If you don't mind waiting in line, this food vendor in Optimist Hall is superb. They serve dumplings, made fresh daily along with some noodle dishes. You eat where you can find a seat in this mega food court. Wonderful, dumplings come in a variety of stuffings. You can have them steamed or fried. Choose from: Pork & Chives, Sweet Pork Belly, Shrimp & Chicken, ​Veggie or Vegan and "​Chengdu" Style - Pork & Scallions, which I have not tried...yet. Dunk the dumplings in a sauce, or just eat them plain. Or, you can do as I do by dunking my dumplings into the made-in-house Sichuan chili-oil. This is a form of lighting up your life without dying. Yes, it is HOT and spicy, but is also an excellent dumpling enhancer. You don't have to dunk and can just put a little on the dumpling. Please try it...no penalty if you don't like it. Don't just stop with dumplings as they also serve Wonton Soup and Sichuan Wonton Soup. The Sichuan is more spicy. Did I mention NOODLES? Oh, yes...choose from Spicy Beef Noodles, Dan Dan Noodles, Shredded Chicken Chili Noodles, Sichuan Pork Noodles, Spicy Chicken Noodles, Nei Jiang Beef Noodles (a popular Taiwan version) and , "Fried Sauce" Noodles (something I can try later and I have no idea as to what these are). A coupld of sides are offered: Scallion Pancakes (scrambled eggs loaded with green onions...very nice), ​Sichuan Smashed Cucumbers (add spicy to smashed) and, why, I don't know, Side Rice. Rice with doughy noodles and dumplings? Well, maybe if you are having the pancakes? I am salavating on the key board as I finish this review up and want to drive very fast to Optimist Hall to suck down noodles or dumplings, whatever they happen to hand me. Don't get in my way? Although the servers are busy, they will help you with your orders, but remember that you just cannot go wrong here, unless you hate noodles and dumplings. read more

Wow! The dumplings were amazing!!! We got dumplings And dumpling soup..the soup was so good!! And I love the food hall it was in, so many options. Will be back when in Charlotte!! read more

The Dumpling Lady - Table area - Szechuan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Ehhhh. I know this place is a popular destination inside Optimist Hall but I wasn't impressed. I ordered pork and chives dumplings for myself and a lunch combo of spicy chicken noodles with shrimp and chicken dumplings for my date. I didn't get 10 dumplings as advertised and the handful I did get were so over salted as to be nearly inedible. In fact my date gave up on her meal and got herself a sandwich combo from Noble Smoke. I'd like to try them again but my first visit was underwhelming. read more

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I loved how spicy their food options are! The scallion pancake was perfect! Loved the spicy noodle soup I got. Highly recommend and easy to try and share multiple small plates with friends! read more

The Dumpling Lady - Szechuan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Great option for dumplings located inside Optimist Hall. I tried the pork and chive dumplings which were packed with flavor and came with chili oil. The chili oil isn't too spicy. Service was also good and the food came out quickly even during a busy lunch hour. read more

The Dumpling Lady - Pork and chive dumplings - Szechuan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

10/10 recommend! We got the sweet pork belly dumplings which truly melt in your mouth. The balance between the sweet pork belly, the pillow-soft dumpling wrapper, and the perfect heat chili oil is a flawless union of textures and flavors. My boyfriend couldn't help but close his eyes after the first bite, savoring the warmth and richness that takes comfort food to a whole new level. Also, got the spicy chicken noodles!! Super delicious if you can take the heat! read more

The Dumpling Lady - Sweet pork belly dumplings and spicy chicken noodles - Szechuan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The Dumpling Lady resides in Charlotte, NC "Optimist Hall" Delicious dumpling options made fresh to order! You get to watch the AWESOME chef making your meal. Service is fantastic, with indoor/ outdoor seating. Lines get very long and the happy crowd will seriously finish off the daily specials. So again the earlier you can arrive... The Better!! Yummy For more: YumYumYemi on TikTok & Instagram read more

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Wow! This food is amazing if you like spicy, which I do. I wish we had anything close to this in Florida. I might just have to swing by and buy some and put it on ice before I drive home! Great job, D Lady! read more

Yummy food and super fresh!! Quick service. Cashier was friendly. Lots of options. Decent prices read more

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Shared pork and chive dumplings from this spot in the Optimist Food Hall. They were fine but nothing to write home about, dream about or rush back to eat. Served the purpose of fulfilling hunger needs. Seems to be the standard for spots in this location and that my expectations are not reality. I was really hoping for more flavor! read more

The Dumpling Lady - The dumpling presentation. - Szechuan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Highly recommend stopping by Optimist Hall on the weekend! They have a special weekend menu and it is fire! If you know authentic dumplings you will love The Dumpling Lady! read more

Quality of food was flavorful, not enough choices on menu for vegetarians and those that don't like spicy hot. Service was good people are friendly. No ambiance, place is small well lit, very cold.. read more

Ordered the chengdu style dumplings from here since it was listed as a crowd favorite on the menu. The dumplings were very, very tasty. Flavor was a little like a chili powder based flavor. We all sampled them and everyone enjoyed them. Would love to come back and try other dumpling options the next time as well. read more

The Dumpling Lady - Szechuan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I like this place but the noodles really aren't to-go friendly. When I made a suggestion the woman at the counter basically waived me off. On top of, they charged me .50 for an extra bowl to separate the broth from the noodles on the nei jang beef after swearing they couldn't separate it for me but im pretty sure i saw the guy scooping it separately. Ah well! Likely will only patronize them in the future when I have time to stay and eat. Tired of my noodles soaking up the broth before I get home. read more

The Dumpling Lady never disappoints! Always fresh, always seasoned to perfection and service is amazing. My favorite is chicken and shrimp but I tried the pork and those are delicious also. read more

What can be more simple than dumplings? Get in line, order, pay, and get a buzzer. 5 minutes later you're sucking down a delicious bowl of happiness. While I prefer my dumplings with a fry on the bottom, mine were still delicious. The Chendu dumplings had a succulent, deep broth with lots of garlic. Unless you plan to practice social distancing, eat 'em with a friend. The Dumpling Lady is a nice addition to Optimist Hall and, quite frankly, was the main attraction for me to visit. Easy to say, "give 'em a whirl." Lots to choose from here. read more

The Dumpling Lady - Szechuan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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A must visit at the Optimist Hall. I had several of the dumplings - Pork&Chives, Sweet Pork Belly, Shrimp & Chicken and the Chengdu Style. All of the dumplings as cooked in a Sichuan chili oil and have a certain level of spiciness to them. I liked the Pork & Chives the best and the Sweet Pork Belly was the spicier of the bunch. Each order comes with 10 dumplings and you can quickly gobble them up. I would say two orders could fill up the average person and you're going to want more than one order anyways . I would suggest grabbing a beer from one of the nearby bbq spot to go along with the dumplings ! I plan to visit again before leaving Charlotte to get more dumplings and to try some other offerings at Optimist Hall. read more

I was craving noodles so tried the Beef Noodle Bowl which was pretty good- had a great spice and lots of beef. The Soup Dumplings were fantastic (not pictured because I ate them so fast). The spicy chili sauce with them was the best combo. Service was quick-ish and the food hit the spot! read more

The Dumpling Lady - Szechuan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

If you're looking for a taste of REAL authentic dumplings, then this IS the spot. I travel to Charlotte sometimes for work and I ALWAYS have to make a visit here. The dumplings remind me of home 100%. Parking is free, can get packed at night. Pretty easy to find in the food hall. Service is ok, order at the counter and wait. The wait can be a little lengthy as they do have to cook the dumplings from frozen. They also have frozen you can buy. I've gotten the Pork and scallion dumplings - awesome! I know someone's grandma is making this in their kitchen table. You know it's handmade, although no fresh fresh it's pretty darn close. Dan Dan noodles - some of the best I've had! The noodles were cooked perfectly with an even amount of sauce and meat. Slurp slurp! Scallion pancake - pretty basic, flaky scallion pancake. A little oily for me as they fried it. Chengdu style dumplings - not as good as pork and scallion but still yummy! The spicy sauce was great , not too spicy but had a good kick and smothered well in the dumplings. Would return again when I am in Charlotte! read more

The Dumpling Lady - Pork and scallion, Dan Dan noodles - Szechuan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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An Asian food stall located in Optimist Hall! Plenty of parking and indoor seating that can get crowded during the weekend. I like that they give you a buzzer so you can walk around or sit down while waiting for your food. We ordered the pork and vegetable soup dumplings, 5 for about $8. The quality of the dumplings actually surprised me! Decent amount of soup with a very strong umami and garlic flavor. The actual meat inside was delicious with bits of vegetables, and the dumpling wrapper was not too thick or doughy. The highlight of meal was their chili oil, I totally understand why they sell it by the bottle and charge 50 cents for extra with your order. It was a perfect balance of salty, sweet, spicy, sour. I love the dash of vinegar in it which helped cut through the meaty and fatty flavors of the dumplings. I am so excited to come back to try more of their dishes (probably their numerous noodle dishes) with their delicious chili oil! I may even consider ordering some to take home. read more

The Dumpling Lady - Szechuan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I am sooooooo excited Dumpling Lady has a permanent home at Optimist Hall. I was a fan of Dumpling Lady when it was only the food truck but now I'm a super fan and will be trying everything on the menu. I think the best option is the lunch combo. You get the best of both worlds- noodle dish and dumplings together. My favorite dumpling is the Sweet Pork Belly and my favorite noodle is the Dan Dan noodle. I tried the soup dumplings but they are very hard to eat if you're not at a table. My only complaint is that the portion size does seem smaller now. The flavor is amazing but I don't feel like you get the same amount as you get from the food truck. The Dumpling Lady 1115 N Brevard St Charlotte, NC 28206 read more

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Forgot to take pictures, but we had shrimp and chicken dumplings and the pork belly dumplings. They normally come with the chili oil and fresh cilantro on it which was a really nice combination. However if you don't like spicy, then you can have the chili oil left off. Both had good flavor and were very enjoyable. If you're into dumplings, apparently they've gotten quite a few awards, so I don't think you can go wrong! read more

Super tasty as always, but it seemed like the lady running the spot last Sunday at the brewery didn't have the best customer service skills per se. It was honestly kind of weird. 5 star food, 2 star service. Dumplings were great as always! But the lady behind the counter didn't have it together. She forgot to give me a buzzer, so I just walked back into the brewery and grabbed a beer. I walked back out and looked at her to see if I needed my buzzer and she didn't really acknowledge my existence. So, I just sat there and waited 20 mins only to happen to overhear her say to the cook "this guy forgot his buzzer" when talking about an order that had been sitting there. I was literally 6 feet away from her for 15 of the last 20 mins. Sorry for the rant, but this seems like a pretty straightforward transaction process and I was far from the only one who had issues with this. read more

We had the spicy beef noodles and it was very salty and greasy. The grease was so much that we could not finish the dish. We also had the scallion pancakes and that was greasy too. The hot oil was flavorful though. read more

Both times I've been to OH, there's been a huge line. I can see why! A lot of reviews state that it's not authentic. I have no idea and I'm not going to pretend to speak to the authenticity (like my Suarez review). I just know what tastes good to me :). The Good: hardworking family-owned business cranking out delicious dumplings. I had the veggie dumplings both times because I accidentally ate too much at Suarez and needed something light. The Sichuan Chili Oil is incredible. Please note, this isn't a taste for everyone. It IS salty but not overly so IMO. It IS spicy but not to the point where I couldn't taste other flavors. I think either the dumplings or the oil had the Sichuan peppercorn because my tongue felt delightfully numb as only the Sichuan peppercorn can do. You can get the oil on the side if you're not sure you're going to like it or if you don't tolerate spice well. I'm excited to come back and try some of their other spicy dishes because I'm a spice fiend. The Meh: me being dumb and eating too much at another stall that I didn't get to eat everything I wanted to try at The Dumpling Lady. The Bad: nothing noted from me. I could drink the chili oil as a soup. Super glad they sell a container of it because I'll probably do just that. If you want tasty dumplings, check them out! But if P.F. Changs is more your speed for Chinese....I don't know what to tell ya :) read more

The Dumpling Lady - Steamed veggie dumplings - Szechuan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Great dumplings! I got the soup dumplings. The soup was nice and flavorful without being too salty. The dough wasn't too thick and didn't gum up too bad when they cooled down. read more

I was in Charlotte for a weekend getaway and stopped by the dumpling lady for lunch. The parking lot for the dumpling lady was free for the first two hours, and then you'll get charged after those two hours. This spot was located in the back end of the food hall and was very standard-priced. I ordered the sweet pork belly dumplings ($11ish), which was a bit too salty for my taste. It was also a bit small of a serving for the price. Overall, I'm not a big fan, I'll probably not come back. read more

Sooo excited that Dumpling Lady finally have a store front. And nothing better than to know they're part of the great concept of Optimist Hall.. So yesterday. I have a break around 11:30am. Wanted my besties to try her dumplings. So I sat in traffic, spent 10 mins looking for parking and sat in traffic again as I'm heading back to work to be disappointed with her dumplings I was mostly excited to try her soup dumplings. I'm looking at the menu and wanted to order 12. No where did it say soup dumplings are ONLY available after 5pm. Cashier rudely cut me off. So I got overwhelmed. I came here for the soup dumplings but it wasn't available until 5pm. Now what do I do??? So I order 2 of the same type of regular dumplings and 2 of other kind. Great total come to $42.77 plus $2 for tips. Four type of dumplings for $10 EACH TYPE?????? And once I tried it. I wasn't impressed.. outer wrappers are slightly tough, not quite done. Fillings are dry and I thought it's spicy since it look like it.. No it was not. I don't know if their food just like Bao and Broth have to be overpriced to pay for rent. But sooo far I'm not happy with these 2 venues in this hall. I didn't finish my dumplings. I was upset since I spent $10 for that one.. I don't think I'll be back to this particular place. read more

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Dumpling Lady is helping to fill the Szechuan size hole in my stomach from what is currently lacking in the Charlotte food scene. We were finally able to try them at Food Truck Friday at Resident Culture. We got there right at 5, so there was no line yet. Four of us split the Pork and Chive Dumplings, Sweet Pork Belly Dumplings, Burning Noodles, Spicy Beef Noodles, and Yi Bin Ran Mian. We loved it all. I think I actually liked the noodles better than the dumplings, but both were great. The dumplings weren't actually very spicy on their own, but we got the ultra spicy sauce on the side which was really good. The noodles were all pretty spicy. Of the dumplings, I think I liked the pork and chive a little more. Of the noodles, the Burning Noodles were my favorite closely followed by the Yi Bin Ran Mian. This is a must try if you like spicy Szechuan food! read more

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This is one of my go-to spots in Optimist Hall if I'm craving something spicy or noodles and dumplings. It's located near the pet store and Bao and Broth. The hall has multiple flat surface lots for parking - usually one can find parking. I would suggest trying to go when it's not a peak dining time though, to be safe. You can sometimes watch the staff make the dumplings in the window, but the times I gone, I seem to miss them. They clearly state that you are not to photograph the dumpling makers if they are at work, as noted on the window. Staff were pretty friendly whenever I've gone and the food comes out in a timely manner. Like the other place in Optimist Hall, you get a buzzer which goes off when your food is ready, and you'll come back and trade it in for your food. I like to order the spicy beef noodles and the Chengdu dumplings. Prices are pretty comparable to places like Din Tai Fung, which I think are pretty fair, given the craftsmanship of the dumplings. The noodles have a good heat to them - wouldn't recommend unless you like spicy food or a broth-less noodle dish. The dumplings are always full of the filling and anyone can enjoy them, as they are not spicy. (Unless you use the dipping sauce that comes with them.) I would suggest you take lids for leftovers, as the food can be a bit rich and filling. I usually find myself taking at least half for later. read more

I really wanted to like this place but sadly it fell short. The lunch special was a noodle dish with four dumplings for $13.50, a bit pricy but it's a good hall. We get our food and I was dying for some extra spice... no such luck. The Dan dan noodles were a small portion but I don't think that was because it was lunch, it seems standard sized. The noodles were totally soft and almost to the point of mush. The pork crumbles went right to the bottom of the bowl and the bowl shape made them hard to include in a bite. Overall, the noodles were totally bland and the dish was generally soft, great for people who have no teeth. The dumplings.... totally average here too. They had lots of "stuff" on them that appeared to be chili but wasn't since there wasn't much heat. I realize lots of people don't like spice, fair enough but offer some hot chili oil or something. We also tried the lunch special at a similar food stall in eye shot of this one and would pick it over the dumpling lady any day. read more

The Dumpling Lady - Dan Dan noodles - Szechuan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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We came here on a weekday at night times closer towards 8. Luckily the line was not long and we got our food pretty quickly. I got the veggie dumplings pan fried and the pork belly. As a Chinese person who eats home made dumplings all the time, I think it was good but not impressive. The pork belly was good but the portion was very small. It was literally just pieces of meat and cucumbers.... Service was good tho, the cashier was nice. I just think if I come here again, I would go eat something I usually don't get at home so I can get my money worth. read more

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The dumplings were good. We got the beef noodles and they weren't my favorite. It was a bit underwhelming. read more

The Dumpling Lady - Szechuan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Yes' this place, and the brick and mortar locale is great! Spice level is terrific and truly reflects how much care the owner wants to put in to her food. Would definitely return over and over - even though it's a four hour drive-once we are able to be out and about more! read more

The Dumpling Lady - Szechuan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The dumplings were underwhelming. I ordered the scallion pancake, Chengdu (pork and Scallions) and Sweet Pork belly dumplings with the sauce on the side. The pancake was ok but the flavor of the dumpling were very bland the sauce it was really spicy. I need some sweetness in the flavor. read more

The Dumpling Lady is another great addition to Optimist Hall! There's usually a line outside of this booth, and for good reason. First off, the menu is pretty comprehensive and includes a variety of noodles and dumplings (of course!). The prices are $10 for each. Top items and spice rankings are listed on each item. I've tried both the noodles and the dumplings. The dumplings are small but yummy, and the noodles come in a medium size portion. The food is flavorful, but not as spicy as expected. This is probably the most authentic Chinese food in all of Charlotte! The only reason I'd give 4 stars is that while the portions are good for optimist hall, it's still pricey given the fact that it's noodles and only has average size portions . Nonetheless, this is still my favorite spot in Optimist Hall. read more

The Dumpling Lady - Szechuan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Dumpling Lady, I love you. This location is in Optimist Hall, which of course has a lot of options, but I frequently go with this spot. I love the dumplings, great flavor, love the chili oil, nice noodle. I have not tried anything else because I always go with dumplings, but I will at some point if I'm ever not eating dumplings :) read more

So happy I finally had to visit during my visit in Charlotte! The dumplings were perfect. The outside was not too thin or too thick. They were filled with the perfect amount of flavorful filling. The veggie dumplings did not lack in flavor whatsoever. These took me back to my days in China. The Dan Dan noodles were amazing as well. read more

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They are located in The Optimist Hall building, which is an amazing place with many different types of food vendors. We ordered the pork and chive dumplings and they were excellent! read more

I visited their stall at the Optimist Hall today and ordered the soup dumplings and Dandan noodles. It's a major disappointment. The skin of the soup dumplings were dry and barely any meat! The noodles in the Dandan were over cooked. It's totally waste of my lovey and calories. Beside the over cooked noodles, the taste of the Dandan is decent. I've been their food truck customer for years and gave them 4 stars before today's experience. It's sad that they can't keep their great quality. read more

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