Ugly Dumpling
Chinese restaurant · Linden ·

Ugly Dumpling

Chinese restaurant · Linden ·

Authentic Chinese flavors meet contemporary creativity; try soy garlic wings

Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null
Ugly Dumpling by null

Information

661 W Edgar Rd, Linden, NJ 07036 Get directions

$20–30

See Menu

Information

Static Map

661 W Edgar Rd, Linden, NJ 07036 Get directions

+1 908 257 0802
uglydumpling.us
@uglydumpling.us

$20–30 · Menu

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Last updated

Dec 13, 2025

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What the Critics Said About London Restaurants Last Week | Eater London

"A deeply imperfect, ludicrously inventive spot that mixes street‑food roots with bricks‑and‑mortar eccentricity, yielding wildly mixed results. The tiny, bright upstairs contrasts with a dingy basement and the execution can’t always match the idea — classic street‑food versions nearby often outclass the restaurant’s attempts — yet playful new plates frequently triumph: silky salmon with a zesty coriander dressing, a roast‑pepper sauce that pulls together a halloumi filling, and an “exceedingly silly” cheeseburger dumpling that somehow works. With winning prices, strong side dishes and hit‑and‑miss desserts, it’s a flawed but exciting place buoyed by overheated inventiveness." - George Reynolds

https://london.eater.com/2018/7/9/17547778/london-restaurant-reviews-giles-coren-marina-oloughlin-fay-maschler-jay-rayner
Ugly Dumpling

hanah L.

Google
food was really good. the sauces were good as well. the ribs were a little too tough for my liking however my boyfriend really enjoyed it. the place was clean and nice environment/ambiance. place was pretty empty. the noodles with the spicy sauce was amazing. the noodles had a nice bouncy texture. wish we could say the same about our server. we went yesterday on a monday around 2. it was our first time. she didn’t explain the menu to us or tell us it was happy hour. we realized after we got the bill. she kept walking away before we could even finish fully ordering and finishing our sentence. she didn’t come up to us to ask if we needed anything or just to check up on us, we had to flag her down just to order more.we don’t know her name bc she never introduced herself.

Uyen L.

Google
Food was alright. Not terrible, not amazing. Surprisingly, our least favorite item was the steamed soup dumplings. The skin was good though. Chewy and delicate as it should be. However, the main concern was the state of the bathrooms (yuck) and the trash on the floor in the eating area that was never swept up. It was clear the tables had been cleaned, but there were dirty napkins and papers from straws right in front of the tables near the front of the restaurant. Saw it when we came in. Saw it when we left. There's no way the staff didn't see it lol. Server was very attentive and nice. Service was 5/5. Evrything else was average. Probably wouldn't come here again.

Safiya L.

Google
Everything I ordered was good! From the cucumber salad, to the soy garlic wings and beef noodle soup. Sara was an amazing waitress! I’m only knocking off a star because they didn’t have any shrimp entrees available when I went. I did a full video review on my Youtube channel: Safiya Lin

Fitzy-Jack G.

Google
I highly recommend Ugly Dumpling because of the delicious and affordable food options they have. Excellent customer service received from Gregory D!! He is absolutely an amazing server!! We will be coming back for more!! Awesome ambiance, beautiful decors, hip music and amazing servers. I also would like to give extra thanks to Miller... Overall, we are so happy with the whole experience!!

Setira G.

Google
Greg was such a great server. He recommend the shrimp and pork dumpling which were my absolute favorite. Also I really enjoyed the beef noodles that he recommended. He was very attentive and nice. Great service paired with great food = a great night!

Andrea R.

Google
I always have a great experience coming here and the chicken dumpling soup is 10/10, today Julia K was our server and she was so attentive and nice to me and my sister. I felt like we were long time friends chatting about our favorite items in the menu! hope you have the pleasure of getting her as your server when you come dine here. also the soy garlic wings are to die for!

Angel C.

Google
We loved having Tashika as our server! She was very friendly and nice ❤️. The food is always delicious and service is always fairly quick. The atmosphere is very good and the open kitchen window is also very cool to look at! Thanks Tashika <3

QueenBNYNJ B.

Google
I was in the mood for buns. Decided to try this spot as it has been on my list of places to try. New to the neighborhood. I came on the right day and right time. Happy hour from 2-6! Half price appetizers and some drinks. Karen O. Was amazing. She talked me through the menu and provided excellent service. The food came out quickly and was so fresh. Ordered way more than I intended because of the price but I will enjoy my left overs tomorrow. Dumplings and wings were my fave! The ambience is very modern. So excited about my new local spot! Bringing my friends and family next time.
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Leah A.

Yelp
This restaurant was an unexpected find in a shopping mall area full of chain restaurants. One side of the restaurant has a wall-length bar, and the other side has bright but cozy booth seating. Our server was very friendly and helpful, even explaining some of the menu items in Spanish. We ordered the soup dumpling sampler, shrimp fried rice, and garlic green beans. Our server recommended the chicken fried dumplings, so we tried those as well. Every thing was beautifully presented, fresh, and delicious! The beans were flavorful and perfectly al dente, and the fried rice was fluffy, not greasy. The soup dumpling sampler is a nice way to try all of the options; my favorite was the truffle one. My friend and I felt the portions were a good size for the price, and were very happy with our meal. One tip: I asked for small dipping bowls to eat the soup dumplings. This allowed us to cool the broth while retaining it in the bowl before eating the dumpling.
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Susan S.

Yelp
Was craving dumplings especially with the cooler weather so I stopped by here with my family. Interior is surprisingly modern, clean, and nice. I love how there's a prep area where you can see the chefs prepping the dumplings (something about watching them prep makes me more hungry haha). Lots of seats and they have some booths which were comfy and cozy feeling. Lots of parking as well. Service was decent - I was seated quickly. Servers were nice and tried to check up on you but at times they did forget some things and when I do end up needing something, they were hard to get a hold of. We ordered a few appetizers which were okay, decent. I wish the cream cheese rangoons were crispier or had a thicker skin because I felt like the filling overwhelmed the entire appetizer. The popcorn chicken tasted like Taiwanese popcorn chicken- flavorful and salty. I sort of wish they came with a sauce (maybe like a spicy mayo or sweet chili) but I know that's not always the case. I ordered their spicy wontons and I was a tad disappointed. I usually like my dumplings piping hot and I felt like they were getting cold and dried out. The sauce was not spicy enough and it was too salty for my liking unfortunately. The braised beef noodle soup was decent. Braised beef was definitely flavorful. Overall, a decent experience. On the slightly pricier side for dumplings, maybe I'll come back to try their soup dumplings but I'm a harsh critic because there are very good soup dumpling places in NJ for a lesser price.
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Yu H.

Yelp
It is a bit overrated. The service is ok, tables are spacious and not that much crowded. Their dumplings are just ok, nothing outstanding other than colorful. Of course better than frozen.
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Victoria M.

Yelp
My friend and I came here for dinner on a Saturday night and only had to wait about 5 minutes which was super fast. We ordered the scallion pancakes, pan fried pork buns, shrimp stir fried noodles, and garlic green beans. For drinks I got such a great lychee martini and my friend got hot tea, and green milk tea. The service was a little weird because we got food before our drinks even hit the table but the stir fried noodles were super good and if you add some chili oil they provide on the table it just hits the spot when you're really craving noodles. Do I wish the shrimps were regular sized instead of the little baby shrimps that it comes with ? Absolutely, but I still would definitely order it again. The scallion pancakes were a miss for the both us because there's barely any scallions in the actual pancake it's mostly just batter. The garlic string beans are always a hit for me - they're just soooo delicious! I think my fav of the night though were the pan fried pork buns. The bun itself is just so fluffy and pillowy but still crispy and the pork filling is just perfectttt 10 out of 10!
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Huai E.

Yelp
Soup Dumplings: Good, flavorful and very juicy with pork Had the braised beef noodles: not as authentic, very salty, broth is not beefy. Had better ones in Flushing. Stir fry string beans: too salty, not so edible Shrimp Noodles: was alright but lack some flavor Popcorn Chicken: too dark, too salty Fortune cookie cheesecake: sweet and chocolate ty. Approved Service was ok not great, the staff were more concerned with talking amongst themselves. Though manager came to check on us once. Interior was modern and unique with yellow and red. Overall there are better places in Fort Lee, Flushing and Palisades Park
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Luis R.

Yelp
I absolutely love this place. Now don't get me wrong, they are not the best i ever had but they are really really good. I sampled like seven menu items and I'll list them by favorite to least. The spicy wontons awesome, soup dumplings sampler great, soy garlic wings incredible and juicy, fried chicken dumplings great full filling but somehow still light, chicken fried rice yum, chicken and broccoli good, diced beef and schezuan chili good. The service was a little slow but he was great and its kinda chill place to hang out.
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Sean C.

Yelp
This has been my go-to spot for fried rice and dumplings for a while. Very affordable to feed your family without it being too pricey. The food is delicious and the service is amazing. I usually get the beef fried rice, salt & pepper chicken, soup dumplings and spicy wontons. Every so often you can use you point to get boundaries items or some rewards, which I appreciate The location is clean and inviting. The music can be a tad bit too loud in some areas but other than that, I love the place no less.
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Nehal A.

Yelp
We were back at Ugly Dumplings again for a weekend family lunch. As usual the restaurant wasn't too busy around noon. The dining section and the bar still had the fresh glossy appearance. We ordered some of usual favorites, a whole lot of soup dumplings. I love the red (chicken) ones. We also got to know they have a secret flavor for the chicken wings, little bit spicy flavor. We also tried their new future menu item crab rangoon. It was so delicious. The middle was filled with flavorful cream and a yummy sauce on the side. Our server was super friendly. Drinks and food were served in such quick time. And of course I got to use my cash rewards towards the check, plus earned more cash reward for having their Toast membership.
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Wei H.

Yelp
Came for lunch on a Saturday. Love the decoration at the entrance and calligraphy on the walls. Upon arrival, the host greeted us and brought us to the table. The waitress was very friendly and attentive. She recommended cream cheese Rangoons that's not on the menu yet. It was actually quite good. We also had soup dumplings, fried rice, noodles, karage and wings. All flavorful and we finished every plates.
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Tee C.

Yelp
The food was so delicious! I love that you can see the team members making dumplings on site. I was super hungry when I got there and the food did not disappoint! I loved everything. The flavors were bold and delicious. I had the fried dumplings , garlic soy chicken wings, garlic string beans, and the Shrimp fried rice. Our server was Kevin and he was super nice. Overall I would give this place a 10 out of 10! Great service, amazing food! It was clean, and trendy.
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Jamarr R.

Yelp
I was excited to try this place, but it was a disappointment. pros: Parking is adequate, food portions are decent, service was standard. Cons: The food! I'll start with the appetizers. The ribs were mostly bone and tasted as if they were reheated. The dumplings and wontons were ok, but lacked flavor and I will not order either again. The soy chicken was the only dish my wife and I enjoyed. Those were really good. Now the mains. I had the Pork Chop Fried Rice and my wife had the shrimp stirfry noodles. My food came out luke warm. It may have tasted better if it was hot. I may give this dish another try. The stirfry noodles were chewy and we couldnt tolerate eating it. The only dish we finished were the wings and we didnt bother with to-go containers.
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Eloy Y.

Yelp
Paying homage to the centuries-old cooking techniques of Shanghai, this establishment went from modest street snacks to amazing dishes. Located at Aviation Plaza in Linden, I've returned to Ugly Dumpling, which is a restaurant chain and has truly set a new standard for Chinese cuisine in the area where a few of my colleagues came for lunch today during their soft opening. Greeted by the host, we got a table immediately. Their interior featured a huge dining area, a bar, and a bao station where diners can watch chefs make dumplings, wontons, and dim sum in a contemporary design that was well-lit with lots of natural light exposure. With its signature dish being Xiao Long Bao, a Chinese dumpling filled with rich, delicious soup broth served in bamboo steaming baskets, their menu mirrors Din Tai Fung in Midtown Manhattan with dim sums, wontons, fried rice, noodles, salads, and desserts, but with much more reasonable pricing. We decided on the Cucumber Salad, Green Beans with Garlic, Chicken Fried Rice, Ugly Dumpling Sampler, and Pork, Shrimp, and Spinach Dumplings to share. The food presentation was simple and clean. Everything was fresh, hot, and delicious. First timer for some of us on having the Cucumber salad, which was unique and flavored really well. Each dumpling filling was bursting with flavor, and the wrapper was perfectly cooked. One of the standout aspects of our visit was the exceptional service from Jeff, our server, who was incredibly helpful, friendly, and attentive. He guided us through the menu with expertise. We also had the pleasure of exchanging words with the manager, Robert. We had a wonderful dining experience and can't wait to try others on the menu, which we can recommend.

David R.

Yelp
Service was ok but the food was good. Wish the hot sauce was spicier. Will come back for the dumpling soup next week!
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Chris L.

Yelp
Came here for lunch with my #1 work place associate on my final work day of 2024. She been asking to come try this place even though I didn't like my time at the former quaker steak and lube in Edison. This location used to be the dragonfly which I also dined at my final work day of 2023 with other work place associates. The owner definitely put a lot of $ into the dragon outside. The decor inside is also very well done. this caught my friend's attention but I only care about the taste and price ratio when I dine. I'm there for the food not to have my retirement baptism bar mitzvah or conversation. I hate when I look up a recipe on YouTube, I get 15 mins of the inspiration of the recipe. Cut the yapping and get to the point. (See first sentences about why I dined here. See how annoying it was?) Anyways, we ordered and shared scallion pancakes and I forget which type of soup dumplings. Overall they were just okay. We also ordered a noodle dish each but we did not share. I got the minced pork one I believe. I don't really remember the flavor was not that flavorful. I think a lot of the remainder of the water from cooking the noodles muted the sauce. Also, the portion was on the small side for me. I think my main problem is that they are elevating Asian cuisine but at the expense of the authenticity and taste. We determined this is a perfect fit for a corporate lunch. There's a large private room for special events. There's a full bar to drink your depression away. I would not come back for soup dumps or noods soups. My Chinese mom didn't raise a gwai lo. But, 5 stars of you have a group work lunch on the company's corporate card.
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Jean G.

Yelp
Ugly Dumpling opened in Linden on 12/2/2024. I was able to order through Doordash and the pickup was a breeze. The location is great and has tons of parking. I was able to see a glimpse of the restaurant's interior and wow it's chef's kiss! It is clean, modern and very picturesque! I ordered three things from the menu. I was craving some fried rice so the Pork chop with fried rice hit the spot. I am not a fan of the texture of the sticky rice in siumai so I might skip on that in the future. The chicken and mushroom bun was also good and fresh! Overall, I cannot wait to go back and eat in the restaurant with friends and try all the other menu items!
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Benson Y.

Yelp
Ugly Dumpling is a chain of restaurants that marries various aspects of Chinese cuisine including Dim Sum, Soup Dumplings and noodle dishes. I have previously gone to their Edison location but it was always so crowded I never got to actually eat inside of it. It was a shame because the interior was beautiful. The colors lean towards light wood colors with some brilliant lighting and bamboo steamer based decor. Fast forward to today and my partner and I decided to see if this Ugly Dumpling was open yet. Previously it was a place where you could grille your food at the table. Before that it was a steakhouse. It turns out that they did a soft opening on December 2, 2024 so by this visit they had only been in operation for five days. Keep that in mind throughout this review as any restaurant in its early stages of opening will have some wrinkles to iron out. The interior decor of this location was similar to the Edison location complete with a large Art Deco inspired bar to the left, booth seating and table seating. A room off to one side looks like it could be reserved for a private party (though I did not confirm that with the staff, I'm just guessing). The lighting and decor was beautiful and it was kind of funny to me to realize I was seeing the interior of this space in its third incarnation (I've lived in this area just *that* long!). The staff was very friendly and told us we'd have a 20 minute wait, but really we only waited five. We were seated quickly and our waitress was immediately at our table ready to answer questions about the restaurant. She was very eager to do a good job and I appreciated that. The only hiccup with service involved ginger. When we ordered our soup dumplings, we were offered (and accepted) ginger with to come with them. However, when they came there was no ginger and it took a while for us to get the attention of someone to bring it to us so take note: if you want ginger with your soup dumplings, make sure to tell the person who brings them to you! We ordered quite a few items to get a good idea of what the place had to offer. Here's a rundown: Soy Garlic Wings I LOVE wings as an appetizer so I was looking forward to these. They were nice and crisp and the soy garlic flavor was wonderfully savory with a light sweetness. These are on my "must order again" list. Pork & Sticky Rice Shumai Perhaps the only real disappointment of the night. The sticky rice was a bit too mushy and I couldn't really taste the pork. I much prefer the dumplings they make at Magic Grill in Garwood. Pan Fried Pork Buns Not bad, but not amazing either. These buns had a beautiful golden brown on the pan fried side but oddly they did not have the crisp you would expect. The flavor was okay but I find the pan fried buns made at Kam Man in Edison to be tastier. Noodles with Spicy Sauce This dish has white noodles in a sauce that appears to combine soy sauce and hot chili oil. It was simple but tasty (but it did not quite reach the flavor level of the spicy soup noodle I got in Chinatown in my youth). Worthwhile to try if you like spice. Noodles with Minced Pork Sauce This is a classic dish served in many restaurants in Chinatown. This version was similar with white noodles, minced pork and tofu in a brown sauce. However, the traditional version of this has a much thicker and more savory sauce. This was actually a bit "watered down" in flavor compared to the one I'm used to but it was still good. Pro-tip: Mix this dish with the Noodles with Spicy Sauce and you get something fun and tasty! Pork & Crab Soup Dumpling Kudos to the structural integrity of these soup dumplings. The skin holding together is something many soup dumpling places simply do not get right but Ugly Dumpling does a great job with them. Each dumpling I had held together perfectly! These are slightly smaller than the ones I am used to getting in Chinatown, resulting in one bite instead of two. They did not have a lot of the soup/liquid inside but there was some and the flavors were good. I'd give these a solid B. Pork, Shrimp & Spinach Soup Dumpling Similar comments to the Pork & Crab in terms of structural integrity and the amount of soup/liquid inside each dumpling. Still, the shrimp flavor was good. Overall I really enjoyed my experience at Ugly Dumpling. For a place only at the Soft Opening phase I'm impressed by how well they've got their act together and how good the food was. I am also happy to see an Asian eatery like this open in this area. The next closest place is 1-9 Seafood down the 1-9 but their offerings are very different in style and quantity. You may want to call before you go since they are only in the Soft Opening phase. We were told that they plan a Grand Opening in January at a date to be determined. I look forward to another visit!
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Freddie Z.

Yelp
The food is totally gross. The liquor choices are bottom shelf. The service is atrocious never ever make this a stop first and last time.
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Donye A.

Yelp
Food was sooooooo good. Love thise soup dumplings and the spicy chicken dumplings. Our server was Amazing!!! He will likely be a requested server anytime we go. Great personality, and very helpful with anything we needed and great recommendations. The place had a very beautiful design to it. Will definitely be back.
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Rilie F.

Yelp
Kicking myself that I don't have any pictures from my two visits here, but both times I have been, it has been delicious. I will say it was a little on the slower end one of the times but that it's okay. Worth it for yummy food, and good service. The sampler of the XLB is great because you get to try every flavor and see what you like for next time! I will say, you can skip on the boba, I tried two and it wasn't the best. Everything else is absolutely amazing though
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Sinthia S.

Yelp
Not sure If this was a miss because of the little amount of food, or the lack of variety/flavor. This is by no means a traditional Asian establishment. It is mostly Americanized with very small portions and no authentic flavor. I was so excited to try and love this place! The Scallion pancake was so disappointing! Usually the best and easiest crowd pleaser, it came cold and without any real scallion flavor and deep fried which I did not enjoy that extra crunch unfortunately. The dumplings were okay without much flavor as well. The portion of fried rice was literally a small bowl and that is supposed to be an entre?! So small could not fill anyone up! The server was nice and cordial but sorry to say, this is a one and done for me.
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Natty C.

Yelp
I had a really good experience here with amazing service. I would definitely return. It looked like they had some good lunch specials.
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Meghann A.

Yelp
Great experience! Service was good. There was plenty of space on a Sunday. Went with my family. We got several appetizers (did not get to take photos of them unfortunately) which were delicious. The scallion pancakes and string beans with garlic were very good. The vegan dumplings were tasty. I had the chicken fried rice which was very plentiful & filling! Prices were great. Good place.
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Natalie B.

Yelp
we ordered pork dumplings, the ribs and orange chicken and rice. The best thing about the dinner was we got the food fast. and once we got it, we saw why. The portions were very tiny. there was absolutely no meat on the ribs. It was all bone and grizzle. my husband kept saying it tasted like it was covered in Coca-Cola. he kept telling me I could take his if I wanted. The orange chicken was OK. The three of us just split that .. because after one bite of the pork dumplings, I didn't want that either.. I did eat the rice cause you can't mess that up.
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Amanda C.

Yelp
First Ugly Dumpling experience and we were not disappointed! Took a chance of going on Valentine's Day...Quickly sat and our order was in and on the table in 20 minutes. Nadia was a peach and attentive! Love the decor and the vibe! I highly recommend trying something new at least once a week!
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Ashley F.

Yelp
I kept seeing ads in general about Ugly Dumpling both on Hulu and social medias, so I felt as if that was a sign I had to come here, and I am SO glad I did!!! My partner and I were seated immediately to a booth which was so beautiful. Our server came maybe a couple of minutes later at most, and she immediately apologized for taking a while to finally come to us, which surprised us considering she did not take long at all + the restaurant really was busy! Honestly my partner and I appreciated how hard she seemed to be working but still made sure she was on top of her tables (she was so nice!!). We ordered the Szechuan Pork Soup Dumplings, the Noodles w/ Diced Beef and Szechuan Peppers, and the Chicken Stir Fried Noodles. For drinks, I just had a water and my partner had a strawberry yogurt drink. For the dumplings and Szechuan noodles, I was expecting them to be more spicy, but it was delicious! There is hot chili oil, vinegar, and soy sauce on the table if you need to add any extra flavor, which really helped! The noodles + dumplings were so soft and delicious that I would have ordered more if I could, but we were full! The strawberry yogurt drink was also the perfect level of sweetness (for us), and I am considering of getting this the next time I stop by! I would have loved to stay extra as well as I was amazed by the really pretty decor and overall vibes, but we had somewhere else to go. Our server was quick with grabbing our check and overall was so kind throughout our time here. The manager also ended up checking on us briefly before we left regarding our food, which really made us appreciate how great the service was, although we were already very grateful for our server. Can't wait to go back and try more dishes soon!:)
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Sharm S.

Yelp
What a beautiful new addition to Linden! Had the pleasure of visiting for lunch yesterday. Love the glass window kitchen where you can watch them make dumplings. Soup dumplings are obviously a must. Also try the cucumber salad, wontons, noodles and have a boba! The strawberry with strawberry bubbles was delish. The space is huge and clean and staff was so friendly. Also very reasonably priced. Enjoy!
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Jlorton21 ..

Yelp
God awful service. Family of 5, only 3 peoples meals ever came out. We got tired of waiting after an hour and left. Manager "credited" us for the meals we never got, like it was out of the kindness of his heart. I will NEVER come here again and laugh when it closes.

Leslie G.

Yelp
Food was semi-grade. We got the most popular items on the menu and for them being the most "popular" they were subpar. Service was fast, we got them pretty quick. The overall look of the place was cozy and looked very nice. Looks better than it tastes.
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Paula J.

Yelp
My new favorite restaurant! This evening my daughter and chose Ugly Dumpling in Linden NJ to meet for dinner. Based on the reviews, I was excited and it did not disappoint! The service was top notch! Fendi, our server was fantastic. He was training a new server and that was perfectly fine with us. The decor and ambiance of the restaurant was fresh, clean, bright and new! You knew you were in a Dim Sum restaurant, the decor was themed in a good way. Now for the he reason for the visit, the food. For starters we had the soy ginger wings and the string beans with garlic sauce, yes string beans as an appetizer! They were both full of flavor. Who knew string beans could be an app!? The soy ginger wings were crispy yet tender and the sauce was delicious! Next we had the soup dumplings, I had the pork and shrimp dumplings along with the crystal shrimp dumplings and my daughter had the pork dumplings and the pork shrimp and spinach dumplings, delicious does not adequately describe them. Our cocktails were the lychee Martini and the dragon 75. For dessert we shared the cheesecake bomb. Everything is fantastic. On our way out the manager Jose asked how our experience was and thanked us for coming. I will be back soon.
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Isabel A.

Yelp
We finally got to check out the new Ugly Dumpling in Linden! We happened to visit on a night when they had a DJ, which made for a really fun and lively atmosphere. I'm a big espresso martini fan, so of course, I had to try theirs--but sadly, it missed the mark. It was super watered down and had an unexpected chocolatey taste. Even just looking at it, I had a feeling it wasn't going to be great, so that was a bit of a letdown. Thankfully, the fruity yogurt drink totally made up for it--so refreshing and delicious! And the dumplings? Absolutely the stars of the night. The soup dumplings were packed with flavor, and the pan-fried ones were crispy, tasty perfection. I'd come back just for those! Definitely worth a visit if you're a dumpling lover, and I'd love to come back and try more from the menu!
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Frank P.

Yelp
Greg was a great waiter. Food is always good. Order the ugly sampler if you haven't been here before.
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Na'Mira Crosby C.

Yelp
I have been to this ugly dumpling twice since it opened, obviously it's a winner. Honestly I haven't had anything on their menu that is bad. The edamame is salted to perfection, both the pork and shrimp fried rice are delicious (and shareable), but what I cannot not order is the brown sugar boba. Just thinking about it honestly makes me want to go order it. One critique would be on the dumplings. Don't get me wrong they're good, especially the chicken dumplings, but they get cold very quickly. The waiters typically take the basket cover after bringing the dumplings. I think they should leave it so the dumplings can stay warmer. Other than that this place is definitely a must try.
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Julia B.

Yelp
Honestly, I would've given this place five stars based on the bartender alone. Anastasia was warm, attentive, and kind--she made me feel completely comfortable. I only stopped in to wait for my takeout I ordered the sampler platter and dumpling soup. The real standout, though, was the bar experience. Anastasia was not only knowledgeable about the drinks, but she also shared her favorite one to make, which added a nice personal touch. Her energy really made me want to stay longer. I ended up trying more than one drink--and they were all great. The passionista was great! Bottom line: come for the drinks and the atmosphere, not necessarily the food.

Sage M.

Yelp
Delicious!!! My server was Charlie and he was AMAZING! Warm, welcoming and so funny! The food was so good! I can't wait to come back! The restaurant was so pretty, the lights were not too bright. Me and my best friend was there for over two hours. OH! And we both had the Jasmin tea DELICIOUS!!! And a passion fruit bubble tea with mango AMAZING! I really can't wait to go back!!!
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Maurice R.

Yelp
Better than average unique foods in a cozy place with cordial service. Our server was quick and efficient taking and processing our order in a reasonable time. Food was hot and tasty.
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Shweta C.

Yelp
I have been to the Edison branch about 4 times so I was really excited to try the Linden branch for a Galentines with my friends. We ordered the garlic string beans, spicy pork and shrimp wontons, scallion pancakes, 2 dumpling samplers, szechuan pork xlb, baby back ribs, chicken noodles from the wok, and also cucumber salad. Unfortunately the service was really unorganized and we had to repeat and reorder some things a few times and the cucumber salad was out of stock which was a huge disappointment, as I feel like that's the star of the show. The food was okay, but definitely not up to par with the Edison branch. The ambiance is cool but nothing to really write home about. I expected better after visiting the Edison branch, so maybe comparison is the thief of joy here, but this really hardly compares to their other branch. I noticed this branch does have a bar which is cool, I didn't happen to order anything but I'm sure it must be good. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be back to this location, but I do hope they keep the quality as great as their other location because everyone deserves to experience that for sure!
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Imani L.

Yelp
Okay so, it's a chain BUT it's a delicious chain. The prices seem too good to be true because realistically, in this economy everything is like a million dollars but the foods actually great. Reasonable prices, nice vibes, a bunch of options, and great service. I really hope this place keeps it up and doesn't fall off after a few months. It's unfortunate when things like that happen. But I've tried just about every dumpling they have too offer, the chicken and shrimp were my faves. If you're craving dumplings or a fast casual bite but don't want to travel super far, this is a nice way to meet your craving.
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Lizanny R.

Yelp
Server was very friendly and helpful. Always attentive to the table. His name was Fendy. The food was pretty good. Some stuff was a bit salty but still tasteful. The decor was very airy and inviting. I would definitely come back.
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Yvonne V.

Yelp
Went to lunch with two other people on a Thursday afternoon. Beautiful restaurant. Cool vibes inside. Completely different from the previous restaurant that was there. We were seated in a booth next to a window where we could watch ladies in an open space making fresh dumpling dough, that was cool. Also, there was vinegar, soy sauce and hot chili oil condiments on every table. Our group ordered the soup dumplings sampler, braised beef soup, chicken fried rice, soy wings, cucumber salad, and spring rolls. I'll tell the good, the bad, and the ugly (IMO) I'll start with the good. #1 was the soup dumplings sampler. Delicious and fresh (not ugly). We followed instructions on the menu on how to use the condiments for the dumplings. Delicious! The soy wings were good. The cucumber salad was good. The spring rolls were hot, crispy and not greasy...very good. Also, I tried the honey lemonade. First time trying that flavor. Really good. You can taste the subtle honey flavor and the lemonade was not too sweet. Great flavor combination. Very good. The service was great. The staff was friendly, food came out pretty quick, and our server was well informed about the menu. Unfortunately I didn't care for the braised beef soup. But the least favorite dish we ordered was the chicken fried rice. Visually, it was very unappealing...the chicken had NO color and no seasoning, and no flavor. The rice and vegetables in the rice also looked equally as bland and seasonless and sad. The premise being that you add condiments from the table...basically seasoning it yourself. We didn't care for that idea. Even after adding seasoning, it was Not good tasting either. Bill was $113 plus $20 tip. All in all I would go back one more time for the dumplings and maybe try other dishes.
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Benny.mimi M.

Yelp
Great food nice ambience service is great. Food arrives quickly. Try the orange chicken, the ugly shrimp fried rice and ugly dumpling sampler. The ribs were a bit over cooked.
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Christy R.

Yelp
Ambiance: bright, fun, music, lively. Menu: simple, not overwhelming. Meant to share or eat per dish. Food: very good! Dumplings appetizers were great. Shredded beef noodles was a generous bowl and very tasty with fresh veggies in it. Noodles with sesame peanut sauce was very good. Spicy beef shishito pepper soup was very good and very spicy. Desserts: mochi was great and lava cake was amazing. Service: Isabella our waitress was excellent. All dishes came out separate because kitchen was backed up, but it was fine. Not her fault. Prices: not bad. Reasonable. 3 adults, 2 apps, 3 entrees and 2 desserts for 80 with tip. Overall: pleasantly surprised and would come back.

Christy L.

Yelp
We've driven by this location a handful of times and have always wanted to try it. We decided we would try it today on our way back from the Woodbridge center. The interior and exterior is nice and clean but food and service is left to be desired 1) My husband and I came in with a stroller and our 4 month old daughter. The hostess seated us at a 4 person booth with no room to put our stroller. Our daughter was sleeping and we kindly asked if there was another seat where the stroller would not block the walkway for other diners - we were told flat out no. As a bigger establishment, I would hope for more accommodating seatings for families. Her recommendation was to take our sleeping daughter out of the stroller (thanks?) 2) Food - portion sizes are small and soup dumplings don't have much soup. Will not be returning.
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Samantha P.

Yelp
im so happy theres a linden location bc it was really hard to travel all the way to the Edison location!! ugh i cant say enough about this place, my husband and I LOVED the food. the dumplings, string beans with garlic were so tasty. and we loved the popcorn chicken, i think that was our favorite thing on the menu. this was my second time coming here and I am always pleased with the staff. the clean and beautiful atmosphere is perfect for a date night or just a spot to hang out with family and friends. 10/10 would recommend!
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Papa A.

Yelp
I came here for my birthday and it was amazing the service is beautiful and they are so kind the food was delicious if you go i recommend the strawberry ice sweet creme with strawberry popping boba it's to die for same with the fried pork chop ramen
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Yesenia R.

Yelp
I'm so happy we have one closer to home! I usually visit their Edison location, but the traffic can make it quite a trip. I absolutely love their dumplings - they're always fresh, the broth is savory, and the filling is perfectly portioned. My other favorites are usually any of the noodles, the vegetable fried rice, and the ribs. The interior is beautiful and welcoming. I really love Ugly Dumpling and am so happy now I can go more often!
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Jorge C.

Yelp
Excellent food at a reasonable price point. Wait staff and managers are very friendly and super accommodating. We had a wonderful time we will be back. Murad was truly amazing
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Just S.

Yelp
Our server Jeff was fantastic, pleasant, funny, all round great person. Ambiance & decor is 10/10, I chose the tamarind whiskey smash as a cocktail & wasn't disappointed. We ordered pork & shrimp shumai, 10/10, fried chicken dumplings-10/10, Szechuan pork dumpling-10/10, soy garlic wings 10/10, steam chicken and mushroom bun -6/10 Hot&sour soup 5/10. Will definitely visit this location again as the food and service did not disappoint.
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Betty R.

Yelp
When you first enter there are at least 4 people at the front desk to greet you. It is fairly new so it was pretty empty but was super clean. Esthetically it is very large bright and casual. Very friendly staff. All young kids - food was ok. Not a lot of flavor in the dishes. We had the classic dumplings and the veggie wontons. The wonton soup. The shrimp fried rice and the general Tsao's chicken with white rice. I would return and give them another try - see if they ironed out some of the problems.

Tony A.

Yelp
Honestly, I have nothing bad to say about this place. I've won about four times and each of those times I've been met with the best service Food in hospitality.