Palette Tea House
A novel San Francisco-based dim sum and Chinese BBQ chain expanded in late 2025 to Tustin
As part of a Bay Area restaurant group that was originally known for Koi Palace (1996), Palette Tea House opened in 2019 in San Francisco’s Ghirardelli Square. When the chain announced that it was entering Orange County with the 2025 opening of Palette Dim Sum in Tustin, we were thrilled.
Some of Palette’s unique menu items include pan-seared black pepper beef soft buns, green garlic dumplings with Spanish iberico pork and kim chi, “typhoon” crispy shrimp ha gow, taro puffs in the shape and color of black swans, sea bass and caviar dumpings, abalone siu mai, and black squid dumplings. The menu extends past dim sum to include both Hong Kong-inspired and more decadent entrees, ranging from Peking duck and Wagyu beef to crab meat choices.
On a visit in January 2025, we tried and enjoyed many of Palette’s signature items. A highlight was the squid ink sakura shrimp fried rice, which combined a hearty portion of black rice with slices of fresh white cuttlefish and prawns, all topped with crispy dried baby shrimp, impressively balancing flavors, textures, and colors. Lobster ha gow arrived with a butter-filled pipette, a cute touch, and everything else we tried was quite good.
In San Francisco, Palette’s interior design and plating aesthetics are on at least Lunasia’s levels, including palette-shaped sharing dishes, hexagonal wooden dim sum steamers, and even elaborately decorated tables. One long table for large groups even features its own central river and waterfall, and the room feels lush and organic.
Although we had hoped that Palette’s Tustin location would become the destination-class Chinese dining experience we’ve been waiting for since Sam Woo’s closure in Irvine several years ago, too little of the menu differentiation or design charm were initially on display at the Orange County soft opening in December 2025. We’re hoping this changes over time.
Stats
Price: $$-$$$
Service: Table
Open Since: 1996/2019 (CA)
Address
900 North Point Street B201A
San Francisco, CA 94109
Instagram: @paletteteahouse