HK Lounge Bistro
Dim sum restaurant · South of Market
1136 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Highlights
Dim sum classics like siu mai, XLB, and baked pork buns
Dim sum classics like siu mai, XLB, and baked pork buns
"When its previous incarnation was destroyed by fire, no one was injured, but nonetheless many mourned the loss of one of the city's most cherished Cantonese establishments. With its return, dim sum devotees can rejoice once again, and indeed you're likely to find this modest yet tidily appointed SoMa spot full of regulars during lunch hours. Families and business types alike find pleasure in artfully pleated Shanghai dumplings filled with rich broth and fresh crab meat, or baked pork buns with a crackling topping; sweet bites like fried sesame balls, egg tarts and mango pudding are also much admired. At dinner, the menu is fleshed out with more substantial, large-format dishes, including crisp-skinned roast duck and fragrant steamed seabass." - Michelin Inspector
"Fans of Hong Kong Lounge II mourned its loss when a fire took out the Geary Boulevard restaurant in 2019, but it returned in 2023 with a new location in SoMa (albeit with a slightly different name). Favorites such as the restaurant’s crispy baked pork buns and steamed har gow are still on the menu but diners should venture into other dishes, such as the glazed coffee baby back ribs or whole roasted duck with plum sauce, for more filling options." - Lena Park
"What Michelin Guide-listed HK Lounge Bistro lacks in size, it more than makes up for in excellent dim sum. The petite dining room is usually full of parties sharing baskets of pork and shrimp siu mai and steamed pork buns — but don’t be afraid to branch out from the classics. The roast duck, chive, and peanut dumplings are not to be skipped, and for dessert there’s durian pastry or koi fish-shaped mango pudding, depending on your taste." - Paolo Bicchieri
"For anyone whose ideal midday activity includes covering every square inch of a table with perfect baked pork buns and bowling ball-sized portions of crispy seafood noodles (and then promptly devouring it all), a visit to this dim sum spot should be a top priority. The salmon-colored restaurant, formerly Hong Kong Lounge II in the Richmond until it burned down in 2019, officially reopened in SoMa under a new name, and in a cozier space. The Cantonese classics are still worth following this place across town for. Hone in on the steamed section, where you’ll find meaty and flawless siu mai and xiao long bao that are delicate soup bombs. And don’t skip the fried sesame balls for dessert—they’re the ideal crispy finisher." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong
"Hong Kong Lounge II was forced to move from its Geary Boulevard digs due to a devastating fire in 2019, but now the restaurant is back, relocating to SoMa with its new name, HK Lounge Bistro. It’s a tiny sliver of a space, but the dim sum is still stellar and continues to lure in customers. Get your favorites, but also think about adding on items such as the salt and pepper soft shell crab or sauteed pea shoots with garlic. Lunch tends to be crowded, so try making a reservation via the website or arriving early to snag a table." - Paolo Bicchieri
