Palette Tea Garden & Dim Sum 彩苑

Best dim sum ever! There was a slight wait, but we quickly got a table. The soup dumplings are a must eat, they are so delicious. Additionally, the chicken feet are a must try, and were so chewy and tasted amazing! The cucumbers were crispy and simply mouthwatering. The dishes were presented so beautifully, and were making my mouth water! All in all, this is the perfect lunch stop for dim sum!!

We have been there many times. Previously the food was so so but recently it was very good. The service was always good as well. The staff was nice, and very good at consistently refilling our drinks too. The menu is large. I don't mind eating there almost every day.

We had dim sum on a sunday. Very noisy. Food is good but they cramped 10 of us + a high chair in one round table so it was a little bit tight. Wouldn't order the soggy noodles again. Tiny crispy shrimp and all other dim sum is good. Had the duck platter again. It's a little bit on the pricey side. Our bill for 10 people was $770 !!

This place has a great atmosphere to bring guests visiting from out of town. Very pricey dim sum for small portions, taste is mediocre, presentation is decent, and wait time is super long on the weekends with or without reservations. Def not worth visiting often, quality of food has gone down over the years. Their overhyped duck is dry, flavorless and outrageously overpriced at $74...

We had such a memorable time at Palette Tea Garden! The restaurant is beautifully designed with a modern, elegant atmosphere—perfect for an upscale family dinner or a cozy date night. We had kids in our group, including one with food allergies, and the staff was incredibly accommodating. They took the time to walk us through safe options and made sure everyone felt comfortable and included. Our standout dishes? The Salt & Pepper Pork, Soup Dumplings, and the Custard Dumplings—they were all SO good! Truly a fantastic dining experience from start to finish.

I have visited a couple of times. This is the most stable and upscale Chinese restaurant in the neighborhood. Reservations are essential as it is often rather crowded! The food was never a disappointment, and every dish we ordered was delicious 👍 My favorite dish was the shrimp and walnuts, which was amazing. It would be nice to have some kind of call bell at the table because the restaurant is so big and it's hard to call the restaurant staff 😅

Nice ambiance, very good dim sum. Chicken wings were too saucy, but most of our food was great.

My husband and I haven't been to this restaurant in a while and everything has changed. The delicious dishes are gone, replaced by expensive and unpalatable American Chinese food. It was very expensive and the two of us were shocked by the bill in the end. Mandatory 18% tip even if there are only two people. Tips and tax were $50. Will never come back to eat again. It tastes really bad. I hope you won’t come here.

It was great. First time having an upscale experience for dim sum. I feel it's overpriced though for some items. Items you can easily get at other dim sum places. I dont mind paying extra if they actually do something special like the vinegar balls for XLB, or fresh berries w dessert. But if I get steamed gai lan (Chinese broccoli) and that's all it is, for $20, I'm feeling a little sad. Otherwise overall a nice place to visit. Service was really nice and attentive. Ambiance is good too. And you can get some good shopping afterwards!

We have been to Palette Tea Garden a few times and always had a great experience. The restaurant feels upscale with darker decor, and the video screen ceilings in the hallway give it a modern feel. It is a fresh take on the classic dim sum place. They have seating for large groups and booths for smaller, more private meals. They also have a full bar with top shelf liquor, which is great if you want to enjoy a drink with your food. The dim sum is excellent, and from 1 to 3 p.m., all lobster items are half off, which is a great deal. We tried the lobster har gao and the garlic truffle lobster, and both were delicious. We also ordered the Peking duck, which came with flat wrappers, green onion, cucumber, radish, and hoisin sauce. The crispy duck skin and deboned meat were the stars of the dish and very tasty. The staff was helpful and made sure our water was always full. Our food came out quickly. I love coming here with my family and we look forward to our next meal.

Foods good but a bit pricey. However. We went for dinner with a family of 3 and we were charged 18 percent gratuity automatically. That was a bit odd as on the menu it stated a party of 6 is 18 percent gratuity. If gratuity is considered a requirement these days just adjust your prices to reflect it.

We've been wanting to try this place in the new area of Hillsdale mall and found ourselves coming in on the tail end of lunch service. The interior is definitely beautiful and well laid out. We were able to be seated right away but for some reason after getting seated the servers and host moved us. When they moved us they never gave us our sauce again even when asked. When you come here definitely expect the food to be pricey but you will get your fill. We were a bit surprised at the portion half duck though we felt like it was a lot of skin hiding the meat thats actually less than half a duck. The presentation and flavor were delicious regardless of this. We were a group of 3 people we didn't expect they automatically charge a 18% service charge right off the bat.

Many reviews on yelp are not real, this one is of a real true experience. Food and presentation at this restaurant from the beginning/opening was 8/10. Last night June 21st 2025. 3/10. The signature dish of the dumplings did not even fit on the bamboo display. It was not even presentable. I told the staff of this thinking they would just replace the bamboo holder simple fix...no. They said its usually not like this but for me it is. So just be happy with it. Not cool. The truffle scallops noodle was good and crab was good during dinner. The veggies we ordered were not fresh and it caused two members of my party to have to use the restroom. I do not mind paying 18% gratuities. It's absolutely a privilege to be able when the service is on par. Maybe my expectations are high. If a restaurant charges 18%, I would like to think they would help you pack your left overs. Instead I was given 4 small boxes for 5 entrees. Not only that, I was provided with the smallest takeout bag that had been soaked with water a few days before so the paper-bag was dried soaked and only fit two containers.

We're here for my nephew's graduation dinner. And since we've passed by here plenty enough to see how crowded the place can get, we were very excited to finally dine here. Palette Tea Garden and Dim Sum did not disappoint. First of all, this is one of the few Asian restaurants that felt roomy. That's not necessarily a cut on other spots, but it's just the way that goes and so this was a nice change of pace. Service was continuously checking to make sure drinks were filled and seeing if we needed more hot mustard (which we did and the green sauce is also fire) or would like to order anything else. It was good without being hoovering. But obviously it's all about the food. And it lived up to the hype. Garlic shaking beef : tender chunks, not morsels but chunks, of marinated beef and cooked to the right amount of medium rare. I should've maybe ordered 2 servings. Popcorn chicken : safe choice for the table. good seasoning, decent crunch, pairs well with hot mustard or green sauce. Orange chicken : I know, I know, it's orange chicken, but we still ordered it. Now this is how orange chicken should taste. Lightly breaded. Healthy bite size pieces. And the sauce was not some overly goopy sweet orange mess. It was lightly dressed and had more that just a orange note to it. Maybe mint? It was something. Whatever it was, yeah, tasty. Soup dumplings are a must. Still not sure which ones we ordered but we kept ordering because the filling and savory soup was just that addicting, and you simply can't stop at, nor should you, just have one order. We also ordered different kinds of fried rice (some by mistake but devoured just the same), seafood noodles dish, the Peking Duck, egg tarts, taro buns, honey walnut shrimp, veggies, etc. but I've already given you the highlights and really just don't to write anymore.

Run, don't walk, to Palette's limited time lobster deal!! 50% off M-F from 11 AM - 2:45 PM until the end of the month. What a deal!! But even if there wasn't one, I'd still go back for their crab/lobster dishes and the truffle duck fried rice. My absolute favorite is their salted egg yolk lobster. You can mix and match any of the crab and lobster flavor combinations! This time, we tried the lobster sticky rice and it was good but incomparable to the salted egg yolk lobster! As for the dimsum, I'll say that I think other dimsum places are better. We tried the curry beef puff which I thought was supposed to be like the typical glutinous rice puff dimsum, but this one tasted like it was baked as opposed to deep fried. I'd skip on this. You order by making your selections via pen on a paper menu. Service is fine and ambiance is of an elevated dimsum restaurant.

We had reservations for a party of 8 on a Sunday afternoon. This was my first time here. From the outside, the restaurant looked small, but it turned out to be quite spacious inside. Service was friendly and overall fine. Since we didn't want to order 2 of everything, we asked if a few items could be cut for sharing. We were a bit surprised when the server brought out a butter knife and started cutting for us. I'm used to the aunties at traditional dim sum spots who usually have scissors and would quickly cut it for us or just give us a knife to do it ourselves. The menu leans more toward fusion than traditional dim sum. Prices are on the higher side, and some items felt a bit too upscale for what I was looking for. The food presentation was nice and food tasted fine, but I personally prefer classic dim sum dishes. The more "elevated" dishes aren't for me. It was nice to try something different, but this probably won't be my go-to spot for dim sum.

More like a 3.5!! Service was fine, but food came out kind of slow, im used to dim sum being served by the aunties really quickly in Chinatown! Presentation was fancy and food was okay but overpriced. We were doing family style and wanted to cut some of the buns. They didn't have scissors? We had to cut using a knife which was funny lol. The tea also tasted like cleaning product and didn't taste as refreshing as it is in other dim sum restaurants.

Such a good experience at this amazing spot. You can make reservations on Yelp for up to 10. If you need more headcount, follow up with an email and they'll help you fix the number. We arrived a little late but were still seated on a Friday afternoon without our full party, so I appreciate their flexibility with that. It can be hard to find if you haven't been there before. It's attached to the mall and right across from the theater, so park as if you'd park for Lulu lemon and you should be able to see it. Food was amazing and tasty. The roast duck was a major highlight. Also loved the beef with fried garlic, which was amazing as well. I loved the variety and the fact that they have cocktails as well. I just came back from a trip to Hong Kong and say this is comparable to some of what I had out there. It is fancier and a bit pricier but I would definitely come back.

Palette Tea in San Mateo gets 4 stars based on the less stress Mother's Day lunch we had Reservations are available and quick Beautiful space Service feels smooth Must Get Item: salt and pepper pork tenderloin Lobster Har Gow is good with the dropper of umami oil The table for 5 is a bit small but manageable Wagyu beef chow fun noodles were a bit too stuck together and the beef wasn't as tender

What a unique name for a dimsum restaurant! Sunday dimsum is a tradition in our family so naturally we had to try this place out one weekend. My brother put in a reservation and our group of 9 headed over around noon. Each dish was like an art production, ready to be displayed at a food museum. I loved everything we ordered, including the tea (which is usually boring black tea at most of the places we have been). Service was also very good here. We had plenty of water to wash down our savory dishes. Everyone enjoyed the space and the flavors, even the kids (ages 5 and 2!) Parking at the top level of the mall provided easy access to the ramp to the restaurant. All in all a great experience. I would love to return to taste more menu items!

Second time here with my mom, returning customer here and this place never ceases to amaze me. Every savory dish I've ordered is bursting with unique flavors and deliciousness. All shrimp dumplings and siu mai have been very juicy and flavorful, each with its own twist. Favorites: - black swan taro puff - aesthetically pleasing with a nice mushroom and beef interior, perfect contrast of textures - surf clam congee - the surf clam was so tender even my mom with sensitive teeth did not find it tough at all! - osmanthus gelee - the most approved dessert for not too sweet. - custard dumpling - my favorite dessert (and I have a stronger sweet tooth) Will definitely want to come back. Service was exceptional, and the ambiance was very lively.

What a swanky place located in the Hillsdale mall, the more modernized section. Parking was easy, lots of parking spots in a parking garage. The interior of the restaurant is so sleek and I loved the table with the goldfish swimming in it. The three of us ordered a number of traditional dim sum dishes like ha gow, pineapple buns, shiu mai, the soup dumplings, but it had a more elevated taste! For example, the prawn rice rolls had these lines of veggies and the soup dumplings also had the pretty colors from black squid ink, beet, etc. I enjoyed their paper ordering and the food came out staggered. The tea was exceptional, must have tea with dim sum! It was nice that they had a tea candle to keep it warm and the staff were very attentive, constantly refilling our tea when we ran out. I highly recommend the fried taro dumpling shaped like a black swan and the xo scallop dumplings. It was stuffed and delicious. The egg yolk dessert was okay and I unfortunately didn't think the soup dumplings was worth it. I couldn't taste any difference between DTF soup dumplings and these.

It has been several years since I've had my first experience at Palette, and since then, they've grown on me. Through the years, they've offered promotions such as half off crab or lobster or slight discounts, which has increased my incentive to go (they post these on their IG). They were especially clutch during the pandemic times, when they had quality family set meals for takeout. Of course inflation has hit since then, but for their regular menu, it's honestly reasonable when you compare it to other nearby dim sum restaurants, upscale places (which this absolutely is), and picture-worthy food. Also, the food not only looks good, but tastes good. The only drawbacks are the price, and that you have to advocate for your own service sometimes depending on your server. I've read about people getting free stuff for birthdays, but that's never happened to me despite celebrating here on a few occasions. They will sometimes have a Yelp check-in deal. You can only do one promotion at a time. I've eaten a lot of the menu, and both lunch and dinner have great options. Lunch of course offers more dim sum, and there are some commonalities between the two menus. They also have more limited offerings for afternoon tea (between lunch and dinner), and have an extensive bar selection - their cocktails are pretty good and change seasonally. They've updated their policies to force you to pick a teapot for a charge per person. I'd go with jasmine jade for a lighter floral flavor, or shou mei for a traditional dim sum bitter tea that'll balance out all the grease. The milk oolong (does not actually have milk in it) and iron goddess are solid oolong teas if you want something subtly sweet and roasted. They automatically charge a 18% service fee, so you don't have to tip. My favorites include their Peking duck, rice crepes, sticky rice, typhoon shrimp dumplings (it's like fried har gow), baked pineapple bao (it has lava egg custard inside), and fried rice. Dinner has some sleeper hit items like roasted angus short rib. Everything kind of tastes like what it sounds like, so just get whatever proteins and flavors you like, or whatever photos look best on their picture menu. Also, you can mix and match the lobster/crab dishes - as in, if there's lobster sticky rice, you can order it with a crab instead and vice versa. The things I didn't like too much were the baked BBQ pork bao (too dry and sweet), lobster ha gow (tastes like regular ha gow with extra sea taste), palette soup dumpling (they don't specialize in these and it shows), or their custard dumplings (thick custard does not work well with thick dumpling wrapper). Palette Tea Garden is one of the best restaurants at Hillsdale, has a lot of seating both inside and outside, and exemplifies Chinese elegance and lavishness in their decorated interior and delicacies.

Recently had dinner her for my mom's birthday. It's her favorite dim sum in the Bay Area, so of course we had to celebrate her bday here. We had reservations for 6:30pm for a party of 10 people. Easy to make reservations online or using the app and got seated right away. Since we were a big party, we had a huge order! We ordered the following: Siu Mai, Ha Gow, Typhoon Crispy Ha Gow, Pork Soup XLB, Crab Roe Dumpling, Popcorn Chicken, Chili Sandstorm Wings, Crab Fried Rice, Pan Seared Seafood Noodles, Sichuan Green Beans, Garlic Pea Tendrils and Peking Duck. When I said we ordered a lot, we ordered HELLA! Lol All the items came over very fast and we had so many items that we barely had room for it on the table. For the most part everything was delicious and the staff were efficient. I would only say is that the chili sandstorm wings were overly seasoned and a bit overcooked. The same for the crispy ha gow. I get that it's supposed to be crispy but it was so overly cooked that it was hard to bite into. Other than those two items, we very much enjoyed our dinner. Given that we ordered a lot, I knew our bill was going to be expensive. Heads up, this spot is more on the pricey end but whatever mom wants, she gets!

This is probably one of our favorite modern/fusion Cantonese style restaurants in the area. Obviously if you're looking for a completely authentic Chinese dining experience you will not find it here, but their take on Mapo Tofu using Impossible meat is an inspired dish. The fried block of soft tofu that's crisp on the outside and fluffy/custardy on the inside topped with a savory umami sauce with just the right amount of spice, delicious. Probably one of my favorite unorthodox takes on a classic dish. Their standard fair is also not bad, though if you are expecting the best hargow ever you are in for disappointment, their regular dimsum dishes are not the main attraction so save your money for their more unique dishes. Service in our experience has been great. The servers can speak Chinese as well as English and have always been attentive and nice to us. Overall just know what kind of restaurant this is, expect unique twists on traditional dishes and I think you will enjoy yourself.

I've been to Palette Tea Garden a few times for lunch and dinner and even ordered delivery so I feel that I can write a proper review now. I was hesitant at first because the prices are extremely HIGH - literally double the price for dim sum but the location is so convenient. It's in the outdoor area of the Hillsdale Malle with ample parking so that made it convenient to easily meet up with friends and coworkers. This is definitely elevated dim sum. They offer signature dim sum dishes like ha gow and siu mai but my favorites are dishes are the ones that I can't find anywhere else such as the Black Truffle Crispy Duck Fried Rice $25 and Sweet Sesame Seabass Cubes $26. Definitely the place you want to come when you want to splurge. I also don't mind that they have a nice bar area to sit at. Service is still typical of a Chinese restaurant. You'll need to flag someone down when you need something like water or the bill.

When my family said we were going to go to dim sum, I did not expect such a place. Lots of seating but reservations highly recommended because it does get busy. Be ready for the noise! Lots of hustle and bustle with the staff. This is the fanciest dim sum place I've ever been to. You might get lucky and be seated with the goldfish in the center. Service is super quick. My favorite dish had to be the honey walnut shrimp. Even the walnuts were perfect. I didn't care for the palette dumplings. The pork belly was tender. And I loved the sauces, especially the coconut! I'm not a local so I'm bummed that I can't come back any time soon.

Our go to family restaurant in San Mateo! Staff and food are amazing! Shout out to Bonifacio and Victoria!!

SO YUMMY! I have been wanting to try Palette Tea Garden for years, I don't know why it took me so long! A good number of tasty vegetarian dishes! Everything we got was divine - the sweet corn cauliflower rice, green beans, spring rolls, and salt and pepper tofu. The rice, green beans, and tofu were my favorite. The spring rolls were very mushroom heavy. Might be fine for some, I prefer a little more variety. The only non-caffeinated tea they had was chrysanthemum. It had some additional flavor to it, maybe black pepper? Interesting. Ambiance was gorgeous. But the room was cold for some reason? We definitely over-ordered for 2 people. Thinking it was a dim sum place, we ordered 4 dishes, expecting them to be small / tapas style. Looking back, only the spring rolls were actually in the dim sum section of the menu; the other 3 were full sized dishes! Whoops! (The price reflected this too ) Be cautious and notice what's dim sum vs full sized. Loved it and would return!

I took my family back for a party on CNY day . I made the reservation online a week ago. Showed up exactly at 1pm, The hostess lady in red was so rude , even though there were still 3 tables left, she still told me to wait 20 -30 mins! When I asked her why, she just ignored me. So I asked another staff who was passing by, explained the situation, she immediately seat us to the table I pointed at the hostess in the first place. When I asked if the lady in red was a manager, she said no. I never got her name. Anyways, other than that little episode, everything else was fine. So I give it 3 stars.

20% gratuity already applied. Service was fast and friendly. Food was good and pricey. Love the xiao long baos :) Overall can't complain.

Since we were planning on spending the day at Hillsdale Mall, we decided to have lunch here. I was able to make a reservation online the night before. Like last time, we were seated in the covered patio, which had heat lamps available. Our order: *Tea* 香片 Jasmine Jade ($2.20/person): +Fave of the 3: Green tea permeated w/fragrant jasmine. +Tea pot was kept over a candle, so it stayed warm throughout our meal. -Tea bag, not loose leaf tea 鐵觀音 Iron Goddess ($2.20/person): +Tea pot was kept over a candle, so it stayed warm throughout our meal. -Tea bag, not loose leaf tea 壽眉 Shou Mei ($2.20/person): +Tea pot was kept over a candle, so it stayed warm throughout our meal. -Tea bag, not loose leaf tea -Least favorite of the 3: Despite being a white tea, it was the most bitter. *Food* 彩苑焗叉燒包 Baked BBQ Pork Bao (3 pcs): $8.50 -One of the worst baked BBQ pork buns I've had. The "snow cap" was pasty and flavorless, and it was filled w/very little BBQ pork filling. 五味小籠包 Palette Soup Dumplings (5 pcs): $13.50 Paprika & chicken, Red beet & beef, Spinach & kale, Squid ink & black truffle, Turmeric & crab roe +Fillings were juicy. +Instead of the usual pork XLB, one with a paprika skin and chicken filling was in its place. +Dipping sauce came in the form of "caviar": Molecular gastronomy unique to this location. +Not deflated like last time: However, out of all the concepts I've tried, I still like the ones at Palette Tea House (SF) the most. -Ceramic spoons holding the XLBs were hot and slippery, so they were hard to hold. 珊瑚海鮮煎麵 Pan Seared Seafood Noodles ($25.00): +Textural contrast of crunchy and soft noodles +Plenty of chives, mushrooms, and vegetables -Small portion -Scallops and shrimp were battered and salty -Sauce was a bit thick and salty. Koi Palace's version is MUCH better. Side notes: 1.) Hot water is $1.00/person 2.) Automatic 18% service charge 3.) Free parking in the Hillsdale Mall parking garage *Verdict: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 d/t creativity and service. Dishes were cleared promptly and we received tea refills without having to ask. Similar thoughts as last time: Most likely won't make the trek over here again unless if I was in the area.

Warning: service is TERRIBLE! 18% service charge no matter how small your party is for bad service! Came here on a Sunday around 11:30pm. Signed up on the virtual waitlist and it said it was going to be a 30-45 min wait. (As expected) To our surprise, we got seated in 5 minutes! We were seated outside and there were some heaters on. They placed us near the corner and the other heaters weren't on so we asked them to turn on the other lamps. Turns out they ran out of gas so nothing they could do. We were freezing! We were somewhat in the corner but there was another table that was in the corner corner and really getting all of the wind. I saw multiple parties try to sit there and they all complained about how cold it was. Food overall was good. On the pricier side but it's expected. Going back to service, we marked all of our items on a paper and our server put in our order. Our server was not nice during the entire experience. She forgot to add something into our order. Then when we asked for 3 sides of extra rice, we never got it. It was on our receipt but we had to ask 3 DIFFERENT people to get it for us (including our server who we asked twice) Our server did not apologize for the rice OR for forgetting to add one of our orders. Was going to leave her a smaller tip than usual but turns out there's an AUTOMATIC 18% service charge. It's on the menu but now I see how they're able to get away with such bad service. I do want to add that the people bringing out our food and cleaning our table were all very nice and apologetic to our situation. Only they were able to help us get our 3 bowls of rice. Not our server. Avoid coming here.

Palette Tea Garden is a contemporary twist on traditional Cantonese cuisine, blending classic flavors with modern artistic presentations. This place shines for its innovative dim sum offerings and elegant ambiance, but if you were to eat with your eyes closed, I'm not sure it surpasses that rundown mom and pop Chinatown hole-in-the-wall. We came here to try out the signature Palette Xiao Long Bao Sampler, which presents a vibrant array of soup dumplings, each infused with distinct flavors and hues. My favorite is a tie between the Squid Ink with Black Truffle and Pork and the Beets with Beef. High raise for this platter's aesthetic appeal. We also got a full Peking duck, which we were told is a hallmark of Palette Tea Garden. For sure, it is really well done-- crispy skin, moist meat, traditional accompaniments plus some modern twists with the julienned radishes. And once again, the presentation is top-notch. You come here for the experience, and an experience you will definitely get. However, I was disappointed that they would not let us bring home the duck carcass, something that's considered customary, if this place is going for cultural authenticity. The wagyu chowfun is a very elevated version of the classic with the higher quality premium beef. It was really tender and the flat noodles were perfectly and delicately prepared. That said, there are probably more optimal ways to be getting good mileage out of wagyu than chowfun, because again, at the end of the day, eyes closed I cannot tell the difference between this chowfun and the hole-in-the-wall that tenderizes the beef via velveting. Overall, Palette Tea Garden offers a sophisticated dining experience, artfully combining traditional Chinese culinary techniques with contemporary and creative flair. This establishment promises a memorable gastronomic journey.

Our review for @paletteteagarden in San Mateo: - Price point: $$ (~$50 pp) - Cuisine: Cantonese (Chinese) - Ambience: Located inside the Hillsdale mall, the interior is cute, can get busy during holidays and weekends. Parking is generally easy - Food review: This is our go to dimsum spot, we love most of the dimsums we have tried here. 1. Xiao long bao (8/10): This gets more points because of how beautiful it was presented. The colors of the baos along with the complimentary matching dipping sauce is super adorable. 2. Siu mai (9.5/10): These were perfect! Soft and moist and just delicious! 3. Lobster hargow (9.5/10): Another dimsum which just always hit the spot! 4. Crab butter dumpling (9.5/10): This was super unique, first time tried this dumpling and just loved it! Give them a try, if you are local! They have branches in other places as well! OF COURSE, WE WILL BE BACK ! Recommended for: Dimsum lovers

One bite, instant favorite! Palette is tucked away in the Hillsdale mall. Inside is beautiful, elegance, and relaxing. The staff was great, made us feel like we were valued customers and they were happy that we chose them. Every single thing we got was delicious, the best Chow fun I have ever had in my life. I could go on and on, but just go see for yourself. You will not be disappointed. We love this place so much that we made reservations for Valentine's Day on our way out because this is where we wanted to be that special night.

Pricey and good dim sum here. The Rainbow Prawn Rice was very tasty. Har Gow, can't go wrong. Pork and Shrimp Siu Mai always good. Steamed Pork & Chinese Bacon, my favorite. Chinese Kale, generous but $16? XO Sauce & Wagyu Fried Rice, $25, but nothing to write home about. They automatically add a service charge of 18% which totaled up to $100 for 2 people. Busy and bustling place. Less crowded at Ghirardelli Square in SF. Had to flag down a waiter to take our order. Ok, it was the weekend of CNY after all.

Excellent Peking Duck and XLB sampler. Peking Duck did not include the carcass when we inquired unlike the places I go to in Seattle area. Delicious with assortment of sliced veggies to go along with the duck inside thin wrappers. The XLB sampler is good but I wasn't particularly drawn to any of the flavors. Wish they included a foie gras version like the Asian Paradise chain. Also ordered a tofu dish and the wagyu chow fun. The latter was also delicious. The salt and pepper tofu didn't do much for me. Located in shopping mall near free garage parking. Definitely would return.

I'm a painter so the name of this place already rung a bell for me. Their palette plates were absolutely cute with their different sauces which all were tasty and their sweet and sour soup was on point with the crispy rice and I really liked their steamed Chinese kale and the sauce that came with it and their chicken siumai was delicious too, I would like to go back here again and try more of their menu. Also our server was really great I like how attentive she is!

Last month, a group of us from college decided to get together for a reunion. We made reservations on a busy Saturday thinking it would be tough to get seated at a large table (as they are very busy), but it was a cinch and the wait time was minimal. Service was mostly good (or at least decent) however, I do feel in terms of food, it's not comparable to some of the other Dim Sum spots I frequent. (I personally thought the food served at the SF Palette location was better). Just know that you are paying for the trendy and modern ambiance, not authentic Dim Sum and Chinese cuisine.

Came here with my bf for the first time. Ambiance was lively and got busy at the end but still felt intimate and private. The servers were quick in taking our orders and starting us off with drinks. As for food, here's what I thought: Drinks: - Espresso martini: 8.5/10; my bf doesn't like creamy espresso martinis but this one won him over! -Ming-colada: 8/10; creamy and tangy slushy. A little sweet but pretty fresh and light. - Jasmine Jade Tea: 8.5/10; can't go wrong with this. Tea tasted fresh. Food - Spring roll: 6/10; crispy and fresh. Nothing new that stood out in terms of flavor flavor. - Popcorn chicken: 7/10; Not as crunchy as I would've liked and pretty oily, but had a solid flavor. The creamy wasabi sauce it came with had no kick and was a little too mellow/sweet for me (the other sauces they give are the way to go) - Wagyu Beef Chow Fun: 8/10; The meat was the star here, added all the flavor and was tender and soft. - Classic Ha Gow: 7/10; flavor was alright but very monotone without sauce. Could have used some texture element. - Crab Butter Dumplings: 7.5/10; Very rich (as would be expected). I love the dropper with sauce it comes with. Only issue is we ordered the cucumber salad and it was never brought out. The gratuity is also included in the bill, which for some may be the less preferred tip method.

We were going to book the other location in San Francisco but then we are concerned about the safety at night. So we switched to this one inside Hillsdale Mall. Location is a perfect , parking is easy and area is upscale. Food is great , we ordered the lobster which was recommended by the server and it tasted amazing. all other dishes are delicious too. BBQ pork is a must have item . We told them it was a BDay celebration for mom , after dinner they served us a pretty dessert plate which was a nice and sweet surprise.

I totally forgot to use the Yelp waitlist and I regret it. Do use the waitlist! They were so helpful and accommodating with my little 6-month old baby. They provided a high chair and space for the gigantic stroller. The food was excellent. Everything I ordered was wonderful. I gave a piece to my child and she also loved it.

We come mostly for holidays, celebrations like birthdays, or to impress out of town relatives. The prices are definitely hefty. Plus, once you add tax and the mandatory gratuity it's like you're paying for an extra person. We've had a couple meh dishes in the past, but on our recent trip everything was pretty good and you can taste the quality. Presentation is clean and the food is cooked with care. I think overall I would skip most of the dumplings as they feel just OK since there's so many other restaurants out there now that specialize in making delicious dumplings. Some dishes we have repeat ordered would be the chicken feet, tripe, taro swans, and popcorn chicken. Besides some of the fancy dishes, you're also paying for ambiance, which I think they do deliver on. Making a reservation via the Yelp app is easy and I noticed they sometimes open early on holidays so you can try to snag a table if you come early enough and couldn't get a reservation.

First time at this place. One thing I really liked was the duck fried rice. It was really good and flavorful. I love the service at this restaurant and the servers are very friendly and attentive to the customers when it comes to serving waters, taking out empty dishes, etc. The ambiance inside is pretty nice. They can get busy. I feel like I've had better dimsum for the price we paid for. The different dishes we ordered was a hit or miss with the flavors. If you want to try this place, follow their address using apple maps since they're located by the outdoor area of Hillsdale mall.

Palette is a great spot to go with groups for a special occassion. The ambiance, service, and food itself are all pretty fantastic in my eyes, though It's a 4/5 for me given it's a little on the pricey side for classic Chinese dishes I'm used to getting for half the price. That all said, the concept of dipping everything in a bunch of sauces makes for a fun novelty, and the plating for everything does look pretty thoughtful and unique relative to other places. Definitely bring those here who live for posting food pics on the gram or those who aren't as familiar with Chinese food and won't go with you to mom and pop shops. I would definitely come here more if I had unlimited funds and hope to return for another special occasion soon!

An interesting modern take on traditional Chinese dim sum. Food tasted fresh, althoguhtt the flavors were more bland than other dim sum restaurants I've been to. A few items (like the "pork football") was cooked differently - had a curry floor- though not necessarily bad. We loved the truffle fried rice and black swans as well. Waiters were attentive for the most part, they did forget our dessert towards the end. Good but for special occasions for me

The team went for an escape room offsite upstairs and dined here for lunch. It's a very typical "somewhat-high-end" dim sum restaurant in the Bay Area, similar to Koi Palace among many others. It's located in the mall so parking is not a problem. Waiters and waitresses were super helpful and nice Now, the food. Being Cantonese my bar for dim sum is very high. I'd say most items are at or above average, with beef rice crepe being quite disappointing (thick and kinda weird, definitely not a traditional beef rice crepe). Overall a place I might revisit if I happen to be around and wanna have dim-sum, but not where I'd go on purpose like some in the city.

I came back with a group of friends for dinner and this is definitely the play! Everything we had for dinner was MUCH better than the actual dimsum itself. I would not order any of the cocktails though. We tried most of the cocktails on the drink menu and all of them were subpar. However, we loved every entree we had. I would definitely come back for dinner! We had the following for 6 people (~$500 total): - Whole Peking duck - Honey Walnut Shrimp - Black Truffle Duck Fried Rice - Iberico Cha Siu - Wagyu & Roasted Garlic - Salt & pepper tofu - Impossible meat mapo tofu - Garlic pea tendrils - Sichuan green beans - 3 orders of pork XLB - 1 order of classic Har Gow

Great variety when in the mood for tasty dumplings, noodles, and vegetables. Service is really good and easy to get reservations. Highly recommend if you have a large party too. They can accommodate a large number and the food comes out quickly.

Best Chinese food on the Peninsula!! I'll be back for sure! The app says I have to add more characters, so let's all do our best to save this planet any way we can!!!

Last time when I came early in the morning without reservation, they didn't let me in because they only accept walk in after 2pm. So this time it was really perfect because I really wanted dim sum around 4pm on a Saturday and this is the only place that serve dim sum all day. The vibe of the restaurant is adorable--really cozy and welcoming. The food was amazing too. The Peking duck was some of the best I've had--crispy skin, juicy meat, and perfectly seasoned. You HAVE to try the xiao long bao here--they're a must. The dumplings were delicate, with a flavorful broth and tasty filling. I'll definitely be coming back for more!

Expensive, aesthetically pleasing, ok Chinese food. I've heard great things about the restaurant and was excited to try and see what the hype was about. XLB Sampler - it's cool and colorful but the skin was thicker than other XLBs in the Bay and not much soup, the meat filling wasn't exactly juicy and felt like a thick chunk of meat. Couldn't really taste the difference between the different colored XLBs. Stir Fried Lobster with Sticky Rice - the sticky rice was pretty standard, and the lobster was on the smaller side and didn't seem fresh because the meat was a bit tough. I think it was slightly overcooked too. Garlic Steam Tiger Prawns - similar to the lobster, it wasn't as scrumptious as other fresh tiger prawns I've had at other chinese restaurants. The rest of the dish is standard canto style garlic sauce absorbed into vermicelli noodles. The taste reminded me of how I would make this at home by adding chicken bouillon powder. My favorite dish was the cha siu - the ratio of fat to lean meat was perfect and the searing and taste was amazing overall. Would get this again if I come back. Peatips was standard peatips. We averaged $60 per person for dinner which I think is on the higher end for chinese food. Taste isn't bad overall but I don't think it's worth it unless it's for special occasions. We were situated in a very small table and it was hard to flag down a waiter. They were pretty busy on a weekday evening.

Have had Palette a few times, but the last time (takeout) went horrible. First it took them 20-30 minutes to give me my take out order of just BBQ pork buns. When I went up to the food court to eat, I opened the takeout container and noticed the buns were all ripped into pieces. Looks like it was half eaten! Brought it down to them and showed them and the lady in the front had told me this is normally how their takeout looks. That was the last straw for me. You are supposed to be a high end dimsum spot and this is your presentation?? No thanks! Double check your food before you dig in!

The food was delicious. Enjoyed every dish we ordered. However, the table was too small to fit all the dishes we ordered (they came out pretty quick ) and felt rushed to eat the food as fast as we can.

Palette what a beautiful restaurant you are. And just like in high school, the super popular cheerleader or football player in the school! We were fortunate to get a table right away for three of us, even without reservations at about 12nn for dim sum lunch. And even then we saw every other table fill up and turn over with people with reservations. It was a crazy busy place on a Friday! Service tried to be good. But they were busy and running from table to table. Frequently we had to try to flag down some help. They did forget two dishes and when reminded they brought one promptly. The other they boxed up to go. Otherwise, definitely enjoyed my favorites today which were: The lotus rice with unagi, the Malaysian okra, and osmanthus coconut gelee (for dessert); all items not easily found at other places. Other items tried and a-ok were yuba /foojook rolls, taro swan puffs, tornado shrimp dumplings, and durian dessert puffs, Least favorite yet still enjoyable were the the pork xiaolingbao, palette xlb assortment, and the custard mini buns. Conveniently located in Hillsdale Mall on the Northside. Lots of free and shaded parking. Would I be back? Absolutely for that delicious unagi lotus rice and gwei fa gelee... and to try other items on their huge menu!

Finding good dim sum in the Bay Area where it's safe and has parking can be a challenge! My sister took me to Palette Tea Garden and their food was delicious! I brought my friend there for his birthday! He's very picky so I wasn't sure if their food met his standards! Luckily he loved everything we ordered; pork siu mai, 1/2 Peking duck, green beans and the Mapo tofu! Their dumplings were plump and so tasty! The half Peking duck was delicious and the skin not too greasy! The runaway favorite was the Mapo tofu! You can taste so many different spices plus something hot that made this dish stand out for us! They have a large dining area, and most of the people were large families. There were several servers walking around to help and assist diners. They refilled our glass of water and checked our tea kettle regularly; refilling our tea pot with hot water. The restaurant is in the Hillsdale Mall with plenty of free parking! I highly recommend making reservations to guarantee a table if you're dining on a weekend around noon.