First off, stop the presses. Let me set up the scene for you. I was headed to Sephora and wanted to see if my cousin and his wife were available and in the area. Turned out they were headed my way and 30 minutes later, we met up and ended up having dinner here. Synchronicity- Check! It was a perfect Spring day and since we had the dog with us, we were seated outside and in the sun. We started with a white wine and ordered shrimp toast, scallion noodles that came with a fried egg, shishito peppers, chili pork and garlic dumplings and an assortment of dumplings- all of it I cannot even name. All I'm sure of that as the dishes were coming out one by one, they were beautifully presented, and every portion that I had for myself was amazing. And this wasn't even the alcohol talking-- it was pure love of the flavor that I was experiencing in my mouth. Not only were we sitting in the setting sun's warmth and glow, but we were having catch-up conversation and enjoying our meal. It was just perfect. Now the food. First was the shishito peppers. Flavor-10/10. Scallion noodles: 10/10. Shrimp toast-- please don't judge me, but the first thing I was thinking of WTF is a shrimp toast? But I was open to everything. That happened to be one of my most favorite items of this meal. It was crispy bread with flattened shrimp inside and there was a spicy mayo dip on the side and oh my God-- that was just bomb city! Then came with the XLB combo, soup dumplings and my favorite one was the tom yum. They were all soup dumplings and each one was a delectable perfect on its own and no side dishes needed. Food- Amazeballs. Ambience- hello, 4th St Berkeley vibe. Service- friendly and helpful! Returning? Goddamn right I am!!! read more

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Dined here a few times and came back recently because I was craving some pan-fried dumplings, but this visit didn't meet my expectations. We waited about 15 minutes after putting our names on the waitlist, and no one greeted or seated us even though the waitress saw us. Another party even had to flag down a waitress, which was surprising since there were only a 3 tables occupied but 2 servers on the floor. We were eventually seated, though. As for the food, the seared bao wasn't fully pan-fried and tasted pretty plain. The wagyu XLB seemed freshly made, but the flavor could definitely be improved. My favorites ended up being the string beans and the sweet and spicy wings, which aren't even their main focus. The wings were crispy on the outside and still juicy inside, definitely the highlight of the meal. The restaurant is located at a nice area but the food needed to be worked on. read more

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Dumpling time is a fun addition to the seen on fourth Street in Berkeley. It sits right across from Petes in the middle of the main retail area. We went here on a Saturday afternoon to try the soup dumplings. They were pretty good, but nothing to write home about. The prices were high, and the service was definitely rushed. Parking is challenging on fourth Street on the weekends, so we ended up having to park about four blocks away. The ambience inside is clean and conventional. But I wouldn't say this is a great date spot. The noise level gets high and the seating is somewhat close together. read more

Dumpling Time - Berkeley - Dumpling time sits in the middle of fourth street - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Dumpling Time has a great outdoor setup, which honestly ended up being the best part of the experience. I wish the food was what stood out, but it fell short. The braised beef noodle soup was the most flavorful dish, maybe even a little too strong at times. The pork buns were decent and probably my second favorite. We came for the xiao long bao, and they were underwhelming. They were small, a bit flat, and just okay tasting. They came in little aluminum cups inside the steamer. Maybe that what made them soggy? Service was also on the slow side. We had to flag someone down a few times, even just to get the check. Overall, not very impressive, especially for a place that seems like it should be better. read more

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It gets quite busy on the weekends, so you might have a wait during prime time. HOWEVER, the wait doesn't matter for me because there are plenty of seating on 4th street and open benches for a great afternoon take out meal! Dumpling time is a bit pricey for what it is, maybe due to the trendiness. It's good, not great and should be cheaper imo. I really enjoy the Chili Pork Dumplings and the Lamb Dumplings. The lamb dumplings come with a green onion oil which has great flavor, but they also include a side of the chili sauce which I love adding to it as well. I stopped getting the XLB here because it's flimsy and always comes apart with the soup getting everywhere. read more

Dumpling Time - Berkeley - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

What a fun, quick dumpling spot! Dumpling Time is a small, convenient spot serving dumplings, noodle soups, and bao buns in a quaint setting. Parking is pretty easy to find with spots and lots around there. With both an inside and outside there's some flexibility in seating options and we chose to sit outside with our dog, which was a huge plus. Service was good but we did have to flag them down twice for things. For food we got some beef noodle soup, pork soup dumplings, and bbq pork bao. All were good and surprisingly filling considering the portion sizes. The beef noodle soup in particular was nice to slurp down on a lukewarm afternoon and had a nice deep flavor to the broth. The soup dumplings were also standouts being tasty and with a nice texture to the dumpling itself. This is a good spot to come out with friends to or just have a casual meal. Everyone liked their food and we were more than satisfied after we finished up. read more

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My cousin and I came here for lunch on a Friday. We were seated immediately since there were few people. We got our menus and water soon after. We ordered green beans, shrimp toast, lobster shui mai, and spicy chicken wings. The food came quickly. The green beans were fresh and nicely seasoned. The shrimp toast was interesting. It was a long deep fried Asian donut with shrimp embedded in. It came with a pleasant sauce. A bit bland to my taste. The lobster shui mai did not taste of lobster. The spicy chicken wings were very nicely fried and coated with a spicy sauce. The service was okay. The server threw the receipt at me. The other wait staff were fine, however. It was fairly expensive for what we ordered. read more

Dumpling Time - Berkeley - Shrimp Toast - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The restaurant was quite busy on a weekend so we decided to take food to go since it was nice outside. 4th Street has a lot of benches and tables so it was a perfect day for a meal outside. Overall I thought the prices were a bit too high. The lamb dumplings were juicy but beware if you're not used to lamb's gaminess I would say avoid the lamb. The chilip ork dumplings were very sauce and had a good kick. read more

Dumpling Time - Berkeley - Lamb dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Surprisingly quick, even though the location can get very busy at times. I came in when in need of a quick bite before work in the area, and was able to have a full, freshly cooked meal in under 30 minutes. Dumpling Time has super cute branding, and the location truly is a world unto itself. You can see chefs preparing meals behind glass, and they have good music and music videos that play. The staff is attentive and quick, so know what you want. Not as upscale a spot to dine, but cute and casual. Think, friends for lunch on a weekend shopping trip, not so much impress your first date vibes. Effective, simple and easy. read more

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I would have to say the pork gyoza was the best I have ever eaten, outside of the ones I make, and that includes Japan. Really delicious and perfectly executed. BUT, $2.40/gyoza is ridiculously pricy as well as $4/bao. Pork is inexpensive so really can't justify the cost. Especially because gyoza are really easy and fun to make at home and your cost would be $0.40/pork gyoza. The fancy presentation is just cornstarch and water. You could make a Maine lobster or Kobe beef gyoza at home for about $2.50/gyoza but I wouldn't. Asian dumplings aren't expensive haute cuisine prepared by classically trained chefs. They are affordable comfort food for every day people. On the upside, the service is good and it's dog friendly. I won't be eating here again. read more

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Some vegan options clearly labeled Not chosen: Seaweed salad $9 Marinated cucumbers $10 Fried rice $15 Green beans $14 Broccolini $10 Snap peas $10 Potato gyoza $10 tasty curry flavored potato filling, quantity 5 cooked together in connected pattern Eggplant Bao $10 creamy eggplant filling, nothing too flavorful. Quantity 3 streamed. Option to fry. Nice outdoor seating Friendly service but forgot condiments for first serving for other party. Dog friendly read more

Dumpling Time - Berkeley - Eggplant Bao streamed - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Delicious, always great service. Their Xian pork/garlic dumplings are perfect. I love this place! Prices are decent too read more

Dumpling Time - Berkeley - Scallion noodles w/over easy egg. Delicious!! - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

I worked with Dumpling Time to cater at my wedding and they did a fantastic job! Super smooth coordination with Chloe leading up to the day of + working with the wedding venue, and then the actual day of went super smoothly - they were able to bring in steamers and have staff serve food so that things were still fresh. Got a lot of great feedback from guests on how tasty it was. Overall would definitely work with them again! read more

I've dined here twice and the first experience along with the food were better the first time. I've tried a variety of items including Green Beans, Xiao Long Bao, Fried Rice, Scallion Noodles, Chicken Gyoza, Pork Gyoza, and Sweet & Spicy Chicken Wings. The Green Beans, Sweet & Spicy Chicken Wings and Fries Rice are my favorites so far.The prices are a bit steep for the portion sizes. The service is quick and friendly, however there was a slight hiccup on my second visit when our waitresses shift ended and we were abandoned for at least 30 minutes. This restaurant does have indoor and outdoor seating, and the outdoor seating is perfect when the sun is shining. read more

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Delicious food, awesome service, perfect location. I love the whole ambiance of this restaurant

Cute little restaurant. Service was good. The food was hit or miss. Best thing on the menu is Veggie Spring Rolls. I really liked the noodles too. I'd eat it again. read more

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Wow this place is impressive. Myself and my gf had the sampler, har gow, noodles & Fried egg, edamame, fried rice and omg everything was so fresh and the staff was attentive to say I was impressed is an understatement. The restaurant had a fairly small dining area enough for maybe 40 people. I could hear the chatter in the kitchen and the staff working well together to bring this dumpling house to life. I will. Definitely be coming back here with family and friends. Some recommendations I have are: - Har Gow shrimp dumpling - the everything sampler & the fried rice Ill update this review as I try more things from this Great gem in the Berkeley area read more

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Came on a busy afternoon and there was a small wait of 5 min. I got: (7/10) Lamb dumpling w/ hot and sour soup: The dumplings were not bad and so was the "soup". My biggest issue was that it wasn't actually soup it was just sauce with how little they gave. The picture I have is all the soup they gave. Service was fine and standard for a fast casual chain. Restaurant was loud, they also kept the doors open to the outside. I just don't think it was worth how much I paid for one item (around $25 including tax and tip). read more

Dumpling Time - Berkeley - Lamb Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Make sure to ask for the secret sauce if you're getting the dumplings, made by Jaime. My wife and I are so glad we did! He mentioned it when we were ordering the Pork Dumplings, and it was incredible. It goes perfectly with the pork and the seafood dumplings. We loved it so much we ordered a second round. Jaime was great to chat with and the service overall was top-notch. We also tried the BBQ Pork Bao and the Pork XLB, everything was delicious. Thanks, Jaime, we'll definitely be back!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

Dumpling time is all the time when they are nicely prepared as they are at Dumpling Time - Berkeley! With five locations and growing Dumpling Time is just one of many restaurants that specializes in everything dumpling, not just their specialized Xiao Long Bao soup dumplings, but they consider steamed Baos, gyozas or potstickers as they are also referred to, siu mai, and xi'an dumplings all under their specialized dumpling umbrella. And why not? When you have a window where your staff members are creating your wide variety of dumplings hourly then clearly you know what you are doing. Hailing from the Omakase Restaurant Group, Dumpling Time's expansion from one location in San Francisco's Design District to multiple locations around the Bay Area from Santana Row to the Chase Center in San Francisco, Dumpling Time is succeeding where so many others have yet to succeed in launching additional locations. And with their bright red exterior and neon logo prominently featured inside, succeeding in many locations was always part of the plan. I've been to Dumpling Time's two locations in San Francisco and have never walked away with a bad meal or hungry which is two bonuses in my book, so when this location opened up back in early 2022 in Berkeley's tony Fourth Street shopping district, I made it my mission get here even for lunch to see if anything was different from their other locations. Upon finally getting the chance recently and after almost three years in business, nothing is too different than their other locations as when a group of three of us arrived at 1 p.m. on a weekend afternoon for lunch the place was not busy and a table was readily available for us to sit at. The menu at Dumpling Time - Berkeley is separated into categories including sections representing Cold and Hot Appetizers; their signature dumplings separated into categories including Xi'an Dumplings, Baos, Xiao Long Baos, Gyozas, and Siu Mai; Noodles & Rice; Wok Seared; Sweet; and their Beverage menu. Of course, we came for their signature Xiao Long Baos and we prefer their pork filling option which is made of pork belly and red vinegar. We also ordered their Scallion Noodles which is made with scallion oil and served with a fried egg served slightly medium topped with scallions and their Beef Noodle Soup which is made with tender beef and broth and served with bok choy and scallions. All three dishes would be served almost in tandem with the Scallion Noodles being served first and we really liked being able to mix in the egg and scallions with the noodles that we already covered in sauce. I do wish the egg was cooked a little over easy as the yolk breaking over everything would have been a nice compliment to the meal. And then we tried their Xiao Long Baos, which unlike what many restaurants are doing now, Dumpling Time still serves them in foil wrappers which then stick to the elastic paper wrappers of the baos. Still, these delicious dumplings prove why they are my favorite, with scrumptious broth oozing out of every bite that you have to eat in them in one bite or else. The Beef Noodle Soup was as remarkable a soup dish as I would have liked as some of the accompanying vegetables had a more bitter taste. I do believe some of the cooking techniques at Dumpling Time could be enhanced by learning from smaller restaurant groups such as the one that currently runs Dumpling Hours throughout the East Bay as they have lines throughout the day after eating their food you can see and taste why, as the demand for Dumpling Time has clearly decreased over time. Our bill was $61.94, which was before gratuity was added in but with a six percent living wage tacked onto your bill, of which you are instantly adding your gratuity in, if you aren't examining your bill correctly. I am glad that Dumpling Tim opened a location in the Berkeley area as locals and members of the University campus can now enjoy their wide variety of dumplings without crossing the bridge. Here's to their continued growth and success! read more

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Service was great. Sat outside in the pleasant sun and our waitress checked on us to see if we wanted the umbrella for shade, thoughtful! Food was fantastic. Loved the cucumbers which was sweet and spicy. The Sweet and Spicy wings were amazing. Has the sauce on the side and the wings were flavorful without it (I didn't need to use any sauce). I think it's brined as it was very juicy to the very last bite and was cooked perfectly! Siomai is always a hit! read more

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Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Parking: Sometimes difficult Price: On the pricier end Vibes: Clean, chill, laid-back Dumpling Time is simple and straight to the point--if you're craving dumplings, you won't be disappointed. I always come back for the Tom Yum dumplings and the shrimp pancake dish, both of which hit the spot every time. Located on 4th Street, this spot is always a fun visit. There are plenty of shops to check out before or after your meal, making it a great place to grab a bite and explore the area. read more

Dumpling Time - Berkeley - Menu - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Stopped by this location after some Sunday shopping out on 4th street. Highly recommend the gyoza (any filling)!! Love that crispy layer at the top and flavors were pretty good! The ambiance is comfortable but does get loud once busy. Service as also quick and friendly. HOWEVER, on my way back from the bathroom our server with the long braid began screaming loudly and cussing out at another server? Other people who were seated also noticed and after that our group was uncomfortable with her service and got the check to leave ASAP. So if you're interested in watching your server yell at the other, here's your spot. Otherwise just go to a diff loc bc they clearly got some issues here. read more

Dumpling Time - Berkeley - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

we ordered the pork XLB and beef noodle soup. both foods were pretty good. the XLBs had the most delicate skin. it was a bit complicated to eat if you weren't being careful. it's sat on an aluminum foil to be protective in shape haha. the red vinegar was also a nice surprise, i didn't expect it to pair so well with the dumplings. the beef noodle soup was solid, much darker broth than i'm used to, but not overpowering. the noodles were thin, which i didn't super love-- i prefer a bit more thick or like average typical egg noodle shape. the beef pieces were tender and had the right amount of fatty. i just struggle to give it 5 stars bc the price is really high for what it is. being from socal, i can get the same thing for way cheaper. this is a solid spot though if you have a craving for chinese dumplings and noodles. im not sure i would pay this price again... read more

Dumpling Time has a lot of potential for veggie folks! I had the garlicky string beans which was absolutely delicious. I also had the veggie dumplings in a sweet and spicy broth. The broth was the star of the show since the dumplings lacked flavor. Service was okay. Once it got busy our server seemed a little all over the place. The ambiance was nice and quiet right before the rush came. Overall I'd give it another chance. Maybe at a different location. read more

Dumpling Time - Berkeley - Veggie Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I stopped by dumpling time during a weeknight for a quick dinner while running errands in the area. At that time, street parking was super easy to find. I ordered the Beijing noodles, pork gyoza, and jasmine tea which came out to be over $30. The noodles looked small but it was actually pretty fulfilling. I added some chili to add some more flavor to it. There was nothing special about the pork gyoza and I tried ignoring the coloration that was going on inside of it. There was a little bit of orange and blue going on on there. Maybe the veggies were going bad? I wish I got the servers name because they were super friendly and went above and beyond. Prices can get a little pricey but I'd come back to try other dishes. read more

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Ask for the secret sauce made by one of the employees; Jaime and thank me later!! He mentioned it to my husband and I when we were ordering the Pork Dumplings and oh my god I'm so glad we said yes because the sauce was so good we ordered another round haha. Jaime was so pleasant to talk to and overall service was amazing! We also had the Bbq Pork Bao & the Pork XLB and seriously don't wait for a reservation at Din Tai Fung LOL as a DTF lover, this place was way better. Thank you, Jaime!! We will be back :) read more

It's fine and the place is cute right on 4th Street with inside and outside seating. If you've never had Dumpling Time or you're a big dumpling connoisseur, it's suffices right on Fourth Street, but isn't a destination. It's quite expensive but I get it, it's trendy, it's Fourth Street, but I don't know if the food matches. I prefered the dumplings over the noodles or the shrimp toast. But even the dumplings were a bit muted in flavor. The fried apps like the egg rolls and sesame squares were fine, but nothing stood out. The menu was a bit more limited than I remembered, previously. Overall, a solid spot on Fourth Street for dim sum while out and about. It's trendy and prices follow suit with pricier options. The food was good and unique for the area, but you've probably had better. A-ok! read more

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This was just ok... Overall, everything was overpriced and lacked flavor. We ordered the edamame, and it was ridiculous for a small bowl to be 7.50, when you can buy a whole tray of edamame for $5 or less. The crisp on the pork gyoza was great, but it was quite bland inside. This might be particular, but it almost looked like the potsticker was crimped shut with a dumpling crimper/dumpling maker. And that's not what you're looking for when this is supposed to be a more "authentic" experience. Service was also alright. The staff was friendly, but forgot a drink we ordered, which we were later still charged for. Otherwise, wouldn't feel the need to come again. There are definitely other places that taste better for cheaper, with the same beautiful interior. read more

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Excellent service and good dumplings for a lunchtime meet. We (2) shared 3 types and were full by the end. Yummy. read more

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Loved this spot and got to try a bunch of different dishes, including Beijing noodles, shrimp toast, and Tom Yum. The shrimp toast was our FAVORITE bite!! So grateful the server recommended we order this one because I still crave this dish! We sat outside in the patio and loved the vibe. It's in the fourth street shopping area so it's a cute area! read more

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It's been awhile since my last visit, partially due to so many places offering similar dishes. Since roaming around 4th Street, this is the place. We sat beside the room where the dumplings assembling would ordinarily be showcased but the effort while we were there were in the preparation of the dough to our disappointment. On this occasion, I had ordered the Beijing Noodles and Tom Yum soup dumplings. Although the noodle was meant to be shared, the portion was quite small. It's akin to Dan Dan noodles without the spicy kick, of course you can always add the condiment from the table. Despite the portion, it satisfied my hunger. The tom yum dumpling was chosen from the name uniqueness but I didn't find it was soupy enough to taste the tom yum. Service was attentive and friendly. If you are craving for soup dumplings, potstickers or pan dumplings look no further. read more

Dumpling Time - Berkeley - Tom Yum Soup Dumpling - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Food was ok but it was really over priced. Nice workers good customer service. Nice area with the street lined with Christmas lights. I probably would not return with a big party. read more

Overall mid Chinese food, with nice presentation but very muted flavors. Serviceable and not a terrible option on 4th Street, but not something to seek out if you're not already there doing a day of shopping. We were hungry on a Sunday at 1 and thought the menu at Dumpling Time looked appealing. We were added to a waitlist and waited about 20 minutes for an outdoor table (which really could have used more shade). We ordered the Tom Yum soup dumplings, BBQ pork bao, wagyu beef gyoza, and Beijing noodles. I'm used to pretty punchy, salty Beijing noodles (za jiang mian) but these were fairly plain. They were decent with copious amounts of chili oil and soy sauce. This was a theme with all of our dishes, needing lots of doctoring to be more flavorful. When looking at the menu again for my photo captions, I was surprised to be reminded of what ingredients were supposed to be present - I couldn't get any coconut milk, and the "chili butter sauce" added nothing but color. The tom yum soup dumplings sounded like a intriguing dish, but I couldn't taste any tom yum flavor. "Lemongrass pork soup dumplings" might have been more accurate. The wagyu beef gyoza and seared BBQ pork bao were also decent, but again, needed lots of oils and sauces to get the strong flavor we're used to with dim sum/Chinese food. There are definitely better options for Chinese food in Berkeley. read more

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I've eaten here 5 or 6 times in the last year. But this is probably the last time. Had lunch there last week. And the portions were so small, the meal felt like a complete rip-off. I never felt this before, but the price-quantity ratio is now completely absurd. We got Scallion Noodles with shrimp ($14 for the noodles, $8 extra for the shrimp), and green beans ($14). In all the Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese restaurants I eat at in the Bay area, you order a $22 dish, you will be full and have leftovers. This dish was not even enough to fill up one person. The quantity of noodles was unconscionably small, given the $14 price. $8 extra got us 6 small-medium shrimp. The green beans we have got before, and the portions used to be *much* larger. For a $14 vegetable dish, the quantity presented to us was ludicrous. We weren't very hungry. Had expected our $36 order to fill us up. We had to order Chicken Gyoza (which took 25 minutes to come; it's never taken that long before). This dish, for $13, was the only one where we felt the price-quantity ratio was acceptable. However, I still wasn't full after this $49 meal, which really says it all. I used to come here with InKind and get 20% cashback on my meal. Even after that discount, I felt ripped off. If I were paying full price, I would feel even more cheated. If you like the food here, and are happy to pay these prices for these quantities, you should make the most of it while they are still open. I can't imagine they are going to survive very long with their current price to quantity ratio. read more

Good place to stop by if you're in the area and craving dumplings but wouldn't drive out of my way. Food is decent (albeit a bit more pricey), enjoyed the xiao long bao variety (pretty to look at, hits the dumpling deliciousness spot), was able to pay using inkind. casual, multiple smaller tables with outdoor seating too, did have a wait list even on a weekday evening read more

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

Dumpling Time - Berkeley - Wakame Seaweed Salad, Cucumber Salad - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I stopped by here before heading to Oakland for a day party. While the food was decent, it didn't really wow me. I tried the garlic noodles and the chili oil dumplings, based on my server's recommendation. The garlic noodles were fine, but nothing I'd rush to order again. The chili oil dumplings were just okay as well. Everything was good, but not enough to make me want to come back. The service was solid, and the place was clean and packed, so it must be a favorite among locals in Berkeley. However, I've definitely had better elsewhere. read more

Dumpling Time - Berkeley - Plain Garlic Noodle - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Amazing dumplings!!! Got their veggie dumplings which were SO GOOD and their chili pork dumplings on lunar new year. Both were super flavorful. I loved the textures and the spice level in the chili ones were perfect! read more

Dumpling Time - Berkeley - Chili Pork Dumpling and Vegetable Dumpling - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

We quickly got a table on a Sunday evening. I was a little hesitant due to some of the reviews. Excellent food and the staff were really nice. We will definitely return! read more

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