Dim Sum in SF

January 4, 2007 2:13 PM

What's the best dim sum in San Francisco? Can I walk there from Union Square?
posted by four panels to travel & transportation (10 comments total)

"Best" is really subjective, but Yank Sing on Stevenson is quite good, and it's definitely within walking distance of Union Square.
posted by murphy slaw at 2:29 PM on January 4, 2007 [1 favorite]

Its a matter of some, ok quite a bit, of debate.

The usual suspects are Yank Sing as well as Ton Kiang on Geary St.

Ton Kiang is not walkable but it is on the same Geary St. that borders Union Square except that Geary crosses the entire city. If you take the express bus it shouldnt be more than 20 min or so.

My opinion? The best dim sum is to be found in the greasy dives on Clement St. in SF's "second" Chinatown. Its not far from Ton Kiang either. One, for example, is Good Luck but there are quite a few all within blocks of each other.
posted by vacapinta at 2:49 PM on January 4, 2007

Also, its apparently a frequent topic on Chowhound.
posted by vacapinta at 2:58 PM on January 4, 2007

Yeah, those are my favorites, but there are several spots in Chinatown that get decent reviews. However, I personally prefer Yank Sing - it's not cheap, but the selection is excellent, the ingredients (lots of seafood!) are fresh and ungreasy, preparations are relatively simple and straightforward, and the service is excellent. Plus, the Stevenson Alley location has outdoor seating even in inclement weather, which is nice. There's often a 30 minute wait, though.

I think East Ocean in Emeryville is better, and Peony in Oakland is quite good, too, and much cheaper.
posted by luriete at 3:08 PM on January 4, 2007

In my opinion Koi Palace us the best around, but the best actually in the City is at Gold Mountain, on Broadway near the Stockton tunnel -- not too far a walk from US.
posted by trip and a half at 3:10 PM on January 4, 2007

Oops, I didn't mean the Stockton tunnel! Just plain old Stockton Street, near the Broadway tunnel!
I'm an idiot!
posted by trip and a half at 3:13 PM on January 4, 2007

Agreed on Ton Kiang and Peony, both very good. I usually end up getting Dim Sum at Fook Yuen in Millbrae, because it's good, inexpensive, and walking distance from my apartment. ;-)
posted by murphy slaw at 3:15 PM on January 4, 2007

Y. Ben House Restaurant, 835 Pacific near Stockton. I also like City View Restaurant in the financial district (662 Commercial, near Kearny) but it's pretty expensive. You can walk to both from Union Square.
posted by Wet Spot at 5:11 PM on January 4, 2007

murphy slaw's is the conventional answer -- for really good dim sum, you have to go to the peninsula. But I can also attest to Yank Sing being pretty decent, if pricey, and totally walkable from Union Square.
posted by rkent at 6:10 PM on January 4, 2007

Add another voice to the Yank Sing chorus.
posted by kaseijin at 6:00 AM on January 5, 2007