Dumpling Zone

Chinese restaurant · Forest Hill

Dumpling Zone

Chinese restaurant · Forest Hill

5

408 Dewey Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94116

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Dumpling Zone by Brit Finnegan
Dumpling Zone by Brit Finnegan
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Dumpling Zone by null
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Dumpling Zone by null
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Dumpling Zone by null
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Highlights

Flavorful housemade dumplings and noodles, plus beer.  

Featured in The Infatuation
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408 Dewey Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94116 Get directions

dumplingzonesf.com

$20–30 · Menu

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408 Dewey Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94116 Get directions

+1 415 665 6888
dumplingzonesf.com

$20–30 · Menu

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Last updated

Sep 21, 2025

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@infatuation

Power Ranking Every Two-Word SF Restaurant That Starts With "Dumpling" - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"When you want top-tier dumpling quality without having to spend an hour waiting for a table, Dumpling Zone is your sneaky sleeper hit. The relaxed Forest Hill spot would be easy to pass by, but you shouldn’t—fantastic pork and crab xiao long bao await. The standout is the shengjianbao that look like puffy balloons of tender pork filling and soup, but you can’t go wrong with any of the dumpling types on the menu." - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez

https://www.theinfatuation.com/san-francisco/guides/every-two-word-sf-restaurant-that-starts-with-dumpling-ranked
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The 9 Best Xiao Long Bao In SF, Ranked - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"You’ll see a pretty standard menu of steamed, boiled, and pan-fried dumplings at this Forest Hills spot. But obviously, you should zero in on the xiao long bao. The selection is similar to the ones at Dumpling Home and both Dumpling Stories, but the best one is the crab and pork—it’s topped off with a plume of crab resembling a macaroni penguin, and bursts like a salty seafood water balloon in your mouth." - julia chen 1

https://www.theinfatuation.com/san-francisco/guides/best-xiao-long-bao-san-francisco
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11 Great SF Restaurants For A Last-Minute Group Dinner - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"Unlike its splashier “Dumpling + Noun” friends, Dumpling Zone is a place where you can walk right in, fill up on xiao long bao, and get out within 45 minutes. The Forest Hills restaurant rarely has a wait, making it an ideal candidate for your next book club meeting that no one remembered to plan. And apart from being a convenient place for procrastinators, the dumplings are also fantastic, especially the plump shengjianbao and soup dumplings crowned with crab." - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez

https://www.theinfatuation.com/san-francisco/guides/last-minute-group-dinner-restaurants-san-francisco
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@infatuation

The 16 Best Dumpling Spots In SF - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"Three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and the line at Dumpling Home. So when you’d rather not wait (or brave the Friday night Hayes Valley chaos), go to Dumpling Zone instead. The Forest Hill restaurant has a near-identical menu of steamed, boiled, and pan-fried dumplings (even down to the green, hedgehog-like vegetable dumplings), and is much easier to walk into. Go for the pan-fried pork bao, which are like puffy balloons full of savory soup and tender pork, or the crab and pork xiao long bao highlighting delicate, chewy wrappers." - julia chen 1, lani conway, patrick wong

https://www.theinfatuation.com/san-francisco/guides/dumplings-to-try-san-francisco
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@infatuation

Dumpling Zone - Review - Forest Hill - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"Dumpling Zone will make you consider writing a show-stopping musical number dedicated to dumplings. Inside this casual Forest Hill spot—it’s so small you could traverse the entire space in just 10 steps—you’ll find a range of dreamy versions that are steamed, boiled, and pan-fried. Go for the pan-fried pork bao, which are like puffy balloons full of pork-y soup, or the crab and pork xiao long bao highlighting delicate, chewy wrappers. The bigger entrées, like braised beef noodle soup or tan tan noodles, are solid, but we like to stick to the well-executed dumpling department. photo credit: Brit Finnegan" - Julia Chen

https://www.theinfatuation.com/san-francisco/reviews/dumpling-zone
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Liz P.

Google
On Saturday around 7 PM, we stopped by Dumpling Zone after reading solid reviews online. The wait for our party of five was about 30 minutes, but parking was easy since it’s located in a residential part of Midtown. The restaurant is small—maybe a dozen tables—and was packed with families and a large birthday parties. It’s a casual spot with one main server and one runner. You can order food online or directly through a staff member, and they’ll bring everything to your table. We decided to try all the most recommended dishes from the review sites and the photos displayed on their window—and we were so glad we did. Every dish we ordered was delicious. Prices were very reasonable—actually more affordable than many other dumpling places we’ve tried, probably because of its unassuming location. Portions were generous too, which made it feel like a great deal overall. The vibe is super casual—nothing fancy—but the service, while basic, came with a smile. We really appreciated the personality of our server; he was friendly, attentive, and made sure we were updated on our table status. He was clearly keeping an eye on everything and even watched for when guests were wrapping up so he could manage the waitlist efficiently. No reservations are taken, but he kept names on a handwritten list. We were so stuffed from our meal that we didn’t make it to dessert, but we’ll definitely be back to try more items next time we’re in town. Highly recommend!

Avant Lard Travel - by Houston Porter

Google
We loved every item we ordered and cannot wait to return. These were the best dumplings and noodle soup we've ever had! We order boiled (chicken and mushroom), steamed (veggies), and fried (pork, shrimp, and chive) and each one seemed better than the last. And not being a mushroom or veggie fan, I was quite surprised at how much I liked both of those and would definitely order both again. (The fried pork and shrimp was simply off the hook!) We also had the garlic cucumber which was new to us and is delicious, and the beef noodles which were insanely good, with so much flavor that I had to ask if there was any pork in the broth, but nope, it was just the most succulent (and fatty) beef. The ordering can be done via app, the service is quick and efficient, and the ambiance is comfortable/casual, although to be honest, was a little boring. (With those high ceilings, I'd love to see some hanging artwork, like maybe some hug paper-mache fish like we saw at an Asian place we recently dined at outside the country.) I'm not sure where one is supposed to park but we found a dirt spot in the lot nextdoor, but don't know if it was legal. I assume there is street parking nearby but did not see any dedicated lot nor did I remember to ask. Overall, this was a great dining experience, especially when heading to or from the airport. (We live in the North Bay.)

Maria Reyes

Google
Everything we ordered was delicious and full of flavor! We will definitely be back. Favorites in order: pork wonton in chili oil, pan fried pork bao, xlb, pea shoots

Billie M

Google
We were actually going somewhere else that ended up closing for the day after we drove to that side of town, and looked in Google for an alternative and came across this gem. The dumplings were spectacular, the pea shoots, also great and we got hot and sour soup which was yummy and very peppery, which was a bit different, but great none the less. The waiter (possibly owner) was delightful, the portions large and the food, everything, 5 stars. Hole in the wall atmosphere, which to me added, not subtracted, from the charm, and very clean.

Mayo Molnar

Google
Came for a casual lunch, pretty disappointed tbh. The hot and sour soup had so much black pepper that it was pretty much inedible! i love spicy food but this was very one dimensional and flat with heat that kills all the other flavors! Shanghai pan fried pork baos were ok… standard, nothing to rave about… Won’t be coming back here.

Steven Huang

Google
There are a million dumpling restaurants now but this one is a standout! Come for the food, extremely flavorful. FLAVORFUL! No additional sauce needed. The soup dumplings, steamed chicken dumplings, and pan fried baos were especially memorable.

Rehman Ali

Google
Super fast service and so friendly. You order from the QR code at your table and I liked the convenience of that for checkout time too. All the food was consistently delicious, nothing was lacking in flavor or dimension! All of the meats in each dish were seasoned well and had wonderful texture. The shop is small and quiet with a mom and pop shop vibe. I personally think it added to the experience by highlighting the food and not distracting with anything flashy. Highly recommend if you're in the mood for something comforting, delicious, and really cheap for the excellent quality of the experience.

Rebeca “Becky” Aguilar

Google
We stopped here to eat, a hidden gem in my opinion. Parking is on the street, once you enter you sit and order using the QR code located on the table.They bring you the food and then you pay via your QR code. It’s was a bit tight in there and it was full that’s how we knew it was going to be good, we were right the food was amazing and didn’t disappoint. We ordered spicy and regular steamed pork bao, steamed veggie dumplings, pan fried shrimp pot stickers and pan fried bao. Everything was cooked fresh and very flavorful. Really glad we came across this restaurant, if your in San Francisco give them a try.
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Zach H.

Yelp
I do have to say this place serves one of the best XLB in the entire bay area. Plenty of soup, thin wrapping, and good filling. The pig ear was actually my favorite. It had this spicy chili oil that was fragrant and salty and had a good crunch to them. Definitely recommend that dish. I haven't had a better pig ear than that. Usually, other places dont flavor the pig ear enough and it's just spicy with no flavor. The shengjianbao had so much soup in there and came out steaming out. They know exactly how to make these and it was amazing. Highly recommend coming here over all other dumpling spots in the entire bay area. Nothing quite like this quality! Servers were very nice too and welcoming. It's a small store, but I've always been lucky to get a seat.
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Liz P.

Yelp
On Saturday around 7 PM, we stopped by Dumpling Zone after reading solid reviews online. The wait for our party of five was about 30 minutes, but parking was easy since it's located in a residential part of Midtown. The restaurant is small--maybe a dozen tables--and was packed with families and a large birthday parties. It's a casual spot with one main server and one runner. You can order food online or directly through a staff member, and they'll bring everything to your table. We decided to try all the most recommended dishes from the review sites and the photos displayed on their window--and we were so glad we did. Every dish we ordered was delicious. Prices were very reasonable--actually more affordable than many other dumpling places we've tried, probably because of its unassuming location. Portions were generous too, which made it feel like a great deal overall. The vibe is super casual--nothing fancy--but the service, while basic, came with a smile. We really appreciated the personality of our server; he was friendly, attentive, and made sure we were updated on our table status. He was clearly keeping an eye on everything and even watched for when guests were wrapping up so he could manage the waitlist efficiently. No reservations are taken, but he kept names on a handwritten list. We were so stuffed from our meal that we didn't make it to dessert, but we'll definitely be back to try more items next time we're in town. Highly recommend!
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CJ H.

Yelp
The first time I came to this restaurant, I missed it because it was already past 8:30. This time, I made sure to arrive earlier. After reading the online reviews, I really wanted to try their pan-fried buns and beef noodles. I ordered several items from their soup dumpling series, and here's my review based on what I thought tasted the best: The cabbage and pork dumplings were light and not greasy. You can eat a lot of them without feeling heavy. The braised beef noodle soup and the tomato beef noodle soup both had flavorful broth and delicious noodles. The tomato one had a very nice, rich tomato taste. The shrimp dumplings had a thicker skin, but the shrimp inside was quite good. The pan-fried buns and xiaolongbao were also pretty good. The marinated cucumber had just the right balance of sourness and saltiness. Overall, considering its location, the food and pricing at this restaurant are definitely worth it. I recommend it. 第一次來這家店的時候因為已經超過八點半所以沒有趕上,這次特別趕上了。看了網路的評價,特別想來品嘗生煎包和牛肉麵,點了不少他們的湯包系列,我按照我認為最好吃的逐一評論:白菜豬肉水餃,清淡不油膩,可以吃很多也不膩;紅燒牛肉麵和蕃茄牛肉麵,麵條好吃,湯頭濃郁,蕃茄味道非常不錯;蝦餃,皮厚但是蝦仁好吃;生煎包和小籠包還不錯;小黃瓜,酸鹹調配的恰到好處。總體來說,位於這位置來講,這家餐廳的價格和美食是物有所值,推薦給各位。
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Steph C.

Yelp
Came back and had the mustard greens with fish and lamb soup noodles. Loved the house made al dente noodles and broth. Also I ordered the cucumbers and it was refreshing and crunchy.
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Mike L.

Yelp
With all due respect to the Forest Hill neighborhood, it's one of the last places I would think to find good noodles or dumplings. Don't get me wrong - it's a nice part of the city to live in, but despite how it's home to ChouChou, which has been a long time staple for French food on this side of SF, it's not exactly area known for its restaurants. So, you can imagine how pleasantly surprised (and delighted) I was by Dumpling Zone after my friends suggested we meet up here for lunch! So much so, in fact, that I couldn't help but come back multiple times since to try more! Much like its surroundings, Dumpling Zone is a cozy, unassuming sort of spot. The small strip of businesses that it sits along is easy to pass by without noticing (I've certainly done it), but it kind of adds to their appeal - convenient to get to yet not packed with customers. What's more, the menu, with its mildly extensive array of dishes to offer, is awesome. In addition to the numerous varieties of their namesake dumplings, whether they be pan fried, teamed, or boiled, they also have a wide assortment of appetizers, soups, noodle soups, stir fried noodles, dry noodles, and vegetables to choose from. In short, a collection of dishes that really hit the spot on those cold, SF nights! -- SHANGHAI PAN FRIED PORK BAO...$12.99 As fantastic as these looked (plump with golden, browned bottoms), they tasted more solid than spectacular. While I liked that the skins were relatively thin and not doughy, the filling didn't have that porky lusciousness that steamed xiao long baos typically have. -- BRAISED BEEF NOODLE SOUP...$14.99 This felt (somewhat ) like a Cantonese beef stew noodle soup, but better. While I liked that they didn't skimp on the beef and the bite the noodles had, the soup was the star - flavorful with a nice richness/body to it. I do wish the beef had been more tender, though. -- SHRIMP, PORK, AND CHIVE POTSTICKERS...$11.99 These aren't your typical potstickers, but in a positive way. Besides their elongated shape, I loved how juicy the filling was and that it had recognizable chunks of shrimp in it. The outside of them were a little oily, but not terribly so. -- SPICY BEEF NOODLE SOUP...$14.99 Like the Braised Beef Noodle Soup, the noodles were just as good and this also had a fair amount of beef. It also had a lot more spice to it, too, and perhaps even a bit too much chili oil, but I wouldn't say it was ridiculously spicy either. -- TAN TAN NOODLE...$13.99 Not quite what I expected, to be honest. Instead of the classic tongue numbing spiciness, the sauce was actually really sweet. That being said, it was still pretty decent enough, especially after adding some of their chili oil. -- SHANGHAI XIAO LONG BAO...$7.99 (4pcs) Although they weren't the best I've had, these were terrific! The skins had the perfect thickness to them and the filling in each piece was sizable. Plus, there was a good amount of soup in them, which delicious and just slightly fatty. -- FRIED BEAN PASTE WITH PORK NOODLES...$13.99 This was...interesting. The black bean sauce was rather slick/oily, but it had an intense flavor to it that I really liked. Plus, the dollop of sauce they gave was spot on - enough to coat the noodles, but not so much as to drown everything. -- CABBAGE & PORK DUMPLING...$8.99 Ehh...not too shabby, but hardly special. The skins were soft and each one was decent in size, but the inside of the dumplings were oddly watery. I assume that wasn't intended since, unfortunately, it ended up diluting down the taste. While the food here has been mostly great, the thing I actually like most about this place is the service. Each time I've been here, the workers have all been awesome. More specifically, there's one guy in particular who is always here that is super friendly. Plus, I love how fast they get dishes out even when they have a steady crowd (can't say how it is when it's packed). Given that, the food, and how easy it is to find nearby street parking, Dumpling Zone is an awesome spot for a quick bite...both in Forest Hill and SF as a whole! FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded down for now.
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N S.

Yelp
Chicken and mushroom noodle soup was absolutely delicious- really robust broth and delicate toppings. Would come back just for this dish.
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Wendy A.

Yelp
What a delightful find! We chose the Shrimp & Pork Siu Mai, Beef Dumplings, and Crab & Pork Xiao Long Bao. All were steamed fresh for us, which made all the dim sum taste great and at the perfect temperature. We enjoyed two pots of the delicious and healthy Chrysanthemum tea. The chili sauce is spicy without being too hot to handle the intensity--it also had a slightly smoky nuance to it. Eddie, our server, was an absolute joy. He was pleasant, attentive, and a great conversationalist who helped make our day out together even more enjoyable. It's in a more quiet neighborhood than most in SF, and had a welcoming, unpretentious interior. It's a short drive from the DeYoung Museum. We plan to visit again in the future!
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Jackson C.

Yelp
Excellent pan fried dumplings. Comes out really hot and nice soup in the dumpling. Pork meat taste fresh. Goes well with the spicy sauce condiment. Also recommend the chili oil noodles and scallion pancakes. Chili oil noodles are mild in spiciness and the noodles are thick with a nice chew and bite. The scallion pancakes, while kind of small portion, are very crispy, not too oily, and you can taste the scallions.
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Renee J.

Yelp
Great neighborhood dumpling spot. Not pretentious. Very friendly. Made to order dumplings. Very fresh and crispy with juicy centers. Green beans are fresh and crunchy. Love this little gem. Easy parking

An H.

Yelp
Quite disappointed in this place. Came here thinking it would be amazing since it had such a high rating on yelp, but it was the other way around... Food, quite bad. Dumplings big af, yet was juicy and thin. Expensive too, 4 pieces is like $8, 8 pieces is $15, never seen something this expensive. The pan fried dumplings were so bad. Too much dough on the bottom, and it was sweet, quite odd. The big show of fried bean paste with pork noodle, salty as fuck, little ass sauce, meat disgusting it was rough, told them about it and did nothing, which leads us to the service. Service was terrible. Gave feedback to the waiter, instead he was talking back how us, "Cantonese" people have a different type of noodle, which I get, and that "my type of noodle" is not the same. Kept saying "your type of people" referring to Cantonese people. Felt disrespected, just because we are from a different province, doesn't mean you can bash us because your noodles dont live up to our expectation. Take the feedback, and fix it instead of blaming people from the same race but different part of the region, what the actual hell. Never thought I had to stand up to people that are the same race as me. Quite disappointed, never coming back again and you shouldn't go back either. Ambiance was fine, a little dirty, but what do us, cantonese people know ‍‍‍‍. Anyways, dont come here if you are trying xiao long baos, go to the one in stonestown, which is probably better then this shitty ass place.
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Esther C.

Yelp
Here for their xiao long bao and pan-fried dumplings, and they definitely deliver on flavor! Not a ton of vegetarian options, but what they have is tasty. Affordable and a solid spot if you're in the mood for dumplings without breaking the bank.
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Emerson Y.

Yelp
Wow this place exceeded my expectations. Dumpling Zone is unassuming from the outside but their dumplings are clearly freshly made and their texture and flavor are memorable. The potstickers are a strong favorite, followed closely by the spicy XLB. The potstickers have a nice texture difference from the crispy bottom to the q q bounciness you can only get from fresh dough. The XLB have thin but stretchy dough that also have that nice q mouth feel. Their doughs are really what make me like this place :) Service is friendly but slow, there was only one employee in the front for dinner service on a Friday evening. Decor is sparse, most of the walls are bare and there's no music playing. But let's be honest those are hallmarks of good Chinese restaurants haha.
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David H.

Yelp
Amazingly good soup dumplings, they are larger than the average xlb but have so much soup inside the skin! Their noodles are what's called "kudai mian" which means pants belt noodles, because they're wide! Another hit is in their egg yolk lava bao, very well made, filled full of steaming golden gooey egg yolk paste, and the outer skin is black, making a nice color contrast. The restaurant is in an unexpected location near Twin Peaks and almost seems more residential but spacious enough. The staff were responsive and efficient, nothing out of
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Jen S.

Yelp
This spot isn't in a touristy area, more a local place. It's worth finding though I do assure you! We were a party of 5 and paid $150 for dinner. Three beers, tea for two, 6 dishes, plus two veggie sides and dessert. The amount of food for the price was unreal compared to our usual dumpling spot that you can NEVER EvER get a reservation at (DTF). Food service was quick, waiter was helpful and friendly. The stars this restaurant has is well earned. Find this place at all cost.
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Danielle O.

Yelp
This place is sooo good I tried it for the first time a week ago and everything I got was a 10/10. I definitely recommend the Shanghai Xiao Long Bao, the green beans, and the chicken chow mein!!
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Benny W.

Yelp
This restaurant is located right across the street from Laguna Honda Hospital. There are plenty of free street parking spots around this establishment. We were greeted and seated by a friendly waiter upon entering the restaurant. There's a paper menu or you can also scan the QR Code to order as well. We ordered the tan tan noodles, Shanghai xiao long bao, big plate rib noodle, and Shanghai pan fried pork bao. The food came out in a timely manner. The tan tan noodles were flavorful, but there's nothing special about it. The skin for Shanghai xiao long bao was thin and it was soupy. The big plate rib noodle was very tasty. It came with plenty of tender pork ribs, potatoes, tomatoes, and big noodles. The noodles that they used were like the type that I would use to make lasagna with, which was quiet interesting. The Shanghai pan fried pork baos were the best that we ever had. They were piping hot when they got to our table. The skin for the bao was very thin, little chewy, and crunchy. It was kind of soupy in the inside. The prices are fairly reasonable and they were generous with the portions. We will definitely come back for the Shanghai pan fried pork bao and try their black truffle and pork xiao long bao.
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Rebeca A.

Yelp
We stopped here to eat, a hidden gem in my opinion. Parking is on the street, once you enter you sit and order using the QR code located on the table.They bring you the food and then you pay via your QR code. It's was a bit tight in there and it was full that's how we knew it was going to be good, we were right the food was amazing and didn't disappoint. We ordered spicy and regular steamed pork bao, steamed veggie dumplings, pan fried shrimp pot stickers and pan fried bao. Everything was cooked fresh and very flavorful. Really glad we came across this restaurant, if your in San Francisco give them a try.
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Harry W.

Yelp
A solid choice for XLBS, Pan Fried Buns and potstickers. Casual straightforward vibe here. You might have to wait on weekend nights. Attentive friendly service once you get seated. Good water service. We've been here a few times now, and our favorites are the Shanghai Pan Fried Buns and their long narrow pot stickers with the crispy fried bottoms. Yes, Dumpling joints seem to be popping up these days like flowers after a spring rain, and for us this is one of the better ones on this side of town. Highly recommend!
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Angela D.

Yelp
Shall I dare to say the best XLB in the city? It's pretty pretty good! Lots of soup, generous size dumpling and a generous portion of meat in each! 8 pcs for 14.99 Tea is extra, water is free. I personally did not like their Shenzhen bao, it was too doughy. Parking is street parking only, the parking lot is for SFMTA only. Service is typical of a Chinese establishment- there when you need them! 4 stars!
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Cynthia M.

Yelp
Whoa this place is legit. They had great noodles (and broth), dumplings, AND steamed buns. That's 3 different types of wheat that they are great at!!! Great service, lots of seating around opening time. I will definitely be back!
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Allena C.

Yelp
We went for a super early dinner on a Tuesday, since they're open all day. I've been meaning to try dumpling zone, but we don't frequent this area much, so this time, we made a point to come here. Parking was relatively easy. We found a space about a 1/2 block away. Since it was during an off hour, the servers were on break and waiting for customers. It was kind of dark and really quiet. I think they should have some music in the background to cut the silence. If no one talks, you could hear a pin drop! Took us a bit to figure out what we wanted. 3 of us finally decided on 4 dishes to share. ***OUR PICKS*** SHANGHAI XLB (8) ~ the skin was thin, yet doesn't break easily! And even the top did not become hard. One of the best XLB I've had. Though not the biggest. 5/5 SHANGHAI PAN FRIED PORK BAO ~ HOT! Be careful when eating these! You could burn your tongue. Nice and crispy on the bottom and juicy inside with soup. I think they're more like pan fried soup dumplings rather than a bao. Much lighter and less doughy to eat, IMO. Still very good texture. 5/5 GREEN ONION PANCAKES ~ Though I felt the green onion pancakes were a bit small for an order, they were nicely fried and very crispy! 4/5 BRAISED BEEF NOODLE SOUP ~ hand pulled noodles and perfect size for the noodles where they're not too thick. Flavorful broth with a slight numbing spice. But even those who can't take spicy foods can eat this. Decent amount of noodles in the bowl for 2-3 people to share. 5/5 Personally, I enjoyed everything we ordered. Though everything was eaten and no leftovers to bring home. Not entirely stuffed, but full enough. Roughly $20/pp with tip.
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Joelle C.

Yelp
Surprisingly solid dumplings! Similar menu to dumpling home, and not a huge difference in taste, especially for the pan fried dumplings. Good pricing and good noodles too. Service could've been better. I had to really wave down our waiter but it's not a huge deal. One thing is that the table was a little bit dirty so they could've done a better job at keeping the place clean.
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Hillary H.

Yelp
I was pleasantly surprised by this hidden gem located just behind Forest Hill station. Their XLBs were outstanding! It's wrapped super thinly and filled with a ton of juice. My favorite was the truffle XLB over the original XLB and I don't usually like truffle. The garlic string beans were also very tasty and the portions were generous. We also ordered the pan friend dumplings which were really good. The restaurant is clean and the servers were friendly. I highly recommend this spot if you're ever craving XLBs! This might be my new favorite dumpling spot in SF!
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Helena L.

Yelp
Friend and I are on the hunt for the best dumplings (soup + pan fried) and noodles in sf and may have found the best soup dumplings here. After trying all the popular dumpling joints, we finally made it to Dumpling Zone, it's in the burbs of sf but worth the trek and the prices are very reasonable for sf. We ordered the dan dan noodles, pan fried juicy pork buns, soup dumplings and had dessert with the egg custard buns. Dan dan noodles (3/5) - I like the heat of these, the noodles type was great but they were too al dente and the pork to noodle ratio was a bit off (too little). Pork soup dumplings (5/5) - thin wrapper, clean tasting/sweet porky broth, quality meat with the option of 4 or 8 dumps which is great if you want to try a bunch of dumplings Pan fried juicy pork buns (4/5) - just a bit overly doughy and burnt but the pork broth and pork was great! Egg custard bun (4/5) - kind of hard to mess these up since they were likely prior frozen but they were tasty and like dim sum ones The service was classic asian service aka dont expect too much but bet the food will be tasty and you will need to be assertive in asking for extra of anything (water etc). The place itself was pretty clean and has a decent amount of tables...no line :) Food: 4/5 Service: 3/5 Ambiance: 3/5 Value: 4/5
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Julie K.

Yelp
Swung by for a sit down dinner and tried the noodles again. Definitely was an off day the first time due to the holidays because the noodles were perfectly cooked today. Chewy, bouncy and delish. Other staples were, again, consistent. For sure will keep coming back. Quick, friendly service. Restaurant was spacious and bathroom was clean.
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Nicole N.

Yelp
Yummy food, very affordable prices, friendly staff, the location is just next to forest hill station, worth to try :)
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Gabi A.

Yelp
My friend said she heard this place was good, and when we walked in there was only one group on there, i don't know why. That place should've had a line out the door. The food is genuinely so delicious and flavorful, and really nicely priced. with tip and tax, we each only paid $23?! we got the pan fried bao, green onion pancake, and chicken chow mein. i can't wait to come back and try more!! Also, I can see this place being a 10/10 evening / night spot! I loved the vibe and will be back.
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Dianna H.

Yelp
Good spot for soup dumplings! I stopped by Dumpling Zone Friday evening around 6:30, and it wasn't too crowded. It's very close to the Forest Hill MUNI station for those taking public transit. I drove and was able to find easy street parking nearby. There is a small lot for the restaurant, but it's for SF MTA vehicles only, so don't bother trying to park there. I shared a couple items with a friend, including the beef noodle soup ($14.99), xiao long bao / soup dumplings ($14.99 for 8), and Shanghai pan fried pork bun ($12.99 for 6). Our favorite dish was definitely the soup dumplings - they were huge, with thin skin and bursting with delicious juice. The beef noodle soup and pork buns were solid as well but didn't quite stand out like the soup dumplings did. Portions are huge so come hungry. We weren't able to finish all of the pork buns and took the rest to go. Overall, Dumpling Hours is a great spot for a casual meal with friends. I'll definitely be back for more of those amazing soup dumplings!
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Darrell L.

Yelp
Get in the zone, Auto-I mean, Dumping Zone. I'm hesitant to write this review. I like being able to visit this place to eat delicious pan and steamed dumplings, well prepared greens, and crispy green onion pancakes, without waiting for a table. So you all better just keep going to Panda Express with your "bestie", while calling yourself a "foodie", and doing other annoying things that should be alluded to in quotes. Let me have my nice things.
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Linda T.

Yelp
Fresh, clean tasting, and delicious! Dropped by for a quick lunch on a Sunday. No wait. Ordering is easy through Toast app (QR Code on table) where you can order as you go and just add to the tab. Helps us from ordering way too much food. Soup dumplings are so clean tasting. Both the pork soup dumpling and the chicken dumpling were amazing. The pork dumpling was flavorful, while the chicken was lighter in taste. Both were full of soup. All of the pan fried dumplings we tried were also good. Seems like everything here is made expertly well. Definitely recommend

Kim T.

Yelp
These XLBs are next level. Easily on par or better than DTF Supreme or Home. Their sheng jian bao is also top tier. I'd gate keep this spot but I want the family that owns it to do well, so, get going to the best dumpling spot around without stupid waiting lists
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Melanie C.

Yelp
Highlights: * Great FRESH HOUSE-MADE Dumplings and Noodles! YEA!!!!!! * No MSG added - YEA!!!!! * Customer service: Nice and cordial * Pricing: Decent for the quality * Ambiance: Small, nice, clean interior, seating in two's and foursomes. * Offshoot of Mom's Dumplings near SFSU Not-so-great-but-what-can-be-done: * Parking: Tiny parking lot by the French bistro BUT don't count on it. Busy traffic T in front of DZ on Dewy Blvd with no parking in front. Most of their regulars are within walking distance. So residential street parking is it, if possible. Grab it and be conscientious of the residents. Dumpling Zone is related to Mom Dumpling's near SFSU. So if you like MD's then try this place across from Laguna Honda Hospital on Dewey Blvd. Same problem with parking. Quality-wise, Believe DZ has better food and customer service. Ordered to go: SHANGHAI PAN FRIED PORK BAO (6) - My current obsession! These are very nicely done with bao-to-filling/soup ratio. Do bite GENTLY into the bao or risk that sonic squirt of hot soup across who knows where! Entertaining but let's be gentle. Lol VEGETABLE DUMPLINGS (4) - will always order a veggie dumpling if it's on the menu. This one is a must order in that the veggies are distinct, well-seasoned and NOT mushy. Win-win! GARLIC CUCUMBERS - Garlic & cucumbers? What more can be said! This is heavily marinated in garlic so if you don't like garlic, maybe not for you. For me, bring it on! GREEN ONION PANCAKE (2) - This was also really good in flavor and flakiness but a tad oily. I'd order again. SOUR MUSTARD GREEN CHICKEN SOUP W/NOODLES - The sour mustard green caught my eye! A staple in my Mom's kitchen, when I find it on a menu I'd order it. BUT I was TOTALLY blown away by the fresh house-made noodles. Al dente with a bite, fresh noodle-ly goodness! Some of the chicken is bone-in but that adds to the complexity of this simple bowl of soup noodles. No problem for me. Order this and any of the soup noodles so you can slurp your way to heaven! VEGETABLE CHOW MEIN - wok-fired heavenly noodles with slivers of onion, good showing of green cabbage to add some crunch. Seasoned enough to tickle your palate. Again a simple dish of veggies and mein fired with good wok hei! Love this! All in all, navigate through the parking shortcomings and indulge in a meal of fresh made dumplings and noodles! See you there! P.S. No pictures, was ravenous! Will do better next visit.
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Enrique C.

Yelp
Everything is tasty and price is good. We had the scallion pancakes, vegetable dumplings, wonton dumplings and pork and shrimp pot stickers.... Yummy. Something for everyone. You have to order the scallion pancakes!
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Carolyn L.

Yelp
I was excited to try out this place in the neighborhood, and my uncle mentioned he liked it. I love a good Xiao Long Bao and Pan Fried Bao, so I had to check it out. The service is consistently good! They have a few tables inside, and the owner is pretty much running the shop. I've dined in and done takeout, and both experiences were good! My favorites are the Pan Fried Pork Baos, Fried Pot Stickers, Tomato Beef Dry Noodles, and the Big Plate Beef Noodles! The Pan Fried Pork Baos are flavorful and juicy! The potstickers have pork and shrimp, and they include whole shrimp! Both noodle dishes are super flavorful! The Big Plate Noodles have a tomato cumin taste with wide noodles, cooked to al dente! Overall, the prices are decent, the food is great, and it's a local business! Highly recommend this spot.
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Aileen L.

Yelp
Having seen some great things about dumpling zone, I came by for dinner around 6:30pm with two other friends, and despite it being busy, we were seated quickly at a table another party had just left. It's pretty spacious inside, with some tables along the wall with benches and others with just chairs. You order via QR code, and food gets brought out reasonably quickly. We got everything to share: -Hot and spicy sour mustard pork rib noodle soup ($14.99): this was a large bowl of delicious, rich noodle soup. The noodles were really long and had great chew; not sure if they're hand pulled but we really enjoyed this. There was a good amount of the pork ribs, and the broth was really savory and comforting. Perfect for sharing between the three of us! -Shanghai and Spicy xlb ($7.99, #4 per order): we preferred the original shanghai xlb, not because the spicy wasn't good, but because it didn't really stand out that much (it was more fragrant spice, than actually hot spicy). These xlb are larger than your typical xlb, and very high quality; the wrappers are perfectly thin, and full of rich broth inside. -Shanghai pan fried pork bao ($12.99, #6 per order): these are a bit different from your classic pan-fired bao, with relatively thin, less bready wrapper, and a really light, crisp on the bottom. These are also FULL of soup, and come out VERY hot (which they did warn us about), so definitely be patient! Overall, dumpling zone has probably the best xlb and bao I've had in SF! I will definitely be back and recommend anyone with a craving for xlb to come here.
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Danielle Y.

Yelp
This is such a hidden gem local to this neighborhood in a little plaza. The food is authentic and delicious. We went on a really hot day, when SF had a heat wave and it was extremely hot inside because there was no AC However, their service was fast. The food was delicious, I would definitely coming back here again.
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Nicole O.

Yelp
My husband and I had a great dinner here. Everything we ordered was good. Our server was friendly and attentive. We will definitely be back!
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Vinitha V.

Yelp
Was looking for a quick bite and found this place next to our airbnb. The dumplings were very authentic and flavorful and were cooked to perfection! The service was very convenient and the food came out quickly. Since we got there at 3 pm we were the only ones in the restaurant which was honestly really nice :) I would love to go back again!
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Sophia H.

Yelp
My boyfriend and I came here for dinner yesterday. We got here a little after 6pm. There were a few tables available so we didn't have to wait. We scanned the QR code and placed our order through the phone. We ordered a total of 6 dishes. Stir-Fried Green Bean: 3/5, green beans were a little mushy. They didn't taste as fresh and crunchy as we would have liked. Green Onion Pancake: 5/5, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Shanghai Pan Fried Pork Bao: 5/5, crispy bottom with some chewiness. The flavor of the pork and soup were good. TanTan Noodle: 3/5, I wanted to love this but I'm just not a big fan of the tingling and numbing effect from the sauce. Otherwise, the noodles had a great texture. Shanghai XLB: 4.5/5, good. This was pretty on par with other XLB I've had. I did like the pan fried pork bao more though. Snow Pea Shoots: 5/5, very yummy. Perfectly seasoned. This restaurant looks newly renovated. It's modern. Overall, this is a good spot for a casual lunch or dinner.
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Tommy L.

Yelp
We dined at Dumpling Zone in San Francisco, based on a friend's recommendation. The restaurant is located on a busy street, and while there's no parking lot, I was able to find a spot about a block away. The food was pretty good. All the dumplings were juicy and flavorful, which made them a standout. I also tried their tomato egg noodle, which was a nice addition to the meal. The place was not packed but there were a lot of people coming in for takeout, which is always a good sign. Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Dumpling Zone and would definitely come back again.
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James H.

Yelp
Ice cold beer. Spicy soup dumplings. Hot and sour soup. Chicken chow mein. All amazing good service and reasonably priced. A good place to go for lunch and dinner.
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Rey T.

Yelp
Super fast service and so friendly. You order from the QR code at your table and I liked the convenience of that for checkout time too. All the food was consistently delicious, nothing was lacking in flavor or dimension! All of the meats in each dish were seasoned well and had wonderful texture. The shop is small and quiet with a mom and pop shop vibe. I personally think it added to the experience by highlighting the food and not distracting with anything flashy. Highly recommend if you're in the mood for something comforting, delicious, and really cheap for the excellent quality of the experience.
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Justin H.

Yelp
Came here on a cold windy day and this place really brightened my day up. No wait and easy to use ordering system with their website! To start we got the garlic cucumber which was the shocker for me. It was sweet and vinegary which tasted delicious on its own. Usually I like to add soy sauce or vinegar but this was amazing in its own. We ordered the beef noodle soup and the texture of the noodles impressed me. Adding the chili oil enhanced the flavor a lot so i'm curious how their spicy version would compare. For dim sum I am generally positive. I didn't really like the crab& pork XLB ( i'm biased against them) and the har gow was underwhelming. Everything else though Id highly recommend. The pan fried shanghai XLB was probably my favorite. The service was speedy and the menu was consistently good, which puts it up there among sf's hard hitting list of dim sum spots.
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Mila J.

Yelp
The cutest/tastiest dumplings. We got the Shanghai pan fried pork dumplings, crab and pork XLBs and braised beef noodle soup. Each dish was delicious, served nice and hot. Paired with the vinegar and chili oil on the table is absolutely delicious. Plenty of seating inside, but may need to factor in some time to look for parking. The service is fast and friendly. Definitely coming back!
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Mike C.

Yelp
There was a burger place in this area. And then it was gone. I noticed the signage when they first opened but figured it was just another place catching the current dumpling trend. A friend dined here three or four months ago, knowing it was a five-minute drive from my home, and recommended I try it. Another friend mentioned dining here and enjoying it about a month later. I finally found a weekday morning on a Thursday to stop in after finding a street parking space a 1/2 block away. I was surprised to find the dining room already more than half full. I chose a table near the cashier's counter along the left wall. There is a QR sticker on the table but, being old school (see old), I chose my meal from the paper foldout menu. I started with the Shanghai pan fried bao (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=hi_ExXgO1fHkUFllJVerfg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) (sheng geen bao); I had a mishap after biting into my 1st dumpling at the wrong spot (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=23fNZNNvgxiperbN6rYNuA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) but I enjoyed eating two of these, saving the rest for the family at home. The bottom was perfectly crispy and browned while the squirt left no doubt about its juiciness. I dipped them in their house made chili sauce (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=OIBIKuH4kpk0iM8kUybqKw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) to challenge my taste buds. Wanting to get a taste of more items, I also tried the Shanghai Xiao Long Bao, 4 pcs. (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=TCKVrRj4NfhUYkczkwtDdg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q); these lived up to their billing as the juices in the dumpling were evident (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Edyid52JBbwINC5RbKVGtQ&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) and the skin thickness was on point. My main meal was the braised beef noodle soup (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=IkIMRalWxTsl3haaR56-Mw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q); the meat portion was more than generous which is why you didn't see the noodles until after a pull (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=-XsWo8IqYXTOBt_WjWkpLw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q). The meat is more of a stew or brisket texture and came with Shanghai bok choy pieces in a hearty broth that was not spicy. I was full after eating 2/3rds of it but finished it so I didn't need to pack it to go. I also ordered a hot & sour soup (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=zW9hN0tzducxm1mQiRFhMg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) takeout and cold appetizers for a friend, garlic cucumber and spicy bamboo shoots. The soup was made in the black vinegar recipe style and glazed with sesame oil. It was mildly spicy. Service was surprisingly fast given only one guy, Eddie, greeted, waited, bussed, and served as cashier in the dining room. Credit to you in handling it all. This gave me a family business feel. I believe this might be a spinoff from a popular spot near Lake Merced. Looking forward to getting dumplings for the family or try other items either dining in or bringing them home. *** Previous review removed and redrafted - a kind Yelper told me that the photo links did not work.
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Dana S.

Yelp
We came back here about week ago and everything was so different than our first experience. Our server who was the same person that served us the first time we came here barely acknowledged us or even helped us. We had to go up to the counter to ask for a highchair, to ask for water, a fork and a plate for our 3 year old.. I mean come on! They also now have it set up so that you have to order yourself at the table but nobody tells you this. They just stare at you peculiarly till you figure it out yourself. Very unprofessional. I don't understand restaurants like this where you have to pretty much do everything yourself besides make the food and then you're expected to leave 20%? The food itself was still good but soup dumplings weren't hot, won ton soup tasted like they dropped an opened bottle of soy sauce inside. The wontons were so good but it was way too salty. Maybe an off day for them. We were so excited to come back and so disappointed that we did.
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Jamie Z.

Yelp
A new favorite XLB spot added to my list! My friend easily made reservations for Sunday 11am right at opening for 2 a few days before. We were easily able to find parking on the same block up the hill with residential parking. There's a 2 hour limit on Mon-Fri. Solid spot for juicy, soupy piping hot XLB's! You can choose 4 or 8 dumplings per order. I really thought 4 would be too little, but they are bigger than what I'm used to. The dumpling skin was chewy, fresh and really held together. The string beans... ah, so garlicky and great portion size. What we ordered: 1. Shanghai Pan Fried Pork Baos (6 pc)* 2. Shanghai XLB Soup Dumplings (4 pc)* 3. Truffle Xlb (4 pc)* 4. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling (4 pc) 5. Garlic Green Beans* Everything was excellent, fresh and delicious. I highly recommend items I marked *! Interior was clean with high ceilings and lots of natural light from the large storefront windows. Really nice ambiance with Chinese music playing from the kitchen, and friendly service. Worth a visit!
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Cindy C.

Yelp
Looking for a restaurant similar to Dumpling Home? This spot is very comparable, a mom-and-pop shop stands out with its friendly staff, quick service, and easy ordering via QR code. We came on a Thursday night and got seated right away. The food arrived piping hot and delicious. You will find juicy dumplings here for sure. Some of my favorites included the Hot and Sour Soup, Pan-Fried Soup Dumplings, Shanghai Soup Dumplings with Pork, Crab soup dumplings, Cucumbers, and Pig Ears. I would skip the Spicy Wontons, though. Street parking was not too bad. Overall, I highly recommend will be coming back!
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Doreen C.

Yelp
This place honestly exceeded my expectations - this is probably gonna become my go-to spot for dumplings/bar related things! There are honestly so many different "dumpling ___" places in SF it's impossible to keep track of, but this place has been my favorite out of all the different ones I've tried so far! And here are the reasons: - their pan fried dumplings are so good, it's like a pan fried xiaolongbao almost. Super juicy. Highly recommend taking a small bite out to the top and suck all the juice out first before biting in though - not only do they do their dumplings and baos really well, the big plate noodle we got was so on point. The flavor was so balances - wasn't too sweet and with the perfect amount of savory and cumin. The noodles were super chewy too! - reasonably priced! I've been to so many overpriced dumpling places by now it's kinda sad how expensive they've gotten, but this place is actually still reasonable. Would definitely visit again!!! Highly recommend