Best Dim Sum in San Francisco

Good Mong Kok Bakery is a tiny, wildly popular Chinatown spot that serves some of the best dim sum to-go in the city. While primarily Chinese-Cantonese, their har gow, siu mai, and char siu bao are exceptional — fresh, perfectly steamed, and packed with flavor. The har gow have thin, translucent wrappers with plump, sweet shrimp inside. The siu mai are juicy and well-seasoned. The line often stretches down the block, but it moves fast. Grab a box and eat them in Portsmouth Square.

Dragon Beaux is a modern, upscale dim sum house in the Richmond that serves both traditional and innovative dim sum. Their har gow are beautifully wrapped with a delicate, elastic skin that snaps when you bite into it. The siu mai are plump and juicy, with a topping of tobiko. Their baked char siu bao (baked BBQ pork buns) are exceptional — light, fluffy, sweet, and savory. The dim sum here is made to order, so everything arrives at your table hot and fresh.

While mainly a Northern Vietnamese restaurant, Bac Viet occasionally offers Vietnamese-style dim sum items that highlight the cross-cultural Chinese-Vietnamese culinary tradition. Their steamed buns are excellent — light, fluffy, filled with seasoned pork and Chinese sausage. Their spring rolls are also worth ordering. For a more comprehensive dim sum experience, stick with the Chinatown or Richmond options, but Bac Viet is worth knowing for the Vietnamese-Chinese crossover items.