Dumpling Time

Dumpling restaurant · 4th Street

Dumpling Time

Dumpling restaurant · 4th Street

1

1795 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

Photos

Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by Joseph Weaver
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null
Dumpling Time by null

Highlights

Modern Asian eatery using locally sourced ingredients for dumplings  

Featured in The Infatuation
Placeholder

1795 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710 Get directions

dumplingtime.com

$20–30 · Menu

Information

Static Map

1795 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710 Get directions

+1 510 984 0306
dumplingtime.com

$20–30 · Menu

Features

payment credit card
Tap to pay

Last updated

Aug 20, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@infatuation

Dumpling Time Review - Berkeley - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"Dumpling Time is breaking up the monotony of all the high-end home furnishing stores on Berkeley’s Fourth Street. The buzzy East Bay outpost of the San Francisco-based dumpling empire (which now has five locations) is serving a menu of dim sum hits in a cozy, sun-lit place. Zero in on the fluffy char siu bao, meaty pork dumplings doused in chili sauce, and a gingery pork belly-filled xiao long bao with bright beet wrappers. If you’re planning a trip to this area to shop for fancy lamps and bedsheets, Dumpling Time will satisfy even the faintest yearning for meat wrapped in dough. If you aren’t, you should still get here—and make sure the shrimp toast and seafood gyoza with spinach skins are on your table. photo credit: Joseph Weaver" - Lani Conway

https://www.theinfatuation.com/san-francisco/reviews/dumpling-time-berkeley
View Postcard for Dumpling Time

EddyOneTake

Google
A charming hole-in-the-wall gem that offers a delightful experience for anyone with a love for dumplings. As a vegan I wish they had more menu options but they do feature a selection of rice dishes and refreshing drinks. The perfect place for a quick bite, sharing with friends, or grabbing takeout to enjoy at home.

Amanda Fietz

Google
Great food!! We popped in for lunch. The server was so nice even when one dish took a bit longer than expected. The patio was great.

fujino bby

Google
I got wagyu (black truffle mushroom) I didn’t like it to the point I didn’t finish them. I agree with other reviews that dishes r not worth the price. 2 Tofu pieces for 18$ didn’t hold the value. U can get better tofu dishes for that price around. Wings and dumplings were ok.

Cecil Coe

Google
The pork dumplings have average flavor. The portion is very small. For 6 small dumplings, I paid close to $20. The service is mediocre. It was 6 PM on a Saturday night, the place was not busy and had only about 6 dine-in customers. But it took almost 30 minutes to get my 6 small dumplings. BTW, the waitress recommended Sui Mai in a dumpling shop. When I asked why, she cited that this is a fusion restaurant. It sounded like they don't want to be an authentic dumpling shop. The outdoor sitting is nice on a quiet street curbside. If you just want a beer, perhaps it's not a bad place to go.

Dave C

Google
This is just average. It definitely didn't live up to the hype and was a bit overpriced. The dumpling options were few when I was expecting more. The pictures looked better than what we received. A bit disappointing, but not horrible.

William Nguyen

Google
Way better food spots nearby for similar price. The xiao long bao (they call it "XPB" here for some reason... it's the same amount of syllables but whatever lol) was warm and not hot. The regular one was probably the best - the unique flavors were fun but not super memorable. Food was very mid. Overpriced for what it is. The bottom of our soup spoons had reside from the price tag. They need to use Goo-Gone to remove the residue as it picks up dust and dirt more easily. Gimmicky spot. Staff was friendly.

Georgia Frank

Google
A relaxed clean restaurant specializing in dumplings. We enjoyed a wood ear mushrooms dressed in a pleasantly spicy sauce. My favorite was the green beans. Very flavorful. And a nice sized portion. We also tried the Xi ha Chilli pork dumplings. Steamed with a strong flavor of 5 spice. Decent heat not crazy spicy hot. Pork gyoza was next with a delicate lacy fried skirt around the base. The flavor was good. Shu‐Mai was probably my favorite dumplings we had. The flavor was so delicious. Decent prices. I would enjoy smaller dishes at a smaller price. The dishes on the menu ranged from the 9 dollar range to 20. The portions are fair to large. We took home almost half so enough for a small dinner for hubby later. All in all he enjoyed it a bit more than I did. Service was nice. That is all.

Stebs

Google
Big fan of this place. The food is delicious and it's a great place to relax on a nice day. I LOVE the shrimp toast, but if I'm being honest everything I've had there was very tasty. It's right in the heart of fourth street so it's a nice stop in when you're walking around, and if it's busy you can put your name in and walk the strip. Dog friendly exterior seating as well.
google avatar

Madison D.

Yelp
10/10 lunch at Dumpling Time!!! We were able to get in right away around 1pm on a Friday and sat outside on the cute and bustling 4th St. We ordered the seaweed salad which I'm normally not a huge fan of (boyfriend loves it) and I still enjoyed it - it did not taste too over-poweringly like seaweed. The cucumber salad on the other hand is a must-order if I ever come back - it was SO crisp, fresh, and oozing with yummy garlic flavor. We got the Tom Yum dumplings which were easily the best dish of the day. I'm dreaming about that coconut broth! The chili pork dumplings and gyoza (not pictured) were also very delicious.
google avatar

Candice T.

Yelp
The service of this location, especially for take out is subpar. Unlike the dumpling time located in San Francisco, this location is rude. When picking up an order if you ask for chili oil for each item that you ordered, they will staunchly refuse. If you have a multi item order, you will get one chili oil for the entire order. It's absolutely ridiculous. The other locations are much nicer. And referred actually tastes better and they have the vegetarian option for the noodles that normally come with pork. And they provide chili oil for each item in your order.
google avatar

brook f.

Yelp
Delicious Dumplings and Great Atmosphere! I recently went to Dumpling Time for lunch on a beautiful sunny day, and it was an absolute delight. The restaurant is located on a charming shopping street, perfect for people-watching. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, and I opted for outdoor to enjoy the weather. The food was absolutely delicious. We ordered a variety of items, but the standout for me was the snowflake dumpling--it's so good that I go to sleep dreaming of it! Each dish was prepared to perfection, with fresh ingredients and wonderful flavors. The service was also excellent, making our dining experience even more enjoyable. If you're a fan of dumplings or just great food in general, I highly recommend Dumpling Time. I'll definitely be back!
google avatar

john j.

Yelp
This is our favorite Dim Sum spot when in the Bay Area. We usually eat at the one in SF but decided on the Berkeley location. I didn't realize that each spot has a few unique menu items so we tried some of the favorites recommended by the Berkeley team. We especially loved the fried tofu, exceptionally crispy but be warned they are molten lava inside so bite with an air of caution. All the other favs are perfectly tasty as well: XLB, BBQ Bao (seared), Green Beans and the Beijing Noodles. They also have wings and Ribs as well at the Berkeley spot. A great place to enjoy a meal with family and friends.
google avatar

Maya R.

Yelp
My recent dining experience at Dumpling Time was nothing short of a culinary adventure. The expansive selection of dumplings offered a symphony of flavors and textures, each one expertly crafted to perfection. From the classic pork dumplings that oozed with savory goodness to the more innovative creations that surprised my palate, every dumpling was a testament to the culinary artistry at Dumpling Time. The blend of traditional and modern flavors created a delightful harmony that left me craving for more. The vibrant ambiance of Dumpling Time added to the overall dining experience, with its modern decor and bustling energy setting the stage for a memorable meal. The attentive service further enhanced our visit, ensuring that every aspect of our dining experience was top-notch.

Muoi H.

Yelp
Order to go since I had a gift card! Food when pickup was fresh and hot! Wings was fried crispy and flavorful with a good amount of chili crisp , maine lobster siu mia was enjoyed but at a price of $17 for 4 The sesame ball was my least fav
google avatar

Tiffany Y.

Yelp
**3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars** I really enjoyed Dumpling Time when I tried it in SF and I was so excited to see that it made its way to 4th Street in Berkeley! Lots of unique menu items and fast service on a weekday. The only downside is that everything is pretty pricey for what it is. I came here with some friends and we shared a bunch of items. My favorite veggie is always the wood ear mushroom salad ($7.50) for the flavor and spiciness! The Pork XLB ($13) were good, but not the best. There could've been more soup in these and they're on the smaller side in general. The chicken gyoza ($11) was really solid and it was definitely a favorite amongst people who have never really had dim sum. The lamb dumplings ($13) were also great with the sauce. Lastly, we got the Southeast Fried Rice noodles ($16) which were okay, but could've been more cohesive with the rice and noodles. I'd probably pass on this next time.
google avatar

Christina M.

Yelp
Menu is so much smaller than expected which was shocking. We arrived around 5 on a Thursday and they were out of both short rib and chicken wings for the day so I couldn't try it.We had the lamb dumpling, shrimp and pork shy Mai , lobster dumpling and seaweed salad. Overall the taste was ok. Nothing spectacular at all but the lobster had the best and most flavor to me. For the price I think there is better dumpling places to eat at. It is a tiny restaurant but bright and a nice setting to have lunch.
google avatar

Kenneth R.

Yelp
We tried Dumpling Time as an eat-in restaurant one evening a few weeks ago. This business is located on Fourth Street, a busy shopping area during the day that closes its shutters in the evening. The closing time of 8PM does not suggest that DT is a romantic date restaurant. In the evening, DT instead seems to be populated by local families with small children, and perhaps some shoppers who have come in with late-afternoon purchases. Two of us ordered four dishes (and no alcohol), thinking that we'd end up with leftovers. In fact, our server warned us that we had probably over-ordered. Three of the dishes (vegetable dumplings, shrimp har gow, sesame kale salad) were in the $10-11 range, while the fourth dish -- shrimp garlic noodles -- clocked in at $21. When the four dishes came to the table, we couldn't figure out why one of them was twice the price of each of the other three; they certainly seemed comparable to us. Each of the four items was at the A-OK level, or slightly better. We especially liked the kale salad and the veggie dumplings. We surprised ourselves by finishing everything on the table without feeling especially stuffed. We were charged an extra 4% for "living wage" when the check was presented to us. This sneaky surcharge may remain legal (according to the latest CA legislation news), but it's most unpleasant. I'd prefer to see the full price of each dish up front on the printed menu. We thought that this restaurant is worth trying again, but we'll get takeout if we do decide on a next time for Dumpling Time.
google avatar

Kim G.

Yelp
Fantastic food. Here is what we got: Edamame - best dish of the night. The sauce is sweet with a drop of spice. Unbelievable. Vegetarian fried rice - best rice dish we've ever had, lots of veggies Seaweed salad - generous portion of goodness Veggie dumpling - very flavorful and filling. Delicious, will order this every time. Lobster Siu Mai - OMG, indiscribly delicious. Get this dish! We went early - stopped by on our way home from OAK. If there is a line, order to go. Cannot wait to come back and order more dishes.
google avatar

Stephanie D.

Yelp
I have been wanting to come here since they opened over the summer, but never seem to have time. Anywho, I was having a night in and decided dumplings went great with the weather. I ordered the pork soup dumplings with the garlic green beans. The order did not disappoint ... they are really close to me, but was surprised that my food was cold. In any event, the food was delicious. DoorDash maybe had more than one delivery and waited to pick up mines last.
google avatar

Joshua M.

Yelp
The seafood gyoza is a must try, truly the best on their list. All the food is quite decent here and I'd recommend it to anyone who hasn't tried dumplings. However to the more discernible and experienced dumpling enjoyer I would warn them that it is a little generic, although not bad. Service was great and eating outside is a very relaxing vibe.
google avatar

Monika T.

Yelp
Three star experience at most. I got here around 8:30, so no wait, seated efficiently. I have been eyeing this spot since it has been open. With so many good spots to eat, this spot is definitely subpar. Prices are high compared to other restaurants. I ordered a few items.. and my bill was $70. I ordered the chicken wings, which had a good taste, but was wayyyy to oily. The jelly fish, one of the better plates, XLB, def. good, but compare to DTF. My child ordered the chicken gyoza. It was pretty good to me, but my child did not enjoy the stuffing. I also ordered the noddles, which was disappointing. Overall, it was ok. Ambiance is nice. Got to enjoy the beautiful 4th street lights. Not a spot I will return.
google avatar

Sami R.

Yelp
I don't know if I'll be coming back... food was alright but the service was subpar. It was a little awkward in there and my table and I just felt really uncomfortable. They also left the check before the food arrived?? Not sure what that's about but I saw another review saying the same thing happened to them. If you need a small snack and are in the area it could be a good place but I think there's plenty of other options on fourth street to eat at.
google avatar

Alex A.

Yelp
Good food, efficient service! Sat outdoors for lunch, tried some new menu items that were nice.
google avatar

Josephine T.

Yelp
Realistically the food is more around a 3.5 for me but I always round up :) Dumpling Time is conveniently located in a strip of stores and restaurants in Berkeley. They offer indoor and outdoor dining. They also have a tablet in the front for you to put your name on the waitlist and get a text when your table is ready. Inside, they have a really cute neon aesthetic. I like that they offer a variety of dumplings - my favorite was probably the chicken gyoza. I was just okay on the pan fried cha siu buns (bbq pork buns). Did not much care for their XLB - personal pet peeve of mine when they come in those individual foil cups because the skin rips more easily when you try to take it out. Just give me a large soup spoon so I gently place my dumpling in there and catch any loose broth - ty! Certainly this place is worth a stop if you're already in the area and specifically craving dumplings but it won't be your top tier dumplings, just to set your expectations appropriately. And, if you're okay with not getting dumplings, there are other places I would maybe consider eating at first.
google avatar

Ashley I.

Yelp
The broccolini was a little overcooked but tasty but that shrimp toast more than made up for it. It had the texture of a Chinese donut with minced shrimp stuffed inside of it. I didn't try the soup dumplings yet but that's my next goal.
google avatar

Jasmine L.

Yelp
Dumpling time is packed every time I walk by on 4th street. One day, we were hungry so we caved and signed in at the front. We didn't have to wait long, and we were seated in ~10 minutes. + Shrimp toast: this was actually the best tasting item. Exactly what you would expect- fried shrimp embedded in fried dough (you tiao), with tangy (sriracha mayo?) drizzled over the top. Quite good, and filling for what it is. $12.50 Chili Pork dumplings: No, just no. Their chili sauce is not great. There is no flavor, no spice, just oily. (and they sell their chili sauce?!) The dumpling itself was just okay as well (think grocery store frozen taste- at best) definitely would not recommend. $11.50 Pork gyoza: there were carrots inside. They were fried well, and presentation is nice. Besides from that, they're also grocery store taste at best. To be honest, even Ling Ling's might be better... $11 It's honestly super mediocre, and I think my review is a bit harsher because of how expensive it was. I also expected it to be better. 4th street needs more dining options! If I was desperately hungry, I might consider dropping by to grab the shrimp toast togo!
google avatar

Angelin R.

Yelp
What a great find! Service is excellent. We started with the chrysanthemum tea, which was light and flavor, but very good. We The fried tofu which was perfectly crisp on the outside and soft in the middle recommend. We also got two types of vegetable dumplings, I look forward to coming back to this restaurant and trying more.
google avatar

Loella D.

Yelp
Given all of the amazing Chinese food in the Bay with much more authentic flavors and reasonable prices, eating here isn't worth it. The wood ear mushrooms had a great texture but we had to take big gulps of water in between bites because of how salty it was. So it came as a surprise when the fried rice and green beans came out lacking seasoning or flavor - I was scooping the remaining sauce from the mushrooms onto everything else. The seafood gyoza also was not good enough to finish. We had tried ordering the veggie dumplings but they ran out a couple hours into opening, looking back I'm glad I saved my money. The dining area is bright and airy but not enough to save such a disappointing food experience with passive and inattentive service. While I had a good experience in the SF location in the past, I won't be coming back.
google avatar

Sammy T.

Yelp
Came back again because I was craving some dumplings time tofu (yes just the tofu) and it was oddly empty?! The hype maybe have died down but what I found funny was that the tofu dipping sauce was goopy this time (see pictures). Wood ear was yum as usual and green bean portion seem to have shrunken (no pic though). Overall, I think everything remained similar in quality but portion sizes shrunk.
google avatar

Alexis K.

Yelp
I expected a lot more from Dumpling Time given all of the hype around it. It's located on Berkeley's Fourth Street, which is accessible via the 51B bus line. There's ample street parking but it does tend to get crowded during the afternoon and evening. I've eaten here twice and this review will cover both times. The last time I visited, the restaurant had recently opened. We ordered the tom yum XLB, shrimp toast, Maine lobster siumai, seafood gyoza, and trio of buns. Everything except the trio of buns was mediocre and lacking in flavor, especially the Tom Yum XLB and siumai. I was pretty disappointed because I'd heard great things about the SF location. My most recent visit was better but also not the best (my mom wanted to visit). We ordered the regular siumai, gyoza, regular XLB, and a few more items I can't remember. The siumai and gyoza were actually quite good. However, the XLB were quite bland and missing that savory broth flavor that they should normally have. I was glad that it improved but the XLB should definitely be better if that's one of the main dishes they promote. The place is well-decorated with a rather nice ambiance and it doesn't take too long to be seated, luckily. If you want to try out a famous spot, check it out since you might find something you like.
google avatar

Marion S.

Yelp
I've been here before and really loved everything!!! My son and daughter are here and haven't tried it... So we're here again. Hostess held the table with the high back which was perfect for my husband who has back problems. We ordered A lot of food that we're going to eat family style! It's nice and warm outside but a little breezy in here. My son says he's cold but he only has a T-Shirt on. The rest of us have sleeves and we're fine. Ok, we're finally done eating and even had dessert!! Once again, we are totally satisfied!! My daughter's favorite was the mushroom salad. They both gave two thumbs up to everything. Everyone working there was very pleasant and helpful to us and each other.!! We will be back!!!
google avatar

Michelle P.

Yelp
I was so disappointed by my experience here. I had heard good things about them in the past, but my own personal experience had me feeling not happy. The staff was VERY prompt and eager to take our order once we were seated. I almost felt rushed and an inconvenience. Since it was the first time we wanted to look over the menu thoroughly to figure out what we wanted. I was surprised that their menu was very limited. When our dishes came out, I was super shocked at the size! For the price we paid, the food was definitely overpriced! We got an order of the pork XLB, tofu squares, seafood gyoza and green beans, sesame balls, and a trio of sweet baos. Our bill was close to 80 dollars! I can cross them off it my list but I likely won't return.
google avatar

Suzanne C.

Yelp
Fusion Asian dumplings, noodles and dim sum with great services. Great location for shoppers to enjoy.
google avatar

jerseygirl i.

Yelp
Expensive for what you get. The dumplings are OK, but not outstanding. Tea was served in a plastic bottle. I won't bother going again.
google avatar

Kenson K.

Yelp
My favorites here: Pork potstickers Chicken Wings Lobster siu mai All were very delicious. If you're coming here for lunch on a weekend, i would recommend you come in early. The restaurant was completely full around noon with a small group of people outside waiting for a table.
google avatar

Marck N.

Yelp
After running errands on a rainy day, we stopped here for lunch. We got there when they opened so we were able to get an inside table quickly. For lunch we ordered the sweet and sour DT wings, seared BBQ pork bao, har gow, lobster siu mai, chili pork dumpling, lamb dumplings, pork gyoza, chicken gyoza, xiao long bao, and Beijing noodles. The noodles and bao were mainly for my son, as he loves these items. Of the dishes we ordered, I highly recommend the lamb dumpling and lobster siu mai. The lamb flavor is very pronounced, so you will need to like lamb to enjoy it. As I do, it was delicious. It was topped with cherry tomatoes and sliced radishes, which added a crunch and acid to the lamb flavor. The lobster siu mai flavor was delicate and enjoyable to eat. The chili pork dumpling had a lot of the chili sauce on top of it. So if you don't like spicy, you should not try this one. I found this dumpling to be OK. The pork gyoza was better in taste than the chicken. My son enjoyed eating the crispy dumpling skirt from each of the gyozas. Service did seem slow as there seemed to be 1 main server assisting all tables. Luckily this did not affect all of our dishes from arriving to our table. As we were leaving it was getting crowded for lunch. It was a good call to get there when they opened.
google avatar

Tina D.

Yelp
Our family has been coming to Dumpling Time since it opened couple of years ago and, it's been our 'go to' spot ever since. The food is steaming fresh, the ambience is sweet & cozy, and the service is simply great if you're lucky to get Lola as your wait staff! I highly recommend this restaurant especially if you have little kids...you can dine in less than half hour!
google avatar

Jaimee B.

Yelp
Loved what we tried here! The XLB and Tom Yum version was quite yummy! The vinegary sauce that comes with it enhances the flavor perfectly especially with a hint of chilli oil. We also got the garlic green beans. So yummy with a satisfying crunch. The chilli pork was ok. I enjoyed the beijing noodles especially with some of the chilli oil added. I also ordered a sweet cucumber juice which was lightly seeet and bery refreshing. The service was great! Our XLBs came out quickly and other dishes followed suit. The space is a little small but perfect for a date!
google avatar

Katherine W.

Yelp
Dumpling Time gets three stars if you're looking for authentic Chinese food, but four stars if you're alright with an Americanized version :) My first visit was during their grand opening over the summer, and I was pretty disappointed when I tried the dumplings. It's not that they're bad; they're just clearly not the most authentic. Most customers are those shopping on Fourth Street who've stopped by for lunch or dinner (so clearly a different base than a small mom and pop shop in Chinatown, for example). I finally came back for a second time in February because I thought I should give the restaurant another shot. This time, I knew what to expect and the experience was good. There's still a waitlist on the weekends, so I'm glad the restaurant has kept up the momentum! I ordered the following which is way too much for two people: Garlicky Green Beans, Shrimp Toast, BBQ Pork Bao, Pork XLB, Lamb Dumpling, and Beijing Noodles. The Garlicky Green Beans and Beijing Noodles are ironically my favorite even though they're not dumplings. The BBQ Pork Bao and Lamb Dumpling are also decent. I probably wouldn't recommend the Pork XLB unless you have low expectations for soup dumplings. I'm used to incredibly soupy ones that are steamed on fresh cabbage, so the fact that these are called "XLB" give you a hint in terms of their authenticity. A big plus is that the food comes out super quickly. I'm not sure how they do it, but I think my six items came out in less than 15 minutes! That makes the wait worth it, and again, if your standards aren't too high, these dishes are a pretty good fusion.

Jessica B.

Yelp
Fav restaurant of all time! Food comes out so quick, is super fresh and the restaurant inside and outside is so cute. Love this place.
google avatar

Salie E.

Yelp
It's a version of healthier dimsum and not gonna lie it feels more pleasant coz usually dimsum is very fatty but Dumpling time made it more healthier and I'm buying it! I love all the food that we ordered and I went for another round of Shumai. The servers are friendly and the ambiance is very cool. Will definitely go here now!!
google avatar

Craig G.

Yelp
Expensive and made me very sick! Not sure what it was but had stomach ache and felt I'll

Michelle J.

Yelp
We were seated asap, order got taken right awway the server was nice and well paced! We ordered chicken goyza, one soup dumplings and the biao, we got the gyzoa and realized it had too much mushroom for me immeidestly the server canceled it snd took it off. I appreciated her so much for that! Especially because it led to me having an amazing time! My twin and I devoured it all I MEAN EVERYTJING it was delicous. Loved the service, the accomodations etc. thank you.
google avatar

Thiri T.

Yelp
The "vibes" in this restaurant were just weird. When we were seated, we asked a waiter a question and he responded with the fact that he's not a waiter when he was waiting tables. And our real waiter gave us our check before the food even arrived, which set a negative tone to our meal. None of the food was really amazing except for the shrimp toast. However, everything fried is always tasty. I did like the wood ear mushroom salad because it was very fresh but it was super salty. For a place called dumpling time, I wish they took the time to make better dumplings. The chili oil pork wontons were too doughy and each bite was filled with boiled water, hinting that they should have a better seal. The XLB was also served in foil cups, which the bottom of the dumpling wrap would always stick to the cup, making it impossible to pick up or eat whole. I probably wouldn't be back but at least the shrimp toast was good!

A G.

Yelp
The staff was incredibly friendly and speedy! And the dumplings were good! The Tom yum dumplings were a unique twist to the traditional Thai soup. But the shrimp cake was where it was at! I myself am a huge Chinese donut fan and to add the shrimp to it made it better! Will be back to try rest of menu
google avatar

Joyce L.

Yelp
I got fooled by Yelp again. This place seems to have good reviews with amazing looking pictures. If you are looking for authentic XLB or shaighanese food, this is definitely not the place. This place might be good for tourists. 1. The shrimp toast was served cold and I hate eating cold food. More so, for $12.50, they only gave you a sliver of shrimp paste. What a profit margin! 2. Tom yum XLB ($12). Very light hint of Tom yum sauce with coconut flavor. The flavor was decent except they made a very basic mistake with their execution. They didn't coat the foil "cup" with oil before steaming. This mistake caused all the XLB skin to stick to the cup and the juice to leak. 3. Finally, the seafood gyoza ($15.50). This was the only dish that I truly enjoyed. The filling tasted more like shrimp dumpling vs. diced up seafood chunks. It's juicy and flavorful, especially with the added seasoned chili flakes.
google avatar

Shib W.

Yelp
Considering how many excellent places there are serving this style of food, Dumpling Time in Berkeley suffers from sub-par food and higher pricing. I can't see myself going back. XLB had good filling and soup, but the skin was stuck to the metal cup on every dumpling so that taking them out destroyed them. Every other place has solved this, why not DT? Lamp Xi'an dumpings were just bad. Overwhelming coriander seasoning with no other flavor - even the taste of lamb was masked. Additionally, the filling was overworked and ended up dense and unappealing. The skin was thick and tough. Overall just a poorly constructed and prepared dumpling. Cucumber salad was actually delicious and fresh except far too salty. A small but significant miss. Lots of garlic and an oil that was not cloying. Small tweak and we're good there. Dumpling Hours in WC is great, as is Wild Ginger in Alameda. There are so many more places that are competent at a decent price there's no explaining Dumpling Time.
google avatar

Melissa P.

Yelp
When you are craving dumplings, it just happens to be a lunar new year, this might be a challenge. But luckily we got right in to dumpling time in Berkeley. We had delicious soup dumplings served in foil cups. Flavor was there, but they were a little too cool for my taste. A nice complement to the meal was the pickled lotus. And the crispy tofu was a crowd favorite. Come here for a very casual dining experience and leave full and happy .
google avatar

Thomas B.

Yelp
Amazing. Parking was a little tricky because you're in a very busy part of Berkeley when you arrive at this location. Conveniently located on the corner you have a few spots around that if you're patient you'll find a place to park. I believe there is also a public parking area across the street. Working and I wasn't sure what I would find because there was a hub of activity inside and it was pretty amazing and a short line outside I might as well add.The place was busy and packed and I was going to soon find out why. It was lightly decorated on the inside and not overdone with decorations at all. The tables were fairly basic as well as the chairs but I was comfortable and I was really counting on the food to have more style than the furniture. And I was not disappointed. It was interesting though having a place so busy I never knew who my waiter was but I was always well attended to. They run around the room and a flurry of activity and everyone stops by your table to make sure you're OK. It works. I came with my Family and friends to try out this food because we are definitely dumpling crazy. This place left me with ZERO disappointment. Everything that came out looked amazing but I wasn't really sure if it would stand the test of taste. Well it did. It was amazing. The flavors the textures the authenticity of the items was all on board. I absolutely loved everything that came to the table and I would return here in a minute to try other things that I didn't have the 1st time around. Fortunately there were enough people that we were able to sample each other's foods and try a lot of different things. We ordered so many items you would have to look at the photos to figure out what we had but we pretty much had a good portion of the menu on our table. And everything we ate was delicious and I would come back here in a minute with friends at any time. I would like to thank my daughter for recommending this place she's an amazing person and has a great knack for picking out great places to eat. She's become a force and the food Empire. And the force awakens Luke.
google avatar

Smrithika A.

Yelp
This new spot in Berkeley on 4th street is in the new downtown area amongst several stores and restaurants. They have indoor and outdoor spots. Service is quick and efficient. Parking is easily available on the street. Menus were available with QR and physical for different preferences. All dumplings we tried were delicious and flavorful. The shrimp toast was unusual and the lamb delicious was scrumptious. Would recommend this spot for a good dumpling fix.
google avatar

Mikaela C.

Yelp
My friends and I went on a Tuesday for lunch. It is located on 4th Street so parking is pretty easy to find. There is street parking and three parking lots to park in. When we got there, there was no wait. We were seated right away. You scan the QR code to check the menu. We got their hot and spicy DT chicken wings, pork XLB, pork gyoza, chili oil wontons, and their seared pork baos. Everything tasted disappointing for me. There was very little difference in flavor among the dumplings that we got. The pork baos were good, but we definitely have had better. The chicken wings were extremely salty, but we did enjoy the crispiness of it. The prices were pretty expensive for a dumpling place and the sizes of the dumplings were pretty small. Maybe it was an off day and we did not try the correct the menu items, but this was our experience.
google avatar

Ramalah L.

Yelp
This little gem on 4th ST. provides the best service (Lola is the best server on the PLANET). The Lobster Sui Mai is the go-to dish! 4th street location has great Ambience while people watching on the patio. Dumpling Time rocks:)

Jimins J.

Yelp
Terrible food, no flavor we order the Beijing noodles and the spicy pork dumplings, absolutely no flavor. Small portions and unappetizing presentation. Will not be returning.
google avatar

Perla Z.

Yelp
The food was amazing! We sat outside and it got Cold and they turned on the heaters. So that was nice. Service was good too. I definitely will be coming back. We also tried the dessert dumplings, which the filling reminded me of a Mexican custard. Delicious
google avatar

Lulu B.

Yelp
Disappointed this time around. While the soup dumplings were tasty (3.5-4 stars) the garlic green beans were too tough to eat. Half of the beans were too stringy (old) and since this dish a typically untrimmed - made it basically inedible. Appreciate that the manager acknowledged my feedback (yes, will let the team know about the produce quality). However, even after seeing that I only had a few bites and left the plate uneaten (and not packing to go) - he offered nothing towards the total bill. And, not even a small gesture - like have a snack/dessert on us. Today, food 2.5 (sad green beans) Ambiance 4.5 I still tipped out of courtesy. Won't be ordering the green beans here if I decide to come back. Nice ambiance, lovely outdoor vibe today with the wind... and polite service. So overall 3 stars.
google avatar

Papu T.

Yelp
Had high hopes for this place, always seeing lines in the SF location. Known for its giant dumpling soup dumpling, I was excited to try it out! I ordered the -green beans -XLB -Tom Yum -tofu -fried rice And out of all those I'd have to say the green beans were the best and sadly everything else was just ok. For the price you pay, the portions were quite small. The soup dumplings looked a lil sad and flat as if they were melting on themselves. Tom Yum broth was tasty but the older brother XLB was not having a great night. Having grown up eating at a million Chinese restaurants. When I orders the fried rice, I was expecting a typical Chinese fried rice. Instead I got something straight out of a a frozen trader joes fried rice bag. (No knock to Tj's though, I love y'all) I feel somewhat bamboozled into thinking I'd be getting a good Chinese meal but each dish just seemed a bit off. It seemed a bit too Americanized for me. So if you're looking for more traditional dumpling experience, there's better elsewhere. Green beans were good though, ha.
google avatar

Julie V.

Yelp
Come on a Saturday evening, it'll be crowded still, but the wait isn't as long compared to the morning time. You just put your name on a clipboard when you get there and choose between 1st available or outdoor seating. I would say service was extremely fast, I barely waited at all for my dishes and the staff was super friendly! I ordered the XLB, rice noodles, shrimp toast, siu mai, and chrysanthemum tea. Overall, I'd say the food was good, but it's not amazing. Pretty average compared to other dim sum places. The only things I'd come back for would be the shrimp toast and tea. The shrimp toast was so good I could probably eat 3 plates by myself.