Dumpling Kingdom

"The steamed dumplings at this Allston sit-down place (and there are five different kinds) are one of the best values in the neighborhood. You end up getting eight of them for a little over a buck apiece. The pan-fried dumplings and noodle dishes are a little more expensive, but the noodle dishes are also really big. If you come here with a few friends (preferably after getting a few drinks around the neighborhood), order as many dumplings as you can, and then split one or two noodle dishes. You’ll leave full, happy, and not broke - three good things to be." - dan secatore

"If you’re looking for an extracurricular activity, setting out to try all 13 types of dumplings and buns at this casual sit-down spot on Harvard Ave wouldn’t be a bad one. Come with friends after a night out (it’s open till 2), order as much as you can (it’s cheap), and find yourself a dumpling that makes you whisper into its dumpling ear and tell it you’re in love." - dan secatore

"We’re kind of obsessed with the soup dumplings at this cheap, casual sit-down spot on Harvard Ave. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try the other 12 different kinds of dumplings and buns. Come with friends after a night out (it’s open till 2) so you can add the nicely charred Taiwan dumplings and a few noodle dishes to go with the juicy, just a little sweet pork soup dumplings that, like us, you’ll probably order every single time you come." - dan secatore

"With siblings in Chinatown (Dumpling Cafe) and Fenway (Dumpling Palace), Dumpling Kingdom is a good place to get, well, dumplings — particularly the Taiwan-style pan-fried dumplings. The trio of restaurants does serve great soup dumplings (called mini juicy buns on the menu), but soup dumplings don’t really travel as well for delivery as a pan-fried or steamed dumpling. Dumpling Kingdom is open until 2 a.m. nightly. Order: ChowNow / Grubhub" - Rachel Leah Blumenthal

"Let’s get something out of the way first: the Dumpling Kingdom should be a real place, with a king who wears a dumpling crown, sits on a dumpling throne, and ensures his subjects’ undying loyalty by riding through the streets in a golden carriage, tossing wontons to the peasants he passes by. We’d move there. But in the absence of an actual nation-state that would definitely top those global happiness rankings you see in the news, Dumpling Kingdom in Allston is an acceptable substitute. The menu at this casual sit-down and delivery spot is huge, and you shouldn’t stick solely to the dumplings (any of the Taiwanese-style noodles are worth getting). That said, they named themselves after dumplings for a reason. The soup dumplings are our favorite, because soup dumplings are almost always our favorite, but the pan-fried dumplings are outstanding as well." - Dan Secatore