The manager, Johnny was kind and responsive when I contacted them about outdoor dining. I arrived right when they opened for lunch so food service was prompt. There's a call button for the outdoor patio tables. A M B I A N C E Colorful and festive, Dumpling Kitchen kept some of the same decor as Papi Rico minus the mankini bottoms on the wall. Love the garden patio vibes: https://bit.ly/3qCnw9f. P A R K I N G Residential and street parking. Doable on the weekdays. Overall, Dumpling Kitchen is a great addition to The Castro. If you're looking for legit Northern Chinese & Shanghainese cuisine in the area, def hit them up!

Came to this location this past Sunday after visiting the Taraval location a few times. I was extremely excited to try it out and to have a location closer to where I am in the Mission. We had a large group, and the restaurant was comfortably able to accommodate all 10 of us. There is plenty of space and there is even a back patio for outdoor dining. For food options, we shared a few things. Notably the XLB, Hot and Sour Soup, Pan Fried Dumplings, Veggie Dumplings, and Veggie Chow Mein. The veggie dumplings we got were a little soupier/ wetter than anticipated. The hot and sour soup was on point, and the XLB and pan-fried dumplings were also really solid. I will also add that I prefer the sauce/ condiment selection at the Taraval location a little bit more - the chili oil there is a lot more flavorful and the black vinegar is a little more potent. Overall though, taking service and food into account, We had a really great meal at this location and it was super good to see a Dumpling Kitchen open up in this part of town. Will be sure to stop by again sometime soon to check out more items on the menu. 4/5

Super happy to see a restaurant open up in the previously Papi Rico space. It's a lovely space with a back patio that needs to be used. Overall the food here was great, and I would definitely come back to try more dumplings. All the dumplings were great, you really can't go wrong. The service was a bit slow, probably due to the fact they have just opened and are likely training staff. We put ourselves in on the Yelp waitlist, but when I talked to the person at the host stand, they said they hadn't checked it. The host seemed busy bussing tables, taking orders, and bringing food out, so likely they are understaffed at the moment. There were also a couple of items on the menu that they didn't have in stock, including the chocolate dumplings. I hope those arrive soon!I'm looking forward to them. All that is to say: I expect and hope these issues will be fixed soon. I have no doubt it's hard to start a business in the Castro. I can't wait to come back in a few months and have a 5 star experience.

Had a delightful dinner this weekend with a bunch of friends. Saturday night and the restaurant was busy, with a couple of tables empty. Generally the service was a little slow in the back room, but good overall. Dumplings were fantastic and they had a good number of non-pork options for me. I also love that they had Chong Qing chicken and some regular entrees for the anti- dumpling people in the crowd!

Wow! Welcome to the 'hood! As you walk in, there's a small space where a lady makes fresh dumplings. The choices are fantastic, we tried all the Shanghai dishes and everything was delicious and excellent. Great service, and absolutely wonderful food! Enjoy!

Wow this is such a fantastic dumpling spot in the Castro! I came here with my roommates on a Sunday night and we were seated immediately in the cutely decorated dining area. Everything was delicious - the xiao long bao and pan fried pork buns were absolute hits. The black truffle with beef fried rice is another must order! I think Dumpling Kitchen is a much better and less expensive version of the ever so popular Dumpling Home in Hayes. For a fun and interesting dessert, be sure to try the chocolate hazelnut soup dumplings!

I was hoping to really like this spot given I'd heard good things about its original location, but found myself disappointed by the dishes we got. pork soup dumpling - These were the best item we got - the pork itself was quite juicy and tasty. Don't expect a top tier soup dumpling (say like Din Tai Fung), but these will do if you're craving soup dumplings. braised beef pancake roll - The second best thing we got, the filling was tasty and the scallion roll was super crispy. Surprisingly I found the roll too crispy for me and I can't put my finger on it but something about the overall construction just didn't match up to the best versions I've had, but it was still yummy. beef shank & tripe in chili oil - do not get this. The beef shank is sliced pretty thickly and the sauce was just wrong - it had a weird vinegary / sour taste to me that was off putting. pan fried pork buns - The bottom was way too thick and crusty, it was hard to bite through. Skip this.

The food was so good--yum! I am keeping my fingers crossed that Dumpling Kitchen stays in this space that has been so many things before it: Nirvana, Papi Rico, and more! Four stars for the food and hospitality! We sat out back because the rest of the restaurant was reserved. This was good to note because next time we'll make a reservation. It was packed. I wouldn't say I liked sitting out back--it needs to be worked on a bit. It felt isolated and a bit dirty. You can think of the restaurant being divided into three separate spaces: the inside [as soon as you walk in there is also a small bar area], the middle section which is a large enclosed room, and then the backyard area. The restrooms were interesting. There are two of them, but one just has three urinals. They are so close together that you'll bump elbows with someone. They could use some TLC. The entire restaurant could too. It needs to be picked up and cleaned up a bit. The stairs to the backyard are sketchy, for example. Service was so nice but they were slow! Dishes came out at odd times and the condiments for the pot stickers were not brought until we asked for them. We ate them before the soy sauce, vinegar and hot oil arrived! Yep--they were delicious. Kind of doughy though. Loved the assorted chow mein, shrimp dumplings, and chicken and broccoli. Good food. Nice people. Lots of options. Make a reservation!

Fantastic food, the hot and sour soup is amazingly delicious. Added with a little heat, the dumplings are all super juicy. The knockout surprise performance was with the fish and chive dumpling. So smooth and delicate yet accidentally executed and delicious. The truffle fried rice, another surprise, knockout, unexpected and delicious highly recommend. All the dishes, my friends ordered they enjoyed thoroughly on top of the hot and sour soup which my friends keep coming back to time and time again. The lovely atmosphere that's relaxed and humorous at times is what it is relaxed no nonsense, excellent service with a little bell on your table to order more food. Quick and efficient worth the way, can accommodate large groups. This has become a favorite of the neighborhood and the new favorite in my heart. I

Leaving this review because I was impressed with the Szechuan chicken. I got it as delivery and usually I'd expect the crispness to be gone because it steams in the package but it was hot and super crispy when it arrived. And the leftovers were just as crispy the next day. Honestly the rest of the food could be awful and I'd still come here just for that. Super happy!

10/10 every time. I love the shrimp fried rice, pork soup dumplings, green onion pancakes, Shanghai style chow mein, steamed pork bao buns. Delicious!!!! Love this place so much. Great service

Ordered via UberEats! I I ordered the salt and pepper chicken wings, braised pork belly with preserved vegetables, pan fried pork dumplings, combination fried rice, and string beans. They don't give a lot of food when you order their takeout. My gripe with this place is that it looks like they have a large menu, but actually just have very little. It's dumplings with different combinations of meats, chicken with different combinations of flavors, or fried rice/chow mein. . Salt and Pepper chicken wings: pretty good, can't go wrong w this! Juicy meat and crispy skin . Braised pork belly: the meat wasn't as tender as I would've liked . Pan fried pork bun: Had a good amount of soup, the meat was tender, the bottom was crispy, and it was the right amount of bread to meat. Just wish there were more buns in an order - 10$ for an order of 4, other restaurants typically give you 6-8 buns... The meat could've had more seasoning as well. . Combination fried rice: lots of little pieces of meat, decent but not amazing . String bean: also just decent

Is this the best Chinese restaurant in SF, no... but it's pretty good for this neighbourhood. The prices are reasonable and the service here is very good. I really like the young people who work here, they are very friendly and know about Chinese culture stuff. Like I eat my Chinese food with an empty bowl, and they get it. The food is delicious and the chef is very accommodating! I got a 辣子豆腐，like I was surprised he would even do it! But I asked and he could:) if you have ever been to China you know they eat a lot of veggies over there, and here we ordered all the green veggies and they were perfect. Get the cucumbers and green beans. We had a perfectly healthy and tasty meal! Also their hot chilli oil and vinegar are good quality and good flavor:) the restaurant is much bigger than it looks and the vibe is chill but fun...

Everything was fresh, we loved the food. We came at 4:50 and were seated right at 5. They brought out the food pretty quick. One of my fav dumpling restaurants in SF. Fried pork dumplings and chow mien are top tier!!! Please get them if you come

My friend found this place on Tik Tok so we decided to try it out! It was a new experience for sure. I've always loved dim sum and I order bao from a bunch of different places around the bay so I made sure to order some of my faves while here, and try some new things too. The soup dumplings were interesting! Very juicy and I was NOT ready for the explosion that happens when you bite into one. We made a mess on our plates, but it was a happy mess, lol. My favorite items were definitely the wontons in chili oil, bbq pork bao, and pork belly! The pork belly was so tender and melts in your mouth. As far as parking goes, there's street parking in the area but you may have to walk a little bit to find a good space. Don't forget, don't leave valuables in your car!

Excited to have Dumpling Kitchen in the Castro, and I love that they kept the murals from Papi Rico (and points for the rainbow word art menu from Microsoft). I always liked their Taraval location, so I'm happy they're branching out. Noodles come out piping hot here, freshly wok-fried, and not too oily; get the Shanghai-style chow mein! All the dumplings we've gotten have been good, from XLB to the fish & chive dumplings. Great for groups since there's plenty of seating inside and out.

For a place that specializes in dumplings, they should really be better. The xiao long bao comes out with just a minimal amount of soup inside, and the fried Shanghai soup dumplings have none! Skip those entirely and order something else on the menu.

Food was adequate but it all tasted the same. The service was terribly slow and it took us over an hour to get 2 orders of dumplings and an onion pancake. The fillings were almost identical and the texture was just ok.

So glad to have another solid Chinese restaurant in Castro! We went for the soft opening and felt like they were still figuring things out, but excited to see how they improve with more time. FOOD Beef Shank & Tripe in Chili Oil - This one is a Chinese classic that I order as a baseline at most restaurants I go to. It was really well-seasoned, albeit a little too salty. The pieces of beef shank were super thick cut, whereas I feel like this dish is usually thin, deli-slice style beef pieces. Shanghai-Style Steamed Pork Buns - The xiaolongbao here were pretty reasonable! The wrapper was not as chewy as I usually prefer, which also meant it tore super easily when it stuck to the steamer. At this price point though this is a solid place for XLB. Shanghai-Style Pan Fried Pork Buns - This is one of my favorite Shanghainese foods, so I order it whenever I get the chance. I really enjoyed their version of it, though it had a slightly stronger deep fried oil taste on the bottom than I'm used to. Pea Sprouts w/ Garlic - Solid stir fry! Will definitely be back if I'm craving Shanghainese food.

TLDR: I appreciate their vast menu items, but I wouldn't go here again for dumplings. I'd give this place a 6.5-7/10! I prefer Dumpling House for dumplings (2-3 blocks over from Dumpling Kitchen). My partner and I did a mobile order for pick up since this place closes for the afternoon (close at 3pm). We live in the neighborhood, so the food wasn't sitting for too long before we ate it! PORK POT STICKERS: The filling was okay - a good standard pork dumpling. My only gripe is that the wrapping was really thick .. you'll see that this is a common factor in their dumplings! PEA SHOOTS WITH FRIED GARLIC: This was good! It wasn't overdone, and the garlic cloves were great and plentiful. CRISPY SALTED FISH: This was good too! It definitely had a kick to it, the jalapenos were such a nice touch. A little on the salty side, but I didn't mind it especially because we had it over white rice. CHILI OIL WONTONS: I didn't like these as much as I was hoping. The wrapping was really thick, stuffing was okay. Their chili oil was the redemption factor of this dish - definitely had a kick. CHICKEN AND CORN DUMPLINGS: I didn't like these at all. The stuffing was interesting in that it was hard .. and not soft at all? There was a lot of corn in it which I appreciate, but the chicken texture was so odd. It wasn't juicy. Definitely on the end of a firm dumpling ..

I am here in San Francisco on vacation and I am so happy that I came here for dinner! It was delicious and I loved the service we received! I loved the sizzling rice soup so much!!!! Definitely recommend :)

Tasty authentic Shanghai dumpling place in the Castro. No wait for lunch. Terrific numb-tongue pepper mapo tofu. String beans had perfect amount of dragon breath sizzle and not over cooked. Favorite was the Shanghai style pan-fried pork buns. Think XLB meets potsticker. Chewy pan-fried brown bottom with XLB juiciness inside. Be careful not to burn your tongue. Luckily mine was already numb from spicy tofu.

Ordered takeout from this place because I was craving honey walnut shrimp. I opened the Tupperware (the lid was broken and it looked used) and was utterly disgusted at what I saw. This was a very sad attempt at honey walnut shrimp. The sauce on the side did not even resemble what honey walnut shrimp should be. Also the shrimp was not fried like it's supposed to be. It looked like they microwaved day-old shrimp. So sad cause it was $18 and I had to throw it in the trash after taking these pics.