Dumplings and a movie. It doesn't get much better. Here are our five of our favorite double dates.
1. Shanghai Dumpling King/Balboa Theatre
Go early and have the Chinese version of donuts and coffee (fried dough and soy milk) before seeing that movie you meant to see last month. Balboa Theatre, 3630 Balboa St., 415-221-8184, balboamovies.com; Shanghai Dumpling King, 3319 Balboa St., 415-387-2088
2. Ton Kiang/Four Star Theatre
Dim sum first (don’t miss the delicate egg custard tarts), followed by a matinee—this is the gift you give yourself. Four Star Theatre, 2200 Clement St., 415-666-3488, hkinsf.com; 5821 Geary Blvd., 415-752-4440, tonkiang.net
3. Yank Sing/Embarcadero Center Cinema
After powering your way through a few dozen dumplings, catch a first-run at the Embarcadero Landmark, 1 Embarcadero Ctr., 415-352-0835, landmarktheatres.com; Yank Sing, 101 Spear St., 415-957-9300, yanksing.com
4. Xiao Loong/Empire Theatre
Go to Xiao Loong for the soup dumplings and the Empire for the holiday matinees—tickets are only $7.75 before 2 p.m. Empire Theatre, 85 West Portal Ave., 415-661-2539, cinemark
.com/empire
; Xiao Loong, 250 W. Portal Ave., 415-753-5678, xiaoloong.com
5. Koi Palace/Century 20 Daly City
Shake off the Koi Palace food coma by watching a blockbuster at DC’s movie mega-plex. Century 20, 1901 Junipero Serra Blvd., Daly City, 650-994-2488; Koi Palace, 365 Gellert Blvd., 650-992-9000, koipalace.com
