This is a great deal if you’re looking to get an individual hotpot with a wide variety of options. The hotpot is $14.99/lb, and they weigh your bowl by the amount of items you get (the broth is not part of the weight). There’s also so many options! Like definitely make sure not to get too many things in the first section, because there’s so many other sections left! They have so many types of meat, meatballs, vegetables, tofu, etc. I got their blood tofu which was quality. It did not taste grainy and was quite smooth and pleasant. In the back, after the payment counter, there’s toppings, the bowls and the spoons are underneath the cart in the fridge-looking cabinet For vegetarians: There’s a lot of vegetable options with this hot pot, but everyone gets a single tong to pick all their items with, so there’s definitely some cross-contamination between the meats and the vegetables. So it depends how strict of a vegetarian you are They have 5 different broth options. I got the classic broth and you can select different spice levels. I selected mild, which was surprisingly spicy to be honest, but I could still eat it (just didn’t expect that level of spice for mild). After you get the hotpot you pay at the front. They give you a plastic ticket number, and then they cook it for you and bring it over. I like that they do that because it’s very convenient. The service was fast. There was a long line to get in, but it moved quickly. So after joining the waitlist we were able to get in line after 15 to 20 minutes. I also didn’t feel like we waited too long to pay or for food to arrive, which was great. The inside is modern and warm. It feels newly renovated and it’s clean. They also accent the restaurant in this orange detail, which is fun. Parking: Downtown Mountain View has plenty of lots, so it’s not hard to find parking.

Delicious place for custom hot pots or dry pots. You collect up all the ingredients you want which is charged by weight. Custom sauce bar is quite tasty as well. Tables are a little small, it gets crowded easily and they start to rush you out during the lunch hour when you're done with your food. They do have to-go containers to take home your soup if you want.

Good food, great service. Love the updates they’ve made to the inside- looks more upscale now. Recommend the crispy chicken in spicy sauce, the green beans, the cubed steak and the scallion pancakes. Dim Sum is also up there.

Met with friend for dim sum, at 1230 it was bustling. We were seated after a few minutes and then the carts started coming from all directions. We must have been hungry because we chose a lot of plates. They brought out a nice variety for every craving. I do not know all the names but were able to point which items we wanted.

My experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag of flavors. The scallion pancake was decent, but the crust was a tad too thick for my liking. Similarly, the pineapple deep-fried shrimp was alright, but the thick crust left me tasting more flour than shrimp. However, the standout dish was undeniably the braised beef noodle. It was simply amazing—tasty, rich, and the noodles were just perfect. If you’re a noodle lover like me, you’ll definitely want to try it out! Overall, while there were some hits and misses, the braised beef noodle made the visit worthwhile.

A Taiwanese restaurant that serves more than bentos. It's our go to in the peninsula (yes sadly, the whole peninsula) for Taiwanese food as I find the flavors authentic. The pork belly bao and minced pork over rice dishes are spot on. Though it can be a little overwhelming given the size of the menu, I like picking my own dishes so we get some variety, rather than going with the 3 dish combo meal which can be very heavy (lots of fried food). It's a very casual place that's kid friendly and it's nice to walk around on Castro after a meal.

A Night at Mr. Bao Kitchen: Where the Dumplings Slay and the Service... Delays! Honey, let me spill the PIPING HOT tea about Mr. Bao Kitchen! Your queen has ARRIVED with the full dish on this dumpling destination! 💅✨ Listen up, darlings! The moment I strutted into this establishment, I was LIVING for their aesthetic – that adorable bao mascot is giving me LIFE! But then... the drama began! First off, those tea cups were serving FILTH! I mean literally, they were DIRTY! Not just "needs a touch-up" dirty, but "do I see someone else's lipstick?" dirty! Mama had to work a quick change and snatch fresh cups from the shelf because the waitstaff was busier than me during Pride month! But we're all works in progress, aren't we dears? They just opened – we'll cut them some contour slack! The hot and sour soup? Honey, it needed some PERSONALITY! Had to pump that vinegar like it was my signature fragrance. But then came those pan-fried buns, and GAWD! They were sickening! Perfectly crisp bottoms (something I can appreciate), with insides juicier than backstage gossip! Though they came out hotter than my summer runway look and nearly BURNED a queen! Where's the warning label, sweetie? The intermission between courses was longer than my wig collection. But those soup dumplings finally sashayed to our table and they did NOT disappoint! Thin skins that didn't break? That's more reliable than some of my backup dancers! And those green onion pancakes arriving last? That's like saving your reveal for after everyone's gone home! But they served FLAKY REALNESS. Crisp, never soggy – just like my humor! Overall, the food was giving me LIFE, but the service needs choreography lessons! Four stars, and that's being generous, darlings! XOXO, Your Culinary Queen 👑

Mr. Bao Kitchen is currently in soft opening in downtown Mountain View, located right next to Sakoon. If you’re a fan of Shanghai-style xiao long bao, I highly recommend giving this place a try. The interior is spacious, clean, and welcoming, with warm and friendly service. One of the highlights is the glass kitchen window, where you can watch the chefs hand-make dumplings on the spot—a great touch that adds to the overall experience. We ordered several dishes, and each one had something to offer: Pork Xiao Long Bao: Six large dumplings per order, filled with rich broth and tender pork. The skin is medium-thin and well-crafted. Compared to similar restaurants in the Mountain View area, this is easily the best xiao long bao I’ve had around here. Crab & Pork Xiao Long Bao: A unique flavor with a nice balance of crab richness without being overpowering. While I personally prefer the simplicity of the pork version, this one is definitely worth trying. Shanghai Sheng Jian Bao: Ever since Top Dumplings closed, we’ve struggled to find a worthy replacement. Although Shanghai Lao Nong Tang in Sunnyvale still offers them, the rest of their menu is less appealing. These sheng jian bao are very similar in flavor to Top Dumplings, with crispy bottoms, juicy filling, and generous size—an excellent surprise. Potstickers: Surprisingly delicious! They’re larger than average, with a juicy filling that includes both meat and greens, giving a well-balanced, fresh flavor. The bottoms are pan-fried to a perfect crisp, and there’s even broth inside—something you rarely find in potstickers. Radish Pastry (not on the menu yet – we were lucky to try a sample): The pastry had wonderfully flaky layers without being greasy, and the filling was flavorful. I truly hope this makes it onto the regular menu soon. Overall, Mr. Bao Kitchen focuses on authentic Shanghai flavors, offering dishes that are not too greasy or overly salty, which makes it a refreshing option for modern palates. With so many handmade noodle and dumpling shops opening in Mountain View, this place stands out. If they can maintain their quality, it has the potential to become a local favorite. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves Shanghai cuisine or handmade dumplings—this spot is definitely worth checking out!

Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Price to Portion: 3/5 Overall: One of the better restaurants I'd consider going to in the castro. Definitely a solid choice. The extended review... Food: 4/5 - Got a bunch of different things. Of course the ones to get always are the soup dumplings and the pan fried Shanghai buns which are delicious. Service: 4/4 - Friendly and attentive staff Ambiance: 4/4 - Nothing special about the ambiance but it's comfortable and spacious.

Dumpling Kitchen in Castro exceeded all expectations for our friend's birthday celebration. From start to finish, the experience was a culinary delight. The friendly waiter guided us through the menu, and each dish we selected was a flavor explosion. The garlic eggplant stole the show with its perfect balance of savory goodness. Every bite felt like a celebration of taste, and we left feeling fully satisfied. The festive atmosphere added to the experience, making it a memorable evening filled with laughter and delicious food. We can't wait to return to Dumpling Kitchen for another gastronomic adventure.

Our family lunch with banquet dishes and dim sum was delicious, sumptuous and very reasonably priced. Service was excellent, our group of 10 adults and three children was very well taken care of. No matter what we requested, the staff would respond promptly with smiles. I think we have found our future family get together venue.

Food is average but quite expensive. For example, self 6 Safeway fried chicken wings for 15 dollars. Funny that the waitress told us to be careful of the hot egg waffles and claimed it's just cooked. We immediately found that it's actually cold. We asked another waiter about it and they told us it's expected because they had to air dry it to be crispy.