Kingdom of Dumpling is a beloved staple of the San Francisco dumpling scene—its masterpieces are the Northern-style shui jiao dumplings (boiled dumplings) stuffed with fillings that range from napa cabbage to shrimp and pork.
SF's newest dim sum spot is also one of the splashiest. Located at Ghirardelli Square, Palette Tea House focuses on fresh seafood and Instagram-worthy dumplings such as rainbow-colored soup dumplings, matcha lava bao (filled with salted egg custard), black swan taro puffs, and squid ink dumplings (filled with pork, jicama, and peanuts). Although it’s new, the restaurant was founded by the same family that runs Koi Palace and Dragon Beaux—in other words, this place has serious credentials.