Yes, there's a wait just like at any spot that's actually worth it. The place is small, so come with a little patience or just order to go if you're in a rush. We tried a few dishes. The green onion pancake was crispy and golden on the outside with flaky, layered bites.The sweet corn with chili dumplings had that perfect balance- slightly sweet, a little heat, and super juicy filling. The green pepper with corn dumplings had a light crunch and savory flavor. The standout for me was the Beijing zhajiang noodles. That was probably my favorite. Noodles were perfection. The owner was kind. You can tell it's a family-run spot, especially with the sweetest little girl helping out, which made the whole experience feel even more genuine and homey. We were seated in about 20 minutes, which honestly isn't bad at all. Free parking lot. Will be back soon. read more

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Came for Mother's Day. It's in a nice little shopping center. There's a good amount of parking, but the restaurant itself is quite small. So there is a line that lines up quickly and hopefully hopefully you get a seat. I don't think the biggest table can be more than four people. There's also a kiosk where you can order to go. The menu is very simple. I feel like the dumplings are actually a great price for how many pieces you get. Service was fine. The food was good but nothing solid out to us, I could taste the freshness in the dumplings but maybe because they're boiled, they were a bit bland to us. Definitely needed the sauce with it. Maybe we will be back to try something different. Overall 3/5 for the dishes we ordered that evening read more

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I live in Point Loma and I've wanted to come here for a while now. I ordered takeout am my order consisted of pork dumplings, and The wonton soup. I would say the wonton soup is a nine out of 10, which was very flavorful not salty, and the dumpling skin was very thin and transparent, which I loved. The dumplings itself that I ordered I think the price was fine for what you get, but the dumpling wraps are so thick and doughy,I did not care for them. If they were much thinner, just like what was in my soup they would be perfect, but they were not. If I come back here, I would probably only order the wonton soup. read more

Small restaurant with a few tables serving authentic Chinese dumplings that are so good! It's not surprising that it can get busy here so try to go on a weekday or off hour to avoid a wait. Food comes out pretty quick too so not too bad if you have to wait a little. The Scallop and Pork dumplings were my favorite with the Green Onion Pancakes. Parking is in a plaza that gets filled up too so can be a bit difficult. Overall, great choice if you're able to get in! read more

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Founders local spot in San Diego for some Asian food. I was pretty impressed overall it was steadily busy. Overall, the food was OK. The beef noodle was flavorful. However, the portion size is very small. I wasn't a huge fan of the chicken mushroom filling because I felt really mushy. The pig ears had a good flavor. The price was also fair. If you're looking for authentic Asian food, I do recommend checking the spot out. read more

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Seven tables are all there are inside this very, very small restaurant. They seem to do steady takeout business so if that is an option, you might try it. The green onion pancakes were freshly-made and wafer thin. I liked them just fine but usually prefer a little thicker pancake. In my opinion, the huge bowl of beef noodle soup was the star of the show, by far. The noodles tasted fresh and the broth was rich and delicious. This soup would be perfect on a cold night. Of course, we tried the dumplings. They were fine but, personally, I prefer more soup in my dumpling. Meet Dumpling? I would say, Meet Beef Noodle Soup, all day, every day. read more

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While visiting the beautiful Shelter Island, we decided to walk to the restaurant for lunch since it was located just a couple of blocks from the marina's entrance. Inside, with its casual Chinese eatery decor, was clean and quietly cozy with seating for 20 guests max. It is a family-run business with the husband in charge of front-of-house operations and the rest in the kitchen. For this visit, we ordered the following dishes (25-minute wait because they just opened and needed time to set up the kitchen): Thousand Layer Pancake: The fried pancakes were slightly oily and nicely seasoned. The outer layers were crispy and pleasantly flaky. Tofu Strip Salad: The wide tofu strips were fresh with firm texture. The seasoning was flavorful, slightly tangy, and tongue numbing spicy from the pepper chili. Pork Ear Salad: It had the same savory and spicy seasoning as the tofu strip dish, the sliced pig ears were fresh and nicely crunchy. Beef Noodle Soup: The broth was flavorful and spicy. The thin noodles were perfectly cooked with firm texture. The beef pieces were tender, and the bok choy complemented well with the dish. We also ordered some of their bite size boiled homemade dumplings. They all arrived steaming hot, and were perfectly cooked with the outer wraps intact. The napa cabbage with pork dumplings, with finely chopped cabbage and nicely seasoned pork fillings, were my favorite. The green chive with shrimp and pork dumplings, with firmer texture, were also very good and highly recommended. Overall, a very nice dining experience in an unexpected location. read more

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I have eaten here for to go and today another to go order. My favorite is pork and cabbage dumplings. Still a banger!

We ordered a healthy heaping of food and the owner was shocked that we finished it all; It WAS pure comfort! See here for the line-up of : -Beef Noodle Soup ($14.99): Hearty soup with deep, beefy flavors and good kick of spice. Not too oily either. -Beijing Zha-Jiang Mian ($13.99): I was not keen on mixing this up, but the owner insisted. It would have been a nice gesture, but it made the dish SO salty. I prefer the knife-cut noodles without a coating of sauce. -Green Chive w/ Shrimp & Pork Dumplings ($13.99) & Napa Cabbage w/ Pork Dumplings ($12.99): You do get a a lot of little dumplings per order as they are packed full with ingredients. These are boiled and look just like the ones I get from a frozen package at 99 Ranch, but these are clearly hand-made and fresher with springy skins that don't fall apart. The place is super small and they can accommodate big groups though it's not fair to other diners, so maybe keep the party size small on a Friday or Saturday. The small size of the restaurant does enable the wife and husband duo to take care of their customers very well though. You will feel the love! read more

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Hands down, a San Diego favorite. I will gladly wait in line an hour to dine here. Meet Dumpling is a standout spot for anyone craving high-quality, handmade dumplings in San Diego. And the popularity shows. It is common to see people showing up at least 30 minutes before opening to get in line to enjoy this tiny spot. Everything here feels incredibly fresh, and the menu is packed with a wide variety of fillings, such as classic pork, Napa cabbage, shrimp and beef. Every dumpling -- and they sell them frozen to go, by the way -- is tender, generously filled and well-seasoned. The consistency across the menu is impressive. I highly recommend the green chive with shrimp and pork and the scallop with shrimp and pork. And they are generous -- 14 dumplings per order! Other must orders include the green onion pancake, rougamo (which is a kind of Chinese burger that is a popular street food item), the cucumber & wood ear mushroom salad and the shredded potato salad. Both the wood ear and the potato salads comes seasoned with Sichuan peppercorns, so you get that lovely numbing feeling with each bite. I also highly recommend the beef noodle soup -- hearty and delicious with soft, tender meat. I suppose what I am trying to say is that everything on the menu is great! Another reason this is on my favorites list is that this is family owned (Howard Gao, Alice Wang and a 10-year-old or so child who is absolutely darling) and you have multiple generations managing the restaurant. The owner will even make recommendations and offer to mix dipping sauces for you. And they remember you as a return customer, which is so lovely. read more

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It was definitely giving mom and pop shop, the dumplings were very fairly priced and I loved all the items we got. The cucumber salad was super delicious and definitely the bang for your buck! I really enjoyed the ghibli music playing in the background and we got our food relatively fast. read more

Meet Dumpling - Cucumber salad - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Service is poor. The host unnecessarily vents on the customers. I wonder if the customers come here to get a lesson?

Quite the hole in the wall shop with some of the best Chinese dumplings in San Diego! Any time I'm in the Point Loma I make it a point to pickup a couple bags of their green chive shrimp/pork dumplings to keep in the freezer. Staff here is also super sweet and accommodating and always offer to pack the dumpling with some ice for my drive home. I also highly recommend their Rouganmo (Chinese burger looking thing) it's just so crispy in the outside with great flavor on the inside and never disappoints. read more

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This restaurant is located in a quaint plaza with parking available. Inside, it's small and clean which brings a homey feeling. We ordered a scallion pancake, pork and shrimp dumplings with chives, and a beef noodle soup (not pictured here). The pancake was the best thing I had, it was super crispy with a light green onion flavor. It was, however, a bit too oily. The noodle was well cooked and beef was tender but I wish they gave us more beef. The dumpling was really good, and I appreciate that it was handmade. Our waiter provided great service. He was very attentive despite a busy lunch rush on the weekend. I would definitely recommend this place if you are nearby and craving authentic Chinese food. read more

Meet Dumpling - Crispy Green Onion Pancake (9/10) - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Would definitely go back! Nice family owned restaurant, great quality food, it was small and intimate, great service. 5/5 dumplings - the ingredients tasted fresh, I would prefer the dough to be less thicker 5/5 Onion Pancake 4/5 Beef stew noodles - wish there was more tender beef and more broth read more

Meet Dumpling - Beef Noodle Soup - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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decided to give Meet Dumpling a try since my kids love dumplings. We placed an online order for pickup and brought everything down to the dock to enjoy the view while we ate. First impression: the space is definitely small, but it was packed with people from all walks of life a good sign that this place has solid food and a loyal following. Just a heads-up: they close between 2:30pm and 4:30pm, so plan accordingly. You can definitely taste the differenc about these dumplings, def handmade with love, full of flavor, and just the right texture. We also got the beef noodle soup, which totally hit the spot. Comforting, savory, and hearty. Even though we didn't dine in this time, the online ordering process was super easy, and the food was ready when we arrived. I'm already planning to come back for a proper sit-down meal. If you love dumplings, this place is worth the stop whether you're dining in or taking it to go! read more

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I've been here a few times now, and it has quickly become my go-to spot for authentic dumplings in Point Loma. It's a small, quaint restaurant with a cozy, no-frills atmosphere that lets the food shine. I've tried several dishes, including the beef noodle soup, wonton soup, cucumber and wood ear mushroom salad, green onion pancake, and the soup dumplings. Nearly everything has been excellent, flavorful, comforting, and clearly made with care. The only miss for me was the green onion pancake, which I found to be a bit too oily for my preference. This is a family-owned business, and the team works efficiently while remaining friendly and accommodating. Overall, it's a wonderful local gem and easily my favorite dumpling spot in Point Loma. read more

The dumplings here are a must-try! The wait time may seem lengthy, but trust me, it's worth it. Upon arrival, the waiter will take your phone number and call you when a table is ready. Don't expect an estimated wait time, so come prepared to wait outside. Once seated, you'll see a sign indicating that food can take around 45 minutes to arrive during busy periods and 15 minutes when it's not as busy. We waited about 30 minutes to be seated and there was two parties of two ahead of us and , waited about 20 minutes for our food. Flavor is on point . Ordered the shrimp,pork , green onions dumplings and wanton soup and devoured both dishes. We can't wait to return & taste the beef noodle soup :) ... This is hands down my fav dumplings place aside from DTF . Updated Review: I went back to the restaurant to try their beef noodle soup and Beijing Zha Jiang noodle, and I was impressed! While both dishes were tasty, the Beijing Zha noodles stood out as my favorite. One thing to note is that the meat topping is on the saltier side, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment. Just remember to mix everything together for the best experience! - must try !!! Potato pancake - not a fan of it as it was too oily for my liking. Sweet corn dumplings: simple dumplings taste... not salty just right . pork, shrimp and chives is still my favorite . This second time I got there at 11AM and was sat immediately and food came within 15 minutes. Will be back to try all the other dumplings:) read more

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Excellent and authentic dumplings! Friendly staff as well. Definitely coming back. Reasonable priced also read more

Meet Dumpling - Dumplings and pig ear cold dish - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Got the tofu dumplings, the filling was nice and flavorful, cooked tofu with green onions. Good portion sizes too, and service was friendly. read more

Meet Dumpling - Tofu dumpling - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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A true hole-in-the-wall location, Meet Dumpling is a family-run restaurant that mainly serves up dumplings and other Chinese dishes. The location is really small with only a handful of tables so definitely don't bring a large party (4 is already pushing it). As soon as we walked in, the daughter (I assume) of the owners handed us the menu and sat us down which I found to be a cute touch. She looked like she just came from school and was helping out her parents. We got the bean curd strip salad which was extremely flavorful and quite spicy! They were drenched in the numbing (mala) spice so I could only eat a few at a time. I felt that it was bit too salty but overall a nice dish. The Napa Cabbage w/Pork dumplings were plump and huge! Great flavor inside and the wrapper had a nice chew to it. We also got the Beef Noodle Soup which was great and packed with flavor. I liked the thin noodles and overall complimented the other dishes. read more

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Definitely recommend this place if you're in the area! We arrived a bit early and waited in the car until we saw the "Open" sign light up. As soon as it did, a few people headed in right away. We found a table quickly and were greeted with water and menus. We started with the green onion pancake -- crispy, flavorful, and absolutely a must-try! Then we shared the beef noodle soup and the green chive dumplings with shrimp and pork. Everything was delicious and packed with flavor. Service was fast and friendly. We're pretty sure the waiter was also the owner -- we watched as he showed a few guests how to make the dumpling sauce. It was fun to see them try it and nod in approval after their first bite. read more

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It's a really tiny spot with about 7 tables but it's worth the wait! We had the mushroom chicken dumplings, the green chive shrimp pork dumplings and the crispy green onion pancakes. I recommend all of it! The dumplings are really really delicious. read more

Meet Dumpling - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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I appreciate this place so much! First time here today and had such a great experience I can really see this becoming one of my new regular spots. Please understand this a is a true made to order place which requires time to ensure quality with each order. It's worth the wait! The menu has ample options. We tried a little bit of everything since it was our first time. Cucumber & Wood ear mushroom salad: 5/5 a perfect salad. Very fresh and sauce was perfect to also dip our dumplings in as recommended by the owner. Scallion Pancakes: 4/5 thinner and a perfect crispy bit to add texture to our meal Potato Salad: 4/5 Prepared in shredded strips. My favorite thing about this is the numbness from I think Szechuan peppers. It's not hot but just such a unique and delicious side. Would definitely get again Chicken & Mushroom Dumplings 5/5 BEST DUMPLINGS I've had! Seriously so fresh and flavorful. You could tell they are made to order. Wish we got more of these! Overall such a wonderful meal and the Owner took time to chat with us which I appreciated. Ask him if he would recommend a dumpling sauce because he made ours delicious! He's very passionate about their food and you could tell wants to give a great experience. The place is smaller and the owner mentioned there is sometimes a wait which I would have no problem waiting for as this is truly a very special place! Thanks instagram for leading me here ! read more

Meet Dumpling - Chicken & Mushroom Dumplings, scallion pancakes, cucumber salad and potato salad - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Highly recommended! But here's the thing -- If you're the type of person who thinks you know what authentic Northern Chinese dumplings should taste like... then DON'T GO. It's probably not for you. Yes, I mean you. They're not making the salty, traditional Northern-style dumplings you might be expecting. But personally, I love it. It's one of the best dumpling places I've had in the past 20 years in America. For context, I'm from Northern China -- the dumpling city, Tianjin. The dumplings they make are incredibly rich and flavorful. Fresh meat, cooked to order -- never frozen. So good! The owner is amazing. It truly has that homemade taste. 非常浓郁！ 新鲜的肉！ 现做的！ 没冷冻！ 呗棒！ 老板 呗棒！ 有家的味道！ read more

After four or five visits this, it's about time I add my opinion: if you like dumplings, go there. It's a small place, and busy, so you may have to go on the waiting list, or be OK with ordering to go. We've had the pancakes, and every kind of dumpling they sell. If you like dumplings, you'll find something there to eat. Yes, there are dumpling shops in the Convoy area for sure, but this one can hold its own against them, and it is very convenient if you're near Point Loma. read more

Incredible food and service! The cat's out of the bag! The kind couple that served us were taking care of too many tables yet still managed to provide incredible service and a clean place to dine. As someone who is Chinese and grew up eating great authentic food, this place is absolutely incredible! The dumplings are outstanding - we got the pork, shrimp, chive and the chicken & corn. Our favorite was shockingly the corn and chicken. We also tried the green onion pancakes, bean curd salad, cucumber, and beef noodle soup. All outstanding. I only wish their frozen dumplings would have made it back to us in DC. There is a small parking lot. About 5-7 tables which makes this place fill up quickly for dinner. Recommend showing up early and being very patient! read more

This place has a small amount of seating so don't do what I did and arrive 45 minutes before closing. I came here after watching it on youtube, I think it was Gareth Eats. There is a lot of customization so you can choose from vegetables you know like corn to more traditional options like cabbage or scallions. My favorite has to be their soup because it's like getting a bowl of meat with free soup. The people working there I think is a family, so they're nice, but they're very busy because all the dumplings are made after you order them. You don't want to miss coming here. read more

Came here to say early right at 11 am for lunch. Be aware the inside is very small so limited sitting is available. I wish it was a few of us so we could try multiple dishes. I really enjoyed the two items I ordered. There was a group of 3 ladies next to me and they ordered a few dishes and they were loving every single one of them. I like restaurant with small menus. I feel they do better job with flavors versus a huge menu. I would come back for sure read more

Meet Dumpling - Pork dumpling (sorry can't remember which one) - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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I first discovered this place on Yelp's list of top 100 Chinese restaurants and was a little skeptical and I was first walked in because: the menu was all in English, and they charge for tea (which is complimentary at every other Chinese restaurant I've ever been to). However, I'm glad to say that the food was very good. We ordered dumplings, zha jiang noodles (not pictured), and rougamo (like a pork burger). While the dumplings and noodles were good, loved the rougamo. The outside was crispy and the inside was flavorful. In addition, the service was good and the inside was clean. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and I hope to be back soon. Note: They also sell frozen dumplings to take home if you are interested. It is the same price at the menu for 18 dumplings. read more

Meet Dumpling - Sweet corn with chicken dumplings - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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We came here on a Sunday afternoon and were lucky to be seated immediately, because by 1 PM, there was a small line forming. Parking is also limited. This is a small mom and pop shop with a modern and comfortable interior and had about 7 tables. They serve authentic Chinese cuisine like cold dish appetizers and handmade dumplings to order. Since they are made to order, there was a little bit of a wait time, but worth it. The crispy onion pancake is different from the one I'm used to (opaque, chewy layers with crispy outsides). Theirs seems to be completely fried and reminded me of the crispy bread used in Roujiamo, which makes sense as it is also one of their dishes. It was unique and amazing. I made my dipping sauce with the chili oil, soy sauce, and sweet vinegar, a delicious combination. At first I thought the skin of the dumpling looked very thick based on the color, but it was actually not at all. It was soft, fell apart easily in the mouth, and not heavy at all. The texture was like broad rice noodles. I enjoyed my meal here and I hope you give this place a try too. read more

Meet Dumpling - Super crispy onion pancake - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Easily top 3 Chinese food I've ever had. And I've actually been to China Services was great! They were super helpful in helping us use the sauces properly, order a good combination of menu items that complement each other and work around allergies. Also, we were able to have good conversation with the owner and his daughter, great people! PS. They use soy bean oil instead of peanut oil PSPS: Their is not good for soy allergy The place itself is small very minimal but also very clean! There's only 5 or 6 tables. Pro tip: go early and avoid the crowd. Even if you have to wait, the food is so worth it. Beef noodle soup was sooo good, the dumplings tasted soooo fresh, that green onion pancake was insanely light, crunchy & flavorful. Also, the cucumber mushroom salad has an incredible spicy, savory dressing that blew my mind. Go, take a couple friends, order a bunch of things and share it family style. It'll be worth it! read more

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This place lives up to the hype! Amazing dumplings and incredible beef noodle soup! Love that it's family run. Service is excellent and attentive. read more

Meet Dumpling - Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

The beef was soooooo tender in the beef noodle soup, noodles were firm and tasted fresh and broth was delicious. Dumplings are a must and ordered some frozen so I could make at home later. Definitely will be back as I'm already craving more! read more

Came in an hour before close, but the restaurant was still packed. Dumplings made to order and still arrives pretty timely. Beef noodle soups was good but not great. Green onion pancake was very innovative and different, I'd order again. Quick service, clean restaurant, and good food. Meet Dumpling is a decent restaurant but still prefer my spots in Convoy. read more

Meet Dumpling - Beef Noodle Soup - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is my secret dumpling spot. I am sharing it not for you, but for the benefit of the business. Dumplings here are boiled. You get a generous portion of 14 dumplings, a jar of chili oil, sambal, soy and vinegar. Mix your dipping sauce according to your personal preference. It is a wonderful comfort food! The service is attentive, the dude who funds the shop is quick to identify what it is that you may be in need of before you can ask. This place is a low key gem. read more

Meet Dumpling - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

I went with Meet Dumpling with my wife on our trip to Old Town, San Diego before getting ready to fly back to Atlanta. The shop itself is modest in size, best for a max party of four. There is a single table that can accomodate a larger group. Tables and chairs are simple but functional. But the food is stupendous. We ended up splitting a cucumber and wood ear salad, a green onion pancake, and a beef noodle soup. The cucumber was nice and crisp, the wood ear was firm and the sweet, spicy dressing was an excellent accompaniment. The green onion pancake was a standout, perfectly fried. Though it's a bit sacrilegious, the leftover sauce from the salad made for a perfect dip to the pancake. The beef noodle soup was traditional and great. The marinated beef made me feel right at home and the noodles tasted homemade. They had the perfect amount of chew. If we weren't flying out, I would have definitely got a zha jiang mian as well because of how perfect noodles were from the beef noodle. We also got two orders of dumplings to go - a chicken and sweet corn and a pork with napa cabbage to go. Given the quality of everything else, I am going to devour them back in the hotel room. Just as a headsup, there was a 30-45 minute wait on the dumplings but we were told that upfront. The other items came out quickly. All in all, Meet Dumpling is exactly my kind of spot. If I'm nearby in San Diego, I am picking up the phone and putting in a pickup order for just dumplings. Or I am going in with a small party, enjoying all the other food while I wait for fresh dumplings. read more

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I saw this place featured on YouTube with tons of raving reviews so I had to try it. It's a tiny shop and super busy, so we ordered to go. About 9 tables. We got the chive pork shrimp dumplings and they were delicious. I loved the strong chive flavor, and the dumplings were fresh and super juicy. We also got the scallop pork shrimp dumplings. They were good too, but the scallop flavor was a little faint compared to the shrimp. I really wanted to try the beef noodle soup, but they said it would take about 40 minutes. Honestly I should've just ordered it, because our whole order ended up taking around an hour and a half anyway. Next time I'll definitely order online ahead of time and just wait to pick it up. read more

The celery and salad was so refreshing, it was different but in a good way! The green onion pancake was out of this crunchy, savory flakey not oily at all I think about these all the time The crunch alone was music to my some ASMR gold! The green chive and dumplings were amazing bouncy and flavorful but not too much where you don't need the chili oil, soy sauce and vinegar mixture to make it shine through even more! The prices were more than fair as well.. 14 dumplings for each order from $11-$15 (depending on the dumpling chosen) Next time we are definitely trying the beef noodle soup and the pig ear salad ! read more

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Great Odin's ladle, Meet Dumpling! I strolled into Meet Dumpling with a rumbling stomach and modest expectations... and I left a changed man. A better man. Possibly a man who now believes in destiny. These dumplings were juicy, plump, and generously filled--the kind of dumplings that look you square in the eye and say, "We don't cut corners here." Each bite was a glorious explosion of flavor, like a well-tailored suit made entirely of deliciousness. The wrappers? Perfectly tender. The filling? Packed tighter than the Channel 4 news team in a phone booth. I'm not exaggerating when I say these dumplings could bring peace to warring nations. I laughed. I smiled. I contemplated ordering another round "for research purposes." Meet Dumpling, you've earned my respect, my admiration, and frankly... my appetite. I'm Ron Burgundy? No. But I am someone who will absolutely be back. read more