San Francisco’s culinary scene never ceases to impress between its Michelin-starred restaurants, tried-and-true local institutions, and mouthwatering cheap eats. However there’s one restaurant that stands out for both its affordability and its Michelin nod: Hayes Valley’s Dumpling Home.
The neighborhood-favorite restaurant opened in 2020 under the ownership of Lily Wong and quickly built a loyal fanbase for its hand-folded soup dumplings. As of the July 2023 Michelin Guide release, Dumpling Home is the cheapest Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant in San Francisco. Michelin’s Bib Gourmand is not the same as a Michelin star; rather, it is used to recognize restaurants that serve delicious food at affordable prices.
Dumpling Home stands out for serving a mouthwatering menu with nearly all items under $20. Michelin hails the xiao long bao with Sichuan-inspired spicy numbing pork as a must-order. As a rule you shouldn’t skimp on these delicate and steamy soup dumplings, which come with fillings including beef, pork, and chicken at prices ranging between $8.95-10.95 for 4, and $15.95-16.95 for 8. Pricier options are crab & pork or shrimp & loofah, which get up to $25.95 for 8.
Other popular items include the pan-fried juicy pork bao, crispy green onion pancakes, and hand-pulled spicy dan dan noodles to round out your dumpling spread. For drinks, check out the menu of California wines or sip on a $5 Thai iced tea.
Only a handful of Bay Area restaurants have received the honor of a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction. Dumpling Home has held on to theirs since 2021, and it’s in good company with other institutions including Neapolitan pizza titan Del Popolo, colorful Mexican restaurant Nopalito, and the Southeast Asian-inspired rooftop Good Good Culture Club.
Dumpling Home is located at 298 Gough Street in SF’s Hayes Valley neighborhood. It’s open from 11:30am-2:15pm daily, 5-8:15pm Sunday-Thursday, and 5-8:45pm on Fridays and Saturdays.