City View

SF is spoiled when it comes to dim sum . You could hop on the closest passing bus, get off at a random stop, and still end up within walking distance of a place serving BBQ pork buns that will make you want to rezone your house for pig farming. That’s why a meal at City View is so disappointing. In a city with so many great dim sum options like to-go bakeries and long standing banquet halls , you should spend your time elsewhere.

The Chinatown spot has been around for decades, but longevity doesn’t equal quality. Sure, the siu mai are plump and meaty, and the steamed pork buns are fine. But noodle rolls are drowned in oyster sauce to the point of no return, cheung fun is hard and waxy around the edges, and the xiao long bao look deflated and sad.

It’s easy to be intrigued by the remodeled dining room—which swapped out bare white walls for neon green booths and bright overhead spotlights—especially for wayfaring tourists who want to check “get dim sum” off their San Francisco bucket lists. But there are better places. Instead, head down the street to Good Mong Kok for takeout dim sum, or snag a table at Hang Ah Tea Room or Osmanthus .

Food Rundown

photo credit: Julia Chen

Xiao Long Bao

Shiny in the same plasticky way as the frozen versions from a certain grocery store chain, and two-and-a-half times the price. Skip.

photo credit: Julia Chen

Pork Siu Mai

Not bad. If you’re looking to fill out your order, these are a saving grace.

photo credit: Julia Chen

Peking Duck

You can get a whole duck or a version portioned out for two people, which is nice in theory, but the meat is dry and feels stale. You (or anyone else) won’t really want to finish this.

photo credit: Julia Chen

XO Pan Fried Noodles

This dish is overpowered by so much oyster sauce that you can’t taste anything else, much less the actual noodle rolls.