FUSION DUMPLING — Restaurant in San Francisco

Really authentic Shanghainese cuisine with some cool unexpected twists and a really kind, generous owner!

My family is from Shanghai with very high standards for dishes. My mom is very picky when we go out to eat. After relocating to the Bay Area, we have tried soup dumplings and pan fried sheng jian baos from at least 8 Chinese restaurants, and while a couple other places also got the xiao long baos right, this place does both justice. The pan fried version is really crisp on the bottom, juicy soup, loose tender filling, fresh and well risen dough texture, and perfect flavor. Their pork belly was exquisite and my youngest son ate it all.

While their viral noodle dish looks cool, we preferred their take on Dan Dan noodles. It’s elevated in so many ways. I used to not like or seek out Dan Dan noodles bc it seemed so plain, but the first time I had it here, I was hooked. I literally had a craving for weeks after and got it wherever I went at other places, even the ramen version, but was always let down until I came back here.

Finally, we had originally gotten their soy duck months ago before their menu updated. It was fantastic - freshly home made, tender texture, and great flavor. This time we mentioned it, and even though it was no longer on the menu, the owner and chef took out a log of it that they had made for themselves and gave it to us!! We couldn’t believe their generosity and hospitality, even in this big city. This is a comfort dish for Shanghainese folks, and we were so touched. We will definitely be back and recommend it to all my coworkers.

Also, they have spacious and clean bathrooms, which is rare...

Had lunch at Fusion Dumpling in San Francisco today and was completely blown away by the incredible food and efficient service. Every single item was delicious and crafted with care. We tried the following items: The viral crab meat lo mein Pork soup dumplings Pan fried pork soup bao Honey walnut shrimp Peking duck potstickers Wagyu and black truffle dumplings Chicken stir fried noodles Crispy garlic fish fillet Explosive chicken Black sesame bao

I wish I could pick my favorite but my family and I genuinely enjoyed each of them. The flavors were all perfectly balanced, the dumplings were juicy, soupy and incredibly delicious. The chicken, fish and shrimp were crispy and crunchy and super yummy. One thing I want to mention is the presentation which was so beautiful and unique, never seen anything like it. The way the crab lo mein was hanging over floating chopsticks with the crabmeat sauce poured over it is something that is definitely eye catching. The pan fried pork soup bao came perched on a ‘tree’ and the honey walnut shrimp display is something you should order and see for yourself. The restaurant itself is quite spacious and beautiful inside and the service is very warm and attentive. Highly recommend visiting multiple times. I will...

The name was what drew me into this place. The Mandarin name 土包子 essentially has the same meaning of bumpkins. Not sure if they intentionally named it like this but it definitely caught my attention😂! The seats near the entrance have bao-shaped cushions on them, but they gave us a table towards the inside of the restaurant and we didn’t have those cute cushions😫. We ordered the Sweet & Sour Spare Ribs, Chicken w/ Explosive Chili Pepper, Dong-Po Pork Belly, and Seasonal Vegetables. The dish that surprised me the most was the Chicken w/ Explosive Chili Pepper. As someone that has a baby level of spice tolerance, I was originally really afraid to try that (Why did I even agree with ordering that in the first place???🤦🏻‍♀️). But it was absolutely amazing🤤 and I liked it so much that I even tried replicating it at home. They told me they’re owned by the same owner of Chong Qing Xiao Mian, and there are some overlapping in the menu items, especially in the Noodles & Rice section. But Fusion Dumpling has more options for if you have a bigger party and want to order dishes...