Dragon Papa Dessert

This place a delicious! This is the closest to the ones they make in Hong Kong on the streets. It’s amazing watching them stretch the thin strands of sugar and not breaking. I love that this sweet treat is actually not as sweet as it looks. The peanuts add a wonderful saltiness to the sugar and it’s a match made in heaven!
Just keep an eye out when looking for this place. It’s a tiny little window and if you walk too fast, you might just miss it.

Mmmmm, this is a melt in your mouth delicacy I wasn’t aware of until my friend told me about it. We came here to try a nostalgic candy for older Chinese generations.
It was hard to find this place because it’s such a small shop. Just look for a chef sitting in front of the window making some white fluffy goodness.
The normal flavored candy costs $ 9 for 8 pieces whereas the flavored ones are $ 10. The other flavors included mango, strawberry, and coffee. We decided on getting two of the regular flavors. They take credit card.
We stood outside with the toothpicks they gave us and took a bit too much of a bite. Since we have never tried this before, we were surprised to find that there was so much molasses and peanuts inside. So we would stand there chewing like cows while people walked by haha. The outside is nice and soft and originally my other friend thought it was made out of bird’s nest. It is actually just flour and starchy goodness.
Although pricey, it is worth getting once in a while and I suggest you eat them as soon as possible and refrain from storing them in the cold because the filling can get a little hard. I think drinking milk tea alongside this would make for a good combo.

I am impressed it is delicious and reminds of Hong Kong. This is a specialized craft to make this candy and is a dying art. Even in Hong Kong it is hard to find.
The crunchy peanut filling, the light crumbly spun sugar strands, with a hint of sweetness is so good! I wipe the crumbs from the bottom of my empty box.
While it seems expensive (box of 8 for $ 9; macaroons are just as expensive – averaging $ 2 apiece), the labor involved making the candy is worth the price to me.
I don’t shop in Chinatown, but when I do, I make it a point to buy a box. The candy stores well in the fridge and will last for more than a month. On my last visit, I was told that they will be introducing new flavors… strawberry, mango & coffee. I can’t wait to get a box mango flavored candy.

Walk all the way down to Chinatown to give them a try! finally got to try this out!
there aint that much dragon beard candy in the bay area.
$ 9 — 8 pieces of them
The beard wont stick inside the teeth and the peanuts & sugar inside isnt that sweet which makes u fall in love to eat more.
The candy itself feels like a bit crunchy.
Will definitely come back for more as dessert if im near the area.

Love dragon beard candy! They finally opened a store front in chinatown. The mochi with toasted peanuts were good too.

Very authentic, reminds me of the ones I ate in Hong Kong. Although a bit pricey at $ 9 a box but I’ll say it’s reasonable for it being so hard to find. It’s literally a hole in the wall but it’s clean.

Wow this place is a must try! After having some awesome dim sum I continued my trek through china town. I swear I find something different every time I visit SF. Today I stumbled upon this little store with a guy in the window. So not knowing what’s the deal I ventured inside. I was greeted by a gentleman who was super friendly. He explained to me that the candy was special. it was called dragon beard and consists of coconut, peanuts, and sesame seeds inside. The guy said I needed to be careful when I eat it jokingly. Today they only had the original flavor because it was so close to the new year. So I got me a box that ran about 9 bucks. On the way out I watched the old man in the window making the candy. It looks so amazing almost like he was making cotton candy but very dusty. Since I was wearing black I was going to wait to try when I got home. Good thing I did my first bite was like a puff of dust. It was pretty damn good I would say. I’m not sure about the mess it made on my lips but good things can make you a little dirty at times. I will totally have to recommend anyone in the area give this place a try. I believe they are the only ones in the bay making it.

Dragon beard candy is a dying art but thank goodness for Dragon Papa for keeping such a nostalgic confection alive! Each time I bite into one of these pillowy chewy goodness, it reminds me of my childhood w/​my gma. This is usually the one «souvenir» request I would ask her to bring back from Asian and even in recent years, she have said it’s harder and harder to find since people (even in Asia) no longer know how to appreciate it.
Well…heck, my sweet tooth still does and I’m lucky that Dragon Papa made a fixture for themselves in Chinatown. Their location is great too, right on Grant St. so not only can locals enjoy them, they can introduce it to the thousands of tourist that visit our city each year. These sweets are great for souvenirs as well since it’s not something you can find in every Chinatown.
I’m not usually a peanut fan but this is one confection that I can appreciate the peanut and coconut combination with the stringy sugary texture. You can taste the freshness in each bite and if you would like to savor them for a few weeks, they keep well in the fridge.
I have yet to try their fresh mochi but it reminds me of the ones my gma make. Oh, they also have ginger rock candy that looks pretty neat. Definitely something I plan to buy for the adults in my family the next time I stop by again.
This is definitely one great mom and pops shop that I enjoy supporting. The mom behind the counter totally reminds me of my gma, just a nice friendly lady that strikes up a conversation with everyone that walks into her shop. Regardless if you buy anything or not, she welcomes you with a smile.
If you are in the area, stop by and catch one of their candy pulling demonstration right by the window… it’s pretty neat, even if you are not into sweets!

The father and son team makes this absolutely delicious and fresh dessert! The only reason why I’m not giving them a full 5-​stars is because they need an hour to prepare which is factored into their business hours. For example, we got there at 12 noon but they didn’t open shop until 12:25pm (almost ½ hour late) and was told to come back an hour later because it takes them time to prepare it. Why not prep an hour earlier at 11am? We came back an hour later and there was already a line at the door, so in total we waited 2-​hours. The wait was worth it but also a bit of an inconvenience.

This place sells authentic dragon beard candy! Although I personally don’t care for it at all, it does taste very authentic. My wife who was originally from Taiwan has eaten it many times before and claims that the ones here are just as good if not better. The dragon beard candy sold here consists of coconut, peanuts, and sesame seeds inside.

Not many places sell these anymore since there’s not many people who even know how to make this special dessert! I live in LA and there was an old man who made these in the LA Chinatown, but he has since retired. Thus, my mom and I were super excited to see this young asian guy making these from a small window in the SF Chinatown! Super unexpected!
While some people think the box of dragon beard candy for $ 9 is expensive, it’s pretty reasonable considering it is a recipe and craft passed down for generations. The young man is the owner and makes these candies as well as the mochi and ginger candy fresh each day. The old man is his dad and the one who trained him.
Anyway, I really like to support small businesses run by families so I bought both the dragon beard candy and the mochi. Both were delicious! The mochi was still warm and not covered in sugar like in other places. The dragon beard candy reminds me of the kind I would eat in Hong Kong when I was little and it just melts in your mouth!
I would highly recommend that you try this place out! It’s a small hole in the wall, but it’s really clean inside. They do accept credit card and not just cash only. Hurry and go grab a box!

There is not much selection and the prices are quite high.
$ 9 for a box of dragon candy.
There is only one type of dragon beard candy and it has coconut, sesame seeds and peanuts. I am not really into the coconut part. The dragon beard candy at the Koi Palace in Daly City has more selection.
The mochi are soft but again $ 5 for a small box of mochi — like a slightly bigger than a credit card sized box.
I am all for supporting traditional dessert, but with those prices, I will have to support it more moderately.

Definitely a worthwhile delicacy! The gentleman inside was very helpful and kind. I’ve heard of this candy before and knew that it was rare as the guy did say that it doesn’t really exist in L.A. or NY atm. Yes, it costs $ 9 for 8 pieces but well worth the money. It’s not just any piece of candy. In my opinion, it’s like the Chinese version of baklava. As others mentioned, the outside strings melt in your mouth and the robust peanut filling inside is very yummy and not overly sweet. Very cool to see the window display of hand-​making the candies. Each one tasted so fresh even after bringing them back to Chicago for about a week. I wish I bought more!!!

Ok if you’ve ever tried these, you have to grab some! I’ve been so sad that they stopped making these at the Honolulu Downtown Chinese New Year celebration. It’s like a dying art so when you can get some… buy!
It’s not a cheap sweet but it’s handmade and fresh. The owner makes it right in the little window for people to watch. I believe it was his son inside who talked with us regarding the candy process and how long it lasts. The stringy cotton candy puff has a sweet nutty, coconut taste that I love!
When I return to San Francisco for another visit, I’m definitely returning. I’m so happy that when we were leaving, we got a number of passerbys interested. Who doesn’t like helping out small family businesses right?!

Dragon Papa has been catching some fire lately in SF! It’s a hot and new business on Unilocal and was recently featured on the SF Chronicle (
) This shop used to operate as a booth in the dim sum behemoth, Koi Palace, in Daly City and has since branched out to expand their reach.
FOOD: I’ve only tried their flagship dessert, the Dragon Beard Candy, but Dragon Papa does also offer Ginger Candy and Mochi. On the exterior, the Dragon Beard Candy looks like Kellogg’s Frosted Mini Wheats (or a white cocoon or mini pillow) decorated with white wispy silk-​like threads of sugar. This airy outer layer dissolves in your mouth like cotton candy. If you want a crunchier shell, apparently you can also refrigerate the candy. The core of the candy is filled with crushed peanut, coconut, and sesame seeds. Altogether, the combination of the melty exterior and crumbly interior gives the candy a chewy taste.
SERVICE: The owner is really friendly and takes the time to introduce you to Dragon Beard Candy. We had a nice conversation about the history of the candy and his store. There isn’t much of a seating area in this shop, but that’s the norm for some dim sum shops/​bakeries around the area.
LOCATION: Dragon Papa is located on Grant Avenue, one of Chinatown’s main and oldest streets. If you enter Chinatown from the Dragon’s Gate and continue walking down that pathway you’ll eventually come across this store. Also take sometime to enjoy the murals and sculptures of terra cotta warriors located right above the shops in this vicinity.
PRICE: The Dragon Beard Candy is $ 9 for a box of 8 candies. While the cost may seem quite high, I think the pricing is appropriate considering that candy making is a laborious and dexterous process. Currently they only accept cash.
DISCLAIMER: Some of the pictures of the plated candy were taken off-​site.

I see this place as a novelty that will not last. This father and son shop selling the dragon beard candy takes more than 10 minutes to make from scratch. They sell them for $ 9 for a small tray of 8, which is the price of a typical meal in Chinatown. The beard candy is just something that someone would buy to try, has not special or wonderful flavors.
Then the ginger candy which is common in HK they are selling for $ 3 a bag has little to any ginger in it. The bag is the size of tampon.
And for their price, they only accept cash.

Hello Unilocalers!
Once upon a time there lived a dragon who lived high in the sky. He flew happily as his long white silky beard trailed behind him. Often, strands of his beard would fall out and create light fluffy clouds. When a cloud would form, the dragon would cry for joy. Sometimes those tears would touch the clouds and produce rain. Farmers’ crops would grow and rivers would flow. The people living underneath the sky would be grateful. To celebrate their symbiotic relationship, the people created Dragon Beard Candy.
[THE STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION BY ME]
The candy is created by father and son. The lightly sweet, soft, and chewy candy is filled with peanuts. The combination of the chewy beard and the crunchy peanuts is perfect. I would more say it’s a pastry than a candy. Either way you call it, it’s delicious!
Pros:
1) Soft and chewy
2) Light and crunchy
3) Lightly sweetened
4) Delicious
5) Wonderful service
Cons:
1) Limited supply.
2) Only peanut filling. They should try using almond filling for those that have peanut allergy to expand their clientele.
Happy Dragon Beard!

Amazingly excited to see we got our freshmade dragon beard candy… after all these years since the HK airport I have patiently waited… finally this long lost candy is back…
We headed over to SF just for this today… we got 6 boxes and ate them immediately… one piece each that is…9 bucks for 8 pieces… so worth it
Happy happy we are…

CASH ONLY. Walked to Chinatown after Turtle Tower and it’s pretty far, but I had lots of time on this lazy Sun 8÷30÷15.
Nobody except me when i went. One guy working in the window you can watch him making the candy. Another guy inside taking your money.
Guy inside was hammering the ginger candy to small chunks, I asked for a sample and he gave me a tiny piece. It was ok, not enough ginger for me.
I bought a $ 9/​container of the dragon beard candy. I asked for a fresh one and he got it from the window guy that had some stacked up. Young guy said they make them fresh every day.
Young guy said you can refrigerate them to make them harder, keeps for a few months. If you want them soft, eat them right away or within 3 days.
Dragon Beard Candy $ 9
Mochi is $ 5
Ginger Candy $ 3 (smaller bag) or $ 4 (bigger bag)
Bottle water $ 1
Soda $ 1.5
CASH ONLY!

I’m not a candy man. I can’t make a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew, and cover it with chocolate and a miracle or two. Nope, that’s not my thing, but my curiosity was piqued by the presence of this Chinatown shop although it’s more accurate to call it a walk-​in closet with a true candy man out front. He methodically makes something called Dragon’s beard candy which I have never heard of before I started reading the reviews for this place (photo:
). It goes back two thousand years to the Han Dynasty when the imperial court chef needed to amuse the Emperor with something sweet.
Apparently he was the Donald Trump of the Far East. He probably wanted to build a wall, too, to keep the Keebler elves out. The intricate process here involves turning rice flour into small threads which are sweetened by sugar, coconut, sesame seeds and peanuts. It looked and felt like the kind of packing material you get when you order those Mexican beer bottle masks from eBay. Luckily, it tasted better than that, at least I’m presuming it did since I don’t usually eat the packing material. With a highly unusual texture, it was more like a grainier version of cotton candy with a chopped peanut filling (photo:
).
I liked it since it wasn’t cloyingly sweet like other Chinese sweets, but it does cost an exorbitant $ 9 for a box of eight (photo:
). With a relatively quick shelf life, the value is questionable unless you have friends with low blood sugar. At least I impressed the waitress at Chef Hung who saw the box in my possession and simply said «Expensive». That’s right, sister. They sell a few less expensive items like ginger candy and even mochi (although I didn’t see it) but why. If you’re coming to see the candy making show, then you must be here for the Dragon’s beard. Pull it if you dare. They should sell half-​orders if you ask me. Truly a novelty.
CANDY — 4 stars… definitely unique and you certainly pay the price of that
AMBIANCE — 2.5 stars… walk-​in closet
SERVICE — 3.5 stars… the young man at the counter certainly sells his product with zeal, the candy maker is very quiet
TOTAL — 4 stars… pull that Dragon’s beard if you dare