Hang Ah Tea Room

"Hang Ah Tea Room in Chinatown is America’s first-ever dim sum spot. But tourist trap, this is not. While it's undergone various owner changes since opening in 1920, we can still rely on them for quick, satisfying dim sum in a low-key space. The ceilings are low, the walls are orange-tinted, and there’s even a random Captain America poster by the bathroom. Pop down an alley across from the Willie “Woo Woo” Wong Playground, and be rewarded with plump shrimp dumplings, chili wontons that get every last one of your spice receptors firing, and xiao long bao with sip-worthy broth." - julia chen 1, patrick wong, ricky rodriguez

"This dim sum parlor is more than 100 years old and even sits next to a road christened in its honor, Hang Ah Street around the corner. The siu mai and sesame balls are brilliant, the prices are more than reasonable, and, as SFGATE’s columnist Margot Seeto puts it, those are just a few of the reasons tourists and locals alike keep business booming over the years." - Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff

"This is as old school a San Francisco Chinese restaurant as they come. SFGATE found it the oldest dim sum parlor in the country at 103 years in service. Drop by on Christmas if you can find a seat, as the parlor fills up quickly for those pan-friend dumplings." - Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff

"Hang Ah Tea Room in Chinatown is America’s first-ever dim sum spot, making it an institution. But tourist trap, this is not. While it's undergone various owner changes since opening in 1920, we can still rely on them for quick, satisfying dim sum in a low-key space. The ceilings are low, the walls are orange-tinted, and there’s even a random Captain America poster by the bathroom. Pop down an alley across from the playground to get here, and be rewarded with plump shrimp dumplings, chili wontons that activate the spice receptors in your tongue to just the right levels, and xiao long bao with flavorful broth." - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez, lani conway

"Don’t be fooled: glutinous rice flour is actually gluten-free. Thankfully, that means sesame balls are (almost always) gluten-free and vegan. Any of the dealers in Chinatown are going to satisfy that allergen-sensitive need while the pals are loading up on pork buns and egg tarts, but Hang Ah lays claim to being the oldest dim sum house in San Francisco." - Dianne de Guzman, Paolo Bicchieri