Discover the best Chinese food in San Francisco with this local’s guide to authentic dim sum, wonton noodles, and modern Chinese restaurants — plus which spots to avoid.
San Francisco is home to the oldest Chinatown in America, a neighborhood shaped by history, resilience, and incredible food. Chinese (specifically, Cantonese) immigrants first arrived during the Gold Rush in the 1850s. When the Chinese Exclusion Act threatened their stay, many found a loophole: opening restaurants and allowing them to immigrate as business owners. It was how my own parents opened their restaurant in Wisconsin serving what we now call Chinese-American food: cheap, salty, oily, fried.
It’s unfortunate that, for many, this is still the dominant image of Chinese food around the world. (We’ll happily drop $25 on a pasta, but hesitate to pay the same for lo mein?)
Thankfully, that’s starting to change with second generation immigrants, children of these immigrant restaurateurs, who are making food for communities not to survive, but to thrive. And in San Francisco, you can taste both: the nostalgic Chinese-American staples and the ambitious, contemporary flavors. This guide highlights my personal favorite spots across both categories.
I’ve grouped these into three categories: Incredible, Good, and Honorable Mentions — plus a few Dishonorable Mentions you should avoid.
These are the places I'd happily bring my mom and dad to.
Four Kings (Chinatown) - My current favorite Chinese restaurant in San Francisco. They do classic dishes elevated by skilled cooking (try their perfectly crispy roast pigeon), spot-on flavors and well-sourced ingredients.
Hong Kong Lounge (Outer Richmond) - Local, cheap, delicious dim sum packed with local elderly Chinese folks: A proper neighborhood gem.
Dumpling Time (Design District) - Best known for soup dumplings (xiao long bao), and they deliver on made-from-scratch quality.
Yu’s Wonton (Chinatown) - A tiny, no-frills restaurant serving cheap, comforting and tasty wonton noodle soup done right.
These are solid picks if you're nearby - but I wouldn't make a special trip to the city for them.
Lai Hong Lounge (Chinatown) - Convenient-access, solid dim sum, but dirtier and more of the tourist-crowd than Hong Kong Lounge.
Palette Tea House (Ghirardelli Square) - Cleaner, more upscaled dim sum with modern touches.
Hun’s Wonton (Chinatown) - Decent wonton noodles; slightly pricier, but still satisfying.
Rice Noodle Express (Chinatown) - Quick, cheap, freshly made rice noodle rolls.
A few other places worth considering, if you're looking for something more upscale or accessible:
Mister Jiu’s (Chinatown) - I was excited when it opened as one of the first Michelin-starred Chinese restaurants in SF, with house-made sauces and tofu. Recently, it’s gotten pricey with too many add-ons.
Empress by Boon (Chinatown) - Expensive, but with stunning views and generally solid food.
China Live (Chinatown) - Upscale, market-style Chinese dining. Good quality. Their sheng jian bao (pan-fried pork buns) are particularly authentic.
Yuanbao Jiaozi (Outer Sunset) — Handmade dumplings and fresh noodle dishes. Cheap, filling, though quality can be hit or miss.
Places that don't deserve the hype and are underwhelming:
Dumpling Home (Hayes Valley) - Overhyped, mediocre quality, not worth the wait. Go to Dumpling Time instead.
Hong Kong Lounge Bistro (SoMa) - I had a terrible experience here: chewy, expired pea shoots then found steel wool in our fish. The owner told us to get out if we didn’t like the food, so we did. Didn’t see any other Asian diner that night either.
Good Mong Kok (Chinatown) - Premade, soggy dim sum. The long line is a tourist trap.
Yak Sing (FiDi) - Overpriced, subpar food made for expense account lunches. Skip it.
San Francisco’s Chinese food scene is layered — a reflection of its immigrant past and modern evolution. Whether you’re craving a humble bowl of wonton noodles or a Michelin-starred tasting menu, this city’s got it. Hopefully, this guide helps you skip the tourist traps and get straight to the good stuff.
- Eddie Lo, June 2025
