Feng Ze Yuan 鋒味館

This is not a fancy Chinese dim sum place but just a really good staple Chinese restaurant on the outskirts of the Richmond district that my parents like to go to with the family and their friends. This place is often very crowded with customers and many of them are regulars where almost all of them are Chinese customers. I have been here for dim sum and for evening dinners and both are very good. The dim sum is very yummy and steaming hot and fresh when they come out. Prices are also reasonable. On our latest visit, we came for Chinese New Year dinner and again the place was packed. My dad targeted a mainly seafood menu and most everything was good. Give this place a try especially for their dim sum!

Yum! Fantastic dim sum and Cantonese cuisine. Aside from your usual (but still yummy) favorites like Walnut Shrimp, they also offer dishes like Typhoon Shelter Baked Oysters and lots of Claypot dishes that will warm you up (so needed in these parts of the 'hood). Restaurant setup for your usual family and friends gatherings and/or take out and delivery.

Located on Balboa Street and 45th Ave; just a few blocks away from Ocean Beach.

Been here twice so far and the food is actually pretty good!

I've only been here for lunch time, during dim sum. Everything is pretty good, made hot and fresh to order.

Nothing special to highlight here, other than they do get busy, so sometimes there might be a wait.

The customer service here is nothing to write about, it's not the best. They aren't very attentive here, so you'd have to constantly try to get their attention.

Overall, would recommend giving this place a try.

Hubby was in the area and decided to pick up some dim sum take out. He ordered so many dishes that it cost $67. I have warned him before not to shop or get take out when he's hungry because he goes crazy.

Here's a list of what he bought:
Spring rolls - nice and crispy but filling was bland. I've had better ones at Good Luck dim sum.

Turnip cake - when you cut into it, pieces of it falls apart. It's like chopped pieces formed into a cake and pan fried. It's not a gelatinous piece found at other places. The taste was OK but I wouldn't get again.

Fried dumpling pork - the dough was nice and crispy, nice texture with a good chew but filling was goooey and drippy.

Pork rib pieces in Blk bean - oily and bland. Not enough black beans flavor.

Har gow - large shrimp filling. Tasted pretty good.

Siu mai - tasty with nice texture.

Pan fried shrimp chive dumpling - a big chunk of shrimp with chives. But wrapper was gooey and too wet.

Fried taro balls - the batter is wonderfully crispy. Reminds me of panko crusted katsu. Inside filling
Was scanty amount of meat without enough taro.

The sticky rice in lotus wrap was OK. Good amount filling but I've had tastier ones elsewhere.

It's a dine in restaurant and Hubby had to wait 30 mins for his order which came in a ton of plastic containers. I'd consider dining in for dim sum to try one day but only really liked the shrimp dumplings and siu mai.

This restaurant never seems to disappoint. Their dishes are always very consistent and great. Like most Chinese restaurants you ask the wait staff to suggest how you want dishes cooked and solicit their suggestions on what is fresh in the kitchen. I have never disliked. This time I ordered some familiar dishes as well as venturing out to some uncharted territory.

Took a friend here for brunch, though I've never been either. I had a lot of faith considering it is in the area, and I would say o was not disappointed. Not a big restaurant but they manage to fit a lot of tables in. I did not have to wait on a Saturday morning which was fabulous, but unfortunately we were seated right by the kitchen/walkway to the restroom. This is not your fancy dimsum spot like Palette or Koi Palace, but more so a neighborhood spot where folks in the community actually go daily for some authentic bites.

No biggie, as long as the food is good. Almost everything I ordered on the menu was great and classic, servers are not super attentive but will offer to cut spring rolls into pieces and bring vinegar upon request. Took off one star because (1) the XLB is housemade but skin is wayyy off, and (2) they did not check my order with me after I submitted my magic marker noted menu - resulting in missing my order of roasted squab. By the time we realized it never came, we had already gotten the check.

If I'm ever brunching in the area again, would be down to come back.

So good! I also really liked their homemade chili sauce. We asked the boss if we can take some to go for our leftovers and they gave us a whole container!! That was so kind. It was a busy day but food came out quick with little to no wait.

My initial inclination was to give 4 stars. But as I continued to eat more the rating started to dip.

Was it because I was getting full or was it because I became more aware of the food?

Pros:
* all the dim sum was piping hot & fresh
* items were cut up as the 7 of us shared all.
* siu mai & ha gow good portion size

Cons:
* the fried stuff dumpling with pork was missing the minced pork. The filling was very gummy.
* the fried stuff dumpling with taro was missing the minced pork. Not much taro either.
* the sticky rice in lotus leaf was missing the minced pork. And the rice mixture missing the umami.
* the pan fried radish cake - missing the dried shrimp and bits of cured bacon wasn't infused. Too smooth and pasty.
* the chicken feet missing the black bean and the fire.

We ordered more than enough food for the 7 of us. Besides the dim sum we also ordered:
* beef chow fun
* tomato beef chow mein Hong Kong style

The group liked the beef but I thought it had a funny taste. The beef was tender.

We ordered a total of 11 dim sum items. Some doubled up.

I may return.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Nestled in the heart of San Francisco, Feng Ze Yuan dim sum restaurant promises a culinary adventure that tantalizes the taste buds and satisfies the soul. Our visit on a bustling Sunday for lunch painted a vivid picture of the restaurant's popularity; by 11 am, the cozy establishment was already teeming with eager diners. Despite the crowd, the staff exhibited remarkable efficiency, orchestrating the seating arrangements seamlessly. Though we anticipated a wait, it was a mere 25 minutes before we were ushered to our table, a testament to the restaurant's commitment to excellent service.

The interior, while modest in size, exudes warmth and charm, creating an intimate atmosphere that fosters conviviality. The ambiance, coupled with the attentive service, set the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. What truly impressed us was the lightning-fast delivery of our food. Each dish arrived promptly, piping hot and bursting with aromatic flavors, a testament to the kitchen's proficiency.

Perusing the extensive menu, we were spoiled for choice with an array of dim sum and Chinese dishes. From classic dumplings to succulent barbecue pork buns, the menu catered to every craving. What's more, the inclusion of English translations and vivid imagery made ordering a breeze, ensuring that even the uninitiated could navigate the culinary landscape with ease.

As we indulged in a gastronomic feast, each dish surpassed expectations, delivering a symphony of flavors that danced on our palates. The delicate balance of savory and sweet, coupled with the impeccable presentation, showcased the culinary mastery of the kitchen. Whether savoring traditional dim sum favorites or exploring innovative interpretations of classic dishes, every bite left an indelible impression.

In conclusion, Feng Ze Yuan reigns supreme as one of the crown jewels of the San Francisco Bay Area's dim sum scene. For those seeking an authentic and delightful culinary journey, this establishment promises an experience that transcends mere dining. With its impeccable service, delectable fare, and inviting ambiance, Feng Ze Yuan has rightfully earned its place as a destination for discerning food enthusiasts. Without hesitation, we wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone in search of an unforgettable dining experience.

Came here around 12:30pm on a Monday. The main dining room was packed so they sat us in the side room off to the right. No big deal to be on the side. Service was quick and even though we needed extra time to decide what we wanted since this was the first time we visited this place, they checked on us but didn't make us feel pressured.

Food came rather quickly and it was hot and decently flavored. Not the greatest but also not the worst. It was a good lunch that left us satisfied.

Forgot to take pictures right away. Sorry. Will be coming back and working this place into our weekly restaurant rotation. However, since almost each dish is about $2 more than one of our regular places we won't be visiting this place as often as the others.

Let me add that they have an all gender restroom that is spacious, clean and a good supply of seat covers. They get extra points for that. You may scoff and say they should but not all places actual do.

This place is really underrated for how good the food is. It's not a fancy dim sum spot with a nice aesthetic interior like many other places in the bay where the wait time goes up to a couple hours. Just normal and somewhat plain looking.

But in terms of flavor it far surpasses most other spots I've tried. Also the wait time is low and it's relatively inexpensive for dim sum. I see some complaints about service but when we went, it was pretty solid. The server even reminded us not to tip since there's an included service charge (we were definitely about to). Kind of strange that they do that for everyone though and not just larger parties as we were just a table of 2.