Dumpling Time Is Blowing Up Chase Center with XLB

Dumpling fans, get ready to do the wave. Dumpling Time is opening on Monday, February 3 in “Thrive City,” the Kaiser-branded area immediately outside of the Chase Center. The Omakase Restaurant Group is in full expansion mode and rushing the court: They were already selling dumplings at a concession stand inside the Warriors’ new home, but now there are more dumplings outside of the stadium, not to mention the original Dumpling Time in the neighboring Design District. Can you ever have too many dumplings? Apparently not in love, basketball, or San Francisco.

This is the third Dumpling Time location in San Francisco, and the fifth one in the world, counting the group’s two outposts in Japan. This Dumpling Time has the distinction of being the first restaurant to officially open in Thrive City, which is what Kaiser is calling the area immediately outside of the stadium — an area that will eventually be filled with shops and restaurants.

For dumpling obsessives, there will be four menu items that are completely unique to this location, including new scallop siu mai with plump scallops brushed with XO sauce; big, meaty pork ribs lacquered up with spices like cinnamon and star anise; luxurious wagyu fried rice; and Dungeness crab garlic noodles. Of course, all of the longtime favorites are coming, too, including the XLB soup dumplings, seafood gyoza with lacy bottoms, and pork dumplings with fiery chiles. This location is also the first to have a full bar, serving cocktails, sake, beer, and wine, so sports fans and concert goers can start sipping.

Nearly double the size of the original location, at nearly 5,000 square feet and 160 seats, Dumpling Time Thrive City will have a very different vibe. It’s immediately next door to the telecasting booth and in front of a big screen, with big glass windows looking out on the crowds coming in. There will be 10 television screens, for anyone who wants to keep an eye on the game or show. There is a patio in the back and a private dining room set up for presentations, in anticipation of tech conventions. Conveniently, this location will also be trying out Yelp’s waitlist feature, so diners can get on the online waitlist and receive a text five minutes before their table is ready, rather than standing hangry in a parking lot.

Dumpling Time Thrive City officially opens Monday, February 3, with opening hours Monday to Saturday, for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m., or 11 p.m. on game nights.

Regular hours begin on Tuesday, February 9, and will be Tuesday to Saturday, for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner 5 to 10 p.m., or 11 p.m. on game nights.