HK Lounge Bistro
Dim sum restaurant · South of Market ·
Upscale Cantonese with stellar dim sum, roast duck, and coffee ribs
Upscale Cantonese with stellar dim sum, roast duck, and coffee ribs
"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
"The dim sum classics at this homey Cantonese spot in SoMa (it was formerly in the Richmond) are worth crossing town for. That’s because this spot excels at making hearty entrées as much as smaller dishes—order at random and you’ll end up with a meal you’ll dream about for days. Just make sure the lunch or dinner involves their standout fried sticky rice and lightly fried sesame balls (they’re the ideal crispy finisher). And since the space is the size of a nail salon, be sure to snag a reservation before going to town on a full-blown feast." - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong
"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
"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
"This trio of baked pork buns has bottoms so crispy that there’s a lacy, caramelized edge that snaps right off. The ratio of bun to pork is an ideally balanced 50-50, and the filling gets evenly spread throughout the dome of fluffy bread. The service at this sit-down dim sum spot in SoMa matches the caliber of their buns, as evidenced by the tableside xiao long bao and the fact that you’ll never know what the bottom of your teapot looks like. If you’d rather have your pork bun steamed, the versions here are like clouds." - julia chen 1, patrick wong
