Ever since my jaunt to NYC for Joe's Shanghai dumplings, I've reinstated my quest for soup dumplings in SF that could be just as "soupy" as the xiaolongbao that I've enjoyed 3,000 miles away. Xiǎolóngbāo, also known as soup dumpling are traditionally filled with pork, but variations include other meats, seafood and vegetarian fillings. The characteristic soup inside is created by wrapping solid meat gelatin inside the skin alongside the meat filling. Heat from steaming then melts the gelatin into soup. When served in a large soup spoon, my favorite part is puncturing the delicate skin and slurping all the delicious soup that comes out. My search took me to Kingdom of Dumpling in the Outer Sunset where the dumplings are hand-made and the cuisine authentic Shanghainese. The menu is very reasonable with no dish pushing $7. As I reviewed the menu, it brought me back to my childhood of Sunday dim sums, afternoons of wonton making with mum, and the authentic dishes I used to enjoy as a kid. Kingdom of Dumpling was already started to look promising if not just for the nostalgic factor.
The menu is very straightforward with cold appetizers, dumpling, dim sum, noodle soups, and stir fried noodles and fried rice. We started off with the Five Spice Marinated Beef ($5.95). This is a cold and thinly sliced beef dish that my mum used to make. It was always served as a pre-dinner snack but I remember it fondly. Kingdom of Dumpling didn't disappoint. Unfortunately, I never learned how to make it but I think the meat is stewed in a pressure cooker with several Asian spices, 
chilled and then sliced. The meat was very flavorful and was the perfect starter before our dumplings arrived. The soup dumplings came shortly after ($4.95). I can usually spot immediately the quality and "level" of soup. These looked decent but certainly not impressive to forego a free ticket to NYC! I carefully lifted a dumpling with my chopstick being careful not to break the delicate skin. I poked a small hole through the skin and anxiously waited to see how much broth would ooze out. A little bit came out that I slurped up and then I bit into the dumpling. Clearly a disappointment against Joe's but still the best I've had in SF.
Next we had the pork and shrimp wonton soup with wide rice noodles ($5.95) and 
the beef chowfun ($6.95). Both were very, very good and quality Chinese food. I've been craving chowfun and would definitely consider getting takeout or trekking back. They also offer all the wontons and dumplings frozen to go. This totally beats the store bought ones from the Chinese market!
Neighborhood: Parkside
1713 Taraval St
(between 27th Ave & 28th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94116
(415) 566-6143
