Can anyone recommend places for some good dim sum and pho in the San Francisco or Oakland area? Will be going in July/Aug.

If nobody else gives any specifics - just walk around the two Chinatowns (in SF and Oakland) and choose one for yourself.

Yank Sing is the big name dim sum place in San Francisco. It is good, a bit over rated and expensive, but fun. We have had good dim sum and noodles at places along Clement Street. We like the Hong Kong Lounge on Geary Street too.

If you are willing to shell out the cash, Hakkasan has excellent, inventive dim sum. Not the same as the hustle and bustle of a Chinatown place, though.

http://www.yelp.com/c/sf/dimsum

For dim sum in Chinatown, my last trip to SF included two really good meals at Great Eastern on Jackson Street. Loved the shrimp & cilantro shu mai. Have also enjoyed Hong Kong Lounge.

Our long-time favorite for dim sum is at the venerable Hang Ah tearoom. It's not easy to find, being set on Pagoda Place next to a basketball court. But oh, how it's worth the trouble! We especially love the gold-coin buns, slices of char siu on half-moon bow, but everything is good. The atmosphere is old San Francisco Chinatown.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/hang-ah-tea-room-san-francisco

Make that bao, not bow (but good in any spelling!).

We try to have dim sum at City Views on each trip to San Francisco. We get there just before no because it gets very busy during lunch hour.

662 Commercial between Kearny and Montgomery.

No website but ...
city view dim sum san francisco. Google it.

5 of us had excellent dim sum at Hong Kong Lounge II on Geary near Arguello last Sunday around noon. 15 minute wait for a table--well worth it. No carts--you order from a paper menu/checklist and the dishes are brought out as they are ready. We ordered 15 dishes and were satiated before the end. $90. recommended. It's in the Richmond, easily accessible by bus.

Here's a second endorsement of City View - the reason it gets busy is that it serves great dim sum! Was turned onto the place by locals.

Seamus, that is how we found it several years ago. We were in a tea shop and asked the woman working there where SHE would go for dim sum; she told us about City View and even took the time to print out walking directions for us. We make a point to eat there every trip. And the crowds are not tourists, but locals on lunch.

Gee, Deb - do you think we are breaking the code of silence by telling tourists about a local haunt?

It was an Asian friend whose family has been in the restaurant biz for years who first took me there.

Seamus, I will hold you responsible the next time I go to City View and there is a tourist bus parked outside.