Girlfriend and I randomly met Andy while he was doing prep work in the morning. Great conversationalist and just knew his shit was bouta hit. We came back in the evening and got the Red Chili Dumplings. Safe to say, they were the best dumplings I ever had. Very flavorful: sour just enough, spicy just enough, salty just enough, and you can taste just a bit of sweetness. Unparalleled flavor profile. I'm a fat ass so sharing the dumplings woulda never got me full, but WOW did they pack a punch. read more

I got soo confuse! But u go in past the first counter and head to the back left next to the bar! u get a buzzer and can sit anywhere you want which was cute since they had heat lamp in the back. :3 OK to the foods -- Everything was completely delicious! I think my favourite was the red oil wonton. The oil was phenomenal, and it was fun to dip the katsu in there lol hehe. The Bao was good, and quintessentially bao! The Gyoza was perfectly textured ( *w*)b Another standout was how everything was served with tasty garnishes and paired sauces. Food AND fun :) Can't wait to go back and try the actual ramen read more

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They just nail it every single time. I don't even like mushrooms but those gyoza were amazing! With that chili crisp too, and the real crispy underside... The ramen is always fantastic, they've really upped their game with the fried tofu. Great stuff! read more

Full Steam Dumpling - Vegan ramen - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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What happened to them!? Super disappointed. Photo is of the chicken & leak Gyozas ... they used to be so much better. They used to dress it up with sauces and green onions and it was amazing. I don't know why my Gyozas look like this... is this the new norm? I would have taken them back but I took them to a show and could t leave. This was absolutely not worth the money. This is why I stopped coming. Their ambiance improved but their food got worse. Make it make sense. read more

Full Steam Dumpling - Chicken & Leak Gyozas ... not worth it. It used to be dressed in delicious sauces. Not worth the $12 - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

SUCH AN INCREDIBLE FIND! Wow the cauliflower actually blew me away it was done in such a fresh way while still maintaining the crunch of the fried vegetable. Such quick service and kind workers behind the bar, however it's insanely packed in here on a Friday night so plan accordingly if with a group! Great ramen! Good local spot to choose! read more

Full Steam Dumpling - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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The service is good here, the ambiance is nice, there are casual tables everywhere and has a chill vibe. The orders coming out had good presentation and looked pretty promising but the food was pretty average. The miso broth was flavorful but the noodles were in a hard clump, the portion could have been better for the prices, there were very few vegetables in it and maybe a pinch of arugula at best. Overall disappointed. read more

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I have tried two dishes from here and have enjoyed both of them! Tonkatsu Ramen - 5/5 ($20ish?) This ramen was very flavorful and delicious, broth was rich and portion was a good size! Slightly on the pricier side for ramen but I was very satisfied in the end. Red Oil Dumplings - 5/5 ($16) (not pictured becuase I got them a while ago and forgot to take a picture!) - So delicious! I love the chili oil flavor in these dumplings, the flavor is comparable to the spicy chili wontons at Din Tai Fung, I was very happy with this purchase and it made my tummy happy and satisfied in the end. Overall I will come back! read more

Full Steam Dumpling - Tonkatsu Ramen - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Going Full Steam I had high expectations trying out Full Steam Dumpling. I absolutely love backdoor banh mi and chubbs but this was nothing close to good. It was a Thursday night and I think they were hosting some sort of trivia or jeopardy game so it was really loud. Located in the rotating kitchen in 11th hour my friend took me here for the first time. Together we ordered the mushroom dumplings, spicy dumplings or wontons in chili oil, and tonkatsu ramen. The dumplings here are terrible. They don't have any flavor at all. The chili wontons weren't even spicy at all. There was no mala spice, the chili oil wasn't spicy and wasn't aromatic and none of these dishes had any sort of five spice seasoning. The best thing that we ordered was the ramen. From the broth to the noodles I enjoyed this and it came with many toppings. The only thing I didn't really like was the char siu meat because it wasn't tender or fatty, it was chewy and lacked flavor. It tasted like it wasn't slow simmered like how traditional char siu. Unfortunately I don't think this place is worth a try and I was sadly disappointed and underwhelmed with my experience. read more

I grew up in the local Japanese community so I'm quite picky when it comes to my Japanese food. They did it right. The Mazeman is basically just ramen without a broth but instead it has a thicker sauce. This was absolutely fantastic. The gyoza was good as well, I just wish we got a size of the sauces that came on it. My wifes vegetarian ramen was good but it can't compete with the duck mazeman. This is a pop up in a shared kitchen area and this place usually runs Wed-Sat 5 to 9. You do have to fight for a table with people eating at one of the other establishments there but if you're used to this communal eating situation then you'll know exactly what to expect. The staff was really kind and the food didn't take as long as I thought it would. read more

Full Steam Dumpling - Chicken Gyoza - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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The dining experience went full steam ahead! My UC Santa Cruz friend recommended me this place and I was immediately blown away. Connected with the 11th hour and verve coffee, the interior of the restaurant was filled with greenery at every turn. There was a bar serving cocktails alongside a table where we could place our orders with a server. Since it was a Saturday night, the restaurant was playing 2000s and 2010s music; they even hired a jazz saxophone player to perform in the outdoor seating in the restaurant. The thing that stood out to me the most was truly the mix of vibes. Even on a Saturday night, you can see students doing work on their laptops, families just enjoying a night out, and young adults drinking cocktails and feeling the music. I never thought I would see people coming to this one restaurant for completely different kinds of purposes. Despite my praise for the ambiance, I gave it a 4-star because of the food. I got the Ponzu Noodle, and I'd have to say, the dish was pretty expensive for how much the portions were. I understand it was an Asian fusion restaurant and I'm not going to get authentic Chinese food portions like I'm used to, but I was left unsatisfied after I ate my food. The cocktails were amazing, though! read more

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I've had Full Steam a few times now and have loved their food and service. They are situated here at 11th Hour on most days as a special pop-up kitchen, and am glad to see them doing well. I ordered their Vegan Gyoza which are made from mushrooms, tofu, and veggies, laid over with their own chili oil that brings out a lot of flavor. The dumplings were pan fried to perfection and were really delicious. I highly recommend trying the mushroom ones even if you eat meat. Although I love their food offerings, I can't deny that $14 for five dumplings seems to be on the higher side of things. They are indeed delicious and probably the best homemade dumplings you'll find in Santa Cruz, but to pay almost $20 for the meal including tip is a bit steep. Definitely a "once in a while" type of spot for me. Next time I'll try their vegan ramen which looked creamy and delicious. read more

Full Steam Dumpling - Menu, Fall 2023 - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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I think that Full Steam is one of the most underrated spots in Santa Cruz. It is such a unique restaurant with incredible flavors, an innovative menu, and fresh high-quality ingredients. You can tell they really care about providing a great product and are highly skilled. There is always something new to try since they are always shuffling the menu. Our favorites are the General Tso's Chicken, Chicken Gyoza, Chicken Katsu, and Bao. We have actually never tried the Ramen! It's counter service which allows for a more casual experience. The space is really unique and has other storefronts. My favorite thing is that Full Steam is available for preorder on Square. It is always ready super fast and makes the perfect take out meal! After moving back to town after a few years in SF I am so happy to have a great spot like Full Steam!! I think the prices are completely fair for the high quality product they provide. Wishing them all the success! read more

Full Steam Dumpling - General Tso's Chicken, Harvest Tempura, and Duck Fried Rice - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Killer Fast Casual Spot, with elevated Japanese and Chinese cuisine. They also run a Banh Mi lunch service Wednesday-Saturday read more

Full Steam Dumpling - Ramen, Dumplings, Fried Chicken - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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The flavor levels are off the charts! The dumplings have always been my favorite but the spare ribs with roast potatoes were outstanding. Service is fast and friendly. They share a dining area with other food services so it can get very busy. Seems like a college hangout as well with the coffee shop there as well. read more

Amazing! delicious! Love everything here. Ramen is delicious. Recently had the Curry Chicken katsu special which was amazing-Loved it! Dumplings are always delicious. Brussels sprouts on a previous menu are still on my list of favorites! Great atmosphere, staff and food. read more

Everything here r was great even though the building is under construction. The food was amazing and their drinks was superb. They did have specials with a whole fried fish. read more

Full Steam Dumpling - One of the special cocktails with a shot of Prosecco. - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Service 7/10 bc they're not patient with new customers not in a condescending way though, just seemed over it didn't want to help. Ambience 10/10 kid friendly and for all ages indoor outdoor seating. FOOD 8.5/10 presentation beautiful! Love how they presented it. Super flavorful. The broth was definitely made correctly. Noodles were cooked correctly. Plenty of veggies, plenty of toppings. Big big portions they are HUGE you will get full with one bowl. We also got three different dumplings, red oil, dumplings, vegan Gyoza, and pork Gyoza. Vegan was our favorite. The flavors were all there and stuffed correctly. The meat dumplings were great stuffed immensely, but got salty after two or three.too salty for us. But overall 8.5/10 will be coming read more

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Appreciated the vegan ramen option, overall good and I loved the mushrooms in particular (could use a tad less oil in the broth in my opinion). Looking forward to returning. read more

Finally got to try Ramen Friday at the Food Lounge! Got the shio chicken ramen, chicken leek gyoza and agedashi tofu. Everything was sooo tasty!!! The crispiest of the agedashi tofu stood out to me and I would go back just for that. Not like I would be able to resist the ramen tho lol read more

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I found this pop-up when I was on Yelp and I was really craving some ramen. We ordered online and picked up on Wednesday. When I got there, there was a line and it seemed very busy. I finally got my food and noticed that everything was well organized into their own containers. Nice! It was my first time ordering ramen for pick up so I was a bit confused about how to prepare the food but they added a cute animated how-to instructions page to help you in getting the food ready! The food was amazing! The flavors were so powerful and I couldn't stop eating after my first bite! My partner is from Japan and got the vegan ramen and said it was incredible and comparable to ramen in Asia!! The pricing was a bit high but the quality of the food was great! I can tell the noodles were handmade because they had a QQ texture. Would love to try other dishes on the menu next time! read more

Full Steam Dumpling - Cute instructions - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Thanks for a great meal & great ambience. Amazing staff who truly care about what they're serving you.

Hey SC vegans, this place rocks!! Get the ramen, get the dumplings, you won't be sorry! read more

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Without a doubt, my favorite spot in town! After 5pm 11th hour coffee turns into the coolest nightime hotspot with a full bar, two different resturants, and sometimes live music or trivia! Their menu changes seasonally with lots of fun and unique flavors, as well as local and in season produc-. As a vegetarian who tries to avoid gluten, I can always find something here. My favorite dishes as of lately have been the corn ribs, goat cheese wontons, and if you're lucky enough to come in during the fall/winter you MUST try the Kobacha pumpkin Bao. Love you full steam! read more

UPDATE: Spoke way too soon. Just went tonight and it's not on the menu anymore! (All tears emojis). Please bring it backkk! I've literally had dreams about the amazing cauliflower dish they have here. I don't know what makes it so incredible, but I crave it most days! Please don't ever stop making it or change what you're doing! I'd pick this dish over any meat dish. Keep up the great work! read more

I tried the Miso Tonkotsu ramen. The broth is too creamy, lack of flavor and the portion does not justify the high price. The ramen includes stuff that no one would put in there like charred cabbage. There is one piece of pork belly which was charred and burned to the point that it tastes bitter. This is the worst ramen I have ever had. read more

Given this is potentially the only ramen place in town, I'd say it's pretty good. You gotta go up to south bay or SF..,or really anywhere else in the bay area...to get really good ramen but I enjoyed the bowl! I got the miso tonkotsu which had good flavor and noodles but lacked in toppings. One piece of pork and half an egg was about it. My husband got the korean style which was unique for ramen and good but tasted about the same as a soup I make at home, which in my opinion isn't super authentic tasting. Good, but other restaurants can do it better. I did like the atmosphere. Very lively and good cocktail bar. read more

Listen!!! This cute lil pop up satisfied and surprised my tastebuds. The menu options weren't overwhelming yet it had so much to choose from. The Char Siu Bao looked amazing from what my husband ate. I had Vegan Dumplings the gluten free version and nom! The chili oil added the finishing touch. I got greedy and ordered a pork chop with white rice. I wish I could remember it. For those who visit next time, look for "Ginger" and "pork chop." It was so good. And a cute dining experience since it was a mixed space of indoor and outdoor tables. read more

Full Steam Dumpling - Ginger Pork chop - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Delicious! We had the garlic noodles, red oil dumplings and pork bao. The flavor was outstanding- nothing was too strong or spicy. The atmosphere is chill. Honestly, the food and portions were well worth the price! read more

Full Steam Dumpling - Bao! - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Ive had the vegan ramen a few times & it's super tasty. Recently I tried one of their vegan gyoza and it was to die for! They served it w plenty of sauce which I appreciate. Can't wait to go back read more

Loved their red oil dumplings at the Live Oak Farners Market, so we were gratified to find them on the menu of their brick and mortar place. we have been in maybe three times in the last few years and found some dishes better than others; perhaps our inadequate knowledge of the menu. When we ask the ant the order counter for advice, we get good info. We bring friends so we get a large variety of dishes and good drinks. The setting is rough and ready, very casual. We always eat outside on the patio. read more

We went to Full Steam's pop up tonight. We had the Tonkotsu and Miso Paitan Ramen and the veggie gyoza all of which were so so good! I've had there take home ramen kits from the farmers market as well and highly recommend these! The frozen char siu bao were plentiful but not my fav- quite different from the Chinatown version, in my opinion, which I really enjoy. read more

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Freaky First Friday We came with high hopes for Full Steam Dumpling's ramen night at the Food Lounge. Everything started out well enough even though the music was on the loud side. As we were ordering, they played some Kate Bush (Running Up that Hill) and other such-type music. While we were waiting for our food, there was a long, somewhat awkward silence and at least one song was cut off right when it began) before moving on to some Beatles (Strawberry Fields) and The Doors (Riders on the Storm). Our food came just before 7:00pm and as we were finishing our food, a song I didn't know came on dropping the N-word and F-bomb multiple times (including, e.g., "I'll f------ slap a n-----") very clearly and loudly as I'm sitting with my 7-year-old in front of the Santa Cruz Arts Center in the outdoor dining area on the public sidewalk. I went inside 11th Hour Coffee where the same music was playing, and asked if they were responsible for said music. The barista (or other coffee house employee) said he wasn't in charge but he knew who was. He went over and spoke to the bartender adjacent to the Full Steam Dumpling kitchen. The music playing there was not the same as in 11th Hour Coffee and outside. I heard the dude-bro bartender repeat "They're upset with the music? Well, we're not changing it," with a derisive scoff/smirk. Are you serious? I do not need to be listening to that while I am eating with my family. I was not pleased or impressed. So, this location is not the most family-friendly, and unfortunately the bowl of ramen ($20) was also crap (too oniony, thin & oily broth, tough the mushrooms were, and it got cold very quickly). I have to admit the Razzmatazz from the bar was pretty good, tho. Good for a late night bachelor party, I guess (even if you start in broad daylight). read more

Food was epic but it was crazy paying $48 before tip for two bowls of Ramen! For that much money, I would expect more than one little slice of pork belly, or the 4 to 5 small morsels of hanger steak in the other... This is the only reason I knock off a star... read more

We recently read about this place and wanted to try it as we love Asian food and dumplings. Finding the restaurant was a bit difficult as we have never been before and part of the dining area seems to be still under construction, what was finished was pretty nice and was able to figure out that we needed to order at the counter which was not initially obvious. We ordered a basic ramen for our son (broth, noodles, and chicken) which saved us a little money since he doesn't like all the extra stuff that comes with the normal ramen. We also ordered the brisket chow fun and the Generals chicken. Both were good and appreciated that the chow fun had a lot of vegetables, however it was very light on the brisket so I think that could use some improvement as you really had to hunt for the little pieces of meat. The General's chicken was good but could also use just a tiny more sauce to make it a bit more flavorful, though the chicken was crispy which I like. The counter server was helpful in making our choices and I am sure the dining room will be nicer once it is finished. Overall it was very good and hopefully management will decide to increase their protein portion in the brisket chow fun as it would be a total winner otherwise. It would also be nice to see more of a selection on the dumpling side which we will try next time. read more

So good! Love the vegan miso ramen and the chili oil dumplings are my current craving.

I've not had a dish I didn't love at this place! All the dumplings and the Bao buns are mouth-wateringly good! The Szechwan dishes are amazing too - I just wish there were more of them!! They do a lot more ramen these days, and my friends seem to enjoy it a lot, but it's not my thing. The place is run out of the back of 11th Hour Coffee (the old Food Lounge) 4 nights a week. Very casual spot, sometimes hard to find a table, and can be a bit chilly in the evenings on the patio. I'd love to see them open a more restaurant-y place somewhere in town. Good stuff though! read more

Wasn't sure if it was in the building or not but you have your walk through a coffee shop or there's an entrance on the back street as well. Food was pretty bomb, everything tasted great and didn't wait too long, we also got there right before a giant rush and was pretty busy when we left. We ordered the warm ponzu noodles, shio tonkotsu, pork &scallion gyoza, and red oil dumplings. read more

Full Steam Dumpling - Shio tonkotsu and pork & scallion gyoza - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Best food in Santa Cruz without a doubt! The chef happened to take our order, and very kindly made me a special vegan ramen since they were out of the regular vegan option. OMG - the seared mushrooms were to die for. And the tofu? Perfectly balanced crisp and soft at the same time?! Unbelievable. Loved the melon salad medley of salt & sweet. The gyoza was also ridiculously good and a perfect amount of fun spice. My mouth is watering reminiscing about this meal. Thank you full steam for raising the bar in Santa Cruz! read more

Full Steam Dumpling - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Got food here at one of the local farmers market in Santa Cruz. Service was great and relatively quick. Pricing was quite expensive as it was 13$ for 5 gyoza and 13$ for 3 Char Siu Bao. In terms of presentation the food looked good but the taste and texture was leaving much to be desired. First the Chicken Gyoza, The presentation looked good like what you would see online with crispy texture from the cornstarch slurry. The dumplings were drenched in chili oil and I think it a Garlic Aioli. In my opinion it would have been better to be asked if we wanted it on the side or to be added on top. The Gyoza had a very nice crisp but the flavor was pretty bland. In terms of chili oil it was very salty and the garlic aioli did not add much to the flavor profile. It very much felt that they were trying to innovate and appeal to an American audience as the original flavors just weren't there. The Char Siu Bao, The bread was not like traditional bread and was a lot chewier and denser. The filling within looked alright but the flavor was far too sweet to be traditional filling. Overall, I would look elsewhere if you are looking for legit Chinese food. I recommend to the pop up that they should nail down the traditional flavors first before trying to innovate them as everything did not come together well. read more

Best dumplings I've had! Food was awesome and so was the service. Perfect way to begin a Santa Cruz adventure! Chef Andy is killing it! read more

Full Steam Dumpling - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Santa Cruz, California