Christopher Thaxter

Really fantastic dim sum. I ate too much! It was just me, but the first three orders, which should have been enough, were too good to just leave at that. So I ordered two more baskets. All told I got the Xiao Long Bao (pork soup dumplings), wood ear mushroom dumplings, tamago tofu dumplings which were in a deliciously savory sauce and one of the best I've tasted, scallop and potato I think it was, and another whose name was only in Chinese and I can't remember it but it had maybe chicken and peanuts in an almost translucent sticky rice-y wrapping. I'm going to be adding extra paces every day to lose those extra pounds but it was WORTH it.

Matthew Wood

Sometimes I feel a bit overwhemled walking around San Francisco China Town. So many food options, so many interesting shops, produce markets, bakeries and restaurants. If you are looking for an amazing Dim Sum experience, Matt says read on. My second time at this local Dim Sum gem. It's still my favorite Bay Area restaurant for authetic, fresh resonably priced Dim Sum. Here is a sample of what I ordered: * Pan-Fried Mix Mushroom Buns - Filled with mixed mushroom, pan fried on top of sesame seeds. (I would make a special trip to SF just for this Mushroom Bun) * Shrimp Dumplings (Har Gow) - Filled with jumbo shrimp, bamboo shoots. * Pan-Fried Chives Dumplings - Skin is made with Tapioca flour filled with chives, shrimp, and pork * Singapore Fried Rice Noodle. Slightly spicy. BBQ pork and prawns in a fried rice noodle with curry powder. Matt says, take a trip to San Francisco any day of the week and plan to spend the day walking around Chinatown. There is a Muni metro line that drops you off right in the middle of Chinatown. If you want a special Dim Sum experience, check this place out, You will love it.

Annabelle Sri

I grew up in a Chinatown and was craving dim sums ever since I left my hometown. Got recommended by some colleagues to try Lai Hong Lounge and not disappointed! Ordered Xiaolongbao and Shengjianbao to go, the service was fast for an evening. The decoration reminded me of a typical Asian restaurant with the roundtable. The waitress at the counter could speak both Cantonese and Madarin, and was very friendly. I came here during Halloween and while waiting for my order, she recommended me decorated houses to visit in SF, we don't have that in Europe :)

Nickole McCarthy

This place stays booked and busy, which is a good sign. The numbers for your space in line are called out in Cantonese, so pay attention. A lady at a nearby table was kind enough to let me know they called my number. The tea is served piping hot and the plates keep coming. The sticky shrimp rice makes me want to go back to San Francisco just to eat these again.

+2

Julia Chuang

Long wait to get seated, but it was worth it. I liked the set up of checking things directly on to the laminated menu that you wanted- it's reusable and sustainable. Once we were sat the food came out quick and it was all delicious. It's definitely a favorite among locals.

Jaewon Lee

I've heard about this place from my friends, so I came with high expectations -- and Lai Hong lounge delivered. The woodear mushroom dumplings were especially good, and the garlic butter shrimp noodle hit just the right spot. They were unfortunately out of the curry beef dumplings, so I hope to try them if the opportunity provides itself.

Mat Lit

Great dim sum and great banquet food. Everything I order from here is incredible from the west lake soup, to the sesame balls, to the crispy skin pork to the pea shoots. My go to place to show visitors who visit Chinatown nowadays.

+5

Mari_Mar

We were in the area for the weekend and wanted to try some dumplings. This was a unique experience. You are greeted with a tea jasmine or something else. It’s interesting that you chose the food you want with a marker and tally on the sheet, then they bring it to you. It’s nice we get to share the food with family/friends.

+3

Rita Chow

We go here a lot for dim sum and dinner. Some things we order often are baked BBQ pork buns, sticky rice in lotus leaf, stuffed tamago tofu, XO stuffed eggplant, tofu skin roll with shrimp, coconut red bean cake, Chinese donut hole, Peking duck, garlic pea sprouts, garlic Chinese broccoli, diced beef with mixed mushrooms, and honey walnut prawns. For both dim sum and dinner , we often get this big clam thing that has some mixed seafood with green onions and for an extra dollar they switch bean sprouts for vermicelli which we prefer. In Cantonese we call it “gwai fei bong”.

Y W

Easily the best dim sum place I’ve experienced in the US. All the dishes we tried were on point with their complex yet balanced flavors and textures. The ribs were incredibly tender and juicy on the inside with a thin, crispy outer layer of starch-based fried batter, coated in a sweet and savory sauce. The sauce had a note of caramel and fermented black beans. The dried beans were perfectly seasoned and crunchy, and the chive dumplings were so full of grassy, fresh flavors of chives with a hint of fatty pork that provided richness. Chicken feet were so tender and gelatinous that the skin and meat separated from bones so easily and just melted in our mouths. Sticky rice steamed in banana leaves, turnip cakes, pork and shrimp siu mai were all delicious with chunky bits of ingredients in them that enhanced the tactile experience of eating them. The black sesame rolls were also so moist and packed with rich black sesame flavors. Each dish is cooked fresh and delivered straight to your table, instead of being served on carts, so the dishes are not dried out or overcooked. The atmosphere is very charming and familial, and the service is well-oiled even during the busiest hours. Recommend arriving early when they open on weekends to avoid the wait. Highly recommended! Tips are included in the bill, FYI.

+2