Ma's Dim Sum & Cafe

A restaurant for eating delicious Claypot rice (located at China Town) the staff can speak english and cantonese they got more than 10 different kinds of claypot rice be aware you have to wait for at least 10 minutes for it (freshly made) beef in rice pot salted fish and diced chicken in rice both tastes good personally, I like salted fish and diced chicken more

+2

Pretty good for cheap. Not really a big fan of Chinese food but decided to stop by since I was hungry and in the area. Would recommend the clay pot which everyone that appeared native to China was eating. So glad I ordered it. The large was a lot of food for relatively cheap. Takes a while to make though. Cash only when I went.

ITS AUTHENTIC! Like HKG it's chaotic waiting in line but owner knows and it works!! Ordered the Claypot chicken rice and it was DELICIOUS!

Phenomenal food— we had the pork belly and preserved veggies (#130) and the small salt fish & braised pork clay rice pot (#143). Plenty for two, and tea on the side! Quiet and out of the way.

The five star is for their authentic Cantonese food. True authentic, not the Chinese American dishes haha~ cash only. Located in the northern part of Chinatown. Their clay pot rice with eel is excellent! Definitely best in the states and sometimes could wonder am I really in the states?

This is a place you go for the Iron stone steamed rice pots and the food. You aren't here for the design, ambiance or service. Its good homey food and authentic Chinese.

At 10am on a Saturday morning, this place is PACKED and you actually have to wait. The claypot rice here is excellent…crispy, fragrant and beautifully cooked. I would recommend getting vegetable soup to help wash things down. We got the pea sprouts (上湯豆苗) and the broth was clean and flavorful without being too salty. Probably one of the most authentic and affordable Toisan spots in the area. The boss lady speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and Taishanese. Cash only and parking is difficult in the area.

No frills claypot rice place with generous portions and very affordable pricing. At $12 a bowl of claypot rice (small size), I can see why this place always have a line during lunch hours. The rice crisp is perfectly cooked, not burnt like other claypot places. This place is small and only accepts cash if you want to visit.

The fish & tofu claypot exceeded expectations. I am gonna try the beef one next time. The Chinese sausage rice claypot was good too in a way that the rice was steamed well and not overly crispy.

Great food and beautiful price! Try their “rice in clay pot”. Also other pot dishes. Service and other aspect is look old Chinese restaurant, not too bad.

Prefect place to get a authentic Cantonese claypot rice, prefect cook with the prefect crispy rice crackling on the exterior, well seasoned and they provide a sauce by the side where you can add according to your preference. The place is small with limited seating and may take up some time to get a table and to wait for your food. I recommend not to come if you’re on a rush or can’t wait.

Really great clay pots with plenty of delicious crispy rice. The ox tail was also very tasty. The eel clay pot was a little wormy for some of us but still tasty. Again, the star is the crispy rice. Has gotten somewhat popular so we had to wait quite a while. Not much room for a stroller.

Very good rice pot. The rice crust is very beautiful and does not stick to the pot. Yummy! The meat is so tender (beef and chicken). Only complaint is the small space — if you go with a small party, you may end up with eating with other people on the same table

Seriously I am born and raised Cantonese, and it’s the best and most authentic clay pot rice I’ve ever had. My top one clay pot rice in the US

There was one table free at about 2pm on a Sunday. Everyone seemed to be eating clay pot rice so we ordered one each. As mentioned on the menu, it took a while for the food to arrive. The rice was nice and crispy with just the right amount of char. It wasn't too stuck on either. They provided a sauce dispenser but I didn't use it much. Having tried spare ribs, salty fish, and a combination with sausage and bacon, I'd recommend the combo. The only thing missing was veggies. Next time I think we'll share some clay pots and a veggie dish.

A Hidden Gem for Clay Pot Rice Lovers After returning from Hong Kong, I was craving authentic clay pot rice, but my search around the Bay Area often left me disappointed, overpriced and mediocre at best. I typically avoid Chinatown for Chinese food, as many spots cater to tourists and lack authenticity. However, this unassuming little restaurant defied my expectations. Let's address the elephant in the room first: it's your quintessential old-school Chinatown eatery. The tables and floors are sticky, there are mouse traps here and there, and cleanliness isn't exactly a priority. But if you can look past the ambiance, you'll find some of the best clay pot rice in the Bay, rivaling the flavors I experienced in Hong Kong. I tried two dishes: the classic Chinese bacon clay pot rice and the Four Treasures, featuring "yellow skin" chicken, spareribs, Chinese sausage, and Chinese bacon. At just $13.50 each, the portions were generous. Something you rarely see anymore, especially when most clay pot rice dishes elsewhere hover around $20 or more. I have to admit, I'm usually wary of Chinese sausage and bacon due to their funky aftertaste when poorly made. But this place wowed me with its quality. The Chinese sausage was juicy and tender without being overly fatty, and the bacon was thinly sliced, avoiding the overly fatty texture I dislike. The spareribs were tender and flavorful, with the meat easily separating from the bone. Even the scallions were vibrant and aromatic, adding a perfect touch to the dish. Now, let's talk about the star: the rice. This wasn't just any rice, it was fresh-crop rice with a slightly translucent appearance, a delightful chewiness, and a rich flavor. The grains were distinct and not clumped together. And yes, they nailed the crispy rice layer at the bottom of the pot. Waiting for it to crisp up is key, and they achieved it by perfectly oiling the pot. Unlike other places where the bottom layer is more gummy than crispy, this was a textural delight. The soy sauce deserves its own mention. They use the proper sweet soy sauce in a bottle, which is already great, but it would've been perfect if served warm in a bowl, like the traditional way. Overall, this spot delivers some of the best clay pot rice I've had in the Bay Area. While a few places attempt it, they often fall short on authenticity or execution. If you're a fan of clay pot rice, don't let the interior scare you off. It's worth it. Pro Tip: Parking is a challenge. Even on a Sunday evening after 7pm, street parking was nearly impossible to find. The nearest parking garage is less than a 10-minute walk, so plan accordingly. Whether you're here for the clay pot rice or their other traditional Chinese dishes (which looked just as tempting from what I saw others ordering), this place is a must-try for anyone chasing real flavors.

this place is easily the best restaurant in Chinatown. Their claypot rice is so authentic and tasty, and so cheap as well at 13 bucks. They really do care about what they put out, unlike most of the other lousy places around

Although the restaurant is small and crowded, the clay pot rice is very good! Definitely worth waiting

So happy we found this place! We got the chicken and sausage clay pot rice and lamb stew with bean curd stick. Loved the pairing of the crispy rice with the warm and flavorful stew. We appreciated the hole-in-the-wall vibes and supporting an authentic small business in Chinatown!

Wow the best clay pot rice I’ve had in North America. It actually resembles the ones I’ve had in China. Very fragrant, perfectly seasoned and reasonably priced. You know it’s authentic when every customer speaks Chinese.

Gabriel Hongsdusit

At 10am on a Saturday morning, this place is PACKED and you actually have to wait. The claypot rice here is excellent…crispy, fragrant and beautifully cooked. I would recommend getting vegetable soup to help wash things down. We got the pea sprouts (上湯豆苗) and the broth was clean and flavorful without being too salty. Probably one of the most authentic and affordable Toisan spots in the area. The boss lady speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and Taishanese. Cash only and parking is difficult in the area.

Yiwen Zhu

The fish & tofu claypot exceeded expectations. I am gonna try the beef one next time. The Chinese sausage rice claypot was good too in a way that the rice was steamed well and not overly crispy.

Q T

No frills claypot rice place with generous portions and very affordable pricing. At $12 a bowl of claypot rice (small size), I can see why this place always have a line during lunch hours. The rice crisp is perfectly cooked, not burnt like other claypot places. This place is small and only accepts cash if you want to visit.

Mat Lit

Really great clay pots with plenty of delicious crispy rice. The ox tail was also very tasty. The eel clay pot was a little wormy for some of us but still tasty. Again, the star is the crispy rice. Has gotten somewhat popular so we had to wait quite a while. Not much room for a stroller.

Mes

Prefect place to get a authentic Cantonese claypot rice, prefect cook with the prefect crispy rice crackling on the exterior, well seasoned and they provide a sauce by the side where you can add according to your preference. The place is small with limited seating and may take up some time to get a table and to wait for your food. I recommend not to come if you’re on a rush or can’t wait.

Lisa Leung

Seriously I am born and raised Cantonese, and it’s the best and most authentic clay pot rice I’ve ever had. My top one clay pot rice in the US

J.

Very good rice pot. The rice crust is very beautiful and does not stick to the pot. Yummy! The meat is so tender (beef and chicken). Only complaint is the small space — if you go with a small party, you may end up with eating with other people on the same table

Danny Epstein

There was one table free at about 2pm on a Sunday. Everyone seemed to be eating clay pot rice so we ordered one each. As mentioned on the menu, it took a while for the food to arrive. The rice was nice and crispy with just the right amount of char. It wasn't too stuck on either. They provided a sauce dispenser but I didn't use it much. Having tried spare ribs, salty fish, and a combination with sausage and bacon, I'd recommend the combo. The only thing missing was veggies. Next time I think we'll share some clay pots and a veggie dish.

Steve M

The clay pot rice 煲仔饭 was truly authentic and a rare find outside of Canton province of China. The rice cooked from raw in a high temperature clay pot adds so much complex texture and flavor. The meat was also very fresh. Worth the wait. Fresh eel option too. Cash only.

Jason Y

A Hidden Gem for Clay Pot Rice Lovers After returning from Hong Kong, I was craving authentic clay pot rice, but my search around the Bay Area often left me disappointed, overpriced and mediocre at best. I typically avoid Chinatown for Chinese food, as many spots cater to tourists and lack authenticity. However, this unassuming little restaurant defied my expectations. Let's address the elephant in the room first: it's your quintessential old-school Chinatown eatery. The tables and floors are sticky, there are mouse traps here and there, and cleanliness isn't exactly a priority. But if you can look past the ambiance, you'll find some of the best clay pot rice in the Bay, rivaling the flavors I experienced in Hong Kong. I tried two dishes: the classic Chinese bacon clay pot rice and the Four Treasures, featuring "yellow skin" chicken, spareribs, Chinese sausage, and Chinese bacon. At just $13.50 each, the portions were generous. Something you rarely see anymore, especially when most clay pot rice dishes elsewhere hover around $20 or more. I have to admit, I'm usually wary of Chinese sausage and bacon due to their funky aftertaste when poorly made. But this place wowed me with its quality. The Chinese sausage was juicy and tender without being overly fatty, and the bacon was thinly sliced, avoiding the overly fatty texture I dislike. The spareribs were tender and flavorful, with the meat easily separating from the bone. Even the scallions were vibrant and aromatic, adding a perfect touch to the dish. Now, let's talk about the star: the rice. This wasn't just any rice, it was fresh-crop rice with a slightly translucent appearance, a delightful chewiness, and a rich flavor. The grains were distinct and not clumped together. And yes, they nailed the crispy rice layer at the bottom of the pot. Waiting for it to crisp up is key, and they achieved it by perfectly oiling the pot. Unlike other places where the bottom layer is more gummy than crispy, this was a textural delight. The soy sauce deserves its own mention. They use the proper sweet soy sauce in a bottle, which is already great, but it would've been perfect if served warm in a bowl, like the traditional way. Overall, this spot delivers some of the best clay pot rice I've had in the Bay Area. While a few places attempt it, they often fall short on authenticity or execution. If you're a fan of clay pot rice, don't let the interior scare you off. It's worth it. Pro Tip: Parking is a challenge. Even on a Sunday evening after 7pm, street parking was nearly impossible to find. The nearest parking garage is less than a 10-minute walk, so plan accordingly. Whether you're here for the clay pot rice or their other traditional Chinese dishes (which looked just as tempting from what I saw others ordering), this place is a must-try for anyone chasing real flavors.

Keith Chan

this place is easily the best restaurant in Chinatown. Their claypot rice is so authentic and tasty, and so cheap as well at 13 bucks. They really do care about what they put out, unlike most of the other lousy places around

zhuoming liu

Although the restaurant is small and crowded, the clay pot rice is very good! Definitely worth waiting

Emily P

So happy we found this place! We got the chicken and sausage clay pot rice and lamb stew with bean curd stick. Loved the pairing of the crispy rice with the warm and flavorful stew. We appreciated the hole-in-the-wall vibes and supporting an authentic small business in Chinatown!

Vicky

Wow the best clay pot rice I’ve had in North America. It actually resembles the ones I’ve had in China. Very fragrant, perfectly seasoned and reasonably priced. You know it’s authentic when every customer speaks Chinese.

best Chinese clay pot rice , cash only , ready your cash

Good portion and tasty clay pot rice. Reasonable pricing! You need to wait around 20 mins for the rice to come and make sure to bring cash! Clay pot rice has small and large size. If each person is eating their own clay pot, a small is likely enough. Picture size reference - LARGE

This classic hole-in-the-wall is my go-to spot for clay pot rice! The crispy crust on the bottom layer of rice, combined with the sweet soy sauce drizzled on top, creates a rich, aromatic blend of flavors and textures.

Really nice clay pot rice dish, authentic, affordable, while the atmosphere is lagging but understandable.

Cash only! Served with hot tea. Very good.

The food was incredible but our server was so rude, I felt as though I had offended her by being there.

Nice place for cheap Asian food in SF. Claypot rice comes in a generous portion With lots of rice. A pot of tea is provided to add to the clay pot so you can scrape off the crispy rice at the bottom and eat with tea like a porridge but with a crispy, smoky texture.

Walked in to try their claypot rice. And I was not disappointed. In fact it went beyond expectations. The rice was cooked just nice. The ingredients were tasty. The food was served hot and sizzling. Not many tables available so during mealtimes, you might have to wait.

Typical home style to get all sorts of Chinese authentic cuisine, such as clay pot rice【煲仔饭】. Not sure why it's called "Dim Sum & Cafe", since there was not much choices for Dim Sum but more like lunch boxes under $20 or even $15.

Food was phenomenally delicious. We ordered two rice clay pots and the seafood claypot. Meal came out hot and sizzling. The only complaint I do really have is the cleanliness of the location. The good thing is that a lot of their customers are their locals and when all asians are the ones walking in to eat, this is always a good sign.

Hole in a wall restaurant but the foods is yummy. We order beef stew noodle soup🍜 eel claypot and 4 treasures claypot. All are yummy. The noodle is a bit overcooked. Interestingly beef noodle soup has more tendons than meat. Claypot is also yummy. It gets busy very quickly at lunchtime. Seems like it is cash only. Price is reasonable and portion is pretty big.

Great food, although with limited vegetarian options. We tried the clay pot rice dishes and they were great! I had a chicken mushroom clay pot and the chicken was really good and chewy. There was also free tea :) I saw from a review they had a noodle dish I wanted but they didn’t have it the day I went. Overall not bad, and it got lots busier after around 11am.

Salted chicken and chicken rice clay pot - 4/5, we didn't have soy sauce at our table and didn't realize it was an option until we left. Was still delicious! Pea sprout soup - 3.5/5 ginger garlic based soup, not the best soup I've ever had, but was one of the few soups on the menu, and being a light thing, pairs well with the heavier chicken clay pot

Jason Zhu

Typical home style to get all sorts of Chinese authentic cuisine, such as clay pot rice【煲仔饭】. Not sure why it's called "Dim Sum & Cafe", since there was not much choices for Dim Sum but more like lunch boxes under $20 or even $15.

Patricia Patricia

Food was phenomenally delicious. We ordered two rice clay pots and the seafood claypot. Meal came out hot and sizzling. The only complaint I do really have is the cleanliness of the location. The good thing is that a lot of their customers are their locals and when all asians are the ones walking in to eat, this is always a good sign.

Allana

Great food, although with limited vegetarian options. We tried the clay pot rice dishes and they were great! I had a chicken mushroom clay pot and the chicken was really good and chewy. There was also free tea :) I saw from a review they had a noodle dish I wanted but they didn’t have it the day I went. Overall not bad, and it got lots busier after around 11am.

L

Salted chicken and chicken rice clay pot - 4/5, we didn't have soy sauce at our table and didn't realize it was an option until we left. Was still delicious! Pea sprout soup - 3.5/5 ginger garlic based soup, not the best soup I've ever had, but was one of the few soups on the menu, and being a light thing, pairs well with the heavier chicken clay pot

Dharma M

Hole in a wall restaurant but the foods is yummy. We order beef stew noodle soup🍜 eel claypot and 4 treasures claypot. All are yummy. The noodle is a bit overcooked. Interestingly beef noodle soup has more tendons than meat. Claypot is also yummy. It gets busy very quickly at lunchtime. Seems like it is cash only. Price is reasonable and portion is pretty big.

My Dimsum was tasty but not hot. The char sui bao was dry.

Claypot rice is taste ok, as expected and it is not localized to suit the local.

+3

Too authentic for my taste. But really makes you feel like you are in china. Btw - we possibly just ate the wrong dishes, which was some dim sums and fried rice with beef.

I was the only non eastern Asian in there. I feel like I got all rice and no meat. It didn't taste like ginger like I ordered and it took 20 minutes to get it. Other people had loads of veggies and meat and looked fully satisfied. I left still hungry. And the tea was filled with tap water and tasted like chlorine. Save your money and go elsewhere.

I'm very disappointed with this place. There's no organized system for waiting in line, and it feels especially unfair if you're not Chinese. We waited in line by the door for 20 minutes, but people who arrived after us cut ahead, and the staff did nothing about it. As soon as tables became available, some people rushed forward, claimed they were first, and were seated—no questions asked. It seemed like the staff only communicated with Chinese-speaking customers and prioritized them. If you don’t speak Chinese or act aggressively, it’s almost impossible to get a table. The servers were unhelpful and didn’t assist us at all. Overall, a terrible experience and poor service.

I can't understand how they charge. My friend and I ordered two eel claypot rice and one salted fish meat pie claypot rice, both small portions. They cost $15.50 and $12.00 respectively, totaling $43, $46.71 with tax, but the waiter asked us to pay $50. We didn't get a receipt, don't know how they charge. If you can, please avoid this shop, their hygiene is just average, greasy feeling everywhere.

I ordered a lamb brisket rice dish. It came with a large amount of rice and very little vegetables. Most of the lamb was just bones. There were only two or three small pieces of actual meat. The big bones were mostly tendons, very hard to chew and almost impossible to eat. Overall, it was a very disappointing experience. I don’t recommend this place. I paid $17 for this meal, and it was definitely not worth the price.

tardis Jin

I ordered a lamb brisket rice dish. It came with a large amount of rice and very little vegetables. Most of the lamb was just bones. There were only two or three small pieces of actual meat. The big bones were mostly tendons, very hard to chew and almost impossible to eat. Overall, it was a very disappointing experience. I don’t recommend this place. I paid $17 for this meal, and it was definitely not worth the price.