we tried their summer fish special. Ginger and a light sauce. The fish was steamed. Definitely a highlight. we also enjoyed their fried rice and the beef noodle soup was very good as well. Nice and clean restaurant, spacious with a nice outside seating area food came out very quickly read more

Nom nom nom nom I've door dashed here more than I care to admit so let me break it down: - get the xiao long bal - get the siu mai - get the pork buns to go - finish off with the egg tarts If I have a chance I'll definitely try to dine in ! read more

What a disappointment. The dim sum was wildly overpriced for what was served. Portions were surprisingly small, leaving us wondering where the value was. Nearly every dish arrived swimming in oil, which overwhelmed the ingredients and left a greasy aftertaste. Even more frustrating was the complete lack of flavor. Dim sum should be delicate, balanced, and full of texture and taste, but these dishes were bland and forgettable. The dumplings lacked freshness, the fillings were uninspired, and nothing stood out as memorable except the bill. For the prices being charged, I expected quality ingredients, skillful preparation, and authentic flavors. Instead, we got tiny portions, excessive oil, and food that tasted like it was made with little care or attention. There are far better dim sum options available that deliver both quality and value. Unfortunately, this place was a waste of time and money. read more

Stopped by Dumpling Time in Palo Alto for a quick lunch and ordered the Wagyu truffle soup dumplings and pork gyoza. Cool place with a clear window where you can see the kitchen in action. The soup dumplings were good with plenty of broth and a nice flavor but light in the truffle flavor. The pork gyoza stole the show for me. Crispy on the bottom, juicy inside, and just really satisfying. If I had to order one thing again, it'd be the gyoza. Service was friendly and the food came out fast. A solid spot when you're craving dumplings. Next time I'll definitely try some other options. read more

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The XLB sampler was awesome. Especially loved the truffle and the Thai flavors. Proximity: best dumplings at Stanford. The service was nice! Not the most attentive when we went but not an issue either. Overall, it's a nice place but slightly unremarkable. I'll be trying the fried rice next time. read more

That happy hour signed drew me over. $5 snacks! The pickled cucumbers and seaweed salad were refreshing with the chrysanthemum tea. We also had two bbq buns, three sui mai's and three shrimp dumplings. It was a quick snack. It wasn't the same as Coke Zero and fries but it was still good snack food. Ordering was quick and friendly, it took quite a few minutes for our steamed food, understandable, and the place was relatively clean. Possibly they were still cleaning a few lunch tables or other happy hour guest. Great to try out. read more

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Very yummy! We got the refreshing cucumbers, 4 flavor Shao long bao's. The pho was our favorite followed by the Thai flavor, pork and the truffle last. We ordered fluffy pork buns and I had a cocktail but I don't remember which one. The guys said it was lighter in the booze department but it packed enough of a punch for this light weight lol read more

Dumpling Time - Pork buns - Dim Sum Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Shopping at Stanford Shopping Center and landed on Dumpling Time for lunch. The place is clean, I'll give them that. The food was decent, but the prices are outrageously extreme for the portions. We ordered: Scallion Noodles ($14) with Chicken (+$5) - for a small bowl of noodles that was a bit on the salty side Har Gow - $9 for 4 dumplings Chili Pork Dumplings - $14 for 6 dumplings Sweet & Spicy Chicken Wings - $16 for 6 wings Sesame Balls - $9 for 3 You can definitely find more authentic dim sum places for half that price. read more

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My work did a catered lunch for a large office event (~400 people) and I really enjoyed the food. Many labelled vegan options provided. I tried green beans, potato gyoza, fried rice, and scallion noodles. Unfortunately the vegetable dumplings were only vegetarian and not vegan. Everything I tried was really well flavored, and I suspect the food is even better when fresh in person. I would definitely come to the restaurant to try more items in person. read more

Dumpling Time - vegan from catering (green beans, fried rice, scallion noodles, potato gyoza) - Dim Sum Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Everything was so good and service was great. I highly recommend the pho xlb. Overall, wonderful experience and area.

The Dumpling Time brand has lost a bit of its luster in the recent expansion to Palo Alto. The reliably-excellent service & go-to menu items I've come to expect from their original SF location were non existent when I lunched at Stanford Shopping Center. We had to flag down several staff members for the check, & were charged for a dish that was never brought to our table. But the most disappointing service misstep -- a to-go order I had placed at the beginning of our meal still hadn't been made 20 minutes after I (finally) received my bill so I canceled it. This location does not carry the variety of sauces SF does. No truffle butter for Lobster Siu Mai & no cilantro sauce for Har Gow drastically changed the flavor & my level enjoyment of these items. I know I'm not alone when I say, I eat dumplings mainly for the condiments that pair well with them. The food at the Palo Alto store is inferior to the SF location, & they don't offer my favorite items; for instance, the red braised chicken thigh filling in the Chicken Bao is not as tasty as the chicken with mushroom I'm used to in SF. Simple solution: never go back to this location & stick to the one I know & love. read more

Dumpling Time - Dim Sum Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Food was flavorful, but soup came out cold. Server fixed it, but took a while for her to circle back. They were just busy. Really love the ease, it is a little loud but the dim sum was delicious . read more

Dumpling Time - Dim Sum Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Pretty nice spot. Not as large as the one in Santana Row, but very good for families. I do wish they had more cocktail choices but not the end of the world. Food is very good. Overall a nice little meal. read more

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Went back to Dumpling Time and brought a friend this time - I ordered all the things I previously liked because they were so delicious! Service was a little slower as it was a weekend and the restaurant was entirely full, but nothing went wrong. Tried the green tea this time which was lovely! The restaurant definitely seems to be busier during the daytime - it was pretty loud inside but the tables were well spaced, unlike other casual peninsula restaurants I've been to. read more

Dumpling Time - Dim Sum Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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So I wandered into Dumpling Time not expecting fireworks, and I left feeling... pretty "meh." What was alright * The place is definitely clean and decent looking, not some grime‑bucket, but a regular, solid casual‑dining setup. I could chill there without worrying about sketchy vibes. * The menu's got variety (dumplings, noodles, fusion‑style Asian dishes), so you have options if you want something easy and familiar. * Service seemed okay -- nothing spectacular, but no drama either: typical for a mid‑range spot. What didn't particularly hit * Food was fine... but nothing memorable. Kind of like a "this will do" meal rather than a "holy crap I gotta come back" experience. * If I'm honest -- I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to come back. There are other spots around that I think offer better bang for my belly (especially when it comes to dumplings). Verdict: "Just okay" Dumpling Time is a serviceable stop if you want something quick, easy, and uncomplicated. But it doesn't rise above "average." Not bad. Not great. Just... there. If I were you and looking for dumplings or a night out with some flavor -- I'd treat this as a backup plan, not main course. read more

Dumpling Time - Wagyu Gyoza! - Dim Sum Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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New restaurant in the Stanford Shopping Center. An attractive, casual, minimalist space. The scallion noodles is absolute perfection with a poached egg, creamy and savory. I didn't like the taste of the veg dumplings, but I think that was a personal thing. Others might. It's a cute place and the service was great. They seemed to really care. There was a South Indian server who said cheers every time he brought a plate and it was sweet. read more

Dumpling Time - Vegetable dumplings in chili sauce - Dim Sum Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Stanford Shopping Center is having a bit of a moment! Get made several upgrades and one of those upgrades included adding more diverse meal options. Dumpling Time was great. The food was fast and fresh. I really enjoyed the shrimp toast as our starter! We got some fried rice and scallion noodles for our four-year-old, and I was a fan of that, too. The chicken bao, wagyu gyoza, and pork dumplings (we got the garlicky hot & sour soup version) were all very tasty. Honestly? I'm just glad to have a place like this at the mall. The service was great, too. read more

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Excellent addition to the Stanford Shopping Center! My parents are always sad there isn't a Chinese option here and they can finally rejoice! We went on Black Friday so the servers were definitely overwhelmed but they still tried very hard and thanked us for our patience, while we thanked them for working so hard! Understandably, it took awhile to set seated and to order but the food came out quite quickly. The team work seems to be a bit lacking as two servers were overwhelmed while many others just stuck to their non-customer related tasks ignoring customers waiting in line; nevertheless, once one of the overwhelmed servers got to us, it was smooth sailing! We tried the curry pot stickers - reminded me of samosas - it's a yes for us! We tried the XLB combo that carried 5 different flavors - loved them and they come with accompaniments like basil for the pho XLB - cute! All were excellent. We got the string beans - noticed they forgot to remove the vein for most of them, so it's a 3/5 for us on those. We also order the noodles and fried rice (note they do not have white rice alone, which seemed strange to us) - both were fine, nothing special but good. We also got the crispy mapo tofu - nice play on a classic! It is a sweeter version than I've ever had though. The space is quite spacious and modern. Good for small and large groups. There is a large, dog friendly outdoor patio with heaters and free mall parking. We would definitely return here. read more

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Stopped by after a long round of shopping at Stanford Mall, and honestly, this was a solid one. We ordered the shrimp toast, chicken bao, and two XLBs, the tom yum and the wagyu truffle, which were hands down the stars of the meal. The shrimp toast was unique and I loved it! The bao trio dessert (green tea, taro, and egg custard) was just okay for me. We also got the chrysanthemum tea, which paired really well with everything. Service was friendly the whole time, but a bit on the slower side, so don't come here in a big rush. The vibe is great though, especially after you have been walking around the mall for hours and you need a hot cozy tea and some dumplings! Overall, yummy food, great flavors, and a nice spot to take a break from shopping. I would definitely come back! read more

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Subpar food and service. Questionable 6% mandatory charge with 20% min tip for lunch for party of 5. Definitely not recommended. Much better to go to Palo Alto downtown for Chinese food. read more

Delicious, friendly, warm and fuzzy. Perfect for when the weather is getting a bit cold. Great for a date or friends gathering. OUR TASTING: 10 piece XLB combo - $26 great deal, 2 pieces each of the innovative Xiao Long Bao (XLB). The black and gold foil one is the Wagyu XLB with mushroom and almost a delicious truffle taste. The XLB sampler is so good!! The green ones are the pho beef which are very innovative and tastes good. We always loved the red tom yum. The kimchi j (yellow) was also worth a try). Highly recommend!!! It was great o share. Shrimp toast is just a classic Edamame - lightly seasoned with salt and spice (may be too spicy for some, we were warned by the nice waitress). SERVICE: Very friendly, attentive staff. Patiently introduces each of the items. Courteous and helpful. Predicts when we needed the to go boxes. Love it. LOCATION: Conveniently located near the el Camino real front of the Stanford shopping center next to blue bottle coffee. DRINK OPTIONS: Mini champagnes - Love their mini moet and Chandon bottles at every dumpling time locations. So chic They also have tea and non alcoholic drinks - sparkling water and ramune and more. AMBIENCE: Outside is a bit deceivingly cold and modern, inside is warm and nice and also spacious. Has cool dumpling time special vending machine and drink selections. There are outdoor seatings in a fenced off area - nice option for earlier in the day. read more

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I've been to three or four Dumpling Time locations around the Bay Area over the past few years. The service has consistently been friendly and attentive, but unfortunately the food has become more disappointing with each visit. One of my biggest issues is the value. Many of the dishes are appetizer-sized, yet they're priced like full entrées. The BBQ pork buns were especially disappointing. At around $12, the quality was honestly worse than the frozen ones from Costco. The filling lacked flavor, and the buns didn't taste fresh. The beef noodle soup had reasonably tender beef, but it was far too salty. Even more disappointing was the tiny amount of beef for the price. The noodles also seemed like the wrong style for the dish and were severely overcooked, leaving them soft and lifeless. The chicken fried rice was probably the biggest letdown. It was incredibly salty, and the rice was mushy instead of having the distinct, slightly chewy texture that good fried rice should have. It tasted as though freshly cooked rice was used rather than day-old rice. The xiao long bao had plenty of soup, but the pork filling itself was surprisingly dry and chewy. A fattier pork mixture would make a huge difference in both texture and flavor. I genuinely want Dumpling Time to succeed because the staff has always provided great service. But the kitchen needs to improve its execution and consistency. One final thought: I understand DEI initiatives are important to many Bay Area businesses, but in a restaurant, the kitchen has to be staffed and trained first and foremost for culinary excellence. Whatever your hiring philosophy may be, customers are paying for great food. If the current team lacks the experience, invest in proper training or bring in chefs with stronger expertise. Right now, the food simply doesn't justify the prices. read more

Very below average experience here. Service is slow and unattentive, the beef noodle soup is perhaps up there with the worst noodles I've ever had! Realized this is a chain and one I should avoid next time I'm looking for dumplings. read more

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Upon arrival we were seated fairly quickly during a lunch rush and were able to get our orders in on time before everyone started coming. I've never actually heard of this place but was in the area and my friends wanted some dumplings. Service was decent but disappeared at times so it was hard to ask for stuff. The food itself was decent, nothing to rave about. During happy hour they had quite a few selections that we tried. The shrimp toast was probably the tastiest thing they had but other than that there are other places around the area that probably can do better. read more

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Soup dumplings are my favorite food, so I'm quite picky about them, but this place was amazing and had so many different options. Definitely coming back. read more

Came here after a Barry's class. We were sweaty and they still treated us like royalty! Great service and of course even better dumplings. We shared the Beijing noodles and the XLB sampler. We didn't like the truffle dumplings but that's because we don't like truffle that much. The gold was a nice touch at the top of them! I think my favorite XLB was the green lamb one or the red tom yum. Seating is lush and they have both indoor and outdoor seating. Outdoor seating looks like a vibe during nice weather but it was so hot, we opted to eat inside. I go to Dumpling Time in SF and love that Palo Alto now has one! What a treat! read more

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I came here for a work happy hour and it was so fun! Happy hour occurs every Monday-Friday, 2:30pm-5pm. We tried a variety of things: - edamame: skip. Overcooked and pretty bland - har gow: skin was too soft but the shrimp paste is good - Siu Mai with shrimp: yum! This tasted legit - steamed pork buns: it's good! Apparently you can get the seared version, or even a chicken filling. Comes with 2 pieces - Shrimp toast: this was extremely unique! Basically fried dough with shrimp paste inside. The only downside was the aioli - i think it would taste better with a brighter or lighter sauce - Beijing noodles: I didn't get this but it looked so good! - Bao trio: tbd how this is good Service was great! They were very attentive and brought out the food quickly. The ambiance is great too if you sit outside. Inside is very spacious. Overall, I would come here again! read more

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Dumpling Time is a great place to try if you want to have dim sum in a fast casual and modern restaurant. Conveniently located in Stanford Mall closer to El Camino, the interior is spacious and modern, while the food nods to the traditional dim sum staples. Will need to try their drinks one day because they also look great. Service was very prompt and professional. I liked that our server wore gloves when serving us. Reminder that this is not DTF so I am rating it as a fast casual dim sum restaurant rather than a Michelin star Chinese restaurant. Solid for the area, but there will be more authentic places with decor and style that are not quite clean and upbeat. read more

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We recently visited this spot for the first time, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. The restaurant is spacious, clean, and bright, making it an ideal choice for big family gatherings where you don't want to feel cramped. They also have a generous outdoor patio with plenty of seats. Our waiter was exceptionally helpful, taking time to answer our questions about the menu. We decided to try some signature dumpling dishes and some newly added dishes such as the steam fish, popcorn chicken and shrimp rice noodle rolls. Food was delicious, we'll be back to see what else they add to the menu! read more

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Had a full afternoon of shopping and needed to stop for a quick bite. The newly opened Dumpling Time was the perfect place. We were able to get a reservation through the Yelp app and walked right in. We ordered the garlic broccolini (the standout star) and a cabbage salad to accompany our XLB. Would recommend this place to be added to your day when at Stanford Mall! read more

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Driving around Stanford Shopping Center, looking for a parking place, we saw Dumpling Time, and the idea of having dumplings for dinner emerged. They have a really nice patio area, and the dining area looked nice as well. It was a lovely day, so we opted to eat outside. The chairs outside were really comfortable. We ordered probably a little too much food for two people! We got two kinds of buns (pork and eggplant), the cabbage salad, the shrimp toast, chicken gyoza, and the lobster shiu mai. The standouts were the cabbage salad, the gyoza, and the shiu mai. The salad would probably be enough for a meal for one person if you added protein to it. The gyoza was really flavorful and unique. And can you go wrong with lobster? I did feel like I wanted to try more things so I will definitely have to come back next time I'm in the area! Servers were all uniformly pleasant and professional. Our food came out quickly, and empty plates were taken away quickly. read more

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This Dumpling Time is located in the less busy side of the Stanford Shopping Center. The restaurant is quite spacious. The staff weren't so active, though. Maybe I went on an off day. The pork XLB was somewhat decent. It's unfortunate that of the four pieces within an order, they were so inconsistent. Overall, the pork was flavorful but the amount of soup varied a lot piece by piece. I had a piece I'm which the soup was gushing out and I had another piece that had no soup. The thickness of the skin was fine but my other ear l was definitely over steamed. The red ginger was a good complement sauce though. Beijing noodle was interesting. I loved how it had a lot of cucumber and spring onion on the top. The noodles were chewy but pretty bland while the pork was salty. No matter how much I mixed and mixed my bowl, the flavors of the noodles and the pork remained two different entities. Not sure how else to really make the tastes come together within a spoonful bite. The chili oil condiment on their table is one of the least flavorful chili oil I've ever tried. And so, I have a very mixed feeling about Dumpling Time... read more

Dumpling Time - Beijing noodle - Dim Sum Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Loving the presence of diverse foods in Stanford Shopping Center, but there's just better and more authentic you can get at lower prices somewhere else. The staff is cheery, and the space is clean, though! read more

Fast service, fresh dumplings and bao at Stanford Shopping Center. We liked the XLB sampler with 2 each of their 5 soup dumpling flavors. The BBQ pork bao were fluffy and yummy. We also enjoyed the chicken potstickers. Not as festive and fun as the SF locations, but a nice stop if you're at the mall. They have a pretty big patio too. read more

Dumpling Time - XLB soup dumpling sampler - Dim Sum Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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My family and I have eaten here many times. The restaurant is always clean, the staffs are friendly, and the prices are quite reasonable. I highly recommend trying the dishes on the new menu, especially the steamed fish -- the fish is fresh and the sauce is rich and flavorful. read more

Dumpling Time - New menu - Dim Sum Near Me - Palo Alto, California

It's Dumpling Time! This is not your typical dim sum spot. Dumpling Time serves up modern, fancy style dumplings, so be sure to save this if you're looking to splurge and try some unique flavors like Pho, Tum Yum, Wagyu and more! They have a nice open kitchen floor plan and outdoor seating that's dog-friendly! What we ordered: * Shredded Cabbage Salad * Marinated Cucumbers * Crispy Mapo Tofu * Chili Pork Dumplings * 10pc XLB Combo (pork, tom yum, pho, kimchi jiggae, and wagyu) * BBQ Pork Bao * Wagyu Gyoza * Lobster Siu Mai * Scallion Noodles w/ Chicken * Green Beans * Shishito Peppers * Dessert: Chocolate XLB and Mango Pudding read more

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Rocky was our server and he greeted my coworker and I as soon as we came walking in to the restaurant. He was attentive and was very personable with us. The food was delicious and we definitely enjoyed the food. My coworker and I had a long day at work and he let us know that we didn't have to rush out after closing. He let us finish our conversation and waited til we were finished. We will definitely be coming back! read more

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For dinner on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, with Mom and V, V chose to check out Dumpling Time. I was surprised that Mom mentioned them to V because she previously told me that she was not impressed by them when she first tried them out. Perhaps she was giving this place a second try. We made reservations for the 3 of us at 6:15 via Yelp. We immediately found parking in the lot directly facing the restaurant. When I saw the restaurant sign, it looked familiar. When Mom said that they have other locations, I remembered stopping by the entrance of Dumpling Time Santana Row and reading their menu. Upon arrival, we were quickly seated to a table outdoors. We chose a corner table since we had our chihuahua, Iggy, in the stroller with us (Yay for being dog friendly!). Despite it being the month of July, it was chilly out in the patio. Thankfully, our table was situated right under a heater. Overall, the venue, inside and out, was well kept and tidy. The interior décor, or lack of, was plain and nothing memorable. Once I realized that DUMPLING TIME is a chain restaurant, I should have had an inkling as to what to expect. Below are what we ordered: BEIJING NOODLES ($14) - Serving portion looked a bit skimpy. The noodles were also quite bland, I had to add soy sauce and chili to add flavour. BEEF NOODLE SOUP ($21) - I did not like this soup at all. It wasn't horrible, but I didn't want to waste my appetite and calories on it. V initially liked the soup, but later found that the broth had a vinegary aftertaste. No complaints from Mom, though. HAR GOW ($13) - Good, probably one of the best dishes of our meal but, wow, the price is steep! CHICKEN GYOZA ($13) - Ok, but I wouldn't choose to order them again. Pricey, too. BROCCOLINI ($10) - Flavourful. PORK XLB (8 for $20) - Meh. I have had better soup dumplings for cheaper elsewhere. PORK & SHRIMP SIU MAI ($15) - Another good Chinese dumpling, but expensive price. With a 6% Living Wage automatically added to our bill, our total amount, including tax, came out to $122.61. Service was quick and friendly. The verdict? V gives DUMPLING TIME 4 stars, but, unfortunately, especially considering the prices, I don't agree with that rating. The dim sum items are super overpriced and most of the dishes are lacklustre. Perhaps mainstreaming and Americanizing the dishes are the culprit - I agree with Mom's first impression...but I won't be interested in giving them a second try. Just not worth the hefty prices for mediocre food. read more

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Food was pretty good, service was okay, decor was nice. My issue is with the 6% living wage surcharge. Even worse, it doesn't go to staff per the website: "* A 6% living wage will be added to your bill. Note that this is not for services provided and is not paid directly to service staff." We won't be going back solely because of the 6% surcharge. read more

We walked in with reservation but seems like they don't care about reservation or no. Waiter only told me ok 2 right. There's inside and outside seating area, clean big and very empty. Did not ask my name or anything. My son ordered a boba and only little drink all are ice, before food come drink is already gone. Fried rices come first, it's the best out of all things we order but frozen green beans are kind of hard still. Pork xlb has no taste very over cooked can taste the steam water got into the bun and they give red vinegar without ginger not black? Wagyu gyoza, the truffle and mushroom over power the beef can't taste any Wagyu . Shrimp toast is fried donut with shrimp paste but the shrimp is so hard to find. I feel like we are only eating donut. Chicken boa is ok but not very flavorful. Was going to order dessert but too disappointed to order more items. read more

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