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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We were so excited to stumble upon this place when looking for takeout! We knew it was going to be delicious when we saw 4.9 stars and that their restaurant only held about 5 tables in total. If you dine in probably expect a wait if they are busy! The place was quaint and cutely decorated. My favorite was their green onion pancake! read more

Meet Dumpling - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Noticed the certificate on the wall saying it was one of the 100 best Chinese restaurants in the US. After sitting down for a meal here I can say for myself it was as tasty and authentic as I have had in recent memory. The Zha jiang mian was awesome, scallion pancake was crispy and tasty, the chive pocket was definitely memorable, and the dumplings were great, what was most striking was that as we asked for to go containers the owner mixed some sauce for us to take home. Adding some vinegar and soy to the fermented chili sauce we used on our meal. That little touch really made us want to come back. 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

I really didn't feel the need to gas this place up. It was a 1 hr wait (we pregamed at Harbor Town Pub), they have all the people waiting that they can handle, and yet it was so freaking good. They were slammed, and to help move things along, they only take one round of ordering at a time. The staff are very friendly, despite being busy make sure they come around to refill water at all times, check on us and take away plates. Food came out at reasonable times considering how busy they are. Our male server was so warm and welcoming. The menu isn't the largest and I think it's helped them to really make excellent products. We got their green onion pancakes (unbelievably crunchy), rougamo (meaty Sando with that same crunchy pastry dough), cucumber mushroom salad is always refreshing, beef noodle soup (meat was tender, soup flavorful and noodles are lovely chewy), 3 types of dumplings: shrimp and pork, chicken and mushroom and a dark horse of beef and green bell pepper. All of them so good, so addictive, mixed with that hot sauce which is so amazingly good. This place is pretty stupid good and I hate it. read more

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Sweet little family owned dumpling joint - extremely authentic, great service, generous portion sizes Favorite restaurant in San Diego by far! Mom and I ordered the cucumber and wood ear mushroom, chive and shrimp and pork dumplings (14 pcs!!!!!), chive pockets, and wonton soup - truly underestimated the portion sizes. Definitely left a couple pounds heavier than when we walked in read more

My sister took me and my daughter to this place and it did not disappoint. Growing up in the SGV, any dumpling place will have some competition, but this one definitely hit the spot. They do close early and it's a small place so make sure you squeeze in an opportunity to check it out. The potato salad was something I had never tried before and it was very good and flavorful. It was shredded potatoes in a sauce that tasted like it maybe had peppercorn in it. It was different nit great. The cucumber salad was also so tasty. I love how they have 2 veggie dumpling options and another one with seafood without meat. The onion pancake was nice and crispy and didn't taste greasy. Everyone enjoyed the food. Take a look at the photos to see what we tried. read more

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The food is good but not outstanding. The wontons have good texture and flavor. I tried the beef noodle as well, the broth was kinda diluted. It was a busy weekend, about 30min wait. There was only one person taking orders and serving. There is a cute girl assisting customers, must be the owner's daughter, Summer. She is very charming and helpful but they should hire another person to help. read more

Really good beef soup and house made dumplings I had the chicken and cabbage very good . We also had the beef and carrots I will not be getting those again reminded me of cat food not the taste but how it looked . read more

It's a small place, so you may have to wait, but if you don't want to it's a good idea to go with the flexibility of take out. With that being said, the service and food were both great! My aunt and I got the cucumber salad, pork & shrimp dumplings, and the beef & celery dumplings. Everything was delicious. I was skeptical about the beef and celery, to be totally honest, but those ended up being my favorite. We dipped the dumplings in the cucumber salad sauce/dressing, we couldn't get enough of that stuff! read more

Stopped by this small dumpling spot during peak lunch hours and yes, it was busy, and yes, our online order took about 20 minutes longer than expected. But before you knock a star off for that, hear me out. This is clearly a smaller business operation, with about 7-8 tables when we visited, and a crew that's hustling hard. You can see the waitstaff doing their best, and in the back? A squad of Chinese aunties absolutely crushing it in the kitchen. You know you're in good hands. We got the pork, shrimp, and green chive dumplings, and wow, the filling was incredibly moist and flavorful, and the dough had a great chew. It was tender but with just the right bite. Every dumpling tasted like it was made with care and experience. This location serves quality food. In some cases, just be patient, support small businesses, and enjoy the delicious reward at the end. read more

Meet Dumpling - Green Chive with Shrimp & Pork Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Good, simple, clean flavors. Small little place, but worth the wait. We got 3 orders of dumplings to go and ate them on the street in the way to Humphreys for a show. Perfect! read more

This is authentic hand made food. 14 dumplings sounds like a lot of food but we somehow managed to eat 2 orders of those, some scallion hand pies and the Chinese hamburger between 2 people. Everything was delicious. The sweet jasmine tea was flavorful and not too sweet. We were stuffed but kept eating. My favorite was the shrimp, scallops and pork dumplings, you can taste each ingredient in every bite. My husband favored the pork and Napa cabbage dumplings. Service was helpful and efficient. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Food is outstanding. I don't know which dish to rave about first tbh. Went there last night for supper , got the soup and onion pancakes. Delicious and so filling I thought I was gonna slip into a food comma. Great service , small restaurant and full busy parking lot. Prices are reasonable. Nice ambiance, friendly family place. I got my order to go. Would strongly recommend if you're in the mood for tasty dumplings. read more

From dumplings to noodles, this place does it all to perfection. And their ma la appetizers are also amazing! Cucumber salad, pig ears, shrimp dumplings, vegetable dumplings, wonton soup, and Beijing noodles. All of them are cooked to perfection and taste super authentic. Been coming back a bunch of times! read more

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The restaurant is mom and pop owned and they are very nice. The restaurant itself is super small and maybe fits less than 20 people. We were a party of two and ordered 3 items. We were sat behind another party of 2 like 5 minutes after and they ordered 3 things as well, but before we were able to get our one plate of food they already had their food, check and left. We waited almost 30 minutes for our food to come out lukewarm, a clear indicator that we were forgotten. The dumplings itself were ok, we had the chive pork and shrimp and it was very mediocre. The appetizer we got was served very last and it was the rougama and it was cold and over salted. I think tik tok hyped up this establishment way too much and i give it. 6/10 overall. read more

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

Oh, how the mighty have fallen--or rather, how the humble have ascended into something unrecognizable. I've pondered this all night, long after we stumbled out of our beloved dumpling sanctuary. What began as a love affair with a quaint spot has morphed into a bewildering cautionary tale. A few years ago, Meet Dumpling opened in our quiet neighborhood. Tucked on a side street, far from glitzy chains, this dumpling house was a gem found through word-of-mouth. Its facade was unassuming--a tiny shop with fogged windows steaming from boiling pots. We stumbled upon it one rainy evening, drawn by handmade wrappers promising comfort. That first visit was magic. The cozy interior, with four wooden tables squeezed into a space like a living room, felt like someone's home. Family photos adorned the walls. The dumplings were revelations--plump, steamed to perfection, with fillings bursting with flavor. The zucchini and shrimp were instant favorites, wrapped in near-translucent dough. We paired them with scallion pancakes and a chili-soy sauce mixed at the table. Portions were generous, prices low, every bite screaming "made with love." We returned three nights in a row that first week. The owners' daughter, a shy pre-teen, served us with endearing eyes. After dinner, the chefs emerged from the tiny kitchen, wiping hands on aprons, thanking us with huge smiles. We'd applaud, often the only table inside. It was charming, intimate, restoring faith in small businesses. Over two years, it became our ritual. The menu was a single, unpretentious page: a few dumpling varieties, salads, and appetizers. No frills--just soul-warming fare. Tonight, we went for my best friend's birthday, expecting our old faithful. But something felt off. The family photos were gone. The daughter was absent; the owner, now in a uniform, took orders with clipped efficiency. The menu, once a humble sheet, was now a glossy, two-page behemoth, categorized like a corporate catalog. Sections for "Vegan Alternatives" and add-ons like pig ear salad overwhelmed us. We ordered $150 worth for six: old favorites and new dumpling combinations. The food arrived in waves, but the magic was gone. The dumplings looked familiar, but the taste was off. Salads, once balanced, now carried bitterness. Spice levels were inconsistent, aggressive. The flavors that once danced now clashed, leaving us exchanging uneasy glances. Midway through, the owner--once kind but mute--told the birthday boy, "After this order, your table is cut off," sliding the check over. We blinked in confusion. After paying, he ushered us out like unruly teens. No thank-yous, just a cold eviction after dropping a fortune. On the sidewalk, processing the whiplash, it hit us: this wasn't a bad night. This was devolution into something dystopian. The charm was stripped, replaced by mechanized efficiency prioritizing turnover instead of connection. The bloated menu symbolized chasing trends at the expense of soul. The owner's hostility betrayed early supporters like us, who championed them when unknown. Is this the fate of American restaurants? They sprout from passion, drawing loyalists with heart. But as popularity swells--perhaps via Yelp raves--owners outgrow their roots. Fame and money turn warmth into wariness, hospitality into hostility. Authenticity erodes under expansion: bigger menus, pricier items, rushed service. It's like watching a mom-and-pop shop become a soulless franchise, patrons reduced to transactions. We've pondered this deeply tonight, our history spoiled. Two years of memories--three-night binges, family interactions--tainted by this shift. We'll likely never return; the spell is broken. If you seek dumplings with heart, they're no longer here. read more

Hidden gem. Limited menu but dumplings are spot on. Place is small so mind when you time your arrival.

I almost don't want to review this place so that everyone doesn't find out about it! Fantastic dumplings, and other delicious treats, all handmade on the spot by a lovely family. This place is a tiny jewel! read more

Food is very very good Price is very reasonable Staff is friendly But take a little long to bring out the food I think the reason is that they freshly make the dumplings when you order read more

Have been wanting to try this place and finally had a chance. Ordered their fan favorite, the chive, shrimp and pork dumplings, and a side of the cucumber oyster mushroom salad, which looked amazing. Both were delicious. Was about a half hour wait for either a table or takeout on This busy Saturday a bit before noon. It is definitely popular. Want to come back to try the scallion pancakes and maybe one of the soups. Welcome to the neighborhood! read more

Meet Dumpling - Green Chive with Shrimp & Pork Dumplings - amazing! - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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A very small place with only 7 tables. We came on New Years Eve. Ordered the shredded potato salad. It was a little spicy, but I like it. Also got the beef noodle soup. Good portion. A little spicy too, but good. They make the dumplings fresh as soon as you order it, so it must be good, but we didn't want to wait 20 min. Even though it's in a location that's mostly tourists, as a Chinese I approve. It's pretty authentic. read more

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

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Ate here September 2025 and the same dishes here is better than anything SF Chinatown has to offer. And I'm from SF. We had the beef noodle soup, wonton soup, chive/pork/shrimp dumpling, and green onion pancakes. The owner helped us make the sauce with the correct ratio of soy to vinegar. Beef/Wonton soup has a clean, flavorful taste and good noodle texture. The dumplings' melts in your mouth and can taste each ingredient paired with the flavorful dipping sauce. The green onion pancakes are the best we had. It's like layers of crispy filo dough, thin and flaky all the way through with no filling, and can taste the green onion. Better than the thicker doughy ones at other places. Small, comfortable, casual, intimate setting. Told the owner he was going to have to expand to a bigger space once people find out about it. One of our favorite restaurants in SD. Can't wait to eat here again when we visit. read more

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First time here. Great service by the owner's little daughter. I ordered the beef noodle soup & chive and shrimp dumplings. The beef noodle soup was very flavorful and the beef was super tender. The dumplings were perfectly steamed. The wrapper was chewy but melted in my mouth. Food was fantastic and priced reasonably. Good eats! read more

Meet Dumpling - Menu as of Jan 2025. - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here for my birthday with friends last year when they just opened. There were only about 5 tables for dining in. There is also a small window where you can see them make the dumplings by hand. When we arrived, a cute little girl, about 7 or 8 years old greeted us. She brought us the menus to look over. When our whole party was there, we started ordering. We got a bunch of dumplings, such as the green chive with shrimp and pork, sweet corn with chicken, carrot and beef, and some cold noodles as well. Everything was tasty and delicious! The dumplings weren't very pretty and all looked the same lol. The filling was very good though! You also get a lot of dumplings for the price- about 14 for only $12. The little girl kept wanting to play hand games with me and even gave me some gum as my dessert since she found out it was my bday. Overall, I had a great time here! read more

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I LOVE THIS PLACE!! The first time I stumbled across this restaurant, I was at first thrown off by its location teeny tiny parking lot, but it was worth it in the end. The restaurant itself is unassuming and small, so you'd miss it if you're not paying attention. Going in, if you are lucky, you will get to be seated the daughter of the owners, who is very outgoing and social. Though it is a small space and it can and does get busy, they always find a way to seat you comfortably. I didn't notice it during previous visits before, but apparently they've been recognized as one of the top 100 Chinese restaurants in the US, and for good reason! Every single one of their dumpling options is a hit for me, but I always get a classic pork and cabbage. I love the sauce they use in the cucumber salad, and use it as a dip for my dumplings as well. Another go-to pick for me is the rougamo, which is like a flaky, crispy Chinese pancake filled with yummy pork. I personally have not had the chance to order the noodles they offer, but I'm sure they're amazing as well! Overall excellent spot for lunch or dinner, they definitely deserve the awards they have won, as well as a visit from you and your friends! read more

Meet Dumpling - The little girl offered to take a picture of us! - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Mom and pop shop Single family ran Dumplings Tufo dumplings Veggie dumpling Meat dumplings Vegan friendly Small inside about 6 tables Not ideal for big parties Sells to go Sells frozen Restroom outside ask for key Small parking lot Nice people Pancakes were bomb Teas and milk teas sold read more

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Small restaurant with about six tables and an open window to view dumpling preparations in the kitchen (kind of like DTF). Affordable price with generous servings. The food was delicious, and the service was attentive and kind. They gave recommendations as we ate (e.g., dipping one dish into another's sauce), and I even saw them assist in tossing dishes tableside for proper consumption. * Cucumber and wood ear mushroom salad: Absolutely delicious! Nice and crunchy, refreshing and slightly spicy. * Bean curd strips salad: Good but too spicy for my liking. It'll numb your tongue but you'll keep finding yourself wanting more. * Beef noodle soup: A lot of noodles. Good but I've had better. * Mushroom with chicken dumplings: 14 pcs to an order for only $12? Um, yes, please. They're steamed, and the filling was nice and juicy. Build your own dipping sauce with what's provided on the table. I'll have to come back to try other items. read more

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Outstanding! Excellent food and impecable service. Beef noodle soup, all of the dumplings are awesome. Don't forget the cucumber salad and the scallion pancakes. Im a fan! Thank God they are not on Convoy. read more

Meet Dumpling - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Amazing gem of SD! IYKYK. Started with the mushroom dumplings then finished off with the wonton soup - both amazing! Perfectly cooked, rich flavor and the service of the best. I met the owners today and they are very nice people, which makes you want to revisit this place over and over again. I will definitely return! Thank you, MD! read more

Got there and it was tiny and full. I'm on crutches and the guy working could have cared less to clean up a table. Literally sat for 10 mins with a dirty table because I had to sit down. We ordered 1 soup and 2 order of dumplings. The soup was lukewarm and not very flavorful. We were given 1 spoon. The dumplings had a chicken bone that my partner almost broke a tooth on. Overhyped. Will not be back. read more

I should have posted prior to eating BUT everything was looked amazing we had to start! You cannot go wrong with any pick. 10/10 for every dish on the menu. I've been here twice this week! Service is also 10/10 always very attentive. Ambiance is relaxed and enjoyable!!! read more

Meet Dumpling - 10/10 for every dish on the menu. - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Food was absolutely delicious, I've worked just outside of Chinatown in NY for many years and the food was just as good as some of my favorite places back East. It is a small place with about six or eight tables, but definitely worth the wait. Very friendly staff and the ambiance is great, read more

This place was phenomenal! I went with my friends today, we were a fairly large group and they rearranged the seating so we could sit together. The food itself was delicious, super fresh and flavorful. Highly recommend the beef and carrot dumplings, I was pleasantly surprised by them and they ended up being my favorite. The food was ready in a reasonable amount of time and the staff were wonderful, the young girl who served us was great. Highly recommend coming here! read more

Very fresh and delicious authentic dumplings and noodles. We tried the chive pancakes, pork "burger"scallop/shrimp/pork, chive chicken/pork dumpling and beef noodles soup. Small clean shop so service is slow but attentive and worth the wait! read more

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Meet Dumpling is a small business that has perfected their craft. The restaurant is quaint and clean with great service. The food is AMAZING. The dumplings are so flavorful and my husband and I love the Beef Noodle Soup. We will come back again and again! Thank you! read more

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

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