Sungari Dumpling House

Note that the same hand-​pulled noodles are in the noodle soups as well as the Shanghai stir-​fried noodles. Anyway, these hand-​pulled noodles are pretty legit — very chewy and bouncy (as they say, ‘QQ’).
We also tried the Northern fried cakes for dessert, which were a bit strange. The dough had a bit of a sour aftertaste, which I wasn’t used to for a dessert. They also used granulated sugar rather than powdered sugar, which gave it much rougher texture and made it difficult for the sugar to adhere to the dough.
Frozen dumplings were a good deal to take to go and boil at home.
Weekday lunch time was pretty quiet. Sungari seemed more like a dinner or takeout place. Service was okay; they were more interested in watching a Chinese drama on TV than serving us, but I can sort of understand ;)

This restaurant serves very simple, inexpensive, tasty Chinese fare. Portions for everything except the dumplings are substantial. Best of all, everything including the noodles are homemade.
Décor is very simple and no-​nonsense, which allows this place to keep the prices down and further gives this place a homely feel. The owner is pretty friendly, and appears to be a grandmotherly cook who really cares about her customers.

True Chinese hole-​in-​the-​wall. That takes credit cards!
We came Sunday night and were the only people in the restaurant. There is a friendly waitress (who speaks minimal English) and a cook. The tables had that sticky feeling, and the bathroom was what you would expect for a place like this.
Anyway, onto the food. We liked it!
— Chive & shrimp dumplings: Tastes fresh and homemade
— Chili wonton dumplings: Good, but we’ll take the shrimp & chive over this
— Shanghai stirfry noodles: Mmm… get it
— Leeks w/​scrambled eggs: Simple comfort food w/​o that much oil or salt
Prices are all very affordable, around $ 6 – 9. Restaurant is in Excelsior, so a bit out of the way. But if you’re in the hood and want cheap Chinese eats, come here.

Great dumplings, good prices, quiet restaurant. Perfect neighborhood spot to get dinner when you are too tired to cook after work.

Waitress was rude as hell. Food was nasty. And the service was horrible mainly because they didnt understand english

I love dumplings! Don’t care who made them — Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Italian — give me a food mixture in a noodle wrapper and I’m set. So after many walks through Mission in Excelsior, I finally went for the dumpling house. And I needed something good after Chopsticks.
I came late in the afternoon so missed out on the lunch specials. That said they still have a full menu with plenty of «standard» dishes like Kung pao, black bean, and clay pot. For vegetarians/​vegans they have over 18 dishes for you. They also have over 25 northern Chinese specialties that don’t hold back — kidneys, intestines, something called House Soup Gross Blood Mong, and the coolest sounding item — Braised Lion Head Eye of the Tiger!
Unfortunately I was not that adventurous so I went with what Unilocal recommended.
Chili Wontons: Yay dumplings! For $ 5 you get a lot of slightly spicy pork dumplings. I really liked them.
Sam Sub Dumplings: Yay dumplings! For $ 7 you get a lot of… I actually have no idea what is inside these. But also really good.
Shanghai Stir Fried Handmade Noodles: You ever have lo mein and go «I want more authentic!» This is it. The noodles were delicious with bits of meat and good amount of heat.
I definitely want to go back, but preferably with someone more accustomed to the cuisine. Also so I can try more items.

My school age kids are freaks about dumplings, and we were really excited to try this place since it’s in our ‘hood.
Like the other reviews mention, the restaurant dining room lacks any ambiance to speak of, but what they lack in that space is made up w/​their food.
I grew up in an immigrant household, and the food has a very similar vibe and taste. Family was from southern China, and this food is northern Chinese snacks. Still, it reminds me of having dinners in China/​Hong Kong at relative’s houses, in neighborhood low key but tasty restaurants, and a few of the places I ate during a summer spent in Hangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing.
Try this place if you want to check out old school northern Chinese. We did carryout, and got San Sun dumplings, pork and cabbage dumplings, chili wontons (good, but not spicy enough-​ask for hot sauce!), Shanghai hand-​cut noodles, garlic greens with tofu, and the salt and pepper ribs. Husband LOVED the ribs. I wished the noodles had a little less sauce so more of chewy noodle texture was present, but noodles were solid regardless. Dumplings were firm, almost too doughy, but with good filling flavor. The only thing that didn’t thrill me was the tofu w/​garlic greens.
So the owners don’t speak much English, and can’t really answer anything you’d ask in English, the place doesn’t serve beer/​wine or have anything interesting about the dining room that makes you think you should have a sit down meal, but if you want a home style Chinese meal that you might get from a family or a local place somewhere in northern China try this place. I can’t believe it’s on my side of town and not in Sunset or Richmond!!! Yeah Excelsior on the south side!!!

Was craving wonton noodle soup and dumplings so found this restaurant on Unilocal.We ordered the chili wontons, dumplings, wonton noodle soup, northern fried cakes, Shanghai hand-​pulled noodles, and Sam sun dumplings.
Our two favorite dishes were the northern fried cakes and Chili wontons. Their fried cakes were an interesting flat mochi pancake with a red bean center. It would have been better if there was more red bean filling. Though small, their chili wontons were very flavorful, mainly with he help of the chili sauce.
The wonton noodles did not hit the spot. The noodles were overcooked and not the traditional, springy egg noodles used in wonton noodle soup. I also found it odd they added brocolli to the soup. Their wontons in the soup were larger than the size of the chili wontons and had good meat flavor. Although the sam sun dumplings were very flavorful, they were very doughy and had extremely minimal filling due to the way they folded their dumplings. Imagine a circle skin with ¹⁄₈ tsp filling, folded in half, then folded in half again. It was like eating dumpling skin.

Walked in on a Saturday afternoon and it was completely empty.
A few items that we ordered:
*Shanghai stir-​fried handmade noodles — good but greasy
*Salt and pepper tofu — TOO salty… could barely eat much
*Pork and cabbage dumplings — small but okay
*Northern fried cakes — fried sugar coated dessert which was okay as well
All in all I’ve experienced better.

I really like that this place has a bit of a home cooked feel, and the prices are a great value.
Been here several times and you can’t go wrong with any of the dumplings. My entire family is a fan of the chili wontons and homemade tofu. We also ordered the spicy fish filets not knowing what to expect, but it turned out to be delicious.

This is by far the BEST northern Chinese restaurant in San Francisco.
Since moving to SF, I’ve tried noodles at countless Chinese restaurants, but none were good, until I tried this one. We got the Braised Pork Rib Noodles ($ 6.95) and we were surprised that it was handmade even though it wasn’t mentioned anywhere on the menu. I’ve had handmade noodles in soup from other restaurants but usually they’re bloated, but this one was still firm and chewy. Also, the broth wasn’t salty which I liked.
We also got the pork and cabbage dumplings (15 for $ 6.95) which were smaller than normal, but it was also more in quantity so it evens out. They give you a special dipping sauce which isn’t soy sauce or vinegar but it was really good.
Overall, I would definitely recommend coming to this place even if you’re not in the area.

Their spinach and tofu soup is bomb! Shanghai stir fried hand made noodles are great, not a huge fan of their dumplings but my girlfriend loves their chili wontons. Nice local restaurant!

I wish I knew which part of China this food is from because it’s delicious! To me, it’s most similar to Northern /​Shanghainese style of cooking. The dumplings are pretty similar to those you’d find in those areas of China.
+ The waitress /​owner (maybe?) reminds me of my grandma– old, sweet and serves up food like a home cooked meal. Now, she’d be just like my grandma if she patronized me and asked when I’m getting married. Thank god that didn’t happen!
+ Chili wontons (~$ 5) excellent flavor and hardly spicy. This is how more authentic «spicy» dumplings are served. They’re cooked like this so no flavors get overpowered. Well done.
+ Sum Something dumplings (~$ 7) — I forget the actual name– were filled with egg, chives and shrimp. Although not as good as the chili wontons, these dumplings were simple and delicious. I suggest eating them with a little dark vinegar to add an extra dimension to the dish.
+ Tofu lunch special (~$ 6) was probably my favorite. This was the most «Americanized» dish but was still quite Chinese. The tofu was soft and flavorful. A little too much sauce for my taste but that’s where the «Americanized» comes in.
All in all, I had an awesome experience and enjoyed some very good Chinese food. I plan on trying the noodles next!

Food = good but some dishes are hit or miss.
Couple lung slice (beef shank) = cool and spicy, but not tender enough. $ 6.95.
Northeast Spicy Soup = hot temp and Sichuan numbing, full of greens (kelp, too), sliced lamb, and bean thread. Comes in a large clay pot. Plenty to share for 3+. $ 10.95.
Shanghai stir-​fried handmade noodles = delicious, hit the spot, comes with vegetables and julienned pork. $ 7.95.
Cabbage pork dumplings (15) = pork heaven. $ 6.95.
Chive and shrimp dumplings (15) = mediocre, chives overpowered the shrimp. $ 6.95.
Braised lion head eye of tiger = 4 huge meatballs on a bed of tender greens, but the meatballs had way too much dough. Least favorite item. $ 10.95.
Northern fried cakes = glutinous rice cakes deep fried, filled with red bean paste and topped with sugar. It’s good but not a favorite. We chose to order this for dessert. $ 2.95.
Prices = moderate. Cash and plastic accepted. $ 58.45 for all of the above, plus hot tea. (Had leftovers enough for two more meals.)
Service = friendly.
Décor = simple.

I was shopping for veggies at Casa Lucaz and wanted to rest with my heavy items, so I decided to get a light meal like a soup here. I agree that Sunari does NOT do everything well. Remember it’s name is ‘DUMPLING” House, and that’s what it’s best at. I would skip all the usual ABC Chinese items like kung pao, mongolian beef, etc. You can get that ANYWHERE! I would try out their Northeast specialties which are truly unique in SF.
I was browsing the menu when I asked the waitress what «SAM SUN DUMPLINGS» were and she said there was egg and shrimp in it. For $ 7, and thinking they were just the usual chinatown/​Clement St dumplings, I told her I was still browsing the menu. She does NOT speak or understand english well even though she is very nice & helpful, so I think she thought I wanted that menu item and came out fast with it which I was VERY GLAD of, because I LOVED them!!!
SAM SUN DUMPLINGS UNDER «DUMPLINGS»: There were over a dozen small soupy war wet soft dumplings and inside the dumplings, it was soup and very flavorful. When I commented to the waitress my happiness over the dumplings, she said in broken english happily that another lady bought 2 ORDERS because they tasted so good! Really, for a light meal, I could have ordered another plate of dumplings and I would have been even more happy and full. GRADE=A+.
BRAISED BEEF RIB NOODLES SOUP $ 7 UNDER «NOODLES SOUP»: Meanwhile, she came out later with my soup and I expected beef ribs inside, but the meat had no bones and was cut up in chunks and was a little tough to bite into. The noodles were chewy and good as well as the broth. There wasn’t much broccoli. Of course, I didnt learn til later that Northern Chinese food does not use many vegetables (even if it says so on the menu) since Northern China does not have easy access to vegetables like the southern part of China. However, they have an extensive VEGETARIAN menu section so I’m not sure how that works. GRADE=B-.
SHANGHAI STIR-​FRIED HANDMADE NOODLE $ 8 under «CHOW NOODLES»: When I realized that their specialty was Northern Chinese (judging by all the northern dishes on their menu and the wonderful dumplings), then of course, I had to order their handmade noodles and they were GREAT!!! The noodles were thick and chewy in a tasty stir-​fry oyster/​soy sauce with a little mushroom-​pork mixture. GRADE=A+.
It’s a casual place with LOTS of tables so it’s ok to take kids and be in groups. They’re usually mostly empty of people. But their restroom is VERY TINY with LITERALLY just a toilet in a closet sized room and not the best place to do your makeup or anything more than use the toilet.
PAYMENT: They accept CC.
TAKE OUT: If you don’t want to hang around, you can have them package it to take out. They gave such large portions that I had to take the stir-​fried handmade noodles home along with the soup to eat for the next day.
PARKING: There’s only street parking in front of their small restaurant, but even that’s hard to come by in the Excelsior district. Plan on parking where you’ll have to do a little walking OR take the bus OR taxi.
MISCELLANEOUS: There’s a tv near the front of the restaurant near the top of the wall, but the programs are in Chinese.
Would I come back? I prefer delivery, but for this restaurant and their UNIQUE dishes, I’ll visit AGAIN & AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT with a fast trip to the dumplings and hand-​pulled Chow Noodles!!! Inexpensive unique tasty Chinese food with happy servers to greet and serve me is a formula for success in my book! This is a WONDERFUL resting place while shopping in the Excelsior, ALOT BETTER THAN GOLDILOCKS!!!

Not the best dumplings, not the worst dumplings. I’d come back if I was desperate for dumplings, but definitely prefer China Town.
Cute and friendly old Chinese lady will greet you as you enter. Great service.
The dumplings were not that flavorful but were soft and fresh. Came out fast so can’t complain.

I ate the Sam Sun Dumplings and the Braised Beef Noodle Soup. The dumplings were great! Lots of flavor, but unfortunately the soup was not as flavorful. It really was watered down. I’m not a fan of adding soy sauce or other condiments on my food. I really want the food to speak for itself.
The upside was that the food was very, very reasonable in price. If you’re trying to feed your squad with budget in mind. Come here for sure.
I’ll give this place another chance. Also a believer of giving restaurant two tries. Even if it was already a great experience.

Things we liked: We had the Shanghai noodles, shrimp and chive dumplings, and lion’s head meatballs. All three dishes were delicious, and it’s true that the Northern style cuisine is quite different from what you’re used to getting in typical Cantonese restaurants – refined, interesting, and very tasty! We will go back because the food was very good, the menu is long, and there are many other items we’d like to try. The portions were large; the service was prompt; and the meal was super inexpensive.
Things that gave us pause: The bok choy surrounding the lion’s head meatballs was room temperature, and the «hot tea» was barely lukewarm. The chili pepper and soy sauce containers on the table were so sticky I wanted to wash my hands after touching them. We arrived at 5:30 and were the first dinner guests. After taking our order, we could see the hostess walk to kitchen to wake up the chef, who was apparently taking a nap on the kitchen floor.
Summary: This place is about the good food and good value, definitely not about ambience.

Finally, a good restaurant to go into this small little space within walking distance from my home! This place is legit serving up some standard Chinese fare, but specializing in the cuisine of Northern China, something I’m not familiar with at all. I did a bit of research before deciding to give this place a try mainly because I wasn’t familiar with the word Sungari which turns out to be a river that runs through parts of northeastern China. I found quite a bit of information on the restaurant itself and it’s cuisine online as Tablehopper among others had given them very good, informative reviews.
Having read friend Cherylynn N’s review I was aware there might be service issues, but I was going to try this place even if it meant seating myself and grabbing my own menu. I didn’t have to though. The woman standing behind the counter looked at me as soon as I walked in. I gestured a finger indicating one and spoke in Cantonese «one place.» I’m not sure she understood my Cantonese, but she smiled, grabbed a menu, walked me over to a table and seated me there.
She asked me whether I wanted water or hot tea and promptly brought over a plate with napkins and utensils (fork + chopsticks), a tea cup and a pot of hot tea. Her English wasn’t very good, but we managed to communicate very well through gestures and pointing. I selected a few items from the menu trying to steer clear of the standard Chinese dishes instead trying some more specialty items.
A small plate of peanuts (
) was brought over to me. Fresh, crunchy with just a slight shake of salt on them these would have been so good with a cold beer, but there is currently no alcohol on the menu. I enjoyed them nonetheless.
A couple seated to my right got all of their food one after the other and I took a peek over my shoulder and everything they ordered looked really good. When my order began to arrive a short time later it was in that same rapid fire succession.
Special Shanghai Hand Cut Noodle (
) — The hand cut noodles (not hand-​pulled) were fantastic. These are thick, chewy pieces of noodle dough mixed with a generous amount of lean pork strips, Napa cabbage, plump Shiitake mushrooms, scallions and minced garlic in a soy-​based sauce. It was just a tad over salted for my taste, but we were off to a great start.
Steamed Chive Shrimp Dumplings (
) — The emphasis here being on the bright green Chinese chives and not the shrimp although I did find some rather big chunks of shrimp (
) in some of the dumplings. The dumplings were excellent each filled with a nice pocket of hot liquid inside the dough and the seasoning was just right not taking away anything from the flavors of the chives or the shrimp. You get 15 dumplings per order at just $ 6.95. That’s very affordable for dumplings this good.
Northern Fried Cakes (
) — It’s listed as an appetizer, but I consider this dessert all the way! These are super chewy glutinous rice flour cakes filled with lusciously smooth sweet red bean paste (
) that are fried to a golden crisp and dusted with a crazy amount of pure cane sugar. OMG! I was not expecting this when I ordered it. I seriously thought I was ordering something else, but these were darn good and almost addictive. Yup, that sugar high must’ve really gotten to me. It’s just a mere $ 2.95 for two cakes, and at that price I’d go back just for that alone! Note: These are best eaten warm.
Generous portions. It was too much food for me by myself so I gladly took the leftovers home. Welcome to the neighborhood, Sungari Dumpling House! You will be seeing me again very soon!

We walk into an empty restaurant at 6:30 pm. Gesture «table for two».
Lady owner looks at us. Walks to the back. Comes back to the front. Look at us again. NEVER offers to seat us. Ignores our presence. Walks to the back again.
Won’t seat us? Fine, you obviously don’t want to serve your kind so one stah fooooh yuuu!
Zai Jian, beezie!
P. S. — This is one of the reasons why Chinese restaurants have a bad rep!
P. P. S. — What kind of Northern Chinese Restaurant has beef teriyaki udon on the menu!!!
OTHER NOTES:
*Opened on July 15, 2014?
*Read that the chef is from Dongbei, a Northeastern Province in China.
*Laminated wall menu had pics of kalbi short ribs, teriyaki beef, udon, and chow mein. We were never seated to check out their actual Northern Chinese food items on their menu.
*NO msg is used per my call to them.
*Sparse and no ambiance other than the 7 tables with a wide open area in the middle where more tables can be placed.
*Ended up going to Mexico Tipico next door to get our lengua on!