Hang Ah Tea Room Reviews

I enjoy an authentic, casual dining experience and this fit the bill. Kind of a hole-in-the wall location with very good, inexpensive food. If the hostess is not near the door when you enter, you can sound the gong to request seating. Our favorite dim sum items were the sweet dessert ones! My husband went crazy for the sweet egg custard buns while I loved the red bean paste filled dumplings. The flower tea is both colorful and mild. We did not at all care for the scallion pancake because it was, for us, oily and unexciting. One waitress was helpful and adorable but the other had a blank personality and we couldn't tell what she understood. If we could have kept the first waitress, I would have given the restaurant 5 stars.

This restaurant is located in the heart of Chinatown. They do not take reservations so be ready to wait for a while. Our wait was 20 minutes, not bad. The restaurant is small but cozy. When we were seated, we were given the menus, but to our surprise, there are no prices listed. If someone is on a budget, how are they going to know what the items cost! The menu has a lot of choices to choose from and that was good. The service SUCKED, seriously. The took our orders and we ordered a lot of portions to share. We also ordered tea for all of us. a coke and a beer. We never saw our teas, coke or the beer. But our final bill which my wife had to go to the counter to get, charged us for those items! So the waitress at the counter gave my wife the beer and the coke to go and after we left, my wife noticed that we were charged for the tea!!!!!. The waiter never came to our table to see how we were doing. And to top all of this off we asked for water for all of us. The pitcher of the water was Luke warm!!!!! We all were drinking warm water!!!! Tried to get the waiter and waitress attention for our issues but they completely ignored us. Also the bill did not show how much our portions cost but it showed the cost of the beer, the coke and the teas and they added the tip to the bill which was substantial!!!! For 6 people our bill was over $300-Ridiculous!!!! If this restaurant is famous for their food-maybe-but everything else is HORRIBLE!!!!! Not to mention that they have a broken sign naming their restaurant.

Found this on TripAdvisor and gave it a shot. It had the feel of a hole in the wall place locals would go. We ordered off the Dim Sum section of the menu. The waitress was very helpful in making selections and we loved all of it. We got there around 6pm and it was not crowded. By 7:00 the dining room was full and a short line had developed. Service was on the slower side, but we were not in a rush so we enjoyed the leisurely pace.

Nondescript building and off the street location. Inside is not elaborate but the food was delicious. Some of the dishes were pretty spicy. For the three of us we ordered multiple dishes which we shared. Dumplings (such as pot stickers) were plentiful. Food was delicious and would highly recommend.

Family of 2 adults, 2 children under 10. We had two different set dim sum menus and two different noodle soups. The dim sums were nice, but not spectacular. But the soups were utterly tasteless. It was pretty expensive too, so I think they’re living off their history, rather than their food quality.

Went specifically for the dim sum. And we were not disappointed. Being the oldest dim sum restaurant in town, they stood up to their pedigree. Will go here again.

Reviews were first rate, but our experience was decidedly mediocre. We sent back the pumpkin pancake, so were not charged for it. Chose two chicken dishes - sweet & sour and lemon - both were heavily breaded and overcooked. The other two dishes were not great either. Ambience was typically poor of a run-of-the-mill. Chinese joint - nothing appealing. Given the strong Chinese flavour of this city and the large Chinatown area we expected much better - and we get much better in Toronto.

During a recent conference in San Francisco, my travel companion and I went to dim sum at the Hang Ah Tea Room. Since she is Chinese, I let her pick where we would eat. This place did not disappoint either of us! We enjoyed the dumplings, sesame balls, sticky rice, and Chinese broccoli dishes. The staff was very helpful when we were deciding on what to order especially since some of the items we were considering were unavailable at the time.

Went on a Sunday, while busy it not overly packed like many of the other restaurants in Chinatown. The staff was very friendly and attentive. We ordered too many dishes to list but all were delicious. It is now a "go to" when we are in Chinatown. Off Grant St, down a side street and by a playground. Reasonably priced.

We went for brunch for 6 people. It was not too crowded when we got there but we did make a reservation so that was no issue. The Dim Sum food were all great at reasonable price. As with most Dim Sum plates, you get few pieces of items per order and the menu will tell you how many pieces you get so that was great.

Googled Best Dim Sum’s in SF Chinatown and this place came up. All I can say is the reviewer must not know good dim sum food. Made the place sound special with the claim of first dim sum place in SF so I was intrigued. Looked like any other dim sum place nothing special or distinctive about the place. Dim Sum wasn’t bad but I paid about $30 for 5 dim sum dishes. I could have found similar quality dim sum in Chinatown for half the price. Disappointed. It’s a tourist trap using claim of first dim sum place in SF to draw in the crowds. Service was ok. Save your money.

We enjoyed the food here quite a bit. Bit out of the way, kind of in an ally way and as my husband would call it “ a hole in the wall” but we sometimes find great food at “ hole in the wall” places. So we tried it. Again the food was really good but finishing up dinner we noticed on the of the woodworking by our table there was a medium sized rat!! He eventually jumped down and ran around some of the tables and when my husband saw this he jumped out of his seat. We told the waitress and she seemed surprised. When we told the lady who appeared to either be in charge or the owner she didn’t seem as surprised. I guess the location being where it is it’s hard to not expect something like that but I thought I would mention it if dining with rats is not your thing. I hate to give a bad review since their food was good but I felt this is something people should know.

We were looking for dim sum for dinner. Many of the places we found were closed by 3:00pm but this one was open. We had two servings of the soup dumplings and they were delicious. Famous for the BBQ pork bun but I always find that type of item to have too much breading. Simple service but a friendly atmosphere.

This place is hidden away in a basement in an alley but is worth finding. We ordered dim sum and everything we ordered was amazing. My only regret is buying only 1 jar of their chili oil to bring home.

My wife and I had just checked in to our hotel in Union Square and wanted to have some food in Chinatown. We walked by quite a few places that I'm sure are great. I saw a small sign for this place. It's entrance is on the backside of a building. A little off the main street. So glad we went in there. The dumplings and pot stickers were fantastic, and the fried rice was the best I've ever had!! It was so good that we went back to bookend our trip with another meal there!! We highly recommend this place!!!

Saw sign and then had to find the place. Was around corner in short alley. Was a bit confused by menu. States first dim sum restaurant but not set up like typical dim sum restaurant. They promote the BBQ pork bun and it is full of filling and tasty. Had the curry prawns and did not disappoint. Table next to me must have ordered dim sum sampler because dishes kept coming out. More than the three could eat. Staff looks like it is a family affair. Dress is not important. Just beer & wine. Prices seemed reasonable.

I'd read reviews about the Hang Ah Tea Room, which were quite positive. I liked the idea that it's been in business since 1920 and had fairly high hopes for it. We made it our first destination when arriving in San Francisco on vacation. Two of us ordered a variety of things, all dripping in grease. Now, some grease is always to be expected with dim sum, but the items we ordered were tough to get down. One of our orders included a shrimp ball. When cut into it, a long piece of cellophane appeared and had to be pulled out of it. Management was good about it and replaced it with another shrimp ball, but still, the grease and the cellophane were not a great intro. Maybe we were there on a bad day.

We had lunch here one afternoon. There was a bit of a wait, but it was totally worth it. The food was ordered off a menu, unlike many dim sum restaurants where small carts come by and the wares are sampled. This did not detract from the food or the experience. Everything we harvest wonderful. The beef, pork, seafood, vegetables, chicken and sauces all were tried and enjoyed. It was almost as good as I have had in China on multiple trips. The service was prompt and helpful and the prices were very reasonable. Supposedly it is the first dim sum restaurant in the US, and I can see why it is still open and busy. I recommend very highly.

Got there about 10:40 and the waitress ignored us standing to get served. Both ladies was slowly setting up table and we are the only customers waiting. Finally take us to the table. Ordered few dishes, the buns was cold and not much filling (bbq pork & custard buns) Ate most of our dishes but we still didn’t get our tea. It was ordered from the beginning. we asked at least 3 times for our tea and still didn’t get. Over rated from people

This spot claims to be the oldest dim sum tea parlor in San Francisco and the U.S., but as we know, age doesn’t always equate to excellence. Kudos to our lone waiter, who managed to juggle tables, languages, and different nationalities with a friendly attitude—quite the feat for one person handling the crowd! The atmosphere, however, was less impressive. It felt more decrepit than charming, with the front door wide open, leaving us shivering throughout the meal. We go to restaurants for the food. I have to say the offerings here were just average. The homemade steamed pork dumplings and shumai, however, were standouts—truly tasty bites that almost made me forget about the chilly room. As for the prices, they felt a little high for the overall experience, especially considering the ambiance. Would I recommend it? Hard to say. I didn’t explore other options in the area, but I’m confident you’ll find other places that will leave you just as satisfied, if not more.let m

We stopped here to try Dim Sum in Chinatown. It was disappointing. The food was OK. Broccoli was good, Scallion pancake was terrible. We only ordered a four items and water. The bill they brought was $58!!! (with the wrong date and time). We asked the waitress to explain the bill and she came back with another bill for $33 (yet ANOTHER incorrect date and time). There are so many better options in this town. Don’t go here unless you want them to grab a random receipt from a hat and see what you’ll be willing to pay for average dishes.

Very good Dim Sum. They are prepared as you request them so take time. But is worth it. Not much variety. Also have a la carte meals.

I loved the food and the price. Had soup dumplings, shrimp toast, foil wrap chicken, egg roll and fried wonton. Chili sauce was excellent and can be purchased to take home. Good tea, too.

Since it's located in Chinatown, I expected to have some kind of authentic dim sum. Not at all, the noodles we had is called Shanghai noodle, it tastes sour and sweet with red color. I asked the waitress what source they used for the dish, why it looks so red. She got another girl to answer us: Ketchup. We had a pot of tea. The tea pot looks dirty and felt greasy. We spent $73 for two people ordering only 5 items, and one of them is full of fat. We would suggest you look at your bill carefully.

Went this on advice on my partner's brother and was not disappointed. While I've been to dimsum places with more choice the limited selection was tasty and clearly prepared on-site. Would definitely go again

The oldest dim sum restaurant in San Francisco. The BBQ pork buns are the BEST!!! I also recommend the wong tong noodle soup! A must stop if in Chinatown!!

I'm fairly new to San Francisco, and although this place isn't hyped up like Yang Sing is - it's better! Fun fact - it's the first Dim Sum House in America. I have been multiple times and have ordered the same thing, gotten seated within a minute, and the service is wonderful. The atmosphere is like you're in a different country - while I was there during dinner one night the family who owns it had their family sit around a large round table and eat dinner. The food tastes like home. And the pork buns!! Don't forget to order the pork buns!!!

The place looked very authentic. Located in the middle of Chinatown and served by "locals". It claims to be trafitional since 1920 and I would believe it. Everything seemed honest (not to earn money from careless tourists like those places on Fisherman's wharf). The prices are good (jasmine tea for $1.5 or a set of 3-6 dim sums for around $4-7) and the tase is fine. They serve many options of dim sums and also steamed or fried dumplings of other kinds along with the traditional hard-to-name sauces. Definitey a place to try if you are into Chinese food.

The food is great. The atmosphere is great. It's small. We had to wait about 20 minutes but it was worth it. The sanitizer they use to wipe down the tables sucks because of the overwhelming smell but it dissipates quickly. Just be prepared.

This little hole in the wall was well worth the walk. We have some great food. Highly recommend the pork potstickers and BBQ pork bao. Yummy! When we came in it wasn't busy but by the time we left it was packed.

You have to look for this place. It's not very big but the food is absolutely amazing. We tried several things and really loved them all. The service was very good.

Fifty years ago this was located on Hang ah Alley. I mention this because it was a nostalgic experience to eat in this restaurant which is now on the same alley now called Pagoda St. The dim sum is exceptional and the servers are very sweet. We noticed a couple other people who were a little impatient with the service. We, however, were not. When having a tea lunch, we like to relax. The service was perfect for us and the dim sum is superb. Don't miss the opportunity of eating here if you're in San Francisco. The restaurant was originally opened, I think, in 1902. It has history, a rich culture, and is well worth the visit.

Ok first of all, I enjoyed the restaurant. I love to eat. But my son choosed this restaurant. Great place, a bit of a climb. Out of the way. Great food, great service. I enjoyed everything and the chicken feet was awesome. Would eat there again.

Had a late lunch and had to with a few minutes to get a table. We agreed to share a table with some other people behind us. That was actually a lot of fun. The surface was a bit slow but it was okay we ordered shumai shrimp dumplings soup dumplings and potstickers. We ended up getting a second order of the soup dumplings by our mistake and it was way too much food but so delicious. We are new to doing dim sum but this was a terrific first time. The rest was a little dumpy but the food was very good so who cares.

The service, is impressive. The food, well the food is completely perfect. We found a secret place very well recommended. If you go to San Francisco you can’t miss this amazing Chinese restaurant.

Great little find in Chinatown SF! Super affordable too. The service was fast but not very friendly, don’t let that deter you. The food is amazing!

No frills service. Simple atmosphere. But my god did I have the best dim sum outside of China. I went back for lunch two days in a row.

This is a dim sum restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. A wide variety of dim sum including shanghai dim sum. They also have a regular dishes as well. Dishes are prepared to order but come out pretty fast. Wait staff will let you know if something takes a bit longer. They have great shrimp dumpling--a must to try. To get to the restaurant (depending on which way you come) you will be walking up or down a pretty good sized hill so wear comfortable shoes. I went around 1pm and they were busy but there were tables available. Prices are reasonable. Pricing is based on type of dim sum you get. They also have a fixed price dim sum menu that gives you the most popular dim sum (for those who never had dim sum I recommend you try that). I had 5 or 6 dishes and they were all very good. They have a nice selection of soup but it is by the big bowl so it would be too much for one person but just right for 2 or more people. They are open until 9pm so you can get a snack as well if you are just walking around. For San Francisco this restaurant is a good value.

Food was fine but they were sold out of half the good dishes. Took us 20 min to get seated even though we were at the front of the line and there were several vacant tables. Took us about 1.5 hours to get the 7 dishes we ordered.

Over the last 15 years we continue to come back just to this little hole in the wall restaurant when we visit San Francisco. I think it has changed hands a few times and each time it loses some of its charm. The wait staff on a late Saturday afternoon was very nice. The menu seemed to change again. We ordered a few new items, one in particular we liked was soup dumplings. Not sure if we will return but odds are we will simply for old times sake.

We were lost with the menu and the waitress ordered for us, preparing a combination where we could try all sort of different things, all of them awesome! Would totally recommend it to anyone

In SF for a few days and heard this was the first dim sum house in USA - walking up Sacramento through the tunnel most places seemed shut as it was a Sunday evening - but Hang-Ah was open, if not until late, it's easy to miss as tucked down a side alley near a basketball court. Some homemade signs and a bit of neon direct you down some stairs into a small but intimate Chinese restaurant with all the wall pictures, decor and paraphernalia you'd expect for somewhere authentic. Basic but bustling with people and food. Not too au fait with dim sum but you can order a selection and take your chances - they come out fresh as they're ready and it's all very informal. If you know what you want it can take some of the Russian roulette out of the experience, especially if you go there hungry. There are many Chinese restaurants in that district of SF and this is on the edge a little but we'd read good reviews and weren't disappointed.

It had been 20 years since I took my daughter here and it was like time had stopped! No frills but still excellent Dim Sum!

Had a good selection of various dumplings and buns. All were good and tasty, especially shrimp and the local speciality - barbecued pork.Recommended

OMG this is a must visit in San Francisco Chinatown, amazing food been running since 1920. If you love dim sum and bbq pork rolls this is a must.No frills ist great food

Ever heard of a restaurant that has online ordering on their website... but the people in the restaurant have no idea. We placed an order online, luckily we did not pay before showing up. When we went to pick it up they said they had no visibility or access to the internet so they had no idea what orders were coming in. Nice Job!

Restaurant was very busy and we had to wait 20 minutes . But food was delicious at very reasonable price. Friendly family run business. Will definitely go back.

It probably depends on the time of day you go, but I felt like I was the first one there. It's a small, historic restaurant that boasts the brand of being the oldest dim sum restaurant in the United States. The food was average, but the atmosphere was nice and I think it's a nice restaurant. It's a restaurant that serves dim sum during the day, and although there don't seem to be many of them, it comes up quite easily in a search.

The building and decor is nothing exciting and it is tucked away, but the food was delicious and affordable and definitely worth the trek up hill! In particular the Scallion Pancake was incredible!

Been here multiple times and never disappointed. Was there this past Saturday night with a party of 7. It was close to closing time but the server still took care of us. We ordered multiple plates to share and left happy and full. Highly recommend!

We choose this because our daughter saw a recommendation from an influencer: Lauren. It was a fantastic experience. Good food for an honest price

I was told to pay in cash AFTER my credit card was charged! It is clearly posted in this restaurant that they accept credit cards. I put down my VISA card and it was charged appropriately as per the notification on my smartphone. AFTER my credit card was charged, the server returned to my table and asked me to pay in CASH. I showed her the charge on my smartphone. She took my card to the kitchen/register area and left me at my table for at least 10 minutes. They held my credit card hostage until I paid in cash.

Hang Ah is the oldest dim sum restaurant in the US and having eaten there I can't imagine how dim sum overcame the first step. We have eaten at many Chinese restaurants over the years and while this was not our worst experience, it was close. The meal was an especial let down as we had expected, based on reviews, so much more. Hang Ah is located down a small alleyway and the first space is crowded with pictures and information making claim to the restaurant's status as an icon of American Chinese cuisine. One step into the actual restaurant reveals a tired looking room, partially divided, with no decor and little charm. Sometimes an ordinary looking place can have the best food so we did not form a negative opinion at first. Service was off hand but not rude and again, we were not disconcerted. Then the food came. We've eaten dim sum in many places. We know what we like, what to order, and how it should taste. What we got was almost all badly done. Food was under or over cooked. Items were served cold. Fried dishes came to the table doughy in the middle from poor fryer temperatures. It was a shame. We had expected to get something special and we got a meal less well done than our local take out spot. With so many choices in San Francisco, this should not be on anyone's list.

I really enjoyed my experience here. Food was wonderful. Fast and courteous service. Reports to be the oldest dim sum house in SF, which might make it the oldest in the U.S. Will go again.

The food was good and relatively inexpensive but the ambiance was lacking. There were flies and they took the trash out through the restaurant in the middle of dinner.

Amazing food and Amazing service, i was really impressed by the (dim sum pork meat ball - siu mai) the final bill was 20 per person and we all went out full.

If you do enough research on where to get dim sum in San Francisco's Chinatown, you will typically get the same 4 or 5 recommendations....we chose Hang Ah Tea Room as one of those recommendations....once we found the front door (in the back), we settled in for a nice lunch of delicious dumplings, hand made and served in a timely manner....all yummy and worth the walk....love me some dumplings and we weren't disaappointed

Forrest Gumped my way into this one. Was wandering, somewhat lost and we saw this place and went in. Only people there not from the neighborhood or a police officer. Still, the wait staff was very friendly and helpful. Don't come for the ambiance, come for the dim sum. Great steamed BBQ pork buns and pot stickers, but the show stopper was the chicken soup dim sum. Terrific!

Not too expense for being SF. Very tasty food and helpful staff. Scullion pancakes were probably the our table favourite. Simple but super tasty.

Went for an early dinner. Service was slow and spotty but the food was very good. We did not get all of our order immediately but eventually it was brought to us.

Small place, typical "Chinese" (so not fancy at all). But worth the trip if you like authentic and tasty dim sum. Best is to let the waitress guide you and select based on your preferences. We went there with two children (10-12) and they couldn't get enough of it. And very reasonable prices.

Good dim sum and nice managers. The place not very nice and dirty enough but clean tables and food cooked well.

Yes, oldest Tea House in N.America. Yes, the decor, furniture, building and smells are 100 years old. Dined with 4 friends. Dim Sum was sub par, basic and on the bland side. Staff friendly. Food was fast. Kinda disappointing. 300 year old Asian lady begging for money outside the door was awkward. As we walked away we turned around and saw her pulling a wad of cash and counting it. Who knows maybe it was $30 in total or $400. US dollars are all green. You feel like you have a pocket full of cash but in reality it's $7. Just like Canadian tire money. Handful of bills equals 45 cents. Conclusion: Take a picture of the place and go eat else where.

We went here for a light dinner and ordered different types of dishes: dim sum, spring rolls, prawns with rice and vegetables. They didn’t bring out the food simultaneously. My brothers dish was served about 10 mins before the rest of the food and then my boyfriends food was served another 10 minutes later. Also, the waitress didn’t remember who ordered what and just put everything on the table. We didn’t know which dim sum contained what. The older lady in the restaurant pretended to not understand any English and just ignored us when we asked which plate was which dish. We were barely finished eating when the bill was placed on our table, they were rushing us out. The service was so bad. We didn’t tip because of it. Suddenly the old lady spoke fluent English (while she pretended not to before) and was telling us she needed a 15 percent tip. I told her we thought the service was not good and she didn’t deserve a tip. That being said, the food was good and not too expensive. Wouldn’t come back here ever though, because of the awful service. I left feeling really bad, the evening was kinda ruined.

On the southern area of Chinatown, so very accesible if walking from Union Square. Menu are well explained in English so it's easy to order. Food was great, very reasonable price.

We went to Hang Ah Tea Room because it is recommended by many people. The foods are good, freshly made to order. The service was nice to. Finally it was not to hard to find the place. When you arrive at the corner of Sacramento and Stockton look around and you will see the add for the restaurant.

My teenage daughter and I went on a whim when visiting Chinatown. They made us wait 5 minutes until they could get a 2 person table cleaned off, even though there were no less than 6 4-6 person tables available. The other diners actually started complaining on our behalf. We eventually were seated at a dirty table and handed menus. That was it. No one came to get us water or take our order. After 10 minutes, I went to the edge of the kitchen where the three waitresses were standing and told them I was leaving. They just started at me like they couldn't figure out where I came from. The table next to us left at the same time and the woman said that the waitress would only speak to her husband. She asked for a water refill and the waitress actually looked to the husband for approval. I'm not sure if it's a cultural thing or just absolute disrespect, but beware if you're a woman because you will be treated like you're invisible.

1st off not easy to find and it is litterer a hole in the wall down a side street. The food and service were very good. The dim sum was excellent , not best ever but 2nd. The atmosphere was real China feel for sure. Has been in operation since 1920

Delicious Dim Sum selections- also a selection of beers that included one from Taiwan. Outside seating available, near small park for children, dogs ok in outside eating area Good service located in the Chinatown District -masks and vaccination cards required

We had used TripAdvisor to find an authentic Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. Once we arrived, we realized that they were closed on Mondays. So, I looked for other nearby restaurants, and we found the Hang Ah Tea Room. I didn't realize it at that moment, but the Hang Ah is the oldest dim sum restaurant in all of Chinatown! So, our accidental find, what the find of a lifetime, and well worth it!

Excellent Dim Sum at very reasonable prices. Small venue, down an alleyway in Chinatown. Service is fine, not exceptional.

We love dim sum and this funky place was great -no carts but everything was made to order. Bummer they had run out of bbq pork buns but we ordered house tea, soup dumplings, pot stickers, har gow, won ton w spicy cilantro peanut, sesame balls, and pork dumpling with boo Choy. Service was great-lots of tourists but that’s ok. Food was really good! Best pot stickers we’ve had and har gow was really good.

My husband suggested we try this place for lunch. It is located down an alley, but there are signs pointing the way.There was a long line and we wound up sharing a table with three other diners. Service was a bit slow, but totally understandable. We all enjoyed it

If you've never had dim sum, then you might find this place OK since you have no comparison. However, if you've had even mediocre dim sum, you would know this place is horrible. BBQ pork was basically sliced ham in a mystery sweet, watery "sauce". This place only caters to tourists who, like us, were probably fooled by other reviews. We should have walked away when we got there and realized there wasn't a single Asian person there other than the staff. Hopefully this review will prevent other people from making the same mistake we did...

A must try in San Francisco, food is tasty and price is reasonable. The location is quite difficult to find and its located uphill. Overall this place is great.

This is the best Dim sum I've found since leaving China proper! Little hard to locate but the description above helped.

Reach there early around 10.15 am , place a bit small and cramp but food was good . It’s supposed to be the first dim sum in US since the 1920’s. Queue start to form at 10.30 so best to go earlier.

I had been here previously with my family and we all loved it. This time, on a solo visit, I didn't want to risk and I went there again. Ad before, it was excellent! The dumplings are just great and the place makes you feel you are in China.

Excellent dim sum in the basement of this little place in China Town, good beer, great service! A hidden Gem!~

The dim sum is greasy, but the real problem is the chili oil that they serve. It's rancid, never replaced, and just sits aging year after year. The restaurant must be topping up old bottles, but then never actually throw it out once it's gone off. Wife and I went here in 2018. Liked the dim sum, but my wife felt sick and suspected it was the chili oil. We returned again in 2021 and foolishly, forgot about the danger of the chili oil. When my wife tried it again today, she had already been happily enjoying dim sum for about 20 minutes. Once that chili oil passed her lips though, her skin turned grey and her stomach began giving her extremely sharp pains. People nearby thought she was having a seizure. It was clear that the disgusting chili oil she had was the same batch from three years earlier in 2018. And it was already pretty gross back then. I'm guessing that they're serving customers a seven year old condiment, at least. Without meaning to get into too much detail, I will say that my wife's suffering was then topped off by the indignity of having to spend about an hour in a nearby parking garage toilet. We didn't say anything, but we should have demanded our money back.

A friend strongly recommended this out of the way little Dim Sum house. She has been going there since she was a little girl - over 50 years ago. We managed to navigate the streets and wandered in to Hang Ah. With its authentic decor and varied menu this little place is really worth a visit! After studying the menu and having no ability to agree on what we were eating we opted to take the two combination menus - not very originally titled Option A and Option B! However, despite the less than inventive names the food was fantastic. We thoroughly enjoyed the shallot pancake and the pork bun was sensational. The food was fresh and beautifully prepared and definitely recommended

Having dim sum in the first dim sum restaurant in San Francisco is pretty incredible. The food was delicious and the service was good.

I was trying to eat at another place in China Town but it was closed so I came here due to their sign saying "oldest dim sum restaurant in America" I had shrimp dumplings, pumpkin filled rolls and wonton soup. It was above average and reasonably priced. My server was a friendly lady. The walls had some nice photos of old China Town on the walls which were fun to look at.

This out of the way dim sum eating spot is seriously one of the best you'll find!!! We went for the dumplings... we ventured out for the bbq pork buns and ended with the rabbit shaped dim sum. We highly recommend all!!! Typically we've found pork buns to be much too heavy, but not at the bbq pork buns at Hang Ah Tea Room. When visiting San Francisco in the future, we will always return and will ALWAYS add the pork buns to our dim sum selections! We loved the food, we were impressed with the great service and we especially enjoyed the location and it's pure, welcoming, and uncomplicated food establishment!

Restaurant is located on a hill, in a little alley. Construction made it difficult to locate but once found very good food. We had not eaten since breakfast so ordered several dim sum, including shrimp and pork dumplings. Also ordered greens with garlic which complimented our dishes. LOVE their homemade chili which they also sell to take home. No rush on our meal and once done, walked it off exploring Chinatown.

We visited this restaurant in San Francisco China Town due to some fairly good reviews and cravings for some great Dim Sum. Sadly, the only thing we liked was the Jasmine Tea. We each had a combination Dim Sum order (one A and one B) and the food was was really really bad. When each plate arrived we held on to the hopes that maybe the next one was going to be “the winner” or at least better! Sadly, they were all equally as bad! Greasy, odd tasting, and poorly presented. We have had good Asian food all over the world and cannot believe that a highly rated restaurant in SFO China Town could have it so wrong. Also to add… the restroom is was FILTHY and the sink water only trickled to wash hands… And a 15 percent tip was added to the bill and not clearly shown on the receipt which I found tacky and deceptive! We were a party of 2- not 10! Two words- STEER CLEAR! Just an awful, awful experience!

Exceptionally good dim sum! The service is not the most friendliest - (or happiest) but the dim sum more than makes up for it! We were a group of four who ordered 4 different dim sums, 3 mains and 2 beers - all for $20 each! Cheap and cheerful but without a compromise on the taste! Would definitely recommend a visit.

Delicious dim sum and friendliest service ever. We went as a family with kids and started with the pork buns, a speciality; shrimp, pork and chives and were soon ordering many other platters. Of course, we finished with sesame seed buns -- four orders for the five of us to be exact. Everything comes out piping hot and it is well worth the search. Google and follow the directions past Mai Jong room, basketball court.

Love this place for delicious soup dumplings and dim sum. Short wait on Saturday night, but well worth it.

Hang Ah had been recommended by a friend and I saw great online reviews. I went with four other friends and had a great experience. There are a lot of options for dim sum plus other traditional Chinese dishes. This is a definite need to try and go back again!!!

I am always skeptical of restaurants in Chinatown, but this one does a great job with dim sum--they've been practicing for decades! Each dish was hot and fresh (no carts rolling by, especially outside) and very flavorful.

Noodles was dead Fried, Barbecue sauße was more pork, and everything looked pretty old Like it needed a Renovation.

The girls who served us were very nice and couldn't do enough. Had a problem with tiny flies we thought were attracted to the pots of sauce on the table but they let us move. Spring rolls were tasty and the pot stickers were pretty good. Beef with green peppers and black bean sauce was very good. All at a decent price but had trouble paying on their ancient machine. So good value but not spectacular.

What a great little Dim sum house. Built in the 1920s, it was the first Dim Sum house in the USA. The food was delicious. We came here on the recommendation of trip advisor and were not disappointed. Highly recommend.

Do Not Eat Here unless you want to go into cardiac arrest! The food is super oily and greasy. Eating this meal can actually kill you! The amount of oil in the the food is unbelievable! I don’t know why people actually rate this place. It’s either the owners friend leaving the positives review or the actual diners never experienced Chinese food! Everything dim sum dish is pure oil! The beef ho fun was just lobbed on the plate warm covered in oil. These kind of establishments are such a health hazard. They should be banned! So whoever still chooses to go, you have been warned.

Went with my family to this hidden treasure. Nice atmosphere and cordial service. The pace topped our expectations for an authentic Chinese meal notwithstanding the waiting line of about 15 people. We tried several different plates but agreed the bbq pork dumpling was the best.

Our food was completely mediocre, which was better than the service. The food took a very long time and nothing was exceptional. The green beans and chicken fried rice were particularly salty.

Hang Ah Tea Room opened in 1920, the first Dim Sum restaurant in America. Great food, they have everything you could want piping hot and delicious. They are located in an alley in China Town. Hard to find but worth the search.

This place is definitely trading on its 100-year plus history serving dim sum. The old-school vibe is fun, and the service is friendly, but the food is below par, even in Chinatown, where none of the dim sum offerings are great. The shrimp dumpling wrappers were thick and stodgy, and the filling, while chunky with prawns, lacked seasoning and texture. The steamed pork bun dough was tasty if heavy, but the pork was too lean, making it dry, and the barbecue sauce was unpleasant tasting. The steamed beancurd rolls were overcooked and, again, needed seasoning. The steamed pork ribs with pumpkin and black beans were a perfect mixture of fat and lean pieces, cooked well. The wontons in chilli oil were tasty. Thin wrapper, good mix of lean and fatty pork, in a vinegary chilli sauce topped with lots of fresh chopped garlic. It seemed pricey at $55 for 1 person. They charge extra for credit cards, and they add the tip onto the tax as well as the base price, which is a bit cheeky. I don't know if the other menu items are good or not, but I'd give this place a miss if you're looking for dim sum.

Nice and comfortable restaurant. Friendly staff and the food is good and very well priced. I would recommend this place for anyone looking for a nice meal

We visited San Francisco for 4 days and visited there twice. The dim sum were so good we returned after the first visit. Their quality is better than many famous restaurants in Hong Kong. Particularly love their steam spare ribs, shrimp dumpling, deep fry shrimp ball and ‘siu mine’ which pork was hand chopped rather than minced. Service was very warm and they were very attentive after my niece told them he had serious nut allergy. The reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because it is a bit expensive but I definitely recommend this restaurant.

I don't know if those as really the first dim sum restaurant, but you can keep it. They didn't have some basic staples of dim sum, and I wouldn't be surprised if the dim sum was mass made frozen from an oriental market. I didn't think one could get anything but perfect dim sum- I was wrong. If you miss the entrance, that's a good thing.

I was walking on Grant and looked up the hill and saw the faded sign on the wall facing Grant. I was amazed to see that it was still there. I took my honor society high school students there for lunch back in 1967 and we all found the place totally amazing because we'd never had dim sum. The girls were wondering where the rice was. After that I took a number of visitors there. But then I moved away and hadn't been back for years. Believe me, the next time I visit I will go hopefully for the food if not for the service.

Decided to stop in here after reading prior reviews. We were seriously disappointed. It was kind of hidden in the back of the building. There were a few other parties and we were seated right away. Unlike other dim sum places, they do not come around with carts - you order off the menu. We ordered a few things. Everything came out pretty quickly but just was not good. It seemed like many of the dishes were bought from elsewhere and heated up. There are many better places in the city, don’t waste your time on this one.

My wife and I were determined to enjoy superb San Francisco Dim Sum. Reading online restaurant reviews (like this one) only caused more confusion. We finally selected Hang Ah Tea Room primarily because of its history, the oldest Dim Sum Restaurant in San Francisco. True or not, we were not disappointed. Everything we ordered was delicious. These wonderful ladies and gentlemen prepare and serve an impressive array of Chinese culinary treats. The selection is almost overwhelming, but then that's part of what makes the Dim Sum experience so much fun. The alternatives we considered are likely excellent, too, but Hang Ah definitely earned my high rating.

Don't let the alleyway and surrounding area deter you. We got there around noon on Sunday, and within 1/2hr. there was a line around the building. The food is excellent and service is quick. The only issue I had was that because there was a line of people waiting, after a certain amount of time, they really wanted us to leave. Kept cleaning the table and asking if we wanted anything else!! But other than that, good value for a reasonable amount of money.

Slow to serve, but worth the wait. The three of us had a bit of everything: Spring roll Pan Fried barbecue pork buns. Garlic fries with chicken skin Shrimp dumpling Homestyle, chicken dumpling Spare ribs with pumpkin and black bean sauce Fried wonton Fried sesame ball x2 Salt and pepper squid Fried stuffed jalapeño Green beans with black beans sauce Barbecue pork Black gold egg yolk bun —— BBQ pork was extremely lean and subtly flavored. I prefer a bit more seasoning. Wontons are ok to skip. Everything else was fantastic. We especially loved their fried sesame balls. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in China town!

This place looks like a “hole in the wall” but has amazing dim sum! If you are unsure what to order, we ordered two different combination platters so that we could try a little of everything. Food was really great and relatively quick, and service was good. This entrance is actually in an alley (I believe the sign at entrance of alley was “Princess Palace”).

Dumplings were delicious, waiting time was correct (maybe because we were at the opening) We took with my brother the Pork Bun and it was perfect and light. I highly recommend this place !!!

We actually had a reservation at Yank Sing for 10:30 and then noticed they didn't open until 11:00 so that was a problem. I started reading reviews to find someone who opened at 10:30 (for real) as I needed to have dim sum before flying out. This was a nice find. They didn't have the carts so we ordered a variety from the menu and were happy with everything we had. If we didn't have a time constraint, we would have ordered more but the restaurant which is not huge, had filled up. This happily fulfilled my dim sum fix.

My adult daughter had never had dim sum and we came across this local alleyway gem. It's in an obscure location in Chinatown but had lots of old world laid back charm. We ordered various dim sum to try along with a pot of jasmine green tea. All was fresh and service was prompt. Our server was most helpful in our selections. Prices are very affordable and portions are large. Highly recommend a stop for a late lunch.

Went with a group of four of us and we thoroughly enjoyed our brunch here! The pork buns were huge and filled with a substantial amount of pork. Shrimp dumplings were so good, we got a second order. Their chili sauce was amazing. We will be back!

This place is made to order! If you want fast carts wizzing by with pre cooked items, then this is not your place. Come in, order off the menu and then it's made and served super fresh and hot. Order in waves if you want and don't skip the "scallion pancake" or the "Green beans" as both are amazing

Met up with my oldest niece after check in and went to this spot. We enjoyed sampler type platters to get to try all sorts of good food. Very nice menu at this popular spot.

This is one of the oldest dim sum restaurants in SF. The place is relatively small. It's clean and the food is absolutely delicious. The food is hot and very well seasoned. The woman who took our order was friendly and quick to bring it out to us. We love dim sum and this was so delicious we ordered extra to take back to the hotel for later!

Went in search of dim sum and chose this place based on other reviews. So glad we did as we were not disappointed. Arrived at 7.30pm to find a seat easily but by 10 minutes later the restaurant was almost full. Lovely and fresh and reasonably priced. Would go again.

We went here on the recommendation of a friend. a little hard to find, but worth the trip down the alley. service was good. food was better.

The good was very good. I would recommend one of the combo played - you get to try a variety of items for a reasonable price

The title of this review says it all. After walking up the hill to this place, my family wanted to turn back and go somewhere else before even opening the door. Don't make that mistake. I was hangry so ignored their pleas and headed on in. Despite the grim exterior (restaurant is tucked in an alley next to a construction site where trash is strewn about), inside you will find friendly faces and the freshest dim sum anywhere. They made our dim sum to order to boot as if we were royalty, resulting in us doubling down on their sublime shrimp dumpling and my kids begging for another order of the pork gyoza. We left full, happy and ready to challenge the hills of this beautiful city.

After spending the day in the city with family... And after finding out our favorite Dim Sum place had closed down... We were given a recommendation from the owner of our last Dim Sum spot. They spoke highly of Hang Ah Tea Room. The Dim Sum is delicious. The dinning area is pretty small, but, truly doesn't matter when you are hungry for great tasting food. They did not disappoint.

It is the oldest dim sum place in the US. Such an impressive interior with touch of comfort like grandma's. Enjoyed to take a look at the pictures and cooking show on TV. Pork bun which is the most famous dish is tasty, but soup dumpling doesn't have any soup and crusty that is not suppose to be. Most of dishes are good and nice, but not worth to go there twice or three times for dim sum. Just have an historical experience of chinatown there!

Based on TA reviews we were really looking forward to this. While the dim sum was tasty the place is old and dirty. The waitress was unfriendly and she kept walking around the dining room with dish gloves on like she was in the middle of some heavy duty cleaning. Not appealing. Also, honestly the green tea tasted like dishwater. Too bad. We’d hoped for better.

Was persuaded by a person handing out flyers on the street corner to visit the First Dim Sum House in the US, founded in 1920. The vendor even climbed the steep sidewalk to show us where it was located! We entered and were greeted with many fragrant and mouth-watering smells, found our seat, and after a bit of confusion, ordered essentially randomly off the menu. The food was fresh, delicious, and made to order. Worth a visit when in Chinatown; we'd definitely go back.

I had a hard time rummaging through the immense amount of options in Chinatown. Found this place on a blog of “10 best” that appeared to have been written by a local. Hang Ah was our choice because of the reported “unusually friendly staff” and excellent food. I don’t know what exactly our expectations were- but this place was great. Friendly service was there for sure- if a bit slow. They were pretty busy for a weekday at 3pm. Dim Sum was great, and much different from the Dim Sum we find in Oklahoma- that’s a good thing, folks. Very affordable- as I hear lots of restaurants in Chinatown are. The sticker shock of San Francisco is no joke. A side note, this place was in a slightly not-where-you’d-expect-location. Took us walking around the block a bit to find it. Worth the walk though!!

The food is not so good ...as you expect...it is like a fast food Never again here. I give only a star review...not more

The food here is incredible! I've been a couple of times and each time it is consistently delicious. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The only problem is both times I've gone, the service was very slow. The first time we were there, it was pretty busy so it was understandable. The second time, half the restaurant was empty and we had to actually go and grab someone to take our order and then again to bring us the check. However, they get a five star rating because we asked about the tea we were drinking and where the owner gets it and our server actually brought us a sample of it to take home with us! And I've read other reviews about how great the service was, might have just been an off night. It's definitely not holding me back from going again, because I certainly will go back! A great place to bring out of towners, it is not super touristy but close enough to downtown that you could easily get back to Union Square if you wanted to. And it's such a unique experience for someone visiting. We were headed to the Masonic afterwards and it's pretty close to that as well.

This place is difficult to find and not much to look at, but the food is excellent. Service was quick and reasonably priced. Would go again.

My son and I happened to be staying nearby, so this place came up fast when he searched for dim sum in our proximity. Boy, were we lucky! The place was packed with a large HS choir group but we were shown to the only empty table. The service was friendly and quick; the food was fabulous. Yes, the proclamation on the menu was correct: The BBQ pork buns deserve to be "world famous." The dough was particularly memorable. Besides the yumminess, the price is a great value. We'll be back.

As part of the Chimatown food tour we enjoyed skipping the line at the door and a series of 3 dim sum specialties. Fresh, hot and excellent we enjoyed jasmine tea with steamed barbeque pork dumplings, soup dumplings and pork dim sum. The key to great service is to signal for service by hand movement and remove the top of the tea pot when you need a refill. Take care to bite a steam vent in your soup dumplings then blow on them so you can feel the heat dissipate before eating them in one bite. If you don't enjoy the experience, you aren't doing it right!

Where to start….you know sometimes you find this place that looks terrible on the inside and then you read reviews and you like .. wait maybe it’s one of those places that just “looks bad”. Well it’s not one of those places - it’s terrible inside out. The place was dirty, food was passable for Chinese but nothing to write home about. And we’ve been in some sketchy places before but this one takes the cake. Let me put it to you this way - if you see a family at the next table drinking moonshine- run.

I love Dim Sum and I used to eat in this restaurant many years ago when i worked in San Francisco. It was excellent then, so I went out of my way to find it again. Basically it was just greasy. The shaomai was ok. The spring roll was dry and tasted old. No flavor. The other pieces were just so so. The green was more like yellow water with no flavor of the tea. It did not seem at all fresh.

In 1982, I was a Ph,D, candate in sociology,, encouraged by my advisor to go to the American Sociological Association annual meeting in San Fransico. (On my own dime.) I left my wife and toddler-and-tiny-baby daughters in Palatine, Illinois, and headed off to SFO. I went to a few sessions, but mostly explore San Fransico, especially Chinatown. I wandered into Hang Ah on what I recall was a backj alley, which featured something called "dim sum." At that time, all that was available in the Chicago suburbs, and probably also even in Chicago's Chinatown, was American-Chinese Cantonese food, though delicious if well prepared. I was blown away by what I was served at Hang Ah: Poke buns, shrimp ha gow, and so on. I didn't realize at the time that most dim sum places used the roving carts, but HA brought the food out to order. Long story short, my little family and I found Wong's Eatery in Windsor, CA, the next year (Midwest Sociological Associaton), and then Hong Min in Chicago, our go-to dim sum place through our kids' childhoods. So today, we're grandparents, and the grandkids love dim sum, which today we prefer at Ming Hin in Chinatown and Rolling Meadows. Thank you, Hang Ah, and visitors, please eat there!

Order off the menu for signature dim sum. Lots of food for 2 with various dumplings. Beef pie and Phoenix prawns. Variety of beverages

We were looking for a spot to have Dim Sum and this place was recommended to us. It took us a little bit to find it since it's tucked back in an alleyway, you need to follow the signs. The inside is small but very clean and the staff is great. We ordered a few things including the spring rolls that were exceptional and the Bao that were made to look like pigs and as delicious as they were adorable. I would highly recommend this stop when you are in Chinatown.

Restaurant is not apparent from the street as it’s nestled on the side of a building. Restaurant is nearly 100 years old and still going strong. The walls are plastered with pictures of the past. There are pictures of Miss Chinatown Pagaents from as far back as 1954. It’s really nostalgic. Also the restaurant is quite small and there’re only about 14 tables in this place. Dim sum here is excellent. We had Siew Mai, Har Gow, scallion pancake and the beef hor fun. There are many more great selections and the prices are reasonable. The service was very good and the staff friendly. If you’re near Chinatown near the gate... drop by for a bite... Happy eating

Was pulled in by the claim of being the oldest dim sum in SF since 1920. Some items were good (shrimp stuffed in hot pepper, shrimp shumai) - some were just ok (soup dumpling, popcorn chicken). Mongolian beef was not what we expected - was a spicy sauce not usual soy beef and scallion. Place was kinda dirty - had some fruit flies buzzing around us as we ate

The first time I tried Dim Sum was in Hong Kong, and I remember it as the best. My wife and me went for vacations to San Francisco and went to Hang Ah for Dim Sum. Now I know why this restaurant hast lasted that long (since 1920). Their Dim Sum is a s good as the one I had in Hong Kong. Don't miss the Xiao Long Bao which is a soup contained in dumpling. When you bite the dumplings in the mouth the soup comes out feeling great.

Further away from Grant Avenue and discreetly tucked away in to a side alley; it is all too easy to entirely pass this restaurant by as if it was never there. However, it claims to be the first dim sum restaurant in the United States opening in 1920. And to this end this serve somewhat as a living memorial for the history of Chinatown as it opened and spread in San Francisco. The food here is okay; it is not some of the best I have ever had nor the best I have had in San Francisco. The service is also a bit short; nevertheless, it is worthwhile coming if not just to have a pot of tea and something to nibble on quickly in order to soak up this time capsule. HIGHLIGHTS: - Glutinous Lotus leave sticky rice with chicken: there are two generously sized portions within a single basket. Each portion is cramp out with both Chinese sausage and other bits of barbecued pork. Remarkably none of this seems to make it to the description in the menu! The rice is indeed sticky and gently scented with the infused Lotus leash fragrance. - Decor: you could easily close this restaurant down and serve to the public a museum of the growth of Chinatown in San Francisco. There is also a somewhat bemusing collection of photos from the Ms Chinatown beauty pageant! It is hard to tell whether or not this place needs to be renovated or rather it is acting as a Time Capsule for what Chinatown used to be. I am leaving towards the latter and in that sense let us keep what is already here. This place more easily accommodate either a table of one or a table of 15 as they were many large groups here when we came for dinner as well as solo diners on their own. #dimsum #chinatown #chinesefood #chinese #sanfrancisco #dumplings

We used to go here once per visit from out of town. We loved having people come around with the carts so we could choose what we wanted, and we especially loved the photos hanging on the walls of Miss Chinatown throughout the years. No more carts, although the choices are still really good. We ate ourselves silly, and for 4 people the cost was $30! By the way, our wait was only about 10 minutes, but there was a long line behind us. Hey, it was the first dim sum tea room in the country: 1920!

This restaurant has history, quaint decor and friendly service BUT there is a limited range of average quality dim sum at very high prices. 40% higher prices than other Chinatown dim sum restaurants whose quality and range is far superior.

This was the best pork bun I have ever tasted! The service was quick, the prices were reasonable, and the food was very tasty. I highly recommend the green beans in garlic and black bean sauce. Furthermore, the restrooms were decent. We will be eating here again!

They claim to be the first Dimsum house in USA, being set up in 1920. Regardless of the claim, the taste was great. Even the desert was tasty. But the price is not cheap, ranging from 3.95 and up with a non dimsum food about us $12 Its OK to visit this place just to know what a good Dimsum is

Eventually there's a tipping point where no matter how good the food is, it's just not enough to make up for outrageously bad service, e.g. we asked for water refills from multiple servers and still no refills 20 minutes later, waiting an hour for something as basic as shrimp dumplings, etc. They claim to be making their food fresh, but I think they just forget about tables or simply don't care. It was funny how after I'd finally had enough and walked to the counter to voice my concerns, shrimp dumplings magically appeared at our table. Before you chalk up this review as another demanding customer who lacks patience, let me tell you that I waited tables during college and it takes A LOT to get me to the point where I complain even in the slightest. The dim sum is good. I'll give them that, but the service is all-world bad.

The absolute best and most delicious experience. Everything tasted exceptional, service and atmosphere were lovely. Everything I tried was amazing and it’s now a constant crave!

This was a disapointment. Ok, it is the oldest in SF, but the food, the waiters and the cleaniness was not very good. There are many other places to go and enjoy a good meal

I have been living in San Francisco for about a year now and this is the place I insist on taking people. It is not the kind of Dim Sum that happens in a big flashy room with carts. It is well priced, authentic and down to earth. I suggest the BBQ Pork Bun with a healthy helping of their home made red chili sauce. If you can find this whole in the wall, you won't regret it.

What trip to San Francisco would be complete without a visit to Chinatown. We saw a tv story about the Hang Ah Tea room, and decided to give it a try. I haven't had much experience with dim sum, but I'll definitely have more in the future. While there was a bit of a language barrier, our server was patient and friendly. She made some recommendations, and she was spot on! You have to try the barbecue buns!! Everything we had, about eight different items, was delicious and gone in a flash.

We walked through San Francisco all day and ended up here - well worth it. The restaurant was perfect for us and our 2 kids (9,11)- good selection of delicious, authentic food, excellent service, relaxed ambiance. A great choice and we would certainly go back.

Searched out the best Dim Sum in the cleanest environment. This was outstanding. We tried about 6 different dishes and all were outstanding. The BBQ pork buns were the best as well as the pork pot stickers. Off the main drag and definitely worth the short detour. Very friendly and helpful service too.

Hang An coins itself as the oldest dim sum restaurant in America. Not easy to find as it is down a little alley, Hang Ah comes across as a greasy-spoon Chinese dive. We went based on the reviews and were not disappointed - the dim sum was fresh, hot, and very traditional. The beef noodles (a HK mainstay) were delicious, and the service was very attentive. Looks can be deceiving in a positive way. Good place for good dim sum.

My mom and I wanted to try Dim Sum since we were coming to San Francisco. We asked at the hotel for good places and this was the top of his list. Other reviews say it is a bit hidden, but we found it easily. There is a constant flow of customers so there was a wait, but that is because all the servers were busy taking care of customers. We tried the combination dim sum (56A and 56B) and I got the Jasmine tea. I don't like shrimp, but the shrimp dumpling was my FAVORITE! The BBQ pork bun was delicious. The fried dumplings were amazing and the spring roll was one of the best I have ever eaten. They bring the food out as soon as it's ready in the kitchen which made for 3-4 happy surprises as things kept coming out. I'm glad we took this recommendation and trudged all the way up the hill to eat it.

It’s a very non scripted and almost well hidden restaurant, we actually walked past it twice before finding it. The Letter of the signage has fallen off and they can’t be bothered to fix it. Food was generally very good for real tim sum. Food was served hot and tasty. Don’t think too much about Low carb or healthy food here. It’s not that type of place. We will definitely come back again. Compared to all the other places in Chinatown, this is the best for tim sum.

Service super slow, asked for water didn't get it! Did not fulfill entire order! Had to wait even longer! Asked for chilli oil, was told they were out, but I happened to get one from one of the empty tables! Saw others that were native treated differently, they had chili oil for them! Won't be back and don't waste your time or money! Plenty of other choices!

Luckily I only ordered one thing (soup dumplings) to try first. Seemed like most customers were tourists who listened to the advice given by other tourists on Google or TripAdvisors. This place looks cute from the outside but the food needs some serious improvement.

After reading reviews about this place I had high hopes. I was disappointed. Firstly, we were not seated right away despite there being empty tables. Secondly, there was a surprising lack of variety of dim sum dishes offered. They did not have any of my son’s favourite dim sum dishes - No beef cheung fun rice rolls and no beef balls. Third, I asked if they had my son’s favourite noodle dish with beef in black bean sauce and green peppers. The server said they did but when it came out it was simply a stir fried noodle dish with beef and lots of bean sprouts. No black bean sauce and no green peppers. One positive -the har gow (shrimp dumplings) are tasty.

I have been to China and Hong Kong but this was the best Dim Sum I have ever had. We arrived rather near closing time but we were allowed in. The food came very quickly, was hot and very fresh. The steamed dumplings were delicious and the dipping sauce can be highly recommended. Wish I could go back!

My husband and I visited Hang Ah during a trip in April 2018, and had a nice, but not great, meal. The food was pretty good, but if you are hoping for a historic atmosphere, you will probably be disappointed. It's all plastic and posters and sticky tables. It's fun to think you are at the country's oldest dim sum restaurant, but you're mostly just going to feel like it was started in around 1990 or so and hasn't been cleaned much since then. I didn't feel like it was particularly expensive, but I also didn't feel like it would be worth another visit. Go to say you went, get a couple of things, and move on. I can't give it an average rating, because I am glad I went, but it would probably really be 3.5 circles, not 4.

I think that customers should order some of their dim sum; hence their tea room name. Dim sum that the next table ordered seemed to look better. It was a mistake to order Chinese food here. We could not eat pork chops, and dumpling noodles. We even sent back the pork chops and asked him to make salt and pepper pork chops which was just as bad. We only ate the crispy noodles with gravy. The beef was an even sliced correctly along with very small amount of beef. I think it’s best to stick to eating dim sum there.

Being a huge fan of Dim Sum when I realised how close our hotel was to China Town the first thing I looked up was the top dim sum places in San Francisco and the Hang Ah Tea Room was right up there. Now I see why. It is quite a small restaurant hidden of the main street although there are plenty signs pointing you there. Great selection to choose from and really friendly service. Prices were really reasonable as well which is always a bonus. If you want some authentic dim sum then look no further. Definitely try the rabbit shaped one.

Bring me back to the traditional cuisine of Dim sum. Delicious food and excellent service! Recommended for Asian food lovers

Tucked away off the beaten path, so not a tourist trap. Dim Sum is wonderful, a good assortment. The best tea

We liked this place up and it was supposed to be the place to go for Dim Sum, there was hardly anyone else in there when we arrived. The atmosphere was non existent. We ordered various dim sum, all very average. I wouldn't go back.

This place is to the side of street and down a little alley called Pagoda Place. Like other old and curious places in San Francisco's Chinatown, you never know what you are going to walk into. This place states it's been open since 1920. I was pleasantly surprised that the inside has been partially updated but still maintains the charm of most of the old Chinatown restaurants. Their home made chili sauce is to die for and make sure you have some of it with the juicy siu mai (pork dumplings) or pork potstickers. The cha siu bao (steamed pork buns) were just like the ones my mother used to make many years ago! I will definitely come back on my next trip and try some of their regular menu items for dinner.

Checked into the hotel and asked them for a reco. They suggested here and it was amazing! we had the dumplings, wontonts, rice dish and siew mai. Very delish and full of flavour. Ambiance is like a typical Chinese place - very authentic :) Would come back in a heartbeat

Feeding a hungry traveler is not too difficult, but not in this place. Cleanliness was poor, service poor, food poor... No positives from this experience. And by the way our choice was based on good reviews we found online. Find another place to eat your dim sum.