Shanghai House Restaurant

3641 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States
+1 415-831-9288
$$$ Chinese restaurant
(190 Reviews)
Price Range $10–20

Nestled on the bustling Balboa Street near Golden Gate Park, Shanghai House Restaurant is a hidden gem that offers an authentic slice of Chinese cuisine, particularly for lovers of Shanghainese fare. With its inviting yet unpretentious atmosphere, this tiny eatery, which accommodates around eight tables, is perfect for those seeking a cozy dining experience filled with flavor.

One of the standout dishes here is the Sheng Jian Bao (Shanghai soup dumplings)—a must-try for anyone venturing into this culinary haven. These delightful dumplings exude warmth and flavor with each delicate bite, filled with juicy pork that bursts with savory broth. Fellow diners rave about their fried dumplings and dry fried chicken wings, both of which are praised for their homemade quality and robust flavors. The menu doesn’t stop there; choices like Veggie Fried Rice and Combo Chow Mein cater to a variety of palates, ensuring that every guest will find something to savor.

As you step inside Shanghai House, be prepared for an engaging experience. While some reviews mention that the service can be a bit brusque, it’s essential to recognize the hard work of the owner, who is known for her dedication to the craft. Diners have noted that while the wait for food might be a little longer than expected, it’s all part of the charm—worth it for the delectable, authentic dishes that arrive at your table.

In addition to its tantalizing menu, the restaurant's cash-only policy is a small quirk easily handled, as numerous ATMs dot the area. Prepare your taste buds for a delightful culinary adventure at Shanghai House Restaurant—a place where quality reigns supreme and every bite tells a story. Whether you’re stopping by after a lazy Sunday at the park or looking for a casual dinner spot, this eclectic eatery is a rewarding find that you won't want to miss.

Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
From the business
Identifies as Asian-owned
Service options
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves comfort food
Serves small plates
Dining options
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Serves dessert
Amenities
Has toilet
Atmosphere
Casual
Planning
Usually has a wait
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Children
Good for kids
Openings Hours
Checking

Monday

11:30 AM - 2:30 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

Closed

Thursday

11:00 AM - 2:30 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 2:30 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Saturday

11:00 AM - 2:30 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Sunday

11:00 AM - 2:30 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

190 Reviews
ᴄʏᴡ

07 Aug 2025

Stopped by for the ShengJian Bao with my girlfriend. Owner wasn’t the friendliest at first but definitely warms up to you(maybe because i shared that i lived in Shanghai for a while). Overall food was authentic and delicious, has two menus, one more authentic and another cater to American customers. You will definitely find what you are looking for here. Located in a busy street with lots of restaurant options, not the most vibrant and good looking one but you will get your money worth for the food. Thanks!

drawonnoodles

25 Jul 2025

This place once got shut down by health officials but I keep coming back and so do other customers. The only service there is the boss lady who can come off as rude to non-Asians but I find her just fine. Sometimes the quality is inconsistent depending on the month but it comes back around later on. They are most famous for their Shanghai soup dumplings. Compared to other dumpling places, the meat is fattier which makes it so good. The soup inside is also tasty. The only caveat is that the skin rips too easily.

Rose L

24 Jul 2025

I’m almost unwilling to write a good review of this place out of fear that they’ll get really popular and I won’t be able to get a table anymore. That being said, though, this place is legitimately delicious. Dumplings for days.

My Hoa N.

13 Jul 2025

Great place for homemade dumplings. Their dumplings and fried chicken are top notch. Service takes a while, but worth the wait.

Christopher Yin

13 Jun 2025

food comes out quickly & hot. Have gotten sheng jian bao a couple times & the meat held together a lot better the second time we came. loved the chicken wings too. cash only but there are plenty of atms on the street

s z

09 Jun 2025

I usually order their dry fried chicken wing, XLB, and pan fried dumplings. A little disappointed of the wings and XLB this time. The batter of the wings is too hard, and size is smaller not much meat, sauces is still amazing (Tate's like sweet honey with ginger). XLB skin is too saggy this time, seems like it is over cooked and the meat portion is smaller than it used to be. Pan fried dumpling is juicy inside with thin and crispy skin. Recommend! Saw other people order their beef ball clay pot, pork feet, shrimp, smoked duck, and some noodle dishes...Those all looks good. I may try them next time. The restaurant is small with about 10 small tables. Only one server, and seems like only 2-3 people working in the kitchen. We came here on Sunday 5:10pm, the restaurant is already full, and we were lucky to be seated at the last open table. Waited about 30min for the food. They had many to go orders too. Not sure if the air conditioning is broken in the kitchen, the restaurant got very smoky, and my clothes and hair all smells oily after dinner. Cash only!

Mei

07 Jun 2025

Note: Cash only. Shanghai house restaurant is a hidden gem near golden gate park (Spreckels lake). The restaurant is tiny (fit 8 tables) and easily to miss. I can understand why everyone complain about the service, but bare with it the food is definitely worth it. The wait for food was a bit longer than any other Chinese places (waited for 30 mins). The fried dumplings are excellent and totally recommended.

JILL JIANG

02 Jun 2025

The lady owner is very friendly and hard working. All the baos and wontons are homemade handmade, if you want to try authentic Chinese food, with a affordable price, this is the price. Chicken wings are quite big than all the other places I been to, even some famous lined up restaurant is no better than here. Just look at the pictures, this is a MUST TRY PLACE!

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