Palette Tea Garden & Dim Sum 彩苑

My sister and I ventured out to this all-day dim sum restaurant in San Mateo and we couldn’t be happier! We had a wonderful experience here and highly recommend! Palette is conveniently located in the San Mateo shopping mall on the Pinstripe side. There’s a free parking lot right there which is only a few minutes of walking to the restaurant. On the outside looking in, Palette looks modest. But one step inside will take you all the way to Beijing/China. The reception area is immaculately decorated with cultural artifacts. Staff will promptly greet you in a friendly demeanor and lead you to your table. Highly recommend you book before you come as this place is very popular and fills up fast even on weekdays! There are huge screens on the main dining area which show case famous ancient Chinese brush paintings. You’ll fall in love with the ambience here and forget that you’re in San Mateo. You’ll momentarily be taken to fancy restaurants in Beijing or China ☺️ We were so impressed with the tea selection here. We each ordered a pot of tea. I forgot the name but one of the teas tasted just like milk tea without any milk in it! Our server Victoria was attentive and helpful. She realized we ordered a lot of food so she came over and offered to move us to a bigger table. She also realized we ordered duplicate items (one dish was already contained in another dish) so she let us know she canceled the other dish for us. Later when we needed to pack all our leftovers to go, the staff was super helpful and packed everything nicely and nearly for us, which appreciated! Food came out in reasonable amount of time and order. I love the way they present their food here. Just like the name of their restaurant, all the dishes and utensil tie to the theme of painting and let your dining table be a palette for your eyes and your taste buds! My sis and I enjoyed all the food that we ordered and yes we ordered a lot. The Peking Duck, Hakka salted chicken and Dungeness crab stood out the most to us, though all other dishes are tasty as well. Overall, food wise, I’ll give them 8/10. But ambience and food presentation wise, they definitely get a 10/10 from us. And don’t miss out the teas when you’re there :)

We got reservations the day before and were quick to get seated. The plates were unique because it had a section to put 4 different sauces. The sauces were a gimmick. Soy sauce was the best followed by the hot mustard. The green and white sauces didn’t seem to go with anything. The best sauce was the slightly sweet soy sauce that came with the sichuan seafood dumplings. We used that sauce to flavor the other dishes. The Peking duck was flavorful, but the skin was slightly too chewy. There also wasn’t enough veges for the wrap. The best dishes were the crispy unagi rice crepe and crab butter dumpling. Both had a unique taste and texture. As for the other dishes, they were mainly average or a bit above average. I’d skip the palette XLB sampler (skin too thick), ha gow collection (slightly bland), wagyu fried rice (slightly bland), yuzu walnut prawn puffs (too hard). I would go back and try dishes that other dim sum restaurants don’t have, like the crispy rice crepes

I was Browsing around Apple Store, my stomach led me to Palette Tea Garden & Dim Sum Restaurant! I heard their Famous Hong Kong Beef Chow Fun are Bay Area Famous! Friendly & Smiling Hostess Sat me by Bar Area, Bond ( Kool Bartender) offered me a Pinot Noir Red Wine, Simple small Menu With Dim Sum ( good all day) Chef's Specialties With categories of Peking Duck , Wagyu Beef ( Excellent Beef) ,Fish, Chicken, Crab , Maine Loster , Soup, Fried Rice & Noodles, Special Tea ( Jasmine Jade, my favorite) Wine, Beer, & Specialties Cocktails. I Ordered Stir-Fried Sliced Grass Carp (Sliced Fish-- I rated 5 Stars ) Garlic Pea Tendrils, Stir-Fried Yu Choy ,White Rice! Food , Tea, Wine Dinning in Warm Asian Highend Cozy Vibed High Ceilings Restaurant! Money Well Spend! Stomach Satisfied! Couple Hours Sat down Meal From Busy Traffic Commute! Great place for Sport TV Gathering !

Second time here after liking it a lot my first time and this time was just as good. Can't go wrong with Koi Palace or any of their sister restaurants. Made a reservation the day of on a Sunday night. We ordered the palette soup dumplings $15, siu mai sampler $24, half Peking duck $38, and xo sauce and wagyu fried rice $25. Every dish was fantastic. High quality ingredients. Excellent flavors, not excessively salty. Definitely not cheap, but I think it's fair for the quality and portions. We even had leftovers. Very nice high end looking interior, spacious with high ceilings. Service was decent. Lots of free parking. Would go back again

Great dim sum, def a premium price but it's worth it for the service and variety. Decor is fun, and make sure to get a tea to wash everything down with! Highly recommend the lobster hargow and dumplings, can skip the cauliflower.

Man, I wish I remembered to take pictures of the food, but I was too eager to dig in. Food was absolutely delicious. Though it was my first time eating at a dim sum, the family style plates allowed me to taste everything. We enjoyed our food and the hospitality that the staff offered. Great atmosphere and service. They accommodated our nit allergy restrictions which was greatly appreciated. Order Chicken & Bacon Fried Rice - great flavor Iberico Cha Siu - tender and cooked perfectly Chicken Soup XLB - tasty dumplings Wagyu Beef Chow Fun - ordered twice!

I was genuinely impressed with this place. I ended up coming here a number of times for both lunch and dinner during my trip to USA back in May. There was never a wait time for the times I went, which was a huge plus. The quality across their menu is remarkable – I tried a variety of dishes and not a single one disappointed. Standouts were the Boston Lobster with fried sticky rice and the excellent Peking duck. The Manila clams were big and juicy, and the seafood tofu and xiaolongbao were great. The only reason I did not rate it as a full 5 stars is that it's a bit expensive. Would definitely visit again for special occasions !

Really great place for Dim Sum. Beautiful atmosphere l, delicious Dim Sum and service was so amazing!! Gluten Free friendly too. Highly recommend making reservations.

Good foods and excellent service . I have never disappointed with variety of foods in the menu. I love their desserts.

Bougie dim sum for sure! You know it's bougie if the tea has it's own warmer and we didn't have to crack the top to get the server to replenish the water! When my friends and I wanted to get together for dim sum, someone suggested this place! Service was good! Trying this place for the first time. This is what we got: 1. Ha Goa (it's a flight of different flavors, Ha Goa elevated! Taste like ha goa to me!) 2. Fung Jao (only 3 pieces, need to order 2 orders, flavors were just okaaaay) 3. Lo Bak Goa (we are used to 4 pieces, this came out as one long piece, I asked for a knife! This was good!) 4. Siu Mai (there were so many fish roe someone asked what that was, couldn't recognize it since we are used to 3-5 specks of fish roe!) 5. Xiu Long Bao (different colors, not for flavor but more decorative, it was okaaay) 6. Ja Lerng/Chinese doughnut cheurng fun (this was okaaay) 7. Ha Cherng (they used rainbow shrimp, it was nice to get a sizable shrimp in my cherng fun, not used to that!) 8. Ginger scallion crab lo mein (it's passes the taste, would I order it again, probable not) 9. Gailan (had to have some veggies! The menu item is called "kale") Would I go back maybe one more time to bring my husband, but truly we will be ok with the normal tea house for our dim sum adventures!

I wasn't expecting to find a delicious and great value restaurant in Ghirardelli Square but this place was it! The food is great - especially the dumplings with beef and the string beans- so good!! The place is adorable and the service was very attentive and efficient and kind. We did the Barbary Coast Trail with my niece from NYC and needed a place to eat at the end - but wanted a meal before the Ghirardelli ice cream. Palette was perfect!

Had the CNY prix fixe lunch. It's more Asian-fusion and not so much traditional Chinese fare. The taste, skill, and artistry of the kitchen does not disappoint. Everything was delicious but a bit over-salted as most of us were very thirsty a couple of hours after lunch. Some notable highlights: The XLBs were soupy but didn't taste much crab roe. The charsiu was tender and our cut had a little fat on it which rendered during cooking making it super tasty, the Peking duck worked well with black truffle and the rice paper skins were super thin, made in-house and separated by pieces of parchment. It took some effort to peel off the parchment but it held together when handled with the duck, hoisin, scallions and other contents. The seabass was good with with the smokiness and the presentation at the table is something worth seeing (attached video). The mango pudding was good and topped with fresh strawberries and fresh blackberries.

Had lunch reservations but our meeting prior ran over. They were still able to accommodate us. The food came out so fast and the service was great. I had a little bit of everything that was ordered and honestly everything was delicious. I am not big on duck and that was actually my favorite dish! Fried rice and noodles were amazing too! Love the warm towels to clean up afterwards. Overall great food, fast service and I'll be sure to come back when I'm in the area again!

Palette's concept is really interesting & fun to experience. From their actual paint palette plate & colorful soup dumplings, it's worth trying. My husband & I had the xo sauce wagyu rice, palette soup dumplings, pork & shrimp siu mai, & crispy shrimp dumplings. Everything was delicious and seasoned just right. I thought the fried rice would be overbearing in flavor but it had just the right amount of sauce, the added fresh tomatoes cut through the fattiness of the wagyu as well. My favorite was the crispy shrimp dumplings - from the thick yet crispy wrap & big chunks of shrimp, to the flavorful garnish, it is a must-try in my opinion. The hostess was very friendly but the service for the rest of the experience was just okay.

Amazing food, quality, service and taste! Can't believe I've never been to this place until now. I was craving for the beijing duck / peking duck for awhile and always wondering where I could go in east bay near palo alto. This place offers half size for 2-3 people portion which was exactly I was looking for. I could try more dishes and all of them tasted amazing with satisfying portion as well. It can be traditional and also fusion vibes. This place will be my go-to restaurant whenever I crave chinese food. Can't wait to try more foods!

My sister and I ventured out to this all-day dim sum restaurant in San Mateo and we couldn't be happier! We had a wonderful experience here and highly recommend! Palette is conveniently located in the San Mateo shopping mall on the Pinstripe side. There's a free parking lot right there which is only a few minutes of walking to the restaurant. On the outside looking in, Palette looks modest. But one step inside will take you all the way to Beijing/China. The reception area is immaculately decorated with cultural artifacts. Staff will promptly greet you in a friendly demeanor and lead you to your table. Highly recommend you book before you come as this place is very popular and fills up fast even on weekdays! There are huge screens on the main dining area which show case famous ancient Chinese brush paintings. You'll fall in love with the ambience here and forget that you're in San Mateo. You'll momentarily be taken to fancy restaurants in Beijing or China We were so impressed with the tea selection here. We each ordered a pot of tea. I forgot the name but one of the teas tasted just like milk tea without any milk in it! Our server Victoria was attentive and helpful. She realized we ordered a lot of food so she came over and offered to move us to a bigger table. She also realized we ordered duplicate items (one dish was already contained in another dish) so she let us know she canceled the other dish for us. Later when we needed to pack all our leftovers to go, the staff was super helpful and packed everything nicely and nearly for us, which appreciated! Food came out in reasonable amount of time and order. I love the way they present their food here. Just like the name of their restaurant, all the dishes and utensil tie to the theme of painting and let your dining table be a palette for your eyes and your taste buds! My sis and I enjoyed all the food that we ordered and yes we ordered a lot. The Peking Duck, Hakka salted chicken and Dungeness crab stood out the most to us, though all other dishes are tasty as well. Overall, food wise, I'll give them 8/10. But ambience and food presentation wise, they definitely get a 10/10 from us. And don't miss out the teas when you're there :)

Palette Tea Garden was on my to-try list for years. My first time dining here was when I attended a giant birthday party of roughly 30-50 people during the summer, and we were split up among multiple round tables. I'm kind of introverted, but the best part of large crowds is the opportunity to order and share multiple dishes and try them all at a fraction of the cost! Everything I tasted was delicious, and I enjoyed how the plates are shaped like painters' palettes. I think of Palette Tea Garden as bougie dimsum for Americanized diners and foodies. This is not your elders' dimsum outing with ladies pushing carts, and uncles and aunties throwing themselves across tables to fight for the honor of footing the bill. Planned and brought my boyfriend here for his birthday dinner. I sent an email to request a booth and see if they offer any complimentary birthday dessert for a birthday outing I planned for my boyfriend. Steven responded in a couple of days and was very friendly and wished me a happy Thanksgiving. 1. Ha Gow collection for $15 BlacK: Squid ink, porcini Green: algae, wasabi White: roasted seaweed, sesame Orange: carrots, habanero Red: beet, cordyceps 2. Palette Xiao Long Bao Soup Dumplings sampler Yellow: Tumeric, Crab Roe, Pork Orange: Paprika, Chicken Black: Squid ink, Black Truffle, Pork Red: Beets, Beef Green: Spinach, Kale, Pork 3. Lobster Har Gow for $11 4. Abalone Siu Mai for $13 5. Wagyu & Roasted Garlic for $32 Domestic wagyu, roasted garlic, black pepper glaze Boyfriend said this is his favorite. Amazing texture and flavor! 6. Truffle Scallop Garlic Noodle for $38 Shaved truffles, seared scallops, garlic butter yifu noodles, mushrooms Dessert: 7. Golden Swan Durian Puff 8. Complimentary birthday treat. A set of 3 jellies, which I think is almond jelly. They lit a candle for the almond jelly. Service is phenomenal! Though I will say this is very bougie dim sum to cater to Americanized foodies and diners. While the flavors and taste are all present, price is much higher than what you'd pay at a traditional dimsum restaurant. For one, they normally charge you for tea and hot water! No real Chinese restaurant does that! Nonetheless, the most important part of the dining experience was the birthday boy! He noted how the booth reminded him of a birdcage, and we really enjoyed snuggling together and people-watching from our seats. He really enjoyed taking in the architecture and decor of the restaurant, how they successfully blended East-Meets-West, like the hexagon-shaped lights, the animated screen in the back depicting provincial life in ancient China, the unique design of the bar, and the round lamps lighting our booth and all the people seated at round tables like you would see at traditional Chinese restaurants. We were absolutely stuffed. Boyfriend and I went into a food coma, and he enjoyed it all and said it was totally worth it.

We appreciate Palette for their great service. One family member has food allergies and their menu labels for peanuts and shellfish, which makes ordering so much easier and the servers are so helpful. The first table we were seated at was a bit drafty for someone in our group and they were so gracious about helping us move to a different table. The food is amazing, I don't think I have ever tried anything I don't like. I didn't take a photo of everything we ordered. The 1/2 duck is excellent. The restaurant is busy on the weekends, with lots of seating (make reservations!), and looks very nice. Love the tile murals of koi ponds, an artistic nod to the origins of the restaurant.

Love their unique dim sum and dishes and love that it's conveniently in a mall and takes reservations. The environment and ambiance is nice and looks fancier than your typical dim sum spots. Love that they have a variety of sauces you can use and the unique items on their menu. It can be a bit pricey, but great to come once in awhile, especially with a bigger party so you can try everything :)

This was my second go at this place and it's pretty good all around. Ironically both times we went they sat us at the small table! Unfortunately it's not ideal if you're going to grab a few items to share. While the place was clean with a personable wait staff the wide variety of food to choose from didn't have a ton of flavor. At most it is tasty with the convenient location being the biggest draw. I'm not opposed to going back but it won't be my first choice.

Great place for an elevated dimsum experience! My friends and I often visit Palette for our dimsum get togethers. Parking and reservations are easy, and there are some solid favorites we often order including the classics (ha gao, siu mai), taro puffs, XLB sampler, etc. A few times I felt the shrimp rice crepe was overly steamed, so we avoid that now They have also been able to accommodate making simpler noodle dishes for kids. Service is always great, courteous and efficient!

What a treat to try this dim sum place at Hillsdale Mall. Highly recommend making a reservation because the restaurant was packed with lots of standby diners waiting to be seated. We were taken to our table right away. You order from a multi-page full color menu. We ordered a lot. The food came out at a decent pace. We were not overwhelmed by all of our orders coming out at once. The food was hot, fresh, and had great flavors. Though the restaurant was full it was not crowded. Tables were spaced well. There were parties of all sizes seated throughout. Service was friendly and helpful.

Very cute spot. Very Americanized names, it made our table giggle per the rice crepes hehe. Service was decent, no complaints The food was actually decent! We got the Peking duck- tasty. It came with some radish that wasn't my thing but had the essential cucumber, green onions, sauce and the pancake wrapper. The dim sum items were typical- I didn't like the shu mai personally but the chicken feet were sooo PLUMP. Very good. We also got the wagyu chow fun- the noodles were cooked so well, I could taste the wok hei. The meat could've used a better seasoning tho. Parking - there is a garage on the right of it on Sailer Dr that leads right to the restaurant, very convenient and freeee. Bathroom- left of the kitchen in the back of the restaurant and down the hallway. At least 2 stalls for the women's restroom.

Back again just to add more photos because, why not?!?! If you are ever on the fence about Palette, your answer should always be yes!!!

I've had palette tea house on my wish list for some time so when I randomly found myself in San Mateo and saw palette tea garden it felt fortuitous. I was seated at the bar around 1pm and the restaurant was PACKED. I was shocked to see a spot full at 1pm on weekday so I figured that was a good sign. Being a solo diner and preferring to sit at the bar served in my favor. I think most diners here had reservations. The restaurant itself is beautiful. It's a lively ambiance and the decor was a vibe in the best way. I ordered the signature dim sum sampler, garlic cucumbers, and a Sapporo (bottled as sadly they have no draft beer). I really enjoyed the cucumbers and would highly recommend. Great flavor and a perfect complement to a belly full of dim sum. The dim sum was the perfect portion for me and I really enjoyed the variety. Giving this 4 stars instead of 5 for the value and lack of draft beer. I'd still try again though!

Came on Black Friday for lunch with some friends. We made a reservation the day before, so we were seated without waiting upon arrival. The ambiance is pretty modern, with natural lighting and simple decor. We started with the Chrysanthemum tea, which was warm and light. For food, we ordered: - 5 flavor soup dumplings (or 5 colors lol) - Wagyu beef chow fun - Miso Popcorn Chicken - Black Swan Taro puff - Black Truffle Duck fried rice - Lobster Har Gow The standouts were the Black Swan Taro Puffs and the 5 flavor soup dumplings. Loved the crispiness of the taro puffs and how airy the exterior was. The soup dumplings were creative and brought a different flavor to your traditional pork soup dumplings. The popcorn chicken was also a surprising winner, loved the seasoning on the chicken pieces and the crispiness of the batter while still being juicy. The black truffle duck fried rice was not what I was expecting, light truffle flavor and fatty from the duck, one bowl of it was enough for me. The wait staff were friendly and refilled tea/water at a good pace, quality service overall. I would come back to try other dishes, but it's definitely for semi special occasions!

Came in today for some dim sum. They were fully booked online, so I'm glad I called because they were still able to seat us. We've eaten at the SF location before and everything there was Instagram-worthy -- flavor-wise, today was a mix of highs and lows. My wife's client said the San Mateo location was better, so we decided to try it. The standout dishes were incredible: Crab with salted egg yolk -- absolutely delicious. Super fresh, rich flavor, easily a must-order. Peking duck -- also amazing. We just wish they had told us it already comes with wraps; we wouldn't have ordered extra. Baked BBQ pork buns -- solid. Sea bass -- great texture and flavor. The dishes that didn't wow us: Rainbow shrimp crepe -- just okay; usually the soy sauce carries more depth. Siu mai -- also just okay. Shrimp yuzu puff -- the shrimp was good, but the sauce didn't go well with it. And the biggest letdown was the Wagyu beef chow fun no wok hei flavor and bland. Definitely our least favorite dish of the meal.

The ambiance here is warm and feels a little elevated. Service was impressively quick, which is always a win when you're hungry and ordering dim sum. Here's what we tried: Shrimp Ha Gow - A standout. The wrapper was incredibly soft and delicate, and the shrimp inside was plump, juicy, and had that perfect snap. Loved the texture on this one. Sichuan Seafood Dumplings - Tasty and well-executed, but nothing that blew me away. Solid, just not the most memorable dish of the night. Sichuan Green Beans - A classic done right. Garlicky, savory, and addictive. Easily my go-to vegetable dish here. Yuzu Walnut Prawn Puffs - Absolutely loved these. The exterior was perfectly crunchy, and the shrimp was super flavorful. Great balance of textures and flavors. It came with a sauce I didn't care for but honestly, it didn't need any. It was great on its own! Sweet Sesame Seabass Cubes - My favorite dish of the meal. Sweet, savory, and deeply satisfying. This one hit all the right notes and is a must-order. Overall, a great experience with strong dishes and efficient service. I can't wait to come back and try more from the menu!

On the pricier side, but worth it for the quality. It was easy to get seating on a Thursday night, and there's plenty of parking nearby with lots of stores in the area. The food came out pretty quickly, and it's honestly hard to pick a favorite.

Interesting table service experience. You check-off what you want to order on a paper menu. 10-min later they rush out to your table the heeps of food. Food was delicious, but I was hoping for a traditional waiter/waitress experience. I would still recommend it, as it's good value for your money.

Always a solid experience whenever I come here for lunch. I really appreciate that they take reservations and actually honor them, which not all dim sum spots do. Service is consistently good too, which can be rare for traditional dim sum restaurants. The food always comes out hot and tastes great. I like the mix of modern and traditional dishes they offer. It's a nice balance that keeps things interesting while still giving you that classic dim sum feel. Here's what I like to order: XO Scallop Dumplings Lobster Ha Gow Pork & Shrimp Siu Mai Garlic Steam Pork Ribs Crispy Unagi Rice Crepe Cilantro Cruller Crepe Black Swan Taro Puffs Radish Cake w/ XO

I had high hopes for this spot but I was disappointed as most of the din sum taste sweet, the dough is sweet even though the fillings are not. We tried their soup dumplings and those were the only things I liked, the rest were just okay. I wish they didn't add sugar to their dough becuse that would make it better. Customer service is great though, and interior is cute but loud! Depending on the time of day there could be waitlist. Overall, not a bad spot

Went to the one in SF so picked this one for a friend in town. Prices are so high OMG. One order of XLB comes with 3 pieces. The quality isn't as high anymore. Worst thing is, my friend bit into a piece of broken porcelain in her XLB. Just how?!?!

We came here as a large group of 20 and they were able to accommodate us with a reservation at an extra long table in the main dining room. We were served a pre-selected menu with almost all the dim sum dishes, so it was the perfect opportunity to try dim sum dishes that would not have been my go-to order before. Highlights for me were: * The black swan taro puff: what a cute presentation of a delicious dish! The puffs had a black bun color, pork filling inside, and edible swan-shaped piece attached. Delicious and artistic. * Cha siu: a delicious sweet-glazed meat dish executed well. A solid portion for sharing. * Soup dumplings and shrimp dumplings: dim sum classics executed well, with the added presentation of different colored dumpling skins. Service was quick and friendly, with our dishes coming out pretty quickly after we arrived, our old dishes being taken away to declutter the tabletops, and our water carafes being replenished regularly. The only downside was that it was hard for members on either end of our long table to talk to each other, but we overcame that with the members in the center relaying messages. Overall, this was a great dinner spot for a large group. It would also be a great spot to go with a smaller group of friends or family.

We've passed by Palette so many times and have always said, maybe we'll come dine in one day. WELL... that day arrived. We booked the private dining room and Steven, one of the managers, was very communicative and helpful. He helped us curate a custom menu that accommodated our dietary restrictions. The food was actually surprisingly good. I was a bit skeptical because I heard it was just instagrammable dim sum, but I was quite pleased with all the items I ordered. Staff were all really friendly, but service was a bit slow. It was a bit busy when we first came, so it's understandable. However, the crowd died down and we still had to step out of the room a few times to flag down the waitstaff. I was a bit bummed they didn't have one of the items I wanted, but highlights of our meal were the string beans, peking duck, short ribs, lobster har gow, impossible mapo tofu, and the mango pudding.

Palette Tea Garden & Dim Sum reminded me of Koi Palace in Cupertino. They have the same 5 flavor Chinese soup dumpling (Xlb). They are also owned by the same people. I love dim sum so this place is great. I made a reservation for 5 at 11:30 am. This is a big place and it was nice to have a table ready for us. Parking was not too bad in the hillsdale parking lot at this time. It got very busy and very full. Everything is a little fancier here. Not necessarily better tasting but the presentation is very nice. Servers were nice. Green beans were fresh, chicken claws very flavorful, same with pork soup dumpling and radish cake with xo. Peking duck was sliced and beautifully presented on a wooden board and was delicious. I was able to get a few pictures. Great dim sum lunch came up to $270 for five. I would come back if I was in the area.

Made a reservation for 2:00 PM on a Sunday afternoon and got seated immediately but the placed was packed. The hostess and servers were extremely attentive right from the beginning and asked which tea we wanted. Don't worry if you don't speak Chinese, all the workers spoke English, it was actually Chinese speaking waiters that were harder to get ahold of. For 3 people, we did ordered a lot of food but managed to finish everything but the dessert. Swan Durian Puff (rich durian flavor with a nicely baked outer layer) Abalone Siu Mai Wagyu Bao (the inside was extremely soft, Wagyu Beef had great flavor thought I wished the meat to bun ratio was more) Pineapple Bun (filled with egg custard inside, I love it!) 5 Flavor XLB (my personal favorite was the Squid Ink, came with mini vinegar balls and the soup inside was delicious) Chicken Feet (this was probably some of the most flavorful and tender Chicken Feet that I had in Peninsula, the skin was cooked well enough to be chewy and not just fall apart but also still maintained the black bean sauce flavor) Lobster Har Gow Minced Beef Crepe (skin stuff together and it was hard to differentiate the pieces but over the meat was super soft and tender and the skin was very nicely cooked as well) Peking Duck (super crispy skin, meat was soft, and the wrap was very thin and soft. Wish it was easier to separate the pieces of the wrap tho!) Overall, this was one of my best DimSum experiences in the Peninsula, but consider this a more "high-end" Dim Sum restaurant compared to others, but you pay for its unique and high quality meat and seafood dishes. 4.7 stars and I would definitely come here again!

This place is beautiful and has really artistic touches everywhere and amazing aesthetic. Coming into the restaurant we didn't start out with a good experience as we stood there for a while as staff were gathered at a table and a few walked by us. For a second, we thought we came when the restaurant was closed so we checked the hours and there was no note of it being closed at 5pm. No one seemed to acknowledge us until it seemed like the 3rd time I tried to flag someone down and that was when we were advised a staff member would be with us shortly. The food I would say all were really flavorful. The only dish I would not order again was the tiger prawns, it tasted someone bland. However, all the other dishes had a lot good flavor and tasty. We left feeling full for a table of 4. Not too many places making Peking duck the Beijing way -so this was really nice to see. I wasn't expecting much of the wagyu beef chow fun but it really surprised me but could not make out what was making it taste good! I really enjoyed the crab, cooked to perfection, super fresh and lots of flavor. Even the veggies surprised me, it was incorporated with plum and it was nice to try something new and different from my usual dishes. My personal favorites were the Peking duck and crab sticky rice. The popcorn chicken was another favorite as it didn't taste too much like msg like some boba spots and had good seasoning to it - but not sure if I can justify the price for it. I think entering the restaurant we didn't start out with a good experience. I would probably give this place a try again in the future and hope this part gets a little better. Overall, our waitress seemed to be really nice. She offered to switch to new clean dishes but unfortunately this was when we were already done with our food. She did check in other times to ask us how the food was and to explain how to eat some of the items. This place is huge so def an opportunity for a big party and is located at the mall with plenty of parking.

Sorry to say, it has changed since I last visited. Food wise was mediocre, The only dish that stood out was the pecking duck, the steamed crepe was soft and light, went went with the crispy skins of the duck, the meat was a bit dried. service - ??? when you are constantly being bumped by servers each time they walked past by without acknowledging their action..... charging extra 2% for 10+ guest when you only have 8 guests. Overall all, not as good as I once remembered,

A luxury modern approach to dim sum, palette decor and food gives a unique and modern taste to dim sum. Located in the Hillsdale Mall, its has really cool decor. One of the tables basically a fountain built inside of it. Service was good and attentive. The pallette plate was a fun nod to the name with the different sauce. Our favorite was the white one that had a coconut taste. Foodwise I was impressed with the xiao long bao came with their vinegar in spheres. I thought it was caviar but it melted as soon as it touched the xlb. They're most known for the multi color xlb with different skin and inside. The pineapple bun also has real pineapple bit in it. Overall this place is pricey once in a while with some twist to traditional dim sum.

We've been coming to Palette Tea Garden since pretty much the day they opened -- easily dozens of visits by now -- and it's still the place we crave whenever the dim sum mood strikes. Parking's a breeze in the Hillsdale Mall lot, but if you come on weekends or holidays, definitely make a reservation; the standby line can get long fast. What keeps us coming back is how consistent everything has been over the years -- both the quality of the food and the friendly, efficient service. Whether it's a leisurely weekend brunch or a quick weekday dinner, it always feels polished yet relaxed. On our latest visit, we ordered a few of our all-time favorites: Roasted Peking Duck Set -- always a showstopper. The skin arrives perfectly crisp, the meat juicy and flavorful, with the classic thin pancakes that are sturdy enough to hold everything together. Steamed BBQ Pork Buns -- soft, fluffy, and filled with sweet-savory char siu. Comfort in a basket. XO Sauce Radish Cake -- golden crust on the outside, tender inside, and topped with just the right amount of XO sauce for a touch of spice and umami. Siu Mai -- plump and flavorful, one of the dim sum staples we never skip. Cilantro Chinese Donut Rice Crepe -- silky rice rolls wrapped around crisp Chinese doughnut, balanced by a light soy sauce -- a texture lover's dream. Palette Soup Dumplings -- the Xiao Lung Bao is our all time favorite. Even after countless visits, we still enjoy the of broths and fillings. Over time we've also fallen in love with their Beef Chow Fun, Sweet & Sour Kurobuta Pork Belly, Walnut Prawns, and the playful Black Swan Taro Puffs -- all dishes that show off the kitchen's creativity and precision. The dining room feels bright and contemporary, and despite how busy it gets, service has remained impressively consistent. It's rare for a restaurant this popular to stay so steady for this long, and that reliability is exactly why we keep coming back month after month. Tip: If you're planning a larger gathering, request one of the round tables with a lazy Susan -- perfect for sharing and makes the experience feel extra festive. Palette Tea Garden has become one of those special constants for us -- the spot we can count on for both comfort and celebration. Every visit reminds us why it's our favorite modern dim sum destination on the Peninsula.

Palette Tea Garden is my go-to for a good dim sum meal! The food always tastes the same so you know what you're getting when you order. The food is delicious and beautifully presented dim sum. The dishes are flavorful, the portions are generous, and the duck, while not the best I've ever had, was still good. Prices run a bit high, but the overall experience and quality make it a great spot to enjoy tasty dim sum at the Hillsdale Mall.

A lot of people have been recommending this dim sum spot for me so I just knew I had to see what the hype was about let's go haha. We ordered the palette soup dumplings, classic shrimp dumplings, lobster shrimp dumplings, typhoon shrimp dumplings, seared lava bao, and the pepper wagyu bao. Everything tasted really good and the side sauces that they give are bomb. My favorites were the palette soup dumplings and seared lava bao. The soup dumplings are very nicely plated and the side vinegar goes really well with it. The lava bao was very creamy. The service here was good. The food came out quick and the servers were nice. They were also back a lot to refill water and take away our plates. The restaurant is has a very modern look to it and it's well decorated. There is also a lot of available seating. I came in on a weekday and it wasn't really busy, but I heard that they get pretty packed on the weekend. Honestly surprised that this place isn't rated higher lol. This is probably one of my favorite dim sum spots now. I will definitely be back soon. Anyways... try it out if you like. :)

Located in Hillsdale, this is one of my favorite dim sum chain restaurants! It's super clean, the staff is friendly, and the service is fast. There are so many options to choose from, and the dining area is spacious. I love the location because I can shop, walk around, and grab coffee afterward. If there's a wait, I can always shop before being seated. It gets really busy on weekends, so make sure to book through Yelp!

We came Friday evening and the restaurant was bustling. There seemed to be a private event going on in the back rooms. Decor was upscale and modern, food was mediocre. 5 colored XLB - very attractive presentation, flavors were mild. Order more for the aesthetic and novelty. Half Peking duck - not the greatest Peking duck but quenches the craving, glad they provide the crepe instead of steamed buns. The duck skin was cold and fatty, quite hard to bite through, meat was a bit tough Shu Mai taster - 3 different flavors of shumai, a tasted invariably alike XO shrimp and scallop dumpling - definitely tasted like shumai Truffle and scallop garlic noodles- generous scallop and great garlic noodles, chewy and flavourful

Came back for a second visit, and I'm happy to say it's still a solid spot for dim sum. Food quality was consistent this time around, which is always a good sign. The dim sum dishes came out hot and well executed, with clean flavors and good portion sizes. Everything tasted fresh, and nothing felt rushed or sloppy. Service was smoother on this visit compared to my first time. More attentive and better paced, even with the restaurant being fairly busy. The space is still modern and comfortable, making it a nice place for a sit down dim sum meal rather than a quick bite. While it may not fully replace the classic push-cart dim sum experience, Palette continues to deliver reliable quality and consistency. Definitely a place I'd return to when in the mood for dim sum.

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.

I went to Palette Tea Garden for a lunch on a Wednesday around 1pm. A reservation was made ahead of time but based on the number of tables available I didn't think that it was necessary. My party was seated promptly. As first timers at Palette, we didn't want to be too adventurous and stuck with what we were familiar with and ended up ordering the black swan taro puffs, abalone siu mai, lobster ha gow, crispy unagi rice crepe, miso popcorn chicken, and a daily special shrimp chow fun in case stomach filler was needed. The black swan taro puffs looked interesting but the taste was nothing special compared to taro puffs from other places. I wasn't sure if the black swan beak was edible but still ate it anyway; it tasted like a bland and touch cracker...either that or plastic lol (I didn't get sick after so that is a good sign). The abalone siu mai again was interesting, but aside from the small piece of abalone on top it overall didn't taste any different from a pork siu mai from another dim sum place. The lobster ha gow was good and actually tasted like lobster and was very distinguishable from shrimp ha gow. Since I am a sucker for anything with rolled rice noodles, I enjoyed the crispy unagi rice crepe since I like unagi and felt the amount of unagi inside each piece was just right. The miso popcorn chicken did not have much miso flavor and tasted like popcorn chicken from various boba shops minus the excessive salty seasonings. The shrimp chow fun was a great choice because it had sauce reminiscent of Fujian/Fukien fried rice. As for the palette of sauces, I didn't really care too much for any of them, though I thought it was strange that the green sauce tasted like green salsa that gets added to tacos. Parking was definitely not an issue for lunch and service was attentive for the most part (they did forget to put in the order for the daily special). The complimentary choice of tea was nice as well. Overall, I feel the price point of the menu is a bit higher than it should be and I understand that Palette is supposed to be a better quality dim sum place. In the end, I still would come back to Palette, perhaps for a special occasion but not for a random food craving when I'm really hungry.

Very nice clean and well appointed restaurant. The dim sum are all artistically presents in elegant styles and colors which are very attractive. Depending on the time it can get very busy which can afffect the service as well as the consistency of the food. We have been there when it hasn't been as crowded and the food and service is outstanding. But in the other hand when in was crowded the food fell off dramatically. Prices are on the high side but quality is outstanding. We like the sui mai, rolled noodles with beef and shrimp. Very nice comfortable place to take kids and friends.

Elevated dim sum restaurant with unique dishes! My faves were the sautéed pea tendrils and glazed fried fish. This restaurant is located inside a mall, so it was nice to browse around the surrounding shops post-meal.

Palette Tea Garden remains one of the best restaurants ever. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is lively and dining area is spacious. Most importantly, the beautiful staff make this place so special. I highly recommend the following dishes: Garlic Steamed Lobster - comes with a vermicelli noodle, flavorful and tasty Black Pepper Lobster - umami and has a nice spicy kick, pairs well with steamed rice and veggies, (ask the waiter to make this special request!) Crab Roe Fried Rice - well-seasoned and has a good dallop of crab on top. This does not need any additional sauces and can be enjoyed all on its own without being too salty! Garlic Pea Tendrils - cooked well and is just a solid vegetable dish or try their You Choy for less oily dish but still good amount of veggies Steamed Gai Lan - simple and not oily, great veggie! Mapo Tofu - right amount of savory and spice, pairs so well with steamed rice! Would still taste great next day after being microwaved! Egg tarts - perfectly sweetened, nice crust and always warm when delivered! Palette Tea Garden offers daily special dishes so always check! From memory, my favorites are the steamed live sea bass, steamed live spot prawns with a nice spicy sauce, king crab three ways, and their steamed taro buns. Special recognition for some lovely members! Candace - she offers a warm welcome every time and works fast to get everyone seated. Along with Amanda, they make a great team to handle the busy, busy crowds! Bonaficio - he often finds a way to greet and check in our table to make sure everything is going well- it's always a pleasure to see him! Edmund - he's attentive and always checking in on us despite not being our host Helen & Victoria - they're lovely hostesses who will make sure you have everything for your meal. They go above and beyond to make your dining experience smooth, happy and delicious Jackie - a great host who is quick with orders and will check in frequently I appreciate the chefs and entire staff at Palette Tea Garden who work extremely hard to serve up delicious, beautiful food and remain so consistent with their products and services!

Came for a company lunch and it was good!! Got to try lots of different food and service was really nice.

I cannot reiterate, how much I love this restaurant. This is definitely one of my go-to spots for dim sum in the bay. I like going to this location rather than the SF location- it has much more space, and after your meal, you can go walk around the outdoor mall. I highly recommend putting in a reservation, especially on the weekends. The staff is very attentive and makes sure you are comfortable and feel welcomed there. OKAY THE FOOD & DRINKS: - lychee martini: hear me out, it's perfectly sweet, but not crazy sweet and tastes SUPER yum. - sweet, sesame Seabass cubes: oh my goodness is this dish superb. If you are a Seabass fan you HAVE to get this dish. It's definitely rich, but it tastes so good, I cannot reiterate that enough. -XO scallop dumplings: I believe they're known for this dish, it's very yummy a little different but in the best way. My partner always gets at least one or two orders every time we visit. - Peking duck set: if you are visiting with a big group, I highly recommend getting a set. Everybody can make their own wrap and it's just soooo good! - Wagyu Beef Chow fun: delicious & a personal favorite. Mind you the portions are pretty huge, and you can share it with a large group or to yourself. - I feel like anybody can eat here, there is a variety of dishes and they're highly accommodating. They are a little on the pricier side, but it's definitely so worth it!

Ambience - Classy and flexible for different types of celebrations. Food - Each dish stood out on its own and was very tasty. Service- Absolutely excellent! Servers were in constant, organized motion all around and anticipated wants and refills. Plates were cleared as soon as they were empty, keeping the table spacious and clean.

I came here for a wedding banquet. Love that they have a private room that can accomodate about seven tables (70 guests). Customer service was great - very friendly, attentive, and efficient. The vibe is warm & inviting with a modern interior feel. The food tasted great! I enjoyed every dish on the banquet menu!

Ate here with my mom after visiting my dad at Skylawn. The food depended on what you order. Siu Mai and the BBQ Pork Bun were good. However the donut rice roll was disappointed. The soy sauce lack in favor. The prices were on the high end. Probably because it's at the mall. Won't return and wouldn't recommend it.

Delicious dim sum. Pricey but worth it. Gets very crowded, so make a reservation, especially on the weekends. Really fun to go here with a group.