Reviewer: Foodnut.com Dumpling Home 298 Gough St San Francisco, CA 94102 415-503-1666 |
Why did we dine here? – Dumpling Home was featured in the SF Chronicle for Xiao Long Bao or Soup Dumplings making us really want to try it.
We are big fans of these delicate little steamed dumplings and have eaten them all over the world including Shanghai. The two best spots have been Din Tai Fung in Santa Clara and Yank Sing, SF. We have dined here many times with our last visit was during Winter 2024.
- Dumpling Hours in Walnut Creek is their sister restaurant with an identical menu. We ate there in September 2022 and found it substantially identical.
- They opened Dumpling Story on Fillmore street in San Francisco in June 2023. 90% of the menu is the same. Fewer boiled dumplings. Numb & Spicy Pork Bao, Fried Tofu with Sweet Soy Sauce, Seasoning Pork Intestine Noodles, Tomato & Egg Noodles, Braised Eggplant. Some say the dumplings here are slightly better or worse.
We ate here, outside, several times during the pandemic and returned for take out. A nice diverse crowd was dining, leading us to believe they will survive. In 2024 there are lines consistently right when they open. Come at lunch around 1:15pm to avoid weekday lines.
Insider Tip – If you are a Soup dumpling fan.. Must go!
Cuisine – Chinese
Location – Hayes Valley, SF
Opened – 2020
Service – Dumpling Home had reasonable service. As they have become more popular, service is almost robot to the point of get your order in fast and bring out the food.
Verdict – Dumpling Home fulfilled our high expectations. Yes, we have been back many times. No need to journey to Santa Clara for Din Tai Fung any more!
Is this restaurant worth a 5 minute drive? Yes. 30 minute? Yes. 1 Hour? Maybe.
Dumpling Home Signature Dishes – Xiao Long Bao, Juicy Pork Dumplings
Dumpling Home’s Menu is not too broad and focused on specific areas.
Dumpling Home Food Picks:
Wood & Silver Ear Mushrooms in House dressing ($7.95) was a nice cold starter with rarely found silver ear mushrooms. Vegetarian compatible.
Soybean Noodle Salad ($8.95) is another vegetarian starter. Ample quantity of these tender noodles.
Green Onion Pan cake ($9.95) was the solid dish although still pretty good. Thin, Very Crispy, Good but underseasoned. 8.5/10
Pork Xiao Long Bao ($8.95 for 4) are a standout, easily on par with Din Tai Fung. Slightly larger though. More of a flavorful natural soup than the their bouillon style. Thin skin and very baggy and soupy. Wow. If you get them for take out, please eat them right away in your car. Din Tai Fung’s are more delicate, small, and less soupy, hence less flavor. Check out our review of Shanghai’s Soup Dumplings 9/10
Compare to Din Tai Fung Santa Clara, these are far bigger and more soupy. These are also more flavorful.
Crab and Pork Xiao Long Bao ($13.95 for 4) are also excellent. The crab is of high quality, unlike other spots. Nice change of pace, especially when you can order 4. 8.5/10
Numb & Spicy Pork Xiao Long Bao ($16.95 for 8) were also excellent. Slight orange tinge. Just a slight numbing effect, not too spicy. A nice variation of the normal pork ones. 9.5/10
Chicken XLB are very good too. They have a curry flavor. 9/10
Juicy pork buns ($13.95 for 6) or Pan Fried Pork Buns aka Sheng Jian Bao are also excellent. Nice texture, not a lot of soup, and a large crunchy bottom. Even after having one sit for 15 minutes, it was still lovely.
We reminisce about Yangs Fry Dumpling in Shanghai, these come closest. Even better than Shanghai Flavor Shop in Sunnyvale. Special Noodle in Newark and Cupertino also has a good version. 9/10
Chicken Juicy buns ($14.95 for 6) taste surprisingly like the pork ones. 8.5/10
Pork dumplings ($10.95) are not cheap but also hit the mark. They do use egg in their binder. 8/10
Dry Fried Chicken Wings ($15.95) are not huge in quantity but hit the mark in quality. 8.5/10
Red Bean Paste Pockets ($9.95) is a nice sweet dessert dish, almost like a scallion pancake with warm filling. 8.5/10
Zha Jiang Noodle Dry ($14.95) were also done well. Hand made noodles that clearly show the quality. The dish is mixed tableside.
Okra with garlic sauce ($17.95) is good for vegetarians. Ample quantity and cooked just fine. 8.5/10
Kelp strings salad with garlic ($8.95) was a special for today. Better than expected. 8.5/10
Dry cooked green Bean ($12.95) was also solid, slightly salty. Good portion size and flavor. Not spicy at all. 8/10
Brussel Sprouts are well done and fried up, not too greasy. 8.5/10
OK: (Order if you like this dish)
Dry Shrimp Egg & Chives Pockets ($7.95 for 2) were pretty small but well made.
Pans: (We would not reorder these dishes)
None
Do you agree with our review? Have you found other similar restaurants that are better?
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1 Comment
Din Tai Fung, Santa Clara
December 5, 2023 at 8:09 pm[…] Tai Fung Santa Clara has definitely gotten more consistent over the years. San Francisco’s Dumpling Home is not as delicate but more robust in flavor. […]