The xiao long bao at Dumpling Bites were supposed to burst with savory broth, not become a breeding ground for cockroaches. But that's exactly what health inspectors discovered this week when they shuttered the beloved Sunset District dumpling house and a long-running Mission Vietnamese restaurant in back-to-back closures.
Wednesday's surprise inspection at Dumpling Bites on 1556 Noriega Street revealed conditions that would make any diner think twice about their next meal out. The San Francisco Chronicle reported inspectors found "a dying roach on the hand sink," another in the sink basin, and "one dying next to the microwave." Near the cooking stations, the situation was even worse—live cockroach nymphs were crawling on the wok paneling where food is prepared.
Thursday brought similar news from the Mission District, where Thanh Tam II Restaurant at 577 Valencia Street also received an immediate closure notice. The family-owned Vietnamese restaurant, which has served the neighborhood since 1991, faced multiple violations after inspectors discovered live and dead cockroaches around the grease trap and in storage areas. According to the Chronicle, additional problems included raw chicken and sprouts stored at unsafe temperatures, dirty equipment, and excessive cockroach bait residue on walls.
Popular Spots Hit Hard
Both restaurants had built strong local followings before this week's closures. Dumpling Bites earned recognition from food critics, with The Infatuation praising their soup dumplings as "massive xiao long bao" that "burst in your mouth like a pork-y water balloon." The restaurant's website emphasizes that each dumpling is handcrafted by chefs with over 15 years of experience.
Thanh Tam II has been a Mission District fixture for more than three decades, offering what their website describes as authentic Vietnamese cuisine with over 150 menu items, from traditional pho to Vietnamese-style BBQ and sandwiches.
The timing proved particularly unfortunate for Dumpling Bites, which the Chronicle noted had received professional pest control services as recently as August 8. However, health officials observed that the restaurant had also been attempting to self-treat the infestation—an approach that clearly fell short of resolving the problem.
Third Restaurant Cited
The week's inspections also caught The Barrel Room, an upscale Financial District wine bar at 415 Sansome Street, though with less severe consequences. Inspectors found a dead mouse on a glue trap and mold in the ice machine, along with improperly stored vacuum-packed foods. Unlike the other two establishments, The Barrel Room was able to correct violations during the inspection and ultimately received a passing grade.
The Comeback Trail
Both closed restaurants now face extensive remediation requirements before they can reopen. Dumpling Bites must complete third-party professional cleaning and pest treatment, with health officials tentatively scheduling a potential reopening for August 23, pending successful reinspection. The restaurant will need to provide documentation proving licensed pest control treatment has been completed.
Thanh Tam II faces similar hurdles: comprehensive cleaning, sealing structural gaps that allowed pest entry, and submitting pest control reports from licensed professionals. Both establishments must also demonstrate that all health code violations have been fully addressed before their permits can be reinstated.
The closures underscore the ongoing challenges restaurants face in maintaining health standards, particularly in a competitive market where even well-regarded establishments can struggle with basic food safety requirements. The city maintains a public database where diners can check inspection results for their favorite restaurants.
For now, fans of both restaurants will need to find alternative spots for their dumpling and pho cravings while these establishments work to address the violations and rebuild their operations. The closures serve as a reminder that even popular neighborhood favorites must meet the same health standards expected across the city's dining scene.
