My kids really loved the dumplings but I want to point out that they come with scallions and sesame seeds on top; we have a sesame allergy in the family so I wish they put those topping on their menu. We got both beef and chicken and honestly they tasted very similar, hard to tell them apart. The dipping space was flavorful, like an elevated spicy soy. read more

Laoban Dumplings - Beef dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Decent spot for dumplings in the Union market area. The food itself is solid and the price point is one of the more affordable options in the market. The food is quick but no seats within the restaurant itself, just a standing corner. read more

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Fine dumplings in Union Market. I tried the chive and pork. Affordable and super fast service, but just not as good as other dumplings in the area. read more

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Why is this place so stinking cute and the dumplings just meh? They'll do in a pinch, but I wouldn't make a special trip for them. Kind of sad considering some of the caliber of other offerings in the market. read more

Laoban Dumplings - Pork & Chive - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I got a combo order of beef, pork and chicken. The chicken was my favorite and I liked the dipping sauce. It's very pricey for the amount of food you get though. read more

Laoban Dumplings - Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

TLDR stick to the dumplings. So I love dumplings and have been on a bit of a dumpling kick lately so of course I ordered the pork soup dumplings. And they were alright (and more reasonably priced than some others I tried) but they were just alright. A bit doughier than I usually prefer, but at least that had the benefit of keeping the soup actually inside the dumpling. I probably would've liked them more if I hadn't also ordered the chilled sesame noodles which were a definite miss. The sauce was weirdly clumpy, maybe in part because they were prepared in advanced and kept in the fridge. Whatever the reason, they weren't doing it for me especially not for $9+! read more

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Laoban Dumplings may be in the Union Market to offer something exciting for those who seek some delicious Soup Dumplings but I did not find them anything but alright. I like the decorations of this place; inside there's one wall full of snacks you can buy and another wall with a neon sign that you can pose a selfie with or showcase what you got. For me? I just showed what I ordered. I got the Pork Soup Dumplings & the Pork Chive Fried Dumplings. Both came with Chili Oil! For the price, it was a bit high but I also ate something prior to visiting Laoban so it was okay. The Soup Dumplings; I think they did not have alot of soup in them and it hearty when I was able to taste them. Dipped with the Chili Oil, it enhanced the flavor. The Pork Chive Fried Dumplings; I thought these were better but they felt like any other dumplings I've eaten at other places. Not too bad, but not too great either. Still I think it's worth at least checking out this place if you are on a mission for food. I mean, if you're already in Union Market why not right? read more

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It's such a cute looking place, but the dumplings are painfully average. They aren't bad, but they're maybe a half step up from frozen dumplings. I only tried the pork and chive dumplings though, so maybe the other ones are better. But, the service is super quick so if you need something that will taste good and come out super fast, then I'd stop by here again. read more

Laoban Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Left here less than happy. Upon attempting to order the cashier gave me no guidance but my first three dumpling attempts the were out of. Eventually I landed on trying the chicken dumplings. Prompt service and hot food aside, these dumplings just dint do it for. Adequately filled but lacking any real depth of flavor. Thank god for the side of chili crisp that saved the day. read more

I wouldn't recommend if you're vegetarian/pescatarian. The main "livin on the veg" dumplings is really insipid and not satisfying. Ive seen people enjoy the chicken and pork options however. The location is cute and one of the few places in Union market with dedicated seating. Staff was not very friendly when I went. read more

I purchase these dumplings from Costco and I love them! When I realized it was the same company in Union market I was ecstatic. Butttt they didn't sell the flavor I purchase from Costco. I tried a different flavor and it was tasty! read more

One of my favorite spots for dumplings in Union Market. I tried both the veggie and pork dumplings--really enjoyed the veggie ones the most. It's also a vegan-friendly spot, which is always a plus. It's a cute place for a quick bite, though it can get pretty busy on weekends. I went on a Sunday and had to wait a while since service was a bit slow. Pricing is reasonable, especially considering it's inside Union Market where things tend to run higher. Still, a great stop if you're in the area and craving dumplings. read more

Laoban Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Yeah, it's dumplings. Try a variety. Nothing too crazy but delivers substantially in a sea of overpriced food stalls read more

Laoban Dumplings - Frozen Ginger Chicken Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Service was awesome. Don is knowledgeable and answered all my son's questions. The ambiance was super cute just like the dumplings. read more

The dumplings were pretty good--we had the ginger chicken and beef ones. Unfortunately, they were out of the pork & chive. Prices were super reasonable, especially for Union Market. Service was also quick, even on a busy Friday night! read more

Laoban Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I visited Laoban Dumplings for the first time on Saturday and it was good. There was a bit of a wait but people around me were pleasant enough so you could chit chat a little or people watch while you wait. I tried both the pork and chicken dumplings and they were tasty, good texture, and I would try them again. The only thing I personally would want is to have it with soy sauce rather than the sauce they provided with the dumplings. read more

I'm depositing this review to help remind me that there was a reason this stall at Union Market was empty. It's a good concept but sadly a bit of a bust. The steam buns were small and unappetizing. I ended up throwing them away. The person behind the counter seemed over it too. I don't blame him for not greeting me nor trying to make eye contact. After practically shoving the parcel of buns at me he quickly went back to his video game. I'd stay from this one especially when there are so many other places to consider inside Union Market. read more

As I mentioned not too long ago, I haven't been in Union Market in years... and even so, there was never a time when I was really exploring freely since I've always had a mission. I stumbled upon this place, and I wanted a light snack. And the dumpling prices were really... affordable for the market (and DC in general) so I was intrigued! I got the ginger chicken dumplings and really enjoyed them! I was surprised that they didn't give any chopsticks with my order -- I had to come back in and grab some from the table a bunch of folks were sitting at. I'd be down to return and explore their other dumplings. Looks like their products can be purchased frozen and in stores. I've never seen them before, but this is all good to know! read more

The decor is great and the dumplings are pretty good too. The staff is nice, and helpful with ordering. I got the pork chive fried dumplings which were tasty and the chili oil was good too. Its a little pricey for dumplings, but overall nice! read more

I would give this a 3.5. This is not bad, solid dumplings. just nothing special. I got the ginger, pork and veggie ones and really enjoyed the pork and veggie ones. The beef were out of stock for the day. Honestly one of the more affordable options - I think it was around 6 for 7/8 dollars. But filled my dumpling craving! read more

Laoban Dumplings - Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was so excited to try this place out. I was craving some dumplings bad! My friends and I had just finished going to the Coffee Festival around the corner and were hopped up on caffeine and needed food! I ordered the pork soup dumplings and pork fried dumplings. While I know the soup dumplings would take a bit longer, even the guy working there apologized twice for how long it was taking. My friends had already gotten their food and were outside, halfway done with their meals before I ever came out. He said he'd throw in some freebies for the long wait, but that didn't happen. And despite the long wait, I really hoped it would have been worth it. Unfortunately, they were just ok, and somehow, after all that time, not even fully cooked. They were still quite doughy. So, sadly, I think I'll try somewhere else for my next meal at Union Market. read more

This spot was OK. One of the few food places that were pretty quick and easy on a late (9pm) Friday night. I ordered chicken dumplings but they asked if I could do 1 pork otherwise it would take longer. I'm glad they asked because I was in a rush, but at the same time I'm like why were the chicken ones already ready lol. The spring roll was good but lacked the firmness that I'm used to. It was a bit hard to hold and eat because it was flimsy and I definitely couldn't dip it without dropping everything everywhere. Overall food flavor and sauces were good but I'd probably only come back if I were in a similar grab and go situation again. read more

Laoban Dumplings - Spring rolls - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Not how I'd typically want my dumplings to be. I'm giving more than 1 star specially for 2 reasons: The one person working the kitchen and cash register was so nice and the dumpling filing for the chicken and pork dumplings were good. Now the reason for a not so great review from me was the sad attempt to make beyond meat dumplings in chili oil. Wontons or dumplings in chili oil are a dish I take seriously as I know every restaurant makes it differently. However we could not finish the container as the skin of the dumpling was not even properly cooked and the chili oil was heavily lacking in character. I hope they can revamp that dish. read more

Laoban Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Dumplings tasted fine, service was quick, and cute little place in DC's Union Market. Maybe I just don't appreciate dumplings as much as the next guy, but these didn't taste anything notably memorable for the price I paid for them. And the dumplings each weren't that big and stuffed either. read more

Laoban Dumplings - Front - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Such simple food but disappointing. I ordered 6 pork and chive dumplings. They came out sticking together like crazy and mushy -- an unappetizing texture altogether. I got the cold sesame noodles, and I felt like they were clearly prepackaged and sitting in the fridge all day. I was craving dumplings, and my craving wasn't totally satisfied :/ read more

Ordered from their place at Union Market. I only got one dish so I don't think this review can really be considered a full review. If you're trying to decide whether to order from here, check out other reviewers that tried several of their dishes. As for me, I'll have to come back to experience more from this restaurant before truly throwing my weight behind a set rating. What we got: Soup dumplings - 3.5-4* the soup dumplings are tiny! I was actually really surprised when I opened up my takeout container. The size was disappointing to see, but also really cute to look at. While they have good taste, they aren't super heavy on the soup. I would say these are the second best soup dumplings I found in the DMV area out of three different restaurants that I've tried so far. read more

Laoban Dumplings - Tiny soup dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Had the killer tofu and the funky drunky veggies, and they were absolutely inedible. Both of these cold dishes tastes like they had been in the fridge too long and gotten rancid- the tofu way too salty and strong and overpowering, and the veggies tasted straight up rotten Maybe the dumplings/hot food would be ok but the cold food is a total miss, stay away read more

delicious dumplings service was good and cute decorations. Got the pork and chive ones.

We recently came to Union Market and decided to try Laoban's pork soup dumplings. It was clear that the XLB isn't freshly made but rather frozen. However, considering the low price point, it's hard to hold it against them (and they tasted fine). I was more disappointed with their cucumber salad, which lacked the desired crunch and was quite soggy. read more

Laoban Dumplings - Pork Soup Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I got the Ginger Chicken Dumplings and I had to stop myself from ordering another set! They are sooooo good, tons of flavor and the sauce just adds that extra kick. I probably waited 5 minutes for my order, which wasn't an issue at all. They have such a nice setup, with traditional Asian sauces, seasonings and treats for purchase. As someone who frequents Union Market, Laoban will definitely see me again! read more

Laoban Dumplings - Cute neon sign - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

WORST DUMPLINGS EVER! It's literal dough. Severely undercooked and disgusting. I want my money back. I hope I don't get food poisoning from this. read more

Laoban Dumplings - DOUGHY UNDERCOOKED DUMPLINGS - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Best place in Union Market and among the cheapest. It makes for easy carrying around the market. Laoban Dumplings specializes in Nepali. Has dumplings of course but there's also some other items. The prices are fairly okay. Go to the northeast part of the market to find it. It's close to a few other interesting stalls. This is just a place to order at the counter and get takeout. It's about $6 for 6 dumplings. These are a decent size. It comes stuffed with several choices of fillings. There's meats and there's vegetables. It's pretty filling. This comes with a sauce of ginger and soy. It so far is my favorite place in the market. Prices are okay. They have more than just dumplings too. read more

Laoban Dumplings - Vegetable Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Food: 3/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 I wanted to love this place since I absolutely love dumplings and the environment, being in Union Market, is excellent. I had ordered ginger chicken dumplings, and it took about 5-10 minutes to prepare, which was quite quick! I'm not sure though if the dumplings are fresh or they were premade and then frozen/cooked. When I ate the dumplings, I was expecting a burst of ginger flavor, but the dumplings were pretty bland in taste. There was a semi spicy dipping sauce that accompanied the dumplings. The price I had paid for 6 dumplings was about $6. I honestly do think store bought Korean dumplings that you could cook at home tasted a lot better than this since these dumplings had a mild flavor and were average-small in size. The dumpling wrappers were a little on the thicker side as well. I'm an avid eater of dumplings, so I have quite the standard for delicious dumplings. For a layman or someone craving dumplings, these would do. I don't think I'll be an actively returning customer though. read more

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Ordered with doordash around noon. 1.5 hours later, with the courier on site, the restaurant simply cancelled the order. If you actually want to eat lunch, instead of miss it, I suggest looking elsewhere. read more

Out of all the food stations at Union Market that were still open at 7 PM this past Labor Day, Laoban Dumplings was the only option that had quick small bites. BEIJING PORK DUMPLINGS (5 PCS.) - 5.88 This dumplings were already steamed in advance, so they were pretty over-steamed by the time I got them. It's pretty expensive, but at least it's an option to get a snack compared to other shops that costs more than $15 for an entree. The taste of these dumplings were fine - just reminded me of the potstickers my mom used to buy from Costco. Not impressed that I paid that much for dumplings, but I'd probably get them again if I was back at Union Market with limited options for cheaper options. read more

The good - The dumplings were delicious. One of the few places with seating. Clean. The bad - Small portions. So-so service at counter. Price for five small dumplings is a little steep, but not a deal-breaker. read more

Dumplings literally were served to us raw. By the time we had made our way back to the restaurant they were closed. Unfortunately had to throw our order away as it was unsafe to eat. read more

Fast and friendly service, good vibe, and most importantly good dumplings! My wife and I split 4 of each dumpling (Ginger Chicken, Beijing Pork, and Vedge). They were all good but Beijing Pork was probably best. Impressive menu for such a small place tucked into Union Market. I'll be back to try more! read more

Laoban Dumplings - Beijing Pork Dumplings, Ginger Chicken Dumplings, and Livin' on the Vedge Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stopped by Laoban Dumplings on a recent visit to Union Market. Ordered the ginger chicken dumplings and Beijing pork dumplings and found them both to be just okay. I liked how the skin of both dumplings weren't too thick, but found them both to be lacking in flavor. Definitely nothing memorable about these dumplings, unfortunately. Out of the two, preference was for the Beijing pork dumplings, though. read more

Laoban Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I really wanted to like this place, but I just can't get behind a restaurant that treats its product with such disregard. If you serve mostly dumplings and you know they're sticky, why on earth would you serve them out of paper containers?? Every single dumpling stuck within seconds. And each tore, despite careful coaxing. This place brags about its soup dumplings, and the whole point of a soup dumpling is to enjoy the soup within, but all of the soup leaks out into the takeout container because the dumpling tore! Am I missing something?? I'll tell you what I'm missing: The bottom half of my dumplings. read more

Laoban Dumplings - Holding the container vertically and the dumplings are stuck. Note the torn dumpling skins and the dregs of soup that escaped. - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia